was the Will of GOD that such an Officer as a â—shop over Presbyters should be in the House â— GOD that they might obey him in the LORâ— 3. The Apostle in the following Words giveâ— Warning that after his Departure grievous Wolvâ— shall enter in among them not sparing the Flock aâ— verse 30. of their own selves shall Men arise speaâ—ing perverse things to draw away Disciples after theâ— Yet for all this Danger he giveth no Direction set up a Bishop over other Ministers for presâ—ving the Flock nor any Intimation that it wâ— the Will of GOD to provide such a Remedy aâ—terwards But requireth the Pastors to Watch aâ— commendeth them to GOD and the Word of hâ— Grace which was able to Build them up wheâ— by we may see they are remitted to the word for Dâ—rection in what concerneth his Church and nâ— to invent without the Word a Remedy of theâ— own devising 4. From the same Scripture â— are also instructed that the instituted Pastors â— the Church are to feed and take heed unto all â— Flock over which the Holy Ghost hath maâ— them Overseers And therefore Gospel-Ministeâ— are to have no greater Charge than such as thâ— may perform all the Duties belonging to a Pastoâ— to all the Flock And if any Minister assumâ— greater Charge than he can perform these Duâ— unto then it is not that Charge that the Holy Ghâ— hath committed to him If it be said that the Bishop feedeth the Flock â— his Substituts such as he is pleased to appoint Answ But quo jure by what Right or Authoâ—ty can he substitute another to do that which he â—th assumed for his own Work and personal Perâ—rmance it was a doubt that the learned Sir Franâ— Bacon said he could never be resolved of how a Man that had a Trust committed to him for his perâ—nal Faithfulness could delegate that Trust to another â—d if a Bishop say he never engaged to Feed so â—any then it may be justly replyed he was never â—astor to so many Why then should he presume â—e Title and Name of their Pastor When he â—â—weth it simply impossible for him to Teach â—d Feed them or the twentieth part of them acâ—rding to the Duty of a Pastor It 's also to be observed that as by this and maâ— other Texts the Ministers of the Gospel have â—ual Pastoral Authority de jure so we find in the â—riptures that de facto they are placed in Possessiâ— of this Ministerial-Power and exercise it with â—vine Approbation For Presbyters ordain Miâ—sters as 1 Tim. 4. 14. and are therein approved â— the Apostle Timothy being charged not to neâ—ct the Gift he had thereby received 2. A Comâ—nity of Presbyters exert their Power in Church â—scipline and are required by the Apostle so to â— 1 Cor. 5. 4. and 5. verses This Sentence was â—icted by many not by one assuming the sole Power of Jurisdiction to himself which is câ—sonant to our Saviours Doctrine Matth. 18. 1â— who requireth the offended Brother to tell â— Church not a single Person if Christ had coâ—mitted the Power of Discipline to One than â— Complaint of the offended Brother should hâ— been to that One for to whom should he Coâ—plain but to such as had Power to do him Justiâ— and remove the Offence But we see Christ's â—pointment is not to make Application to One â— to the Church Therefore it 's no Institution Christ that authoritative Church-Power be loâ—ed in one Person So also we find that Presbyters are Constituâ— Members of that famous Juridical Synod at Jeâ—salem Acts 15. the Apostles and Elders came to â—ther to consider the Matter in which Assemâ— there is not one found to Over-rule the Rest â— assuming a negative Voice Though some presâ— had more just Authority in the Church than â— now on Earth can pretend to yet all had fâ— liberty to speak their Judgement and all carâ— by Suffrages and that which was concluded plâ—ed the Apostles and Elders and is published in â— Name of the Apostles and Elders whereby it's parent that in the Apostles time Presbyters â— in the actual exercise of Church-Government â—therwise the Decrees of the Synod had never â— published in their Name We shall not at prâ— multiply Arguments but let these three be duely â—nsidered 1. That the Office of a Prelate canâ—t be found in the Roll of Church-Officers 2. â—rists Discharging his Ministers to be one of â—em Greater than another And 3. The Diâ—e Institution of parity among Ministers Object Timothy and Titus are called Bishops in â— Bibles therefore Bishops are by Divine Instiâ—tion Answ All Gospel Pastors are Bishops accorâ—g to the Word of GOD and therefore tho' â—ey were Bishops which cannot be granted â—t the Episcopal Cause gaineth nothing because â—shops above Presbyters are never found in our â—bles 2. These Postscripts to the 2d Epistle to Tiâ—thy and the Epistle to Titus are not Canonick â—ripture but added several Ages after the Canon Scripture was closed and after the Church beâ—n to degenerat which is irrefragably evinced Mr Pryn in his Unbishoping of Timothy and â—us and is acknowledged both by Papists and â—ers that the most antient Copies have no such â—stscripts and therefore our Bibles have these â—stscripts still at some distance from the rest of â—se Epistles But the Difference is not altogeâ—er so observable now as formerly when these â—stscripts were purposely Printed in very smal â—aracters to make the Difference discernable by all who read them 3 Timothy is expresly â—led an Evangelist 2 Tim. 4. 5. and therefore coâ— not be a Bishop neither in Scripture sence aâ— Pastor to a particular Flock whom he might pâ—sonally oversee nor in the Prelatical sence as a â—ocesan Bishop because an Evangelist was noâ—â—mited to any particular bounds as hath been cleâ—ed already And to say that Timothy was Bishâ— of Ephesus is against reason for Timothy was pâ—sent with the Apostle Paul when he commitâ— the Charge of the Flock to the Presbyters in coâ—mon but no mention of Timothy as their Bishopâ— whom the Charge had chiefly belonged if he hâ— been the only Bishop of Ephesus As for Titus he was employed in the like Gâ—pel-Service from one place to another as Timâ— was But it 's said Tit. 15. That he was left in Cretâ— ordain Elders in every City therefore he had Episâ—pal Jurisdiction Answ 1. Timothy and Titus were both exâ—ordinary Officers in the Church as appears â— their constant Travels from place to place thâ— Work being to erect Churches and plant Bishâ— or Presbyters in these Churches but not to Bishops of them themselves their Power beâ— greater than ordinary Bishops or Pastors as is â— served by Chrysostom on Eph. 4 that their Work â— to plant Churches and Bishops or Elders to be theiâ—â—dinary Pastors 2. Seing Titus was to ordain Elâ—ers in every City of Crete then where was his own â—iocess For it cannot be supposed that he did â—rdain himself Bishop of one of these Cities 3.
