A27050:96
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.
His Office is (when after Licensed) to Preach, to Read the Scriptures, and the Apocrypha, and many Acts of Parliament, and Homilies, to read the Liturgy or Prayers; To give notice of Holy-days and Fasting days: To Baptize all Children, without exception, that are offered him, by Godfathers and Godmothers (the Parents not Covenanting for them, but others;) To Marry persons; To Church Women after Child bearing; To hear Children in Church say the Catechism that is in the Liturgy (but many have been forbidden by the Bishops to expound it, or tell the Children the meaning of the words which they say by rote:) To celebrate and give the Sacrament to the Parishioners: To visit the Sick, and absolve them, if they say they repent: To bury the Dead, affirming of them all that God in mercy hath taken their souls, as our dear brethren, to himself; excepting only, 1. Those that die unbaptized (though Children of Princes or godly Parents) 2. Those that are Excommunicate (usually such as durst not Conform to them:) 3. And those that kill themselves (though in a Frenzy:) To use the Cross, Surplice, and other Ceremonies of the Church: And to join with the Church-Wardens (if they please) in presenting such to the Bishops Courts, as break their Laws; And if he deny any notorious offender the Sacrament, he must become his Accuser before the Chancellor, or Bishops Court. mThis is the Office of a Parish Priest.
His Office is (when after Licensed) to Preach, to Read the Scriptures, and the Apocrypha, and many Acts of Parliament, and Homilies, to read the Liturgy or Prayers; To give notice of Holy-days and Fastingdays: To Baptize all Children, without exception, that are offered him, by Godfathers and Godmothers (the Parents not Covenanting for them, but others;) To Marry persons; To Church Women after Child bearing; To hear Children in Church say the Catechism that is in the Liturgy (but many have been forbidden by the Bishops to expound it, or tell the Children the meaning of the words which they say by rote:) To celebrate and give the Sacrament to the Parishioners: To visit the Sick, and absolve them, if they say they repent: To bury the Dead, affirming of them all that God in mercy hath taken their souls, as our dear brethren, to himself; excepting only, 1. Those that die unbaptized (though Children of Princes or godly Parents) 2. Those that are Excommunicate (usually such as durst not Conform to them:) 3. And those that kill themselves (though in a Frensie:) To use the Cross, Surplice, and other Ceremonies of the Church: And to joyn with the Church-Wardens (if they please) in presenting such to the Bishops Courts, as break their Laws; And if he deny any notorious offender the Sacrament, he must become his Accuser before the Chancellour, or Bishops Court.