when_o abraham_n have_v bestow_v legacy_n on_o his_o other_o child_n he_o leave_v isaac_n haredem_fw-la ex_fw-la ass_n his_o lawful_a heir_n i_o be_o unwilling_a to_o deny_v a_o tradition_n so_o general_o receive_v among_o both_o jewish_a and_o christian_a writer_n as_o the_o priesthood_n of_o the_o first-born_a before_o the_o law_n but_o this_o i_o say_v i_o can_v yet_o find_v any_o other_o ground_n for_o it_o but_o tradition_n no_o place_n of_o scripture_n give_v we_o sufficient_a evidence_n for_o it_o and_o many_o against_o it_o that_o which_o serve_v sufficient_o for_o the_o consutation_n of_o it_o be_v that_o observation_n of_o theodoret_n 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d it_o be_v to_o be_v observe_v gen._n that_o the_o young_a be_v always_o prefer_v before_o the_o first-born_a which_o he_o take_v notice_n of_o from_o the_o case_n he_o there_o speak_v to_o of_o ephraim_n and_o manasses_n and_o so_o run_v it_o up_o to_o abel_n prefer_v before_o cain_n seth_n before_o japheth_n abraham_n before_o his_o elder_a brethren_n isaac_n before_o ishmael_n jacob_n before_o esau_n judas_n and_o joseph_n before_o reuben_n moses_n before_o aaron_n and_o david_n before_o fiâ—_n the_o rest_n of_o his_o brethren_n although_o that_o be_v after_o the_o law_n that_o place_n which_o give_v the_o great_a countenance_n to_o the_o opinion_n be_v number_n 3._o 41._o and_o thou_o shall_v take_v the_o levite_n for_o i_o instead_o of_o the_o first-born_a where_o it_o seem_v that_o the_o first-born_a be_v former_o the_o priest_n in_o who_o room_n the_o levite_n be_v take_v but_o with_o submission_n to_o better_a judgement_n i_o can_v see_v nothing_o employ_v in_o this_o place_n but_o only_o that_o god_n have_v deliver_v their_o first-born_a in_o egypt_n exodus_fw-la 12._o 23._o and_o call_v for_o they_o to_o be_v sanctify_v to_o he_o exodus_fw-la 13._o 2._o upon_o the_o account_n of_o the_o propriety_n he_o have_v in_o they_o in_o a_o peculiar_a manner_n by_o that_o deliverance_n and_o not_o on_o the_o account_n of_o any_o special_a service_n for_o many_o be_v very_o unfit_a for_o that_o by_o reason_n of_o age_n and_o which_o be_v observable_a god_n require_v as_o well_o the_o first-born_a of_o beast_n both_o to_o be_v sanctify_v and_o redeem_v number_n 3_o 41._o therefore_o god_n now_o settle_v a_o way_n of_o worship_n he_o give_v the_o israelite_n liberty_n to_o redeem_v they_o and_o instead_o of_o they_o pitch_v on_o the_o tribe_n of_o levi_n for_o his_o own_o service_n another_o placâ—_n be_v exodus_fw-la 16._o 24._o 5._o where_o the_o young_a man_n be_v mention_v that_o offer_v burnt-offering_a it_o be_v confess_v that_o the_o chaldee_n paraphra_v and_o arabic_a version_n understand_v here_o the_o first-born_a but_o however_o the_o place_n imply_v no_o more_o than_o that_o they_o be_v employ_v to_o bring_v the_o sacrifice_n for_o so_o the_o septuagint_n render_v it_o 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d or_o else_o that_o they_o be_v employ_v as_o the_o popae_n only_o to_o kill_v the_o sacrifice_n for_o we_o see_v the_o sprinkle_n of_o the_o blood_n which_o be_v the_o main_a thing_n intend_v here_o as_o a_o foederal_a rite_n be_v do_v by_o moses_n himself_o who_o be_v the_o high_a priest_n of_o the_o people_n as_o well_o as_o prince_n till_z aaron_n and_o his_o son_n be_v set_v a_o part_n which_o be_v not_o till_o exodus_fw-la 28._o 1_o 2._o