A27050:225
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.
40. The office of a Pastor, containing the Power of the Keys, as subordinate Ministerially to Christ in his Teaching, Ruling and priestly▪ work, is not by man to be divided and part of it to be given to one sort, and part to another (though they that have the whole power may variously exercise it, as there is cause.) But every Church must have such as have the whole power, as far as concerneth the People of that Church.
41. To divide the essential parts of the Sacred Office, (as to give one the power of Teaching only, another of Worshipping only; and another of Ruling only; or any two of these without the third, is to destroy it, and change the species, as much as in them lieth that do it.) And as no one is a man without his Animal, Vital and Natural parts; so no one is a true Pastor without the threefold power forementioned, of Teaching, Ruling that Church by Pastoral means, and Conducting them in public Worship. He may be a Pastor that is hindered from the exercise of some one of these or more; but not he that hath not the Power in his Office. Dividers therefore make new Church▪Offices, and destroy the old.
41. To divide the essential parts of the Sacred Office, (as to give one the power of Teaching only, another of Worshiping only; and another of Ruling only; or any two of these without the third, is to destroy it, and change the species, as much as in them lieth that do it.) And as no one is a man without his Animal, Vital and Natural parts; so no one is a true Pastor without the threefold power forementioned, of Teaching, Ruleing that Church by Pastoral means, and Conducting them in publick Worship. He may be a Pastor that is hindered from the exercise of some one of these or more; but not he that hath not the Power in his Office. Dividers therefore make new Church▪Offices, and destroy the old.