â—eing he was to Ordain Elders in the plural numâ—er in every City and by the Scripture these Elâ—ers are Bishops then mo Bishops then one was â— be in every City which is contrare to the Episâ—opal Constitution 4. If it be said that Titus â—as Archbishop or Metropolitan Answ This â—cketh nothing but Proof which no where can â—e had For the primitive Gospel-Church knew â—o such thing as either a Diocesan Bishop Archâ—ishop or Metropolitan long after the Death of â—imothy and Titus there being no certain Rule â—or modeling of Diocesses until the Reign of Conâ—antine the Great at which time the Church did â—ollow the Civil Government as to Diocesses this â—ishop Stilling-fleet maketh out in his Irenic page â—76 377. 5. There is nothing to be found in â—e Scriptures to countenance this Assertion that â—itus was Archbishop of Crete all that can be said is â—at he was sent to Crete upon a piece of special serâ—ice for the Church which made him no more Biâ—op there then when he staid some time in other â—laces Aquinas run into the same Mistake as â—o Dalmatia for because Titus went to Dalmatia â—herefore he calls him the Bishop of Dalmatia 6. â—f it be said that the least that Bishops can Gain from Titus being left to Ordain Elders is that â—shops have sole Power of Ordination seing Tâ— alone ordained Answ This is but to begâ— Question for we deny that Titus was a Bishâ— let that first be proved And 2. That he ordaâ—ed as a Bishop And 3. That he ordained aloâ— For his ordaining of Elders makes him no Bishoâ— no more then the Apostle Pauls ordaining maâ— him a Bishop they ordained as Extraordinaâ— Officers in the Church making way for Bishoâ— or Pastors and though Titus was invested wiâ— extraordinary Power above any Bishop or Pastoâ— yet that it self will not prove that he ordained sâ— paratim without Presbyters Because he was Ordain Elders in the same manner that was the â—stablished Way of the Church in conjunction wiâ— Presbyters as the Apostle Paul did lay his hanâ— on Timothy conjunctim with the Presbytry thâ— is joyntly with a Presbytry Object 2. The Epistles to the seven Church of Asia are directed to the Bishops of these Chuâ—ches because each of them is directed to one siâ—gle Person called the Angel of the Church Answ That these Epistles are directed to tâ— Bishops of these Churches in the Scripture seâ— we easily acknowledge but then no advantaâ— to the Episcopal Cause is gained For if these Aâ—gels be Bishops and Bishops the same with Prâ—byters then ye are just where you were not liâ— â—d one step higher than a preaching Presbyter or â—ospel-Pastor 2. Whereas the Angel is spoken unto in the sinâ—lar number you have no advantage by this either â—r you shall find one and the same Angel spoken â— in the plural number As to the Angel of the â—hurch of Smyrna Rev. 2. 10 The Devil shal cast â—me of you into Prison the Speech is directed unâ— the Angel yet the plural number is used 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to â—ew that it 's not one single Person only that is deâ—ted by the Name of Angel so also to the Angel â—f the Church of Thyatira but unto you I say 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 â—ere the Angel is expresly spoken unto in the pluâ—l number So that any Argument from the â—ame Angel utterly faileth you For though an â—gel be named in the singular number yet that by â—e Name Angel is understood a collective Body â— Ministers is evident otherwise let any Man â—nder a Reason why the Angel is spoken to in the â—ural number as mo than one And hereby we â—ve solid ground to think that the Angel is spoâ—n to in the plural number purposly to obviat or â—rrect the Misapprehensions of any who would â—ink that a Bishop over Presbyters is understood â— the Word Angel Object 3 But the Government of the Church â— Bishops having Authority Jurisdiction over â—esbyters is so Antient that we cannot judge it â— any lower Derivation then from the Apostles albeit we have it not by express Scripture Answ 1. If you have such a Government the Church by due consequence from any Scriptuâ— of the New Testament We are ready to yeâ— Subjection albeit ye cannot Prove it by exprâ— Scriptures ye shall not be so hard put to it â— for you only to Affirm and Assert it Apostoliâ— without any Proof cannot convince Mens Judgâ—ments and satisfie their Conscience in a matter so great Importance Your selves being Judge if you have Proof for it make it appear Bishâ— Laud and some other Bishops with him said oâ— publickly if Prelacy were not the Apostolick Gâ—vernment they would forth with throw away thâ— Rotchets But they kept them as long as thâ— could and the Proof went no further upon whiâ— Mr. Pryne did challenge them for breach of Pâ—mise VVhy do ye not stop all our Mouths â—proving your Assertion and so satisfie a great Bâ—dy of Protestants at Home and Abroad Who giâ— Reasons from Scripture contrare to your Asserâ—on And to say it must be Apostolick because its Antiquity is little less then to say we will haâ— it from them whither they will or not their Dâ—ctrine and Practice refuse and yet it must be â—torted from them 2. We have made it appear already that the â—postles did prescribe another Form of Governmenâ— be managed by the Ministers of the Gospel in â— â—ty of Ministerial Power and how to impose uâ—on our own Reason and Belief that by some inâ—isible Prescription they have contradicted all â—is were hard measure should we or can we â—ject what they have Recorded by Inspiration of â—e Holy Ghost and betake our selves to some fanâ—ed Tradition Could this be a safe Way for our â—onsciences Or could we Answer to GOD for â— Your selves being Judges 3. If the Antiquity of Prelacy be at last its only â—ea and strongest Defence Cyprian will soon Anâ—er for us that Antiquity without Verity is but mouldy â—rror and as Sir Francis Bacon termed it a Cypher â—ithout a Figure 2. If this Plea should hold Good then there â— a Door opened for the most Antient Errors â—herewith the Church was infested even in the Aâ—ostles times and such as soon after endangered â—e renting of her Bowels 3. And however Antient Prelacy be found yet may and doth suffice us that it hath no Institution â— the gospel-Gospel-Church by Christ or his Apostles â—nd therefore can claim no better than Humane Appointment for which Appointment no Commisâ—n was granted to the Church Object All that is Alledged by you against Eâ—iscopacy is but your own late Sentiments For â—e Antient Fathers who understood the State of â—e Primitive Church better than you do generally bear Testimony that Bishops have been in all Agâ— of the Gospel-Church Answ We are of the same mind with Augâ—stin who being urged with the Authority of â—prian answered That what he spoke according to â— Scriptures he would
