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A95924 Theoremata theologica: = Theological treatises. Octo theses theologicæ: eight theses of divinity. 1. Animæ humanæ productio: Production of mans soul. 2. Puræ Dei prædestinatio: Divine predestination. 3. Verum ecclesiæ regimen: The tru [sic] church regiment. 4. Prædictiones de Messia: Predictions of Messias. 5. Duæ Christi genealogiæ: Christs two genealogies. 6. Apocalypsis patefacta: The revelation reveled. 7. Christi regnum in terra: Christs millenar reign. 8. Mundi hujus dissolutio: The worlds dissolution. / Complied or collected by Rob. Vilvain. Price at press in sheets 3 .s. Vilvain, Robert, 1575?-1663. 1654 (1654) Wing V397; Thomason E898_1; ESTC R3206 418,235 540

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of Holies once a year the Priests never the high Priest might mourn for none but Priests might for Father Mother Brother Son Daughter and next of Kin the high Priest had his Sagan or Substitut the Priests none Thes were the forms of Church government under the Law wherto that of the Gospel was in part conformed Christ had sole Evangelical Ministry being our Apostle Prophet Evangelist Bishop Pastor Doctor Mat. 10 1. c. Deacon in himself but chos twelv Apostles Assistant parallel to the twelv Patriarchs and twelv Princes of the Tribes sending them to preach heal and cast out Devils to whom when the harvest grew great he added seventy inferior Disciples Luk. 10. 1. c. like the seventy Fathers of Families and seventy Elders of the People whom he sent by couples into Cities wher he meant to com giving them power to preach the Gospel heal the sick tread on Serpents ●o Scorpions and subdu Enimies Thes two orders S. Paul cals Apostles and Prophets placing Prophets E●hes 3. 〈◊〉 after Apostles as inferiors for from the seventy Matthias was chosen Apostle and Presbyters or Elders succeded the seventy but Bishops or Prelats the twelv as al Apostolic Antients agree This was the first model of Church regiment under Christ the chief Shepherd who before his Ascention made the twelv general Shepherds to supply his stead by a triple charge to Peter Thes had equal eminent authority or jurisdiction John 21. 1● 16. 17. jointly and severaly to lay on hands at Ordination and confirmation to command contermand censure bind or loos which before their deaths som of them devolved on Bishops as their indubitat successors At first the whol weight of Church affairs lay soly on them but upon the Greecs complaint how their Widows were neglected they ordeined by imposition of hands which severs Men to sacred functions A●● 〈◊〉 1 2 〈◊〉 seven Deacons to distribut offerings and serv Tables Afterward upon the Disciples dispersion at Stephans death arose Evangelists whos duty was to preach but no distinct order Then that the Church so planted might perpetualy be watered they ordeined Priests or Presbyters like the seventy Disciples for constant attendance in al places Lastly to contin● the Government which rested in themselfs they appointed Overseers Greecly Episcopi by S. John Angels vulgarly Bishops to supply their steads after them to whom the chief charge to command correct ordein oversee was committed or conferred specially for suppressing of Schisms which spread in the Churches of Rome Corinth Galatia Philippi Colossi Thessalonica and Indea For S. Paul first constituted Titus Bishop of Cret and Timothy of Ephesus with their territories whos patern S. John and other Apostles folowed If then this office was necessary in thos times being the best remedy to repel Schisms as S. Cyprian and Jerom testify how much more in after ages when Sects so swarm and Ambition Avarice Pride Philancy Envy Emulation Discord and Division multiply dayly this power then was not personal in the Apostles alone not temporal to end or expire with them nor common to inferior Disciples but perpetual to abide til our Saviours secund coming and confined to Bishops for redress of al exorbitant enormities specialy Schisms and Heresies What single Presbyters did ever exercise any act of jurisdiction in al the Scripture or prime Churches In a family are divers officers but one Oeconomus or chief Steward In a Ship many Mariners but one Master in a Camp sundry Captaines but one General so in a Church of large extent several Ministers but one Bishop hee is to take charge of al Churches as Titus did of al Cret a goodly I le to see Presbyters doo their duties to correct what is faulty to confirm what is orderly and reform abuses He is chief in ordeining Presbyters as S. Paul had company at Timothy's ordination yet he sole ordeiner which none can deny as Christ shal be sole Judg at last day yet The twelv Apostles sit 〈◊〉 19 28. on twelv Thrones to judg the twelv Tribes of Israel 'T is a Luk. 22 30. silly Sophisters squib to say Bishops are caled Elders and contrarily Ergo both are one Order or Office Indeed such names at first were promiscuous but functions stil distinct as every greater contains a lesser So Apostles were stiled Presbyters or Elders Deacons or Ministers Doctors or Teachers Prophets and Evangelists Yea that title was inlarged to Barnabas Paul Andronicus Epaphroditus Titus Timothy so Presbyters are clyped Prophets and Prelats yet Chrysostom saith can be but one Bishop in a City Semblably Bishops are stiled Apostles Elders and Deacons while ter ms or titles were common but never in after ages as Theodore● Jerom Oecomenius and the Fathers aver Distingue tempora concordabunt res nor doth community of name argu identity of nature or office Thus episcopat is of divine right if not primary or immediat from Christ as in ordaining the twelv to includ their Successors yet secundary or mediat from the inspired Apostles who substituted Bishops to succed For as our Saviour in som sort instituted his own day to be sanctified weekly in stead of the Creatific Sabbath by actual rising from death which his Apostles celebrated by their practis of meeting to break bread every first day So he may be said to ordein Prelats and Presbyters who are of equal right Analogicaly by chusing twelv Apostles and seventy Disciples whos rooms thos two orders supplied yet the Lords day is not so subject to mutation by Man sith it hath a moral right by the equity not Letter of the fourth Commandment which Men and Angels cannot alter But the other two orders may if the end for which they were instituted be changed els not Al which premisses wil plainer appeer by particulars drawn from primitiv fountains which flow from the Rock of Faith and shal not be falsified in the least point The Apostles sent to Teach and Baptise al Nations had the whol world in common for their general Dioces but som attended special Churches as Rulers or Overseers and in fine set Bishops of 1 〈◊〉 ruling Elders or Bishops in their Chairs or Charges For James the Just caled the Lords Brother becaus born of Mary Cleopas the blessed Virgins sister resided and presided at Jerusalem as his proper Sea partly of his own authority and partly by the Apostles appointment as appeers by Pauls coming thither Acts 21. 〈◊〉 to consult with him and his Presbytery For at the Proto-Council Peter as prime Apostle was Prolocutor but James Act● 15 19 ●0 as President gav diffinitiv sentence to which al submited or subscribed After 30 yeers residence he was cast from a Pinacle and his brains pierced with a Fullers burling Iron whos Brother Simeon succeded by the Apostles assignment They also planted Churches elswher as Paul and Barnabas ordeined Elders Acts ●4 〈◊〉 in every Church but no Bishops are mentioned becaus yet they
