exposition_n i_o take_v to_o be_v most_o agreeable_a to_o the_o word_n of_o god_n paul_n tell_v we_o in_o the_o second_o to_o the_o corinthian_n 5.20_o that_o the_o minister_n of_o the_o gospel_n be_v christ_n ambassador_n pray_v we_o by_o the_o gospel_n to_o be_v reconcile_v to_o god_n and_o 6._o ephes_n 20._o paul_n though_o in_o prison_n be_v christ_n ambassador_n to_o speak_v the_o word_n bold_o so_o that_o according_a to_o the_o sense_n of_o the_o word_n presbyter_n lay-elders_a be_v not_o to_o be_v understand_v thereby_o only_o the_o minister_n of_o the_o gospel_n the_o ambassador_n of_o christ_n sometime_o the_o word_n elder_a be_v render_v 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d that_o be_v inspectores_fw-la overseer_n of_o their_o flock_n act_v the_o 20.28_o and_o in_o that_o chapter_n it_o be_v both_o render_v presbyter_n in_o the_o 17._o ver_fw-la and_o episcopus_fw-la or_o overseer_n in_o the_o 28._o sunt_fw-la enim_fw-la episcopi_fw-la sacri_fw-la gregis_fw-la in_o spectores_fw-la 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its_o sanhedrim_n or_o council_n of_o elder_n proportionable_a to_o the_o greatness_n thereof_o as_o in_o bethlem_n boaz_n assemble_v 10_o elder_n about_o the_o matter_n of_o ruth_n ruth_n 4.2_o 1_o chron._n 23.4_o 2_o chron._n 19.8_o and_o usual_o every_o senate_n of_o elder_n have_v a_o levite_n or_o two_o to_o sit_v with_o they_o in_o judgement_n because_o the_o elder_n be_v ignorant_a of_o the_o talmud_n or_o law_n which_o be_v much_o alter_v and_o enlarge_v by_o several_a governor_n of_o the_o university_n of_o jerusalem_n and_o be_v last_o complete_v by_o rabbi_n jochanan_n anno_fw-la christi_fw-la 500_o and_o call_v the_o talmud_n a_o rule_n in_o all_o cause_n ecclesiastical_a and_o civil_a to_o this_o very_a day_n among_o the_o jew_n god_n command_v moses_n in_o the_o 11_o of_o number_n say_v gather_v unto_o i_o 70._o man_n of_o the_o elder_n of_o israel_n which_o thou_o know_v to_o be_v elder_n of_o the_o people_n and_o they_o shall_v be_v be_v the_o burden_n of_o the_o people_n with_o thou_o etc._n etc._n this_o be_v a_o place_n much_o insist_v upon_o to_o warrant_v our_o newtake_n of_o elder_n into_o the_o church_n to_o bear_v part_n of_o the_o government_n but_o i_o will_v make_v it_o manifest_a that_o this_o part_n of_o scripture_n be_v no_o warrant_n for_o we_o to_o do_v so_o here_o in_o england_n the_o government_n thus_o settle_v say_v josephus_n in_o his_o book_n of_o antiquity_n libro_fw-la quarto_fw-la cap._n 8._o be_v mix_v the_o monarchy_n be_v in_o moses_n but_o qualify_v with_o a_o aristocracy_n in_o the_o 70_o and_o democracy_n as_o it_o be_v appear_v in_o the_o often_o assembly_n of_o the_o people_n &_o this_o but_o continue_v say_v he_o till_o they_o desire_v a_o king_n and_o then_o it_o cease_v and_o whilst_o it_o continue_v it_o be_v only_o for_o temporal_a affair_n the_o elder_n not_o be_v to_o meddle_v in_o any_o ecclesiastical_a matter_n for_o
