A27050:69
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.
And upon such Reasons (but above all, that I might not cast away my opportunity for some more useful writings, nor put an end to my own labours before God put an end to them) I have been silent in this Cause since our public debates in 1661, above ten years. I have lived peaceably; I have endeavoured to preserve the due reputation of the public Ministry, and to persuade all others to due subjection, love and quietness: I have by Word and Writing opposed the Principles of such as are exasperated by their sufferings into the Dividing and Separating extreme; Though I knew, that by so doing, I was like to incur the displeasure and b•tter cen•••e of the Separatists, as much as I had before of the Prelates, (though not to suffer so much by them.) And I thought that the Prelates themselves who would not understand the true state of the People, nor the tendency of their way, by our informations, and evident Reasons, might yet come in time to know all by experience, and so to amend what they have done amiss.
And upon such Reasons (but above all, that I might not cast away my opportunity for some more useful writings, nor put an end to my own labours before God put an end to them) I have been silent in this Cause since our publick debates in 1661, above ten years. I have lived peaceably; I have endeavoured to preserve the due reputation of the publick Ministry, and to perswade all others to due subjection, love and quietness: I have by Word and Writing opposed the Principles of such as are exasperated by their sufferings into the Dividing and Separating extream; Though I knew, that by so doing, I was like to incur the displeasur and b•tter cen•••e of the Separatists, as much as I had before of the Prelates, (though not to suffer so much by them.) And I thought that the Prelates themselves who would not understand the true state of the People, nor the tendency of their way, by our informations, and evident Reasons, might yet come in time to know all by experience, and so to amend what they have done amiss.
But now I dare be no longer silent for the Reasons given Apol. ch. 1. which I will stay the Rder biey to sum up. 1. I find that experience it self doth not Teach some men, but Harden them.