A27050:877
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.
7. That the judgment of Antiquity moving me much, but more the Argument from the necessity, [that the same form of Government be continued in ⟨p. 4⟩its ordinary parts, which Christ at first settled in the Apostles, and is not proved repealed] do move me to incline to think that the Apostles must have such Successors, as general Planters and Overseers of many Churches. And who should (before all particular Bishops) have a chief hand in the ordaining of particular Bishops and Pastors, and removing them as the Churches good requireth (As the Seniors have in the Bohemian Waldenses Government.) And though I am yet in doubt my self, whether such general Ministers, or Arch-bishops be jure divino, of Christs institution, I do not deny it, or contend against it: And though I would not assert or swear to their right, I would obey them.
7. That the judgment of Antiquity moving me much, but more the Argument from the necessity, [that the same form of Government be continued in ⟨p. 4⟩its ordinary parts, which Christ at first setled in the Apostles, and is not proved repealed] do move me to incline to think that the Apostles must have such Successors, as general Planters and Overseers of many Churches. And who should (before all particular Bishops) have a chief hand in the ordaining of particular Bishops and Pastors, and removing them as the Churches good requireth (As the Seniors have in the Bohemian Waldenses Government.) And though I am yet in doubt my self, whether such general Ministers, or Arch-bishops be jure divino, of Christs institution, I do not deny it, or contend against it: And though I would not assert or swear to their right, I would obey them.
8. That all this Church-power is to be exercised only by Gods word, managed by convincing Reason, Love and good Example, and that no Bishops or Arch-bishops have any power of Corporal Coaction; Nor should give Church Communion to any but Voluntary Consenters; nor should mix and corrupt the exercise of the Keys, with unseasonable interpositions of the Sword even in the Magistrates own hand.