not_o in_o all_o the_o church_n of_o christendom_n but_o neither_o approve_v nor_o know_v by_o the_o primitive_a church_n wherefore_o i_o require_v what_o you_o produce_v shall_v be_v both_o primitive_a and_o universal_a and_o this_o to_o interpret_v some_o place_n of_o scripture_n doubtful_a in_o itself_o not_o plain_a now_o as_o to_o the_o business_n in_o hand_n i_o can_v yield_v that_o the_o scripture_n be_v very_o doubtful_a in_o it_o or_o scarce_o doubtful_a at_o all_o for_o though_o in_o scripture_n it_o be_v not_o in_o terminis_fw-la say_v presbytery_n and_o episcopacy_n be_v both_o one_o and_o the_o same_o order_n yet_o the_o circumstantial_a expression_n be_v as_o i_o have_v show_v so_o strong_a and_o many_o that_o they_o be_v equivalent_a to_o a_o clear_a expression_n in_o terminis_fw-la second_o this_o be_v not_o a_o matter_n of_o any_o indifferency_n but_o of_o vast_a and_o dangerous_a consequence_n if_o mistake_v that_o a_o church_n without_o such_o bishop_n as_o you_o 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the_o identity_n i_o full_o agree_v with_o tertullian_n we_o can_v make_v no_o judgement_n de_fw-fr rebus_fw-la fidei_fw-la nisi_fw-la ex_fw-la literis_fw-la fidei_fw-la of_o matter_n of_o faith_n but_o from_o the_o write_n of_o faith_n that_o be_v the_o scripture_n and_o therefore_o i_o shall_v never_o be_v pull_v from_o this_o pillar_n of_o truth_n the_o scripture_n be_v our_o complete_a rule_n of_o faith_n no_o opinion_n be_v heretical_a and_o damnable_a which_o be_v not_o against_o that_o now_o good_a reader_n i_o pray_v take_v notice_n that_o epiphanius_n be_v a_o very_a godly_a bishop_n in_o the_o main_a but_o yet_o a_o very_a choleric_a man_n as_o appear_v in_o that_o his_o fierce_a contest_v with_o john_n bishop_n of_o constantinople_n and_o his_o bitter_a expression_n therein_o which_o i_o do_v not_o mention_v in_o disparagement_n of_o this_o holy_a man_n but_o only_o to_o give_v the_o reader_n a_o caution_n to_o remember_v that_o passionate_a man_n do_v sometime_o censure_v 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some_o opinion_n of_o his_o own_o then_o st._n austin_n recount_v several_a of_o his_o opinion_n whereof_o this_o be_v one_o that_o he_o affirm_v there_o be_v no_o difference_n between_o a_o bishop_n and_o a_o presbyter_n where_o i_o pray_v you_o observe_v st._n austin_n give_v we_o the_o reason_n why_o he_o rank_n he_o with_o heretic_n viz._n because_o he_o fall_v into_o the_o arrian_n heresy_n then_o follow_v and_o he_o add_v some_o opinion_n of_o his_o own_o st._n austin_n call_v these_o opinion_n not_o heresy_n for_o he_o do_v not_o say_v he_o add_v more_o heresy_n of_o his_o own_o second_o i_o pray_v you_o observe_v st._n austin_n make_v no_o mention_n of_o his_o affirm_v the_o identity_n of_o order_n but_o only_o this_o that_o there_o be_v no_o difference_n at_o all_o between_o bishop_n and_o presbyter_n wherein_o i_o will_v condemn_v aerius_n as_o well_o as_o you_o but_o as_o for_o the_o identity_n of_o order_n it_o be_v well_o know_v that_o st._n austin_n be_v note_v by_o medina_n a_o papist_n writer_n and_o other_o to_o incline_v to_o this_o opinion_n but_o for_o my_o part_n i_o think_v the_o word_n quote_v from_o st._n austin_n do_v not_o express_v any_o opinion_n one_o way_n or_o other_o to_o this_o purpose_n but_o be_v only_o a_o compliment_n to_o st._n hierom_n who_o be_v but_o a_o prespyter_n yet_o in_o humility_n st._n austin_n be_v a_o bishop_n acknowledge_v he_o to_o be_v his_o superior_a in_o many_o thing_n but_o i_o desire_v you_o to_o take_v notice_n of_o another_o very_a remarkable_a and_o most_o worthy_a passage_n of_o st._n austin_n who_o tell_v we_o plain_o that_o we_o be_v not_o to_o read_v he_o or_o any_o other_o author_n ever_o so_o holy_a or_o ever_o so_o learned_a with_o any_o obligation_n