A69533:1082
Five disputations of church-government and worship
Five disputations of church-government and worship by Richard Baxter.
London: printed by R.W. for Nevil Simmons, 1659
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.
§. 5. And 4. I would entreat you impartially to try, whether the Primitive Apostolic Episcopacy fixed in particular Churches were not a Parochial Episcopacy? Try whether I have not proved it before? And if it were, will you pretend to antiquity, and Apostolic institution, and yet despise the primitive simplicity, and that which you confess was settled by the Apostles? Let the Eldest carry it without any more ado.
§. 5. And 4. I would intreat you impartially to try, whether the Primitive Apostolick Episcopacy fixed in particular Churches were not a Parochial Episcopacy? Try whether I have not proved it before? And if it were, will you pretend to antiquity, and Apostolick institution, and yet despise the primitive simplicity, and that which you confess was settled by the Apostles? Let the Eldest carry it without any more ado.
§. 6. And 5. At least say no more that you are for Episcopacy, and we against it: when we are for Episcopacy as well as you. It is only your transcendent, or exorbitant sort of Episcopacy that we are against. Say not still that we have no Power of Ordination, because we are not Bishops; but because we are only Bishops of one Church. Put the controversy truly as it is, Whether it be lawful for the Bishop of one Church with his Presbytery to Ordain? Yea or whether many such Associated may Ordain? Or rather, whether it be tied to the Bishop of many Churches (as you would have it:) that is, Whether Ordination belong to Archbishops only? Is not this the controversy?
§. 6. And 5. At least say no more that you are for Episcopacy, and we against it: when we are for Episcopacy as well as you. It is only your transcendent, or exorbitant sort of Episcopacy that we are against. Say not still that we have no Power of Ordination, because we are not Bishops; but because we are only Bishops of one Church. Put the controversie truly as it is, Whether it be lawful for the Bishop of one Church with his Prebytery to Ordain? Yea or whether many such Associated may Ordain? Or rather, whether it be tyed to the Bishop of many Churches (as you would have it:) that is, Whether Ordination belong to Archbishops only? Is not this the controversie?