gives the People the last Judgement of necessity and upon this Judgement a power to rise in Arms. If any Divine have unwittingly slipped into any such errours in not distinguishing between an absolute and respective Soveraignty which I can hardly beleeve yet the Observer might have held his peace for shame The one is so intent upon the Law of God the other upon the Law of Nature that they both forget the known Laws of the Land Especially he shews his spleen against Bishop sometimes calling them Popish Bishops If Popery were as ancient as Episcopacy the Observer might shake his Eares at it to small purpose Sometimes he stiles them the Praelaticall Faction If that be a Faction which is established by the Fundamentall Law of the Land and hath ever been a radicated Order of the Kingdom What may a man think of hiâ—… Revâ—…rend Coâ—…hmen and Buâ—…ton makers and the rest of that diversified Schismaticall â—…ie Sometimes he makes Levi and Simâ—…n Hierarchists and Papists the heads of the maine Malignants I â—…ope the Observer will allow some Government in the Church either of Councells or Synods or Assemblyes or Consistoryes or Senates or Presbyteryes either 〈◊〉 as it is at Genevah or Parochiall as it is in the Low-Countries either of Presidents or Moderators or Visiters Pastors Doctors Curate or not Curate Elders perpetuall or Annuall Deacons Widowâ—… or some of them for they are not yet well agreed about any of these In one place Elders are Commissioners to the Seigniory are placed and displaced by the Magistrate take an Oath of Obedience to the Magistrate in other places the King hath not so much as the place of a Lay-Elder except he be chosen Or perhaps the Observer is for none of all these wayes but as errant an Independent in the Church as he desires to be in the Common-wealth Here are many things very considerable in this businesse First That in doubtfull cases Melior est conditio vossident is Possession is a strong plea especially if it be of long continuance as this of Episcopâ—…cy is ever since Christianity was planted in this Kingdome This is certain Brittish Bishops have been of Note in Forrein Councells since the second Councell of Arles which is above thirteen hundred yeares to say nothing of Aristobulus mentioned in the Epistle to the Romans whom some good Authors make a Bishop in this Island They that shall goe about to shake in pieces such an ancient Institution which was brought into the Church either by the Authority or at least by the approbation of the Apostles had need to bring cleare proofes not blind conjectures about which they themselves cannot agree one with another Bishops flourished long in this Kingdom even when the Brittish Church enjoyed the Cyprian privilege and acknowledged no subjection to any forrein See whatsoever Secondly That which the Observer saith of Monarchy that our Laws are locked and Cabinetted in it in such manner that the wounding of the one is the bleeding of the other though he forget it throughout his Discourse is likewise true of Episcopacy that it is woven and riveted into the body of our Law Heare a Witnesse beyond exception For the Government of Bishops I for my part not prejudging the presidents of other Reformed Churches doe hold it warranted by the Word of God and by the practise of the ancient Church in the better times and much more convenient for Kingdoms then parity of Ministers or Government by Synods And presently after It is worth noting that the Scripture saith Translato Sacerdotio necesse est ut legis fiat Translatio It is not possible in respect of the great and neere sympathy between the State Civill and the State Ecclesiasticall to make so maine an alteration in the Church but it would have a perillous operation upon the Kingdome And therefore it is fit that Controversie be in Peace and Silence It would not be forgotten what was cited before out of Cartwright That as the hangings must be shaped according to the House so must the Civill Government be conformed to the Government of the Church The Anabaptisâ—…â—…egan with Bishops but at length the Emperour was â—…ith them but Carolus a Gandavo Charles of Gant 〈◊〉 leave it to others to Judge by what fate or fortune it â—…omes to pâ—…sse beyond the Sea That wheresoever any â—…ther Regiment of the Church takes place if the faâ—…ourers of it be the Major part and have power in their â—…ands it either finds or makes a popular State every â—…ans own imaginâ—…ion will supply him with instances And this may be the reason why Calvin a wise man 〈◊〉 an Epistle to the King of Polonia doth represent â—…ot the Disciplinarian but Episcopall Government as â—…tter for Monarchyes Having shewed the Regiment â—…f the Primitive Church by Patriarkes Primates and â—…ishops he proceeds thus As if at this Day one Arch-â—…ishop should be over the illustrious Kingdom of Polonia â—…t to domineere over the rest or arrogate their right unto â—…imselfe but for orders cause c. And further there â—…ould be a Bishop in each Citty or Province to attend peâ—…uliarly to the preservation of Order marke his Reaâ—…on even as Nature it selfe doth