you that the state of the question is mistaken by too many For it is not whether the word Bishop and the word Presbyter doe in Scriptures signifie one and the same Function not yet whether a Bishop and a Presbyter be of one and the same Order in Scripture But the question rightly stated is this Whether there be an Order in Scripture distinct from the Order of Presbyter and Superiour to that Order 20. To quarrell about names and words had not wont to be the custome of the Church of Christ for plaine it is that we speak not alwaies as the Scripture speakes The Scripture calls i Sacramentum hoc magnum eâ—â— So S. Hierom reads Eph. 5.32 Matrimony a Sacrament if we beleive S Hierom the Latine Fathers from whom we borrow the word Sacrament and yet we call it not so The Scripture never calls Baptisme or the Lords Supper a Sacrament and yet we call them both so and custome hath appropriated that name to them and yet no corrupt custome I hope The reason is because we define a Sacrament to be an outward and visible signe of an inward and spirituall grace given unto us ordained by Christ himselfe 〈◊〉 … ron in 〈…〉 7. as a meanes whereby we receive the same and a pledge to assure us thereof Now Baptisme and the Lords Supper make good this definition which Matrimouy doth not 21. Neither doth the same word in Scripture signifie alwares the same Office and Order no not in the same place and verse If question be made whether there were but one High-Priest at one time in the Iewish Church we answer positively but one That is but one strictly and properly so called And yet we find many High-Priests at the same time S. Mar. 14.1 S. Luc. 22.2 S. Ioh. 11.47 But we say not that all these were High-Priests strictly and properly so called not Pontifices simpliciter but secundum quid in respect of their brethren who were under their charge And these are called the chiefe or principall Fathers of the Priests 1. Chron. 24.6 31. 22. Not in the same place and verse For S. Mat. 26.3 we find many High-Priests and one High-Priest Many High-Priests assemble together unto the Palace of Caiphas the High Priest k S. Mat. 26.3 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 And yet but one of these was 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 properly the High-Priest l Heb. 9.7 no other but he but that one might go into the Sancta Sanctorum the holyest of all m Num. 8. â— Lyra in Num. 8.5 None of them but he onely could Ordaine or Consecrate a Priest and n 1. Chron. 24.18 none of them but he had jurisdiction over all the Sonnes of Levi. 23. Thus we finde one Bishop and many Bishops in Asia and Creet Titus is the Bishop of Creet and yet in that Citty there were many Bishops For he that is called a Presbyter v. 5. is called a Bishop v. 7. Thus was it in Asia But the title of Bishop even in those times was appropriated to Timothy and Titus as is evident in the Postscripts to those Epistles wherein the former is called Bishop of the Asians and Titus Bishop of the Cretians These are they that were truly and properly named Bishops of those Churches In Scripture we find them termed so it cannot be denyed Beza is my witnesse who met with no Manuscript without these Postscripts And I hope Beza is no abettor of corruptions in Scripture 24. Timothy and Titus were ordained by St Paul and by him for ought any man can say they were called Bishops I am certaine they are called so by the Spirit of God or Beza hath abused us And these that are thus called so in those places were for their time the only Bishops of those Churches These had Iurisdiction spirituall over all Persons in those severall Churches not only over Lay-men and Deacons but over the Presbyter-Bishops also even to convent censure silence and to cast them out of the Church These Bishops also had the right and power of Ordination which the Presbyter Bishops never had 25. What were they in those times distinguished only by right and power and not by titles No such matter Those whom we now call Bishops were at the first named Apostles But those whom we now call Presbyters or Priests were then indifferently stiled Bishops or Presbyters If I prove not this I deserve blame but if I shall make this Assertion good I shall doe the truth and you service and I hope yee will doe the truth and your selves that honour as to lay the censure where the fault is even upon those that have misled you 26. My first witnesse shall be Theodoret who certifies us that o Theodorer in Philip. 1.1 while St Pauls Epistles were writing the same Persons were called both Presbyters and Bishops but those who are now named BISHOPS were then called APOSTLES But in processe of time the Title of APOSTLE was left to those who were 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 APOSTLES properly and truly so called And the name of BISHOP was appropriated to those who heretofore were called APOSTLES With Theodoret accords St Hierome who testifies that p Hieron in Gal. 1.19 The Apostles ordained Apostles Calvin saith as much upon 1. Cor. 4.9 So here are more Apostles then twelve or thirteene 27. Would you know who are the Apostles that these speake of The Scriptures tell us of q Gal. 1.19 St James of r Philip. 