A27050:362
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 next Reason is, because Churches were not then divided into Parishes. Which in due place I shall prove to be a sufficient Reason against him. Churches were Societies constituted of Pastors and their Christian Congregations, as afore defined: And his inference is vain, that [Presbyteries were not settled in Parishes, because the Churches were not yet divided into Parishes. For they were Parishes, that is, single Churches, without dividing. The space of Ground called Parishes was not then marked out; Nor was a Diocesan Church (like ours) that hath no subordinate Bishops divided into Parishes; for there were no such Diocesan Churches to be so divided. But the Universal Church and the Apostolical Provinces were made up (or constituted) of Parishes, I mean of particular Churches, as greater numbers are of unites, and as Villages are of Houses. But to say that Churches were not divided into Parishes, in the sense in question, is all one as to say, Churches were not divided into Churches.
His next Reason is, because Churches were not then divided into Parishes. Which in due place I shall prove to be a sufficient Reason against him. Churches were Societies constituted of Pastors and their Christian Congregations, as afore defined: And his inference is vain, that [Presbyteries were not settled in Parishes, because the Churches were not yet divided into Parishes. For they were Parishes, that is, single Churches, without dividing. The space of Ground called Parishes was not then marked out; Nor was a Diocesan Church (like ours) that hath no subordinate Bishops divided into Parishes; for there were no such Diocesan Churches to be so divided. But the Universal Church and the Apostolical Provinces were made up (or constituted) of Parishes, I mean of particular Churches, as greater numbers are of unites, and as Villages are of Houses. But to say that Churches were not divided into Parishes, in the sence in question, is all one as to say, Churches were not divided into Churches.
Our Controversy is like this, Whether all the Families in the Town should have but One common Master? And he that affirmeth it, should argue thus; Masters were not at first appointed to Families but to Villages; For Villages were not at first divided into Families, (when there were none but single Houses erected.) True; but Families were Families before there were Villages to be divided. As Villages were not made before Houses, and then divided into Houses, nor Cities before Streets, and afterwards divided into Streets; nor Kingdoms before Cities and Corporations, and then divided into Corporations, (or inferior Societies) Nor Academies before Colleges, and then divided into Colleges; so neither were Provincial, or Diocesan Churches made before single Churches, and after divided