dictate to us that in â—…very College one ought to be chosen upon whom the prinâ—…ipall care of the College should rest Thirdly Episcopacy is not onely ancient and ceâ—…ented into our Laws but also was universally reâ—…eived without any opposition or so much as a queâ—…tion throughout the whole Christian World among â—…ll sorts of Christians of what Communion or â—…rofession soever they were Graecian Latin Rusâ—…an Armenian Abissine c yea even among those â—…ho by reason of the great distance and remotenesse â—…f their Countryes never heard of the Pope nor of the name of Rome ever since the Apostles did tread upon the face of the Earth untill this last Century of Yeares so farre is it from being a Relick of Popery And the Observer is challenged to name but one Church or so much as one poor Village throughout the whole World from the Dayes of the Apostles till the year of Christ 1500 that ever was governed without a Bishop I except the Acepâ—…ali or such disordered Persons that had no Governmenâ—… at all or to name but one Lay-Elder or one Ambulatory Bishop that governed by turne or course in thâ—… Primitive times in the whole Catholike Church before the year 1536 when Calvine came to Geneuah We find the proper and particular names of Apostles Evangelists Bishop Presbiters and Deacons in the Scriptures in Councells in Ecclesiastical Historyes in the Fathers if he and all his Friendâ—… be not able out of all these Authorities to name onâ—… particular Lay-Elder or ambulatory Bishop thâ—… reason must be because there never was such a Creature in rerum natura And his Elders in Saint Ambrose and Saint Ierome are much mistaken hoâ—… should they be otherwise the one Authour being 〈◊〉 Bishop himselfe and the other
reward of a Lyar not to be trusted in other matters And first for Doctor Whitakers Bellarmine objects against the Protestants that they take away Bishops He answers Neqâ—… 〈◊〉 totâ—…m Episcopoâ—… orâ—… 〈◊〉 â—…t ille falso â—…lumniatur sed Pseudâ—… Episcopâ—… tantum Pontificios We doe not condemne all the order of Bishops as he that is Bellarmine we may say the Prefacer falsly slanders us but onely 〈◊〉 falsâ—… Bishops of the Church of Rome And about the same place speaking of that ancient constitution that three Bishopâ—… should be present at the Ordination of a Bishop he affirmes that it was a good and a godly sanction and fit for those good times Doctor Fulke expresseth himselfe home That among the Clergy for order and seemely Government there was alwayes one Principall to whom the name of Bishop or Superintendent hath been applyed by long use of the Church which roome Titus exercised in Crete Timothy in Ephesuâ—… others in other places That though a Bishop and â—…n Elâ—…r is of one Order and Authority in preaching the Word and administring the Sacraments yet in Government by ancient use of Speech he is onely called a Bishop who in Scripture is called proestaâ—…enos proestâ—…s â—…egoumenos Rom. 12. 8. 1 Tim. 5. 7. Heb. 13. 17. that is the chiefe in Government to whom the Ordination or Consecration by imposition of Hands was alwayes principally committed So according to Doctor Fulke the name is from Man but the Office from God I I beseech thee Reader view the three places cited by him at leisure and thou shalt see who are the Rulers â—…nd Governours and Ruling Elders mentioned in Hoâ—…y Scripâ—…ures in the judgement of Doctor Fulke Lastly Doctor Reynolds is of the same minde That the Elders ordeined by the Apostles did choose one among them to be President of their Company and Moderator of their actions as of the Church of Ephesus though it had sundry Elders and Pastors to guide it yet among these sundry was there one chief whom our Saviour calleth the Angell of the Church c. And this is he whom afterwards in the Primitive Church the Fathers called Bishop c. So that by Doctor Reynolds though not for the name yet for the thing Episcopacy was in the Church even when Saint Iohn writ the Revelation and was approved by our blessed Saviour from Heaven Fifthly In a difference of Wayes every pious and peaceable Christian out of his discretion and care of his own salvation will inquire which is via tutissima the safest way Now the Separatists themselves such as have either Wisedome or Learning doe acknowledge that Holy Orders are truely that is validly given by the Ordination used in our Church I meane not such as either hold no outward calling to be needfull as the Anabaptists or make the Church a meere Democracy as the Independents but on the other side a very great part of the Christian World and among them many Protestants doe allow no Ordination to be right but from Bishops And even Saint Ierome who of all the Fathers makes the least difference between a Bishop and a Presbiter yet saith VVhat can a Bishop doe which a Presbiter doth not except Ordination And seeing there is required to the essence of a Church 1. a Pastor 2. a Flock 3. a Subordination of this Flock to this Pastor where we are not sure that there is right Ordination what assurance have we that there is a Church I write not this to prejudge our Neighbour