A27050:334
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 Argument is, [Churches, whose Circuit contained Cities and Countries adjoining, were Dioceses. But, &c.
His first Argument is, [Churches, whose Circuit contained Cities and Countries adjoining, were Diocesses. But, &c.
This is before answered: Our Question is, Whether they were as our Diocesan Churches, such as had in these Cities and Countries many Altars and Churches without Bishops under them: Trees, and Houses, and Fields, and Heathen People, make not Churches, nor yet scattered Christians, that were Members only of the City Church.
His proof of the Minor is, 1. These Churches comprised all the Churches of Asia.
His proof of the Minor is, 1. These Churches comprized all the Churches of Asia.
Ans. If he mean that all the rest of the Churches of Asia had no Bishops but Parish Presbyters under these seven Bishops he should prove it, (and confute Dr. Hammond that is so contrary to him, (had he then lived:) Till then we take it as a contemptible incredible assertion, that Asia had but seven Bishops, and yet a multitude of Churches: If he mean only that these seven were Archbishops, his impertinency is too palpable.