consideration_n of_o our_o wise_a parliament_n in_o hope_n their_o wisdom_n will_v take_v due_a care_n to_o prevent_v the_o impend_a misery_n of_o our_o nation_n for_o very_o many_o thousand_o will_n rather_o have_v moderate_a episcopacy_n up_o than_o this_o senseless_a government_n of_o lay-elders_a which_o be_v indeed_o no_o ruler_n but_o mere_a stalk_a horse_n or_o ass_n or_o a_o disguise_n wherein_o the_o presbyter_n may_v plunder_v the_o people_n of_o liberty_n of_o conscience_n pretend_v it_o be_v not_o the_o art_n of_o clergy_n only_o pretty_a judgle_n but_o no_o more_o of_o this_o stultum_fw-la est_fw-la obsurdas_fw-la opiniones_fw-la accuratius_fw-la refellere_fw-la i_o will_v proceed_v to_o treat_v of_o that_o part_n or_o division_n of_o this_o work_n lie_v next_o in_o order_n to_o wit_n of_o spiritual_a elder_n in_o general_a and_o that_o our_o lay-elders_a may_v not_o right_o be_v take_v for_o such_o every_o bishop_n presbyter_n pastor_n or_o other_o grave_n and_o 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find_v it_o record_v in_o the_o 10_o of_o deut._n verse_n 8._o god_n separate_v the_o tribe_n of_o levi_n to_o bear_v the_o ark_n of_o the_o covenant_n of_o the_o lord_n and_o to_o stand_v before_o the_o lord_n to_o minister_v unto_o he_o and_o to_o bless_v in_o his_o name_n even_o to_o this_o day_n and_o deut._n 11._o and_o the_o 5._o the_o lord_n thy_o god_n have_v choose_v he_o out_o of_o all_o thy_o tribe_n to_o stand_v and_o minister_v in_o the_o name_n of_o the_o lord_n him_z and_o his_o son_n for_o ever_o and_o moses_n in_o the_o 33_o of_o deut._n verse_n 8._o prey_n that_o the_o urim_n and_o thummim_v of_o the_o lord_n be_v with_o thy_o holy_a one_o mean_v in_o that_o place_n one_o of_o the_o tribe_n of_o levi_n who_o verse_n the_o 10_o shall_v teach_v jacob_n thy_o judgement_n and_o israel_n thy_o law_n they_o shall_v put_v insense_n before_o thy_o face_n and_o burn_v offering_n upon_o thy_o altar_n it_o be_v manifest_a by_o those_o place_n of_o scripture_n that_o it_o be_v god_n holy_a will_n that_o the_o tribe_n of_o levi_n shall_v serve_v at_o his_o altar_n all_o of_o they_o be_v instate_v in_o holy_a order_n by_o imposition_n of_o hand_n and_o although_o among_o they_o there_o be_v certain_a degree_n according_a to_o which_o paul_n write_v in_o the_o 1_o to_o tim._n 3.13_o that_o they_o that_o have_v minister_v well_o get_v themselves_o a_o good_a degree_n as_o godwyn_n in_o his_o jewish_a antiquity_n fol._n 22_o observe_n as_o when_o they_o have_v be_v a_o month_n initiate_v they_o be_v to_o be_v present_v unto_o god_n numb_a 3.15_o and_o they_o be_v consecrate_v by_o imposition_n of_o hand_n at_o 25_o year_n old_a num._n 8.24_o and_o they_o be_v to_o carry_v the_o tabernacle_n up_o &_o down_o from_o 30_o to_o 50_o and_o afterward_o they_o be_v to_o oversee_v and_o
instruct_v the_o young_a levites_n in_o the_o manner_n of_o bishop_n but_o they_o be_v from_o the_o first_o to_o be_v instate_v in_o holy_a order_n and_o then_o capable_a to_o be_v overseer_n or_o bishop_n as_o they_o labour_v to_o get_v a_o good_a degree_n now_o i_o presume_v none_o will_v be_v so_o silly_a as_o to_o follow_v our_o new_a presbyterian_a doctrine_n which_o persuade_v that_o our_o government_n in_o church_n by_o lay-elders_a be_v no_o more_o but_o this_o which_o our_o high_o benefice_a brethren_n cry_v aloud_o in_o their_o pulpit_n for_o know_v reader_n there_o be_v no_o