A27050:726
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.
3. If it be any Coactive or Coercive power of Church Government that you meant, by mulcts or Corporal penalties▪ no Bishops as such have any thing to do with it; not only Bilson, but the generality of the Prelatists disclaim it, and confess that it belongeth only to the King and Magistrates and that they receive it from the King, if ever they exercise any s••h.
3. If it be any Coactive or Coercive power of Church Government that you meant, by mulcts or Corporal penalties▪ no Bishops as such have any thing to do with it; not only Bilson, but the generality of the Prelatists disclaime it, and confess that it belongeth only to the King and Magistrates and that they receive it from the King, if ever they exercise any s••h.
4. What is it then, is it to be the Kings Ecclesiastical Council, to prepare such Canons as he shall enact? Of Canons I shall say more anon. But though Pastors may be the fittest to Council Kings, yet that giveth them no power, nor doth aptitude make an office, nor is the King tied to them, but may advise with whom he please. And experienced present Pastors, are usually fitter to give advice in the matters of Religion, than they. And even Civil impartial Noblemen have usually proved wiser, soberer and more peaceable and happy Church Counsellors, than the interested partial Clergy.
4. What is it then, is it to be the Kings Ecclesiastical Council, to prepare such Canons as he shall enact? Of Canons I shall say more anon. But though Pastors may be the fittest to Council Kings, yet that giveth them no power, nor doth aptitude make an office, nor is the King tyed to them, but may advise whith whom he please. And experienced present Pastors, are usually fitter to give advice in the matters of Religion, than they. And even Civil impartial Noblemen have usually proved wiser, sob•rer and more peaceable and happy Church Councellours, than the interessed partial Clergy.