A27050:838
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.
CHAP. XIV. The true Original of the warrantable Episcopacy in particular Churches, was the notorious disparity of abilities in the Pastors: And the original of that tyrannical Prelacy into which it did degenerate, was the worldly Spirit in the Pastors and people, which with the world came by prosperity into the Church. Quaere, Whether the thing cease not, where the reason of it ceaseth?
God doth not carry on his work upon mens Souls, by names and empty titles; but by such real demonstrating evidences of his Power, Wisdom and Goodness, as are apt to work on the Reason of man. And therefore he that would make his Apostles the Foundations or chief Pillars and Instruments in and of his Churches, would accordingly endow them with proportionable abilities, that in the Miraculous demonstrations of Power, and the convincing demonstrations of Wisdom, and the amiable holy demonstrations of goodness, they might as far excel others as they did in authority.
GOd doth not carry on his work upon mens Souls, by names and empty titles; but by such real demonstrating evidences of his Power, Wisdome and Goodness, as are apt to work on the Reason of man. And therefore he that would make his Apostles the Foundations or chief Pillars and Instruments in and of his Churches, would accordingly endow them with proportionable abilities, that in the Miracu'ous demonstrations of Power, and the convincing demonstrations of Wisdome, and the amiable holy demonstrations of goodness, they might as far excelothers as they did in authority.
And nature it self teacheth us to difference men in our esteem and affection, as they really differ in worth and loveliness. And this Law of Nature is the Primary Law of God. And the holy Scriptures plainly second it, telling us oft of the diversity of Gods gifts in his Servants, which all make for concord, but not for equality of esteem; and that there are greater and lesser in the Kingdom of God, and that Gods gifts in all men must be honoured,