their_o course_n in_o make_v such_o breach_n in_o christ_n vineyard_n and_o sheepfold_n that_o let_v in_o the_o fox_n and_o wolf_n and_o to_o be_v dispose_v our_o own_o mind_n into_o such_o a_o gentle_a temper_n that_o notwithstanding_o all_o past_a provocation_n and_o all_o the_o advantage_n we_o have_v from_o the_o law_n and_o lawgiver_n yet_o we_o may_v be_v willing_a to_o yield_v even_o to_o the_o peevish_a weakness_n and_o unaccountable_a scruple_n of_o these_o that_o separate_v from_o we_o as_o far_o as_o can_v be_v without_o give_v just_a occasion_n of_o scandal_n on_o the_o other_o hand_n but_o to_o give_v they_o such_o advantage_n as_o this_o discourse_n do_v be_v that_o which_o i_o can_v reconcile_v to_o the_o common_a rule_n of_o prudence_n and_o edification_n i_o wish_v this_o writer_n have_v also_o consider_v how_o unjust_a a_o way_n of_o reason_v it_o be_v to_o argue_v from_o the_o indecency_n and_o abuse_n any_o may_v be_v guilty_a of_o in_o the_o use_n of_o some_o of_o the_o ceremony_n that_o they_o ought_v to_o be_v take_v away_o alas_o at_o that_o rate_n the_o most_o sacred_a and_o solemn_a thing_n shall_v not_o escape_v since_o all_o thing_n when_o they_o fall_v into_o the_o hand_n of_o mortal_a man_n be_v subject_a to_o such_o abuse_n he_o do_v also_o very_o much_o forget_v himself_o when_o he_o reckon_v the_o bow_v to_o the_o altar_n one_o of_o the_o ceremony_n of_o the_o church_n which_o have_v never_o enjoin_v it_o neither_o by_o canon_n nor_o rubric_n for_o in_o it_o all_o be_v leave_v to_o their_o freedom_n so_o that_o this_o can_v furnish_v none_o with_o so_o much_o as_o a_o pretence_n to_o excuse_v their_o separation_n for_o his_o long_a discourse_n about_o churchman_n and_o their_o qualification_n and_o labour_n chief_o about_o preach_v iâ—_n certain_o deserve_v great_a consideration_n and_o in_o it_o we_o can_v steer_v by_o a_o better_a rule_n than_o those_o most_o excellent_a constitution_n antiquity_n have_v leave_v we_o which_o be_v 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and_o no_o where_o bishop_n 4._o because_o st._n clement_n in_o his_o epistle_n speak_v only_o of_o bishop_n and_o deacon_n 5._o justin_n martyr_n call_v the_o bishop_n only_a precedent_n 6._o st._n cyprian_n call_v himself_o praepositus_fw-la 7._o because_o the_o form_n of_o ordain_v elder_n be_v the_o same_o with_o which_o christ_n ordain_v the_o apostle_n receive_v you_o the_o holy_a ghost_n who_o sin_n you_o forgive_v they_o be_v forgive_v they_o 8._o the_o bad_a consequence_n of_o admit_v this_o difference_n of_o order_n be_v great_a for_o it_o will_v condemn_v all_o the_o other_o reform_a church_n upon_o these_o reason_n he_o reject_v the_o difference_n of_o order_n and_o instead_o of_o that_o say_v the_o apostle_n ordain_v all_o equal_o to_o be_v bishop_n or_o presbyter_n but_o some_o have_v more_o eminent_a gift_n than_o other_o the_o apostle_n do_v by_o commission_n empower_v and_o constitute_v these_o to_o be_v overseer_n and_o bishop_n over_o the_o rest_n from_o which_o 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he_o ought_v not_o to_o be_v oblige_v or_o limit_v in_o the_o exercise_n of_o it_o that_o any_o such_o commission_n the_o apostle_n give_v some_o extraordinary_a man_n must_v have_v be_v but_o temporary_a for_o their_o life_n for_o if_o they_o have_v judge_v this_o a_o thing_n needful_a to_o be_v keep_v up_o in_o the_o church_n they_o