A27050:607
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
Part 1 › Chapter 7: The Definition and reasons of a Diocesan Church considered, and overthrown.
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.
2. Is it then the circuit of ground that is the boundary of these ⟨p. 121⟩Churches, either this ground is inhabited, or not; if not, then earth and trees make their Churches. If inhabited, it is by Infidels, or by Christians, or both. If by Infidels they are no members of any Christian Church, and therefore not of a Diocesan Church. Unless they will profess to have Churches of Infidels:
2. Is it then the circuit of ground that is the boundary of these ⟨p. 121⟩Churches, either this ground is inhabited, or not; if not, then earth and trees make their Churches. If inhabited, it is by Infidels, or by Christians, or both. If by Infidels they are no members of any Christian Church, and therefore not of a Diocesan Church. Unless they will professe to have Churhes of Infidels:
If they be Christians, either they are no more, nor more distant than as that they may (at least the main body of them) come on the Lords days to the City Church into one assembly, or else they are enow to make more or many Church assemblies. If the former, than what differ they from a Parish Church, or an Independent Church, which is planted in a City? When each of them are but one congregation, where is the difference but in the arbitrary Name?
If they be Christians, either they are no more, nor more distant than as that they may (at least the main body of them) come on the Lords daies to the City Church into one assembly, or else they are enow to make more or many Church assemblies. If the former, than what differ they from a Parish Church, or an Independent Church, which is planted in a City? When each of them are but one congregation, where is the difference but in the arbitrary Name?