A69533:296
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 9
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.
Argum. 9. NO Episcopacy, (at least which hath so many evils as aforesaid attending it) which is not of Gods Institution, should be admitted into the Church. The late English Prelacy, as to the disapproved properties before mentioned, is not of Gods Institution: therefore it is not to be admitted into the Church.
The Major is confessed by all that plead for the Jus Divinum of Episcopacy, or most: and with the qualification, from the ill consequents, will be yielded by all.
The Major is confessed by all that plead for the Ius Divinum of Episcopacy, or most: and with the qualification, from the ill consequents, will be yielded by all.
The Minor I prove by parts: 1. That the exclusion of Presbyters from Rule, and the putting the Government from them into a Lay-mans hand, with the rest before mentioned, are not of Divine Institution, is proved already, as much as needs. 2. If at the present we yield a superintendency or preeminence of one Pastor before others, yet the Controversy remaineth, whether a Prelate should be only Parochial, that is, only the President of the Elders of one particular Church, or at the utmost of that with two or three, or a few neighbour small Parishes which he may well oversee, without the neglect of the Discipline. Now I know not how any man of that way can prove ⟨p. 49⟩out of Scripture, that a Bishop must have more then one Parish, much less more then three or four, or a few. For it is confessed by them, for ought I know, that Scripture doth not determine how many Presbyters, or Churches a Bishop must have under him, (only we say he must have but one:) for the main thing that they labour to prove is, that a Bishop is above Presbyters as to Ordination and Jurisdiction: and so he may be if he be a Parish-Bishop: for a Parish-Church may have a Curate, and 2 or 3 Chapels with Curates at them, besides Deacons; and according to the old course, perhaps many Presbyters more that did not publicly preach (though they wanted not authority) but oversee the flock. Now one man may have all that most of their Arguments require, if he be but the chief over this Parish Presbytery.