A27068:91
Whether parish congregations be true Christian churches and the capable consenting incumbents, be truly…
Whether parish congregations be true Christian churches and the capable consenting incumbents, be truly their pastors, or bishops over their flocks ... : written by Richard Baxter as an explication of some passages in his former writings, especially his Treatise of episcopacy, misunderstood and misapplied by some, and answering the strongest objections of some of them, especially a book called, Mr. Baxters judgment and reasons against communicating with the parish assemblies, as by law required, and another called, A theological dialogue, or, Catholic communion once more defended, upon mens necessitating importunity / by Richard Baxter.Whether parish congregations be true Christian churches and the capable consenting incumbents, be truly their pastors, or bishops over their flocks ... : written by Richard Baxter as an explication of some passages in his former writings, especially his Treatise of episcopacy, misunderstood and misapplied by some, and answering the strongest objections of some of them, especially a book called, Mr. Baxters judgment and reasons against communicating with the parish assemblies, as by law required, and another called, A theological dialogue, or, Catholick communion once more defended, upon mens necessitating importunity / by Richard Baxter.
London: printed for Thomas Parkhurst, 1684
Title page typeset from the transcription.
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.
XXXIV. But it's objected, That they swear [not to endeavour any alteration of Church-Government; therefore they renounce the Pastoral Office, because the present Government excludeth it.
Ans. 1. This is to dictate, and not to prove: The Diocesan Government hampered and fettered it by the Canons in the time of Whitgift and Bancroft, but nulled it not: He that reads the Canons, or knows the Church, and thinks that it's Government hath no need of Amendment, is far from my mind: But governing is not nullifying.
Ans. 1. This is to dictate, and not to prove: The Diocesan Government hampered and fettered it by the Canons in the time of Whitgift and Bancroft, but null'd it not: He that reads the Canons, or knows the Church, and thinks that it's Government hath no need of Amendment, is far from my mind: But governing is not nullifying.
2. It is not true (that ever I heard) that they swear what this Objection saith: The Ministers do not swear, but subscribe it, and swear Obedience in licitis & honestis: (And I could never learn what Law commands that Oath). And if it should extend to obey all the Canons, it's that which I would be full loath to swear; but I know no Canon that utterly nulleth the Parish-Churches and Ministers▪ And a Justice that sweareth to execute the Laws, is not supposed thereby to justify every Law, nor to execute any, if it should be against Gods Law, that exception being still supposed.
2. It is not true (that ever I heard) that they swear what this Objection saith: The Ministers do not swear, but subscribe it, and swear Obedience in licitis & honestis: (And I could never learn what Law commands that Oath). And if it should extend to obey all the Canons, it's that which I would be full loath to swear; but I know no Canon that utterly nulleth the Parish-Churches and Ministers And a Justice that sweareth to execute the Laws, is not supposed thereby to justifie every Law, nor to execute any, if it should be against Gods Law, that exception being still supposed.