A27050:800
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. 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.
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 turne away.
3. To silence a false Teacher by Argument, (by word or writing) belongeth to every man that is called to contend earnestly for the faith, and to answer a fool according to his folly.