2.25 Epaphroditus an Å¿ 1. Cor. 49. Apollo who in their severall places are expresly galled Apostles Witnesse the Greeke Text the originall Lancuage of those Epistles And St Hierome justifies that t Hieron Câ—tal c. 4. this St James was Bishop of Hierusalem but none of the Twelve as too many ignorantly conceive but u Hieron in Es 17. decimus tertius Apostolorum the thirteenth Apostle None of those that were immediatly ordained by Christ himselfe he was * Hieron in Catal. c. 4. ab ipsis Apostolis ordainatus ordained by the Apostles suddenly after our Saviours Passion x Theodoret. in Phil 2 25. Epaphroditus likewise was Bishop of Philippi and y Hieron in Tit. 3. â—3 Apollo Bishop of Corinth Apostles in Scripture Language but Bishops in the Church Language None of these were ordained by our Saviour but by his Apostles yet z Walo Messal p. 43.44.244 these were of the same Order and Power with their Ordainers and clearly of a different Order from Presbyters You shall heare what your deare friend Wale Messalinus speakes a Apostolorum tempore Apostolos ipsos veros juisse Ecclesiarum Episcopos Episcopos autem qui tunc fic nominabaÌ„tur in Presbyterorum ordine stetisse quales nunc Episcopis subditi sunt Walo Messal p. 355. In the time of the Apostles the APOSTLES themselves were the TRUE BISHOPS of those Churches But they who in those times were called BISHOPS were of the same Order with
PRESBYTERS such as now are SUBJECT TO BISHOPS This he confesseth to be the common opinion of the Greeke Fathers and surely they were as well skilled in Scriptures and Church History as any Elders in your divine Assembly 28. The reason why the Church of God so universally alter'd this Title of Apostle into Bishop is given by Theodoret and this it is b Theodoret. in 1. Tim. 3.1 That the name APOSTLE might be reserved to those who were 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 APOSTLES verily and indeed to those that were ordained by Christ himselfe Well the end of this appropriation was that the Church might settle and continue that necessary distinction betweene the Apostles ordained by Christ the Apostles ordained by man and Presbyters 29. If this distinction had not been setled in time how should we have been able to know an Apostle properly so called from an Apostle improperly so called What a strange confusion would have overspread the face of the Church if Epaphroditus Timothy and Titus had still been called Apostles c Ib. as Theodoret justifies they were in the Primitive times If all of that Order had reteined the same Title how should we have been able to distinguish Saint Peter from Peter the Apostle of Alexandria St Paul from Paul the Apostle of Antioch and St John from John of Hierusalem Thus we should have had not onely d 2. Cor. 11.13 false Apostles but Hereticall and Atheisticall Apostles which would have brought that Holy and Reverend name into contempt How should we have knowne by whom the Canonicall Epistles had been written For the Titles runne thus The Epistle of Paul the Apostle The Epistle of Peter the Apostle of John the Apostle c. So then if this distinction had not been provided corruption upon corruption must have followed for Epistles have been written by more Pauls then one and those Pauls Apostles too 30. The distinction then was necessary and though the Title were alterd the Order was not nor yet the Office The Fathers conceived not that they offer'd the least affront or derogation to St James in calling him Bishop whom the Scripture had honoured with the Title of Apostle If they had deemed so either they would not have given him that appellation or they would never have called his Episcopacy e Rusin histi l. 2. c. 1. Primatûs gloriam the glory of the Primacie and f Euseb hist l. 2. c. 1. an honour of no meane esteeme Neither had Timothy and Titus the lesse honour or power because they were called Bishops What the Apostles could doe which was of ordinary Jurisdiction and power and necessary for the preservation of the Church that could they Walo Messalinus shewes much ingenuity in this acknowledgement g Walo Messal p. 62. EPISCOPI SUMMUM in Ecclesiastico ordine GRADUM obtinent ut olim tennere qui APOSTOLI vocabantur BISHOPS hold the CHIEFE DEGREE in the Ecclesiasticall order as heretofore they did who were called APOSTLES But Apostles and Presbyters were never reckoned to be of the same Order The distinction is plaine Act. 15.6.23 Where it is said that h Act. 15.6 The Apostles and Presbyters came together to consider of this matter And i Ib. v. 23. The Apostles and Presbyters send greeting This is readily acknowledged by St Hierome and Walo Messalinus as is manifested § 71. 31. Agreed upon it is that Apostles and Presbyters are not the same if then Bishops properly and strictly so called be of the same Order with the Apostles it followes necessarily that our Bishops and Presbyters are not of one and the same Order or Function Neither hath corrupt custome but Scripture it selfe made this distinction The second Proposition That the Title of Bishop hath been by him by this one assumed as in other things so in the matter of Ordination 32. FIrst appropriated and ascribed and then assumed Not first assumed and then appropriated If then any fault be fall it must upon the times wherein that custome prevailed or upon the Persons that ascribed this Title to that one not upon the Bishops for they assumed it not it was first appropriated to them by your owne confession But it was appropriated and ascribed unto them in corrupt times truly no lesse then 1600 yeares since and assumed or rather retained to this day And lawfull it is for me to assume as you please to speak that what ever it be which hath k See §. 