A27050:527
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.
I can scarce speak my thoughts plainlier, than by the Doctors next words, § 9. [It is evident that by the immediate impulse of the Spirit of God Bishops were constituted (Deacons only joined to them) in every Church, and so at Corinth, and the rest of the Cities of Achaia: And that by the command of the same Divine Prophecy or Revelation, successors were assigned to them after their departure; (not a new order invented) Christ thus consulting and providing for the Churches peace, &c.] And §. 14. he well granteth, 1. That the form of Church Government was no where changed by the Apostles (and so no middle order instituted by them.) 2. That through all their Age, and when they were consummate in the middle, under their Disciples, the Government of every Church was in the power of the Bishops and Deacons in common.
I can scarce speak my thoughts plainlier, than by the Doctors next words, § 9. [It is evident that by the immediate impulse of the Spirit of God Bishops were constituted (Deacons only joyned to them) in every Church, and so at Corinth, and the rest of the Cities of Achaia: And that by the command of the same Divine Prophesie or Revelation, successors were assigned to them after their departure; (not a new order invented) Christ thus consulting and providing for the Churches peace, &c.] And §. 14. he well granteth, 1. That the form of Church Government was no where changed by the Apostles (and so no middle order instituted by them.) 2. That through all their Age, and when they were consummate in the middle, under their Disciples, the Government of every Church was in the power of the Bishops and Deacons in common.
But whereas §. 13, &c. he layeth this as the ground of his Cause, 1. That it was not the Church at Corinth alone, but of all Achaia that Clemens writeth to under this name. 2. And that there were not many Bishops in one Church, ⟨p. 105⟩but one to each of these particular Churches: I desire the Reader, 1. To try impartially whether in all the Drs. Book there be one word of cogent Evidence to prove what he saith, yea or to make it credible or likely. 2. To consider these Reasons following for the contrary.