Baxter - BV669 B3 1681

(I47) Where note, r. That I fpeak not ofthe MagiftratesGovernment, 2. Nor of that General Infpc tionbywhich an Archbilhop or General Paftor overfeeth the inferiour Bishops with their flocks, as a general Officer cloth the Regiments and Troops in his Army, which haveColonels and Captains of their own. But I fpeak of theparticular Church Government of the Bithops of tingle Churches, like that ofCaptains over their own troops, or rather Schoolmaflers in their feveral Schools. And I the rather mention thisbecaufe Bishops making it more proper to them- felves, than Teaching orWorjhip, mutt hold, ( were they confluent with them- felves) that they can lefs delegate it toothers. The exercifeof the Keys are r. Forentrance by Baptifm. 2. By confirmati- on ( rightly underftood, as Ma peculiar TreatifeI have opened it) 3. By Re- proof, Confolation, Excommunication, and Abfolution. of particular per- fons, which I am now to fpeak of. Where dillinétly note L What the work is Materially, II. In what man- nerit muff be done, III. On how great a number ofpcxfons. I. r. To receive accufations and informations ofall the great and perilous heretics, crimes, and feandals in the Diocefe. 2. To judge of the credibilityof the witneffes ( hardly doneby afiranger ) and of the validity of their proofs. For Councils themfelves have petitioned the Emperours, that ungodly perfons might not be witneffes, who make fo fmall a matter ofother fins, as that they may be fuppofed to make but littleof falfe witneffing. Elfe an Atheift or Lifidel or man ofnoconfcience ( as he ne- ver need tomils ofChurch preferment, for want ofconformingtomens wills, .fo ) he may be matter ofthe fame, liberty, and lives ofall honest men, at his pleafure, and govern them that govern Church and State. Therefore Bithops themfelves mutt difference between witneffes: And to fay, I knowan honest man that knoweth an honest man that faith theyare honeft men, is a poor fa- tisfadion in comparifon ofperfonal knowledge. Much lefs to truft the whole trial to another. 3. He mutthear the accufed perron fpeák for himfelf. For there is no judg- ing till both are heard. ç. He mutt rebuke falfe accufers, and juftifie the innocent, and vindicate their good name. 5. Tiemull by convincing arguments and meltingaffeátions, labour to bring the finner to Repentance. 6. Hemull delire the Church to be witneffes of his faithful admonitions, and to avoid the like crimes and impenitence themfelves, and to pray God to give Repentance to the offender. 7. Hemull publicklydeclare the impenitent excommunicate, and bind him over to anfwer it at the bar of God,and Cet Gods terrors before his Confcience. 8. He mull try and judge of the Truthofthe Repentance ofthofe that fay they do repent ( where 'all the ancient rigorous Penances came in.) And not truft every incredible faying, i Repent. T 2 9. He

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