imprimatur_fw-la z._n isham_n r._n p._n d._n henr._n episc_n lond._n à _fw-la sacris_fw-la feb._n 4._o 1691_o 2._o a_o treatise_n of_o church-government_n occasion_v by_o some_o letter_n late_o print_v concern_v the_o same_o subject_a by_o robert_n burscough_n m._n a._n london_n print_v for_o samuel_n smith_n at_o the_o prince_n arm_n in_o st._n paul_n churchyard_n 1692._o the_o preface_n to_o the_o reader_n a_o observe_v italian_n have_v give_v we_o a_o account_n of_o a_o transaction_n which_o be_v not_o so_o well_o know_v among_o we_o as_o many_o other_o of_o the_o like_a nature_n he_o acquaint_v we_o that_o in_o a_o assembly_n of_o catholic_n as_o he_o call_v they_o which_o be_v bring_v together_o by_o the_o late_a earl_n of_o bristol_n a_o consultation_n be_v hold_v concern_v the_o fit_a mean_n of_o propagate_a their_o religion_n in_o this_o kingdom_n and_o they_o agree_v that_o one_o of_o the_o most_o proper_a method_n they_o can_v make_v use_n of_o for_o that_o purpose_n be_v to_o testify_v a_o mighty_a zeal_n and_o to_o make_v a_o great_a show_n of_o friendship_n for_o the_o nonconformist_n whereupon_o he_o tell_v we_o they_o represent_v they_o as_o man_n of_o trade_n who_o suffering_n will_v be_v prejudicial_a to_o the_o nation_n they_o pretend_v to_o commiserate_v their_o condition_n and_o declaim_v perpetual_o against_o persecution_n and_o there_o be_v two_o thing_n he_o say_v which_o they_o propose_v to_o themselves_o in_o this_o conduct_n romana_fw-la the_o first_o be_v to_o maintain_v the_o sectary_n against_o the_o church_n of_o england_n hope_v they_o may_v soon_o destroy_v it_o by_o intestine_a division_n and_o so_o more_o easy_o open_v a_o gate_n to_o popery_n the_o second_o be_v under_o a_o pretence_n of_o tolerate_v these_o sectary_n to_o stop_v the_o execution_n of_o the_o law_n about_o religion_n that_o their_o priest_n may_v meet_v with_o less_o opposition_n in_o advance_v the_o religion_n of_o the_o church_n of_o rome_n in_o pursuance_n 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know_v it_o be_v false_a that_o this_o be_v neither_o more_o nor_o less_o but_o the_o very_a same_o supreme_a and_o absolute_a power_n which_o the_o pope_n claim_v and_o usurp_v and_o by_o which_o they_o make_v our_o king_n so_o uneasy_a and_o i_o leave_v he_o to_o answer_v the_o conviction_n of_o his_o own_o conscience_n for_o the_o wrong_n he_o have_v do_v the_o reformation_n by_o so_o odious_a a_o reflection_n another_o thing_n on_o which_o he_o ground_n his_o censure_n of_o the_o clergy_n be_v their_o national_a union_n and_o he_o argue_v that_o this_o together_o with_o the_o independence_n which_o he_o ascribe_v to_o they_o must_v needs_o render_v they_o very_o dangerous_a as_o put_v they_o into_o a_o condition_n of_o be_v make_v a_o powerful_a faction_n and_o easy_a to_o be_v practise_v upon_o and_o enable_v the_o head_n of_o the_o faction_n to_o convey_v malignity_n to_o all_o their_o subordinates_n and_o
baume_n in_o the_o bishopric_n of_o geneva_n and_o that_o luther_n and_o melancthon_n be_v spiritual_a prince_n of_o the_o empire_n and_o elector_n of_o germany_n we_o be_v now_o almost_o at_o twice_o the_o distance_n from_o the_o begin_n of_o luther_n reformation_n as_o tertullian_n be_v from_o the_o day_n of_o the_o apostle_n and_o we_o be_v more_o remote_a from_o the_o come_n of_o king_n james_n the_o first_o to_o the_o crown_n of_o england_n than_o irenaeus_n be_v from_o the_o death_n of_o s._n john_n when_o he_o argue_v against_o the_o valentinians_n from_o the_o succession_n of_o bishop_n to_o the_o apostle_n in_o the_o government_n of_o the_o church_n and_o what_o he_o say_v of_o it_o must_v then_o have_v appear_v either_o so_o palpable_o false_a that_o it_o will_v have_v expose_v he_o and_o