A27050:300
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 he saith, it is used to signify, particularly and definitely the Church of a Nation in the plural number. And is not this a strange kind of Allegation? The Scripture speaketh of [the Churches in a Nation.] Therefore it useth the word for the Church of a Nation, in the plural number. Is one Church and many all one with him: Would he have applauded that man that would have said, that such an Author useth the word [College] (for the College of an University in the plural number,) because he named the College in an University? and this to prove that an University is one College? Had it not been better said, The New Testament never useth the word Church for all the Churches in one Nation (since Christ) definitely, but ever calleth them plurally Churches: Therefore to call them all One (National) Church is not to imitate the Scripture.
And he saith, it is used to signifie, particularly and definitely the Church of a Nation in the plural number. And is not this a strange kind of Allegation? The Scripture speaketh of [the Churches in a Nation.] Therefore it useth the word for the Church of a Nation, in the plural number. Is one Church and many all one with him: Would he have applauded that man that would have said, that such an Author useth the word [College] (for the College of an University in the plural number,) because he named the College in an University? and this to prove that an University is one College? Had it not been better said, The New Testament never useth the word Church for all the Churches in one Nation (since Christ) definitely, but ever calleth them plurally Churches: Therefore to call them all One (National) Church is not to imitate the Scripture.
His first Instance is, Rom. 6. 4. All the Churches of the Gentiles. A sad proof of a National Church! What Nation is it that the word [Gentiles] signifieth? No doubt the Gentile Churches were in Gentile Nations: But that doth not prove that the Christians in any Nation are ever called in Scripture (since the Jews Nation) One Church but Churches.