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A59468 The principles of the Cyprianic age with regard to episcopal power and jurisdiction asserted and recommended from the genuine writings of St. Cyprian himself and his contemporaries : by which it is made evident that the vindicator of the Kirk of Scotland is obligated by his own concession to acknowledge that he and his associates are schismaticks : in a letter to a friend / by J.S. Sage, John, 1652-1711. 1695 (1695) Wing S289; ESTC R16579 94,344 99

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he_o not_o thereafter_o admit_v they_o to_o his_o most_o intimate_a friendship_n and_o familiarity_n to_o the_o astonishment_n of_o many_o indeed_o he_o therein_o show_v a_o miracle_n of_o clemency_n 4._o lay_v these_o two_o account_n together_o and_o then_o tell_v i_o if_o these_o presbyter_n be_v not_o obnoxious_a to_o his_o discipline_n if_o his_o power_n over_o they_o may_v not_o have_v extend_v to_o their_o very_a excommunication_n for_o their_o old_a trick_n against_o he_o have_v he_o be_v willing_a to_o have_v put_v it_o in_o execution_n but_o this_o be_v not_o all_o for_o have_v i_o not_o account_v already_o how_o when_o they_o first_o engage_v in_o the_o controversy_n concern_v the_o lapse_v he_o threaten_v they_o that_o if_o they_o shall_v continue_v to_o absolve_v and_o reconcile_v any_o more_o of_o they_o without_o his_o allowance_n he_o will_v suspend_v they_o from_o their_o office_n and_o inflict_v severe_a censure_n on_o they_o when_o he_o shall_v return_v to_o 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etc._n etc._n 39_o here_o be_v three_o epistle_n write_v i_o think_v in_o plain_a prelatic_a style_n sure_a neither_o in_o the_o style_n of_o single_a presbyter_n nor_o presbyterian_a moderator_n especial_o if_o we_o consider_v the_o very_a next_o write_v to_o his_o presbyter_n and_o deacon_n upon_o the_o same_o principle_n still_o he_o have_v write_v to_o they_o several_a time_n before_o from_o the_o place_n of_o his_o retirement_n but_o have_v receive_v no_o answer_n from_o they_o now_o consider_v how_o he_o resent_v this_o and_o resent_v it_o assert_n his_o own_o episcopal_a authority_n his_o own_o sovereign_a power_n in_o ecclesiastic_a matter_n for_o thus_o he_o begin_v i_o wonder_v dear_a brethren_n that_o you_o have_v return_v no_o answer_n to_o the_o many_o letter_n i_o have_v send_v you_o especial_o consider_v that_o now_o in_o my_o retirement_n you_o ought_v to_o inform_v i_o of_o every_o thing_n that_o happen_v that_o so_o i_o may_v advise_o and_o deliberate_o give_v order_n concern_v the_o affair_n of_o the_o church_n 40._o let_v any_o man_n lie_v these_o four_o letter_n together_o and_o weigh_v they_o impartial_o and_o then_o let_v he_o judge_v if_o st._n cyprian_n write_v in_o the_o style_n of_o parity_n if_o he_o claim_v not_o a_o sovereign_a power_n a_o negative_a to_o himself_o over_o all_o the_o christian_n presbyter_n as_o well_o as_o other_o live_v within_o his_o district_n but_o do_v not_o cyprian_n show_v too_o much_o zeal_n in_o this_o cause_n possible_o he_o attempt_v to_o stretch_v his_o power_n a_o little_a too_o far_o as_o afterward_o many_o do_v he_o be_v a_o holy_a and_o meek_a man_n but_o such_o may_v be_v a_o little_a too_o high_a so_o i_o read_v indeed_o in_o a_o late_a book_n 179._o but_o it_o seem_v the_o author_n have_v find_v himself_o very_o sore_o put_v to_o it_o when_o he_o say_v so_o for_o how_o can_v one_o not_o be_v fore_o put_v to_o
teach_v presbyter_n who_o have_v such_o a_o parish_n assign_v to_o he_o for_o his_o charge_n or_o not_o from_o the_o moderator_n of_o the_o presbytery_n who_o be_v not_o but_o from_o the_o presbytery_n which_o be_v the_o principle_n of_o unity_n with_o their_o moderator_n this_o i_o say_v i_o take_v to_o be_v the_o purpose_n of_o our_o author_n answer_n to_o the_o apologist_n argument_n on_o the_o force_n whereof_o he_o venture_v his_o party_n be_v or_o not_o be_v schismatick●_n if_o i_o have_v mistake_v his_o mean_v i_o protest_v i_o have_v not_o do_v it_o wilful_o i_o be_o pretty_a sure_a i_o have_v not_o in_o the_o definition_n of_o a_o moderator_n