Baxter - BR161 B28 1680

24 Church-Hiflory of 13ifhops and had in Scotland,) and are fo far Epifcopi Epifcoporum," and Arch- bifhops, having no conftraining power ofthe Sword, buta power toadmonifh and inftruEt the Paftors, and to regulate Ordinations, Synods, and all great and common circumstances that belong toChurches. For ifChrist fet up oneForm of Government in which forcePaftors had fo extenfive work andpower, (as Timothy,Titus, and Evangelifts as well as Apoftles had) we must not change it without proof, that Christ himfelf would have it changed. S. 6 i. But if men on this pretence will do as Rome hath done, pre- tend one Apoftletobe the Governour of all the rest, and that theyhave now that Authority of that Apoftle, and will make anUniverfal Monarch to rule at the Antipodes, and over all the World, or will fet up. Patriarchs, Primates, Metrapolitans and Arch-bithops, with power to tyrannize o- vertheir Brethren, andcafe them out, and on pretenceof Order, and imi- tatingthe CivilGovernment, tomalter Princes, or captivate theChurches to their pride and worldly interefts, thiswill be the worft and molt per.. nicious tyranny. S. 62. And asitis not all Epifcopacy, fa it is not all Councils that I delign this Hiftory to.difhonour. No doubt butChrift would have his Church tobe asfar One, as their natural political and gracious capacities will allow : And to do all his work in as much love, peace, and concord as they can : And to that end, both feafonable Councils, and Letters, and Delegates for Concordand Communication, aremeans which nature it felf dire&eth them to, as it dothdired Princes tohold Parliaments and Dyets. In the multitudeofCouncellours there is fafety : Even frequent convene keepeth up amity : Inabfence flanderers areheard, and too oft believed: A little familiarity in prefence confuteth many falfe reports of one ano= ther, which no distant defences would fo fatisfyingly confute. And a- mong many we may hear that which of few we fhould not hear. How good and pleafant is it for Brethren to dwel together in Unity ? And the ConcordofChriftians greatly honoureth their holy profeffion, asdifcord becometha fcandal to the world. But all this, and the meafures and fort of Unity and Concord which we may expert, and the true way to attain it, I have fullier opened in a Treatife entitled, The true and only terms of the Concordof all Chrifian Churches. S. 63. When Chriftians had no Princes or Magiftrates on their fide, they had no fufficient means of keeping up Unity and Concord for mutual. help and ftrength, without meetings of Pastors to carry on their com- mon work by'confent. But their meetings were only with thofe that had nearnefs or neighbourhood.: And they did not put men to travel to Synods out of other Princes Dominions, or from Foreign Lands, much lefsdid they call any General Councils out of allthe Chriftian Churches in the world. But thofe that were capable of Communion by proximity, and of helping one another, were thought enough to meet for fuch ends. S. 64. And

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