A27050:711
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 if commanding another to do an office work be all that is proper to the Bishop, I ask whether any thing there be proper to him? and so whether we must have such an office? For may not the King command the Minister to do all the work which belongeth to his function? may he not appoint Magistrates, and make Law to command it? may he not punish those that do it not? Is he not custos utriusque tabulae? and must he not correct mal-administration in ministers, and drive them to do their duty? No doubt he may.
And if commanding another to do an office work be all that is proper to the Bishop, I ask whether any thing there be proper to him? and so whether we must have such an office? For may not the King command the Minister to do all the work which belongeth to his function? may he not appoint Magistrates, and make Law to command it? may he not punish those that do it not? Is he not custos utriusque tabulae? and must he not corect mal-administration in ministers, and drive them to do their duty? No doubt he may.
Obj. But he doth not ordain Ministers, though he command them to do their duty when ordained.
Obj. But he doth not ordaine Ministers, though he command them to do their duty when ordained.
Ans. 1. Our present question is not about Ordination, but commanding men to Govern the Church by Discipline or fully to Rule by the Keys the people of a particular Church. If this so far belong to the Presbyters office that he may do it by the Bishops Licence, let him that can, tell me why he may not do it by the Kings Licence? and then (as they were wont to say of old) exceptâ ordination, nothing but ordination only is proper to the Bishops office.
Ans. 1. Our present question is not about Ordination, but commanding men to Govern the Church by Discipline or fully to Rule by the Keys the people of a particular Church. If this so far belong to the Presbyters office that he may do it by the Bishops Licence, let him that can, tell me why he may not do it by the Kings Licence? and then (as they were wont to say of old) exceptâ ordinatione, nothing but ordination only is proper to the Bishops office.