A27058:341
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.
1. When they became so bad that they were not willing to do good according to their undertaken Office. Bad men will do ill in any place.
2. When they had put themselves into a state of incapacity, that they could not do the Good undertaken, were they never so willing.
1. Since great Baits of Wealth and Domination have tempted the worst men to be the Seekers, Bishops have rarely been good, except under a Saint-like Prince or People that had the Choice; nor are ever like to be. And what work the Enemies of Holiness will make by abusing Christ's Name against himself, is easy to know; such will take the best men for the worst, and call them all that's naught, that they may quiet their Consciences in destroying them.
1. Since great Baits of Wealth and Domination have tempted the worst men to be the Seekers, Bishops have rarely been good, except under a Saint-like Prince or People that had the Choice; nor are ever like to be. And what work the Enemies of Holiness will make by abusing Christ's Name against himself, is easie to know; such will take the best men for the worst, and call them all that's naught, that they may quiet their Consciences in destroying them.