have_v give_v such_o last_a direction_n about_o it_o constitute_v it_o a_o distinct_a order_n as_o may_v have_v preserve_v it_o still_o in_o the_o church_n but_o since_o they_o do_v not_o that_o we_o have_v no_o reason_n to_o acknowledge_v any_o such_o power_n now_o and_o therefore_o if_o priest_n see_v their_o bishop_n do_v what_o they_o think_v amiss_o they_o may_v assume_v that_o power_n their_o order_n have_v give_v they_o and_o judge_n and_o depose_v he_o too_o if_o need_v be_v i_o be_o confident_a that_o
author_n will_v not_o allow_v of_o this_o and_o yet_o it_o be_v visible_a that_o it_o arise_v natural_o out_o of_o what_o he_o have_v set_v down_o but_o suppose_v he_o can_v avoid_v that_o what_o do_v all_o he_o have_v say_v contribute_v to_o the_o reunite_v our_o dissenter_n and_o we_o again_o somewhat_o he_o may_v say_v as_o to_o the_o foreign_a church_n and_o yet_o i_o hope_v to_o show_v that_o may_v be_v do_v another_o way_n a_o little_a may_v be_v also_o say_v to_o such_o as_o be_v ordain_v before_o by_o priest_n in_o the_o time_n of_o the_o late_a usurpation_n who_o be_v now_o but_o a_o small_a number_n and_o yet_o even_o these_o by_o his_o principle_n do_v a_o very_a ill_a thing_n who_o out_o of_o no_o necessity_n but_o in_o a_o wanton_a sedition_n against_o their_o bishop_n throw_v they_o off_o by_o the_o strength_n and_o force_n of_o a_o prevail_a army_n and_o if_o such_o person_n ought_v not_o to_o be_v mark_v by_o some_o censure_n or_o at_o least_o not_o admit_v to_o any_o sacred_a employment_n till_o they_o have_v be_v sensible_a of_o their_o fault_n and_o repent_v of_o it_o i_o leave_v it_o to_o every_o body_n to_o consider_v but_o for_o the_o rest_n of_o our_o divider_n as_o long_o as_o the_o bishop_n have_v such_o a_o authority_n over_o their_o priest_n by_o what_o title_n or_o conveyance_n soever_o they_o possess_v it_o it_o be_v all_o one_o to_o they_o and_o indeed_o the_o weak_a their_o title_n be_v they_o will_v think_v they_o have_v the_o strong_a plea_n so_o that_o this_o notion_n be_v it_o ever_o so_o true_a can_v go_v a_o great_a way_n towards_o the_o settle_n matter_n among_o we_o but_o on_o the_o contrary_n will_v rather_o widen_v the_o breach_n i_o go_v next_o to_o examine_v his_o opinion_n in_o itself_o that_o there_o be_v many_o contradiction_n in_o his_o discourse_n be_v apparent_a for_o if_o bishop_n have_v authority_n to_o ordain_v to_o exhort_v to_o rebuke_v to_o judge_v and_o censure_n as_o they_o find_v cause_n and_o if_o this_o authority_n be_v give_v by_o the_o apostle_n be_v not_o here_o a_o distinct_a order_n all_o ecclesiastical_a function_n be_v but_o so_o many_o commission_n from_o god_n of_o which_o the_o conveyor_n be_v the_o apostle_n for_o what_o be_v the_o order_n of_o priesthood_n but_o a_o commission_n from_o god_n which_o be_v first_o issue_v out_o by_o the_o apostle_n give_v such_o person_n authority_n to_o preach_v and_o to_o administer_v sacrament_n and_o can_v any_o think_v that_o the_o apostle_n can_v have_v give_v any_o such_o commission_n but_o 1._o they_o must_v have_v have_v the_o direction_n of_o the_o holy_a ghost_n that_o assist_v they_o in_o all_o they_o go_v about_o 2._o they_o must_v have_v confer_v such_o a_o measure_n of_o the_o holy_a ghost_n as_o be_v necessary_a for_o the_o discharge_n of_o such_o a_o commission_n for_o they_o that_o confer_v the_o holy_a ghost_n on_o all_o they_o lay_v their_o hand_n