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Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
power_n	bishop_n	deacon_n	presbyter_n	3,323	5	10.5055	5	false

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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A92321	England's restitution or The man, the man of men, the states-man. delivered in several sermons in the parish church of Waltham Abbey in the county of Essex. / By Thomas Reeve D.D. preacher of Gods word there.	Reeve, Thomas, 1594-1672.	1661 (1661)	Wing R689; Thomason E1056_1; ESTC R208033	132,074	175

he should fight a good fight 1 Tim. i. 18. and a prophecy that forbad him to Preach with Saint Paul the Gospel in Asia Acts xvi so by the laying on of the hands of Prophets he might at first be called to the Ministery so Primasius Oecumenius upon the place say expressly and say not onely that he was called to the Ministery by the Prophets but that he himself was a Prophet For the thing it self Theod●ret in Tim. ● ● is clear that Timothy received that order by Divine Revelation and Saint Chrysostome Hom. 5. in 1 Tim. c. 1. saith that as the Holy Ghost said Separate me Paul and Barnabas so was Timothy chosen yea he saith it was a common custome or ra●her a general Blessing that in the infancy of the Church the Prophets named what Ministers should be chose● Tunc quia ni●il fi●bat humanum Sacerdotes ex Prophetia veni●bant Quid ●st ●x Proph●…ia ex Spiritu Sancto And Eusebius l. 3. c. 23. s●i●h ba●…a● n● John at Ephesus and thereabout made many Ministers so somewhere supplying the Clergy with such as the ●pi●it m●…d ●…drawing lots for such as the Spirit signified Seeing 〈◊〉 so many Expositions are given of this intricate Place and that by ●he 〈◊〉 learned which ever wrote Presbytery which in these days is asserted can scarce finde in Scripture a root from whence it should branch No as the lay Presbyter from 1 Tim. v. 17. may say I was never here grafted so the Spiritual Presbyter from the 1. Tim. iiii 14. may say I was never here planted yea they may be fellow-Mourners and sob together saying We that would have all things attested by Scripture have not a clear Scripture either for the one's Binding of hands or for the other's laying on of hands for these onely places are nonely places neither pregnant nor perspicuous But to leave the Lay Presbyter as one saluted by the way and to talk a little more freely to the Spiritual Presbyter as the person to whom this conference is intended Can Presbytery of it self create a Ministery Scripture doth not affirm it will Antiquity avouch it I doubt not or without doubt it will nor Epiphanius saith that Aerius the Arian was the first which gave Presbyters power to ordain Ministers but saith he this cannot be for the order of Bishops doth beget Fathers to the Church but Presbyters do but onely beget Chidren by the laver of regeneration and not Fathers or Doctours Episcoporum enim ordo Patres generat Ecclesiae Presbyterorum vero non potens generare patres per lava●cri regenerationem generat filios Ecclesiae non tamen Patres aut Doctores Et quomodo pos●ibile erat Presbyterum constituere non habentem manuum impositionem aequalem Episcopo Epiphan Haer. 75. how is it then possible that a Presbyter which hath not the power of imposition of hands should be equal to a Bishop Oecumenius in c. 5.1 ad Tim. saith that where Saint Paul commandeth Timothy to lay hands rashly on no man he treateth of imposing hands because he wrote to a Bishop as if it were peculiar to him Saint Chrysostome saith that onely in laying on hands Bishops go beyond Presbyters and have that onely thingmore then the Presbyter Chrysostom Hom. in c. v. 1. ad Tim. Saint Jerome saith the self same in his Epistle to Evagrius The Councel of Antioch saith that the Bishop shall have power within his own Diocess to ordain Presbyters and Deacons C. Antioch can 2. The Councel of Nice saith the Ministers of the Paulianists must receive imposition of hands from the Bishop of the Catholick Church C. Nicen. c. 19. And is there not reason for this when Bishops are the direct Successours of Apostles for if Christ said that I will be with you to the end of the World Matthew xxviii 20. the Apostles being dead where is Christ's perpetual Providence if there be not a perpetual succession the Ministery in General cannot prove this for the Apostle's were superiour to the seventy Disciples so there must be some to represent the Apostles which must be superiour to other Ministers and that the Bishops are those persons it may appear because they have often the honourable title of Apostles James the Bishop of Jerusalem who was not James the son of Zebedee for he was one of the twelve Apostles but James the Just who is usually called the brother of the Lord being no immediate Apostle but a Bishop Com. in Es for his very office sake is called an Apostle 1 Gal. xix and by Saint Jerome called the thirteenth Apostle Theodor. in 1 Tim. 3.1 Theodoret doth call Timothy the Bishop of Ephesus an Apostle Ruffin de adult lib. Orig. Clemens is said by Ruffin to be almost an Apostle and by Clemens Alexandrinus he is