23 24. c. upon so just grounds been appropriated to me as this Title was to the Order Apostolike For it was done either by the Apostles themselves or by their Orthodox Schollers How can yee say then that l Ordin p. 2. it was not meet 33. But before I passe further I cannot but take notice that you who have so highly cryed out upon Et Caetera have slipt into the same error for In other things is neither better nor worse but a plaine c. which ought to have been avoided by such wise men as have condemned it with so much detestation Secondly you say in the matter of Ordination Herein had you consulted with your Assembly men certainly you would have strook out matter for the Greeke and our Reformed Churches use no matter or element in Ordination We use a Forme of words and Imposition of hands onely such Learned men cannot but know this Matter was either ignorantly or superfluously put in 34. But why hath the Title of Bishop been assumed in Ordination Does the Title Ordaine Is that sufficiem a Phrase not easily construed it needs a Commentary from some of your Divines In the mean time I shall guesse at your meaning which I conceive to be this He to whom custome hath appropriated the title of Bishop hath assumed Ordination to himselfe This being your meaning I shall make bold to say that this assertion is not true 35. The Bishops assumed not they took not this power of Ordination to themselves it was conferr'd upon them with their Orders It is so innate so inherent to that Order which we now call Episcopacy that no other Order may Ordaine Not Deacons so you say not Presbyters so m Epiphan haer 75. Epiphanius and n Hieron ad Evagr. Ep. 85. S. Hierom and with them all Antiquitie In the New Testament this power is only given to the Apostles or Bishops strictly so called and executed by them only It was given to the Apostles in o S. Mat. 10.8 Gratis accepistis gratis date freely ye have received freely give so p Ambros de dignit Sacerdot cap. 5. S. Ambrose so q Hieron in loc S. Hierome so r Apud Balsam p. 1085. Gennadius Patriarke of Constantinople with the whole Synod of his Patriarchate to Bishop Titus Tit. 1.5 to Bishop Timothy 1. Tim. 5.22 and to Bishop Epaphroditus by Walo Messalinus confession p. 58. 36. Practised it was only by Apostles or Bishops properly so called in Scripture
Christ and his word Therefore Apostles onely or Bishops strictly so called have power to ordaine The Major is firme and agreed upon The Minor onely is doubted of I shall addresse my selfe therefore to justifie the Minor 52. That the power of Ordination is neither given to nor executed by any meere creature in the New Testament but onely to and by Apostles or Bishops strictly so called who are of the same Order with Apostles is evident by our Saviour's Commission immediatly issuing from himselfe and explained by Saint Paul 53. Our Saviour's Commission to his Apostles was this * S. Mat. 10.8 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 A gift yee have received give this gift so the Greekes but we freely yee have received freely give what yee have received That is saith Gennadius Patriarch of Constantinople x Apud Balsam p. 1085. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of me you have received this dignity of Priesthood freely yee have received it freely give it Neither is this the sence of Gennadius alone but of 73 Bishops more that concurre with him in this Exposition If these be not enough I can tell you of y Ambros de dignit Sacerd. c. 5. Saint Ambrose z Hieron in Mat. 10.8 Saint Hierome and others that concurre with him in the same opinion 54. This Commission was given to the Apostles them onely he called v. 1. and those onely at that time he sent with that Commission v. 5. But given it was not to the Seventie and hence it is that not onely their number but their names also are precisely set downe v. 2 3 4. that so there might be no mistake at all in the Commission And as it was given to the Apostles onely so was it executed by them and others of their ranke but not by the Seventie not by the Disciples or Presbyters This is evident by Scripture and Church-historie By Scripture St Paul and St Barnabas were Apostles and they Ordaine Presbyters in every Church Act. 14.23 And Saint Paul ordaines Timothy 2. Tim. 1.6 By Church-historie a Hieron Catal c. 4. The Apostles ordained S. James Bishop of Hierusalem b Theodoret Dial. 1. S. Peter ordained Ignatius Bishop of Antioch and c Euseb hist l. 3. c. 17. S. John ordained many Bishops in Asia I make bold with Church History because you allow thereof and ordaine d Ord. p 6. that they who are desirous of Orders shall have triall made of their skill in Ecclesiasticall History 55. Titus and Timothy