and_o yet_o aaron_n be_v three_o year_n elder_a than_o moses_n exod._n 7._o 7._o which_o be_v a_o evidence_n that_o aaron_n as_o first-born_a be_v not_o the_o priest_n for_o till_o his_o consecration_n moses_n and_o not_o aaron_n perform_v the_o office_n of_o priesthood_n thence_o we_o read_v psalm_n 99_o 6._o moses_n and_o aaron_n among_o his_o priest_n for_o although_o the_o word_n 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d be_v sometime_o attribute_v to_o those_o in_o civil_a authority_n 1_o as_o 2_o samuel_n 8._o 18._o compare_v with_o 1_o chron._n 18._o 17._o and_o 2_o sam._n 26._o 26._o gen._n 41._o 50._o exodus_fw-la 2._o 16._o job_n 12._o 19_o yet_o there_o be_v no_o reason_v so_o to_o understand_v it_o of_o moses_n and_o further_o the_o ground_n why_o 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d be_v attribute_v to_o both_o prince_n and_o priest_n before_o the_o law_n be_v because_o the_o same_o person_n may_v be_v both_o as_o the_o priest_n of_o egypt_n be_v prince_n too_o gen._n 41._o 50._o but_o for_o moses_n we_o read_v not_o only_o of_o the_o 3._o title_n but_o the_o proper_a office_n of_o priest_n attribute_v to_o he_o as_o sacrifice_v exodus_fw-la 24._o 5._o consecrate_v aaron_n and_o his_o son_n exodus_fw-la 29._o 35._o and_o therefore_o aben_n ezra_n upon_o that_o psalm_n forecited_a call_v he_o 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d the_o high_a priest_n this_o priesthood_n of_o moses_n lead_v we_o to_o another_o evidence_n of_o 5._o the_o honour_n of_o those_o who_o be_v employ_v in_o the_o service_n of_o god_n which_o be_v that_o when_o family_n increase_v and_o many_o associate_v into_o a_o commonwealth_n though_o the_o private_a service_n may_v belong_v to_o the_o master_n of_o the_o family_n yet_o the_o public_a before_o positive_a law_n restrain_v it_o be_v most_o common_o join_v with_o the_o civil_a power_n that_o melchizedek_n be_v both_o king_n and_o priest_n in_o salem_n if_o with_o the_o jew_n we_o conclude_v he_o be_v some_o which_o we_o have_v little_a reason_n for_o it_o will_v be_v a_o great_a evidence_n sem_fw-mi being_n then_o the_o great_a potentate_n live_v but_o we_o pass_v from_o he_o to_o other_o nation_n after_o the_o dispersion_n to_o see_v where_o the_o power_n over_o religious_a society_n be_v general_o hold_v in_o egypt_n we_o find_v 2._o that_o their_o priest_n be_v often_o make_v king_n as_o plutarch_n observe_v out_o of_o hecataeus_n and_o be_v confess_v by_o strabo_n diodorus_n and_o other_o of_o the_o greek_n the_o same_o plutarch_n give_v we_o a_o large_a testimony_n that_o among_o they_o 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d the_o priesthood_n be_v account_v of_o equal_a dignity_n with_o the_o kingdom_n the_o same_o do_v aristotle_n in_o several_a place_n of_o his_o politic_n and_o particular_o of_o the_o spartan_n of_o who_o herodotus_n add_v that_o the_o priesthood_n of_o jupiter_n coelestibus_fw-la and_o lacedaemonius_n do_v always_o belong_v to_o the_o king_n own_o person_n for_o the_o old_a latin_n virgil_n anius_n be_v sufficient_a and_o among_o the_o roman_n after_o the_o power_n be_v separate_v the_o pontifex_fw-la max._n have_v royal_a state_n his_o cella'curulis_fw-la and_o lictores_fw-la as_o the_o consul_n have_v only_o their_o priest_n meddle_v not_o in_o civil_a affair_n of_o which_o plutarch_n give_v a_o double_a reason_n the_o impossibility_n