A27050:707
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.
Ans. 1. If so, then nothing but Commissioning others, is the proper work of the Episcopal order: and then any Presbyter may in foro interno vel externo ordinarily exercise the whole power of the Keys upon the flocks, he may Excommunicate and absolve publicly; as an act common to his Office with the Bishops, if it Please the Bishop to give him Power, which he may do without making him a Bishop. And if so, I enquire whether God be not the maker of the Presbyters office, and not the Bishop? and whether God only (describing it) give not all the power by way of Law, Charter or Institution, and the Bishop give it not only by way of ministerial solemnization and investiture? and if so, whether he that is duly called to the Pastoral office, which God only made and described, wust not (in season) do the works of that office? whether men commission him or not? or whether at least he any more need the Bishops commission for Church Government, Excommunication and Absolution, than for Preaching and Celebrating the Lords supper, seeing both are now thus confessed acts common to the order of the Presbyter and the Bishop? I think all this is past contradiction
Ans. 1. If so, then nothing but Commissioning others, is the proper work of the Episcopal order: and then any Presbyter may in foro interno vel externo ordinarily exercise the whole power of the Keys upon the flocks, he may Excommunicate and absolve publikly; as an act common to his Office with the Bishops, if it Please the Bishop to give him Power, which he may do without making him a Bishop. And if so, I enquire whether God be not the maker of the Presbyters office, and not the Bishop? and whether God only (describing it) give not all the power by way of Law, Charter or Institution, and the Bishop give it not only by way of ministerial solemnization and investiture? and if so, whether he that is duely called to the Pastoral office, which God only made and discribed, wust not (in season) do the works of that office? whether men commission him or not? or whether at least he any more need the Bishops commission for Church Government, Excommunication and Absolution, than for Preaching and Celebrating the Lords supper, seeing both are now thus confessed acts common to the order of the Presbyter and the Bishop? I think all this is past contradiction