before their deaths they ordeined som Disciples as Superiors over several Churches and Presbyteries 4. That such were stiled Prelats set over and Bishops or Overseers 5. That Peter and James Apostles Marc and Timothy Evangelists Gaius and Lynus two of the seventy Disciples Titus Onesimus Evodius Clemens Lucius Apelles Denys Areopagit Polycarp Ignatius Anacletus Apostolic Men were actual Bishops in several Sees as Ignatius Tertullian Irenaeus trusty Trustees avow 6. That in after ages Bishops were chosen by Presbyteries not occasionaly like Presidents or Moderators in Councils nor annualy as Maiors of Cities but perpetualy for life like Masters of Colleges to govern their Dioceses 7. That such continued in al christian Churches by the titles of Bishops or Prelats til Luther stiled them Superintendents 8. That after-Records or Catalogs of Episcopal continued successions are extant every wher beyond cavil or contradiction 9. That al Elders or Presbyters with Deacons Evangelists c. were Clergy Men by imposition of hands til Calvin occasionaly admitted Laics Joint Rulers in shew with Clerics which form hath since crept into a few Churches as novities stil find vulgar intertainment like new Brooms 10. That ther is no semblable color for conterfet Lay-Elders to meddle in Church matters nor ever were any such except Church-Wardens to keep the common Stock Goods and Utensils safe What needs more light at noon The blind are never the better nor wil deaf Adders be charmed So far the History Gaudenus de Episcopatu Gauden about Episcopat In his Hicrospistes or Defens of English Ministry and Ministers LEt Dr. Gauden a learned Divine ful of piety and free Appendix from partiality moderat the matter who in his Elegant Apology for the Ministry hath thes passages in sundry places He dotes not on any dross or rust which antient venerable Episcopacy may in many revolutions of ages easily contract and be as easily cleered nor likes thes rigid reformations which som rash envious ambitious Presbyters driv on who know not how to shav their Fathers Beards without cutting their Throats pair their Nails without cropping their Hands nor as unskilful Chymists refine from dross without consuming what is Pretious nor as blind Empirics purge bad Humors without casting into bloody Fluxes Our Lord Jesus Christ the tru Messias Son of God Angel of the new Covenant the great Apostle Bishop and Father of our Souls Author and Finisher of our Faith Suprem Lord and King Eternal high Priest and unerring Prophet of his Church was sent by G●d the Father to perform al Prophecies fulfil al righteousnes and settle a visible Ministration of holy things in his Church who cam not in his own Name as Man to be Mediator or to take the Honor of Prophet Priest and a King over it but had his Mission from the Father by evident Witne● from Heaven both before and at his Birth but more eminently at Baptism by the visible Shape of a Dov and audible voice This is my beloved Son in whom I am wel pleased being annointed with gifts of the Holy Ghost abov al as Head of the Church Thes were attended with infallible Signs and Wonders while he taught the Mysteries of his Kingdom and instituted holy Rites to distinguish his Church from the World by thos Seals and Pledges of his lov in dying for the Faithful when he shed both Blood and Water on the Cross Which having personaly accompiished as to the meritorius part of his Ministry he being no more to convers in a visible Human presence on Earth did after his Resurrection commit the Keis of his Kingdom to the twelv Apostles aforechosen as Stewards or Ministers of his Houshold instructing them on what fundation of Faith to build his Church and by what Sacramental Signs to confirm Beleevers bidding them to Teach and Baptise al Nations to ordein Disciples that should succed and so breathed on them promising to send his Spirit as he did after his Ascention and to be with them til the Worlds end This cannot be meant of their Persons who shortly died but of their Survivers or Successors in the Ministry to whom the same Authority and assistance belongs by divine durable Charter or Commission for publication and confirmation wherof the Holy Ghost cam on them in shape of firy Cloven Toungs filling them with miraculous gifts fit for the first planting of the Church and al Ministerial power derivable to others for propagation and perpetuity therof Which whol fram or Fabric was the proper effect of his Prophetic Wisdom for instructing his Church an Act of his Kingly power in governing it and the fruit of his Priestly care for a right Liturgy or Officiating to be stil continued by an holy Succession of Evangelical Ministers in his Name to Teach Guid and Govern it in al holy Duties He made Apostles Prophets Evangelists Pastors Teachers for the work of Ministry and edyfying of his body who had divers gifts as be several parts in our body so that al are not Prophets or Pastors which are Beleevers or Members as every bodyly part is not an Ey tho it partakes the same Soul as Beleevers doo the same Spirit in differing ministrations of which Gifts thos only are to Judg whom the Spirit sets Successivly in the Church with power to ordein others without which divinely constituted Order began by Christ derived to the Apostles and delegated to their Successors the Church long ago had bin a Monster made up of confused excrescences or heaps of Heresies Sects Schisms and blind Baiards as such mishapen prodigies start up daily who having cast off Sacred Order doo in their varieties exced the promiscuous productions even of Afric The Apostles accordingly first filled up Judas place by Lot out of the seventy Disciples and took care to ordain others which should so doo after them distributing their own labors into several Churches som of Circumcised Jews others of Gentils among whom they exercised Divine power and Authority with al fidelity as Christs Ambassadors Heralds and Laborers in his Husbandry or Espousers to make a Mariage betwen Christ and the Church which office none without do delegation might presum to perform During which primitiv purity they ordeined Elders in every City and Country charging them to fulfil the Ministrey and feed their Flocks both in tru Doctrin and good Diciplin over whom the Lord had made them Overseers by the Apostles assignation Som of which had charge to settle a Succession of such as should be apt and able to teach the Word of Life that Christs Institution might be kept unblamable til his secund coming by an holy Order or Office of Ministers duly made by solen imposition of sacred hands as a visible token of their peculiar designation to this function Thus beyond al doubt or disput which none but Atheists or Infidels wil deny Christs holy Ordinance was carried on successivly for three generations 1. In the Apostles 2. From them to Elders and Rulers 3. From them to others which
Churches that Men say with the old Woman Veterem effodit Antigonum 5. Neither of the new models can produce so evident precept or precedent as Episcopat doth no nor promiss from God that they shal be free from thos enormities odiously objected against Bishops which may befal to al things managed by Men liable to manifold faults failings and frailties in al Degrees Calings or Professions But this Government of a Paternal president among Presbyters hath far surer grounds from Scripture and Antiquity then any newfangled form or fashion as having the preponderating privilege of uniform universal Polity practised by al Churches in purest times wherto neither of thos can with any face pretend 'T is strange how impudently many Men cite or rather rack som broken peeces of Ignatius Tertullian Origen Irenaeus Cyprian Ambros Austin and other Antients in favor of single Presbytery when al are cleerly contrary for right regular Episcopacy which is only pleaded for Whatever som Fathers are wrested or wrenched to speak for Ministerial parity or Popular independency 't is only to reprov som Prelats arrogance ambition and tyranny who usurped sole power neglecting Presbyters advise and assistance or when som Ecclesiastic Officers oppressed the People whom primitivly both Bishops and Presbyters duly regarded in al public concernments of the Church It were needless and endless to excuse their Personal errors or exorbitances which are apt to attend al power among Men yet no wise Man wil reckon them genuin effects of that reverend Order sith their Accusers would be worse if they had parrallel power for ther is nothing useful or laudable in any other way which is not inclusivly and eminently in that order nor any error or enormity therin which is not incident and impendent to Presbytery or any other Polity though that perhaps purer in primitiv then later ages So what Pope Pius 2. said of Clerical Celibat he saw som reason why marriage should be prohibited to Priests but much more why it should be permitted the same may be applyed to right constituted Episcopacy nor can Presbytery or Independency shew any such tru title of divine right which infolds al the good of both thos and superads unity of order beyond both for the common good Som press the National Covenant against it as if that were a sufficient battery beyond Scripture Reason Antiquity Civil Law and Catholic custom al which approv it But som chief composers confess that their main scope or sens was against Bishops corrupt government and tyranny to reform what was decaied or depraved and retain what was sound or sincere However sith that Covenant is no divine infallible Oracle but a civil Engin of sinful passionat Men for self ends on whos heads the arrow fel which they shot against others al its words