A27050:474
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.
And now to his Arguments. 1. Paul planted; Paul only was their Father. What then? Ergo, Paul only was their Bishop. I deny the Consequence, and may long wait for a syllable of proof. Contrarily, Paul only was not their Apostle: Ergo, Paul only was not their Bishop. For every Apostle you say hath Episcopal Power included in the Apostolical: and none of them ceased to have Apostolical Power where-ever they came, (though they were many together, as at Jerusalem) Ergo, None of them ceased to have Episcopal Power. The conceit of Conversion and Paternity entitling to sole Episcopacy, I shall confute by it self anon.
And now to his Arguments. 1. Paul planted; Paul onely was their Father. What then? Ergo, Paul onely was their Bishop. I deny the Consequence, and may long wait for a syllable of proof. Contrarily, Paul onely was not their Apostle: Ergo, Paul onely was not their Bishop. For every Apostle you say hath Episcopal Power included in the Apostolical: and none of them ceased to have Apostolical Power where-ever they came, (though they were many together, as at Jerusalem) Ergo, None of them ceased to have Episcopal Power. The conceit of Conversion and Paternity entituling to sole Episcopacy, I shall confute by it self anon.
2. But Paul judged the incestuous person, and speaketh of coming with the rod. And what followeth? Ergo, None but Paul might do the same in that Diocese. I deny the Consequence. Any other Apostle might do the same. Where is your Proof? And if all this were granted, it is nothing against the Cause that we maintain.
2. But Paul judged the incestuous person, and speaketh of coming with the rod. And what followeth? Ergo, None but Paul might do the same in that Diocess. I deny the Consequence. Any other Apostle might do the same. Where is your Proof? And if all this were granted, it is nothing against the Cause that we maintain.