A27050:161
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.
But of this whole matter of the Rise of such Prelacy, their Courts and power, Padre Paulus hath spoken so well and truly in his Histor. Concil. Trident. pag. 330, 331, &c. that I would entreat the Reader to turn to it and peruse it, as that which plainly speaketh our judgment of the History now in question: Read also his History of Benefices.
But of this whole matter of the Rise of such Prelacy, their Courts and power, Pardre Paulus hath spoken so well and truly in his Histor. Concil. Trident. pag. 330, 331, &c. that I would intreat the Reader to turn to it and peruse it, as that which plainly speaketh our judgment of the History now in question: Read also his History of Benefices.
43. The countenance of the Emperor with these honours and immunities, having brought the World into the Church, or filled the Churches with Carnal temporizers, the numbers were now so great, that quickly the ⟨p. 22⟩great Cities had many Parish Churches, and the Country Villages about had some; so that now about 400 or 500 Years after Christ, most Bishops of great Cities had more Churches than one, even several sub Assemblies, and Altars, as dependant on their Mother Church.
43. The countenance of the Emperour with these honours and immunities, having brought the World into the Church, or filled the Churches with Carnal temporizers, the numbers were now so great, that quickly the ⟨p. 22⟩great Cities had many Parish Churches, and the Country Villages about had some; so that now about 400 or 500 Years after Christ, most Bishops of great Cities had more Churches than one, even several sub Assemblies, and Altars, as dependant on their Mother Church.