A27050:184
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.
AS I have delivered our Judgment about the History of Prelacy, so shall I next freely and truly express my own Judgment and those that have concurred with me about the right of Church-Government it self, (supposing those 100 Propos. ad Lud. Molinaeum which I have published about the Nature of Church-power, and the extent of the Magistrates power in Church-matters.) For Truth hath great advantage when it appeareth, 1. compact, and entire, 2. and in the open light. Since the writing of this our judgment is more fully published in the Nonconformists first and second Plea for Peace.
Prop. 1. Since the Fall of Man, as God hath given a Saviour to the1 World, by whom he hath made a new Covenant with or for Mankind; so hath he delivered all things into the Redeemer's hands, and given him all power in Heaven and Earth, making him the Administrator General, and Head over all things to the Church.
2. Some things are under Christ as Utensils, viz, Inanimates and Brutes; some are under him as mere enemies subdued, as Devils; some are under him as generally Redeemed, and subjects de jure, or quoad obligationem, to be Ruled and used upon terms of Mercy; And so are all Mankind in general, till the day of life and grace is past: some are under him as Visible Consenters, and Professed subjects; so are the Baptized and visible professors of Christianity: And some are under him as sincere Heart-Covenanters, Justified and Sanctified, and to be Glorified by him.