his_o cause_n to_o derision_n or_o so_o evident_o true_a that_o your_o exception_n against_o it_o will_v at_o that_o time_n have_v be_v to_o the_o same_o effect_n as_o if_o a_o dissenter_n 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a_o forfeiture_n when_o he_o stand_v in_o your_o way_n and_o though_o he_o only_o confirm_v by_o his_o own_o suffrage_n what_o be_v general_o believe_v in_o former_a age_n yet_o in_o that_o câ—…se_n for_o ought_v you_o see_v his_o word_n deserve_v little_o more_o credit_n than_o the_o most_o absurd_a or_o groundless_a fable_n for_o such_o be_v the_o story_n of_o brute_n and_o the_o king_n of_o his_o line_n they_o have_v no_o foundation_n in_o any_o ancient_a history_n or_o authentic_a record_n but_o about_o two_o thousand_o year_n after_o the_o time_n of_o brutus_n repute_v land_v at_o totness_n they_o be_v first_o publish_v to_o the_o world_n he_o that_o give_v the_o first_o reputation_n to_o they_o be_v geoffrey_n of_o monmouth_n who_o be_v call_v by_o one_o of_o our_o antiquary_n 13._o the_o english_a homer_n and_o the_o father_n of_o lie_n and_o as_o for_o his_o brutus_n some_o have_v observe_v as_o mr._n camden_n acquaint_v we_o 7._o that_o he_o be_v never_o hoard_v of_o till_z in_o a_o barbarous_a age_n one_o hunibald_a a_o foolish_a writer_n feign_v that_o frantion_n a_o son_n of_o priamus_n be_v the_o founder_n of_o the_o french_a nation_n but_o then_o a_o report_n be_v raise_v that_o our_o countryman_n be_v descend_v from_o the_o trojan_n and_o our_o prince_n from_o this_o brutus_n who_o be_v say_v to_o be_v the_o son_n of_o silvius_n and_o grandson_n of_o aeneas_n and_o it_o be_v no_o wonder_n that_o in_o the_o time_n of_o the_o thick_a ignorance_n a_o fiction_n so_o agreeable_a be_v entertain_v and_o propagate_v among_o our_o ancestor_n who_o disdain_v that_o their_o neighbour_n shall_v excel_v they_o in_o extraction_n who_o they_o equal_v in_o courage_n and_o now_o if_o any_o shall_v affirm_v that_o as_o much_o or_o near_o as_o much_o may_v be_v say_v against_o the_o testimony_n of_o the_o father_n assert_v the_o succession_n of_o bishop_n to_o the_o apostle_n i_o must_v beg_v your_o excuse_n if_o i_o tell_v he_o in_o the_o word_n of_o a_o late_a author_n for_o who_o i_o know_v you_o have_v some_o fondness_n that_o he_o have_v not_o wipe_v his_o eye_n but_o be_v moist_a with_o prejudice_n and_o passion_n it_o be_v not_o any_o want_n of_o clearness_n or_o strength_n in_o the_o testimony_n which_o the_o father_n give_v concern_v the_o original_a of_o episcopacy_n that_o draw_v from_o you_o the_o odious_a reflection_n which_o you_o cast_v on_o they_o but_o the_o force_n there_o be_v in_o it_o to_o demonstrate_v that_o the_o stroke_n and_o lineament_n of_o your_o scheme_n of_o church-government_n be_v mere_o the_o work_n of_o fancy_n and_o that_o you_o have_v employ_v your_o pen_n in_o the_o service_n of_o a_o bad_a cause_n this_o appear_v from_o what_o have_v be_v say_v already_o and_o i_o shall_v here_o add_v nothing_o more_o to_o confirm_v it_o but_o one_o instance_n which_o i_o think_v i_o may_v safe_o oppose_v against_o all_o that_o ever_o be_v write_v for_o the_o presbyterian_a equality_n of_o minister_n from_o the_o day_n of_o aerius_n to_o this_o very_a moment_n the_o instance_n i_o intend_v be_v that_o of_o polycarp_n who_o be_v not_o only_o say_v to_o have_v be_v bishop_n of_o smyrna_n by_o polycrates_n polycrate_n and_o tertullian_n 213._o who_o flourish_v not_o long_o after_o he_o and_o by_o eusebius_n 106._o jerom_n 177._o socrates_n 284._o sozomen_n 734._o victor_n capuanus_n 240._o suidas_n 560._o and_o many_o other_o who_o live_v at_o a_o great_a distance_n from_o he_o but_o by_o such_o as_o know_v he_o and_o can_v not_o be_v ignorant_a of_o his_o character_n