Five disputations of church-government and worship by Richard Baxter.

§. 42. I Come now to the Objections of the other side, who will be offended with me for consenting for peace, to so much as I here do? And 1. Some will say, that we are en∣gaged against all Prelacy by Covenant, and therefore cannot yield to so much as you do, without the guilt of perjury.

§. 43. Answ. That this is utterly untrue, I thus demonstrate. 1. When the Covenant was presented to the Assembly, with the bare name of [Prelacy] joyned to Popery, many Grave and Reverend Divines desired that the word [Prelacy] might be explained, because it was not all Episcopacy that they were

against. And thereupon the following Concatenation in the parenthesis was given by way of explication: in these words, [that is, Church-government by Arch-bishops, Bishops, their Chancellors and Commissaries, Deans, Deans and Chapters, Arch-deacons, and all other Ecclesiastical Officers, depending on that Hie∣rarchy.] By which it appeareth that it was only the English Hierarchy or frame, that was Covenanted against: and that which was then existent, that was taken down.

§. 44. 2. When the house of Lords took the Covenant, Mr. Thomas Coleman that gave it them, did so explain it and profess, that it was not their intent to Covenant against all Episcopacy: and upon this explication it was taken: and certainly the Parlia∣ment were most capable of giving us the due sense of it; because it was they that did impose it.

§. 45. 3. And it could not be all Episcopacy that was ex∣cluded, because a Parochial Episcopacy was at the same time used and approved commonly here in England.

§. 46. 4. And in Scotland they had used the help of Visitors for the Reformation of their Churches, committing the care of a County or large Circuit to some one man, which was as high a sort of Episcopacy at least, as any I am pleading for. Besides that they had Moderators in all their Synods, which were tem∣porary Bishops.

§. 47. 5. Also the chief Divines of the late Assembly at Westminster, that recommended the Covenant to the Nations, have professed their own judgements for such a Moderate Epis∣copacy as I am here defending: and therefore they never intend∣ed the exclusion of this by the Covenant.

§. 48. Object. 2. By this we shall seem mutable, while we take down Episcopacy one year, and set it up again the next. Answ. We desire not the setting up of that which we have taken down: and therefore it is no mutability.

§. 49. Object. 3. But this will prepare for the restauration of the old Episcopacy. By such degrees it invaded the Church at first: and if we let in the preparatory degree, the rest in time is like to fol∣low; all that we can do is little enough to keep it out.

§. 50. Answ. 1. If we had no other work to do, we would do this as violently as you desire: but we have the contrary ex∣tream to take heed of and avoid; and the Churches Peace, if it

may be, to procure. 2. As we must not take down the Ministry, lest it prepare men for Episcopacy, so neither must we be against any profitable exercise of the Ministry, or desirable Order among them, for fear of introducing Prelacy. 3. Nor is there any such danger of it, as is pretended: as long as the Magistrate puts not the sword into their hands, and no man can be subjected to them, but by his own Consent, what need we fear their en∣croachments on our liberties. 4. It is not in your power to hin∣der the Species of Episcopacy that is pleaded for, from being in∣troduced: but only to with-hold your own consent, and hinder peace and unity. For any Minister that will, can esteem another his superiour, and be ruled by him, and do nothing without his consent: These are the actions of his own free-will. 5. As long as you are free from violence, if you find an evil or danger, you may draw back.

§. 51. Object. 4. Have we not smarted by them late enough already? shall we so soon be turning back to Aegypt? Answ. That which you have smarted by, we desire you not to turn back to; but that which is Apostolical, pure, and profitable to the Church, and thats not Aegypt.

§. 52. Object. 5. You do all this for Peace with Episcopal Di∣vines: and where is there any of them that is worthy so studious a Pacification? Do they not commonly own their former impieties and persecutions? 〈◊〉〈◊〉 they not meer formalists and enemies to practical Godliness? Would they not ruine the Church and do as they have done, if they had power? Hath God brought them down for their own wickedness, and shall we set them up again?

§. 53. An••w. 1. All are not such as you describe: Many of them are godly able men, that desire and endeavour the good of the Church. 2. If there were none in this age worthy of our communion; yet, if we will have a lasting peace, we must extend the terms of it so far as to comprehend all that are fit for Com∣munion. And such we may easily know, there will be of this opinion throughout all ages. 3. And most of the Churches in the world being already for a higher Prelacy then this, we should agree with them as far as well we may.

§. 54. Object. 6. But the ••arliament have enacted in the settle∣ment of the Civil Government, that Popery and Prelacy shall not be tolerated. Answ. That is, the English Prelacy excluded by the Co∣venant,

and that, as it would be exercised by violence, and forced upon dissenters. Its known what Prelacy was in England; and they cannot rationally be interpreted to speak against any but what was among us, and taken notice of under that name. You see the same Power allow a Parochial Episcopacy, and also Ap∣provers of all that are admitted to publick preaching; and you see they allow an Itinerant Ministry in Wales: and they join Magistrates and Ministers for the ejecting of the insufficient Mi∣nister: and they never forbad or hindered a stated Presidency, or any thing that I have pleaded for: yea they continued a Mo∣derator of the Assembly at Westminster for many years, even to his death. And what fuller evidence would you have that it is not any such Episcopacy whose liberty they exclude, under the name of Prelacy? Only they would not have the Hierarchy by Law-Chancellors to govern the Church, and that by force of the secular power annexed unto theirs: and so they deny them Liberty to deprive all other men of their liberty. But this is no∣thing to the matt••r in hand.

§. 55. To conclude, let it be noted, in answer to all other ob∣jections, that the Presidency, or preheminence pleaded for, doth enable no man to do harm; but only give themselves advantage to do good. They can hinder no man from preaching, or pray∣ing or holy living, or improving his abilities to the good of the Church: Nor can they Govern any man further then they have his own Consent. All which being well considered, I may conclude that this much may be granted in order to the healing and Re∣forming of the Churches.