of_o mind_v both_o employment_n as_o they_o shall_v do_v and_o so_o must_v either_o 110._o 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d neglect_v the_o worship_n of_o the_o god_n or_o else_o 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d wrong_v the_o people_n with_o the_o neglect_n of_o the_o administration_n of_o justice_n the_o other_o reason_n be_v because_o those_o that_o be_v employ_v in_o civil_a affair_n be_v put_v upon_o execution_n of_o justice_n and_o it_o be_v no_o way_n fit_v a_o man_n shall_v come_v reek_v from_o the_o blood_n of_o citizen_n to_o go_v and_o sacrifice_n to_o the_o god_n this_o conjunction_n of_o civil_a and_o sacred_a power_n be_v attest_v by_o 10._o clemens_n alexandrinus_n of_o the_o most_o civilise_a heathen_n so_o likewise_o by_o synesius_n of_o the_o most_o ancient_a nation_n by_o strabo_n of_o the_o ephesian_n by_o the_o roman_a historian_n of_o the_o roman_a emperor_n who_o from_o augustus_n to_o gratian_n and_o some_o say_v after_o continue_v the_o title_n of_o pontifex_n maximus_n among_o the_o rest_n of_o the_o imperial_a honour_n thus_o much_o then_o may_v serve_v to_o manifest_v how_o the_o honour_n of_o those_o person_n who_o be_v he_o 〈…〉_z e_o service_n of_o god_n and_o the_o governme_n 〈…〉_z be_v a_o dictate_v of_o the_o law_n of_o 〈…〉_z chap._n v._n the_o three_o thing_n dictate_v by_o the_o law_n of_o nature_n be_v the_o solemnity_n of_o all_o thing_n to_o be_v perform_v in_o this_o society_n which_o lie_v in_o the_o gravity_n of_o all_o rite_n and_o ceremony_n in_o the_o compose_a temper_n of_o mind_n god_n worship_n rational_a his_o spirit_n destroy_v not_o the_o use_n of_o reason_n the_o enthusiastic_a spirit_n discover_v the_o circumstantiate_v of_o fit_a time_n and_o place_n for_o worship_n the_o seven_o day_n on_o what_o account_n so_o much_o speak_v of_o by_o heathen_n the_o roman_n holy_a day_n cessation_n of_o labour_n upon_o they_o the_o solemnity_n of_o ceremony_n use_v 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d silence_n in_o devotion_n exclusion_n of_o unfit_a person_n solemnity_n of_o discipline_n excommunication_n among_o the_o jew_n by_o the_o sound_n of_o a_o trumpet_n among_o christian_n by_o a_o bell._n the_o next_o
so_o not_o in_o subordination_n to_o any_o other_o tribe_n for_o they_o have_v the_o head_n of_o their_o father_n as_o well_o as_o other_o exodus_fw-la 6._o 25._o and_o although_o when_o they_o be_v settle_v in_o canaan_n their_o habitation_n be_v intermix_v with_o other_o tribe_n in_o their_o forty_o eight_o city_n yet_o they_o be_v not_o under_o the_o government_n of_o those_o tribe_n among_o who_o they_o live_v but_o preserve_v their_o authority_n and_o government_n entire_a among_o themselves_o and_o therefore_o it_o be_v necessary_a there_o shall_v be_v the_o same_o form_n of_o government_n among_o they_o which_o there_o be_v among_o the_o rest_n the_o whole_a body_n of_o the_o nation_n then_o be_v divide_v into_o thirteen_o tribe_n these_o tribe_n into_o their_o several_a family_n some_o say_v seventy_o which_o they_o call_v 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d these_o family_n be_v divide_v into_o so_o many_o household_n 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d their_o household_n into_o person_n 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d over_o the_o several_a person_n be_v the_o several_a master_n