A69533:668
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.
Sect. 25. But if there were any preeminence of Metropolitans near these times, it cannot be proved to be any more then an honorary Primacy: to be Episcopus primae sedis, but not a Governor of the rest. How else could Cyprian truly say (even so long after) as is before alleged, that none of them was a Bishop of Bishops, nor imposed on others, but all were left free to their own consciences, as being accountable only to God?
Sect. 25. But if there were any preheminence of Metropolilitans neer these times, it cannot be proved to be any more then an honorary Primacy: to be Episcopus primae sedis, but not a Governour of the rest. How else could Cyprian truly say (even so long after) as is before alledged, that none of them was a Bishop of Bishops, nor imposed on others, but all were left free to their own consciences, as being accountable only to God?
Sect. 26. Yea the Reverend Author above mentioned shows (D•ssertat. de Episcop. 4. cap. 10. Sect. 9, 10, & alibi) that there were in those times more Bishops then one in a City, though not in una Ecclesia aut Coe•u. And the like hath Grotius oft. So that a City had oft then more Churches then one, and those Churches had their several Bishops: and neither of these Bishops was the Governor of the other, or his Congregation: much less of the remoter Churches and Bishops of other Cities. And this they think to have been the case of Peter and Paul at Rome, yea and of their immediate successors there. And so in other places (Lege Dissert. 5 c, 1.)
Sect. 26. Yea the Reverend Author above mentioned shews (D•ssertat. de Episcop. 4. cap. 10. Sect. 9, 10, & alibi) that there were in those times more Bishops then one in a City, though not in una Ecclesia aut Coe•u. And the like hath Grotius oft. So that a City had oft then more Churches then one, and those Churches had their several Bishops: and neither of these Bishops was the Governour of the other, or his Congregation: much less of the remoter Churches and Bishops of other Cities. And this they think to have been the case of Peter and Paul at Rome, yea and of their immediate successors there. And so in other places (Lege Dissert. 5 c, 1.)