A27050:808
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.
For the first, as is said, it belongeth to every Minister, even with office-authority to tell both Magistrates, Minister and people their duty, in the name of Christ: Thus [God hath commanded Adulterers, Heretics, &c. To forsake their sins or forbear the Ministry, and commanded me to publish this in his name, even to particular persons: But thou art an Adulterer, Heretic &c. go &c. Or [God commandeth me to tell the people that it is their duty to avoid a Heretic, and the Magistrate that it is his duty to silence him by force: Therefore I require this of you in his name].
For the first, as is said, it belongeth to every Minister, even with office-authority to tell both Magistrates, Minister and people their duty, in the name of Christ: Thus [God hath commanded Adulterers, Hereticks, &c. To forsake their sins or forbear the Ministery, and commanded me to publish this in his name, even to particular persons: But thou art an Adulterer, Heretick &c. go &c. Or [God commandeth me to tell the people that it is their duty to avoid a Heretick, and the Magistrate that it is his duty to silence him by force: Therefore I require this of you in his name].
2. But if the Diocesan claim a Superior Nuntiative power, as one more to be believed than the Minister, this is. 1. But to the doing of the same work which a Minister may do. 2. And he must prove that Superior credibility. 3. But Ministerial conviction is efficacious according to the evidence that is brought to do the work. If the hearer believe not that the Major is Gods word (that an Heretic e. g. must give over Preaching). Or if he deny the Minor [but thou art an Heretic] it is not a Bishops word that will convince him, but a Minister that is better at proving it may do more.
2. But if the Diocesan claim a Superiour Nuntiative power, as one more to be believed than the Minister, this is. 1. But to the doing of the same work which a Minister may do. 2. And he must prove that Superiour credibility. 3. But Ministerial conviction is efficacious according to the evidence that is brought to do the work. If the hearer believe not that the Major is Gods word (that an Heretick e. g. must give over Preaching). Or if he deny the Minor [but thou art an Heretick] it is not a Bishops word that will convince him, but a Minister that is better at proving it may do more.