and intentions must be reduced to the rule of good conscience right reason and holy writ nor should Antiquity and the Fathers stoop or submit to partial Novelists many of whos acts are found faulty or factious Nor doth it make ought for headless Presbytery or heady Independency no nor against pure primeval Prelacy For som stif sticklers for Presbytery seing the mischiefs of late changes confess they know nothing unlawful therin but many godly Men held it inconvenient so this long bloody debat results on the judgment of Prudence not Conscience of Policy not Piety Yet to cloke their malice they cunningly soddered Popery and Prelacy together implying both to be inseparable Birds of a Feather then which nothing is more rediculous fals and slanderous For many good Bishops at Jerusalem Antioch Alexandria preceded Rome and sundry afterward in other Provinces equal to the Bishop of Rome and not depending on him as be divers at this day Nor is the Pope Founder or Fountain of Episcopat nor caled or counted Antichristian as Prelat or Patriarch of one Province for then al Bishops are Antichrists and Christs whol Church for 1500 yeers Antichristian which is barbarous to conceiv and blasphemous to contest The Pope becam Antichrist upon another score when Boniface 3. with his successors usurped the stile of universal Bishop or Gods Vicar General which his penultimat predecessor Gregory 1. foredoomed to be Antichrists Forerunner So that very title Vicarius Dei generalis in terris carries the number of the Beasts name 666 in Roman numeral letters Rev. 13. 18. D. C. L. V. V. I. I. I. I. I. I. as every ey may see Semblably that Covenant contains just 666 words as he that tels them exactly shal surely find which may seem ominous in both Most Bishops of Rome before Boniface were humble Men and very many holy Martyrs who abhorred the name of universal Bishop or Head of the Church as Antichristian but thos since grew proud presumptuous persecutors introducing sundry superstitions contrary to Christs Institutions and Canons of the Catholic Church for which abuses our Church with others refused their communion So reformed Bishops cannot be branded as Popish or Antichristian without breach of charity and contrary to verity sith many of them hav bin Martyred by Popish tyranny If then the Pope is not Antichrist as a Bishop nor Episcopat Antichristian 't is a poor peevish popular calumny of malitious Men against our Ministry that they are ordeined by limbs of Antichrist which is fals futilous and fucatio●s Yet it concerns al Presbyters ordeined by them sith al derived from one original root branch after branch of pretended Papal Prelacy Our Bishops ordeining Ministers in presence of Presbyters by their joint laying on of hands with fasting and prayer did but their duty injoined by 1500 yeers prescription with consent of Princes Prelats Peers Presbyters and People in Parlements so they cannot be punished in that regard nor charged as a privat crime which is doon in obedience to public command much less abolished in that behalf sith they had our Churches warrant and vote of al others which retain that order beside the good liking of thos that hav it not Why then are Bishops extruded is not covetousnes the root of al evil But Presbyters two or mo hav no warrant to ordein or exercise any Jurisdiction without a Bishop in chief nor is a Bishop forbid to ordein and rule assisted by Presbyters but simple Presbytery Acephalon Anarchy Civil Magistrats may regulat the exercise but cannot confer the Office of Bishop or Presbyter which flows from a spiritual Head Christ Jesus nor can Acts of Parlement with justice or honor dismount the Canons of Oecumenic Councils Catholic Customs or Laws of the Church If it be said or supposed that the lat Parlement only restored and Presbyters resumed their power of Ordination which Bishops unjustly usurped why did they never claim it here or elswher for al past ages til last factious tumultuous times If they crav only a joint right with Bishops yet subordinat they may enjoy it stil giving their Betters preeminence for orders sake but their fond ambition to ingross al without and
pressed St. Austin Chrysostom with others against Erastus giving general Councils glorious titles when they served his turn or els slighted them and Cartwright cals such citing of Fathers a raking of ditches 11. They allege against Bishops preeminence over Ministers that both are caled by one name and therfore one Function when 't is answered That community of title takes not away ●●stinction of Offices sith even Princes are stiled Deacons Apostles and Priests yet far disparat in power this wil not content Yet Erastus proved That the name Elder is ever appropriat to Ecclesiastics not to Laics Beza borowed that distinction for his defens how the name of Bishops and Elders are common but their Offices not al one nor is it a good consequent every Bishop is a Presbyter Ergo every Elder is so for al names of Ecclesiastic Officers Deacons Apostles Prophets Prelats Pastors Presbyters are sometime used generaly or promiscuously 12. They aspers our State for suffering Bishops to retain som parts of the Canon Law crying out 't is Popish and Develish yet if ought sit their humors they secretly stole it out of the Decretals as in their draught of Disciplin more then seven parts of eight are borowed from it Hence Viret finding how Princes by cashiring the Canon Law assumed Ecclesiastic power to themselfs condemns their rashnes or rigidnes who depraved the same Thus by this Jury of Criminations it appeers how palpably partial al mortal Men are in their own behalfs yea their factious folowers wil hardly beleev half and justify the other moity as proceding of piety Next shal be shewed how they wrest the Fathers to their own sens Ignatius wils That nothing be doon in the Church without 〈◊〉 the Bishops consent who as Prince of Priests hath power over al Can ought be plainer Yet Cartwright counterfets That by Priests he means ruling Elders Lay ones he never know by Prince the Moderator chosen to propone matters at one meeting only and by power over al his authority over the Elders in the same Parish when no such precincts were yet bounded just after their new cut Justin Martyr stiles every Bishop Prelat as preposited over Priests and People Cartwright consters it That he was Prelat of the People not over Presbyters or at most a Moderator to propos matters only Yet if he was superior over Ministers how fondly is it inferred to be lawful becaus he was so for even in thos dawning da●● som things deviated from the Gospels purity as the name Prelat common to al Elders was appropriat to one Thus like Wind-millers they make every wind serv their turns Ire●●●● saith the Apostles appointed Bishops in thos Churches which they planted Beza clean contrary to his mind and meaning interprets it of Pastors Doctors and ruling Elders not constituted by their authority but chosen by the Parishes For when any Officer was elected the Apostle present consecrated him to the Lord by laying on hands in the name of the Presbytery Jerom testifies That from St. Marc to his time a Bishop was placed in higher degree abov Presbyters as a Captain in an Army Cartwright seeks strange shifts to shadow it 1. That the Presbyters did it without Marcs order 2. That the words from Marcs time are exclusiv as if that superiority began after his time which is flatly fals for he cals Marc Bishop of Alexandria and his successors superior in degree o● dignity 3. That in saying it was so at Alexandria he implies it was not so elswher Is not his a goodly gloss 4. He cries ou● against the pravity of thos primitiv times which is a more ingenuous agnition but a silly shelter or Sanctuary for no wit of Man can evade or exclude it Jerom saith farther It was ordered by Decrce of the whol World That to suppre●● Schisms one should be chosen by the Priests abov the rest Beza boldly givs him the ly which the testy old Man if he the● lived would retort in his throat that it was not so Many Antients Iren●us Cyprian Tertullian Jerom Ambros Austin cal Bishops the Apostles Successors And Ecclesiastic Writers draw long Catalogs of their names in several Sees which thos Father 's urged against upstart Heretics in their dais but when Papists press such succession at Rome and elswher we deny not the truth of it but answer that personal succession is very effectual if Doctrinal concur and thos Fathers in urging the first had a special ey to the last becaus such Heretics oppugned som points of Apostolic Doctrin Yet Cartwright and his Cru contend that by Bishops are meant Parochial Pastors