A27050:843
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.
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, Math. 12. 1 Cor. 12. Eph. 4. Heb. 5. 10. 11. 12. & 6. 1. 2. 3. 4.
And nature it self teaceth 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, Math. 12. 1 Cor. 12. Eph. 4. Heb. 5. 10. 11. 12. & 6. 1. 2. 3. 4.
And God that would have his various gifts variously esteemed, did in all ages himself diversify his Servants gifts. All were not Apostles, nor all Prophets, nor all Evangelists: And after their days all the Ministers or Elders of the Churches were not men of Learning, nor of so full acquaintance with the sacred Doctrine, nor so grave, prudent, stayed, holy, charitable, or peaceable as some were usually when miraculous gifts did cease, and very few Philosophers or men of learning turned Christians. Any man may know that had not been told it by Church History, that their Elders or Pastors were such as the better sort of our unlearned Christians are; who can pray well, and worship