to_o submit_v to_o his_o or_o their_o opinion_n unless_o they_o prove_v their_o opinion_n by_o scripture_n or_o convince_a reason_n so_o then_o have_v aerius_n be_v declare_v both_o by_o epiphanius_n and_o st._n austin_n also_o to_o have_v be_v a_o heretic_n in_o this_o very_a particular_a of_o identity_n of_o order_n yet_o they_o bring_v neither_o scripture_n nor_o any_o reason_n at_o all_o but_o mere_o a_o bare_a narrative_a of_o aerius_n and_o his_o opinion_n not_o so_o much_o as_o call_v his_o opinion_n in_o this_o particular_a heresy_n much_o less_o offer_v proof_n for_o it_o by_o st._n augustine_n rule_n we_o may_v with_o great_a civility_n to_o they_o and_o great_a confidence_n in_o the_o truth_n still_o affirm_v the_o identity_n of_o order_n but_o how_o will_v i_o answer_v that_o objection_n take_v out_o of_o st._n hierom_n who_o say_v you_o be_v as_o great_a a_o leveller_n of_o bishop_n with_o priest_n as_o any_o and_o therefore_o whatever_o come_v from_o he_o you_o may_v be_v sure_o be_v extract_v from_o he_o by_o the_o powerfulness_n of_o undeniable_a truth_n yet_o he_o confess_v that_o
bishop_n have_v the_o authority_n of_o ordination_n more_o than_o presbyter_n a_o man_n may_v smile_v to_o see_v this_o use_v as_o a_o argument_n for_o the_o preeminency_n of_o bishop_n which_o be_v direct_o against_o it_o for_o st._n hierom_n have_v discourse_v of_o the_o equality_n and_o identity_n of_o presbyter_n and_o bishop_n and_o have_v bring_v many_o argument_n from_o scripture_n to_o prove_v that_o bishop_n and_o presbyter_n be_v only_o two_o name_n for_o one_o and_o the_o same_o office_n for_o a_o further_a confirmation_n hereof_o ask_v this_o question_n i_o pray_v what_o do_v a_o bishop_n do_v more_o than_o a_o presbyter_n except_o ordination_n plain_o intimate_v thereby_o that_o this_o can_v make_v no_o such_o distinction_n of_o eminency_n in_o they_o above_o presbyter_n i_o beseech_v you_o consider_v do_v not_o presbyter_n perform_v office_n of_o a_o high_a nature_n than_o ordination_n presbyter_n be_v ordain_v ambassador_n for_o christ_n to_o preach_v his_o holy_a 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there_o lie_v yet_o a_o great_a objection_n make_v by_o our_o good_a bishop_n hall_n he_o tell_v we_o how_o that_o collutbus_fw-la a_o presbyter_n of_o alexandria_n take_v upon_o he_o to_o ordain_v other_o and_o that_o afterward_o in_o a_o council_n of_o a_o hundred_o bishop_n in_o egypt_n their_o ordination_n be_v declare_v null_n because_o ordain_v by_o a_o presbyter_n from_o this_o and_o some_o other_o such_o instance_n the_o bishop_n will_v prove_v that_o the_o order_n of_o presbyter_n be_v not_o capable_a to_o ordain_v therefore_o bishop_n be_v a_o distinct_a order_n i_o be_o sorry_a so_o good_a a_o man_n have_v no_o better_a a_o proof_n for_o his_o intend_a purpose_n it_o seem_v he_o quite_o forget_v how_o that_o the_o famous_a council_n of_o nice_a consist_v of_o above_o three_o hundred_o make_v a_o canon_n wherein_o they_o declare_v that_o if_o any_o bishop_n shall_v ordain_v any_o of_o the_o clergy_n belong_v to_o another_o bishop_n diocese_n without_o consent_n and_o leave_v have_v of_o that_o bishop_n to_o who_o diocese_n they_o do_v belong_v their_o ordination_n shall_v be_v null_a you_o see_v then_o the_o irregular_a ordination_n of_o a_o bishop_n be_v as_o null_a as_o the_o irregular_a ordination_n of_o a_o presbyter_n therefore_o the_o irregular_a bishop_n and_o the_o irregular_a presbyter_n be_v of_o the_o same_o order_n of_o the_o same_o authority_n neither_o able_a to_o ordain_v be_v it_o not_o most_o evident_a by_o this_o that_o it_o be_v not_o their_o order_n but_o commission_n that_o make_v they_o capable_a to_o ordain_v sure_o a_o irregular_a bishop_n be_v of_o the_o same_o order_n with_o the_o regular_a be_v the_o line_n of_o