A27050:27
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.
But if they truly understood the case, they would see the shame of this deriding objection. 1. A Pope is a Monarch or Governor of the world, and a Diocesan of a multitude of Parishes. And sure he usurpeth not so much, who will be but the Church-guide of one? A man is abler to guide one School, College, Hospital, or Family, than a hundred or thousand, without any true Master of a Family, School, College, &c. under him.
But if they truly understood the case, they would see the shame of this deriding objection. 1. A Pope is a Monarch or Governour of the world, and a Diocesan of a multitude of Parishes. And sure he usurpeth not so much, who will be but the Church-guide of one? A man is abler to guide one School, Colledge, Hospital, or Family, than a hundred or thousand, without any true Master of a Family, School, Colledge, &c. under him.
2. Why is not this foolish scorn used against these foresaid relations also? Why say they, not every Master maketh himself a Pope or Bishop to his own house, and every School-Master to his School, whereas one Master over a thousand would do better with bare Teaching Ushers, that had no Government.
2. Why is not this foolish scorne used against these foresaid relations also? Why say they, not every Master maketh himself a Pope or Bishop to his own house, and every School-Master to his School, whereas one Master over a thousand would do better with bare Teaching Ushers, that had no Government.
3. Let it be remembered that we would have no Parish Pastor to have any forcing power, by Fines, Mulcts, Imprisonments, &c. But only to prevail so far as his management of Divine authority on mens Consciences can prevail: And we would not have Magistrates punish men merely because they stand excommunicate, or because they tell not the Clergy that they repent. True excommunication is a heavy punishment fitted to its proper use, and not to be corrupted by the force of the Sword, but to operate by it self; And valeat quantum valere potest. He that despiseth it will not say he is enslaved by it. But is this all that the Bishops desire?