A27050:821
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.
3. All the question therefore that remaineth, is whether in unknown doubtful cases, you are the Judges of Heresy, Error, Schism, and of mens unworthiness to Preach. And here. 1. I need not tell you that by this way you can never silence either the Arians, or any that deny your authority. Of which sort you know are most that you silence in this age and Nation. No, nor a Donatist, a Novatian, or any one that is for the office of Bishops, but taketh you for no Bishop as being unduly called: Of which sort were abundance of Christians towards each others Bishops in former ages; and such are the Papists now towards you. So that neither Papist nor Protestant that I ever knew silenced by you, doth forbear upon Conscience of this your pretended authority at all. And what a silencing power is that which scarce any man would be ever silenced by? You cannot choose but know this to be true.
3. All the question therefore that remaineth, is whether in unknown doubtful cases, you are the Judges of Heresie, Errour, Schisin, and of mens unworthiness to Preach. And here. 1. I need not tell you that by this way you can never silence either the Arrians, or any that deny your authority. Of which sort you know are most that you silence in this age and Nation. No, nora Donatist, a Novatian, or any one that is for the office of Bishops, but taketh you for no Bishop as being unduely called: Of which sort were abundance of Christians towards each others Bishops in former ages; and such are the Papists now towards you. So that neither Papist nor Protestant that I ever knew silenced by you, doth forbear upon Conscience of this your pretended authority at all. And what a silencing power is that which scarce any man would be ever silenced by? You cannot choose but know this to be true.
2. And really, should Magistrates themselves be so servile to you as to silence all Ministers by the Sword, whom a Prelate judgeth to be silent, while he knoweth not whether it be deservedly or not; God forbid that Protestants, like the Popes, should make Kings to be their Executioners, or hangmen. A mere Executioner indeed is not bound to▪ know or examine, whether the sentence was just or not (though in most cases to forbear if it be notoriously unjust) but what a King or Magistrate doth, he must do as a public Judge, and therefore must hear the cause himself, and try whether he be really guilty or not, and not only whether a Bishop judged him so. Else Magistrates will either be involved in the bloody sin of persecution, as oft as a Prelate will but command them; and so must be damned and help to damn others, when Prelates please: Or else it is no sin for a Magistrate to silence all the holyest Ministers of Christ, to the damnation of thousands of ignorant untaught Souls, so be it the Prelates do but bid him, and he keep himself unacquainted with the cause. And next they must obey the Counsel at Lateran sub. Inoc. 3. And exterminate all subjects out of their Dominions (though it be all that are there) and must burn Holy-Christians to ashes, because the Pope or Prelates bid them.