were Apostles also if we give credit to e Ignat. ad Ephes p. 226. Ignatius and f Theodoret. in 1. Tim. 3.1 Theodoret to them the same power of Order is committed which was to those g 2. Cor. 11. ◠chiefe Apostles To Titus h Tit. 1.5 For this cause left I thee at Creet that THOU SHOULD'ST ORDAINE PRESBYTERS or Elders 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as I have appointed thee not as it shall please an Ordinance of Lay-men to appoint thee The same power is acknowledged to be in Timothy 1. Tim. 5.22 Lay hands suddenly on no man And in Epaphroditus by a good friend of yours who ingenuously confesseth that i Ad Philippenses Epaphreditū miserat ad Ecclesiam eorum consirmādam constituendos in eâ Presbyteros Episcopos Walo Messal p. 58. Saint Paul sent Epaphroditus to the Philippians to Ordaine Presbyters in that Church 56. Can you shew in Scripture or Ecclesiasticall Historie that the power of Ordination was given to or acknowledged to be in one or many Presbyters Can you prove that ever this power was exercised by one or many Presbyters and not censured for a nullity not disclaimed as never done 57. I question not but you will presently turne me to your old and often answered Argument 1. Tim. 4.14 Neglect not the gift that is in thee which was given thee by prophecye with the LAYING ON OF THE HANDS OF THE PRESBYTERY Therefore Timothy was ordained by Presbyters and if Timothy then may others also This is the Crambe the old burre with which you hope at length to choke us 58. First I cannot but acknowledge that Timothies Ordination was orderly and legall Secondly I yeeld readily that others may be ordained legally and commendably as he was But withall I must tell you that Timothy was ordained either by S. Paul alone or by S. Paul with other of the Presbytery That he was ordained by S. Paul alone is the opinion of your great Master Calvin and he hath Scripture to justifie it Calvin's resolution is plaine and full k Calvin Instat l. 4. 〈◊〉 §. 16. Paulus ipse SE NON ALIOS COMPLVRES Timotheo manus imposnisse commemorat Saint Paul himselfe acquaints us that HIMSELFE NOT ANY MORE or other with him layed hands upon Timothy Exclusively himselfe not any other marke that 59. The text which confirmes this is cited by Calvin in the same place and this it is l 2. Tim. ◠6 Stirre up the gift of God which is in thee by the PUTTING ON OF MY HANDS Evident it is that this was done by Saint Paul The truth is m 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Ignat ad Philadelph 〈◊〉 14. the Apostles in those dayes were called the Presbytery Witnesse Ignatius n Hieron Catal. ◠27 who lived in those times and your present friend Walo Messalinus in these words o Walo Messal p. 21. Apostoli Presbyterium Hierosolymitanae Ecclesiae constituunt the Apostles were in those times the Presbytery of the Church at Hierusalem And what the Apostles were then and there they were also in other Churches where they came no question to be made of that And what power was in all the Apostles together in respect of any Ministeriall duty was in every one of them in particular and by himselfe Otherwise how could every single Apostle when their Colledge was dissolved and they dispersed into severall Countries for the worke of the Gospell performe his Office validly and effectually 60. But suppose the most that can be supposed either you must give S. Paul the lye or else you must confesse that Saint Paul was one of those that ordained Timothy So then to keep close to this president an Apostle or one of the same Order with an Apostle must have a chiefe hand in Ordination This serves to justifie the course of our Church but it condemnes your new Ordinance which authorizeth Presbyters alone without a Bishop or Apostle to ordaine 61. Timothy was ordained by an Apostle though perchance not by an Apostle alone and as Timothy so were all other ordained by Apostles or by such as were of the same Order with the Apostles and succeeded them in their Office p Hieron cont Montani insan Ep. 54. Et apud nos Apostolorum locum tenent Episcopi in S. Hieromes time the Bishops held the Apostles roome and so they doe at this day In his time Bishops onely had the power of Ordination but not
ſ Act. 14.23 by S. Paul and S. Barnabas t 1. Tim. 5.22 by Timothy and u Tit. 1.5 Titus The * Hieron Catal c. 16. two former are known to be Apostles the two latter are acknowledged by all antiquity to be Bishops strictly so called which are the very same with Apostles Though you will not believe me I presume ye will not mistrust Walo Messalinus his fidelity to your cause His very words are these x Walo Messal p. 44. Titus Timotheus Apostoli tunc nominabantur REVERA ERANT EPISCOPI JVRE EODEM ET ORDINE quo hodiè habertur qui Ecclesiam regunt Presbyteris praesunt Titus and Tymothy were named APOSTLES and IN VERY TRVTH WERE BISHOPS BY THE SAME RIGHT AND OF THE SAME ORDER that these are at this day who govern the Church and have command over Presbyters So your own dearest friend 37. But there can be no surer Commentary of our Saviours words then the Apostles daily practice And meet it is for us in these things to doe as they did And ought not Bishops to preserve as much as in them lyes