there_o be_v many_o that_o have_v the_o advantage_n of_o his_o ministry_n many_o that_o have_v live_v under_o his_o government_n in_o the_o church_n of_o smyrna_n and_o be_v eye-witness_n of_o his_o martyrdom_n who_o express_o declare_v 26._o that_o he_o be_v their_o bishop_n this_o they_o do_v in_o a_o epistle_n which_o be_v yet_o extant_a and_o which_o the_o famous_a joseph_n scaliger_n 202._o critical_a as_o he_o be_v so_o high_o approve_v and_o value_v that_o he_o reckon_v it_o among_o the_o noble_a monument_n of_o christian_a antiquity_n and_o profess_v that_o he_o can_v not_o read_v it_o without_o something_o of_o ecstasy_n s._n irenaeus_n who_o be_v his_o scholar_n inform_v we_o likewise_o 33._o that_o he_o be_v bishop_n of_o smyrna_n and_o the_o same_o be_v attest_v by_o s._n ignatius_n 38._o who_o be_v not_o only_o his_o contemporary_a but_o his_o friend_n as_o also_o by_o philo_n and_o agathopus_n who_o acquaint_v we_o further_o usser_v that_o ignatius_n on_o who_o they_o attend_v be_v in_o his_o way_n to_o rome_n where_o he_o be_v about_o to_o be_v tear_v in_o piece_n by_o wild_a beast_n for_o the_o christian_a faith_n pay_v a_o visit_n to_o polycarp_n at_o smyrna_n and_o that_o both_o these_o excellent_a man_n have_v be_v train_v up_o under_o the_o same_o master_n and_o be_v the_o disciple_n of_o s._n john_n but_o if_o s._n polycarp_n be_v bishop_n of_o smyrna_n he_o be_v not_o the_o only_a minister_n there_o for_o he_o begin_v his_o epistle_n to_o the_o philippian_n thus_o 〈◊〉_d polycarp_n and_o the_o presbyter_n that_o be_v with_o he_o and_o from_o these_o presbyter_n he_o have_v no_o reason_n to_o distinguish_v himself_o as_o he_o do_v if_o both_o of_o they_o have_v bear_v the_o same_o office_n but_o in_o what_o manner_n he_o stand_v relate_v to_o they_o may_v appear_v from_o hence_o that_o there_o be_v not_o one_o of_o all_o the_o ancient_n i_o have_v cite_v to_o prove_v that_o he_o be_v a_o bishop_n who_o mean_v not_o that_o he_o be_v a_o prelate_n and_o if_o enquiry_n be_v make_v how_o he_o obtain_v his_o office_n from_o tertullian_n 32._o and_o polycarpo_n jerom_n and_o many_o other_o we_o learn_v that_o it_o be_v convey_v to_o he_o by_o s._n john_n but_o s._n john_n it_o seem_v be_v not_o alone_o in_o that_o
represent_v as_o a_o person_n of_o admirable_a charity_n and_o a_o worthy_a pattern_n and_o great_a blessing_n to_o his_o flock_n polycrates_n be_v another_o of_o his_o successor_n 24._o and_o it_o be_v easy_a to_o reckon_v many_o more_o if_o therefore_o your_o standard_n of_o extraordinary_n be_v true_a and_o of_o any_o use_n it_o must_v be_v grant_v that_o his_o office_n be_v not_o of_o their_o number_n and_o that_o the_o inference_n you_o draw_v from_o his_o do_v the_o work_n of_o a_o evangelist_n and_o from_o your_o supposition_n of_o his_o be_v a_o co-founder_n be_v groundless_a for_o it_o be_v in_o vain_a to_o advance_v little_a conjecture_n against_o plain_a matter_n of_o fact_n chap._n viii_o apostolical_a authority_n be_v communicate_v to_o titus_n who_o be_v bishop_n of_o crete_n i_o have_v say_v so_o much_o of_o timothy_n that_o the_o less_o need_n be_v add_v concern_v titus_n who_o have_v be_v train_v up_o with_o he_o under_o the_o same_o spiritual_a father_n and_o be_v employ_v in_o the_o same_o manner_n they_o be_v both_o s._n paul_n fellow-labourer_n and_o partner_n in_o the_o apostolate_a 8.23_o and_o they_o be_v leave_v under_o the_o same_o character_n and_o with_o the_o same_o authority_n the_o one_o at_o ephesus_n and_o the_o other_o in_o crete_n titus_n be_v leave_v in_o crete_n of_o which_o he_o be_v bishop_n say_v the_o father_n and_o one_o part_n of_o his_o episcopal_a power_n appear_v from_o the_o commission_n he_o have_v to_o ordain_v elder_n there_o in_o every_o