A27050:327
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 what is the Episcopal power over Infidels, which is claimed? It is not a power to Ordain, or to Excommunicate them. It can be no other than a power to Preach to them, and Baptize them when converted. And this is confessed to belong to Presbyters. If the Bishops would divide the World into Dioceses, and be the only Preachers in those Dioceses, it would be no wonder if the World be unconverted. It is not Bishops that are sent by the Papists themselves to convert the Indians.
And what is the Episcopal power over Infidels, which is claimed? It is not a power to Ordain, or to Excommunicate them. It can be no other than a power to Preach to them, and Baptize them when converted. And this is confessed to belong to Presbyters. If the Bishops would divide the World into Diocesses, and be the only Preachers in those Diocesses, it would be no wonder if the World be unconverted. It is not Bishops that are sent by the Papists themselves to convert the Indians.
But perhaps you may say that the Bishops rule those Presbyters that do it. I answer, 1. It's an imperfect kind of Government, which a Bishop in England can exercise over Presbyters that daily Preach, as Mr. Eliot his helpers to the Natives in a Wilderness many thousand Miles from them. 2. But if they do rule the Preachers, that maketh not the Soil nor the Heathens to be any parts of their Church, but the Preachers only. Therefore a Diocese with them, and a Church, must be different things.
But perhaps you may say that the Bishops rule those Presbyters that do it. I answer, 1. It's an imperfect kind of Government, which a Bishop in England can exercise over Presbyters that daily Preach, as Mr. Eliat his helpers to the Natives in a Wilderness many thousand Miles from them. 2. But if they do rule the Preachers, that maketh not the Soil nor the Heathens to be any parts of their Church, but the Preachers only. Therefore a Diocess with them, and a Church, must be different things.