A27050:986
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 5: The same proved by the full Testimony of Antiquity.
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.
4. The magnitude of the Churches is plainly intimated, when he saith p. 57. [[Greek or Hebrew] &c. Constitutos itaque ab illis vel deinceps ab aliis viris celebribus cum consensu universae Ecclesiae qui inculpate ovili Christi inservierunt, &c.] If the Bishops were chosen by the Consent of all the Church, it was no greater a Church than would and did meet to signify their consent; and not such as our Dioceses now are.
4. The magnitude of the Churches is plainly intimated, when he saith p. 57. [〈non-Latin alphabet〉 &c. Constitutos itaque ab illis vel deinceps ab aliis viris celebribus cum consensu universae Ecclesiae qui inculpate ovili Christi inservierunt, &c.] If the Bishops were chosen by the Consent of all the Church, it was no greater a Church than would and did meet to signifie their consent; and not such as our Diocesses now are.
5. Also the same is intimated by pag. 69. [If it be for me that Contention, Sedition and Schisms arise, I will depart, I will be gone whither you will, and will do what shall by the people be appointed; only let the Sheep-fold of Christ live in peace with the Presbyters appointed over it. By which words it is evident, that it was such a particular Ovile or Church, where the Will of the people might be declared as a matter that bore much sway. But who can think that this is spoken of many Congregations, where the peoples Will could not easily be signified?
6. And it is farther manifest in that it was but for the sake of one or two that the Church of Corinth moved this sedition against the Presbyters (called also Bishops,) pag. 62. Now how many Congregations that Church consisted of, where the interest of one or two was either so far concerned or so powerful, it is easy to conjecture; set all these together, and judge impartially.