A69533:249
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
Whether it be Necessary or Profitable to the right order or the Pea… › Argument 1
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.
*3. And then it is known that the English Episcopacy denieth to the Presbyters all power of Excommunication and Absolution, unless to pronounce it as from the Bishop when he hath past it: And they deny him also all power so much as of calling a sinner to open Repentance, which they called Imposing penance: and also they denied all power of denying the Lords Supper to any without the Bishops censure, except in a s•dden case, and then they must prosecute it after at the Bishops Court; and there render the Reason of that suspension: So that the trouble, danger, labour, time would be so great that would be spent in it, that scarce one Minister of a hundred did venture on it once in seven and seven years, except only to deny the Sacrament to a man that would not kneel, and that they might do easily and safely.
*3. And then it is known that the English Episcopacy denyeth to the Presbyters all power of Excommunication and Absolution, u•less to pronounce it as from the Bishop when he hath past it: And they deny him also all power so much as of calling a sinner to open Repentance, which they called Imposing penance: and also they denied all power of denying the Lords Supper to any without the Bishops censure, except in a s•dden case, and then they must prosecute it after at the Bishops Court; and there render the Reason of that suspension: So that the trouble, danger, labour, time would be so great that would be spent in it, that scarce one Minister of a hundred did venture on it once in seven and seven years, except only to deny the Sacrament to a man that would not kneel, and that they might do easily and safely.
- *I know Bishop Usher in his papers to the King, doth say that by the Order of the Church of England, all Presbyters are charged (in the form of Ordering of Priests) to administer the Discipline of Christ: But the Bishops understood that only of their publishing their Censures. For no such Administration was known among us, or allowed: Nor would they suffer men to suspend them from the Sacrament, as the Rubric in the Common Prayer Book requi•eth.