A27050:685
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.
8. And it is confessed to be the Bishops work to admonish the unruly, to reprove and exhort ungodly persons, to convince gainsayers, to hear the accused speak for themselves, to hear what accusers and witnesses say against them; which requireth presence, as shall be further shown anon.
Obj. Other men may examine witnesses and reprove offenders, therefore this may be committed to another.
Ans. Other men may do it on another obligation, in another manner, to another end: But to do it from the Pastoral obligation, in a Pastoral manner, to Pastoral ends, is proper to the Pastors of the Church.
Obj. A Bishop may receive accusations by presentments, or by information, and may summon offenders, examine witnesses, and judge at a distance of persons that are to him unknown.