analogy_n betwixt_o the_o levite_n and_o lay-elders_a for_o first_o god_n appoint_v the_o one_o to_o serve_v at_o his_o altar_n but_o the_o other_o have_v no_o call_n thereunto_o and_o whereas_o god_n appoint_v moses_n to_o assemble_v 70_o elaer_n to_o bear_v part_n of_o the_o government_n with_o he_o that_o be_v only_o in_o temporal_a affair_n not_o in_o church_n matter_n moses_n be_v overburthen_v 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remote_a each_o from_o other_o so_o be_v the_o matter_n discussable_a before_o they_o of_o several_a and_o distinct_a nature_n and_o quality_n as_o we_o may_v read_v in_o the_o 2_o of_o chron._n chapter_n 19_o to_o the_o spiritual_a court_n belong_v matter_n spiritual_a or_o ceremonial_a to_o the_o secular_a consistory_n matter_n civil_a or_o criminal_a &_o so_o jehoshaphat_n reform_v many_o abuse_n in_o church_n and_o commonwealth_n first_o appoint_v throughout_o all_o the_o fence_a city_n of_o judah_n secular_a judge_n to_o determine_v criminal_a cause_n and_o at_o jerusalem_n he_o appoint_v a_o spiritual_a court_n consist_v of_o levites_n priest_n and_o the_o chief_a father_n of_o israel_n amazia_n the_o high_a priest_n be_v chief_a in_o cause_n spiritual_a for_o the_o lord_n and_o zobediah_n in_o cause_n criminal_a for_o the_o king_n and_o this_o spiritual_a court_n be_v say_v mr._n godwin_n the_o representative_a church_n and_o have_v the_o power_n of_o excommunication_n hence_o be_v that_o say_n in_o matthew_n 18.16_o dic_fw-la ecclesiae_fw-la this_o form_n of_o distinct_a government_n in_o matter_n temporal_a and_o spiritual_a be_v in_o most_o state_n of_o christendom_n and_o be_v till_o of_o late_a the_o presbyterian_a party_n contrive_v to_o bring_v all_o into_o a_o chaos_n imitate_v by_o we_o in_o england_n we_o have_v spiritual_a and_o temporal_a court_n the_o one_o not_o be_v to_o meddle_v in_o any_o matter_n which_o proper_o lay_v in_o the_o conusance_n of_o the_o other_o for_o if_o they_o do_v from_o the_o temporal_a court_n be_v a_o writ_n of_o prohibition_n issueable_a to_o stay_v the_o proceed_n of_o the_o spiritual_a and_o if_o it_o appear_v the_o matter_n belong_v to_o the_o spiritual_a court_n a_o writ_n of_o consultation_n be_v direct_v forth_o to_o the_o spiritual_a court_n to_o proceed_v in_o the_o business_n so_o that_o it_o be_v manifest_a they_o be_v not_o to_o join_v together_o in_o judicature_n for_o although_o before_o in_o this_o treatise_n i_o have_v show_v you_o that_o the_o high_a priest_n do_v among_o the_o jew_n sit_v in_o the_o sanhedrin_n of_o elder_n it_o be_v because_o he_o be_v a_o man_n excellent_o learn_v in_o the_o talmud_n for_o if_o we_o will_v believe_v mr._n godwine_n he_o tell_v we_o that_o the_o high_a priest_n sit_v there_o necessary_o be_v a_o error_n for_o he_o be_v not_o elect_v into_o that_o company_n unless_o he_o be_v a_o man_n of_o extraordinary_a wisdom_n for_o he_o be_v judge_n in_o the_o synagogue_n and_o be_v not_o ex_fw-la officio_fw-la to_o meddle_v in_o the_o sanhedrin_n and_o for_o my_o part_n i_o can_v find_v that_o ever_o these_o consistory_n sit_v together_o in_o one_o assembly_n unless_o math._n 26.3_o when_o they_o assemble_v to_o conspire_v