stiled the Apostles Doctrinal successors and al Episcopal Catalogs are of Parish Priests Yea Sadeil excluding al personal succession grants Doctrinal to Laics if they hold the Apostles precepts and walk in their paths O dainty When swarms of Authors are cited that Timothy was Diocesan of Ephesus Cartwright givs the ly to al becaus St. Paul saith he was Evangelist So was S. Marc yet a Bishop When for Antiquity of Archbishops Clemens Anacletus Anicetus Epiphanius Ambros c. are urged together with St. Austins rule That wher a name is so old and origin not extant it should seem Apostolic Cartwright cals the citing of antient Authors a raking of Hel and saith thos times were not pure Virgin-like branding Clemens Anacletus and Anicetus as conterfet cranks haply som forgeries were vented in their names and slights Epiphanius that he wrote according to his time but rejects Ambroses Book de dignitate Sacerdotum as foisted When for the Office of Archdeacon Damasus Sixtus Sozomen and Socrates are quoted Cartwright answers That Damasus spake in the Dragons voice the best ground bears thistles and thos times were corrupt Thus they either wiredraw the Fathers words to their own fancy or deny their authority which are easy evasions When Ignatius terms a Bishop Prince of Priests and Cyril and Tertullian high-Priest Cartwright cursedly censures that such Proctors presum to put our Saviour out of his Office yet they are only stiled his Substituts on Earth when al confes it to be the joint judgment of the Catholic Church and Councils that Bishops are the best remedies to repel Schisms and Heresies Beza and Cartwright cry they are al deceived for ther were great controversies and contentions stil under their regiment 'T is tru for Christ foretold it wil be so stil til the end When a cloud of primitiv witnesses is produced for the lawful use of Holy dais Cartwright complains That Truth is measured by the crooked yard of time and appeals from authority to Scripture wherof he wil be sole Judg and Interpreter When the whol stream of Fathers and Councils is urged to prov the Churches power in al indifferent things not prescribed by Gods Word he carps how he is pestered with human authorities instead of the Prophets and Apostles shaking them off as St. Paul did the Viper with one blast that the things asserted are now questioned
the Church is subject to the State in Temporals but in Spiritual things of the Soul and service of God Christ intrusts none sav thos to whom he commits the Keis of his hous wherin simple Laics may not meddle Rustica Ruricolae tractent fabrilia Fabri Let Clowns to Ploughing bend And Smiths their forging tend Thos then that deny any of thes things must renounce al History Authority and Antiquity but Men are so wedged to their Tenets that they wil seek al shifts which their wits can invent contrary to common sens as the sequel shal shew Som Objections occur Ob. S. Paul saith That the Elders which rule wel are worthy 1 Tim. 5. 17. of duple honor specialy if they labor in the Word and Doctrin Ergo ther be two sorts of Elders som meer Rulers who meddle not with the Word som Preachers or Dispensers therof Sol. Cujus contrarium verum est for how can thes labor in the Word and Doctrin if they be Lay Elders 't is a fallacious inference to dis-join what the Holy Ghost conjoins for he speaks only of spiritual Elders which were both Rulers and Teachers no Laics nor can such labor in the Word surely S. Paul knew no such and St. Peter in general exhorts al Elders 1 Pet. 5. 1● being also an Elder to feed the Flock which no Laic can doo nor is any so impudent or ignorant to aver that he or any of the Elders were Laics only he a superior and the rest inferiors yet al of one rank but no Lay Elders extant or couchant in the new Testament for Church and Common-wealth are two distinct Oeconomies having several Officers avant then al invasion into ech others Jurisdiction Indeed they had divers Rom. 12. 5. Eph. 4. 11. Gifts or Graces of Prophecying speaking Toungs Ministring Teaching Exhorting Commucating Ruling som to be Apostles som Prophets som Evangelists som Pastors som Doctors but no meer Laics such were Chimaera's or Catamountains 1 C●● 12. 28. The Gifts of the spirit to edification are the word of wisdom knowledg faith healing miracles prophecy discerning of spirits interpretation of toungs But this provs not Ruling Elders to differ from Bishops nor any to be Laics but flatly disprovs it St. Paul warns the Elders to be wary of grievous Wolfs ●ct● 〈◊〉 29. which wil not spare the Flock so his Elders that ruled wel were spiritual Overseers and to labor in the Word by converting som and confirming others is the main office of Presbyters ab origine For the Office of Presbyters is both to teach and govern of Prelats to govern and teach but no Laics to doo either in the Church Gods Word hath not a word tending that way nor mentions any Ministerial Orders or Officers sav Bishops Presbyters and Deacons But Evangelists had only a mission or Commission to preach no Ordination distinct from Presbyters and Deacons If any Laics ever Ruled in primitiv times what becam of them that no Records remain of their names nor nois or notice of their suppression sure the Laiety was far too potent and politic to be discarded or degraded by the Clergy Is it probable or possible that the whol Church would or could conspire to smother or strangle in the birth such a sacred Institution of our Lord Jesus and his holy Apostles Or would Laics so tamely take it Nay is it credible or conceivable that al antient Fathers Ecclesiastic writers Oecumenic Conncils should so impiously combine to extirp or extermin its entity and memory that no one witnes appeers in any History unless by som who partialy and preposterously wrest obscure word and bring their meaning with them as they serv sacred Scriptures wherof they wil be sole Interpreters If any one can name any one such he shal carry the caus Let Christians consult with common sens upon thes things ye● they credulously resign up their Reason to every Sectist Bishops in thos dais did nothing without Presbyters advise or assent but by degrees assumed and arrogated al rule to themselfs as haply Presbyters would if they had prevailed of which usurpation St. Jerom and other Godly Men complained pressing them to communicat many matters with Presbyters as Moses did to the Sanedrim but of Lay Elders like the Sanedrim ne gry quidem in al the Scripture or Antiquity which is irrefragable indeniable verity The Apostles used no Laics service but ordeined Deacons even to serv Tables much less would they make them Partners ●n Church government Ob. Som say Presbyters alone may ordein becaus St. Paul 1 Tim. 4 14. exhorts Timothy not to neglect the gift in him which he had by Prophecy with laying on hands of the Presbytery Ergo the Elders of themselfs ordeined him Sol. Speak seriously and sincerely Doth any beleev this to be tru or only wish it were so Certes S. Paul ordeined him 1 Tim. 1. 6. Deacon Presbyter and Bishop though assisted by Elders as heself avers which words no way prov that they can or did ordein alone without an Apostle or B●shop in chief Hence som render them Neglect not the gift of Eldership or Episcopat given by my Imposition of hands which carries so fair a color as the former gloss but however construed they prov not that Elders ever ordeined him of themselfs without St. Paul● Repl. 'T is urged That every Presbyter is a Father so wel as Prelats for St. Paul saith Rebuke not an Elder but exhort 1 Tim 5. 〈◊〉 him as a Father and the yonger Men as Brethren Ergo Presbyters are Fathers and ordein young Novices as Sons or Brethren Sol. Is not this to wrest wrench or wiredraw Scripture on the rack and tainter hooks to a wrong sens every poor blind ey can see that the Apostle apertly denots Elders in yeers even Laics not in Orders for the next words are the elder Women as Moth●rs and younger as Sisters which cannot be meant of spiritual Elders unles they wil make old Presbyteres●es and young Diaconesses Nor if they be formaly caled Fathers for gravity doth it folow that they may ordein Sons But St. Paul descends afterwards to Ecclesiastic Elders advising him to receiv no accusation against such under two or three ve●s 19. 20. 21. witnesses with a strict charge to doo nothing partialy in preferring one before another nor to lay hands suddenly on any al which argu his eminent Episcopal authority over al the Elders wherof were many at Ephesus yet could they not lay hands on any without him what can be cleerer He that hath ears let him listen what the spirit speaks To the Angel or Bishop of Ephesus Rev. 2. 2 3 I know thy works labor and patience how thou triedst them which say they are Apostles and are not but hast found them lyers and for my names sake hast labored and not fainted Thes are no functions for every Elder to try fall Prophets or censure them but only for the chief Angel wherof was only