all People we knoâ— Dissenters in this Diocess do most need sucâ— help the weakest of them being often accoâ—ed with Questions more proper for studied Dâ—vines than poor Countrey-People and if thâ— Answers of these poor People do not relish â—â— shall have it published that the Dissenters here are a most ignorant People insulted over and exposed to Contempt Therefore we thought it necessary in our Circumstances because of our Love to the Truth and to the Weakest â—â— these who adhere to it to afford what Heâ—â— we could Acknowledging that this presâ—â— Undertaking might have been performed â—â— greater Advantage by some abler Pen which iâ— hoped will yet be done but whatever weaknes appear in this little Tractat shall not be imputable to many but to some of those to whom the Authors Admonition was Directed and therebâ— concerned to exoner their Conscience by making it appear that neither trifling Scruplâ— Peevishness nor perverse Obstinacy but meer â—y that our Consciences cannot be stretched to â—he Latitude that others take in the VVorship of GOD hath procured the following Resoâ—ution to the Authors Query If it be displeasing to him it 's that which we could not prevent but himself might have prevented it by permitting us to Live in Peace without such Queries For he could not but foresee our Answer would be conformed to our own Principles and Practice though we have no Pleasure in provocking him or any other being desirous to live Quiet and Peaceable in the Land giving thanks to GOD the Author of all Good and to his Majesties Clemency under whose happy Government we enjoy Protection and to whom we owe most entire Acknowledgements of Gratitude which we are desirous to testifie on all Occasions and at this present are confident that when many are found Guilty of these execrable Conspiracies to take away his Precious Life there shall not one of our Principles be stained with Disloyalty but all in a cheerfull readiness for his Majesties Preservation and Service There is one thing more that the Reader is desired to Notice that notwithstanding the Exceptions hereafter mentioned stand in the Way of our Communion with the Establisht Church yet we doubt not but many of that Communioâ— are Godly Persons and are known to be of suâ— a Christian-Conversation that we could free partake with them in Gospel-Ordinances pâ—viding we could obtain it without danger of Siâ—ning nor do we take it on us to Judge theâ— for following their own Judgement only â— cannot see with their Eyes nor they with ouâ— but must wait untill GOD reveal it to them wâ— are otherwise minded Perswading our Selâ— that the Sober and Judicious of another Persâ—sion whom we Love and Honour in the LORâ— will not Condemn but rather approve of oâ— Ingenuity in allowing Men to know the weigâ— of these Reasons that binds Us up from tâ— Communion which otherwise we would Coâ— for the Churches Peace This ingenuous Apology is neither for Ostentation nor Irritation but a necessary Vindication of our Practice unto which we are pressed IN laying open Our Exceptions we shall begin with that which is the Root of all these Eclesiastick-Impositious whereby our Consciences are Burdened and our Selves â—hrust out from Communion with You in the â—ublick Worship of GOD Our Ministers and â—heir Ministry is Rejected if they Subscribe not â—o this Article Cannon 36. viz. That the Book of Common Prayer and of Ordering of Bishops Priests â—nd Deacons containeth nothing in it contrary to the â—ord of GOD and that it may Lawfully so be used â—nd that he Himself will use the Form in the said Book â—rescribed in publick Prayer and Administration â—f the Sacraments and none other Here is a plain and full Extrusion of all Miniâ—ers who are not for Bishops over Presbyters for â—he Canon mentioneth only such Bishops or will â—se any other Form in Prayer than the Service â—ook to this Form of Service the People must â—lso subject for no other Church-Communion is allowed them but where these are Consented uâ— to But this our Consciences being Directed bâ— the Word of GOD cannot Comply with coâ—plaining of it as a most heavy Imposition And this Jurisdiction of Bishops over Presbyters is the Ground of our first Exception and thâ— because the Office of a Bishop having Authoriâ— over other Ministers of the Gospel is not founâ— in the Scriptures and therefore wanteth Diviâ— Institution And if such a Bishops Commission â— not found there then We are not obliged to suâ—ject to him as an Officer in the House of GOD Such therefore as will stand on no lower Grounâ— for Prelacy in the Church than Scriptural-Authâ—rity are obliged to make it appear And We dâ—sire no more but direct us to any Scriptures whâ— this Commission is granted if this could be doâ— ye would not only save us a Labour of proving Negative but should also find us as comformabâ— in Point of Subjection as any of your own Coâ—munion but after frequent and according â— our Measure serious reading the Book of GOD We could never yet observe a Bishop set ovâ— Presbyters but We frequently find that a Bishoâ— Presbyter are one office as hereafter shal appeaâ— Reason 1. If Christ had instituted the Offiâ— of a Prelate or Bishop over Presbyters then tâ— said Office would be mentioned in some of theâ— Scriptures which designedly giveth an accountâ— all Church-Officers in the gospel-Gospel-Church But in none of these Scriptures is there any mention of a Prelate or Bishop over Presbyters Therefore Christ hath not instituted the said Office For the first Proposition that if there were Institution for such an Officer he would be mentioned in these Scriptures is evident because the Apostle setteth himself to shew what Offices Christ had set in his Church both Extraordinary and Ordinary And who dare say that the Apostle failed in the Enumeration being inspired by the Holy Ghost and how can it be imagined that so eminent a Church-Officer making so great a Figure in the Church could be omitted was it not of great Importance for the Church of GOD in all succeeding Generations to know if there was One appointed to have Authority over many other Ministers without whose placet they should â—either have Power to Ordain other Ministers â—or Govern their Flocks If Christ had instituted such an Officer would he not have given some â—ntimation of Him That other Ministers might â—ave known it was their Duty conscientiously to Obey Him But we have no where any such Intiâ—ation from Christ or any of his Apostles but the contrary as shall appear And that a Bishop over Presbyters is invisible â—y any of these Scriptures where Church-Officers are purposely enumerated the Reader shall havâ— them in ready and full view 1 Cor. 12. 28. And GOD hath set some in thâ— Church first Apostles secondary Prophets thirdly Teachers after that Miracles then Gifts of Healinâ— Helps Governments Diversities of Tongues Rom. 12. 6. Having then Gifts differing accordinâ— to the Grace
that is given to us whither Prophecy let â— Prophecy according to the proportion of Faith or Minâ—stry let us wait on our Ministry or he that Teacheâ— on Teaching or he that Exhorteth on Exhortation â— that Giveth let him do it with Simplicity he that Ruâ—eth with Diligence he that sheweth Mercy with Cheeâ—fulness Ephes 4. 11. And he gave some Apostles anâ— some Prophets and some Evangelists and some Pâ—stors and Teachers for the perfecting of the Saints fâ— the Work of the Ministry for the Edifieing of the Bâ—dy of Christ As for any other Scriptures alledged to favour thâ— Episcopal Cause they shall be considered in theiâ— due place But these Scriptures now mentioneâ— are the places that all Church-Officers do ordinarily betake themselves unto who are willing tâ— have their Commission and Title tryed by thâ— Word of GOD because by them we are particulaâ—ly instructed Who they are whom GOD hath sâ— in his Church and in what order as first secondâ—rily c. now let the Reader demonstrate a Bishoâ— over Presbyters by any of these Scriptures and â—e shall not want reverence let him appear and â—ell us plainly where he fixeth his claim for he will â—ot for Truth and Modesties sake challenge all â—hese Offices and Gifts to be his and some of them â—eing now out of his reach and ceased as Miâ—acles Gifts of Healing and Diversities of Tongues â—t's agreed that all these may be laid aside from â—his Debate as Extraordinary Some of the Offiâ—es mentioned are too low for a Bishop being the â—owest Set of Church Officers as Deacons under â—he Denomination of Helps giving with Simplicity â—nd Cheerfulness neither will these be concerned â—n this Debate We shall come then to the Highest and First in â—he Roll the Apostles being set down first and Biâ—hops now the First and Highest in the Church â—ere some of them fix their Claim as Successors â—o the Apostles and plead it with all earnestness â—ut no successe for lack of Arguments and the â—eight of Arguments against it