A27050:694
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.
Obj. But we see that many now will rather stand it out, and go to prison, than they will profess repentance before a Bishop, or at a Chancellors Court.
Obj. But we see that many now will rather stand it out, and go to prison, than they will profess repentance before a Bishop, or at a Chancellours Court.
Ans. But who be those? Not drunkards or fornicators or any wicked livers: But men that more fear to sin against God, who can cast both soul and body into Hell, than to lie in prison: perhaps it is such Ministers as now are silenced for not saying, subscribing or swearing as they are bid: or it is some Church-Wardens who fear that they should be guilty of Persecution or Perjury (which in their opinion are neither of them things indifferent) if they should take the Oaths with the Articles that sometimes are offered them. Or perhaps it is some one for not receiving the Sacrament, either when a troubled Conscience maketh them fear lest they should eat and drink damnation to themselves, or from a Minister, or with a Church, which they think the Scripture commandeth them to avoid: whether such be in the right or in the wrong, no wonder if they refuse to repent, though they suffer, when they fear a greater suffering from God.
Obj But the Minister of the place, though he excommunicates none, may seek to bring the sinner to repentance, and may satisfy the Church of the justness of the excommunication.
Obj But the Minister of the place, though he excommunicates none, may seek to bring the sinner to repentance, and may satisfie the Church of the justness of the excommunication.