on_o will_v have_v do_v it_o much_o more_o on_o those_o they_o do_v commissionate_a for_o so_o high_a a_o trust_n 3._o this_o must_v have_v be_v do_v by_o imposition_n of_o 3._o hand_n so_o we_o find_v they_o lay_v hand_n on_o paul_n and_o barnabas_n when_o they_o be_v send_v to_o the_o gentile_n though_o they_o be_v endue_v with_o extraordinary_a power_n before_o and_o be_v apostle_n according_a to_o what_o st._n paul_n say_v of_o himself_o in_o the_o begin_n of_o his_o epistle_n to_o the_o galatian_n god_n have_v also_o by_o name_n mark_v they_o out_o for_o that_o service_n yet_o hand_n be_v lay_v on_o they_o and_o so_o they_o be_v send_v out_o by_o the_o holy_a ghost_n 4._o if_o these_o person_n commissionated_a with_o such_o authority_n be_v empower_v by_o the_o apostle_n than_o all_o the_o rest_n of_o the_o priest_n be_v bind_v to_o submit_v to_o that_o authority_n and_o whatever_o power_n they_o may_v have_v pretend_v before_o that_o then_o since_o latter_a deed_n do_v vacate_v and_o invalidate_v former_a one_o that_o power_n be_v confer_v on_o another_o who_o be_v acknowledge_v vest_v with_o the_o authority_n the_o former_a must_v be_v suppose_v divest_v of_o it_o and_o bind_v to_o subject_n themselves_o to_o it_o nor_o can_v they_o except_o in_o case_n of_o simple_a necessity_n reassume_a it_o without_o reject_v the_o authority_n of_o the_o apostle_n themselves_o according_a to_o that_o maxim_n of_o our_o saviour_n he_o that_o reject_v i_o reject_v he_o that_o send_v i_o 5._o either_o the_o apostle_n do_v declare_v this_o be_v only_o temporary_a that_o for_o the_o present_a exigency_n such_o extraordinary_a person_n be_v vest_v with_o such_o authority_n or_o that_o this_o constitution_n shall_v continue_v still_o in_o the_o church_n he_o can_v choose_v the_o former_a for_o then_o that_o order_n must_v have_v determine_v with_o these_o man_n life_n in_o who_o hand_n it_o be_v entrust_v which_o be_v against_o what_o that_o author_n plead_v for_o so_o that_o he_o must_v say_v they_o declare_v that_o such_o commission_n must_v continue_v to_o the_o end_n of_o the_o world_n otherwise_o there_o be_v no_o obligation_n lie_v on_o the_o church_n to_o continue_v they_o which_o yet_o he_o acknowledge_v 6._o after_o the_o apostle_n be_v dead_a either_o these_o commission_n be_v to_o be_v renew_v on_o the_o account_n of_o what_o the_o apostle_n have_v appoint_v or_o only_o by_o a_o voluntary_a delegation_n of_o the_o priest_n and_o people_n if_o the_o former_a than_o our_o bishop_n at_o this_o day_n act_n by_o virtue_n of_o a_o commission_n from_o the_o apostle_n if_o the_o latter_a be_v true_a then_o 1._o this_o delegation_n may_v be_v give_v or_o not_o as_o they_o please_v and_o so_o the_o order_n may_v vanish_v 2._o they_o may_v limit_v or_o enlarge_v it_o as_o they_o please_v and_o so_o may_v very_o much_o change_v it_o 3._o those_o who_o be_v ordain_v bishop_n without_o such_o commission_n can_v be_v bishop_n at_o all_o for_o if_o that_o power_n be_v only_o a_o commission_n than_o it_o can_v be_v seat_v in_o any_o person_n that_o have_v get_v no_o such_o commission_n therefore_o there_o be_v no_o such_o thing_n ask_v as_o a_o delegation_n of_o such_o authority_n from_o the_o priest_n for_o the_o election_n of_o the_o dean_n and_o chapter_n relate_v only_o to_o the_o person_n but_o not_o to_o the_o power_n and_o office_n none_o be_v now_o true_o bishop_n since_o they_o have_v