and that VVe be â—ot amused with big and ambiguous Words not â—nderstood We crave that Justice of those who â—aintain this Apostolick succession to let us know â—hat they understand by it if it be that Prelats â—â— the Gospel-Church have succeded to the intire â—ffice of Apostles or 2d if they have fucceded unâ—o the Doctrine of the Apostles or 3d. unto such â—ospel-Administrations performed by the Apostles as were necessary to continue in the Gospâ— Church as Preaching administration of Sacrameâ— Discipline c. or 4th if by Apostolick Succâ—sion they understand Apostolick Institution Tâ— is such as have Commission from Christs Apostlâ— to Feed his Flock If the first of these be affirmed that Bishops â—ver Presbyters succeed to the Apostles intire Offâ— Then First we have many moe Apostles than eâ— Christ did Institute for all Diocesan Bishops mâ— be Apostles 2. Then they have all immediat Commissiâ— from Christ as all the Apostles had For we mâ— see that when one Apostle was wanting the Detâ—mination who should fill his Room the immeâ—at Decision thereof was left to GOD by Lots â— Acts 1. When Mathias was appointed to take pâ— of the Apostleship from which Judas fell by Traâ—gression This manner of Election our Bishops wâ— not pretend 3. If Bishops Succeed to the very Office aâ— Commission of Apostles then they are infallible Doctrine and may write Canonick Scriptuâ— which their modesty will not challenge 4. If Bishops succeed the Apostles Office thâ— shall all lose their Diocesses for the Apostles â— no Diocess but the wide World they had no liâ—ted Bounds but the Bishop is restricted by Lâ— limited Bounds for as Diocesan his Power extenâ—eth no further then the circumscribed Diocess â—hereof he is Bishop Secondly If it be said that Apostolick Successiâ— is by succeeding to their Doctrine then all Gosâ—el-Ministers have the same claim for they also reach the same Doctrine feeding the Flock with â—e same sincere Milk of the Word So that eâ—ery faithfull Gospel-Pastor preaching sound Doâ—rine neither Corrupting Diminishing nor Adâ—ing to the Word of GOD may put in his Claim â—r this Kind of Succession And that with greatâ— confidence than such as make Additions of doâ—rinal significative Ceremonies of their own Inâ—ention For the third manner of Succession to these Goâ—el-Administrations which were to continue in the â—urch tho' performed by the Apostles Consider â— First That all Gospel-Ministers partake equalâ— of that manner of Succession As they are Paâ—rs entrusted by Christ with the feeding of his â—ock Let the Maintainers of imparity among â—ospel-Ministers shew a Difference or what Miâ—sterial Acts are reserved to some and denied to â—hers 2. These Gospel-Administrations now to be â—erformed by the ordinary Pastors of the Church â—ke not their Original Authority from the Apoâ—olick Office but from Christs Commission and Precepts to the Pastors of his Church to perfoâ— these Ministerial Acts the Pastor being a distiâ— Officer in the House of GOD dependeth not â— the Apostolick Office nor is there any need for â— Because the Pastor hath his Commission distiâ— from the Office of an Apostle though the mattâ— of their Administrations in some things coincidâ— yet that maketh not the two distinct Offices coiâ—cide the Pastors Office being entire by it self the Gospel Charter Fourthly If by Apostolick Succession be meaâ— only Apostolick Institution that is that these aâ— the Apostles Successors whom the Apostles dâ— Institute and Appoint to be the Pastors of tâ— Church This manner of Succession we acknoâ—ledge to be most firm and therefore whosoevâ— can instruct their Office in the Church to be Apostolick Institution have the true Right aâ— Title and therefore shall now most willingly joâ— Issues for its Trial knowing that Bishops ovâ— Presbyters were never instituted by the Apostlâ— as shall hereafter appear Object Some Bishops can draw the line of â—piscopal Succession from the Apostles days unâ— this day Answ A line of Episcopal Succession that is the Succession of Diocesan Bishops for its Bishoâ— of that new Cut Model who are concern'd this Debate such a Line of Succession can no Mâ— draw from the Apostles Times The Reason is obâ—ious because there were no Diocesses and thereâ—ore no Diocesan Bishops long after the Apostles â—imes For the first three Centuries the Church was under Heathnish Persecutors incapable of aâ—y Diocess for a Bishop and therefore Euseb commonly calleth the Bishop a Bishop of a Parish the Church knew not what a Diocess was before Conâ—tantin appeared and then began to follow the Mode of the Civil Government 2. Tho' a Line of Succession could be drawn from the Apostles Times that is of Scriptural Bishops having no greater Charge then they could personally oversee Yet as this maketh nothing for Diocesan-Bishops so it proveth nothing of Apostolick Succession because a Succession from the Apostles Times can never prove a Succession to the Apostolick Office the one cannot infer the other Object Some Apostles came
unwarrantable â—pectations of Christs Disciples hoping he wâ— erect a Temporal Kingdom and thereby Plâ— of Trust and Honour might fall to their shaâ— â—is Attendants Yet their Master gave them no round to expect such Worldly Honour shewing â—hem that His Kingdom was not of this World and â—hat they might expect to be Hated Despised and â—ersecuted for his Names Sake And therefore â—he Instructions given them by these Scriptures â—oncerning Superiority relateth to the lowly â—tate they were in and might expect for the future â—s his Servants And not to a State of Worldly Granâ—ur which He did not promise them nor did they â—fterwards Possess but as it was grasped without â—is Commission And this is manifestly confirmâ—d by our Saviours following Words verse 27. but â— am among you as he that serveth in which Words â—y his own Example as one that serveth among â—hem he rebuketh Dominion and Superiority over â—ne another This Example immediatly followâ—g the Prohibition of one of them to be Greater â—an another is most remarkable that tho' himâ—elf had absolute Dominion over them as their â—ORD yet to have this engraven upon the hearts â—f all his Servants in his Gospel-Kingdom that â—one of them should usurp Authority over anoâ—er he condescendeth upon this over coming Exâ—mple of serving as a perswasive against their Deâ—ate who should be Greatest 6. This Superiority being prohibited among â—e Apostles who were all of one Order The same â—uperiority is thereby forbidden all Ministers of the Gospel who are by Divine Institution of oâ— and the same Order And therefore Scriptural-Bâ—shops Presbyters being of one the same Oâ—der and under equal Commission by Divine Insâ—tution are under the same Prohibition of Superâ—ority over one another For it were ignorant Iâ—pudence to say that the Apostles might not usuâ— Authority over one another but Bishops or Pâ—stors may do it By these Scriptures then we have our greâ— Law-Givers Determination and Verdict passed â— that unhappy Plea of Greatness among Churcâ— Men which should end the Dispute being a moâ— solide Argument against Prelacy in the Gospeâ— Church and no reason to pass from it on that uâ— just Pretence as if nothing were forbidden bâ— love of Greatness the which Opinion contradicâ—eth the very words of the Text. A third Reason why we cannot approve of a Bâ—shops Jurisdiction and Superiority over othâ— Gospel-Pastors is because by the Gospel-Chartâ— all Gospel-Ministers have parity of Ministeriaâ— Power committed to them and therefore none them have a Right to Jurisdiction over anothâ— besides many other Scriptures this our Assertiâ— shall be proved by Acts 20. 