Churches I dare not limit the extraordinary operation of Gods Spirit where ordinary meanes are wanting without the default of the Persons he gave his People Manna for food whilest they were in the Wildernesse Necessity is a strong plea Many Protestant Churches lived under Kings and Bishops of another Communion others had particular reasons why they could not continue or introduce Bishops but it is not so with us It was as wisely as charitably said of Saint Cyprian If any of my Predecessours through ignorance or simplicity have not holden that which our Lord hath taught the mercy of the Lord might pardon them c So if any Churches through necessity or ignorance or newfanglednesse or Covetousnesse or Practise of some Persons have swerved from the Apostolicall rule or Primitive institution the Lord may pardon them or supply the defect of Man but we must not therefore presume It is Charity to thinke well of our Neighbours and good Divinity to looke well to our selves But the chief reason is because I do not make this way to be simply necessary but onely shew what is safest where so many Christians are of another mind I know that there is great difference between a valid and a regular Ordination and what some choise Divines do write of case of Necessity and for my part am apt to believe that God looks upon his People in mercy with all their Prejudices and that there is a great Latitude left to particular Churches in the constitution of their Ecclesiasticall Regiment according to the exigence of Time and Place and Persons So as Order and his own Institution be observed Sixtly those Blessings which the English Nation have received from that Order do deserve an acknowledgement By them the Gospell was first planted in the most parts of England By their Doctrine and Blood Religion was reformed and restored to us By the learned writings of them and their Successors it hath been principally defended Cranmer Ridley Latimer Hooper were all Bishops Coverdale excercised Episcopall Jurisdiction With what indignation doe all good Protestants see those blessed Men stiled now in Print by a younge novice halting and time-serving Prelates and common stales to countenance with their prostituted gravities every Politick fetch It was truely said by Seneca that the most contemptible Persons ever have the loosest tongues The Observer confesseth that Magna Charta was penned by Bishops no ill service Morton a Bishop of Ely was the Contriver and Procuâ—…er of the Union of the two Roses a great blessing to this Nation Bishop Fox was the instrument imployed to negotiate and effect the union of the two Kingdomes In former Distractions of this State Bishops have beene Composers and Peace-makers according to their Office now they are contemned and in their roomes such Persons are graced whose Tongues are like that cursed Bay-Tree which caused brawling and contention wheresoever it came England owes many of her Churches Colleges Hospitalls and other Monuments of Piety and Charity to Bishops It requires good advise before we expell that Order which of Infidells made us Christians and that the the reasons should appear to the World An Act of any Society how eminent soever wherein are none of the Clergy may sooner produce submission then satisfaction to the Conscience Seventhly we have had long experience of Episcopall Government if it have been accidentally subject to some abuses I desire to know what Government in the World is free from
deducing Bishops iâ—… Alexandria from Saint Marke and telling us plainlâ—… that which we find to be true that without Episcopall Authoriâ—…y there will be as many Schismes as Priesâ—… in the Church The Hierarchists as he calls them will be contented â—…o wave all other Authors and 〈◊〉 â—…ed by either of these The seven Angells in thâ—… Revelation cap. 2. 3 cannot be the seven Chuâ—…ches for the Angells and the Churches are 〈◊〉 distinguished Rev. 1. 20 but it must be the seven Bishops of the Churches These were not Parochiall Churches each of them had many Pastors and many particular Flocks Beza confesseth that these Angellâ—… were Presidents over the other Presbiters but he believes not they had a priority of Power or that this Presidency was permanent but went by course If the Government went by turnes I would gladly know why one of them is called an Angell more then the other Surely he that shall reade the seven Epistles how some of them are commâ—…ended for their constancy and perseverance in their Government and others reprehended for suffering Heretickâ—… to continue in their Churches will find sufficient ground in every one of these Epistles to believe that they were not changeable every weeke or Moneth or quarter of a Yeare but constant and permanent Governours having power of Jurisdiction to represse abuses otherwise why are they taxed for the abuses done in their Diocesses if it were not in their power to remedy them And if he will give credit to the Testimony of the Primitive Fathers he may find both who sundry of these Angells or Bishops were and also who were their Successors Fourthly though in such variety