A27050:750
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.
But let us consider what these Canons may be. 1. The Bishops make Canons, how often Synods or Councils shall be held, and when and where, and when they shall be dissolved. But, 1. May not the King do the same? And can that be proper to Bishops which the King may do? Yea which all Emperors have formerly used? 2. And is not this Cannon made to rule Bishops themselves? who is it but Bishops (or so much as them) that you think should be called unto Councils? And are the Bishops in Council of another order than themselves out of Council? Need we an office of Bishops to rule Bishops of the same office?
But let us consider what these Canons may be. 1. The Bishops make Canons, how often Synods or Councils shall be held, and when and where, and when they shall be dissolved. But, 1. May not the King do the same? And can that be proper to Bishops which the King may do? Yea which all Emperours have formerly used? 2. And is not this Cannon made to rule Bishops themselves? who is it but Bishops (or so much as them) that you think should be called unto Councils? And are the Bishops in Council of another order than themselves out of Council? Need we an office of Bishops to rule Bishops of the same office?
2. Canons are made about Temples, Buildings, Tithes, Glebes, Bells, Pulpits, Seats Tables, Cups, Fonts, and other utensils. And 1. who doubteth but the Magistrate may do all this? yea that it belongeth to him to regulate such things as these? 2. And who knoweth not that even Bishops are under these Canons also, who are of the same order? 3. And that Presbyters (even in England) are members of these Synods, and so make Canons to rule the Bishops? Ergo they are of a superior order to Bishops by your reasoning.
3. Canons are made for the regulating of Ministers attire, in the Church and out, and for officiating garments, as surplices &c. And of these I say the same as of the former. The King may do the same as Bishops may do, and Bishops themselves are bound by them, and