A27050:178
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.
Nor was this only the vice of the Heterodox but the Orthodox, as is aforesaid. And as the French and German Bishops aforesaid did against the Priscillinaists, so for their own interest against one another, they flattered and restlessly instigated the Civil power, even Usurpers to execute their Wills: and favoured that power that most favoured them. When the foresaid Maximus had killed Gratian and reigned in France, and entered Italy, (after that Ambrose had stopped him a while) Theophilus Alexandr. sendeth an Agent Presbyter with two Letters, and a rich present, one to Maximus and one to Theodosius; ordering him to stay the issue of the Fight, and give the Present with his Letter to him that proved the Conqueror: But a Servant stole the Letters from the Priest, and opened the whole business, and caused the Priest to fly and hide himself.
Nor was this only the vice of the Heterodox but the Orthodox, as is aforesaid. And as the French and German Bishops aforesaid did against the Priscillinaists, so for their own interest against one another, they flattered and restlesly instigated the Civil power, even Uusurpers to execute their Wills: and favoured that power that most favoured them. When the foresaid Maximus had killed Gratian and reigned in France, and entered Italy, (after that Ambrose had stopt him a while) Theophilus Alexandr. sendeth an Agent Presbyter with two Letters, and a rich present, one to Maximus and one to Theodosius; ordering him to stay the issue of the Fight, and give the Present with his Letter to him that proved the Conqueror: But a Servant stole the Letters from the Priest, and opened the whole business, and caused the Priest to fly and hide himself.
50. These contentions of the Bishops and corruption of manners, so distasted the more Religious sort of the people, that it occasioned the multiplying of separating Heresies: and greatly increased and confirmed others, especially the Donatists, and Novations; because men thought them to be of better lives than the Orthodox.
50. These contentions of the Bishops and corruption of manners, so distasted the more Religious sort of the people, that it occasioned the multiplying of separating Heresies: and greatly encreased and confirmed others, especially the Donatists, and Novations; because men thought them to be of better lives than the Orthodox.