A27050:630
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.
CHAP. X. That a particular Church of the first or lowest order, must consist of Neighbour Christians associated for Personal Communion in local presence, in holy worship and conversation; and not of strangers so remote, as have only an Internal Heart-Communion, or an External Communion by the mediation of others.
CHAP. X. That a particular Church of the first or lowest order, must consist of Neighbour Christians associated for Personal Communion in local presence, in holy worship and conversation; and not of strangres so remote, as have only an Internal Heart-Communion, or an External Communion by the mediation of others.
Let it be here noted (that none dally with the Name [Church] as an equivocal, that, 1. I speak of no mere Community of Christians, nor of any accidental assembly, which have no Pastors, or no intent of sacred ends; Call them what you will: But of a proper Christian society constituted of the Pars gubernans and the Pars gubernata; the Pastor and Flock. 2. That I speak not of a Family Church, which consisteth of the Master and the Family. 3. Nor yet of the Universal Political Church, as visible or as mystical: which consisteth of Christ the head, and all visible or sincere believers. 4. Nor of any Christian Churches confined by Agreement for Concord of Churches, being many. 5. Nor of any such Churches accidentally united in one kingdom, under one king or Civil Governor, whether Christian or Infidel. 6. Nor of many Churches headed by humane appointment with one Metropolitan, Primate or Patriarch, being a Pastor thus exalted by men above the rest. 7. Nor yet of many Churches under one Arch-Bishop or general Apostolical Visitor or Pastor, claiming this general oversight by Divine right (whether rightly or wrongfully I now take no notice) 8. But the Church which I treat of is, only the political society of Christians of the first rank (and so of a Bishop of the lowest rank, or a mere Bishop that is no Arch-Bishop). Not of an Oratory, or Chapel of ease, where part of a true Church often meet; but of a true entire Church of the first magnitude or rank.
LEt it be here noted (that none dally with the Name [Church] as an equivocal, that, 1. I speak of no meer Community of Christians, nor of any accidentall assembly, which have no Pastors, or no intent of sacred ends; Call them what you will: But of a proper Christian society constituted of the Pars gubernans and the Pars gubernata; the Pastor and Flock. 2. That I speak not of a Family Church, which consisteth of the Master and the Family. 3. Nor yet of the Universal Political Church, as visible or as mysticall: which consisteth of Christ the head, and all visible or sincere believers. 4. Nor of any Christian Churches confined by Agreement for Concord of Churches, being many. 5. Nor of any such Churches accidentaly united in one kingdom, under one king or Civil Governor, whether Christian or Infidel. 6. Nor of many Churches headed by humane appointment with one Metropolitane, Primate or Patriack, being a Pastor thus exalted by men above the rest. 7. Nor yet of many Churches under one Arch-Bishop or general Apostolical Visitor or Pastor, claiming this general oversight by Divine right (whether rightly or wrongfully I now take no notice) 8. But the Church which I treat of is, only the political society of Christians of the first ranck (and so of a Bishop of the lowest ranck, or a meer Bishop that is no Arch-Bishop). Not of an Oratory, or Chappel of ease, where part of a true Church often meet; but of a true entire Church of the first magnitude or rank.