A27050:748
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.
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.
And here by the way it is worthy to be noted how much the Diocesans contradict themselves, in this claim of Government: They say that they are of a distinct order and office from mere Presbyters, because they have power to Govern them. And yet they make, 1. A Council of Bishops to have as high a governing power over particular Bishops of the same order: 2. And an Arch-Bishop to be the Governor of Bishops; 3. And a Primate or Patriarch to be the Governor of Arch-Bishops; and yet not to be of a distinct Order, or office, but only of a distinct degree in the accidentals of the same order. If Government prove a distinct Order, or Office in one, it will do so in the other. And why may not the Magistrate make all the same Canons who ruleth them all?
And here by the way it is worthy to be noted how much the Diocesanes contradict themselves, in this claim of Government: They say that they are of a distinct order and office from meer Presbyters, because they have power to Govern them. And yet they make, 1. A Council of Bishops to have as high a governing power over particular Bishops of the same order: 2. And an Arch-Bishop to be the Governour of Bishops; 3. And a Primate or Patriarch to be the Governour of Arch-Bishops; and yet not to be of a distinct Order, or office, but only of a distinct degree in the accidentals of the same order. If Government prove a distinct Order, or Office in one, it will do so in the other. And why may not the Magistrate make all the same Canons who ruleth them all?