17 28. by this Scâ—pture these things are clear First That these who are called Presbyters Elders verse 17. are called Overseers or Bishoâ— verse 28. Take heed therefore unto your selves and to all the Flock over which the Holy Ghost hath made â—ou Overseers to feed the Church of GOD which He hath purchased with his own Blood It hath pleased GOD to make this Truth so plain that Bishops and Presbyters are one that it hath stopt the mouths of the greatest Gain-sayers Papists and all who are not Antiscripturists being convinced by its undenyable Evidence it must â—hen be Presumption to excogitate a Difference â—etween those whom the Holy Ghost hath â—ade one and so great a Difference that some of them shall be subordinate to the Jurisdiction of â—nother this is to be Wise above what is written â—nd who should be obliged in the Matters of God â—o subject to that Wisdom that cometh not from â—bove 2. By this Scripture it 's evident that the Comâ—ission given is to feed the Flock that is to Lead Guide and Govern the Flock with Pastoral Powâ—r for without this Pastoral Authority they could â—ot Discharge the Trust committed to them the â—astors part being not only to take care that the â—lock have good wholsom Food But to keep â—em in Order to preserve them from Straying â— bring again that which was driven away and to â—eek that which was Lost For if the Flock be not â—ttended defended from Injuries and so ordered â— to be kept from Straying they are as if they had no Shepherd which we may see at length â—zek 34. from verse 2 d. to verse 7th the People thâ— are as if they had no Pastor if their Pastor have â— Power to Govern them or neglect his Officeâ— GOD will require his Flock at the Pastor's hanâ— and yet he is not capable of giving an account if â— be deprived of Power to Govern them We maâ— see this farther confirmed By that which is wriâ—ten to the Hebrews Cap. 13. and verse 17. the Mâ—nisters who Watch for the Souls of the People aâ— allowed Ministerial Ruling over them and thâ— People obliged to submit because these who watâ— for their Souls must give an Account If it be said that none Watch for the Souls â— the People but a Bishop over a vast number â— Parishes then these People are forced into Misâ—ry it being impossible for one Man to Watch â—ver all their Souls Again if it be said that other Ministers undeâ— him Watch for the Souls of the People then thesâ— Ministers who Watch have by the Scripture Power to Rule as these who must give an Account anâ— to deprive them of that Power which Christ haâ— committed to them can be no less then Sacrâ—ledge Will a Bishop assuming the sole Power â— Government to himself say in earnest that he wiâ— stand up for all the Ministers that are under hiâ— and take their Accounts off their Hands and Aâ—swer to GOD for them all will he indeed taâ— such a Burden upon him Or if he would what Minister dares trust him with it For if the Men â—e Ministers of the Gospel themselves they shall â—ever be clear before GOD by anothers underâ—king for them because themselves were Personâ—lly entrusted with the feeding and therefore the â—overning of the Flock For Thirdly By the above-mentioned Scripture we â—nd all Gospel-Pastors equally interressed in the Commission no imparity of Ministerial Power â—or any colour for it in the Text Bishops and â—res byters being not only under one Name but â—nder one and the same Commission Who then â—ath Authority to make some of them subordinat â— another Who are made equal by Divine Instiâ—tion if Men would be concluded by plain Scriâ—ture this should put an End to the whole Disâ—ute Fourthly We are the more obliged to take this â—ext as the Revelation of GOD's Will for the paâ—ty of Gospel-Ministers that none of them â—ould have Superiority over another because the â—ne when these words were spoken was an opâ—rtune Season to have discovered imparity if the â—oly Ghost had allowed it Because first the Aâ—stle did call these Ministers together to give â—em Directions as Ministers of the Gospel 2. â—e was now to take Leave of them so as to see their â—ces no more And it was of great Importance for the Church of GOD in future Ages to know if
willingly accept but when he spâ— without them with his good leave he would dissent â— well knew that the best of sinfull Men were Fâ—lible and no Man to be followed further then â— was a follower of Christ 2. When it 's said that the Fathers do generalâ— assert Episcopacy was in the Church it will nâ— thence follow that they asserted it should be the Church it 's one thing to affirm that in thâ— and the other place there were Bishops over Preâ—byters but another thing to affirm there was Dâ—vine Institution for such Prelacy there 's vast diffâ—rence between the two and where this is not aâ—verted the Testimonies of the Fathers are bâ— wrested and perverted as if they all approved Prelacy because they make mention of Bishop For 3. We shall find the choise of the Fathers â—claring that from the beginning it was not so aâ— that the Difference between Bishop and Presbâ—ter came in to the Church by Custom but by â— Divine Appointment That the Church in â— primitive times after the Apostles was governâ— and should be governed by the common Couâ— â—f Presbyters and therefore we are willing they â—pear and speak for themselves knowing they and up for us more than for you Palycarp Epist ad Philip. perswadeth the Peoâ—e to Obey their Presbyters as Christ We are not â—ncerned in his manner of Expression if it appear â—yperbolick this being sufficient to us that his â—xhortation is to obey Presbyters in the Lord but â—t Bishops over Presbyters Ignatius Epist ad Trallens requireth the People subject to the Presbytry calling it Gods Court. Ireneus lib. 4. cap. 44. it becometh you to be Oâ—diâ—nt to Presbyters who have their succession from the â—postles And in his Epistle to Victor called Bishop of â—ome he hath these Words The Presbyters of Rome whom you have succeeded This Epistle and this â—ententence in it is quoted by Euseb lib. 5. cap. 23. â—hereby it 's evident that all the Bishops of Rome the second Century were but Presbyters in Ireâ—us his Judgement Tertull. Apolog. cap. 30. calleth Presbyters preâ—ents of the Churches Praesident probati quique Senioâ— Theophylact. in Philip. 1. affirms that whiles the â—postles lived the Names of Bishops and Presbyters â—ere not distinguished Chrysostom commenting on the same Scripture â—clareth himself to be of the same mind Jerom is more plain then pleasant insisting length in the Probation of his known Assertiâ— that Bishops over Presbyters are not by Diviâ— Institution for which he quoteth many Texts aâ— Commenting on the first cap. to Titus saith a Prâ—byter is the same with a Bishop and before that Faâ—ons did arise in Religion by the instinct of the Devil â— Churches were governed by the common Council of Prâ—byters It 's strange that this Discourse of Jeroâ— escaped an index expurgatorius confidering hâ— Bellarmin and others fret when ever it 's mentioâ—ed it 's so plain and full against the Divine Rigâ— of Prelacy That some of them spare not to saâ— the Good Old Father erred But he goeth onâ— his Epistle to Euagr. and saith let Bishops know thâ— it 's rather by Custom then by the Lords Appointmâ— that Bishops are above Presbyters Ambrose on Eph. 4. saith that Bishops were set â—bove Presbyters by a Council But giveth no accouâ— of the time and place of that Council Howevâ— that same which he saith sufficeth because suppâ—sing it were enacted by a Council then the preâ—tion was but by Humane Authority August Epist 19. confesseth that it was but by present Custom of the Church that Bishops were greâ—er than Presbyters Gregor Naz. orat 28. wisheth the utter Abolâ—on of Prelacy calling it a Tyrannical Government Theodoret. commenting on Phil. 1. saith tâ— these Bishops mentioned in the Text were Presbyters Oecumenius commenting on the same text deâ—lareth himself of the same mind Chrysostom commenting on Hebrews saith â—at Heb. 13. 