A27050:67
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. I. The Reasons of this Writing.
I Am not ignorant how displeasing it will be to the Prelates, that I publish these Reasons of my Nonconformity to the Subscriptions and Oaths by which they would have me become an obliged Approver of their Function. Nor am I ignorant what Power, Wit and Will they have to express and exercise their displeasure: And consequently, how probable it is that I shall suffer by them for this work. And I well know that peaceable subjects should not unnecessarily say any thing against that which is required by their Rulers Laws, nor cherish the Peoples discontents, but do all that is lawful for the common Peace: And I am not of so pugnacious or self-hating a disposition, as to be willing of mens displeasure, especially my Superiors, or to be ruined in this World, and all that I may but vent my Opinion, in a case wherein I have published already so much that is still unanswered, as in my Disputations of Church-Government is to be seen.
I Am not ignorant how displeasing it will be to the Prelates, that I publish these Reasons of my Nonconformity to the Subscriptions and Oaths by which they would have me become an obliged Approver of their Function. Nor am I ignorant what Power, Wit and Will they have to express and exercise their displeasure: And consequently, how probable it is that I shall suffer by them for this work. And I well know that peaceable subjects should not unnecessarily say any thing against that which is required by their Rulers Laws, nor cherish the Peoples discontents, but do all that is lawful for the common Peace: And I am not of so pugnacious or self-hating a disposition, as to be willing of mens displeasure, especially my Superiours, or to be ruined in this World, and all that I may but vent my Opinion, in a case wherein I have published already so much that is still unanswered, as in my Disputations of Church-Government is to be seen.