as they approved may be set over them which was somtime granted somtime not but to ordein of themselfs Saul and Vzziah had so much right to offer Incens as they to doo it Al humble Christians look to the rock whence they were hewen and pit wherout they were digged who did not make Ministers but they sent by Christ made People Christians Such as sat in darknes had light brought them and were found of God by his Ministers sent as Shepherds to the lost Sheep which sought not God So ther is no caus for People to embrace that fury folly and faction which would lay al in common sith Levellers can allege nothing to repeal the divine approbation of Ministry which hath continued a peculiar peaceable possession to Church Officers by Christs Institution for sixteen Centuries without cessation in a constant successon of Ordination We grant People in a particular Parish or Congregation may desire a special Man to be their Prelat or Pastor as thos of Milan did St. Ambros but cannot chus by their proper power much less Ordein as Souldiers may petition the General for one to be their Captain but cannot chus creat or constitut any without Commission They may so wel set up a new Christ or new Gospel as new Ministry or new Ordination which Christ hath doon once for al times and places to the Worlds end without Peoples interest A wise Spaniard said 'T is better in a State to prefer corrupt Men then silly Sots the one like a Theef in a Vinyard wil only take ripe Grapes til he be satiat but the other as an Ass eats ripe and green treads down al with his heels and being filled tumbles in it to spoil al such is the unskilful Vulgar in Church affairs Quest Som scornfully ask what can Bishops confer in Ordination more then other Men what charm is in their praiers or imposing of hands to invest Church power or how can they giv the Graces of the holy Ghost why doo they claim to be caled Clerics as peculiar to that Tribe and contemptuously cal others Laics sith al the Lords People are the lot of his Inheritance being spiritualy annointed to be Kings Priests Prophets Answ Thes Scarrows are soon repelled 1. Touching the term or title of Clergy and Laity which captious Critics imput as pride in Ecclesiastics to incens People against them this distinction was ever used ab initio as al antient Fathers Councils and Histories ratify nor is the one upbraided as a badg of vainglory to the Ministry nor the other aspersed as a brand of infamy to the People but only to difference both calings as 't is in our Laws and Language Nor is it avers to Scripture sens which cals them Pastor and Flock Doctor and Disciple Ruler and Ruled yea al Faithful in general are stiled Clerus a Church or portion of the Lords heritage but Ministers in special Clerus Ecclesiae a lot given by the Lord to his Acts 2. 6. Acts. 13. 2 3. Church as consecrat apart to his service So the Apostles chos Matthias by lot and the holy Ghost after said Separat Barnabas and Paul for the work wherto I hav caled them who having fasted praid and layd on hands sent them away Gods Ministers disdain not to be counted or caled his People as Children of one spiritual Father and brethren of the same Family of Faith Nor wil humble Christians covet to be clyped Clerics or scorn the appellation of Laics to avoid confusion of Calings who accompt or acknowledg tru Bishops and Ministers as their Fathers Overseers and Instructers Men may so wel bogle at the words Trinity three persons and Sacraments which are not found in the letter but truth and sens of Scripture Nor is Logomachy or word-war fit for wise Men being a meer Sciomachy or shadow-fight like stumbling at straws and syllabical scruples No Religion bars convenient compendious terms to distinguish degrees but thes word-Carpers hav a malitious meaning to make People abandon both Name and Thing even the Office and Ordination 2. To the demand what charm is in Bishops hands or praiers to confer the holy Ghost more then in others so wel or better gifted It may so wel be asked as Atheists and Apostats use what virtu is in Baptism water to wash away sin regenerat sinners confer Grace or represent Christs blood more then in other as proud Catabaptists contested Or what efficacy in Bread and Wine at the Lords Supper more then in the same Elements at usual Tables or Taverns How doth the form of consecration by using Christs words ad or alter them At this rate of carnal reasoning Men may cavil at Christs Deity and Humanity for the outward poverty of his life and death which made many doubt or deny him to be the tru Messias So this fond futilous frivolous question fals to ground with its own weight or weaknes as if there were more light in lat modern Meteors then in the great Lamps Sun Moon and Stars of Scripture Church and antient Christians who with the same holy humble Faith as they beleev Jesus to be the promised Messias maugre al which blind Jews and babarous Infidels obtrud doo also religiously reverence al his holy Orders and Ordinances how poor or plain soever setled in his Church Nor doth the means of outward appeerance weaken their duty or devotion who liv by Faith see with the ey of Faith and act with Faiths hand in al divine mysteries For God makes foolish things effectual by his spirit and Grace to thos high holy ends for which they were ordeined So 't is not any Magic charm which makes common Accedit Verbū Elemento fit Sacramentum Elements becom Sacraments being consecrat by Ministers nor in Bishops hands and praiers to ordein them but his powerful Word and Spirit who commands the duty confirms the Order and givs a blessing to Ministerial Ordination so wel as to al other Ordinances The result is That Ordination makes nothing to Ministers Natural Moral or Spiritual endowments nor doth it confer any Physical power no more then the Office of a Judg Ambassador or martial Commander to their personal abilities but invests them alone with authority to exercise thos Functions which none els may presum to perform who hath not that order of Office consigned to him Nor can any power in Men make a Gospel Minister though never so gifted to consecrat holy duties sav only such as are set apart or separat therto by du Ordination The benefits therof are manifest and manifold 1. For Gods glory and salvation of Mens Souls by beleeving tru Ministers testimony that Jesus Christ is sole Saviour of the World who began this Ordinance and sent som special witnesses to proclaim him by a constant continual succession in al ages and places til his secund coming 2. It evidenceth the Churches care and fidelity both in preserving the divine Oracles and in celebrating holy Mysteries as Seals to confirm
were ordeined Bishops Presbyters and Deacons as is evident in the new Testament The next succession is cleer by testimony of Clement and other Apostilic Men beyond exception or evasion al which entring by the Dore are as tru Shepherds Stewards Fathers Rulers and Watchmen over the Flock being caled the Light of the World Salt of the Earth Fishers of Men Stars in his right hand Angels of the Churches c. who are charged to Preach the Word in season and out to feed Lambs to care for the Flock to fulfil their Ministry to exhort command and Rebuk with al Authority to whom Christ gav many peculiar privileges and promises of special assistance Hence 't is cleer as the Noonday that som not al and thos ordeined not voluntiers are sent successivly by Christs authority to doo the work of the Ministry which dreadful imploiment injoined with a bitter Wo if neglected the very Angels wil not undergo unles sent nor then without horror much less should sinful Men to whom a duple Wo is du desperatly dare to intrud being unsent uncaled unordeined and unfurnished which is proud presumption As then som are duly invested with Ministerial power and strictly injoined to use it for the Churches good so al others not impowered tho never so wel gifted are flatly forbid to usurp that sacred Office or confer what they never received on others which neither Melchisedec Moses Aaron Samuel nor any of the Prophets no nor Christ John Baptist the Apostles Evangelists or any tru Bishops and Presbyters ever durst to arrogat without divine mission or commission mediatly or immediatly derived from Christ This Ministerial Ordination hath continued abov sixteen Centuries by lawful succession even to wonder amidst al Persecutions Confusions and changes of Human affairs For Christ promiseth to be with his Church and Ministers to the Worlds end and Hel●gates shal not prevail against them This laying on of Hebr 6. 