A27050:486
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.
To prove Metropolitans (again) he tells us, how that in Provinces we find [Churches] mentioned in the Plural number, and in Cities only [a Church] singularly: not perceiving how hereby he overthrows his Cause, when he can never prove that in Scripture many particular, Churches are called [A Church] Diocesan or Metropolitan, as united in one Bishop, as our Diocesan and Metropolitan Churches now are. Nay indeed, though the Society be specified by the Government, yet the Name sticketh in their teeth here in England, and they seldom use the Title of the Church of Canterbury and York] for the whole Province; and they use to say the Diocese of Lincoln, London, Winchester, Worcester, Coventry and Litchfield, &c. rather than [the Church of Lincoln, London, Coventry and Litchfield &c.] lest the Hearers would so hardly he seduced from the proper sense of the word [Church] as not to understand them.
To prove Metropolitans (again) he tells us, how that in Provinces we find [Churches] mentioned in the Plural number, and in Cities onely [a Church] singularly: not perceiving how hereby he overthrows his Cause, when he can never prove that in Scripture many particular, Churches are called [A Church] Diocesane or Metropolitan, as united in one Bishop, as our Diooesane and Metropolitan Churches now are. Nay indeed, though the Society be specified by the Government, yet the Name sticketh in their teeth here in England, and they seldom use the Title of the Church of Canterbury and York] for the whole Province; and they use to say the Diocese of Lincoln, London, Winchester, Worcester, Coventry and Litchfield, &c. rather than [the Church of Lincoln, London, Coventry and Litchfield &c.] lest the Hearers would so hardly he seduced from the proper sense of the word [Church] as not to understand them.
His Proofs of the Civil or Jewish distinction of Metropolitans, §. 4, 5, &c. let them mind that think it pertinent: But § 9. we have a great word, that [It may be proved by many examples, that after this Image the Apostles took care every where to dispose of the Churches, and constituted a subordination and dependence of the lesser on the more eminent Cities, in all their Plantations.] Answ. This is to some purpose, if it be made good. The first Instance is