of_o family_n over_o the_o several_a household_n be_v the_o captain_n of_o 1000_o and_o 100_o 50_o 10._o over_o the_o family_n i_o suppose_v be_v the_o head_n of_o the_o father_n and_o over_o the_o thirteen_o tribe_n be_v the_o 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d the_o chief_a father_n of_o the_o tribe_n of_o the_o child_n of_o israel_n numb_a 32._o 28._o and_o we_o have_v the_o name_n of_o they_o set_v down_o numb_a 34._o 17_o etc._n etc._n so_o that_o hitherto_o we_o find_v nothing_o peculiar_a to_o this_o tribe_n nor_o proper_a to_o it_o as_o employ_v in_o the_o service_n of_o god_n for_o their_o several_a family_n have_v their_o several_a head_n and_o eleazar_n over_o they_o as_o chief_a of_o the_o tribe_n and_o so_o we_o find_v throughout_o number_n 2._o all_o the_o head_n of_o the_o several_a tribe_n be_v name_v and_o appoint_v by_o god_n as_o eleazar_n be_v the_o only_a thing_n then_o which_o seem_v proper_a to_o this_o tribe_n be_v 5._o the_o superiority_n of_o the_o priest_n over_o the_o levite_n in_o the_o service_n of_o god_n and_o the_o supereminent_a power_n of_o the_o high_a priest_n as_o the_o type_n of_o christ._n so_o that_o nothing_o can_v be_v infer_v from_o the_o order_n under_o the_o law_n to_o that_o under_o the_o gospel_n but_o from_o one_o of_o these_o two_o and_o from_o the_o first_o there_o can_v be_v nothing_o deduce_v but_o this_o that_o as_o there_o be_v a_o superiority_n of_o officer_n under_o the_o law_n so_o likewise_o shall_v there_o be_v under_o the_o gospel_n which_o be_v grant_v by_o all_o in_o the_o superiority_n of_o priest_n over_o deacon_n to_o who_o these_o two_o answer_n in_o the_o church_n of_o god_n in_o the_o judgement_n of_o those_o who_o contend_v for_o a_o high_a order_n by_o divine_a institution_n above_o presbyter_n and_o withal_o we_o must_v consider_v that_o there_o be_v under_o that_o order_n no_o power_n of_o jurisdiction_n invest_v in_o the_o priest_n over_o the_o levite_n but_o that_o be_v in_o the_o head_n of_o the_o family_n and_o ordination_n there_o can_v not_o be_v because_o their_o office_n descend_v by_o succession_n in_o their_o several_a family_n those_o who_o will_v argue_v from_o aaron_n power_n must_v either_o bring_v too_o little_a or_o too_o much_o from_o thence_o too_o little_a if_o we_o consider_v his_o office_n be_v typical_a and_o ceremonial_a and_o as_o high_a priest_n have_v more_o immediate_a respect_n to_o god_n than_o man_n heb._n 5._o 1._o and_o therefore_o eleazar_n be_v appoint_v over_o the_o several_a family_n during_o aaron_n life-time_n and_o under_o eleazar_n his_o son_n phinehas_n too_o much_o if_o a_o necessity_n be_v urge_v for_o the_o continuance_n of_o the_o same_o authority_n in_o the_o church_n of_o god_n which_o be_v the_o argument_n of_o the_o papist_n derive_v the_o pope_n supremacy_n from_o thence_o which_o be_v acute_o do_v by_o pope_n innocentius_n the_o three_o the_o father_n of_o the_o lateran_n council_n who_o prove_v that_o the_o pope_n may_v exercise_v temporal_a jurisdiction_n from_o that_o place_n in_o deuteronomy_n 17._o 8._o and_o that_o by_o this_o reason_n because_o deuteronomy_n do_v imply_v the_o second_o law_n and_o therefore_o what_o be_v there_o write_v in_o novo_fw-la testamento_fw-la debet_fw-la observari_fw-la must_v be_v observe_v under_o the_o gospel_n which_o according_a to_o they_o be_v a_o new_a law_n all_o that_o can_v