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A90361 The English Episcopacy and liturgy asserted by the great refomers abroad, and the most glorious and royal martyr the late King his opinion and suffrage for them. Published by a private gentleman for the publique good. Peirce, Edmund, Sir, d. 1667. 1660 (1660) Wing P1062; Thomason E1032_10; ESTC R208951 27,962 48

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conform_v to_o those_o few_o rather_o than_o to_o the_o catholic_a example_n of_o all_o ancient_a church_n which_o need_v no_o reformation_n and_o to_o those_o church_n at_o this_o day_n who_o govern_v by_o bishop_n in_o all_o the_o christian_a world_n be_v many_o more_o than_o presbyterian_o or_o independent_o can_v pretend_v to_o be_v all_o who_o the_o church_n in_o my_o three_o kingdom_n late_o govern_v by_o bishop_n will_v equalise_v i_o think_v if_o not_o exceed_v nor_o be_v it_o any_o point_n of_o wisdom_n or_o charity_n where_o christian_n differ_v as_o many_o do_v in_o some_o point_n there_o to_o widen_v the_o difference_n and_o at_o once_o to_o give_v all_o the_o christian_a world_n except_o a_o handful_n of_o some_o protestant_n so_o great_a a_o scandal_n in_o point_n of_o church-government_n who_o though_o you_o may_v convince_v of_o their_o error_n in_o some_o point_n of_o doctrine_n yet_o you_o shall_v never_o persuade_v they_o that_o to_o complete_a their_o reformation_n 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appear_v the_o great_a enemy_n to_o and_o betrayer_n of_o their_o own_o interest_n for_o presbytery_n be_v never_o so_o considerable_a or_o effectual_a as_o when_o it_o be_v join_v to_o and_o crown_v with_o episcopacy_n all_o minister_n will_v find_v as_o great_a a_o difference_n in_o point_n of_o thrive_a between_o the_o favour_n of_o the_o people_n and_o of_o prince_n as_o plant_n do_v between_o be_v water_v by_o hand_n or_o by_o the_o sweet_a and_o liberal_a dew_n of_o heaven_n the_o tenuity_n and_o contempt_n of_o clergyman_n will_v soon_o let_v they_o see_v what_o a_o poor_a carcase_n they_o be_v when_o part_v from_o the_o influence_n of_o that_o head_n to_o who_o supremacy_n they_o have_v be_v swear_v a_o little_a moderation_n may_v have_v prevent_v great_a mischief_n i_o be_o firm_a to_o primitive_a episcopacy_n not_o to_o have_v it_o extirpated_a if_o i_o can_v hinder_v it_o discretion_n without_o passion_n may_v easy_o reform_v whatever_o the_o rust_n of_o time_n or_o 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other_o way_n who_o either_o content_n themselves_o with_o the_o example_n of_o some_o church_n in_o their_o infancy_n and_o solitude_n when_o one_o presbyter_n may_v serve_v one_o congregation_n in_o a_o city_n or_o country_n or_o else_o they_o deny_v these_o most_o evident_a truth_n that_o the_o apostle_n be_v bishop_n over_o those_o presbyter_n they_o ordain_v as_o well_o as_o over_o the_o church_n they_o plant_v and_o that_o government_n be_v necessary_a for_o the_o church_n well-being_n when_o multiply_v and_o sociate_v must_v also_o necessary_o descend_v from_o the_o apostle_n to_o other_o after_o the_o example_n of_o that_o power_n and_o superiority_n they_o have_v above_o other_o which_o can_v not_o end_v with_o their_o person_n since_o the_o use_n and_o end_n of_o such_o government_n still_o continue_v it_o be_v most_o sure_a that_o the_o pure_a primitive_a and_o best_a church_n flourish_v under_o episcopacy_n and_o may_v so_o still_o if_o ignorance_n superstition_n avarice_n 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