A27050:295
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.
And Cap. 5. as to the power of Jurisdiction he saith the same, p. 110. 111. [I deny not Presbyters (which have charge of souls) to have Jurisdiction; both severally in their Parishes, and jointly in Provincial Synods. And I have confessed before, that Presbyters have with and under the Bishops exercised some Jurisdiction. I grant that Godly Bishops, before they had the countenance and assistance of Christian Magistracy *and direction of Christian Laws; used in all matters of moment, to consult with their Clergy. This was practised by Cyprian, Ambrose also (in 1 Tim. 5. 1.) teacheth, that there was a time when nothing was done without the advice of the Presbyters; which therefore by Ignatius are called the Counsellors and Co-assessors of the Bishops: Which course if it were used still, as it would ease the Bishops burden very much, so would it nothing detract from their superiority in Governing.—
- *The Prelates pretence for innovation: All the cause is laid on Magistrates.
And page 115. [The thing which I was to prove, if it had been needful, was, that whereas Presbyters did Govern each one the People of a Parish, and that privately, †the Bishop Governeth the People of the whole Diocese and that publicly.
And page 115. [The thing which I was to prove, if it had been needful, was, that whereas Presbyters did Govern each one the People of a Parish, and that privately, †the Bishop Governeth the People of the whole Diocess and that publickly.
- †Doth a public Church Pastor govern but privately? what meaneth he by that which can be good sense? A private man may rule privately, that is, by Counsell: Judicium publicum is the Officers judgment.