A27050:599
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.
But after all this, one consequence puts the world in hope that Diocesans may come in time to be reformed: For seeing Kings may make and unmake Cities, and consequently Bishop-pricks at their pleasure, whenever it shall please his Majesty, or any other wise and Holy Prince, to declare every Corporation and Market Town to be a City, we must needs have a Bishop in every one of them (according to the principles of the Prelates themselves. And then the Diocese will not be so great, but a diligent Pastor may possibly sometimes, see the greater number of his flock.
But after all this, one consequence puts the world in hope that Diocesans may come in time to be reformed: For seeling Kings may make and unmake Cities, and consequently Bishop-pricks at their pleasure, whenever it shall please his Majesty, or any other wise and Holy Prince, to declare every Corporation and Market Town to be a City, we must needs have a Bishop in every one of them (according to the principles of the Prelates themselves. And then the Diocese will not be so great, but a diligent Pastor may possibly sometimes, see the greater number of his flock.
Obj. But they that do say that the Apo•les took this course do not say that it is so obligatory but that in cases of necessity we may do otherwise.
Ans. 1. They allege the very Law of nature for it, that it must be so even in Heathen Empires ex natura rei, as Dr. Hammond before cited. 2. All mere positives give places to natural duties, caeteris paribus: in cases of true necessity we may break the rest of the Lords day, we may omit the Lords Supper, we may stay from the Church assemblies, we may forbear to preach or pray or meditate or read. So that the exception only of necessity will but equal this Diocesan model, to other positive ordinances, which are indeed Divine.