A27050:447
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.
9. And seeing the Bishops may License a Presbyter to use the Keys, the opening of this will help our understandings about the nature of the Bishops Office. There is no act of Jurisdiction which they do not Ordinarily commit to others. The sentence of Excommunication and Absolution is ordinarily decreed by a Lay-Chancellor. (And Spalatensis saith, that Episcopal Jurisdiction may be done by a Lay Delegate.) The same sentence is Pronounced in Court by a Lay-Man, or a mere Presbyter. The same sentence is published in the Church by a Presbyter or Deacon. And a Prince may give a License to exercise the Ministry to which we were Ordained.
9. And seeing the Bishops may License a Presbyter to use the Keys, the opening of this will help our understandings about the nature of the Bishops Office. There is no act of Jurisdiction which they do not Ordinarily commit to others. The sentence of Excommunication and Absolution is ordinarily decreed by a Lay-Chancellor. (And Spalatensis saith, that Episcopal Jurisdiction may be done by a Lay Delegate.) The same sentence is Pronounced in Court by a Lay-Man, or a meer Presbyter. The same sentence is published in the Church by a Presbyter or Deacon. And a Prince may give a License to exercise the Ministry to which we were Ordained.
I enquire then, 1. Whether the granting of this Episcopal Power, be a making that Man a Bishop that it's granted to? If so, a Bishop, a Presbyter, and a Chancellor are all of one Office, when thus empowered. If not so, then a Lay-man, or one of another Office, may have power to do the Work of the Bishops Office. And what is the Office (tell me if you can) beside Authority and Obligation to do the Work? A Lay-man and Presbyter may by the Bishop be Authorized and Obliged to do the Work of a Bishop, and this ordinarily as an Office: (For so they do,) Ergo, a Chancellor and a Presbyter may be made really a Bishop, and yet in their esteem remain a Lay-man and a Presbyter still. And is not that a Lay Office which a Lay-man may be Commissioned to do? If a Lay-man were but Commissioned to do the Work of a Presbyter (to Teach a Church ordinarily, ⟨p. 83⟩to Administer the Sacraments, and to Excommunicate and Absolve in foro internae poenitentialis, either it would make the Man a Presbyter, or it would be a Nullity. And if it be not so with the Bishops Office, what is the Reason? Is it not because it is not of Divine Specification and Institution, but Humane, and therefore mutable, or such as Men may parcel out, and commit to Lay-men by pieces as they please? So much to Dr. Hammond's Appropriation of the Power of the Keys in that Treatise.