of new Forms of Church Regiment he hath not expressed himselfe to what Forme he inclines saving that in one place â—…e speakes of a Iancto of Divines I cannot think but himselfe would have the naming of them yet we will suppose that which we are farre from believing that a few green Heads see more then all the Fathers and Councells and Schoolemen and that the Observers busy working braine could molde a Church better then all the Apostles Notwithstanding all this Saint Austins rule to Ianuarius is very considerable if you will not erre doe that which I use to do to whatsoever Church I come I apply my selfe to the Ceremonies thereof He would have added the Discipline also if there had been sundry Formes but there was none but Episcopâ—…y then in the world God is a mercifull God and lookes upon his Creatures with all prejudices of Education Habitation c. Faction is more offensive to him and breach of Charity more dangerous to the Soule then any unknown errour in Discâ—…pline much more where the errour is but supposed or feined and the Schisme apparent Now for the Discipline of the Church of England all Men know and grant that it hath ever been Episcopall In the publick Liturgy of our Church confirmed by Act of Parliament we pray for Bishops In our Booke of Ordination confirmed by the same Authority it is directly affirmed as evident by Scriptures and ancient Authours that from the time of the Apostles there have ever been these Orders of Ministers in Christs Church Bishops Priests and Deacons and that these Orders are appointed by the Holy Ghost In our Booke oâ—… Articles which conteins the received doctrin of our Church and therefore without doubt comes within the compasse of our late Protestation the same Book of Ordination is mainteined and it is plainely affirmed That there is nothing conteined in it which â—…s either superstitious or ungodly In the Apolâ—…gy of our Church published to the whole Christian World and by all Protestant Churches approved and applauded We declare that â—…e beleeve that there be diverse degrees of Ministers in the Church whereof some be Deacons some be Priests some Bishops Which being so it deserves some consideration which King Iames saith in the latter end of his Proclamation for Uniformity Such is the unquietnesse and unstedfastnesse of some dispositions affecting every yeare new forms of things as if they should be followed in their unconstancy would make all actions of States ridiculous and contemptible whereas the stedfast mainteining of things by good advise established is the weale of the Commonwealth I should not inlarge my selfe any further about this Consideration but for two reasons The one is I find it said by some that scarce any but Bishops have hitherto mainteined Bishops Take only three Testimonies of many they were all Members of the English Church yet all Strangers and all had lived in places opposite to Episcopall Government none of them either Bishops or their Chapleins or Expectants The first is King Iames the most learned of Kings I have alwayes thought that there ought to be Bishops in the Church according to the Apostolicall institution and by consequence Divine Ordination The second is Learned Bucer a Germane and imployed in the first Reformation of this Church to read Divinity in Cambridge one that was so opposite to Popery that after his Death his very bones were taken out of his Grave and burned by the Papists He is full in many places take one From the perpetuall observation of the Churches from the very Apostles themselves we see that it seemed good to the Holy Ghost that among the Ministers to whom the charge of the Church was especially committed one should undergoe a singular care of the Churches and the whole Ministery and in that care and sollicitude was before all the rest for which cause the name of a Bishop was peculiarly attributed to these highest Procurators of the Church The third is Peter Martyr at the same time imployed to reade Divinity at Oxford having expressed his consent concurrence with Saint â—…erome concerning Episcopacy he proceeds So far it is from us to bring confusion into the Church that rather we follow the same way for there is no Diocesse with us or Citty where of many Pastors there is not some one chosen excelling in Learning and Experience whom they call the Superintendent of the Church He convocates all the rest he admonisheth them he governs them according to the Word of God as the State of things requires The second reason is that I see it lately published to the World in Print that Doctor Whitakers Doctor Fulke and Doctor Reynolds were all Oppugners of Episcopacy Perhaps of Popish Episcopacy that is the abuse not the thing or of an absolute necessity by Divine Right of such and such an Episcopacy indowed with such or such degrees of Power or Preheminence or of such an Episcopacy as is held to differ from Presbiterate in the very power of Order but surely not of Episcopacy it selfe I wondred at the impudence of the Man It is a bad cause which stands in need to be underpropped with such pious impious frauds is onely fortified with hideous palpable Lyes if he fable in this let him have the just