expressly called Clement the Apostle Ignatius by Saint Chrys encom Ignat. is stiled both Bishop and Apostle Rab. Ms in Tim 4. Rabanus Maurus saith that Bishops ruled whole Provinces being call Apostles Theodor. in 1 Tim. 3. And Theodoret saith that those which they now call Bishops they did formerly name Apostles I know it is Objected that the Apostolical Order being extroardinary it is not perpetual but that is not so for the calling of Aaron was extraordinary at first yet it was perpetuated in the succession so likewise the calling of the Apostles for though it be not perpetual in respect of that which was extraordinary as the gift of tongues healing and discerning of Spirits yet it is in respect of the ordinary offices else I cannot see how any Minister could at this day Preach or administer the Sacraments For as inferiour Ministers do derive from the Apostles the use of Preaching and Sacraments so do Bishops both these and Jurisdiction and the power of Discipline But it will be said that a Presbyter and a Bishop in Scripture is all one and so a Presbyter hath as much power in the Church both for ordaining and exteriour regiment as the best Bishop parcius istis Credat Judaeus Apella If it were so I am but a Presbyter and no Bishop and would faine be at work next to the creating of a race of Penitents I would be creating a race of Preachers and next to wrastling with Principalities and Powers would be delivering up men to Sathan I do not know but my heart might be as Ambitious and my hands as Pragmatical and my tongue as Devouring as any others but I read that we must not stretch our selves beyond our line nor be many Masters lest we receive the greater condemnation James iii. 1. The Lord will be sanctified in them that come near Him Levit. x. 3. No man must take this Office upon him but he that was called as Aaron was Heb. v. 4. I finde no calling for these things therefore I have no comfort in them nor courage towards them Pride is odious in a Lay-man it is execrable in a Clergy-man all men must

keep themselves within their bounds and shall we range beyond our limits No Nadab and Abihu paid dearly for their strange fire and so may we for our new blazes in our Censours I tremble as much to thrust my hands in the degree that I am in into mount Aetna as to impose hands by mine own power to make a Minister and to cut of the neck of a man as to excommunicate Are a Presbyter and a Bishop all one then we shall have ere long a Servant and a Master a Subject and a Prince all one These have been equiparating modelling times parity hath been a Paramour or the Paragon which many have been Enamoured with but if a Church should be ut acies ordinata as an Army with Banners then the Commanders and the gregarii milites should not be all one No a Bishop hath an high Superiority over a Presbyter for he hath power to take an accusation against an Elder and to stop the mouths of Gainsayers and if men persist in Errours that raze Fundamental truths to reject them as Hereticks is this no Superiority And if this be the Text do not all An●iquity give this Commentary upon it Yes they prefer the Bishop far beyond the Presbyter Jerome himself saith Hieron adv Lucif that Salus Ecclesiae pendet The safety of the Church doth depend on the dignity of the Chief-Priest to whom except there be given a Power without any equal and eminent above all there will be as many Schisms in the Church as there be Priests And upon 44 Psal he saith Bishops are thy Fathers by whom thou art to be ruled Cui si non exor● ab omnibus eminens detur potestas tot schismata quot sacerdotes Hieron ad Nepot and he advised his Dear Nepotian that he should be subject to his Bishop as the Father of his Soul To Evagrius he saith Quod Aaron filii ejus Levitae That which Aaron and his Sons and the Levites were in the Temple the same are the Bishops Presbyters and Deacons in the Church And speaking to Riparius concerning Vigilantius I wonder saith he that the Bishop in whose Charge he is reported to be a Presbyter doth not Break that unprofitable vessel with the Apostolical Rod. And writing to Marcella against Motannus he saith Apud nos Apostolorum locum Episcopi tenent Hiero. ad Euagr. With us Bishops hold the place of the Apostles Hieron ad Riar Adv. Vigil And writing to Pammachius concerning the Errours of John of Jerusalem who amongst other things held that there was no difference betwixt a Bishop and a Presbyter he saith Hoc satis imperite in portu ut dicitur naufragium est This is unskilfully enough spoken and Shipwrack as it is said is committed in the haven And if the Chief Patron of Presbyters as he is accounted doth speak thus lowdly against them in what a lo●…y accent will the rest of the Fathers express themselves Ignatius saith Ignat ad Trall What is a Bishop but one that hath Power over all as much as it is possible for a man to have It were infinite to relate what he saith to this purpose in his Epistles to the Magnesians Antiochians Smyrneans and Philadelphians St. Augustine saith Aug. De civit Dei l. 20. c. 9. that the seats of the Rulers and the Rulers themselves are understood by whom