A69533:1172
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.
§. 17. This being so, it must needs follow that an Archbishop, or the President of a National, Provincial, Diocesan, or Classical Assembly, or of any Association of the Pastors of many Churches, hath no superior Governing power over the Parochial or Congregational Bishop of one Church; but only in concurrence with the Synod, a Power of Determining by way of Agreement, such points as he shall be obliged for Unity and Communion to consent to and perform, if they be not contrary to the word of God. This evidently follows from this Reverend Archbishops doctrine, and the truth.
§. 17. This being so, it must needs follow that an Archbishop, or the President of a National, Provincial, Diocesan, or Classicall Assembly, or of any Association of the Pastors of many Churches, hath no superiour Governing power over the Parochial or Congregational Bishop of one Church; but only in concurrence with the Synod, a Power of Determining by way of Agreement, such points as he shall be obliged for Unity and Communion to consent to and perform, if they be not contrary to the word of God. This evidently follows from this Reverend Archbishops doctrine, and the truth.
§. 18. And if any shall think that the Presbyterians will not yield that a particular Church do ordinarily consist but of one full Congregation, I confute them by producing their own Concessions: in the London Ministers Jus Divinum Ministerii. Append. pag. 123. they plainly say, that [The later (Bishops) were Diocesan, the former (that is the Bishops of the first or ancient times) were Bishops only of one Congregation] And pag. 82. they say [These Angels were Congregational, 1not Diocesan: In the beginning of Christianity, the number of Believers, even in the greatest Cities were so few, as that they might well meet, [Greek or Hebrew] in one and the same place. And th•se were called, the Church of the City, and therefore to ordain Elders [Greek or Hebrew] and [Greek or Hebrew], are all one in Scripture] Thus far they yield to the Congregational men.