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

Argum. 2. THat Government which gratifieth the Devil and wicked men, is not to be restored under any pretence of the Order or Peace of the Church: But such was the English Episcopacy; therefore, &c.

The Major is un••enyable, supposing that it do not this by an avoidable accident, but by natural Necessity, as I have proved, I confess some of the Men were so Learned and Good men, that I think few men honour their names more then my self. But it is the way of Government that I have spoke of.

And for the Minor, it is as plain from experience, and the argu∣ment before used. If it necessarily exclude the exercise of Christs discipline from most Congregations, then doth it gratifie Satan: But, &c▪

And if it keep wicked obstinate sinners from the power of discipline, then doth it gratifie sinners in their Sins, and conse∣quently please Satan. But this it doth: therefore, &c.

Who knows not (for it cannot be denied) that the generality of the rabble of ignorant persons, worldlings, drunkards, haters of Godliness▪ &c. are very zealous for Episcopacy, whilest multi∣tudes

of truly conscientious people have been against it? And who knows not that they both fetcht their chief Motives from experience? The ungodly found that Bishops let them keep their sins, and troubled them not with this preciseness, but rather drove away the precise preachers and people whom they ab∣horred. And the godly people that disliked Ep••scopacy, did it principally on the same experience, observing that they befriended the wicked, at least by preserving them from the due rod of discipline; but exercised their zeal against them that scrupled or questioned at least their own standing or assumed power, or the abuse of it. And then further,