be_v infer_v then_o from_o the_o jewish_a pattern_n 5._o can_v amount_v to_o any_o obligation_n upon_o christian_n it_o be_v at_o the_o best_a but_o a_o judicial_a law_n and_o therefore_o bind_v we_o not_o up_o as_o a_o positive_a law_n but_o only_o declare_v the_o equity_n of_o the_o thing_n in_o use_n then_o i_o conclude_v then_o that_o the_o jewish_a pattern_n be_v no_o stand_a law_n for_o church-government_n now_o either_o in_o its_o common_a or_o peculiar_a form_n of_o government_n but_o because_o there_o be_v some_o superiority_n of_o order_n then_o and_o subordination_n of_o some_o person_n to_o other_o under_o that_o government_n that_o such_o a_o superiority_n and_o subordination_n be_v no_o way_n unlawful_a under_o the_o gospel_n for_o that_o will_v destroy_v the_o equity_n of_o the_o law_n and_o though_o the_o form_n of_o government_n be_v the_o same_o with_o that_o of_o other_o tribe_n yet_o we_o see_v god_n do_v not_o bind_v they_o to_o a_o equality_n because_o they_o be_v for_o his_o immediate_a service_n but_o continue_v the_o same_o way_n as_o in_o other_o tribe_n thence_o i_o infer_v that_o as_o there_o be_v no_o necessary_a obligation_n upon_o christian_n to_o continue_v that_o form_n under_o the_o jew_n because_o their_o law_n do_v not_o bind_v we_o now_o so_o neither_o be_v there_o any_o repugnancy_n to_o this_o law_n in_o such_o a_o subordination_n but_o it_o be_v very_o agreeable_a with_o the_o equity_n of_o it_o it_o be_v institute_v for_o peace_n and_o order_n and_o therefore_o ought_v not_o to_o be_v condemn_v for_o antichristian_a the_o jewish_a pattern_n then_o of_o government_n neither_o make_v equality_n unlawful_a because_o their_o law_n do_v not_o oblige_v now_o nor_o do_v it_o make_v superiority_n unlawful_a because_o it_o be_v practise_v then_o so_o that_o notwithstanding_o the_o jewish_a pattern_n the_o church_n of_o christ_n be_v leave_v to_o its_o own_o liberty_n for_o the_o choice_n of_o its_o form_n of_o government_n whether_o by_o a_o equality_n of_o power_n in_o some_o person_n or_o superiority_n and_o subordination_n of_o one_o order_n to_o another_o chap._n iu._n whether_o christ_n have_v determine_v the_o form_n of_o government_n by_o any_o positive_a law_n argument_n of_o the_o necessity_n why_o christ_n must_v determine_v it_o large_o answer_v as_o first_o christ_n faithfulness_n compare_v with_o moses_n answer_v and_o retort_v and_o prove_v that_o christ_n do_v not_o institute_v any_o form_n of_o church_n government_n because_o no_o such_o law_n for_o it_o as_o moses_n give_v and_o we_o have_v nothing_o but_o general_a rule_n which_o be_v applyable_a to_o several_a form_n of_o government_n the_o office_n of_o timothy_n and_o titus_n what_o it_o prove_v in_o order_n to_o this_o question_n the_o lawfulness_n of_o episcopacy_n show_v thence_o but_o not_o the_o necessity_n a_o particular_a form_n how_o far_o necessary_a as_o christ_n be_v the_o governor_n of_o his_o church_n the_o similitude_n the_o church_n be_v set_v out_o by_o prove_v not_o the_o thing_n in_o question_n nor_o the_o difference_n of_o civil_a and_o church_n government_n nor_o christ_n set_v officer_n in_o his_o church_n nor_o the_o inconvenience_n of_o the_o church_n power_n in_o appoint_v new_a officer_n every_o minister_n have_v a_o power_n respect_v the_o church_n in_o common_a which_o the_o church_n may_v restrain_v episcoâ—acy_n thence_o prove_v