that power which God in his word hath committed to them y 1. Tim. 6.20 Depositum custodi is a full command and of a large extent that charge which S. Paul hath committed to Timothie's and every z Vincent Lyrin c. 27. Bishop's trust is not to be waved on any hand carefully preserved it must be For doth not S. Paul charge Timothy to a 2. Tim. 3.14 continue in those things which he hath both learned and been assured of and to b Ib. c. 4. v. 5. fulfill his Ministry 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 his owne Ministry c Ib. c. 1. v. 6. which was given unto him by the imposition of S. Pauls hands Surely we ought to doe so and I hope God will so enable our Bishops that they shall discharge their duties though it be with hazard of their lives And a main part of their duty it is to Ordaine Presbyters and Deacons For to them and to them only this power belongs as shall be proved § 51.52 The third Proposition That Ordination performed by him by the Bishop being a Presbyter joyned with other Presbyters is in your judgement for substance valid and not to be disclaimed by any that have received it 38. THe Bishops are so much beholding to you as to ackowledge them to be Presbyters and their Ordinations valid notwithstanding their assumings and encroachings Yee take order therefore that d Ord. p. 13. a Presbyter so ordained shall be admitted to a charge WITHOUT ANY NEW ORDINATION 39. Notwithstanding this your Magisteriall definition I must tell you that this your Proposition is partly true partly false True in that an Ordination performed by a Bishop is valid But false that it is performed by him as a Presbyter He ordaines not as a presbyter but as a Bishop or if you will is an Apostle Bishop Not by vertue of the Order of Presbyter but by vertue of his Episcopall or Apostolicall Order e Epiphan haer 75. Presbyterorum enim Ordo non est potens generare patres for this Order the Order of Presbyters is not able to beget Fathers or Presbyters but Children for the Church And so no validitie in their Ordaining as shall be more fully manifested in the Confutation of your next Proposition 40. False like wise it is That the Ordination is only so farre forth valid as it is performed by a Bishop soyned with Presbyters Bishops you pull downe as low as yee can no Ordination good by a Bishop without assisting Presbyters but a Minister is highly in your favour he may if you Authorize Ordaine alone for doe not you say The Minister that ordaineth p. 13. But as you are out in affirming that one or many Presbyters may Ordaine so are you as wide from truth in resolving that a Bishop cannot Ordaine without presbyters joyned with him For this is certaine that the assisting Presbyters are not of the essence of Ordination for then were there no Ordination in the Greek Church since therein Presbyters lay on no hands at all in Ordination As f Pet. Arcud de Concord l. 6. c. 4. §. Igitur in Petrus Aroudius manifests Neither is there so much as mention made of Presbyters assisting or laying on their hands by or with or neare the Bishops hands at Ordination in all the Greeke Canons or the Euchologue but only of the Bishop ordaining a Presbyter They had an eye upon Scripture wherein they finde S. Paul alone and Titus alone and Timothy alone ordaining without assistants Yee are carefull to preserve the credit of some late reformed Churches beyond the Seas give us leave to be tender of those many and famous Churches in the East the first the learned churches of the world from whom we received the Scriptures and if the Learned be not mistaken the best expositions thereof even our Faith and Orders though not immediatly 41. I must confesse that in the Latine Churches g Concil Carthag IIII. Can. 3. Presbyters at the Ordination of a Priest and of a Priest only layed on their hands by the Bishops hand But these were for attestation not for Ordination The African Fathers therefore that enjoyne this very Act of the Presbyters ascribe Ordination wholy and only to the Bishop as is to be seen Co◠Afric Can. 31.55 80 c. A Bishop therefore may Ordaine without the assistance of Presbyters and the Ordination shall be good though not Legall with us because the Bishop may be justly questioned and censured for transgressing the Canons of our Church The fourth Proposition Presbyters so ordained being lawfully thereunto appointed and authorized may ordaine other Presbyters 42. IT seems hereby that Ordination is one thing and lawfull authorizing another That is if I mistake not your meaning when a Presbyter is ordained he receives no such power till he be afterwards lawfully authorized by you or such as you are And yet immediatly after ye make h Ord. p. 2. lawfull calling and Ordaining to be one and the same A Lawfulnesse then there is in Ordination without your concurrence or approbation Yea your own words are that i Ph. p. 15. Presbyters ORDAINED according to this Directory shall be for ever reputed and taken to ALL INTENTS AND PURPOSES for LAWFULL and SUFFICIENTLY AUTHORIZED Ministers of the Church of England and capable of any Ministeriall imployment If that be not home enough observe I beseech you how you resolve that every Minister by imposition of hands i◠k Ib. p. 22. set a part to fulfill the worke of his Ministery IN ALL THINGS Having then so full a Commission given them in Ordination how comes it to passe that before they may Lawfully Ordaine they must first be appointed and authorized by you 43. Is it a Ministeriall Imployment to Ordaine If it be so then is every Minister by his Orders sufficiently authorized