no_o such_o commission_n nor_o do_v the_o metropolitan_a and_o the_o other_o consecrate_v bishop_n give_v any_o such_o commission_n but_o only_o ordain_v a_o bishop_n to_o the_o work_n and_o office_n so_o commit_v to_o he_o by_o the_o imposition_n of_o their_o hand_n in_o which_o it_o be_v clear_a as_o also_o from_o the_o whole_a office_n of_o the_o consecration_n of_o bishop_n that_o they_o suppose_v there_o be_v a_o stand_a power_n and_o authority_n in_o the_o office_n and_o therefore_o do_v believe_v it_o do_v not_o depend_v upon_o any_o commission_n they_o can_v give_v all_o they_o do_v be_v to_o ordain_v he_o to_o the_o office_n to_o which_o the_o authority_n be_v necessary_o annex_v so_o that_o it_o be_v clear_a that_o either_o we_o have_v no_o bishop_n at_o all_o or_o the_o commission_n for_o this_o authority_n be_v annex_v to_o the_o office_n and_o the_o church_n do_v not_o constitute_v the_o office_n but_o only_o admit_v or_o ordain_v a_o person_n due_o elect_v and_o qualify_v unto_o a_o office_n already_o constitute_v from_o all_o these_o particular_n which_o necessary_o follow_v upon_o that_o author_n hypothesis_n i_o may_v well_o assume_v that_o by_o his_o principle_n bishop_n be_v empower_v for_o ordination_n and_o jurisdiction_n by_o the_o apostle_n they_o be_v direct_v in_o it_o by_o the_o holy_a ghost_n and_o lay_v their_o hand_n on_o they_o and_o confer_v the_o holy_a ghost_n by_o such_o imposition_n of_o hand_n upon_o which_o all_o the_o rest_n both_o clergy_n and_o laity_n be_v bind_v to_o submit_v to_o they_o and_o that_o the_o apostle_n intend_v this_o order_n shall_v be_v still_o continue_v in_o the_o church_n so_o that_o all_o succeed_a bishop_n act_n by_o that_o power_n then_o convey_v by_o the_o apostle_n to_o the_o first_o bishop_n and_o continue_v with_o their_o successor_n to_o the_o end_n of_o the_o world_n and_o if_o this_o do_v not_o state_n the_o distinct_a office_n of_o bishop_n and_o priest_n let_v every_o reader_n judge_n there_o be_v a_o different_a power_n lodge_v with_o the_o bishop_n another_o commission_n ratify_v by_o a_o imposition_n of_o hand_n which_o be_v to_o continue_v in_o a_o succession_n for_o ever_o so_o that_o that_o hypothesis_n destroy_v itself_o establish_v so_o many_o different_a thing_n that_o contradict_v one_o another_o but_o before_o i_o go_v to_o answer_v his_o argument_n i_o shall_v premise_v somewhat_o of_o the_o office_n of_o bishop_n
subject_a to_o they_o this_o do_v very_o much_o compense_v the_o defect_n of_o other_o churchman_n who_o though_o not_o so_o well_o qualify_v to_o govern_v yet_o be_v willing_a to_o obey_v and_o able_a to_o follow_v direction_n they_o may_v by_o that_o mean_v become_v very_o useful_a in_o the_o gospel_n now_o there_o be_v two_o thing_n that_o must_v be_v annex_v to_o that_o superior_a inspection_n without_o which_o we_o can_v imagine_v that_o it_o can_v be_v manage_v or_o have_v force_v the_o one_o be_v that_o all_o to_o be_v ordain_v shall_v receive_v their_o order_n from_o such_o bishop_n otherwise_o obedience_n can_v not_o be_v expect_v from_o they_o nor_o can_v the_o superior_a be_v any_o way_n accountable_a for_o they_o if_o he_o do_v not_o convey_v their_o authority_n to_o they_o it_o be_v also_o necessary_a that_o in_o all_o matter_n of_o indifference_n the_o superior_a governor_n or_o bishop_n must_v be_v look_v on_o as_o have_v authority_n to_o rule_v and_o command_v and_o