A27050:988
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.
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.
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 easie to conjecture; set all these together, and judge impartially.
I add (though out of season) that it was none of the Apostles meaning that those whom they made Bishops of such single Churches, without a subject Order of Presbyters, should make such an Order of subject Presbyters, and make themselves the Bishops of a Diocesan Church without any Bishops under them. For pag. 57. he saith, [And our Apostles by our Lord Jesus Christ knew, that contention would arise about the name of Episcopacy; and for this cause being endued with perfect fore-knowledge, they appointed them aforesaid, and left the Courses (or Orders) of After-Ministers and Offices described, that other approved men might succeed in the place of the deceased, and might execute their Offices.] So that it was the same places and the same Offices which those ordained by the Apostles had, in which others must succeed them, which therefore were described by the Apostles, and not into others.
I add (though out of season) that it was none of the Apostles meaning that those whom they made Bishops of such single Churches, without a subject Order of Presbyters, should make such an Order of subject Presbyters, and make themselves the Bishops of a Diocesane Church without any Bishops under them. For pag. 57. he saith, [And our Apostles by our Lord Jesus Christ knew, that contention would arise about the name of Episcopacy; and for this cause being endued with perfect fore-knowledge, they appointed them aforesaid, and left the Courses (or Orders) of After-Ministers and Offices described, that other approved men might succeed in the place of the deceased, and might execute their Offices.] So that it was the same places and the same Offices which those ordained by the Apostles had, in which others must succeed them, which therefore were described by the Apostles, and not into others.