A27050:193
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.
9. Being not to continue corporally on earth, nor his bodily presence being ubiquitary, he designed that the Holy Ghost should be his Agent internally to carry on his work in the World; And he appointed the Sacred Office of the Ministry, that meet men might be his Agents externally, ⟨p. 30⟩in the Teaching and Governing of his Redeemed ones in a holy order, and in conducting them in holy worship, in a Ministerial subordination to his Prophetical, Regal and Priestly Office.
10. As he himself did Officiate among the Jews, so he first placed this Ministerial Power in twelve chosen men, and seventy Assistants with some relation to the twelve Tribes and seventy Elders of Israel, to whom he sent them.
11. During the time of Christ's abode among them in the flesh, they were but as Pupils and Learners while they were Teachers; and their Abilities, Commissions, Office and Work, and so their success were all yet imperfect: They were not yet authorized openly and commonly so much as to declare Christ to be the Messiah and Saviour, but only to prepare men for that belief: Because those works were not yet done, which must be the Evidences of their Doctrine and the Instruments of mens Conviction, viz. Christ's Death, Resurrection, Ascension, and his sending the miraculous gift of the Holy Ghost.