city_n tit._n 1.5_o but_o say_v you_o 46._o the_o word_n there_o 〈◊〉_d which_o be_v render_v ordain_v be_v the_o same_o that_o be_v use_v act_v 6.3_o in_o the_o matter_n of_o the_o deacon_n who_o be_v appoint_v by_o the_o apostle_n not_o one_o of_o the_o apostle_n but_o all_o and_o choose_v by_o the_o people_n and_o one_o may_v well_o admire_v that_o the_o same_o word_n which_o be_v translate_v appoint_v in_o one_o place_n shall_v be_v render_v ordain_v in_o another_o but_o that_o titus_n be_v say_v to_o ordain_v and_o not_o to_o appoint_v only_o that_o it_o may_v look_v as_o if_o it_o be_v a_o plain_a text_n for_o sole_a ordination_n so_o that_o here_o be_v a_o heavy_a charge_n against_o the_o translator_n and_o perhaps_o never_o be_v any_o more_o groundless_a for_o i_o pray_v sir_n what_o do_v they_o mean_v either_o by_o appoint_v or_o ordain_v but_o constitute_v and_o if_o all_o the_o apostle_n constitute_v the_o deacon_n which_o be_v choose_v by_o the_o people_n will_v it_o follow_v from_o the_o signification_n of_o this_o word_n that_o titus_n may_v not_o constitute_v elder_n unless_o they_o be_v choose_v by_o the_o people_n or_o that_o he_o can_v not_o do_v it_o unless_o he_o have_v colleague_n to_o assist_v he_o or_o be_v himself_o a_o multitude_n when_o the_o lord_n in_o the_o gospel_n be_v say_v to_o set_v a_o ruler_n over_o his_o household_n 24.45_o must_v the_o interpretation_n of_o this_o expression_n be_v that_o he_o do_v it_o not_o without_o a_o previous_a election_n in_o the_o family_n and_o with_o the_o concurrence_n of_o his_o equal_n and_o when_o we_o read_v that_o pharaoh_n make_v joseph_n governor_n over_o egypt_n and_o all_o his_o house_n 7.10_o must_v the_o meaning_n of_o this_o be_v that_o pharaoh_n and_o some_o partner_n with_o he_o in_o the_o thone_n do_v this_o but_o not_o without_o the_o common_a consent_n of_o their_o subject_n if_o these_o thing_n be_v absurd_a you_o may_v at_o your_o leisure_n reflect_v on_o the_o success_n of_o your_o criticism_n and_o the_o justice_n of_o your_o censure_n we_o have_v see_v what_o right_a titus_n have_v to_o constitute_v elder_n and_o if_o it_o be_v absurd_a to_o imagine_v that_o all_o his_o care_n of_o they_o be_v to_o be_v employ_v in_o examine_v and_o admit_v they_o into_o office_n and_o none_o afterward_o it_o will_v follow_v that_o since_o the_o rule_n for_o their_o conversation_n be_v direct_v unto_o he_o he_o have_v over_o they_o a_o episcopal_a authority_n for_o as_o the_o command_n that_o be_v give_v to_o the_o master_n of_o a_o family_n that_o his_o child_n and_o servant_n shall_v keep_v the_o sabbath_n be_v a_o argument_n that_o they_o be_v under_o his_o jurisdiction_n which_o render_v he_o accountable_a for_o they_o so_o when_o the_o precept_n by_o which_o presbyter_n ought_v to_o govern_v their_o action_n be_v address_v to_o titus_n this_o signify_v that_o he_o have_v power_n to_o see_v they_o execute_v and_o offence_n against_o they_o prevent_v or_o punish_v another_o argument_n of_o his_o episcopal_a power_n may_v be_v take_v from_o hence_o that_o he_o be_v require_v to_o rebuke_v the_o disobedient_a and_o refractory_a with_o all_o authority_n 2.15_o that_o be_v say_v beza_n locum_fw-la with_o the_o high_a authority_n as_o a_o ambassador_n of_o god_n and_o to_o let_v no_o man_n despise_v he_o which_o last_o advice_n confirm_v beza_n exposition_n of_o the_o former_a and_o show_v that_o if_o titus_n will_v exercise_v the_o authority_n he_o have_v that_o be_v sufficient_a to_o create_v a_o reverence_n for_o he_o among_o all_o that_o be_v commit_v to_o his_o care_n but_o this_o i_o confess_v may_v seem_v very_o strange_a have_v his_o order_n or_o his_o proceed_n against_o offender_n be_v precarious_a or_o some_o notion_n about_o the_o pastor_n