A27050:804
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.
5. Yea, to Command such a man ex authoritate Nu••ii vel Ministri, by Ministerial authority in the name of Christ to forsake his Heresy and wickedness, or to forbear the Sacred Ministry, belongeth to Ministers of the same office. For if a Minister Preach or speak to another Minister as a Minister himself, and in Christs name, then no doubt but he may command in Christs name; which is but by Ministerial office to publish the Commands of Christ: No doubt but he may say to another Minister [I Counsel, yea Command you in the name of Christ, by virtue of my office and his word, to forbear Adultery, Theft, Blasphemy, Heresy, or else to forbear the Sacred Ministry] Yea he may say thus (with due reverence) to a Bishop, so that for a silencing by Reason or force, or by Ministerial authority and command as from Christ, there is no need of the office of a Diocesan.
5. Yea, to Command such a man ex authoritate Nu••ii vel Ministri, by Ministerial authority in the name of Christ to forsake his Heresie and wickedness, or to forbear the Sacred Ministry, belongeth to Ministers of the same office. For if a Minister Preach or speak to another Minister as a Minister himself, and in Christs name, then no doubt but he may command in Christs name; which is but by Ministerial office to publish the Commands of Christ: No doubt but he may say to another Minister [I Counsel, yea Command you in the name of Christ, by vertue of my office and his word, to forbear Adultery, Theft, Blasphemy, Heresie, or else to forbear the Sacred Ministry] Yea he may say thus (with due reverence) to a Bishop, so that for a silencing by Reason or force, or by Ministerial authority and command as from Christ, there is no need of the office of a Diocesan.
6. The question therefore is whether we must have a Bishop to silence men by bare Authority without convincing effectual argument satisfying his Conscience? or else by a distinct Superior Authority, more powerful than the Ministers?