the_o death_n of_o christ_n verse_n 5._o they_o consult_v that_o they_o may_v take_v jesus_n by_o subtlety_n and_o kill_v he_o and_o this_o be_v decree_v by_o god_n own_o will_v before_o he_o have_v prophesy_v of_o his_o suffering_n 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opportunity_n to_o warmehis_n finger_n at_o a_o english_a fire_n which_o be_v likely_a to_o come_v to_o pass_v if_o these_o malapart_n officer_n be_v not_o quick_o suppress_v nor_o can_v their_o wisdom_n blame_v the_o christian_n who_o for_o defence_n of_o their_o just_a freedom_n and_o liberty_n of_o conscience_n without_o any_o sinister_a end_n shall_v cause_v new_a stir_n and_o in_o defence_n of_o their_o liberty_n and_o religion_n endeavour_v to_o chase_v this_o new_a tyranny_n forth_o of_o the_o kingdom_n and_o i_o be_o assure_v will_v their_o wisdom_n but_o due_o examine_v their_o business_n here_o they_o will_v plain_o find_v it_o be_v for_o no_o other_o end_n and_o withal_o will_v their_o grave_a judgement_n but_o serious_o poise_v the_o validity_n of_o their_o pass_n to_o come_v and_o settle_v here_o they_o will_v find_v it_o altogether_o insufficient_a and_o no_o warrant_n either_o by_o god_n law_n or_o the_o law_n of_o nation_n for_o such_o people_n by_o people_n of_o 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do_v divers_a of_o this_o nation_n receive_v the_o christian_a faith_n and_o be_v baptize_v not_o long_o after_o all_o author_n agree_v that_o lucius_n king_n of_o this_o isle_n send_v to_o eleutherius_fw-la bishop_n of_o rome_n anno_fw-la christi_fw-la 177_o not_o promise_v any_o subjection_n to_o his_o see_n that_o not_o be_v desire_v only_o obtrude_v upon_o king_n henry_n the_o second_o in_o becket_n business_n but_o to_o say_v with_o such_o as_o be_v prick_v in_o mind_n act_v 2.37_o man_n and_o brethren_n what_o shall_v we_o do_v to_o be_v save_v eleutherius_fw-la understanding_n the_o desire_n of_o king_n lucius_n to_o be_v baptize_v and_o to_o profess_v and_o maintain_v the_o christian_a religion_n and_o withal_o perceive_v the_o able_a part_n and_o sufficiency_n of_o those_o two_o britain_n lucius_n have_v for_o this_o purpose_n send_v over_o to_o he_o do_v consecrate_v they_o bishop_n and_o send_v they_o back_o into_o britain_n and_o withal_o he_o take_v into_o consideration_n that_o the_o convert_n of_o some_o and_o establish_v of_o all_o of_o this_o isle_n in_o the_o christian_a faith_n be_v a_o task_n too_o great_a for_o two_o to_o undergo_v though_o he_o have_v knowledge_n of_o their_o fair_a progress_n herein_o yet_o for_o their_o ease_n help_v and_o encouragement_n in_o so_o great_a a_o work_n he_o send_v over_o more_o labourer_n after_o they_o into_o this_o harvest_n who_o for_o the_o better_a propogate_a of_o the_o faith_n and_o win_v of_o soul_n unto_o christ_n and_o that_o all_o may_v be_v instruct_v they_o divide_v the_o kingdom_n into_o circuit_n among_o they_o there_o be_v by_o lucius_n and_o his_o noble_n appoint_v three_o superintendent_o or_o archbishop_n instead_o of_o three_o arch-flamin_n which_o rule_v before_o in_o time_n of_o paganism_n place_v over_o the_o rest_n one_o at_o london_n another_z at_o york_n another_o