A27050:871
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.
My own judgment is as followeth. 1. That every particular Church, (consisting of as full a number as can associate for true personal Communion in Worship and holy living) should be guided by as many Pastors or Elders (of the same Office) as the number of souls, and the work requireth.
2. That it is lawful, (if not usually laudable and fit) if these Presbyters consent that one among them who is wiser and fitter than the rest, be statedly their Guide, Director, or Moderator, in the matters of Doctrine, Worship and Discipline in that Church, for order and concord, and for the peoples sakes and their own: And especially that in Ordinations they do nothing without him.
3. That these particular Churches with their Bishop and Presbytery are Independent, so far that no other Bishop or Church hath a Divine Right to Govern them, saving what is anon to be said of General Pastors or Visitors, and the power of each Minister in the Universal Church, as he is called.
3. That these particular Churches with their Bishop and Presbytery are Independant, so far that no other Bishop or Church hath a Divine Right to Govern them, saving what is anon to be said of General Pastors or Visiiters, and the power of each Minister in the Universal Church, as he is called.