LIFE OF RICHARD BAXTER. 113 his church to endure only for one age, and changed it for a new one when that age was ended." "And as for the Presbyterians, I found that the office of preach- ing presbyters was allowed by all that deserve the name of Chris- tians, and' that this office did participate, subserviently to Christ, of the prophetical or teaching, the priestly or worshiping, and the governing power; and that scripture, antiquity, and the persua- sive nature of church government, clearly show that all presbyters were church governors as well as church teachers; and that to deny this was to destroy the office, and to endeavor to destroy the churches. And I saw in scripture, antiquity, and reason, that the association of pastors and churches for agreement, and their synods in cases of necessity, are a plain duty ; and that their ordinary stated synods are usually very convenient. «And I. saw that, in England, the persons which were called Presbyterians, were eminent for learning, sobriety, and piety, and the pastors, sp called., were they that went through thework ofthe ministry, in diligent, serious preaching to the people, and edifying men's souls, and keeping up religion in 'the land. "And for the Independents, I saw that most of themwere zeal- ous, and very many learned, discreet, and godly men, and fit to be very serviceable in the church. And I found in the search of scripture and antiquity, that, in the beginning, a governed church, and a stated worshiping church, were all one, and not two seve- ral things ; .*and that though thereMight be other by-meetings, in places like our chapels or private houses, for such is age or perse- cution hindered to come to themore solemn meetings, yet churches then were no bigger in number of persons than our parishes now, to grant the most; and that they were societies of Christians united for personal Communion, and not only for communion by meetings of officers and delegates in synods. And I saw if once we go beyond the bounds of ' personal communion,' as the endof particular churches, in the definition, we may make a church of a nation, or often nations, or whatwe please, which shall have none of the nature and ends of the primitive particular churches. Also I saw a commendable care of serious holiness and discipline in most of the Independent churches. And I found that some Episcopal men (as Bishop Usher did voluntarily profess his judg- ment to me) did hold that every bishop was independent as to synods, and that synods were not proper governors of the particu- lar bishops, but only for their concord. "And for the Anabaptists themselves, (though I have written and said somuch against them,) as I. found that most of them were persons of zeal in religion, so many ofthem were sober, godly VOL. I. 15
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=