they Facile possent Episcopi legitimam obedientiam retinere c. Bishops might easily retein lawfull obedience if they did not urge us to keep Traditions which with a good Conscience cannot be kept Again Nunc non id agitnr c. It is not now sought that the Government be taken away from Bishops but this one thing is desired That they will suffeâ—… the Gospel to be purely taught and release some few Observances which cannot be kept without sinne This generall Confession may stand for a thousand Witnesses under which all the Protestants in Germany did shelter themselves To this I may adde the Apology for the same Confession Hac de re in hoc conventu c. We have often testified of this matter in this meeting that we desire wiâ—… all our hearts to conserve the Ecclesiasticall Policy anâ—… the degrees made in the Church by Humane Authoritâ—… Againe This our Will shall excuse us both before God anâ—… all the World that it may not be imputed to us that thâ—… Authority of Bishops was weakned by our means Thâ—… confession of Saxony is subscribed by seventeen Superintendents of Bishops The Suevick Confession iâ—… so farre from opposing the spirituall power of the Praelates that they doe not exclude them from secular Government and complaineth of great wrong done tâ—… their Churches as if they did seek to reduce the poweâ—… of Ecclesiasticall Praelates to nothing And most plain ly they declare for the Ecclesiasticall Jurisdiction oâ—… Bishops in the 33. Chapter of the secular Magistratâ—… I might produce the Articles of the Protestants and more Confessions and many Witnesses to this purpose if it were needfull But perhaps some may sayâ—… That these are all Lutherans and no good Protestantâ—… That were strange indeed that they who made thâ—… Protestation and from thence were called Protestants keeping themselves to the same grounds should become no Protestants and they who made no Protestation nor have right to the name but by communioâ—… with them should become the onely Protestants Buâ—… to satisfie them in this also Upon the Words of the Augustane Confessionâ—… before recited the Observations set forth in the namâ—… of the French and Belgicke Churches at the latteâ—… end of the Harmony of Confessions doe divide Bishops into three kinds 1 Apostolicall of Ordeâ—… not of Degree common to all the Ministers of the word 2. Humane both of Order and of Degree which they confesse to â—…e ancient and defined and circumscribed with many old Canons 3. Tyrannicall in the Church of Rome wandring not onely without the word of God but also extra Canones aequissimos without those most equall or just Canons which last they abhominate but of this more in the next Consideration They say further that it is the Office of godâ—…y Magistrates to see how farre it may be expedient for Bishops to have some kind of Civill Dominion and upon the Saxonick confession they acknowledge that Bishops may make Laws belonging to Order â—…nd Decency so it be not done Arbitrarily but by the judgement of a lawfull Synod and what doe we say more You have also seen the confession of the Church of England directly for Episcopacy which nevertheâ—…esse was so approved and applauded by the Tigurine Divines That they made no end of praising of it that â—…hey judged nothing to have been published more perfect in those dayes that they promise themselves that the Protestant Church shall never want a Champion so long as the Authour thereof did live yet it was both for Bishops and by a Bishop Calvine was no Lutherane yet he subscribed the Augustane Confession oâ—… the Apology for it or both And in his Institutions he describeth at large the Regiment of the Primitive Church after the dayes of the Apostles That though the Bishops of those times expressed more in their Canons then was expressed in the word of God yet they composed the whole Oeconomy of the Church with that caution that it may easily appear that it had almost nothing strange from the word of God That in each Citty the Presbyters did choose one of their number to whom they gave the Title of Bishop specially least dissention might spring from equallity as commonly it comes to passe He shews out of Saint Ierome that this institution was as ancient in Alexandria as from Saint Marke He proceeds to shew the end of Arch-Bishops and the Constitutioâ—… of Patriarkes and concludes That this kind of Government some called an Hierarchy by a name improper at least not used in the Scriptures but if we passâ—… by the name and looke upon the thing it selfe we shaâ—… find that the Ancient Bishops did goe about to devise no other Forme of governing the Church then that which God hath prescribed in his word There might be sundry other places alleged out of his Epistle and his Answer to Sadolet to the same purpose but I omit them only with this note that one of the most conspicuous placeâ—… in his Epistle to Sadolet Talem nobis Hierarchiam c. against those that shall reject Episcopacy being reduced to its due submission to Christ and Society with their Brethren is