A27050:867
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.
5. And last of all an Act past at Oxford by which we are to be banished five miles from all Cities and Corporations, and all places where we have preached, and imprisoned six months in the Common Jail, if we come nearer any of them, except on the Road, till we have taken an Oath [that we will not at any time endeavour an alteration of the Government of the Church,] (which plainly importeth as much objectively as the Et caetera Oath of 1640; Though not endeavouring be somewhat less than not consenting.) And so black a Character is put upon the Non-conformists, with a [some of them) in the beginning of the said Act, that all Reason, Religion and Humanity obligeth us for the satisfaction of our Rulers, for the vindication of our selves, and for the just information of posterity, plainly and truly to lay open our Case, even those reasons for which we forbear that Conformity; and by so doing, incur all this, besides the greater loss of our Ministerial Liberty, to labour for the saving of the peoples souls, and the edifying of the Church of God.
5. And last of all an Act past at Oxford by which we are to be banished five miles from all Cities and Corporations, and all places where we have preached, and imprisoned six months in the Common Jail, if we come nearer any of them, except on the Road, till we have taken an Oath [that we will not at any time endeavour an alteration of the Government of the Church,] (which plainly importeth as much objectively as the Et caetera Oath of 1640; Though not endeavouring be somewhat less than not consenting.) And so black a Character is put upon the Non-conformists, with a [some of them) in the beginning of the said Act, that all Reason, Religion and Humanity obligeth us for the satisfaction of our Rulers, for the vindication of our selves, and for the just information of posterity, plainly and truly to lay open our Case, even those reasons for which we forbear that Conformity; and by so doing, incurr all this, besides the greater loss of our Ministerial Liberty, to labour for the saving of the peoples souls, and the edifying of the Church of God.
What is said in the beginning may sufficiently inform the Reader, 1. That it is not every man's Cause that is called a Non-conformist, no nor a Presbyterian, or Independent that I here maintain. 2. That I am not writing a Justification of the Covenant, 1. As to the Act of Imposing. 2. Or of taking it. 3. Nor as to the obligation of it to any thing unlawful. Leaving such matters