A27050:399
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.
He showeth that the use of the Keys is called Jurisdiction, but by the same figure by which Preaching is called Legislation (which is true as to the Declaration who is bound or loose, in foro caeli; but Pastors more properly judge who is to be taken into Church-communion or excluded.) ⟨p. 72⟩The prescript of Penance he saith is no Jurisdiction, but as the Counsel of a Physician, or Lawyer, or Philosopher. That the denying of the Sacraments is not properly Jurisdiction, he thus (excellently) explaineth [p. 229. As he that Baptizeth, or as the old custom was, puts the Eucharist into ones mouth or hand, doth exercise an act of Ministry and not of Jurisdiction; so also he that abstaineth from the same acts. For the reason of the visible signs, and of the audible is the same: By what right therefore a Pastor denounceth by-words to one that is manifestly flagitious, that he is an utter alien to the Grace of God; by the same right also he doth not Baptize him, because it is the sign of remission of sin; or if he be Baptized giveth him not the Eucharist, as being the sign of Communion with Christ. For the sign is not to be given to him that the thing signified doth not agree to; nor are pearls to be given to swine: But, as the Deacon was wont to cry in the Church [Holy things are for the Holy] Yea it were not only against Truth, but against charity, to make him partaker of the Lords Supper, who discerneth not the Lords Body, but eateth and drinketh judgment to himself: In these things while the Pastor doth only suspend his own act, and doth 1not exercise any Dominion over the acts of others, it is apparent that this belongeth to the use of Liberty, and not to the exercise of Jurisdiction. Such like is the case of a Physician refusing to give an Hydropic water when he desireth it, or in a grave person who refuseth to salute a profligate fellow, and in those that avoid the company of the Leprous. (Only it must be remembered that this avoidance is by a Society governed therein by an Officer of Divine Institution.)
He sheweth that the use of the Keys is called Jurisdiction, but by the same figure by which Preaching is called Legislation (which is true as to the Declaration who is bound or loose, in foro caeli; but Pastors more properly judge who is to be taken into Church-communion or excluded.) ⟨p. 72⟩