A27050:928
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.
Object. So may a Bishop and his Presbyters in a Diocese. Answ. In a Diocese of many Churches, the Presbyters only know the people, and do the Ministerial Office for them, except in some one or few Churches where the Bishop dwells and sometimes preacheth: But in the same Church, all the Ministers preach to the same persons ordinarily, (per vices) and they all know them, and all watch over them, though they assist each other in particular offices for them. There is much difference between a School-master and his assistants in the same School, and one School-master only with several Ushers in many hundred Schools. As there is between a Master, Mistress, and Steward ruling the same Family, and one Master with Stewards ruling many hundred Families; (of which more anon.)
Object. So may a Bishop and his Presbyters in a Diocess. Answ. In a Diocess of many Churches, the Presbyters only know the people, and do the Ministerial Office for them, except in some one or few Churches where the Bishop dwells and sometimes preacheth: But in the same Church, all the Ministers preach to the same persons ordinarily, (per vices) and they all know them, and all watch over them, though they assist each other in particular offices for them. There is much difference between a School-master and his assistants in the same School, and one School-master only with several Ushers in many hundred Schools. As there is between a Master, Mistriss, and Steward ruling the same Family, and one Master with Stewards ruling many hundred Families; (of which more anon.)
3. Another part of the Bishops work in those times was to Baptize: For it was part of the Apostles work, Matth. 28. 19, 20. And how great a work that was, to try the peoples due preparations, and to see that they did understandingly and seriously what they did, I desire no other proof than the great care taken in all the ancient Churches of this business, which brought up the Custom of baptizing but twice a year.