lawful_a the_o argument_n from_o the_o scripture_n perfection_n answer_v we_o come_v then_o from_o the_o type_n to_o the_o antitype_n from_o 1._o the_o rod_n of_o aaron_n to_o the_o root_n of_o jessâ—_n from_o the_o pattern_n of_o the_o jewish_a church_n to_o the_o founder_n of_o the_o christian_a to_o see_v whether_o our_o lord_n &_o saviour_n have_v determine_v this_o controversy_n or_o any_o one_o form_n of_o government_n for_o his_o church_n by_o any_o universal_o bind_v act_n or_o law_n of_o he_o and_o here_o it_o be_v plead_v more_o hot_o by_o many_o that_o christ_n must_v do_v it_o than_o that_o he_o have_v do_v it_o and_o therefore_o i_o shall_v first_o examine_v the_o pretence_n of_o the_o necessity_n of_o christ_n determine_v the_o particular_a form_n and_o then_o the_o argument_n that_o be_v bring_v that_o he_o have_v do_v it_o the_o main_a plea_n that_o there_o must_v be_v a_o perfect_a form_n of_o church-government_n lay_v down_o by_o christ_n for_o the_o church_n of_o god_n be_v from_o the_o
ad_fw-la ordinem_fw-la ad_fw-la decorum_n &_o ad_fw-la aedificationem_fw-la ecclesiae_fw-la pro_fw-la co_fw-la tempore_fw-la pertinentibus_fw-la and_o in_o the_o next_o section_n novimus_fw-la enim_fw-la deum_fw-la nostrum_fw-la deum_fw-la esse_fw-la ordinis_fw-la non_fw-la confusionis_fw-la &_o ecclesiam_fw-la seruari_fw-la ordine_fw-la perdi_fw-la autem_fw-la 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d qua_fw-la de_fw-la causa_fw-la multos_fw-la etiam_fw-la &_o diversos_fw-la non_fw-la solum_fw-la olim_fw-la in_o israele_n verum_fw-la etiam_fw-la post_fw-la in_o ecclesia_fw-la ex_fw-la judaeis_n &_o gentibus_fw-la collecta_fw-la ministrorum_fw-la ordines_fw-la instituit_fw-la &_o eandem_fw-la etiam_fw-la ob_fw-la causam_fw-la liberum_fw-la reliquit_fw-la ecclesiis_fw-la ut_fw-la plures_fw-la adderent_fw-la vel_fw-la non_fw-la adderent_fw-la modo_fw-la ad_fw-la aedificationem_fw-la fieret_fw-la he_o assert_v it_o to_o be_v in_o the_o church_n power_n and_o liberty_n to_o add_v several_a order_n of_o minister_n according_a as_o it_o judge_v they_o tend_v to_o edification_n and_o say_v he_o be_v far_o from_o condemn_v the_o course_n of_o the_o primitive_a church_n in_o erect_v one_o as_o bishop_n over_o the_o presbyter_n for_o better_a manage_n church_n affair_n yea_o arch-bishop_n metropolitan_o and_o patriarch_n as_o institute_v by_o the_o primitive_a church_n before_o the_o nicene_n council_n he_o think_v may_v be_v both_o excuse_v and_o defend_v although_o afterward_o they_o degenerate_v into_o tyranny_n and_o ambition_n and_o in_o his_o observation_n upon_o his_o confession_n pen_v chief_o upon_o the_o occasion_n of_o the_o exception_n of_o magnus_fw-la quidam_fw-la vir_fw-la some_o will_v guess_v who_o that_o be_v take_v at_o the_o free_a delivery_n of_o his_o mind_n concern_v the_o polity_n of_o the_o primitive_a church_n he_o have_v expression_n to_o this_o purpose_n that_o what_o be_v unanimous_o determine_v by_o the_o primitive_a church_n without_o any_o contradiction_n to_o scripture_n do_v come_v from_o the_o holy_a spirit_n hinc_fw-la fit_n say_v he_o ut_fw-la quae_fw-la sint_fw-la hujuscemodi_fw-la ea_fw-la ego_fw-la improbare_fw-la nec_fw-la velim_fw-la nec_fw-la audeam_fw-la bona_fw-la conscientia_fw-la quis_fw-la autem_fw-la ego_fw-la sim_fw-la qui_fw-la quod_fw-la tota_fw-la ecclesia_fw-la approbavit_fw-la improbem_fw-la such_o thing_n