the Church is now Governed Optatus saith Optat. Cont. Parmen l. 2. that he is a Schismatick and a sinner that against one Chair doth erect another Irenaeus saith Iren. l. 4. Haer. 63. That Bishops are those to whom the Apostles delivered the Church which is in every place Tertullian saith Tert. de praesc that the Chairs of the Apostles are still preserved in the Succession of Bishops Ambrose saith A●…b l. 2. offic c. 24. that if any Obey not his Bishop he doth swerve from the right way through Pride Chrysostome saith Chrys hom 3. in Act. Apost that though we be all Brethren yet amongst Brethren it is lawful ut unus praescribat caeteri obtemperent that one should prescribe and the rest should obey Some of the Presbyters saith Cyprian Cyp. l. 3. ep 14. neither remembring the Gospel nor their Place nor the Judgment of the Lord to come nor the Bishop that is set over them with Contempt and reproach of their Ruler take upon them to do any thing Thus speak the Fathers and do not the Councels agree with them Yes for Ordination they leave it wholy in the Bishop's Hands The Councel of Nice saith Concil Nic. can 19. Let Ministers receive Imposition of Hands from the Bishops of the Catholick Church The Councel of Antioch saith Concil Antioch can 9. that every Bishop shall have power in his Diocess to Ordain Priests and Deacons Yea by the Councel of Ancyra it was Decreed Concil Ancy●… can 13. that it should not be lawful for Rural Bishops to Ordain Presbyters or Deacons Yea to sum up all the whole Government of the Church was so limited to the Bishop that by the Command of the Councel of Laodicea Concil Laod. can 39. the Presbyters must do nothing without the liking of the Bishop And by the first Councel of Arles Concil Arelat as antient as Constantine the Presbyters must do nothing without the Conscience Consent or Privity of the Bishop Where then are those Presbyters Epiph. haer 69. that without Bishops against Bishops and as Bishops will take upon them to Ordain Ministers Coluthus as Epiphanius saith did so And Hosius Athenas apol 2. in lit Presb Marit in a General Councel caused all such Spurious Presbyters to be pronounced Illegitimate And to return to their former State Maximus did the like and the Councel of Constantinople was so offended at the Disorder Concil Constant 1. ca. 4●… that it frustrated all that he had done all his Presbyters being brought down to the State of Lay-men and made him for ever uncapable to be a Bishop A poor old Bishop making Presbyters because he did but lay his hands upon them and not pronounce the Consecration but caused a Presbyter standing by to utter it the Councel of Sevil sharply reproved the Bishop for it and if the Presbyter had been living they would have severely Punished him howsoever they stiled his Action a Bold presumption and those which had been so Ordained they rejected with a monument of Reproach decreing that they should have no Title of Consecration but be brought down from the Sac er dotal Order And where are those Presbyters that dare Excommunicate Is not this to usurp the Bishop's Pastoral-staff Is not this to wring the Keys of the Kingdom of Heaven out of their hands Have they any right in this high Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction St Chrysostome saith No. Dic Ecclesiae Praesulibus scil●… et Praesidentibu●… Chrys 61. hom in 28. Matt. For tell it to the Church that is

to the Rulers and Governours of the Church And He saith that the vincula indissolubilia The indissoluble bonds are in their hands Origen saith Orig. Tract 1●… in Matt. that they which do Challenge the place of Bishops and have Received the Keys of the Kingdom of Heaven have power in Binding and Loosing Saint Augustine saith Aug. l. 50. hom●… hom 50. ca. 11. Let such an one come to the Presidents by whom the Keys are Ministred in the Church The third Councel of Carthage saith Concil Cartha 3. Can. 31. that the times of Repentance should be appointed by the Discretion of the Bishops unto Penitents The Councel of Antioch saith Concil Anitoch Can. 6. that Laymen Presbyters and Deacons were to be excommunicated by their own Bishop and he sentencing them none had power to restore them without his leave Exuperantius being excommunicated by Triferius his Bishop the Councel of Taurine Concil Taurinen Can. 4. in the 400. year approved of the Fact and would not allow of any of his Favourers to Release him from the Sentence till the Bishop was satisfied Oh! then if men have any Fear of God Honour to Primitive Institution reverence to Antiquity how can they turn such an Antient House holder out of Doors especially when they know that so little of the Episcopal Function doth belong to them that according to the Constitutions of the Church they can neither Baptise Preach nor Admniister the Lord's Supper in the presence of the Bishop nor out of his presence without his leave and licence as the Councel of Carthage Possidonius Jerome and Tertullian do manifestly affirm Concil Carth. 