A27050:594
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.
16. This model of theirs is in most parts of the world or many, quite contrary to the Interest of the Church: and therefore forbidden by God in Nature and Scripture, by that rule, Let the end be preferred, and the means which best serve it: Let all things be done to edification: For in most of the world the Rulers are enemies to Christianity, and disposed to persecute the Pastors of the Church, therefore they will least endure Ecclesiastical Courts and Bishops in their Imperial Cities, and under their noses (as we say) Obj. The Romans did endure it. Ans. For all the ten persecutions, the Romans gave ordinarily more liberty of Religion than most of the world doth at this day. Bishops and Pastors, are glad to keep out of the way of Infidel and Heathen Rulers. (And I think verily our most Zealous English Prelates would be loath, (if they had their language) to go set up a Church and Bishops seat at Madrid, Vienna, Ingolstadt, yea at Florence, Milan, Ravenna, Venice, Lisbon, Warsaw, &c. And if they must needs be in those Countries, they would rather chose a more private and less offensive seat.
16. This model of theirs is in most parts of the world or many, quite contrary to the Interest of the Church: and therefore forbidden by God in Nature and Scripture, by that rule, Let the end be preferred, and the means which best serve it: Let all things be done to edification: For in most of the world the Rulers are enemies to Christianity, and disposed to persecute the Pastors of the Church, therefore they will least endure Ecclesiastical Courts and Bishops in their Imperial Cities, and under their noses (as we say) Obj. The Romans did endure it. Ans. For all the ten persecutions, the Romans gave ordinarily more liberty of Religion than most of the world doth at this day. Bishops and Pastors, are glad to keep out of the way of Infidel and Heathen Rulers. (And I think verily our most Zealous English Prelates would be loath, (if they had their language) to go set up a Church and Bishops seat at Madrid, Vienna, Jngolsted, yea at Florence, Milan, Ravenna, Venice, Lisbone, Warsaw, &c. And if they must needs be in those Countries, they would rather chose a more private and less offensive seat.
17. I think that few Churches or Bishops in the world, except the Italian (if they) are of the opinion now opposed by me.