A27050:664
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.
Nothing hath more deceived men (next to Infidelity and Carnality)1 •n this controversy, than want of experience: Judging by a noise of words of such matters as they never faithfully tried. Had men well tried a few years what it is to do the Office of a Pastor, they would easily know to whom it belongeth. But when either University students, or Nominal Pastors do stand by and look on, or read and hear only of the name, of Church-Power and Government, and never did more themselves, than to preach and say the service of the Church, or now and then visit a sick man, or dine or talk on the by with a neighbour, or at most hear Children say their Catechism, it is no wonder if they talk at random, and think that a man may be the only Bishop of many hundred Churches, and Govern them per alios, or at twenty, or forty, or an hundred miles distance, by mere visiting or meeting the Clergy, and dining with them once in three Years.
NOthing hath more deceived men (next to Infidelity and Carnality)1 •n this controversie, than want of experience: Judging by a noise of words of such matters as they never faithfuly tryed. Had men well tryed a few years what it is to do the Office of a Pastor, they would easily know to whom it belongeth. But when either University students, or Nominal Pastors do stand by and look on, or read and hear only of the name, of Church-Power and Government, and never did more themselves, than to preach and say the service of the Church, or now and then visit a sick man, or dine or talk on the by with a neighbour, or at most hear Chilren say their Catechism, it is no wonder if they talk at randome, and think that a man may be the only Bishop of many hundred Churches, and Govern them per alios, or at twenty, or fourty, or an hundred miles distance, by meer visiting or meeting the Clergy, and dining with them once in three Years.
- 1•••• Chrysostom de s•cerdotio cap. 17 p. 57 Even about so small a part of a Bishops or Pastors charge as the care of Virgins saith. But if any one say that there is no need of a Bishop to meddle with such things as these; Let him know that upon him will fall all the cares of Virgins duty, and so all the accusation; which shall be cast on Virgins: And therefore it is much better if he administering the business himself he shall be void of those causes, which he must sustain by others offences; thus leaving that administration to live in fear of giving account or being judged for the sins which others do commit. Add also, that he that performeth this office by himself, transacteth all with great facility. But he that is necessitated to do it by the vicarious labour of others, besides that it is a great business to him to persuade all mens minds well to perform the work; certainly he himself hath not so much remission of his labour by abstaining from that office, as he must sustain business and troubles from them that resist, and strive against his judgment and opinion.] And if so great a Bishop as the Patriarchs of Constantinople must not do so small a part of his work per alios, alas, what a life do our Diocesans live.!