of man He does indeed and so we must either by doing or suffering We must either doe what is injoyned if so it may be done without offence to God otherwise if it may not be done we must patiently suffer what shall be inflicted as God knowes a multitude of us have since these times of triall And herein the Turke reades to you a Lecture of justice for he permits Christians to enjoy their Religion according to the termes agreed upon but without any horrid abjuration of their Faith or Liturgy or Canonicall obedience as also without any such unchristian Covenant to extirpate Episcopacy A course unheard of among the Heathen and savors strongly of Antichrist But a part it is of your Religion to enforce men to forsweare their Religion and Allegiance And herein you outstrip Julian the Apostata in his most barbarous subtilties 70. Your next Proposition is most consonant to veritie and Scripture viz. n Ord. p. 2. That it is manifest by the word of God that no man ought to take upon him the Office of a Minister untill he be lawfully called and ordained thereunto And I have already shewed who are lawfully called and ordained This being true it may not be listed in the number of your false Propositions which I intend to confute It shall therefore passe untouched while I hasten to the following Proposition which deserves a just censure The fifth Proposition The work of Ordination that is to say An outward solemne setting apart of Persons for the Office of the Ministerie in the Church by Preaching Presbyters is an Ordinance of Christ. 71. NOt so my great Masters by Presbyters it is not but by Bishops strictly so called or if you will by Apostles it is Christs owne Ordinance The Seventy were Presbyters they ordained not we find no such Commission given them The Apostles did because upon them and their Successors onely in that Sacred Office and Order our Saviour confer'd this power 72. That the Seventie were not of equall ranke or order with the Apostles cannot be denied If S. Hierome beare any sway he tells us that o Hieron Ep. 127. Mans 6. the seventy were secundi ordinis minoris gradûs of a second Order and of a lower degree then the Twelve were of And Walo Messalinus himselfe professeth that p Walo Messal p. 26.27 the Greek interpreters observe that the Apostles were of an higher dignity then Presbyters And with them he resolves that q Ib. p. 269. they are of severall Orders And withall he fairely acknowledgeth that r Vbi distingui ordines gradus caeptisunt atque Episcopus major extitit Presbytero tum Ordinatio non potuit utriusque esse communis Ib. p. 229. from the time these Orders were distinguished and that a Bishop became greater then a Presbyter ORDINATION COVLD NOT BE COMMON TO THEM BOTH But these Orders were distinguished in the Apostles times as appears by Theodoret and Beza's severall Editions of the New Testament From the Apostles times therefore both these could not Ordaine Besides two Orders they are therefore not one and the same 73. Yea they were distinct while the Apostles lived here on earth If Walo Messal say not so believe me not ſ Ib. p. 62. Episcopi SVMMVM in Ecclesiastico Ordine GRADVM obtinent ut oli◠tenuere qui APOSTOLI vocabantur Bishops hold the highest degree in the Ecclesiasticall Order as heretofore those did who were called Apostles But t Ib. p. 269. then it was said of the Councells moulded up of Both Orders u Act. 15.22 It pleased the Apostles and Presbyters Take his own words and weigh them well Tunc dicebatur in Conciliis ex utroque Ordine compositis congregatis 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Two Orders they were then and two Orders they are now though it hath pleased the Church to change a title And that the lower of these two did never warrantably Ordaine is sufficiently manifested in the observations upon the third and fourth Propositions Say you then what you will frame what Ordinances you please the Ordinations made by Mr Edmund Calamy and Mr Henry Robrough and by the whole Assembly of Assessors and Scribes will be as good as nothing meere nullities And your new Presbyters shall be what they were before shop-men or worse and branded to all posterity with Ischyras 74. Now I hope every reasonable eye sees that it is more then time for you to provide that * Ord. p. 3. a Government of the Church be formed up to the full power and worke of it and that the whole course of Ordination of Ministers in an Ordinary way be set up and setled for all the three Kingdomes For this your frame is not built upon the foundation of Apostles and Prophets Christ Iesus being the head corner stone but upon the whimsies of your own braine 75. Hitherto by your owne confession ye have gone in no ordinary no setled way and therefore not in the way of Christ and his Apostles Neither is the whole course of your intended Ordination yet set up your