so_o the_o inferior_a judge_n himself_o bind_v to_o obey_v and_o indeed_o if_o in_o those_o day_n of_o persecution_n when_o the_o church_n have_v no_o assistance_n but_o all_o possible_a opposition_n from_o the_o civil_a power_n there_o have_v not_o be_v very_o positive_a rule_n of_o obedience_n and_o order_n leave_v by_o the_o apostle_n it_o have_v not_o be_v possible_a for_o they_o to_o have_v be_v keep_v in_o any_o order_n or_o under_o any_o government_n but_o the_o rule_n of_o superiority_n and_o subjection_n be_v without_o doubt_n formal_o leave_v by_o the_o apostle_n thence_o it_o be_v that_o the_o whole_a precinct_n of_o a_o bishop_n charge_n be_v call_v his_o parish_n in_o which_o he_o have_v the_o care_n of_o soul_n and_o for_o his_o assistance_n do_v choose_v out_o and_o ordain_v some_o of_o the_o more_o eminent_a and_o ancient_a christian_n to_o assist_v he_o in_o teach_v the_o flock_n and_o administer_a sacrament_n who_o be_v in_o all_o thing_n direct_v by_o he_o and_o upon_o his_o death_n one_o of_o these_o be_v present_v by_o the_o election_n of_o the_o clergy_n and_o people_n to_o the_o superior_a bishop_n of_o the_o province_n who_o do_v ordain_v he_o now_o though_o the_o write_n of_o the_o first_o age_n be_v for_o the_o great_a part_n lose_v yet_o there_o be_v abundant_a evidence_n to_o show_v this_o authority_n be_v set_v up_o by_o the_o apostle_n i_o need_v not_o take_v pain_n to_o prove_v it_o against_o this_o author_n for_o he_o acknowledge_v it_o but_o because_o some_o may_v perhaps_o read_v this_o letter_n that_o have_v not_o study_v this_o point_n in_o the_o large_a and_o more_o learned_a work_n of_o the_o asserter_n of_o this_o order_n i_o shall_v say_v as_o much_o on_o this_o subject_n as_o i_o think_v may_v very_o just_o and_o reasonable_o satisfy_v any_o man_n and_o shall_v wave_v st._n ignatius_n his_o epistle_n though_o the_o authority_n of_o those_o be_v make_v good_a with_o the_o astonish_a labour_n of_o the_o incomparable_o learned_a bishop_n of_o chester_n but_o be_v to_o give_v a_o short_a hint_n of_o the_o uncontested_a authority_n that_o may_v be_v bring_v to_o prove_v this_o i_o shall_v begin_v with_o ireneus_fw-la to_o who_o we_o may_v very_o well_o give_v credit_n in_o a_o matter_n of_o fact_n he_o know_v st._n polycarp_n and_o be_v instruct_v by_o he_o and_o he_o 13_o tell_v we_o that_o he_o be_v constitute_v by_o the_o apostle_n bishop_n in_o the_o church_n of_o smyrna_n so_o that_o we_o find_v from_o he_o that_o st._n polycarp_n be_v ordain_v by_o the_o apostle_n bishop_n of_o the_o church_n of_o smyrna_n now_o that_o great_a saint_n and_o martyr_n must_v have_v take_v his_o notion_n of_o a_o bishop_n from_o no_o other_o original_n but_o that_o which_o he_o see_v in_o his_o first_o instructor_n and_o yet_o we_o clear_o see_v he_o judge_v the_o bishop_n be_v more_o than_o the_o precedent_n for_o he_o reckon_v the_o tradition_n of_o the_o faith_n count_v it_o by_o the_o 3._o bishop_n that_o have_v be_v in_o rome_n from_o the_o apostle_n day_n from_o whence_o it_o appear_v he_o consider_v they_o as_o the_o chief_a depositary_n of_o the_o faith_n and_o in_o his_o epistle_n 24._o to_o victor_n bishop_n of_o rome_n wherein_o he_o condemn_v his_o severity_n in_o excommunicate_v the_o eastern_a bishop_n for_o observe_v easter_n on_o the_o 14._o day_n of_o the_o moon_n he_o lay_v the_o whole_a blame_n of_o it_o upon_o victor_n though_o