A27050:713
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. 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.
And that this is not proper neither, 1. This objection it self doth intimate, seeing the Bishop may give another Power to ordain: (and then why may not the King?) 2. Many of the Schoolmen, and the Papists themselves confess, that the Pope (say some), or Prelates (say others) may impower an Abbot or Presbyter to ordain, of which see that unanswerable book of Voetius de desperata causa Papatus against Jansenius for Presbyters ordination. 3. And our Church of England causeth Presbyters to impose hands with the Bishops, and Bishop Downam aforecited is angry with his answerer, for supposing that he pleaded for sole power of ordination in the Bishop, when he spake but for a chief power.
And that this is not proper neither, 1. This objection it self doth intimate, seeing the Bishop may give another Power to ordaine: (and then why may not the King?) 2. Many of the Schoolmen, and the Papists themselves confess, that the Pope (say some), or Prelates (say others) may impower an Abbot or Presbyter to ordaine, of which see that unanswerable book of Voetius de desperata causa Papatus against Jansenius for Presbyters ordination. 3. And our Church of England causeth Presbyters to impose hands with the Bishops, and Bishop Downam aforecited is angry with his answerer, for supposing that he pleaded for sole power of ordination in the Bishop, when he spake but for a chief power.