Wisedomes have not yet found it no nor yet the Kirke of Scotland from whom you take your paterne Geneva and Amsterdam come short of your great intended Master piece None of these have formed up a Government of the Church to the full power and work of it their platformes worke low and their power is empty but your braines flye high and we shall have a work of wonder next October 76. The whole course you promise fairely as yet God knowes ye have provided only for part of Ordination unlesse ye make Presbyters and Deacons the same as you have already shufled Bishops properly so called and Presbyters into one Order cleane contrary to the ancient Church and to the book of God Thus you have pulled downe the ordinary way God give you grace to see your error that you may in time endeavour to set up the old the ordinary way 77. For Examination provision is made but especially x Ord. p 4. or first of all That he that is to be Ordained must bring with him a testimoniall of his taking the Covenant of the three Kingdomes framed by a Rebellious combination against the word of God and the Lawes of this Kingdome but according to the directions of the World the Flesh and the Divell A testimoniall worthy of such an Ordinance such Ordainers and such Orders Of this he must be sure to bring a Testimoniall And without this neither Learning nor holinesse of life will serve the turne 78. y His age is to be twenty foure yeares at the least Ord. p. 4 For age they agree with our Canons Touching z The Ministers appointed to ordain shall proceed to enquire touching the grace of God in him Ib. grace will be an hard matter to enquire a Ib. p. 8. an examination of two severall daies or of two severall yeares will hardly serve the turne Iudas had
concerning his perswasion of the truth of the reformed Religion which few men know where to finde Where may we see the Articles of your Religion or the rule you will be tryed by Is the Reformed Religion contained in out 39 Articles In the Apostles Nicene or Athanasius Creed None of these are in your new Directory It may be it is in the Harmony of Confessions I would to God you would tell us which it is Be it what it will it is according to the Scriptures Is this enough Will not the Brownist and the Anabaptist the Papist and the Antitrinitarian yea and the Socinian say as much And some of these will put the best of your Elders shroadly to it to prove the contrary 85. But why have we not a Directory for faith as well as for Prayers That so we may know what your new reformed faith is I think as your Prayers are unformed so your faith is unfound it is yet to be agreed on A wonder it is you are so long in voting it But your wisedomes know that it is impossible to vote a Religion which might please all the adherents to this Rebellion As therefore ye leave every man at liberty to the spirit of prayer so have ye left every man free to choose his Religion so it be not destructive to your Platformes This you esteem to be that liberty of Conscience which stints not the Spirit and is the only curbe to Popery 86. But you have a great care of e He is to be demanded of his Zeale and Faithfulnesse in maintaining the Vnity of the Church against Errour and Schisme Ib. the Churches unity against Error and Schisme he is therefore to be examined concerning his Zeale and Faithfulnesse in the maintenance of this unity But have we not read of some whose Faith is said to be Faction whose Religion Rebellion f Tertul. de Praescrip c. 42. whose Vnity Schisme But how shall they maintaine Vnity that have dissolved the bonds of charity Thaâ— have raised such and so many Schismes as the Church hath hardly been acquainted with from her foundation That have hatched and clucked up so many Errors and Heresies that men and Angells stand amazed at And yet a pretence of Vnity and a pretence of Reformation may work much upon the weake People as many other pretences have Good Lord how like the Devill we affect to be to make show to be what we are least and to endeavour that we seek to overthrow The rest of your Interrogatories are borrowed from our Book of Ordination and from our Canons as every thing else is that is good in this Directorie 87. In the Ordination I observe that you call the Ministery g Ord. p 11. a great worke an h 〈◊〉 12. holy Service and suddenly after he is to be exhorted to i Ib consider the greatnesse of his Office I am glad you have so good an opinion of the calling If then it be such a worke such an Office as yee speake of why have you thrust such illiterate meane Persons into our Cures as Blacke-Smiths Taylors Felt-makers and the like with unwashed hands to meddle with this holy Service Are these men fit to undertake so great a worke Is it probable that such as these should k Ib. both save themselves and the People by you committed to their Charge It is rather to be feared that as l Levit. 