A69533:329
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… › Section
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.
2. The second Reason that persuadeth me to stick to the sole practised Government in Scripture times,1 and not to alter it upon pretended Intentions of the Apostles, is this: Nothing that intimateth temerity, or mutability, is to be charged upon the Holy Ghost but to institute one frame or species of Church-government for Scripture times, and to change it presently into another species to all succeeding ages, doth intimate temerity or mutability; or at least, is so like it, that therefore without good proof it is not to be charged on the Holy Ghost. That they are two distinct species of Government is plain: one is the Government of a Particular Congregation, without any other Congregations or Elders under that Government: the other is the Governing of many Elders and Churches by one supereminent Prelate: and if these be not two differing sorts of Government, then let the Prelates confess that the Government which we would continue ⟨p. 66⟩is of the same sort with theirs: for ours is of the first sort; and if theirs be of the same, we are both agreed.
2. The second Reason that perswadeth me to stick to the sole practised Government in Scripture times,1 and not to alter it upon pretended Intentions of the Apostles, is this: Nothing that intimateth temerity, or mutability, is to be charged upon the Holy Ghost but to institute one frame or species of Church-government for Scripture times, and to change it presently into another species to all succeeding ages, doth intimate temerity or mutability; or at least, is so like it, that therefore without good proof it is not to be charged on the Holy Ghost. That they are two distinct species of Government is plain: one is the Government of a Particular Congregation, without any other Congregations or Elders under that Government: the other is the Governing of many Elders and Churches by one supereminent Prelate: and if these be not two differing sorts of Government, then let the Prelates confess that the Government which we would continue ⟨p. 66⟩is of the same sort with theirs: for ours is of the first sort; and if theirs be of the same, we are both agreed.