A27050:733
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 how know you but them in hath righter ends together with these, punishment brings many a man to reason and true repentance.
Ans. You suppose your selves that the word and Keys will not prevail with him of themselves; and therefore it is that you desire force; your own Consciences tell you that it is but to avoid punishment that you suppose him to profess repentance: Otherwise when your threats have brought him to repentance, try what is the cause by remitting the penalty on his body, and after freely leaving him to himself.
Obj. But some are like Children that will hear reason when their stubbornness is taken down: Therefore it may also have better motives for ought you know.
Ans. 1. Men that are dealt with in the matters of Salvation, are not to be thus used as Fools and Children about common things; but as men that must live and die as they choose. 2. And God hath left us no such means to bring men into a right Choice in things of this nature. Otherwise you might set Infidels on the Rack till they consent to be Baptized, or send them to Prison, and then say, how know you but this, as the Rod doth Children, hath brought them to their wits. But the Church of Christ never took this course, nor never thus understood his will. 3. The case is plain to men that will understand: When God hath made mens free consent the Condition of their Salvation and the Profession