A27050:799
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. As judging is, 1. Either private by discerning ones own duty, which belongeth to every private man. 2. Or public for the deciding of a controversies ▪ and this as. 1. Civil, 2. Or properly▪ Ecclesiastical; ⟨p. 159⟩so in several manners and to several ends, Private men, Magistrates and Pastors may judge of Heresy &c.
1. As judging is, 1. Either private by discerning ones own duty, which belongeth to every private man. 2. Or publick for the deciding of a controversie• ▪ and this as. 1. Civil, 2. Or properly▪ Ecclesiastical; ⟨p. 159⟩so in several manners and to several ends, Private men, Magistrates and Pastors may judge of Heresie &c.
2. And as for suspending, silencing and degrading, either. 1. It signifieth some Correction by the Sword or force; and that undoubtedly belongeth only to the Magistrate, and to no private man, nor Clergy man at all, as such.
2. A Private man and much more a Congregation, may and must refuse a notorious Intolerable Minister, whether Insufficient, Heretical or wicked and Malignant, they must withdraw from him, and not take him for their guide, and Pastor, nor trust their Souls upon his care and conduct. If Cyprian had never said [Plebs maximum habet potestatem, vel sacerdotes dignos eligendi, vel indignos necesand• the Law of nature saith enough; as it doth warrant a man to refuse an unskilful or malicious murdering Physician. And Scripture requireth every man to take heed of false Teachers, and deceivers, and from such to turn away.