A41330:66
The questions between the conformist and nonconformist, truly stated, and briefly discussed Dr. Falkner,…
The questions between the conformist and nonconformist, truly stated, and briefly discussed Dr. Falkner, The friendly debate &c., examined and answered : together with a discourse about separation, and some animadversions upon Dr. Stillingfleet's book entitled, The unreasonableness of separation : observations upon Dr. Templars sermon preached at a visitation in Cambridge : a brief vindication of Mr. Stephen Marshal.The questions between the conformist and nonconformist, truly stated, and briefly discussed Dr. Falkner, The friendly debate &c., examined and answered : together with a discourse about separation, and some animadversions upon Dr. Stillingfleet's book entituled, The unreasonableness of separation : observations upon Dr. Templers sermon preached at a visitation in Cambridge : a brief vindication of Mr. Stephen Marshal.
London: printed for Tho. Cockerill, 1681
Title page typeset from the transcription.
Dedication: To the Reverend, and my much Honoured Brother, Dr. Edward Stillingfleet, Dean of St. Pa…
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.
As to your Discourse about particular Congregations, and Diocesan Churches, it is not my purpose to meddle with it; only I desire you to tell me why a Pastor of a single Congregation may not be as fit to govern that Congregation, as your single Bishop to govern a thousand Congregations, as it is with your Church? where did the Apostles ordain, but one single Pastor to a Church? we have eight Churches recorded in the Epistles, and the Acts, but we read in them all several Elders to carry on Church-work. As for Timothy and Titus, being Bishops in our controverted sense, enough hath been said about them. Strange that we should have twelve Apostles beside Paul and Barnabas, many Elders and several Evangelists, and but two Bishops (who were Evangelists too) recorded in holy Writ to be the pattern for the succeeding Bishops; when, where, and how, those two were made Bishops, we cannot find.
And for the large Dioceses, so large, that 'tis impossible for a Bishop to perform the Duties the Lord requires of a Pastor to one quarter of the Diocese: 1The Petitioners for Reformation in King James's reign, tell his Majesty, That in Augustine's time there were in one Province under Carthage, of the Catholic and Donatist, Bishops above nine hundred. Of the Catholics part there were present 286, and absent 120 by reason of sickness and old age, Episcopal Churches void 60, in all 466. Of the Donatists there were present 279, absent 120, Churches void 60, in all 459. These come near the matter, make him but Episcopus praeses, and as to Officers and Churches I may come to agree with you, leaving my brethren to their judgments.
And for the large Diocesses, so large, that 'tis impossible for a Bishop to perform the Duties the Lord requires of a Pastor to one quarter of the Diocess: 1The Petitioners for Reformation in King James's reign, tell his Majesty, That in Augustine's time there were in one Province under Carthage, of the Catholick and Donatist, Bishops above nine hundred. Of the Catholicks part there were present 286, and absent 120 by reason of sickness and old age, Episcopal Churches void 60, in all 466. Of the Donatists there were present 279, absent 120, Churches void 60, in all 459. These come near the matter, make him but Episcopus praeses, and as to Officers and Churches I may come to agree with you, leaving my brethren to their judgments.