say_v he_o as_o be_v so_o determine_v i_o neither_o will_v nor_o can_v with_o a_o safe_a conscience_n condemn_v for_o who_o be_o i_o that_o i_o shall_v condemn_v that_o which_o the_o whole_a church_n of_o god_n have_v approve_v a_o sentence_n as_o full_a of_o judgement_n as_o modesty_n and_o that_o he_o may_v show_v he_o be_v not_o alone_o in_o this_o opinion_n he_o produce_v two_o large_a and_o excellent_a discourse_n of_o martin_n bucer_n concern_v the_o polity_n of_o the_o ancient_a church_n which_o he_o recite_v with_o approbation_n the_o one_o out_o of_o his_o commentary_n on_o the_o ephesian_n the_o other_o de_fw-fr disciplina_fw-la clericali_fw-la whereby_o we_o have_v gain_v another_o testimony_n of_o that_o famous_a and_o peaceable_a divine_a who_o â—_o judgement_n be_v too_o large_a to_o be_v here_o insert_v the_o same_o opinion_n of_o zanchy_a may_v be_v see_v in_o his_o commentary_n upon_o the_o four_o command_n wherein_o he_o assert_v no_o particular_a form_n to_o be_v prescribe_v but_o only_o general_a rule_n lay_v down_o in_o scripture_n that_o all_o be_v do_v to_o edification_n speak_v of_o the_o original_a of_o episcopacy_n which_o come_v not_o dispositione_n divina_fw-la but_o consuetudine_fw-la ecclesiastica_fw-la atque_fw-la ea_fw-la quidem_fw-la minime_fw-la improbanda_fw-la neque_fw-la enim_fw-la hunc_fw-la ordinem_fw-la prohibuit_fw-la christus_fw-la sed_fw-la potius_fw-la regulam_fw-la generalem_fw-la reliquit_fw-la per_fw-la apostolum_n nt_v in_o ecclesia_fw-la omne_fw-la fiant_fw-la ad_fw-la edificationem_fw-la it_o be_v then_o most_o clear_a and_o evident_a that_o neither_o bucer_n chemnitius_n or_o zanchy_a do_v look_v upon_o the_o church_n as_o so_o bind_v up_o by_o any_o immutable_a form_n of_o church-government_n lay_v down_o in_o scripture_n but_o it_o may_v lawful_o and_o laudable_o alter_v it_o for_o better_a edification_n of_o the_o church_n for_o these_o learned_a divine_n conceive_n that_o at_o first_o in_o the_o church_n there_o be_v no_o difference_n between_o bishop_n and_o presbyter_n and_o commend_v the_o polity_n of_o the_o church_n when_o episcopacy_n be_v set_v in_o a_o high_a order_n they_o must_v of_o necessity_n hold_v that_o there_o be_v no_o obligation_n to_o observe_v that_o form_n which_o be_v use_v in_o apostolical_a time_n our_o next_o inquiry_n be_v into_o the_o opinion_n of_o the_o french_a church_n and_o the_o eminent_a divine_n therein_o for_o calvin_n and_o bâ—za_n we_o have_v design_v they_o under_o another_o rank_n at_o present_a we_o speak_v of_o those_o who_o in_o thesi_fw-la assert_v the_o form_n of_o church-government_n mutable_a the_o first_o we_o meet_v with_o here_o who_o full_o lay_v down_o his_o opinion_n as_o to_o this_o matter_n be_v joh._n fregevil_n who_o although_o in_o his_o palma_n christiana_n he_o seem_v to_o assert_v the_o divine_a etc._n right_n of_o primacy_n in_o the_o church_n yet_o in_o his_o politic_a reformer_n he_o assert_v both_o form_n of_o government_n by_o equality_n and_o inequality_n to_o be_v lawful_a and_o we_o shall_v the_o rather_o produce_v his_o testimony_n because_o of_o the_o high_a character_n give_v of_o he_o by_o the_o late_a reverend_a bishop_n hall_n wise_a fregevil_n a_o deep_a head_n 20._o and_o one_o that_o be_v able_a to_o cut_v even_o betwixt_o the_o league_n the_o church_n and_o state_n his_o word_n be_v these_o as_o for_o the_o english_a government_n