A27050:230
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.
45. Therefore though many Pastors of the same Office may in a great Church distribute the work among them, yet none of them must do it only as the delegate of another, not having himself from God the Office which containeth the power of doing it.
46. But the Accidentals of the Pastoral Office may be committed to a Lay-man, or one that is no Pastor (As to summon Assemblies, to keep Registers, or the Church Books, Goods, Buildings, with many the like:) And so some think that the Apostles instituting Deacons was but a communicating the Accidentals of their Office to other men. Therefore if Chancellors did only these accidental works (or Lay Elder either) and meddled not with the sacred power of the Keys, we should not be so quarrelsome, as to condemn their undertaking, unless it were for the abuse.
47. We doubt not but in a Church that hath many Pastors, those that are young and weak should much submit to the elder and more able, and be as far ruled by them, as the difference of age, experience and abilities, without a difference of Office, doth require.
48. And we doubt not, but where Temples and Church-maintenance are at the dispose of Patrons, People or Magistrates, they may give them to some one Pastor as the present possessor, so that no other shall have part but by his concession. And this difference there is between the Parson and his Curates in our Parishes, and an accidental superiority and inferiority thereby, without a difference of Office.