A27050:956
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.
Pag. 24. [Existimo Presbyteros vel omnes, vel eorum plerosque sic ordinatos esse ut Episcopi pariter ac presbytery gradum obtinerent.] I think that either all or most of the Presbyters were so ordained, as that they obtained both the degree of Bishop and of Presbyter.] Which he proceedeth to show that he thinks was done that there might be a store of Bishops prepared for all Countries. Pag. 25. he thus far differs from Doctor Hammond, but not from the truth, as to hold, that [Plures in eadem Ecclesia velut Eph•sina Episcopi fuere.] [There were many Bishops in one Church, as in that of Ephesus.] Which he taketh for a particular Church, and not a Province; and saith, that the simple manners of the Church would then bear this, till Ambition had depraved men, and Charity and Humility and the imitation of Christ waxed cold: then came that which Hierome speaketh of, that For a remedy of Schism one was chosen out of the company of Presbyters, and set above the rest.
Pag. 24. [Existimo Presbyteros vel omnes, vel eorum plerosque sic ordinatos esse ut Episcopi pariter ac presbyteri gradum obtinerent.] I think that either all or most of the Presbyters were so ordained, as that they obtained both the degree of Bishop and of Presbyter.] Which he proceedeth to shew that he thinks was done that there might be a store of Bishops prepared for all Countries. Pag. 25. he thus far differs from Doctor Hammond, but not from the truth, as to hold, that [Plures in eadem Ecclesia velut Eph•sina Episcopi fuere.] [There were many Bishops in one Church, as in that of Ephesus.] Which he taketh for a particular Church, and not a Province; and saith, that the simple manners of the Church would then bear this, till Ambition had depraved men, and Charity and Humility and the imitation of Christ waxed cold: then came that which Hierome speaketh of, that For a remedy of Schism one was chosen out of the company of Presbyters, and set above the rest.
So Pag. 26. In eadem capita passim ambo conferebantur. And p. 27. Hoc si ita est, quid aliud restat nisi ut penes eosdem (Nam plures una in Ecclesia fuisse tales, iisdem ex locis argumentum ducitur) tam nomen illud duplex, quam conveniens nomini potestas & authoritas utraque fuisse dicatur.] that is [If this be so, what else remaineth, but that both the double name, and the agreeable double power and authority, be said to have been in the same persons (for that there were many of them in one Church, may be proved from the same places.)