at_o carleon_n in_o monmouth-shire_n this_o bishopric_n of_o carleon_n be_v after_o remove_v thence_o to_o st._n david_n in_o wales_n thence_o into_o normandy_n york_n continue_v metropolitan_a still_o london_n be_v translate_v to_o canterbury_n by_o austin_n the_o monk_n lambert_n in_o his_o perambulation_n of_o kent_n fol._n 63._o and_o although_o the_o english_a saxon_n have_v not_o receive_v the_o gospel_n till_o ethelbert_n time_n in_o who_o reign_n gregory_n the_o pope_n upon_o occasion_n of_o see_v sweet_a face_a boy_n to_o be_v sell_v in_o the_o market_n and_o inquire_v of_o they_o of_o what_o nation_n and_o country_n they_o be_v he_o be_v tell_v they_o be_v angli_fw-la and_o of_o the_o province_n of_o deira_n their_o king_n name_n be_v alla_fw-mi to_o which_o gregory_n reply_v well_o may_v they_o be_v call_v angli_fw-la à _fw-la dei_fw-la ira_fw-la liberandi_fw-la to_o sing_v haleluia_o unto_o the_o lord_n whereupon_o austin_n the_o monk_n be_v send_v over_o and_o preach_v in_o ethelbert_n his_o kingdom_n to_o the_o english_a saxon_n at_o canterbury_n anno_fw-la christi_fw-la 596._o yet_o reverend_a bede_n and_o divers_a other_o testify_v that_o the_o briton_n who_o by_o the_o impetuous_a fury_n of_o the_o saxon_n be_v beat_v hence_o into_o wales_n embrace_v the_o christian_a faith_n many_o hundred_o year_n before_o augustine_n time_n lambert_n perambulation_n of_o kent_n 19_o holinshead_n history_n of_o england_n 51_o and_o have_v their_o church_n government_n by_o convocation_n &_o assembly_n of_o the_o most_o learned_a and_o best_a divine_n which_o in_o some_o course_n and_o order_n continue_v among_o we_o till_o this_o new_a fashion_a presbyter_n start_v up_o but_o never_o have_v any_o layman_n to_o join_v with_o they_o in_o that_o action_n it_o be_v conceive_v not_o to_o be_v warrant_v by_o god_n word_n some_o perhaps_o will_v wonder_v at_o i_o that_o i_o shall_v digress_v so_o far_o from_o my_o purpose_n for_o vindication_n of_o bishop_n affirm_v they_o to_o be_v by_o lucius_n our_o first_o christian_a king_n establish_v in_o this_o land_n i_o may_v say_v they_o 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propter_fw-la aetatem_fw-la sed_fw-la propter_fw-la sapientiam_fw-la &_o dignitatem_fw-la adolescentes_fw-la exim_fw-la essent_fw-la juris_fw-la periti_fw-la &_o experti_fw-la but_o stay_v i_o must_v not_o digress_v too_o far_o from_o my_o business_n for_o what_o do_v this_o concern_v our_o reverend_a cobbler_n webster_n tailor_n skinner_n &_o c_o the_o ruling-elders_a of_o this_o age_n to_o who_o i_o be_o sure_a the_o sense_n of_o this_o word_n be_v not_o applicable_a unless_o in_o reference_n to_o their_o trade_n and_o handicraft_n and_o yet_o these_o silly_a upstart_n fellow_n now_o make_v lay-elders_a begin_v to_o puff_n and_o swell_v already_o with_o pride_n and_o conceit_n themselves_o by_o a_o wonderful_a providence_n to_o be_v exalt_v above_o their_o former_a equal_n expect_v submission_n from_o the_o people_n as_o unto_o ruler_n for_o my_o part_n i_o shall_v acquit_v they_o of_o this_o crime_n and_o give_v my_o voice_n that_o the_o poor_a simple_a bumpkin_n be_v not_o to_o 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