1 3. Hands in Ordination is reckoned among the fundamental Principles of Religion joyned with Faith Repentance Baptism Resurrection and last Judgment nor can Confirmation be duly doon to the Baptised and Catechised sav by such as are ordeined therto which to gainsay is as if Men should reject thos other grand Articles forecited Surely al divine Ministrations of Preaching Celebrating the Sacraments and other Ordinances necessary to the being so wel as wel being of a Church had ceased long since if God had assigned no peculiar Men to hold forth the great Salvation which leavs Men excuseless sith they are taught by such as hav special Characters or Letters of Credence from Christ if they wil not hear Moses and the Prophets or Men sent by him whom wil they beleev Ther be four sorts of Laborers in Gods harvest som sent by him soly as Moses most Prophets the twelv Apostles St. Paul som by Gods assignation but Mans Ordination as Aaron Josua Elisha Timothy som by Ordination of the Church yet of Christs institution as al Evangelical Ministers duly ordered som not sent by God or Man but run or rush in of themselfs as fals Prophets Deceivers Intruders Sectists and al Satans Disciples who boast of extraordinary Enthusiasm as Angels of light saying Thus saith the Lord When he never sent nor spak by them For no Beleever though indued with great Gifts and Graces as St. Ambros had before he becam Bishop ought to assum Ministerial power for then every Christian of both Sexes as ther be sundry She-Preachers which pretend to the Spirit in thes licentious times may claim the Keis to themselfs and dispens Holy things to others or rule Christs Houshold in his stead which repugns common Reason as if every domestic Servant or Scullion should chalenge the Stewards place or every Member arrogat the office of Eys Toung or Hands becaus they belong to the same Soul Body and Head Sith then no Natural Moral or Religious gifts or abilities can instate any to be a Magistrat Judg Ambassador or public Officer unles he be invested by the Fountain of Civil power So ther should be a right derivation of Spiritual Power from Christ Jesus as Head either immediatly as the Apostles had or mediatly as Bishops and Presbyters since who without fraud force or unjust Usurpation received it from the Apostles by Praier Benediction and imposition of Hands in Christs name Which pregnant truth morosely to deny is as if an Hog should answer al Arguments with grunting Yea to act against so strong a stream of authority befits only Ranters Seekers Shakers and Enthusiasts or Jews Turcs and Infidels but not sober Christians or Members of the Church which ever enjoyed a tru succession of ordeined Ministry wherby the Gospels light is continued to this day amidst al Pagan persecutions Heresical confusions and Schismatical Fractions bent to undermine it Al Nations by Natures lore owned som Deity and had peculiar Persons to execut Religious Rites nor did ever any sober Men reject Gods service for Ministers faults frailties or infirmities For a Divine must be distinguish'd from the Man sith Gods power works with human weaknes nor need we be more nice or nauseous Lastly ther is a necessity of ordeined Ministry sith none of free accord wil undergo so hard and hazardous a task in times of primitiv Persecutions to hold forth the doctrin of a crucified Saviour as al carnal Men deemed it unles they had the duty of divine caling laid on their Consciences Yet however in the Gospels Halcyon serenity many new Teachers out of avarice or popular ambition rush rashly upon it which the best Men durst not weild without weeping as St. Austin did when he was made Presbyter and trembling thos rigid storms of yore would hav quenched the now so forward flashes of thes Sparks when to be a Prelat or Presbyter was to expose themselfs to fire and fagot wild Beasts jaws and a thousand tortures So unles divine authority had imposed and special Grace assisted together with promises of eternal Glory doubtles the glorious Gospel of salvation had yet this time bin buried in oblivion fith none had heard or beleeved that report if none had dared to preach or publish it as Men sent and ordeined did Nor would any els be so fool hardy to hazard al worldly interests honor estate liberty life on such an uncouth unwelcom unsafe message unles they had bin conscious of a special duty laid on them by divine authority derived in that solen sacred Ordination of Ministry Whence St. Paul denounced a Wo to himself if he preached not the Gospel For every one that can handle the Hod Hammer or Trowel is not instantly an Architect Nor can every gifted Man supply the place of such a Workman as hath both Materials Tools Art and Approbation Ther is great ods betwen plausible cunning to draw Disciples and sincere conscience to make folowers of Christ betwen intruding popular Masters and tru ordeined Ministers betwixt clambring over the wal like Robbers or Plunderers and
Balthasaer being stil pure silver So our Ministry is Ez●a 7. 〈◊〉 non 〈◊〉 Ministe i●m holy and divine if refined from superstition as al other Ordinances are though derived through corrupt chanels of the Romish Church Hence our Reformers did not dig new Wels of Ministerial Ordination as Papists falsly aspers which Mr. Mason refuts but purified the puddle water according to Apostolic Institution not requiring more of any ordeined in the Church of Rome then to renounce their superstitious errors Which doon they were admitted to exercise the Ministry received both truly as to the substance and duly to succession without reordination For though that Sword had contracted Rev. 2. 12. rust yet was it the same with two edges which cam out of Jesus Christs mouth nor may it be broken or cast off becaus rusty but cleered clensed furbished from dulnes or bluntnes Ministers may stil continu Gods Laborers though Loiterers Mat. 26 40. as Christ owned his Disciples when they could not wake or watch one hour in his heavy horrid agony Our Antiministerial Antagonists hav less color to argu it Antichristian from Papal usurpation then ther is Reason Scripture and Experience beside common consent of al Reformed Churches to prov it Authentic For if envy teen and avarice did not blind their bloodshot eys they might cleerly see som mighty works wrought on Mens Souls by the Ministry without which thos cavilling calumniators had not bin so much Christian as they boast to be nor so able to contend with specious shews of Piety against the learned Ministry with whos Heifers they plough having nothing but what they received from them and are most ingrat wretches to their pristin Teachers We know that many Churches beside Reformed Gallican Popes Primacy began A 604. Venetian Grecian Russian Asian African deny the Popes universal Primacy of power being bought by proud Boniface 3. of proditorious Phocas the Parricid abov 1000 yeers ago who by Divine Right had no Jurisdiction farther then his own Dioces or Patriarchat limited by general Councils wher four other Patriarchs of Jerusalem Antioch Alexandria Constantinople had equal authority assigned in their several Precincts or Provinces as al know This Antichristian arrogation which gav first hint of revolt to Henry 8. our Bishops and Ministers stil abhorred so much as their Adversaries doo the Genevan Presbytery But it may be feared lest their preposterous zele or prepensed malice may prov the Popes best Engin if they can so far prevail to cashire al learned laborious duly ordeined Ministers which God forbid For then our Church wil becom a falow unfenced Feild fit for Papal subtlety which he wil Plough with an Ox and Ass co●yoked politic Jesuits with fanatic Donatists Seminary Priests with gifted Brethren Friers mendicant with Prophets predicant who condog or comply in consortship under divers disguises as is wel known So that no wise Men judg otherwise of this conjuncture but that Jacobs hand is in the py and Ahitophel assistant in counsil with Absolon whos sly plots and practises against tru Ministry good Lord confound Reformations may bend so far on one hand til they meet on the other forsaking that rectitud of the mean in which the truth and honor of Religion consists Antichrist which som fear in name and in others more then in the thing or themselfs is at both ends of extrems of Prophanes defect and confusion on one side and excess of superstition on the other Every Man may suspect Antichrist in his own bosom sith the Kingdom of Christ and Antichrist is specialy within us but 't is better for the Church to retain what is Christs though in common with Antichrist then passionatly to cast off al under color of detesting him sith Men may fal into sacrilege which is too frequent while they seem to abhor Idols 'T is the same evil Spirit which rents the Church by Schisms and that which casts into the fire of persecution and water of superstition But as the Spirit of Idolatry may be cast out for a fit so he may soon return with seven Devils wors then himself Papal darknes and Mat. 12. 