A27050:746
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.
1. If they do but urge the performing of some duty already made such by God, in Scripture or Nature, who ever doubted, but Presbyters may do that even to teach and charge the people from God to obey his Laws.
And note that God daily maketh new duties by the Law of nature, even providentially altering the Nature of things; And so he maketh ⟨p. 149⟩this or that to become Decent and Orderly and so a duty. And maketh it my duty to speak this or that word, to this or that person, or to do this or that particular good work. Even by varying occasions, accidents and circumstances of things.
2. But if these Canons make new duties which God hath not made, 1. If it be to the Laity, the Presbyters may do the like; for they are Guides also of the Laity, unless they are forbidden by a superior power: If it be only to the Presbyters, that will not reach our present case, as shall be further showed afterward. 3. If it be to the Bishops themselves, they cannot be Laws, but mere agreements, because one Bishop is not the proper Governor of another; nor many of one; nor the present in Council of the absent as such.
2. But if these Canons make new duties which God hath not made, 1. If it be to the Laity, the Presbyters may do the like; for they are Guides also of the Laity, unless they are forbidden by a superior power: If it be only to the Presbyters, that will not reach our present case, as shall be further shewed afterward. 3. If it be to the Bishops themselves, they cannot be Laws, but meer agreements, because one Bishop is not the proper Governour of another; nor many of one; nor the present in Council of the absent as such.