his_o diocese_n like_o a_o conjurer_n circle_n within_o it_o he_o be_v a_o bishop_n without_o it_o he_o be_v none_o no_o but_o within_o it_o he_o have_v commission_n give_v he_o to_o ordain_v without_o it_o no_o commission_n no_o nor_o to_o act_v in_o his_o own_o diocese_n beyond_o his_o commission_n which_o be_v to_o 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concern_v chorepiscopi_fw-la much_o to_o our_o purpose_n when_o the_o apostle_n have_v settle_v bishop_n in_o every_o city_n with_o authority_n of_o ordain_v and_o govern_v the_o several_a church_n or_o congregation_n within_o the_o circuit_n of_o those_o city_n some_o be_v very_o large_a and_o therefore_o in_o process_n of_o time_n when_o more_o be_v convert_v to_o the_o faith_n and_o the_o congregation_n increase_v more_o in_o number_n and_o at_o great_a distance_n than_o the_o bishop_n himself_o can_v well_o have_v the_o overfight_a of_o the_o bishop_n choose_v some_o principal_a man_n for_o his_o assistance_n and_o divide_v his_o great_a circuit_n into_o several_a lesser_a circuit_n place_v these_o man_n as_o overseer_n under_o he_o and_o these_o be_v call_v chorepiscopi_fw-la that_o be_v country_z bishop_n and_o be_v much_o after_o the_o manner_n of_o our_o rural_a dean_n those_o chorepiscopi_fw-la country_n bishop_n be_v thus_o settle_v in_o authority_n to_o govern_v the_o 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when_o able_a and_o holy_a bishop_n be_v elect_v and_o therefore_o reverence_v and_o obey_v in_o all_o spiritual_a matter_n by_o the_o great_a as_o well_o as_o by_o the_o least_o these_o diligent_o and_o public_o before_o the_o congregation_n at_o set-time_n in_o the_o year_n chief_o at_o easter_n examine_v all_o those_o who_o have_v be_v convert_v to_o the_o faith_n from_o infidelity_n that_o year_n and_o all_o those_o who_o baptize_v in_o the_o faith_n desire_a admittance_n to_o the_o lord_n table_n and_o upon_o approbation_n and_o confirmation_n of_o the_o bishop_n fit_a person_n only_o be_v public_o baptise_a by_o he_o and_o at_o the_o church_n door_n assoon_o as_o church_n be_v build_v where_o the_o baptistery_n be_v place_v and_o then_o bring_v into_o the_o church_n and_o admit_v to_o the_o lord_n table_n and_o no_o inferior_a minister_n do_v either_o baptize_v or_o administer_v the_o holy_a communion_n unless_o it_o be_v by_o the_o bishop_n order_n on_o urgent_a occasion_n 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do_v we_o not_o see_v sometime_o the_o curate_n desire_v to_o please_v the_o fond_a mother_n child_n confirm_v so_o young_a as_o can_v without_o a_o miracle_n be_v of_o a_o capacity_n to_o understand_v those_o divine_a mystery_n beside_o it_o may_v often_o happen_v that_o a_o pious_a child_n well_o fit_v for_o the_o holy_a sacrament_n and_o perchance_o be_v weak_a earnest_o desire_v it_o before_o his_o death_n yet_o must_v stay_v some_o year_n till_o next_o visitation_n or_o take_v a_o long_a journey_n to_o the_o bishop_n for_o which_o he_o may_v want_v strength_n or_o mean_n to_o support_v he_o but_o in_o the_o primitive_a time_n the_o bishop_n confirm_v every_o year_n their_o diocese_n also_o be_v very_o narrow_a so_o that_o access_n to_o he_o be_v quick_a and_o easy_a and_o the_o work_n be_v as_o easy_a to_o the_o bishop_n yea_o and_o easy_a also_o to_o the_o inferior_a curate_n to_o instruct_v and_o prepare_v they_o for_o parent_n and_o master_n do_v then_o according_a to_o their_o 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against_o it_o nor_o can_v i_o discover_v the_o least_o ground_n of_o reason_n to_o forbid_v it_o inferior_a minister_n perform_v other_o office_n superior_a to_o it_o and_o certain_o equal_a to_o it_o though_o it_o be_v a_o sacrament_n which_o our_o church_n deny_v there_o be_v nothing_o in_o the_o world_n can_v be_v