A27050:895
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.
CHAP. III. That the primitive Episcopal Churches of the Holy Ghosts Institution, were but such Congregations as afore described.
These following particulars set together, I think will by the Impartial be taken for full proof.
THese following particulars set together, I think will by the Impartial be taken for full proof.
1. In all the New Testament, where ever there were more stated societies than one, for public worship as afore described, they are called [Churches] in the Plural Number, and never once [a Church] in the Singular Number; except when the Universal Church is mentioned which containeth them all. This is visible in Act. 9. 31. and 14. 41. and 16. 5. Rom. 16. 4, and 16. 1 Cor. 7. 17. and 11. 16. and 14. 33, 34. (unless that mean the several meetings of the same Assembly at several times) and 16. 1, 19.