purged out in the two latter Editionâ—… of Beza and Gallasius to let us see that the Romanistâ—… are not the onely men who cut out the Tongues oâ—… their own Witnesses Zanchy delivers the very same grounds and addes That nothing is more certainâ—… then this That Episcopacy was received into the Church communi consensu totius Reipublicae Christianae with the common consent of the whole Christian Commonwealth That it was free for them to doe so Thaâ—… it was done for honest or just causes That it cannot bâ—… misliked That those things which are defined and received by the Godly Fathers congregated in the namâ—… of the Lord by the common consent of all without anâ—… contradiction to the Holy Scriptures though they be noâ—… of the same Authority with the Scriptures yet they arâ—… from the Holy Ghost Quae hujusmodi sunt ea eâ—…o â—…probare nec velim nec audeam bona Conscientia â—…uch as he had neither Will nor Confidence nor 〈◊〉 to disallow Which very place being â—…rged by â—…arraviah against Beza he closeth with it A quo maâ—…ime certe dissentimus cum Episcopatum illum mere diâ—…inum Apostolicum ab humano non quasi sint illa â—…nter se repugnantia sed tantum ut diversa imparis â—…uctoritatis discernimus From which opinion of Zanâ—…y we doe not dissent nor distinguish between that Apostolicall and meerely Divine Episcopacy from this other which is humane as if they were reâ—…ugnant one to another but onely diverse and of unequall Authority The same Booke is full of such places Quod si nunc Ecclesiae Anglicanae instauratae c. If the English reformed Churches doe now stand underpropped with the authority of Bishops and Arch-Bishops as it hath come to passe in our memoryes that
they have had Men of that order not onely notable Martyrs but most excellent Pastors and Doctors let them injoy that singular Blessing which I pray God may be perpetuall to them And elswhere speaking of humane Episcopacy as he is pleased to call it he addes Quo sane fruantur c. Which let them injoy who perswade themselves that the right use of it may be observed by them And again Absit ut hunâ—… ordinem c. Farre be it from me to reprehend this Order as rashly or proudly erected though it be not a Divine or meerely Apostolicall Constitution whereof rather no man can deny that there may be great use as long as good and holy Bishops are over the Church Let them injoy it therefore that will and can This poterint and can was well put in it was not the unlawfulnesse of the order but the inconsistency with the present State of Genevah which excluded it thence And having spoken of the Apostolicall Canon and the Superiority of the Arch-Bishop above his Fellow Bishops he concludes quid aliud hic statuitur c. What else is here decreed but that order which we desire to be restored in all Churches It appeares then plainly by the confessions of Protestant Churches by the Testimonyes of the most learned Divines yea even of those that lived under another Government that if Bishops be not necessary yet at the least they are lawfull It appeares that three parts of fower of the Protestant Churches have either Bishops or Superintendents which is all one and that those Churches which have neither yet they have some principall Men Primarios which have as much power as Bishops viis modis But if we should be contented to leave three parts of Protestants to joyn with the the fourth shall we find them unanimous in this No such thing The Helvetian and other Churches ascribe the Government of the Church to the Magistrate and allow no Lay-Elders But Genevah and her Daughters to their Pre byteries yet neither the Mother is like the Daughters nor the Daughters very like one another as hath been shewed in part before in this Treatise and the Independents are for neither of these wayes And all learned men doe acknowledge our English Episcopacy to be lawfull yea even the present President and Pastors of Genevah do the same So if we desire consent either of Protestants in particular or of Christians in generall yea of the whole Catholicke Symbolicall Church it is best for us to keepe us where we are My tenth and last Consideration riseth higher That according to their grounds who have been the greatest Oppugners of Episcopacy the Government of our English Bishops is not onely lawfull but for the most part necessary nor onely necessary but even an Apostolicall and Divine Institution This seeming Paradox is yet most certain and their opposition hath been but beating the aire For the clearer manifestation whereof we must know First that the greatest impugners of Episcopacy do not seek to bring such a Parity into the Church but that by the Ordinance of God and Dictate of Nature one Presbyter ought to be President above the rest Ex Dei ordinatione perpetua necesse fuit est â—…rit ut in Presbyterio quispiam loco dignitate primus actioni gubernandae praesit cum eo quod ipsi Divinitus attributum est 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 was it is it ever shall be necessary by the perpâ—…uall Ordinance of God that some one in the Presbytery as chief both in place and Dignity be