4● Human eclipsings are no warrant to extinguish the light of tru Ministry set up by Christ Nor can Men pleasure Satan more then to put out the Churches Candles instead of snuffing them but som hate our Ministry not for lighting their Lamps at the Popes Taper but for out-shining their dimnes for 't is madnes to cut their Fathers throats becaus they were once sick or descended from diseased Parents if they are becom in sound perfect health Vulgar Spirits are uncouth Reformers who beat down or break in pieces with Axes and Hammers having no Chissels or finer tools to clens and polish as som pul down Crosses to set up Weather-coeks and batter Church windows becaus painted in time of Popery Mans usurpation cannot prejudice Gods dominion nor Human traditions or additions vacat divine Commands nor Antichrists superstitions cancel Christs Institutions nor the heady intrusion of som on Churches rights caus Christians to remov the antient Land-marks of tru Ministry du order and good Government fixed by Christ 'T is much more madnes to abolish the use of holy things then to lerat som abuses with it but right reforming is a staid sober restauration of antient venerable sorms which is never wel handled unless Men hav honest hearts good heads pure hands and cleer eys to discern direct and dispose it but when al meet they wil seriously sincerely and succesfully doo the work of Christ and his Church Christians hav no caus in Reason or Religion to reject our reformed Ministry for any succession from relation to or communion with the Roman Church or Clergy no more then the Objectors hav to pul out their eys becaus Papists see with theirs or destroy themselfs becaus issued from Popish Parents or Progenitors For we may so wel refuse al Leagues Treaties or common Commerce with them as al Rites of Christianity and even that as lawful Ministry or holy succession originaly derived from Christ and his Apostles So far of Ministry in general now of Episcopacy Ob. Som at first brunt oppose that our Ministry being conveied Epict●pacy by the hands of Bishops who are not of Christs planting and now supplanted by power the whol order as slips or branches of one stem or stock must needs fal or fail together with the trunck of the Tree Ergo both to be annulled Sol. Lo how thes Antiministerials cudgel Presbyters with the same staf which som of them put into Vulgar hands to beat their Reverend Fathers and banish Episcopat but what ever thos rigid Reformists secret or sinister intentions were surely they wanted the Serpents wisdom to sav the main Head whence life motion and direction descends to al parts wherby the lesser hurts or bruises might easily be recured For the envious and ambitious zele of such Antiprelatical Spirits aspiring to step up into their steads
hath produced sad events and given their Enimies great advantage so they hav work enough to keep the Lepry from their own Heads which they told the People had so fouly infected Bishops hands as could never be clensed unles cut off but al mortals are apt to doo amiss and 't is never too lat to rectify miscarriages Most Men confes nor can impudence gainsay it that the Order or Office is lawful wherby al Christian Churches were Governed however som inconveiniences yea mischiefs too arise from corruption of finful Men in al Professions Tho then Episcopy hath bin much shaken or depressed by power passion or privat ends to the impairing and indangering of the whol fabric or function yet wise Men may after this thick dust of disput see what is of God therin and regulat it by paring off what is depraved or deformed and restore it to primeval purity 'T is now no need to fear or flatter Bishops faces whos glory is gon but meer matter of Conscience to testify truth sith thos of different judgments take freedom to bespatter them so unjustly and unsavourly as they hoped by their il breath to blast that venerable caling and render it odious or execrable to weak Christians which to wise Men was ever like Aarons Ointment poured out Nor doth it lose divine fragrance by the fracture of il times which passionatly break the Alablaster boxes of civil protection which preserved it for many ages from vulgar insolence and Schismatical violence The like liberty is lawful to vindicat it by pregnant places of Scriptural precepts and precedents secunded with Catholic custom and practis of the Church and confirmed by the Laws of this Land To omit the main controversy of its lawfulnes and to whiten two Wals with one Trowel two points principaly shal be handled 1. To remov a popular Odium or Plebeian passion and prejudication taken up by weak yet haply wel minded Christians against Bishops Presidential authority over Presbyters 2. to justify the holy Ministerial Ordination duly doon by their hands One rub riseth from their lat disasters whom if Arguments and Words could not yet Arms and Swords hav suppressed For vulgar minds are apt to judg thos unjust that are unprosperous and cursed who are punished as Turcs use to doom Yet in tru sens their many miseries may no more be urged against their Persons or Places then Jobs afflictions which Satan never alleged against his integrity Many wish that al Prelats and Presbyters were chief Suff●rers yea that the Word Sacraments and al holy Ministrations should ceaf but Religious Rites must not be mesured by Mens passions or prevalences nor any secular sanctions For ther were pious Prelats preposited abov Presbyters before any Civil power protected them and by Gods Grace may so continu maugre al oppression or persecution The things of Christ and tru Religion may not be received or refused as Ushered in or crowded out by Civil power nor doth Christ steer his Ship by that compass sith at the same rate of Worldly frowns we should hav no Scriptures Sacraments sound Doctrins or holy Ordinances but al had bin turned into Heathenish barbarity Hereticla errors and Schismatical confusions if conscience to God and Christ had not conserved thes sacred things by the pious patience of holy Bishops and Ministers whom wicked Worldlings ever hated seeking to destroy root and branch through the sides of Episcopacy Bishops Government as referred to the chief office of Ordination is no way Popish or Antichristian as too many ignorantly or malitiously chatter tho the pride ambition or avarice of some Prelats might make them justly odious becaus contrary to Christs precept and patern whos place Bishops as cheif Pastors or Parents among Presbyters hav alwais since the Apostles eminently held in the extern polity or Regiment of the Church So that the antient Presidentship over the Clergy in several Diocesan precincts as it was justly exercised in p●rer times is no less Christian then several Churches in al ages and places of the World Yea far beyond any form which hath not charity to brook or bear regulated Prelacy suting with Scripture and Antiquity For Lutheran Superintendents are Bishops in truth tho not title yea the most learned Genevins Calvin Beza Moulin Salmatius Bochartus Blundel acknowledg Episcopat a pious institution succeding in the Apostles steads by the Churches counsil and Consent So far is any sober impartial uninteressed Man from dooming or deeming it unlawful unles they be blinded with blockish ignorance or possessed with peevish arogance Certes the learnedst Presbyterians are best Friends and blind Zelots bittrest Foes to tru Episcopat who want science prudence humility and charity which is the best condiment of Christianity Orderly Presbytery which admits one to Preside is a lesser Episcopy to oversee particular Flocks yet not to expel or extirp Bishops nor is headless or many headed Presbytery necessary by divine right but primitiv Prelacy which imports one grav worthy Person chosen by consent and assisted by counsil of sundry Presbyters to preside over them is to be preferred before al other forms for many weighty Reasons insuing 1. Becaus al Apostolic Antients Ignatius Justin Martyr Reason 1 Polycarp Tertullian Cyprian Irenaeus jointly