A27058:551
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.
VII. That there are able worthy men that Conform, we are far from denying; and we earnestly desire their Concord, and the success of their Labour, and I hope love them as our selves. But whereas the History of this Party doth proclaim how much better and abler Ministers than the Nonconformists are generally put into their Places, that are no Novices or Ignorant Youths, no Drunkards, nor scandalous, but more laborious, skilful Labourers, I will say nothing, but let the Countries judge.
VIII. And whether it be true that there is no need of the Nonconformists Ministry, but the Churches are sufficiently supplied without them, both as to the number and quality of their Teachers, I have in my Apology enquired; and with godly men it's easily judged.
IX. And whether it be true, that it was only for the Kings or Bishops cause that the Parliament put out all, or most of them that were heretofore removed, I leave to the Witnesses and Articles against them. I am sure I and my neighbour Ministers petitioned that none that were tolerable pious Ministers, might be put out for being for the King or Bishops.
X. It is commonly now recorded and reported that the Presbyterians and those that now conform not put down Catechizing, and turned the Creed, Lords prayer and Decalogue out of the Church Service. Whereas (if some few Independents did any of this, it is more than I know, but) in all our Country, and where I came, I remember no Churches that did not use the Creed openly at their baptizing any, and the Decalogue frequently read out of