pretend_v but_o that_o in_o the_o begin_n bishop_n do_v only_o perform_v it_o to_o this_o i_o answer_v that_o from_o the_o very_a beginning_n there_o be_v no_o other_o priest_n but_o bishop_n as_o i_o have_v show_v you_o and_o then_o bishop_n do_v all_o other_o ministerial_a duty_n preach_v pray_o baptise_v catechise_v and_o in_o succeed_a age_n when_o there_o be_v several_a inferior_a priest_n not_o bishop_n all_o but_o confirm_v be_v ever_o transmit_v to_o they_o and_o to_o deacon_n also_o preach_v pray_v and_o baptise_v nay_o baptise_v tolerate_v in_o necessity_n to_o midwife_n i_o will_v glad_o see_v any_o such_o thing_n in_o antiquity_n and_o shall_v confirm_v the_o mean_a of_o all_o these_o be_v deny_v priest_n you_o will_v tell_v i_o there_o have_v be_v decree_n in_o some_o council_n to_o forbid_v it_o and_o will_v you_o be_v bind_v up_o to_o all_o the_o decree_n of_o council_n without_o scripture_n or_o any_o reason_n for_o they_o if_o once_o we_o leave_v scripture_n and_o hearken_v to_o the_o doctrine_n of_o man_n ever_o so_o holy_a ever_o so_o learned_a ever_o so_o primitive_a we_o shall_v soon_o be_v wheedle_v into_o the_o papist_n religion_n and_o many_o other_o error_n which_o the_o papist_n themselves_o now_o reject_v as_o i_o have_v declare_v at_o large_a before_o and_o therefore_o i_o forbear_v say_v more_o now_o to_o this_o purpose_n but_o proceed_v to_o a_o three_o consideration_n what_o will_v be_v the_o best_a mean_n to_o prepare_v youth_n for_o the_o receive_v the_o holy_a communion_n in_o every_o
unless_o the_o bishop_n receive_v a_o new_a commission_n to_o ordain_v as_o well_o as_o a_o new_a ordination_n if_o it_o be_v answer_v that_o these_o chorepiscopi_fw-la be_v mere_a priest_n send_v forth_o to_o have_v inspection_n only_o over_o other_o priest_n then_o i_o pray_v observe_v that_o these_o chorepiscopi_fw-la be_v mere_a priest_n take_v upon_o they_o to_o ordain_v other_o priest_n which_o certain_o have_v be_v madness_n for_o they_o to_o do_v have_v they_o then_o such_o a_o belief_n of_o bishop_n as_o be_v now_o require_v they_o may_v as_o well_o have_v undertake_v to_o create_v star_n in_o the_o heaven_n for_o if_o bishop_n only_o have_v receive_v a_o divine_a power_n from_o christ_n and_o his_o apostle_n to_o ordain_v priest_n he_o that_o have_v not_o this_o divine_a power_n of_o ordination_n can_v no_o more_o ordain_v a_o priest_n than_o a_o man_n without_o the_o divine_a power_n of_o creation_n can_v create_v a_o star_n both_o be_v impossible_a in_o nature_n from_o 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commission_n to_o act_v i_o doubt_v not_o but_o the_o chief_a bishop_n will_v be_v wary_a enough_o not_o to_o employ_v any_o contumacious_a person_n i_o conclude_v then_o first_o that_o it_o be_v only_o a_o mere_a mistake_n a_o easy_a and_o pardonable_a mistake_n of_o their_o commission_n second_o that_o in_o those_o time_n it_o be_v not_o think_v a_o impossible_a thing_n for_o bare_a priest_n no_o bishop_n to_o ordain_v other_o priest_n for_o then_o certain_o they_o will_v never_o have_v undertake_v it_o and_o i_o confess_v myself_o of_o their_o opinion_n and_o can_v but_o so_o continue_v till_o i_o see_v more_o reason_n to_o the_o contrary_n and_o i_o hope_v my_o reader_n will_v see_v what_o weak_a proof_n be_v bring_v for_o this_o distinction_n and_o superiority_n of_o order_n no_o scripture_n no_o primitive_a general_n council_n no_o general_a consent_n of_o primitive_a doctor_n and_o father_n no_o not_o one_o primitive_a father_n of_o note_n speak_v particular_o and_o home_o to_o our_o purpose_n only_o a_o touch_n of_o epiphanius_n and_o st._n austin_n upon_o aerius_n the_o arrian_n heretic_n but_o not_o declare_v no_o not_o by_o they_o a_o heretic_n in_o this_o particular_a of_o episcopacy_n so_o that_o i_o myself_o declare_v