A27050:258
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.
72. But yet I think it not simply unlawful to join at any time with such an Assembly: For I may join with a Christian Family, or occasional Assembly, though not as with a Church.
72. But yet I think it not simply unlawful to joyn at any time with such an Assembly: For I may joyn with a Christian Family, or occasional Assembly, though not as with a Church.
73. We hold that all the Christians in the World (in particular Churches or out) do make up one Catholic or Universal Church: which is Mystical and Invisible, in that, 1. the Faith of Mens minds is Invisible, 2. and Christ is Invisible to us Mortals now he is in Heaven. But it is also Visible, 1. In respect of the Members and their outward Baptism and Profession, 2. and because that Christ the Head was once Visible on Earth, and is still Visible in Heaven to the Glorified part (as the King is to his Courtiers, when the rest of the Kingdom seeth him not.) and will Visibly appear again to all.
73. We hold that all the Christians in the World (in particular Churches or out) do make up one Catholick or Universal Church: which is Mystical and Invisible, in that, 1. the Faith of Mens minds is Invisible, 2. and Christ is Invisible to us Mortals now he is in Heaven. But it is also Visible, 1. In respect of the Members and their outward Baptism and Profession, 2. and because that Christ the Head was once Visible on Earth, and is still Visible in Heaven to the Glorified part (as the King is to his Courtiers, when the rest of the Kingdom seeth him not.) and will Visibly appear again to all.
74. We hold that this Universal Church is One in Christ alone, and that it hath no other King or Head; That he hath Instituted no Vicarious Head, either Pope or General Council; Nor is any mortal man or men capable of such an Office.