attest that one stil Episcopized in every City For at first a few Presbyters served in ech by Apostolic appointment but as converts increased they constituted several Colleges Companies or Consistories as the Churches Colonies which one Supervisor as Captain or Commander overruled Aerius upon envy against Eustachius who got a Bishoprick from him was the first that pressed Clerical parity contrary to the Churches old Order but if the Apostles had not instituted it how could al Churches uniformly conspire therin al the World over For tho at first the name was common to al Church Ministers even Apostles yet after their deaths it was peculiarly confined to their Successors in place and power 2. To avoid scandal of other Churches which for far a major part are governed by Bishops in degree dignity and authority abov Presbyters For 't is no prudence or piety to widen differences wherby Papists gain great advantage to esteem us less Christian in utterly abolishing that Catholic Order and by consequent tru Ordination of Ministers together with sacred Ordinances Yea Reformed Churches allow a Presidence among Presbyters nor doo the learned hold it caus enough to seperat from any Church for having Bishops as Peter Martyr Zanchius Vid●lius Gerard Gro●●us D●o●at and Alsted agree 3. To preserv the power of Ministerial Ordination and Succession which som sober Presbyterians specialy Blondel hold to be best strengthned by Episcopy becaus it was the universal way wherby Ministry and Christianity hav bin derived to this day the resecting wherof is most advantageous to al Cavillers against Godly Ministry 4. Tru Episcopat never had had a free ful or fair hearing as so great a matter requires nor was it ever convicted to repugn Scripture as som shamelesly assert
against them hath lost al power to both and marred al by overweening Ther were many excellent Prelats antient and modern whos incomparable worth while som puny pety Presbyters scornfully or scurrilously vilified they seem as so many Daws perching on Pauls pinacles or like living Dogs bearding dead Lions Nor doo such impotent impudent toungs tuned to vulgar ears against Episcopal caling becom Men which pretend to piety learning goodnes gravity charity civility or common christianity Bishops personal faults can no more be excused then Presbyters or any others in the exercise of their Functions But som malecontents like water violently pent up by Fludgates violently break forth and bear away the whol sluce of Government which might be better managed or moderated by du bounds set to both Ordinary Ministers seem as younger Brothers who lived handsomly or happily under their Fathers tuition scattered or exposed to al injuries and miseries that many as prodigal Sons are fain to feed on the husks of popular favors who may not repine at the measure offred by others which they insolently meted to their Fathers Elies scandalous Sons annulled not their service or sacrifices much less the Priestly Office which depends not on the persons administring but Gods authority commanding and right investiture into the Function So that the misdemenors or miscarriages of Bishops and Ministers may blot or blemish the beauty but not bereav the being of Religious duties or their calings no more then lapses after Baptism doo unbaptise any Christian Wherher Bishops ordeined Presbyters by divine Apostolic right or exercised Ordination Confirmation and Jurisdiction only by ecclesiastic custom in order of place among Presbyters it needs no curious debat But certes tru Episcopat is every way lawful and Ministers regularly ordeined right Pastors maugre al Traducers malice or gainsaying Nor was Christs Gospel or Ordinances any other way dispensed and dispersed sav only by succession of Episcopal Ordination which custom was ever deemed to be derived from Christ by his Apostles with a command of continuation Ignatius 〈◊〉 Ep. a● Ep● compares the harmony betwen a Bishop and his Presbyters to the strings of a wel set Harp yea to the accord betwen God the Father and Son as Mediator wher the samenes of divine Nature is an order of Priority in relation If the pipes of Ministerial power first laid in the Head-spring be stopped or defiled as al that passeth through earthen vessels wil in time which hav flowed so long in a du cours of Ordination they must not presently be cut off or dammed up nor the water diverted by Independent Wels and broken Buckets but rather clensed and repaired to carry holy Water like the Temples Vessels in their primitiv purity which is easily doon if pride policy and mundan interests be separated from thos of Christ and his Church by cashiring al sordid sinister ends of self-profit in Church Reformations O utinam If Ananias and Saphira were smiten for dissembling how much more shal such sacrilegious spirits which rob the Church instead of reforming As to Presbytery the Vocation is valid and venerable if in juncture with Bishops like Tortesses which are safest under that shel but som proud Presbyters casting it off stripped themselfs of their strongest shield being becom naked feeble and contemptible fit to be trampled under Rustic feet One rub rests touching Peoples right to chus and ordein Ministers Peoples Right which som say is essential and Ministry invalid without it But this pretext relies on a fals liberty which sundry sorts of Sectists jugging together like Partridges in smal Covies of fained Churches or Bodies assum to appoint their own Ministers and wil hav none sav such as shal comply with their humor whence their Chaplains flatter them to arrogat a power in al Church affairs which belongs not to them For they hav no such right either eminently as the Executioners power is in a Judg or virtualy as life in the Sun or causaly as heart in Fire or derivativly as the chief Magistrats power is in mean Constables and other Officers so it can only be exorbitantly as Corah claimed to make Priests and Rulers in Moses and Aarons rooms and Wat Tyler under Richard 2. for Gods Word yeelds no such precept or precedent in the Jewish Church for People to chus Priests or meddle with matters of holy concernment Nor did Christ alter any thing in extern maner or Ministry as to venture it on the rock of vulgar rudenes or rashnes which attends their weak heads and wild hands in Religious Rites but commended that care to his chosen Apostles and their Successors wherof Plebeians are incompetent and incapable If they should be supposed sufficient to try Ministers ability yet hav they no right to Ordein no more then a wise Man can send an Ambassador in his Princes name sith 't is delegated soly to such as Christ hath designed to dispens Ordination and not to the multitud be their gifts or graces never so good or great The People somtimes recommended Men to be Ordeined or accepted such Acts 6. 5. as the Apostles or Elders appointed but it never was derived from them as the Fountain nor conveied by them as fit conduits by which this holy stream of the Sanctuary is to flow Wise modest humble Christians are of al most shy to undergo such bold things as having no cal or command from Christ or his Church nor can expect a blessing on their rash attempts yet in our Church no Orders were conferred without the Peoples presence and Presbyters coassistance If People had sole power to ordein Ministers what sorry choice would they make how weakly would they examin how wildly ordein and what slovenly hands impose for they are more pleased with familiar rusticity then learned gravity and prefer a confident Mechanic to the ablest D●vine People may so wel be Preachers and Baptisers as Ordein any to be their Teachers who may so wel exercise the Ministerial power as confer it on others But if al hav right to the Keis as Stewards or Ministers of holy things then 't is not tru That Christ gav som to be Apostles Pastors and Teachers so every part may Eph 4. 11. 1 Cor. 12. 22. chalenge to be an Ey which peece of prophane confusion no Church ever allowed The Peoples presence at Ordination or acceptance of their Minister is a matter only of human prudence and civil compact for that particular place but no owning of power derived from Christ by Church Rulers to officiat for their Souls good Nor doth it indow him with any power but only appropriat him to take care of such a People For though Beleevers in primitiv times did oft express their lov to Bishops and Presbyters by their presence and cheerful concurrence in matters tending to public peace and good Government so far as modest discretion deemed decent yet they never presumed to claim hands in ordination but only requested the Rulers that such