set over the Action to govern it He saith that even then whilest the appellation of Bishops and Presbyters was common yet the Presbytery had suum aliquem primum proestâ—… Presbyterum Some one to be their ruling or Presidentiall Presbyter He saith Saint Ierome did not so dote as to dream that no one of the Presbytery was set over the whole company in the Apostolique times and takes it as a great injury that any Man should thinke that they did goe about to abolish omnem unius Episcopen in vel supra caeteros compresbyteros All Superspection or Superintendency of one above his Compresbyters To the same purpose saith Calvine it is no mervaile that the twelve Apostles had one among them to govern the rest this we have from Nature the disposition of Men requires it that in every Company though they be equall in power yet one should be as Moderator Secondly they teach notwithstanding their drowsie groundlesse new-hatched conceit that this Presidency went successively by turnes among the Presbyters that either in the dayes of the Apostles or immediately from them this Episcope or office of Superintendency became Elective and perpetuall to â—…e man Quod certe reprehendi nec potest nec debet which certainly neither can nor ought to be blamed especially seeing this ancient Custome was observed in the famouâ—… Church of Alexandria I am inde a Marco Evangelistâ—… Even from Saint Mark the Evangelist So as the Office is of Divine Institution the forme of Application onely is Humane yet not meerly humane neither Humanum non simpliciter tamen sed comparate â—…lla cum Patrum tot Ecclesiarum injuria appellavero I may caell it humane not simply but comparatively without injury to the Fathers or so many Churches Indeed all the Churches in the World and all the Fathers that ever were Thirdly This Presidency of Order which they give to one man even upon their own grounds is not destitute of all kind of Command and power He hath jus regendae communis actionis a right to moderate the Action of the College or to govern the common Action and that cert is lâ—…gibus according to certain Laws First a right to moderate the Action that is to 〈◊〉 the Presbyters to appoint the time and place to propose matters to collect the Suffrages either by himselfe or by such as he appoints to pronounce Sentence Secondly certis legibus according to certain Laws this brings us to the true question where the water sticks The Law of God and the lawfull Constitutions of the Church must be the just measure and limits of this Presidents commands of his Compresbyters obedience So that Tyrannicall absolute Arbitrary power which is usurped by the Bishop of Rome and his Instruments is rejected by all Partyes on the one side and all Anarchy Ataxy and Disorder on the other side yet this is not all Fourthly this President hath another power by Divine Right or at least by Divine Right is capable of another power that is not onely to moderate the whole Action by his Authority but also to execute that which is decreed by common consent Neither can this executive Power in reason be limited to the meer execution of Personall Decrees concerning particular Persons but every where it extends it selfe to preparatory Actions and matters of Forme Neither doth it rest here but admits or at least
may admit a greater latitude even to the execution of Laws especially where the Law is cleare the Fact notorious or evidently proved where Succession and the publicke are not concerned where the presence of the whole College is not so usefull or convenient and might rather incomber then expedite the businesse and all this more or lesse according to their certain Laws the severall constitutions of severall Churches alwayes reserving to the whole Body of the Clergy or those who by election or prescription do represent them the power of making and altering Laws and Canons Ecclesiasticall and to His Majesty His Royall power of assenting and confirming and to the representative Body of the Kingdome their power of receiving principally in cases of moment and likewise reserving to the Clergy either Rurall or Cathedrall according to their distinct capacityes their respective power of counselling consenting or concurring according to the constitutions of the Church and Laws and Customes of the Realme which as they are grounded upon naturall reason and equity so they are no way repugnant to the Law of God whereof there are yet some Footsteppes to be seen in our Ordinations our Deanes and Chapiters our Semestriall Synods c. And if these old neglected Observations were a little quickned and reduced to their primogenious temper and constitution perhaps it might remedy sundry inconveniences and adde a greater degree of Moderation and Authority to the Government of the Church Who can be so stupid a to imagine that the State and Church and People of Genevah at this day do not or may not give to the President of their Ecclesiasticall Senate a perpetuity of Government for his Life or inable him to execute some Ecclesiasticall Laws so farre as they shall see it to be expedient for the good of that Church and