A27058:570
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.
We had an honest very Old Arminian (Mr. Nayler) in Coventry, that was against the Parliaments Cause; and he would say, [The King hath the best Cause, and the Parliament the best Men.] And that he wondered how it came to pass, that the generality of sober Religious men, should be all in the wrong, and the most Irreligious and Profane, and Debauched be in the right.] But he knew but the Vulgar, and not the Grandees, who no doubt were many of them men of very laudable accomplishments.
We had an honest very Old Arminian (Mr. Nayler) in Coventry, that was against the Parliaments Cause; and he would say, [The King hath the best Cause, and the Parliament the best Men.] And that he wondred how it came to pass, that the generality of sober Religious men, should be all in the wrong, and the most Irreligious and Prophane, and Debauched be in the right.] But he knew but the Vulgar, and not the Grandees, who no doubt were many of them men of very laudable accomplishments.
And as the feud of the Bishops and their Officers and Curates against the aforesaid exercises of Religion occasioned this sad Division, so did the sense of this in the minds of those called Puritans continue too long. Many a time have I seen abundance in great Perplexity, saying [We believed them that professed that they took not Arms against the King, but to execute the Law on Delinquents and defend themselves and the Kingdom from them: We abhor the Regicides and Usurpers: We would restore the King, if we were stronger than the Army. And yet we are in doubt how far we should actively contribute to our own calamity: For though the King deserve more than we can do, we doubt not but the Bishops will increase our Burdens and make greater havoc in the Church than heretofore] And many sate still on this account, and as far as ever I could discern, next the Power of the Army, the fear of the Bishops was the chief delay of the Kings return.
And as the feud of the Bishops and their Officers and Curates against the aforesaid exercises of Religion occasioned this sad Division, so did the sense of this in the minds of those called Puritanes continue too long. Many a time have I seen abundance in great Perplexity, saying [We believed them that professed that they took not Arms against the King, but to execute the Law on Delinquents and defend themselves and the Kingdom from them: We abhor the Regicides and Usurpers: We would restore the King, if we were stronger than the Army. And yet we are in doubt how far we should actively contribute to our own calamity: For though the King deserve more than we can do, we doubt not but the Bishops will increase our Burdens and make greater havock in the Church than heretofore] And many sate still on this account, and as far as ever I could discern, next the Power of the Army, the fear of the Bishops was the chief delay of the Kings return.