A27050:1478
A treatise of episcopacy confuting by Scripture, reason, and the churches testimony that sort…
A treatise of episcopacy confuting by Scripture, reason, and the churches testimony that sort of diocesan churches, prelacy and government, which casteth out the primitive church-species, episcopacy, ministry and discipline and confoundeth the Christian world by corruption, usurpation, schism and persecution : meditated in the year 1640, when the et cætera oath was imposed : written 1671 and cast by : published 1680 by the importunity of our superiors, who demand the reasons of our nonconformity / by Richard Baxter.A treatise of episcopacy confuting by Scripture, reason, and the churches testimony that sort of diocesan churches, prelacy and government, which casteth out the primitive church-species, episcopacy, ministry and discipline and confoundeth the Christian world by corruption, usurpation, schism and persecution : meditated in the year 1640, when the et cætera oath was imposed : written 1671 and cast by : published 1680 by the importunity of our superiours, who demand the reasons of our nonconformity / by Richard Baxter.
London: printed for Nevil Simmons, 1681
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
Epist. 5. p. 15. He writeth to the Clergy in his absence to do the work of Discipline, even their own part and his, and (as no man doubteth but they did the whole work in the public assembly when he was absent so long time, so (that you may see what kind of Chapel meetings they had) it being the custom for encouragement of sufferers, to go to the Confessors ⟨p. 107⟩and visit them and there celebrate the Sacrament,) he persuadeth them that the people may not go crowding by great companies at once, lest it stir up envy, and they be denied entrance (it's like they were in Prison) and lose all while they are insatiable to get more: But that one Presbyter and one Deacon go one day, and another another day by turns, because the Change of persons, and vicissitude of metres would break the envy: and all should be done in meekness and humility.
Epist. 5. p. 15. He writeth to the Clergy in his absence to do the work of Discipline, even their own part and his, and (as no man doubteth but they did the whole work in the publick assembly when he was absent so long time, so (that you may see what kind of Chappel meetings they had) it being the custome for encouragement of sufferers, to go to the Confessors ⟨p. 107⟩and visit them and there celebrate the Sacrament,) he perswadeth them that the people may not go crowding by great companies at once, lest it stir up envy, and they be denied entrance (it's like they were in Prison) and lose all while they are insatiable to get more: But that one Presbyter and one Deacon go one day, and another another day by turns, because the Change of persons, and vicissitude of meeters would break the envy: and all should be done in meekness and humility.
But the words I insist on are, [Peto vos pro fide & religione vestra, fungamini illic & Vestris partibus & meis, ut nihil vel ad disciplinam vel ad diligentiam desit.] And if the whole work of Discipline be such as is partly their own part, and partly what they may do in the Bishops absence in his stead, it is within the power of their function: For a Lay-man or a Deacon cannot do all the Presbyters work in his absence.