A27050:863
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
Part 2 › Chapter 1: The clearing of the state of the Question.
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.
THE occasion of our dispute, or rather Apology, is known in England. 1. Every man that is ordained Deacon or Presbyter (or licensed a Schoolmaster) must subscribe to the Books of Articles, Liturgy and Ordination, as Ex animo that there is nothing in them contrary to the Word of God. And by the late Act of Uniformity [that he doth assent and consent to all things contained in, and prescribed by the said books as since altered (we think for the worse.)
THE occasion of our dispute, or rather Apology, is known in England. 1. Every man that is ordained Deacon or Presbyter (or licensed a Schoolmaster) must subscribe to the Books of Articles, Liturgy and Ordination, as Ex animo that there is nothing in them contrary to the Word of God. And by the late Act of Uniformity [that he doth assent and consent to all things conteined in, and prescribed by the said books as since altered (we think for the worse.)
2. In the year 1640 the Convocation formed, printed and imposed a new Oath in these words (after others) [Nor will I ever give my consent to alter the Government of this Church, by Arch-Bishops, Bishops, Deans, Arch-Deacons, &c. as it stands now established, and as by right it ought to stand.]
3. After this the Parliament in the Wars imposed a Vow and Covenant on the Ministers and People contrary to this called the Et caetrea Oath; which Vow contained a clause to endeavour the extirpation of this Prelacy. In the Westminster Assembly before it passed, many Learned Divines declared that they would not take it as against Prelacy unexplained, lest it should seem to be against all Episcopacy, which was not their judgment, they being for the primitive Episcopacy. To satisfy these men (that else had protested against it, and the Assembly been divided, the Scots and some others being against all) the additional Titles of Deans, Chapters, &c. were put in as a description of the peculiar English frame of Prelacy which they all agreed against. Since His Majesty's Restoration, there are many Acts made against the belief of an obligation by this Vow. One is made for a change in Corporations, requiring a Declaration by all in any place of Trust, [that there is no obligation on me or any other person from the said Oath, Vow or Covenant ] even absolutely no obligation at all without exception of the clauses that are for the Protestant Religion, for Repentance of our sins, against Popery, Heresy, Schism, Profaneness, &c. The Act of Uniformity imposeth it on all Ministers, &c. to declare or subscribe that there is no obligation from that Vow on me or any other person to endeavour at any time any alteration of Government in the Church.] The Vestry Act imposeth the like on all Vestry men; and so of others.