i_o say_v it_o be_v ground_v upon_o god_n word_n so_o far_o forth_o as_o it_o keep_v the_o state_n of_o the_o clergy_n institute_v in_o the_o old_a testament_n and_o confirm_v in_o the_o new_a and_o concern_v the_o government_n of_o the_o french_a church_n so_o far_o as_o concern_v the_o equality_n of_o minister_n it_o have_v the_o like_a foundation_n in_o god_n word_n namely_o in_o the_o example_n of_o the_o apostle_n which_o may_v suffice_v to_o authorise_v both_o these_o form_n of_o estate_n albeit_o in_o several_a time_n and_o place_n none_o can_v deny_v but_o that_o the_o apostle_n among_o themselves_o be_v equal_a as_o concern_v authority_n albeit_o there_o be_v a_o order_n for_o their_o precedency_n when_o the_o apostle_n first_o plant_v church_n the_o same_o be_v small_a and_o in_o affliction_n there_o be_v not_o as_o yet_o any_o other_o bishop_n priest_n or_o deacon_n but_o themselves_o they_o be_v the_o bishop_n and_o deacon_n and_o together_o serve_v the_o table_n those_o man_n therefore_o who_o god_n raise_v up_o to_o plant_v a_o church_n can_v do_v no_o better_o then_o after_o the_o example_n of_o the_o apostle_n to_o bear_v themselves_o in_o equal_a authority_n for_o this_o cause_n have_v the_o french_a minister_n planter_n of_o the_o reform_a church_n in_o france_n usurp_v it_o howbeit_o provisional_o reserve_v liberty_n to_o alter_v it_o according_a to_o the_o occurrence_n but_o the_o equality_n that_o rest_v among_o the_o bishop_n of_o the_o primitive_a church_n do_v increase_v as_o the_o church_n increase_v and_o thence_o proceed_v the_o creation_n of_o deacon_n and_o afterward_o of_o other_o bishop_n and_o priest_n yet_o cease_v not_o the_o apostle_n equality_n in_o authority_n but_o they_o that_o be_v create_v have_v not_o like_a authority_n with_o the_o apostle_n but_o the_o apostle_n remain_v as_o sovereign_a bishop_n neither_o be_v any_o great_a than_o they_o hereof_o i_o do_v infer_v that_o in_o the_o state_n of_o a_o mighty_a and_o peaceable_a church_n as_o be_v the_o church_n of_o england_n or_o as_o the_o church_n of_o france_n be_v or_o such_o may_v be_v if_o god_n shall_v call_v it_o to_o reformation_n the_o state_n of_o the_o clergy_n ought_v to_o be_v preserve_v for_o equality_n will_v be_v hurtful_a to_o the_o state_n and_o in_o time_n breed_v confusion_n but_o as_o the_o apostle_n continue_v church_n in_o their_o equality_n so_o long_o as_o the_o church_n by_o they_o plant_v be_v small_a so_o shall_v equality_n be_v apply_v in_o the_o plant_n of_o a_o church_n or_o so_o long_a as_o the_o church_n continue_v small_a or_o under_o persecution_n yet_o may_v it_o also_o be_v admit_v as_o not_o repugnant_a to_o god_n word_n in_o those_o place_n where_o already_o it_o be_v receive_v rather_o than_o to_o innovate_v anything_o i_o say_v therefore_o that_o even_o in_o the_o apostle_n time_n the_o state_n of_o the_o clergy_n increase_v as_o the_o church_n increase_v neither_o be_v the_o government_n under_o the_o bondage_n of_o egypt_n and_o during_o the_o peace_n of_o the_o land_n of_o canaan_n alike_o for_o israelite_n have_v first_o judge_n and_o after_o their_o state_n increase_v king_n thus_o far_o that_o politic_a reformer_n who_o word_n be_v so_o full_a and_o pertinent_a to_o the_o scope_n and_o drift_n of_o this_o whole_a treatise_n that_o there_o be_v no_o need_n of_o any_o commentary_n to_o draw_v they_o to_o my_o sense_n the_o