A27050:677
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.
9. And the blessing of the people in the name of the Lord, at the dismission of the Assembly hath of old been reserved to the Bishop as his part which is to be done by one that is there present.
II. And as for those acts of Application to persons and cases which are to be done out of the Assembly, 1. To be at hand for the people to repair to in their greater doubts for resolution, and greatest difficulties for direction (as a Physician among the sick) is not the least part of the true Bishops work. And this requireth his usual presence and some acquaintance usually with the persons life: No man will expect that all such doubting people travail to a strange Bishop many score miles distant, or out of their reach.
II. And as for those acts of Application to persons and cases which are to be done out of the Assembly, 1. To be at hand for the people to repair to in their greater doubts for resolution, and greatest difficulties for direction (as a Physician among the sick) is not the least part of the true Bishops work. And this requireth his usual presence and some acquaintance usually with the persons life: No man will expect that all such doubting people travaile to a strange Bishop many score miles distant, or out of their reach.
2. To hear the confessions and cases of burdened penitent souls and to direct them in the true way to peace and comfort, is a special part of the Bishops work besides his resolution of Doctrinal doubts which requireth presence, and acquaintance (usually) with the person.