17. made always his Soul to tremble â—hen he thought on it and Homil. 34. page 602. falâ—th a wondring if a Bishop can be saved any of them â—peciallie whoâ—are greedy of so great a Charge Hom. â— page 627. he calleth them miserable Wretches who â—esire it for saith he thou must give an account of all â—hom thou Rulest these are the words of Chrysoâ—om Basil de Spir. Sancto saith that by Ambition to overnall all Church Government came to nothing Many mo ' might be added but we suppose ye â—ill think these too many speaking at this Rate It should also be observed that Bishops of old â—mmonly had no greater Charge then they could â—ersonally oversee So Euseb lib. 10. cap. 4. saith expresly that a Bishop â—d no greater Charge then he could take personal notice their Souls And lib. 6. cap. 29. saith that an 236. the faithfull in Rome did meet together in one place chuse another Bishop in Place of Anterus Cyprian lib. 2. epist 5. When a Bishop was to Chosen the whole Body of the People were called toâ—her that he might be Elected before all their eyes and the suffrage of the whole Fraternity Here are two â—ings to be Noted that the Body of the People Elected their own Bishop next that the People whom the Bishop was to take Charge could meâ— together in one place One Bishop had common â— but one Altar or Communion Table so that oâ— Bishop now after the New Model taketh a greaâ—er Charge than would have well served twenâ— yea fourty in former times Primat Vsher in his Relig. of Irish saith that Pâ—trick Planted in Ireland 365. Churches and as mâ—ny Bishops and that afterward in Malachias tiâ— the Bishops were more multiplied Let that numbâ— be compared with the present number of Bishoâ— in Ireland And then let the Reader Judge wâ— hath the greatest regard to Antiquity or who tâ— Bishops are that are most capable to Dischargeâ— Pastoral-Duty to the Flock whether few aboâ— twenty in a Nation or many hundreds And if â— will not regard the account given by Mr. Clerks and others though convincingly demonstratâ— that many Bishops lived so near to one anotheâ— and their Sees so contiguous that their Charâ— could not exceed the Bounds of an ordinary Parisâ— and that many of them were Bishops of Villagâ— yet ye will take notice of your Friend Mr. Fulâ— who saith that Bishops of Old were set too thick for â— to grow Lydda Jamina and Joppa being Episcopâ— Towns and all of them within 3 or 4 Miles of othâ— For Bishops had then their Sees in Poor Contemptiâ— Villages And that none may think he speaketh random Sozom. confirmeth the same that Villages â—ad their Bishops lib. 7. cap. 19. Object But the Church upon mature Delibeâ—ation found it expedient to invest some with â—ower and Authority over many others for preâ—enting or healing of Divisions and keeping all in Unity and good Order Answ The most knowing and moderat of the â—piscopal Perswasion take Sanctuary here and â—resume no higher alledging the Church was â—onstrained to it for compescing turbulent Huâ—ors and
obtaining peace to her self 2. Tho' this be the strongest Effort and most â—lausible Argument that the Episcopal Cause can â—aim Yet when pondered in the Ballance of the â—anctuary it 's found light because first Christ did â—re know all the Trials Temptations and Events â—at should befall his Church yet he saw it not fit â— prescribe any such Remedy who is faithfull in â—l his House the Government is upon his Shoulâ—rs and the House is his own if any Man acâ—se him for omitting so necessary a Mean as is â—retended for the good of his Church let him â—onsider how he will give an account when he is â—dged by the same Lord of his House for his â—re and faithfulness hath fully appeared already â— setting so many Officers in his House as he â—ought necessary And therefore if an Oecumeâ—k Council were assembled more full than ever yet appeared in the Christian World they couâ— not jure set another Officer in the House of Goâ— to Command and bear Rule over these Officeâ— whom Christ hath entrusted to Feed his Flocâ— though Dr. Stilling fleet now Bishop once sceptiâ— as to any particular Form of Church-Goverâ—ment hath taken much pains in his Irenic to peâ—swade the World that it 's left to Humane Prâ—dence whither the Church be Governed by Bâ—shops over Presbyters or by Ministers in pariâ— of Power And strenuously opposeth the Diviâ— Right of Prelacy yet since he ascended and fiâ—ed in that Orb himself tempora mutantur nos mâ—tamur in illis Presbyters are now so contemptibâ— in his Eye that if his new Labours and Argumenâ— can prevail they shall not so much as be tolleraâ—ed to Labour in their Masters Vineyard Aureus heu fragilem confregit malleus urnaâ— That his Book is so answered that many douâ— his Confidence to give it a Reply but leaving hiâ— from whom better things were expected 3. Consider that if Bishops be set over Presbâ—ters for Preservation of Unity in the Church thâ— some new Order must be set over these Bishops fâ— they may fall out by the Way as well as other Bâ—thren as they often do and these who are set â—ver them may likeways fall into Divisions for iâ— rare to see Promotion make Men more Lowly aâ— Meek Archbishops and Metropolitans haâ— been scandalously divided by their own Pride to â—e height of Excommunicating one another â—nd when all these fail so that Unity is not obtainâ—d whether shall Men go next if not to a principiâ—m unitatis caput Eclesiae to whom all must subâ—ect And thus it was indeed that the Pope ascenâ—ed his Throne and as many have observed and â—e Groaning Church under that Tyrranny yet â—ndeth the Remedy proved worse than the Disâ—ase this manner of Cure to elevate some Miniâ—ers above the Station that Christ had placed â—em in and Robbing other Ministers of their â—e Right Could never have good Fruit nor â—d ever Men ground to expect GODS blessing â—on such an unwarrantable and audacious Preâ—mption Object Presbyters do voluntarly Elect and set â— Bishops to have Authority and Jurisdiction oâ—er themselves and therefore though they be now â—eprived of Jurisdiction they have no Cause to â—omplain for violenti non fit injuria blame themsves Ans 1. If Presbyters chused and made Bishops â—er themselves as we grant is said to be done at â—exandria then Presbyters had all that Power â— Jurisdiction at first intrinsecally in themselves â—r they could not give that to others which was â—t their own and this of it self is yeelding the â—use when it is acknowledged that Presbyters had the Original Ministerial-Power by CHRISâ— Commission 2. It was not in the Power of Presbyters to â—lienate that Power which Christ had conferred â—pon them for id possumus quod Jure possumâ— Christ having bestowed upon them full Pastoâ— Authority by what Warrant could they give tâ— away to another or any part of it For it was gâ—en to be exerted by themselves in their Person Service according to their Masters Directions their Master had thought fit to lodge that Poâ— in the Hands of others he would have bestow it himself but never left it to their Option to Sâ— or Give away his Gifts and so disable themselâ— for the Trust and Service he committed to thâ— besides that it is inaccountable Ungratitude â— Contempt of their Master to throw away â— Commission and let others Dispose of it as tâ— please And whoever have done so we are thereby obliged to the like Practice 3. If this be the deed of Conveyance whereby â—shops over Presbyters have obtain'd a Right â— Title to sole Jurisdiction in the Church then tâ— cannot say they have this Right and Title fâ— Christ It 's a Gift of the Presbyters but not a â— of Christ And a very dishonest Gift Dishonoâ—ble both to the Giver and Receiver Yet there are many Reasons to perswade the inadvertent succumbing of some Presbyâ— â—ve great Occasion for the rising of Prelacy pauâ—tim by Degrees For first Some Ministers being seated in Places of Emiâ—ncy