10.1 Num. 3. â— with Nadab and Abihu they offer strange fire so with them they will perish in this fire and draw the people into the same destruction 88. Well he is m 〈◊〉 p. 32. set apart by Imposition of hands that ancient Ceremonie of Ordination to fulfill the worke of his Ministery in all things What Ministery is this Here is none named in particular And yet there are more Orders of Ministers then one witnesse your servant Smectymnuus who n Smect Ans p. 63. acknowledgeth Presbyters and Deacons to be of two distinct Orders But the Church of England agreeably to the whole Church of God for 1500 yeares together tells us that o Preface to the Book of Ordination from the Apostles times there have been these Orders of Ministers in Christs Church BISHOPS PRIESTS and DEACONS 89. His Ministery Hath it no speciall or particular name to be knowne by Alas Ministery and Minister are words of a large extent generall names that reach to all Orders and perchance further Minister is the Genus which hath these species under it Bishop Priest and Deacon and each of these is a Minister But before we can tell which of these is meant there must be added a specificall difference as there must be to a Creature before we can conceive what manner of Creature or of living Creature is intended What though In all things be added yet all these things will reach no further then to those things which are within the compasse or power of that his Ministery to which he is ordained And so for all this we are to seek to what Ministery he is set apart Whereas in our Book of Ordination in the Pontificals and Enchologe every person in his Ordination is by name assigned to his particular Order 90. Indeed I must confesse your Minister is expressed to be a Presbyter before Ordination pag 4. as also after Ordination pag. 15. but at Ordination Minister As if Presbyter and Minister were convertible termes names of the selfe same signification True it is that every Presbyter is a Minister but every Minister is not a Presbyter no more then every living Creature is a man though every man be a living Creature I should rather conceive a Minister to be a Deacon then a Presbyter in our language because we usually translate 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Ministery and Minister 2. Cor. 13.23 2. Tim. 4.5 c. But you must enjoy your owne words and your owne meaning though they be contrary to the sence and custome of the Church 91. Order also is taken that p Ord p. 12. one of the Ordainers exhort and charge the People in the name of God willingly to receive and acknowledge him as the Minister of Christ and to maintaine encourage and assist him in all the parts of his Office No question to be made of their willingnesse to receive and acknowledge a new Minister Novelties are pleasing and the People q 2. Tim 4.3 having itching cares will heap to themselves Teachers after their owne lusts and fancies But when it comes to maintenance yee shall find that an Exhortation or Charge will not serve the turne For though r Jer. 5.31 their Prophets prophecy falsely and the People love to have it so yet experience hath taught you that maintenance comes hardly from them till your Orders and Ordinances constraine them to pay You have been therefore and will be enforced to take a more strict course for the maintenance of your Ministers 92. But when it comes to assistance they will be forward enough for your Ordinance is that Å¿ Ord. p. 12. the People be charged to assist the Minister in all the parts of his Office What Are all Presbyters Are all Ministers Are all Teachers t Haereticorum qui â—am Larcâ— sacerdotalia munera injungunt Tertul. de Praescrip c. 41. By your Ordinance not only some but all the People are turned Prophets The People must assist the Minister in Baptizing in Preaching in administring the Lords Supper for all these belong to his Office If this be not your meaning you should have done well to have expressed your selves in plainer termes that we might understand your meaning For this is certaine that no man can assist a Presbyter in all the parts of his Office that is not of the same Office For though a Deacon may assist the Presbyter in the administration he cannot assist him in the Consecration of the Lords Supper And your selves will say that a Deacon may not assist him in Imposition of hands How then may the People assist him in all the parts of his Office Surely either the meaning or the expression is not good that 's plaine 93. I have done with your Directorie I have discharged my Conscience and I would to God I could u Ord. p. 12. dismisse you with a Blessing With a Prayer I may beseeching God so abundantly to blesse you with his grace that you may see your foule Impieties and Repent and in time while it is called to day discharge your Consciences knowing assuredly that you must appeare and give a strict account for all your Ordinances and Actions before the impartiall Barre of that unerring Iudge Christ Jesus And x Heb. 10.31 a dreadfull thing it is to fall into the Hands of the Everliving God Then an Ordinance of Parliament or the Protection of both Houses shall stand you and your Divine Assembly in small stead In that day your Ordinances and Actions and Intentions shall be throughly sifted and layed open before your faces Then y S. Ioh. 5.29 they that have done good shall goe into the Resurrection of Life and they that have done evill into the Resurrection of Damnation God give every one of us grace to lay this to heart that so we may avoyd the wrath to come AMEN FINIS