A27050:735
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 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 ⟨p. 146⟩of a free consent to be the Condition of Church Communion (and what wise man would have lower that will not make the Church a swine sty)? It followeth that the Pastors must have the evidence of such a Profession of free and voluntary consent, or else they must not receive such persons: Now such a one that hath been long tried by the word, and by the penalty of Excommunication it self, and refuseth to profess Repentance, but only professeth it when no other means will escape a Prison, doth not give the Pastor an evidence in the Court of Reason acceptable, to signify a voluntary Repentance or consent; and therefore what ever possibly may be known to God, he is not to be taken into the Church: For we must judge by evidence, and that is by such free profession of Repentance, as Christ hath taught us to expect: and therefore we can only Judge that person to be one, that had rather say he repenteth than be imprisoned, but not as one that indeed repenteth or desireth Church Communion as such, and for true ends.
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 witts. 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