in the World specially Great Cities in conâ—rmity to the Civil Government and Jurisdiction â— these Places the Ministers of these Places had â—o early some Titles of Honour not common to â— other Ministers 2. And if they were eminent â—r Abilities and Prudence or of long standing in â—e Ministry When other Ministers and they â—d meet together for the Affairs of the Church â—mmonly such Men were Chosen to preside for â—e orderly Management of their Judicatories as â—olocutors or Moderators Which cannot be â—nting without Confusion yet he who did Preâ—e had no power of Jurisdiction over the rest it reâ—aining in their Power to choose another for that â—rvice as they should see it expedient But 3. his sometimes falling into the hands of ambitiâ—s Men made interest not only for their conuance but for their farther Promotion usurpâ— upon other Ministers who were more meanly â—ated untill they had wrested Power out of their â—ands and did appropriate all Jurisdiction to â—emselves the other Ministers sinfully succumâ—ng under this Usurpation untill there was no â—trieving of what they had Lost Our 2d Exception is your Liturgy which after â—rious Perusal we cannot approve not that we are against a general Directory for decent Order Gospel-Administrations that each part of Wâ—ship have its due place This we acknowledge be necessary And therefore all the Reformâ— Churches have provided themselves with suâ— Directories But that which we cannot compâ— with is such a Form of Divine Service or Worshâ— as is Composed by a few and peremptorily iâ—posed on others so as that Form of Worship sâ— be used and no other Our Reasons are First no Liturgy or stinted Form of Worshâ— was either Composed Used or Imposed by tâ— Apostles or any Gospel-Ministers in the first â—ges of the Church If any Affirm there were suâ— Forms it 's their part to make them appear whiâ— hath never yet been done but by a manifest Fâ—gery of the Apostle James
of GODS Gifts purâ—ased by Christ and bestowed by his Spirit on â—inisters for the Edification of his Church and â—erefore we cannot approve of it For by this â—nted Form whatever measure of the Spirit of â—ayer be powred out upon a Minister Helping â—d Teaching him what to Pray what ever enâ—gement of heart be given by the Spirit of Grace â—d Supplications Yet nothing of this must apâ—ar for the Good of the Church Because the mans mouth is muzled up by a peremptory Forâ— which we humbly conceive is most dangerous aâ— a great Obstruction to the Churches Edificatioâ— 8th Reason Though our blessed LORD haâ— given us a Patern of Prayer and therein a sumâ— all we are to Pray for Yet when the best of Mâ— offer to make a Collection of the Particulars coâ—tained in that Summe though the Patern be Pâ—fect yet their Collections are always Lame aâ— Deficient considering tbe innumerable Neceâ—ties of the People of GOD And so faileth of pretended End to furnish People with all manâ— of necessary particular Petitions to GOD Fâ— hundreds of Instances may be given of necessaâ— Petitions all of them according to the Wordâ— GOD and particularly founded on the LORâ— Prayer Yet no mention of them in the Bookâ— Common-Prayer And therefore such Forms Mens devising do but limite and straiten the Châ—ches Prayers they are so far from being a Heâ— especially when they are so enjoyned that sucâ— Form shall be used and no other 9th Reason The Case of Souls in this Lifâ— very various Sometimes secure and need to â— awakned sometimes cast down and need to â— Comforted sometimes in Doubts by reason their Ignorance Weakness and Guilt the Dâ—pensations of GOD toward them are also very â—rious sometimes Humbling and sometimes Coâ—forting And therefore the reading of Scriptures 〈◊〉 Prayers are to be Adâ—pted to the Conditiâ— of the People so far as Ministers can be acâ—inted with their Condition and Exigences â— by a stinted Form the poor People must take â—at falleth out such a day of the Year whither â—e suitable to their present Need or not they â—ll have no other for that time the Minister is â—und to read his set Task If the Righteous â—OD should by some sudden Judgement call his â—ople to speedy Repentance and Mourning yet â—he Book appoint a Feast-day of Joy at that veâ— time the Minister and People must do as the â—ok requires and then behold Joy and Gladness â—en GOD calleth unto Mourning which is an â—quity that GOD doth most severely threaten â— 22. 12 13 14 verses So on the other hand â—en it pleaseth GOD to grant some signal Deliâ—ance to his Church that requireth present soâ—n Thanksgivings to GOD if the Book reâ—ire that to be a time of Humiliation and Mournâ—g the Book must be obeyed rather than the â—esent Call of GOD but Moses the Servant of â—e LORD was of another mind Exod. 14. 30. the â—ORD saved Israel that Day out of the Hands of â—e Egyptians and in the beginning of cap. 15. â—en sang Moses and the Children of Israel this Song â—o the LORD not deferring it as prelimited by â—me other Work So Ministers of the Gospel being the Stewards of CHRIST are required do all to Edification attending the present Dutâ— the People of GOD Being also obliged to disâ—bute that Food Christ hath provided for theâ— due Season that every man may have his Porâ— as his Necessity requireth 10th Reason That manner of Service to Gâ— which we cannot perform in Faith we canâ— Comply with but serving GOD by an impoâ— stinted Form we cannot perform in Faith â— therefore cannot Comply with we cannot pâ—form it in Faith because we know of no Authoâ— such a Form hath from GOD as any Ordinaâ— of his And therefore seing we have no way be convinced that it is the Will of GOD we seâ— him after that manner no Ground no Preceâ— no Promise for our Faith to fix upon We câ— not perform that Service in Faith and so to uâ— would be Sin As for the Book of Common-Prayer and the Pâ—ticulars therein which hath been so offensive the Consciences of many we need do no more put you in mind of a part of these Complaints aâ— Exceptions published by those who had Commiâ—on from King Charles the 2d to alter and ameâ— it They except against the reading of the Aâ—cryphal Books desiring that nothing be readâ— tâ—e Church for Lessons but the Holy Scriptures â— the Old and New Testament They except aâ—inst the Religious Observation of Saints days as â— they were Holy Days having no Foundation in â—e Scriptures They except against that Version â— the Scripture used throughout the Liturgy as â—ving many Defects whereof they give particuâ—r Instances Likeways that the Liturgy is Deâ—ctive as to Prayer in the confessing of Sins Peâ—tions and Thanksgivings that the Body of the â—ayer-book consisteth much in Generals and that â—e Catechism is Defective as to many Doctrines â—f our Religion They except also against the â—eoples uttering a great part of the Petitions in the â—etany whereas the Minister should be the mouth â—f the Congregation and that the speaking of so â—any occasioneth a confused Murmur in the â—ongregation whereby what is read is less intelliâ—ible and therefore unedifying They also exâ—ept against the aery sign of the Cross in Baptism As â—so that none may receive the Lords Supper who â—ares not Kneel in the Act of Receiving which was â—ft free 1. and 2. Ed. 6. and was not the Gesture â—e Apostles used nor in the purest and primitive â—mes of the Church They except also against â—hese words of the Rub. The Body of our Lord â—esus Christ which was given for thee preserve thy â—ody and Soul unto they everlasting Life they desire â—hat the Minister be not required to repeat the words to each one in the singular number but it may suffice to speak them to diverse jointly â—cording to our Saviours Example they Compâ— also that when a Child is to be Baptized the Gâ— fathers and God-mothers are concerned but mention of the Parents in whose Right the Châ— is Baptized and who are fittest both to Dedicâ— it to GOD and to Undertake to GOD and Church for it They also except against thâ— words in the Prayer after Baptism viz. thaâ— hath pleased thee to Regenerate this Infant by â— Holy Spirit they declare that they cannot Faith say that every Child that is Baptized is generated by GODS Holy Spirit And in the lâ— Rubr. before the Catechism it 's said to be certâ— by GODS Word that Children by being Baâ—tized have all things necessary to Salvation and undoubtedly saved these words they complain of dangerous These are a few of the many Exceâ—tions mentioned in that grand Debate and an mendation earnestly and modestly pursued as â— mean to prevent our separated Assemblies but tâ— Pursuers for Peace constrained to desist wiâ— Grief being disappointed of their just Expectâ—tions Our 3d. Exception is because Kneeling at tâ— Lords
