A27050:39
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.
13. And if for order sake these Diocesans should have a negative voice (unless in cases of forfeiture or necessity) in the ordination of Ministers to the Church universal, not taking away the power of particular Churches to choose, or at least freely consent or dissent, as to the fixing of Pastors over themselves, we would submit to all this for common peace. Specially if the Magistrate only choose men to Benefices and Magistracies, and none had the Pastoral power of the Keys, but by the Election of the Clergy and the peoples consent, which was the judgment and practice of the universal Church, from the beginning of Episcopacy till of late.
13. And if for order sake these Diocesans should have a negative voice (unless in cases of forfeiture or necessity) in the ordination of Ministers to the Church universal, not taking away the power of particular Churches to choose, or at least freely consent or dissent, as to the fixing of Pastors over themselves, we would submit to all this for common peace. Specially if the Magistrate only choose men to Benefices and Magistracies, and none had the Pastoral power of the Keyes, but by the Election of the Clergy and the peoples consent, which was the judgment and practice of the universal Church, from the beginning of Episcopacy till of late.
14. And lastly we hold the Magistrate the only Governor by the Sword, as well of Pastors as of Physicians and all ⟨image 7⟩others: And though he may not take the work of our proper calling out of our hands no more than the Physicians, yet he may (by justice and discretion) punish us for male-administration, and drive us to our duty, though not hinder us from it; And we consent to do all under his Government: Judge now whether we set up Popes or Tyrants.
14. And lastly we hold the Magistrate the only Governour by the Sword, as well of Pastors as of Physicians and all ⟨image 7⟩others: And though he may not take the work of our proper calling out of our hands no more than the Physicians, yet he may (by justice and discretion) punish us for male-administration, and drive us to our duty, though not hinder us from it; And we consent to do all under his Government: Judge now whether we set up Popes or Tyrants.