2. Can 9. Possidon de vita Aug. Heron. adv Luciferum Tertull. de Baptis I know they have some sayings out of Ignatius Cyprian Ambrose and Augustine to Countenance this Opinion but with what Conscience can they alledg these things when they know that not onely the Writings of those Authours do without any other Confutation give plenary Satisfaction to all the Doubts but their own Practise is a Convincing Argument against all Opposition for were they not Bishops themselves and Exercised Episcopal jurisdiction with all imaginable Authority that a Bishop with us can be invested withall If all this will not Pacify the Contention yet the Judgment of our Fellow Protestants beyond the Seas might remove all Scruples For not onely our own Martyrs did set up Episcopacy within the Land but the most judicious and Consciencious Divines in Foreign parts which have professed our Reformed Religion have asserted Episcopacy as the onely Lawful Government Melancthon in his History of the Ausburge Confession saith That He endured the height of Hatred for bringing in Episcopal Government and though he did nothing but by the advise and consent of Luther yet Ia●ranus and many others possessed the People that he had built up again the Popish jurisdiction But saith he against all Envy I will speak what I think which is this that I am so fully confirmed concerning the lawfulness of the Government that would to God I could settle not onely the Power but the Administration of Bishops for I see what manner of Church we shall have without it even Ecclesiastical Polity wholly dissolved yea I see that if this be not Established there will come a more intolerable Tyranny amongst us then ever was Exercised by the Papists Hemingius in Synag saith that the Reformed Churchs after the Popish Darkness was dispelled after the example of the purest times retained Bishops Doctours and Pastours Chytraeus in his History of the Ausburge Confession saith that Bishops may very easily retain the lawful Obedience which is due to them Bucer in his Book Of the force and use of the Ministery saith that these Orders are perpetual in Churches and are appointed by the Holy Ghost viz Bishops Presbyters and Deacons and that there might be no Tyranny used Metropolitanes are set over them both rightly and zeal●ously Heerbrand in his Compendium of Divinity propoundeth a Question Whether there ought to be Degrees in the Ministery Yes saith he for God himself hath made and constituted Bishops Presbyters and Deacons and I finde St. Paul mentioning them and amongst these it is necessary that some should be Superiours to others lest there do come Anarchy into the Church Homberger in his Book of Christian Doctrine doth answer the like Question Whether there ought to be Degrees amongst Ministers immediately called And he saith there may and doth put a great difference betwixt a Bishop and a Presbyter Hailbronner in his Commen-places saith that there ought to be Bishops and they are not to have onely Teaching with others but an Office of Inspection and Government to prefer fit Ministers to Cures and to take Accusations against Presbyters and to decide the Quarrels The like Expressions I could bring out of Camerarius Hunnius Bullinger Peter Martyr Zanchy Deodate Primrose and many others which have had the Fame to be the most eminent Protestants which ever the Reformed Church was adorned with but what need I urge particular men when all the Prime Protestants of Germany meeting together Published a Book which they call The Vnity of the Church wherein they witness that to take away Schisms there must be a profitable Order that out of many Presbyters a Bishop should be Chosen which might Rule the Church Yea Arch-Bishops they say are needful if they will do their Duty to call Synods and punish usury scandals and divisions And they wish in their Articles of the Colloquy that for the Benefit of the Church some would take upon them this Difficult and necessary calling of Episcopacy And this is not onely their Opinion but their Practise for they have erected Bishops in their Super-Intendents and Arch-Bishops in their General Super-Intendents The Bishop now might be set up with Jurisdiction and Benediction yea Rule and Shine if one dark Fog could be removed and that is whether Foreign Churches which do exercise another Government may not ly liable to Censure I will not Censure I cannot justifie I rather lament then traduce I have a great deal of Compassion in me but I would be Loth to have any compliance for I finde that some men to make other Churches chaste have made their own a Prostitute and I think that this is neither Justice Affection Moderation or Sincerity Let every man according to Conscience clear Scripture General practise Protestant Usages his own Subscription and his own Oaths pass sentence and if there be any Discretion Religion Rules for just Judgment in these passages I partly conceive what the result and votes must be It is an heavy thing to change piety into popularity and sanctity into partiality there is a guilty Patience as well as a sinful Passion There is but one truth and Christ hath but one Government upon his shoulder Levit. 10.16.17.18.19.20 an Angel from Heaven can no more set up a new Government then a new Creation After Nadab and