A27058:109
The true history of councils enlarged and defended against the deceits of a pretended…
The true history of councils enlarged and defended against the deceits of a pretended vindicator of the primitive church, but indeed of the tympanite & tyranny of some prelates many hundred years after Christ, with a detection of the false history of Edward Lord Bishop of Cork and Ross in Ireland ... and a preface abbreviating much of Ludolphus's History of Habassta : written to show their dangerous error, who think that a general council, or college of bishops, is a supreme governor of all the Christian world ... / by Richard Baxter ... ; to which is added by another hand, a defence of a book, entitled, No evidence for diocesan churches ...The true history of councils enlarged and defended against the deceits of a pretended vindicator of the primitive church, but indeed of the tympanite & tyranny of some prelates many hundred years after Christ, with a detection of the false history of Edward Lord Bishop of Corke and Rosse in Ireland ... and a preface abbreviating much of Ludolphus's History of Habassta : written to shew their dangerous errour, who think that a general council, or colledge of bishops, is a supream governour of all the Christian world ... / by Richard Baxter ... ; to which is added by another hand, a defence of a book, entituled, No evidence for diocesan churches ...
London: printed for Tho. Parkhurst, 1682
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.
5. And I could not but observe, that though Christ gave his Apostles no Power of the Sword, he set them above other Ministers, not only in Miraculous Gifts, and Infallible testifying and recording his Commands and works, but in some sort of oversight, which seemeth a thing appointed for Continuance as well as preaching.
6. And I thought that if Church-Grandeur were the Interest of Religion and Unity the strength of the Church, it looked very ⟨p. 5⟩plausibly to reason, that as Bishops were over Presbyters, so there should be some over Bishops; and that National Churches should by such Government be hindered from Schism and Heresy as well as Parochial. And that Diocesans and Metropolitans Power should be derived from a Superior as well as Presbyters. And that when poor Subjects dare not reprove a Prince, some that are above fearing his Power may.
6. And I thought that if Church-Grandure were the Interest of Religion and Unity the strength of the Church, it lookt very ⟨p. 5⟩plausibly to reason, that as Bishops were over Presbyters, so there should be some over Bishops; and that National Churches should by such Government be hindered from Schism and Heresie as well as Parochial. And that Diocesans and Metropolitans Power should be derived from a Superiour as well as Presbyters. And that when poor Subjects dare not reprove a Prince, some that are above fearing his Power may.
7. And when I read the Popes Claim, I thought it seemed not improbable, that Petrus primus, and pasce oves meas, and super hanc Petram were not spoken in vain And these thoughts pleaded thus for Church-Grandeur in Prelates and Popes.