damasus_n tell_v we_o it_o be_v do_v upon_o a_o consultation_n victor_n hold_v about_o it_o with_o his_o presbyter_n and_o deacon_n now_o the_o blame_n be_v not_o to_o be_v lay_v on_o victor_n if_o it_o have_v not_o be_v the_o receive_a practice_n of_o the_o church_n at_o that_o time_n for_o the_o bishop_n to_o have_v the_o jurisdiction_n chief_o in_o their_o hand_n so_o that_o we_o clear_o see_v what_o ireneus_fw-la understand_v a_o bishop_n to_o be_v and_o if_o that_o have_v not_o be_v consonant_n to_o what_o he_o know_v in_o st._n polycarp_n who_o have_v instruct_v he_o we_o can_v in_o reason_n imagine_v he_o will_v have_v consent_v to_o such_o a_o tyrannical_a excess_n of_o power_n tertullian_n 5._o reckon_v the_o origine_fw-la of_o the_o bishop_n power_n from_o the_o apostle_n from_o who_o they_o derive_v their_o succession_n the_o same_o writer_n also_o tell_v we_o bapt._n that_o neither_o priest_n nor_o deacon_n have_v right_a to_o baptize_v but_o upon_o a_o power_n from_o the_o bishop_n he_o also_o say_v milit._n they_o receive_v the_o sacrament_n from_o no_o hand_n but_o their_o precedent_n or_o bishop_n firmilian_a that_o be_v st._n cyprian_n contemporary_a tell_v we_o cypr._n the_o bishop_n who_o he_o there_o call_v majores_fw-la natu_fw-la and_o from_o the_o other_o part_n of_o that_o epistle_n it_o be_v plain_a he_o mean_v bishop_n do_v preside_v in_o the_o church_n and_o have_v the_o power_n of_o baptise_v confirm_v and_o ordain_v and_o even_o lucifer_n jerome_n himself_o tell_v we_o that_o neither_o priest_n nor_o 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that_o they_o who_o be_v within_o 200._o year_n of_o the_o apostolic_a time_n and_o among_o who_o we_o may_v reckon_v many_o that_o be_v 80._o year_n of_o age_n or_o near_o it_o can_v not_o esteem_v any_o thing_n ancient_a that_o have_v not_o be_v derive_v from_o the_o apostolical_a institution_n i_o shall_v not_o insist_v on_o any_o thing_n that_o be_v decree_v afterward_o where_o we_o may_v suspect_v power_n and_o cunning_a may_v have_v go_v a_o great_a way_n to_o have_v east_n the_o church_n into_o such_o a_o mould_n as_o may_v best_o agree_v with_o the_o constitution_n of_o the_o empire_n there_o may_v be_v also_o other_o political_a reason_n to_o have_v make_v the_o bishop_n after_o that_o time_n aspire_v to_o power_n and_o precedence_n but_o i_o have_v only_o vouch_v the_o writer_n of_o the_o former_a age_n witness_n in_o a_o matter_n of_o fact_n wherein_o we_o have_v no_o just_a cause_n to_o suspect_v they_o to_o depose_v to_o we_o what_o be_v the_o successive_a government_n of_o the_o church_n from_o the_o apostle_n day_n upon_o all_o which_o i_o desire_v that_o you_o and_o every_o honest_a man_n will_v in_o your_o conscience_n consider_v a_o few_o particular_n 1._o whatever_o we_o find_v general_o receive_v in_o those_o age_n about_o a_o thing_n that_o be_v visible_a and_o in_o which_o none_o can_v mistake_v we_o may_v safe_o think_v it_o come_v from_o the_o apostle_n day_n we_o may_v indeed_o imagine_v that_o when_o some_o of_o the_o apostle_n to_o gain_v upon_o the_o jew_n do_v observe_v the_o christian_a easter_n on_o the_o 14._o day_n of_o the_o moon_n other_o may_v have_v mistake_v this_o compliance_n as_o if_o the_o apostle_n have_v judge_v that_o the_o 14._o be_v the_o right_a day_n we_o may_v also_o reasonable_o enough_o think_v that_o when_o they_o hear_v st._n john_n mention_v the_o