to â— cramental Obligation already and no Man hath Aâ—thority to impose another Obligation in tâ— same Complex sacramental Action These are some of the Reasons that it's hopâ— will justifie our not Complying with the Sign the Cross in Baptism and may satisfie those of â—nother Perswasion that we do not indulge peeviâ— Scruples against it but are over-awed with tâ— Word of GOD not daring to add to it or off any Worship which He hath not commanded Our 5th Exception is your peremptory requiâ—ing the Re-Ordination of our Ministers otherwiâ— by your Laws they shall be no Ministers amoâ— you nor to any others so far as your Power câ— reach And this we judge a rejecting of us altogâ—ther and a manifest Injury to the Church of GOâ— for first our Ministers of the Presbyterian Perswâ—sion are Elected and Ordained according to tâ— Rules of Scripture the People Electing a Presbâ—try Ordaining It were good if you were able â— say as much for your selves 2. As our Ministers Ordination is Scripturaâ— it is the same Ordination approved and practisâ— by the Reformed Churches Abroad allowing â— Bishops Superior to Presbyters as appears â—ainly by their Confessions of Faith of which â—u may now take a taste The French Confession Art 30. We Believe that the True Church ought to be Goverâ—d by that Regiment or Discipline which Our Lord â—sus Christ hath Established viz. That there be in it â—astors Elders aend Deacons We Believe that all true â—astors in whatsoever Place they be placed have the â—me and equal Authority among themselves given unâ— them under Jesus Christ the only Head The Confession of Belgia Art 31. In whatsoever Place of the World the Ministers of â—e Word of GOD do keep they have all of them the â—me and equal Power and Authority being all of â—em equally the Ministers of Christ the only univerâ—l Head and Bishop of the Church The latter Confession of Helvetia The Power that is given to the Ministers of the â—hurch is the same and alike in all in the beginning â—e Bishops or Elders did with a common Consent and â—abour Govern the Church no Man lifted up himâ—lf above another These and the like Confessions of other Reformed Churches are the publick Standard aâ— Authentique Testimony of their Judgement Aâ— therefore the privat Sentiments of a few late Fâ—reign Divines writing in Favour of another Gâ—vernment of the Church whether by Mis-infâ—mation or declining from their own professâ— Principles are not to be valued Though soâ— are now at great Pains to scrape together if not procure Epistles from Forreigners approving Episcopal Government and so to impose on tâ— credulous a belief that the Churches Abroad aâ— of the same Mind But the publick Records these Churches are a permanent Testimony agaiâ— them so that it 's evident the Government of the Churches being by Ministers in parity of powâ— there can be no Episcopal ordination among theâ— 3. If Ordination performed by Ministers in pâ—rity of Power be not valide but Null and Voiâ— for the want of Prelacy then their Ministeriâ— Administrations are also null void as perforâ—ed by non habentibus Potestatem and if so then thâ— great Body of Protestants have neither lawfâ— Pastors to Feed them nor due Administration Sacraments nor are so much as professed Chrisâ—ans wanting Baptism the publick Badge of Châ—stianity For if Ministers be not lawfully Authâ—rized and Ordained they cannot warrantably Baâ—tize in the Name of the Father Son and Hoâ— Ghost it being a Profanation of that Ordinanâ— fâ—r any others to Administer it Let us then make Supposition that a baptized Member of the Reâ—rmed Churches Abroad should seriously enâ—uire at any of you whether he were Lawfully â—aptized or not for you give him Occasion to â—oubt whether such a Minister had Authority to â—aptize him what would be your Answer if you â—y he was not lawfully baptized because the Miâ—ister wanted Episcopal-Ordination then you â—ake your selves Schismaticks of the highest â—orm Unchurching so many True Churches of â—hrist And if you say he was lawfully Baptized â—en the Minister who baptized him was lawfully â—rdained and if he was lawfully Ordained by Miâ—isters in parity of Power Abroad why then are â—ot Ministers lawfully Ordained at Home being Ordained in the same manner without Episcopal Ordination And if lawfully Ordained why is Reâ—rdination required If you will please patiently to â—eflect on your own Way as to the Point of Reâ—rdination it will be hard to make one part of it â—onsist with another for if ye own the Gospel-Adâ—inistrations of Ministers Ordained without a Bishop you are thereby engaged to own their Orâ—ination as valide And that you do acquiesce in â—heir Gospel Administrations as valid is manifest for instance if one baptized by a Presbyter who â—ever had Episcopal-Ordination shall come to â—e a Member of your Communion you require no Re-baptising and if ye have other Pre-requiâ— for Confirmation ye will confirm and admit â— to the Lords Supper and if afterward he sâ—ripen farther and be qualified for Church-â—ders you will make a Minister of him this aâ— many other Instances are sufficient to Prove yâ— convinced and satisfied that the Gospel-Admiâ—strations of such Ministers are Valide before GOâ— and Man Let the Reader then Judge how congruous it is for you to require their Re-orâ—nation after upon the matter you have acknoâ—ledged the validity of their Ordination already 4. We humbly offer it to Consideration tâ— a Bishop over Presbyters not being by Divine stitution hath no greater Power in Ordinatiâ— than any other Gospel-Minister because all tâ— Power he hath by Commission is as a Presbyter Scriptural Bishop and as such all such have qual Ministerial Power granted by the Gospâ— Charter as hath been abundantly evinced alrâ—dy and therefore Ordination is as valide withâ— a Bishop as with him if a Presbytry Ordaiâ— Which is the Scripture Patern And many Instâ—ces might be given of the Ordination of Miâ—sters without a Bishop Gelas in act Concil Nicâ— Asserteth that Presbyters Ordain though the Bishoâ— not present and Ambrose on the Ephes saith the saâ— and your own Bishop Stilling fleet in his Iren. pâ— 380. 381. affordeth you plenty of such Instanâ— where Ordination of Ministers was performed â—ithout a Bishop And though the Kingdom of â—otland did early receive the Christian Faith yet â—e find by Johanes Major de gestis Scot. lib. 2. â—p 2. That there was no Episcopal Ordination in that â—urch before An. 430. and that they were instructed â—e Episcopis So Fordon Scot. Chron. lib. 3. cap. 8. â—nte Palladij adventum habebant Scoti fidei Doctores Sacramentorum Ministratores Presbyteros solumâ—odo vel Monachos ritum sequentes Eclesiae primitivae â—eir Teachers and such as administred the Sacraâ—ents were only Presbyters or Monks following â—e Custom of the primitive Church Having now discovered some of the strongest â—ross-bars that are laid in our Way obstructing â—r Communion in Worship with the established â—hurch We shal come