more_o particular_o against_o he_o then_o these_o father_n do_v accuse_v he_o of_o heresy_n in_o part_n of_o his_o affirmation_n concern_v bishop_n though_o not_o in_o every_o part_n i_o shall_v conclude_v this_o business_n by_o give_v my_o poor_a judgement_n draw_v from_o the_o precede_a argument_n i_o find_v in_o scripture_n that_o the_o priesthood_n be_v a_o holy_a order_n into_o which_o no_o man_n be_v to_o thrust_v himself_o unless_o he_o be_v call_v i_o do_v not_o find_v that_o deaconship_n have_v a_o inferior_a part_n in_o it_o or_o episcopacy_n above_o it_o but_o that_o it_o be_v complete_a and_o entire_a in_o itself_o and_o that_o it_o may_v involve_v many_o administrrtion_n in_o one_o and_o the_o same_o order_n and_o sometime_o many_o in_o one_o and_o the_o same_o person_n st._n john_n be_v a_o apostle_n a_o evangelist_n a_o prophet_n a_o pastor_n a_o teacher_n a_o ordainer_n which_o we_o call_v bishop_n all_o these_o gift_n he_o have_v by_o one_o and_o the_o same_o spirit_n and_o in_o one_o and_o the_o same_o priesthood_n christ_n himself_o be_v of_o this_o order_n a_o priest_n for_o ever_o after_o the_o order_n of_o melcbisedek_n that_o be_v both_o king_n and_o priest_n these_o be_v his_o office_n he_o be_v call_v also_o the_o bishop_n of_o our_o soul_n be_v this_o in_o christ_n a_o distinct_a and_o superior_a office_n or_o order_n to_o his_o priesthood_n who_o will_v presume_v to_o affirm_v this_o and_o christ_n tell_v his_o apostle_n as_o my_o father_n send_v i_o so_o send_v i_o you_o christ_n therefore_o make_v they_o also_o king_n and_o priest_n as_o st._n john_n tell_v we_o rev._n 1_o our_o saviour_n kingdom_n be_v not_o of_o this_o world_n no_o more_o be_v that_o of_o the_o apostle_n our_o saviour_n office_n of_o priest_n and_o bishop_n be_v one_o and_o the_o same_o so_o be_v that_o of_o the_o apostle_n and_o they_o ordain_v and_o send_v other_o as_o christ._n ordain_v and_o send_v they_o there_o be_v no_o distinction_n or_o diversity_n of_o order_n in_o christ_n and_o his_o apostle_n no_o more_o be_v there_o in_o those_o who_o be_v ordain_v and_o send_v by_o the_o apostle_n though_o there_o may_v be_v diversity_n of_o gift_n or_o administration_n all_o be_v not_o evangelist_n nor_o prophet_n some_o have_v the_o gift_n of_o tongue_n some_o of_o prophecy_n some_o of_o miracle_n some_o of_o discern_a spirit_n and_o some_o such_o gift_n i_o conceive_v they_o may_v have_v who_o the_o apostle_n constitute_v superintendent_n overseer_n bishop_n over_o the_o rest_n endue_v especial_o with_o the_o gift_n of_o discern_v and_o judge_v of_o man_n and_o therefore_o fit_a to_o be_v entrust_v with_o the_o ordain_v of_o other_o for_o which_o there_o need_v no_o new_a order_n but_o the_o 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preserve_v this_o primitive_a way_n as_o any_o man_n yet_o i_o can_v by_o any_o mean_n consent_v to_o they_o who_o will_v have_v episcopacy_n to_o be_v a_o distinct_a order_n for_o the_o reason_n before_o give_v nor_o can_v i_o think_v the_o ordination_n of_o a_o priest_n make_v by_o priest_n invalid_a for_o though_o it_o ought_v not_o be_v do_v but_o only_o of_o necessity_n yet_o be_v do_v it_o be_v valid_a and_o certain_o may_v without_o any_o crime_n be_v do_v by_o any_o priest_n by_z shipwrak_fw-mi or_o any_o such_o chance_n cast_v into_o a_o country_n where_o there_o be_v none_o commissionated_a to_o ordain_v in_o such_o a_o case_n he_o may_v and_o ought_v to_o ordain_v other_o fit_a person_n for_o the_o service_n of_o god_n and_o preach_v of_o the_o gospel_n for_o who_o can_v doubt_v but_o that_o the_o substance_n be_v to_o be_v prefer_v before_o ceremony_n and_o as_o st._n paul_n approve_v of_o the_o preach_a of_o christ_n out_o of_o envy_n rather_o than_o no_o preach_v so_o 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