A27050:347
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.
But next he appealeth to mens consciences, Whether it be not unlikely that there was but one Congregation belonging to these famous Cities towards the end of the Apostles days. Of which more afterward.
In Chap. 4. p. 69. He argueth, [The Presbyteries ordained by the Apostles, were appointed for Dioceses, and not to Parishes: Therefore the Churches endued ⟨p. 63⟩with the power of Ecclesiastical Government were not Parishes but Dioceses.
In Chap. 4. p. 69. He argueth, [The Presbyteries ordained by the Apostles, were appointed for Diocesses, and not to Parishes: Therefore the Churches endued ⟨p. 63⟩with the power of Ecclesiastical Government were not Parishes but Diocesses.
Ans. Our Question is, Whether they were single Churches as before defined, or only One Diocesan Church made up of many such single Churches: 1. If by Presbyteries be meant many Presbyters, a College, or Consessus, I deny the Consequence; because every Church that had Government had not such a Presbytery; But one Bishop or Pastor did serve for some of the lesser Churches, and yet that one had Governing power. 2. I deny the Major: It was single Churches that had then many Elders set over them. 3. Reader, it seemeth to me no small disparagement to the Diocesan Cause, that the grand Patrons of it so extremely differ among themselves. Dr. Hammond holdeth that in all the Scripture times, no one Church had any Presbyters at all, save only one single Bishop. This Bishop Downame seemeth to hold, that every Governed Church had a Presbytery. And [no one] and [every one] extremely differ: Yet either of them would have censure him that had gain-said them.