of_o the_o church_n then_o prevail_v which_o of_o late_o have_v be_v entertain_v in_o the_o imperial_a law_n the_o follow_a precept_n be_v give_v to_o a_o judge_n or_o precedent_n 19_o observandum_fw-la est_fw-la jus_o reddenti_fw-la ut_fw-la se_fw-la contemni_fw-la non_fw-la patiatur_fw-la and_o it_o be_v suitable_a enough_o to_o the_o condition_n of_o a_o magistrate_n but_o if_o it_o be_v say_v of_o what_o use_n can_v it_o be_v to_o instruct_v a_o person_n to_o let_v no_o man_n despise_v he_o who_o have_v no_o coercive_a force_n to_o vindicate_v himself_o from_o contempt_n if_o any_o be_v incline_v to_o throw_v it_o on_o he_o to_o this_o i_o know_v no_o other_o answer_n can_v be_v give_v than_o that_o the_o authority_n of_o bishop_n however_o it_o be_v only_o spiritual_a do_v in_o that_o age_n strike_v such_o a_o awe_n upon_o the_o mind_n of_o christian_n that_o they_o be_v able_a to_o stop_v the_o mouth_n of_o false_a teacher_n 5.20_o without_o any_o external_a violence_n or_o deprive_v they_o of_o their_o follower_n if_o these_o have_v any_o true_a sense_n of_o piety_n their_o public_a reproof_n of_o scandalous_a offender_n be_v then_o very_o dreadful_a and_o when_o they_o expel_v they_o from_o the_o church_n by_o their_o censure_n this_o be_v just_o esteem_v a_o sad_a presage_n of_o their_o future_a judgement_n such_o censure_n i_o suppose_v be_v mean_v by_o the_o apostle_n where_o he_o instruct_v titus_n 3.10_o to_o reject_v a_o heretic_n after_o the_o first_o and_o second_o admonition_n on_o which_o word_n dr._n hammond_n have_v this_o annotation_n which_o be_v not_o vulgar_a but_o in_o my_o opinion_n very_o rational_a the_o first_o and_o second_o admonition_n say_v he_o here_o refer_v to_o the_o method_n prescribe_v by_o christ_n in_o proceed_v against_o christian_a offender_n matth_n 18.15_o but_o in_o some_o circumstance_n differ_v from_o it_o there_o be_v mention_n of_o a_o threefold_a admonition_n one_o by_o the_o injure_a person_n alone_o a_o second_o by_o two_o or_o three_o take_v with_o he_o the_o three_o by_o the_o church_n but_o here_o only_o a_o first_o and_o second_o admonition_n the_o cause_n of_o this_o difference_n be_v to_o be_v take_v from_o the_o quality_n of_o the_o person_n to_o who_o this_o epistle_n be_v write_v titus_n a_o bishop_n whereas_o there_o the_o speech_n be_v address_v to_o every_o private_a christian_n that_o be_v injure_v by_o any_o here_o the_o first_o admonition_n of_o the_o bishop_n carry_v a_o authority_n along_o with_o it_o far_o above_o that_o of_o the_o private_a person_n and_o the_o two_o or_o three_o with_o he_o and_o so_o may_v well_o supply_v the_o place_n of_o both_o those_o and_o 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be_v such_o a_o society_n as_o shall_v have_v its_o own_o spiritual_a officer_n choose_v out_o of_o the_o rest_n of_o the_o faithful_a of_o any_o nation_n and_o remain_v distinct_a from_o they_o 2._o that_o the_o title_n of_o priest_n and_o levite_n which_o have_v be_v so_o often_o attribute_v to_o the_o officer_n of_o the_o christian_a church_n have_v not_o their_o original_a from_o the_o mere_a fancy_n of_o the_o ancient_a father_n much_o less_o be_v they_o a_o invention_n of_o late_a time_n but_o be_v found_v on_o a_o expression_n of_o the_o holy_a scripture_n 3._o that_o among_o these_o officer_n there_o shall_v be_v such_o disparity_n as_o have_v be_v under_o the_o law_n among_o the_o posterity_n of_o levi._n 2._o you_o pretend_v to_o discover_v by_o what_o degree_n prelacy_n grow_v up_o to_o its_o present_a grandeur_n and_o you_o tell_v i_o one_o need_n but_o some_o experience_n in_o the_o course_n of_o thing_n and_o a_o little_a proportion_n of_o mother_n wit_n to_o make_v a_o 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