A27050:464
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.
2. And yet if neither they, nor John Baptist, in Baptizing, did exercise any power of the Keys (which he can never prove) it is nothing to our Case.
3. When will he prove that the Evangelists and the Itinerant Assistants of the Apostles, had not the power of the Keys? When themselves commonly say, that the higher Orders contain the powers of the lower? And are the Bishops higher than the Evangelists?
4. Nay, when will he prove, that ever any Presbyter was Ordained by the Apostles, or by any others as they appointed, without the power of the Keys? It would weary one that loveth not confusion and lost labour, to read long Discourses of the Power of the Keys or Government, which distinguish not the Government of the Laity or Flocks, from the Government of the Ministers themselves? and that abuse the Church by feigning an Office of Presbyters that are not Presbyters, and proving that Church-Governors are not Church-Governors? For what is the Office of the Presbyter or Pastor essentially, but a Stated Power and obligation to Teach and Govern the People, and Worship as their mouth and guide?
4. Nay, when will he prove, that ever any Presbyter was Ordained by the Apostles, or by any others as they appointed, without the power of the Keys? It would weary one that loveth not confusion and lost lalabour, to read long Discourses of the Power of the Keys or Government, which distinguish not the Government of the Laity or Flocks, from the Government of the Ministers themselves? and that abuse the Church by feigning an Office of Presbyters that are not Presbyters, and proving that Church-Governors are not Church-Governors? For what is the Office of the Presbyter or Pastor essentially, but a Stated Power and obligation to Teach and Govern the People, and Worship as their mouth and guide?