A27058:343
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. 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.
2. And since a Diocese of many hundred or score Parishes hath had but one Bishop for Discipline, the work is become impossible to the best. But when a few Bad men will mercenarily undertake Impossibilities, and so Badness and Impossibility go together, alas, what hope, but of a better world above?
2. And since a Diocess of many hundred or score Parishes hath had but one Bishop for Discipline, the work is become impossible to the best. But when a few Bad men will mercinarily undertake Impossibilities, and so Badness and Impossibility go together, alas, what hope, but of a better world above?
Saith Luther de Concil. & Eccles. p. 300. Sed quam sunt intenti hanc crassam & asininam •atuitatem? Unus Episcopus nonnunquam habet tres Episcopatus vel Dioceses, & tamen vocatur Unius Uxoris maritus, & cum habet tantum unum Episcopatum, tamen interdum habet centum, ducentas, quingentas Parochias, aut etiam plures, & vocatur tamen Sponsus unius Ecclesiae—Hi non sunt digami—Tam insulsas & ineptissimas naenias recipit mens humana; it a permittente Deo cum a verbo discedimus, & omnia limatius & subtilius scrutamur quam ipse vult nos scrutari.] Whether you reverence Luther any more than Calvin I know not.