Commonwealth without swerving from the institution of Christ This might yet further be made plain by those comparisons and representations which 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 do bring of this Episcopall or Presidentiary power of a Consull in the Senate of a Praetor in the Court of a Provost in a College of a Steward in a Family They ought to looke upon him as their Superiour and Governor and be upon them as Brethren and Fellow-Elders This is that which our English Bishops claime whereunto they are intitled by the Fundamentall Laws of the Land How farre the power of the keyes of Ordination or Jurisdiction is appropriated or committed to them singly or joyntly by Divine Ordinance of which Subject great Authors upon great reasons have declared themselves yet in our case it is not so questionable where another Lawfull Right is certain and this clear satisfaction of Conscience they want who are so busy seeking after new devised forms of Ecclesiasticall Regiment And herein I may as justly admire the excellent temper of our Church Government asthe Observer doth of the Civill I hope it is not in either of us ut Pueri Iunonis avem As Boyes praise the Peacock with a desire to pluck his feathers The Clergy present the Bishops approve His Majesty confirmes the Parliament receives all parties have their concurrence so as no Man can be prejudiced without his own act If we alter this Frame we shall have a better in Heaven I fear not upon Earth So then we see that upon these very grounds which have been laide by the greatest Opposers of Bishops in this Age 1 there is a subordination of many Pastors to one President by Divine Ordinance 2 This Presidency or Superintendency or Episcopacy all is one may without violation of Divine Ordinance be setled upon one Man for his life 3 This Person so qualified hath a power essentially belonging to his place to rule and moderate the publick meetings and Actions of the Church yea to execute the decrees of the whole College 4 This executive power may receive a further latitude or extent from the positive Laws of Men. What is the result of all this but that as Presbyterate or the Office of a Priest Presbyter or Minister I shall wrangle with no man about a name whilest we agree upon the thing is of Divine institution yet neverthelesse there is something Humane annexed to it as for instance the Assignation of a single Pastor to a particular Parish which custome was first introduced by Evaristus long after Bishops were spread over the World so likewise Episcopacy it selfe is of Divine Right yet something may be added to it some extent of Power which is humane and yet very lawfull and expedient wherein every Church is to be its owne Judge If to this which hath been said of the Antiquity Universality Aptitude Security of this way c we shall adde that Ambrose Austin Chrisostome Cyprian Basile Athanasius and very many others the lights of their times were not onely Defenders of Episcopacy but Bishops themselves there can remain no scruple to us of this Nation what Church Regiment is to be desired But some do say why then doe sundry eminent Protestant Authors inveigh so much against Bishops I answer It is not simply against their Function but against the sloth of some for not preaching or the pride and Tyranny of some particular Persons and more especially it is against the Romish Bishops I might cite many Witnesses to make this as clear as the Sun take one of many Neque vero cum hoc dico â—…jus Tyrannidis eos Episcopos veram Christi Religioâ—… prositontes docentes intendâ—… absit a me tam imâ—…dens arrogantia Neither while I say these things doe â—…ccuse those Bishops of Tyranny which professe and teach â—…e true Religion of Christ Far be such impudent Arroâ—…nce from me And further he saith that they are to be knowledged observed reverenced as faithfull Pastors the Christian Church And in an Epistle to the â—…en Arch-Bishop of Canterbury he expresseth himâ—…fe that such invectives were never intended against â—…e Government of the English Church but against â—…ti-Christian Tyranny Secondly it is objected that they did put away Bishops I answer that some Reformed Churches were â—…der Bishops who were out of their Territories as â—…e Helvetian Churches under the Bishops of Conâ—…e others were under Bishops of another Comâ—…union as the French Churches others could not both â—…ntinue Bishops and bring in the Reformation of Reâ—…ion as the Church of Genevah others did retein â—…shops under the name of Superintendents because â—…e old name had been abused by the Psuâ—…do Episcopi or â—…se Bishops in the Church of Rome by the same â—…son we should neither use the name of Christ nor â—…postle nor Gospell nor Sacrament because there â—…ve been false Christs false Apostles false Gospels â—…se Sacraments lastly many reteined both the name â—…d the thing as the Churches of England Sweden 〈◊〉 And generally all Reformed Churcheâ—… were deâ—…ous to have reteined Episcopacy if the Bishops that â—…en were would have joyned with them in the Reformation This is evident for the Germane Churches by the