A27050:301
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.
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.
His next instance is, 1 Cor. 16. 1. The Churches of Galatia: And the rest are all such, v. 19. 2 Cor. 8. 1. Gal. 1. 2. 22. The Churches of Asia, Macedonia, Judea: But I hope he intended no more than to tell you that the Christians of several Nations, are never called a Church, but Churches, as having any sort of Union than National.
His next instance is, 1 Cor. 16. 1. The Churches of Galatia: And the rest are all such, v. 19. 2 Cor. 8. 1. Gal. 1. 2. 22. The Churches of Asia, Macedonia, Judaea: But I hope he intended no more than to tell you that the Christians of several Nations, are never called a Church, but Churches, as having any sort of Union than National.
He giveth many instances when the word [Church] is used definitely to signify the Church of a City and Country adjoining: But to prove it used to signify several Churches in City and Country adjoining, but one only.