A27050:773
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.
IV. We have therefore the Government of the Ministers themselves to speak of next, which consisteth, 1. In ordination, 2. Instituting and inducting, 3. Licensing, 4. Suspending, ejecting, silencing and degrading.
1. And ordination being that great and notable work, which anciently was taken to be all that was proper to the Bishop, by many of the Fathers, as well as Hierome, this above all must be well considered. And 1. Let us consider of the Reasons for it; and 2. Of the different cases.
1. The reasons given for appropriating ordination to Diocesans, or Bishops are these, 1. Because no man can give that which he hath not: 2. Because it is an act of superiority: 3. Because none but Bishops ever did it in Scripture times, or since without the Churches condemnation.
1. The first of these reasons Dr. Hammond Praemon. Dissert. is earnest in urging. To which I say, 1. It is granted, that no man giveth that which be hath not. But Presbyters have the office of Presbyters, therefore by your supposition) they may give it.