A27050:638
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.
2. To have the same Pastors that are among them, and over them, and preach to them the word of God, and go before them by the example of an holy life. 1 Thes. 5. 12, 13. Heb. 13. 7, 17, 24. 1 Tim. 3. 6, 7, &c. And how can they hear the Pastors that never Preach to them, or be Guided by those that never see them, or follow their example whom they never knew, or come for counsel to them that are out of their reach and knowledge?
2. To have the same Pastors that are among them, and over them, and preach to them the word of God, and go before them by the example of an holy life. 1 Thes. 5. 12, 13. Heb. 13. 7, 17, 24. 1 Tim. 3. 6, 7, &c. And how can they hear the Pastors that never Preach to them, or be Guided by those that never see them, or follow their example whom they never knew, or come for counsel to them that are out of their reach and knowledg?
3. To send to their Pastors when they are sick, to pray with them, and advise them: which they cannot do to them that are out of their reach. Jam. 5. 4. To provoke one another to Love and to good works, and to consider one another ([Greek or Hebrew]) to that end: A word that signifieth knowledge and more, even Observation of that which we see or know. In which and v. 25. saith Dr. Hammond [Let us weigh and consider all advantages we can have upon one another to provoke and excite one another to Charity and all actions of piety, such as are joining in the public service. And not suffer our selves to proceed so far towards defections as to give over the public assemblies, (the forsaking of which is not is not only deserting the public profession of Christ, but also of the means of growth in grace) but stir up one another to the performance of this] All which suppose propinquity, and and consist not with the distance of uncapable strangers.