for_o i_o have_v transcribe_v it_o word_n for_o word_n from_o one_o who_o i_o take_v to_o be_v a_o dear_a friend_n of_o he_o entire_o of_o the_o same_o principle_n and_o sentiment_n with_o he_o and_o who_o definition_n i_o be_o apt_a to_o think_v he_o will_v not_o ready_o reject_v i_o mean_v the_o author_n of_o the_o vindication_n of_o the_o church_n of_o scotland_n in_o answer_n to_o the_o ten_o question_n 5._o and_o do_v not_o our_o author_n himself_o in_o this_o same_o 39th_o section_n part_n whereof_o i_o be_o now_o consider_v affirm_v that_o fifty_o year_n before_o the_o first_o council_n of_o nice_a i._n e._n some_o 17_o or_o 18_o year_n after_o st._n cyprian_n martyrdom_n the_o hierarchy_n be_v not_o in_o the_o church_n and_o that_o however_o some_o of_o the_o name_n may_v have_v be_v yet_o the_o church-power_n and_o dominion_n signify_v by_o they_o be_v not_o then_o in_o be_v plain_o import_v that_o the_o church_n then_o be_v govern_v by_o pastor_n act_v in_o parity_n after_o the_o presbyterian_a model_n in_o short_a what_o our_o author_n have_v say_v when_o due_o consider_v will_v be_v find_v to_o be_v no_o answer_n at_o all_o to_o the_o apologist_n argument_n if_o it_o be_v not_o to_o be_v understand_v in_o the_o sense_n i_o have_v represent_v take_v it_o for_o grant_v therefore_o that_o i_o have_v hit_v his_o mean_v i_o hope_v you_o will_v not_o deny_v that_o if_o i_o shall_v prove_v that_o a_o bishop_n in_o cyprian_n time_n be_v more_o than_o a_o pastor_n of_o a_o flock_n or_o the_o moderator_n of_o a_o presbytery_n in_o the_o presbyterian_a sense_n of_o the_o term_n if_o i_o shall_v prove_v that_o a_o bishop_n then_o have_v real_o that_o which_o can_v be_v deny_v to_o have_v be_v true_a genuine_a episcopal_n or_o prelaiick_n power_n if_o i_o can_v prove_v that_o he_o act_v in_o a_o real_a superiority_n over_o not_o in_o parity_n with_o other_o church-governor_n even_o pastor_n if_o i_o shall_v prove_v these_o thing_n i_o say_v i_o hope_v you_o will_v grant_v our_o author_n be_v fair_o bind_v by_o his_o word_n to_o acknowledge_v that_o he_o and_o his_o brethren_n presbyterian_o be_v schismatic_n let_v we_o try_v it_o then_o and_o now_o sir_n before_o i_o come_v to_o my_o main_a proof_n consider_v if_o it_o may_v not_o be_v deem_v a_o shrewd_a presumption_n against_o our_o author_n in_o this_o matter_n that_o general_o the_o great_a champion_n for_o presbytery_n such_o as_o cham●er_v blondel_n salmasius_n the_o provincial_a assembly_n of_o london_n etc._n etc._n do_v ingenuous_o acknowledge_v that_o long_o before_o st._n cyprian_n time_n episcopacy_n be_v in_o the_o church_n even_a spanhemius_fw-la himself_o grant_n that_o in_o the_o three_o century_n bishop_n have_v a_o manifest_a pre-eminence_n above_o presbyter_n and_o deacon_n and_o a_o right_n of_o preside_v convocate_a ordain_v 117._o etc._n etc._n by_o the_o way_n i_o have_v cite_v this_o writer_n particular_o because_o our_o author_n not_o only_o build_v much_o on_o his_o authority_n 28._o but_o honour_v he_o with_o the_o great_a character_n of_o be_v that_o diligent_a searcher_n into_o antiquity_n how_o deserve_o let_v other_o judge_n for_o my_o part_n i_o can_v think_v he_o have_v be_v so_o very_o diligent_a a_o searcher_n for_o in_o that_o same_o very_a section_n in_o which_o he_o acknowledge_v the_o episcopal_a pre-eminence_n in_o the_o three_o century_n he_o say_v express_o that_o in_o that_o age_n there_o be_v no_o doorkeeper_n acoly●ths_n nor_o exorc●ss_n 119._o and_o yet_o i_o not_o only_o find_v express_a mention_n of_o exorcism_n in_o the_o venerable_a council_n of_o cartbage_n in_o which_o st._n cyprian_n be_v praeses_fw-la 37._o but_o both_o cyprian_a and_o firmilian_a express_o mention_v exarcist_n 223._o and_o as_o for_o acolyte_n how_o often_o do_v we_o find_v they_o mention_v in_o cyprian_n epistle_n e._n g._n we_o have_v narious_a a_o acolyth_a ep._n 7._o eavorinus_fw-la ep._n 34._o nicephorus_n ep._n 45._o saturnus_n and_o felicianus_fw-la ep._n 59_o lucanus_n maximus_n and_o amantius_n ep._n 77._o and_o do_v not_o corneius_fw-la bishop_n of_o rome_n in_o his_o famous_a epistle_n to_o fabius_n bishop_n of_o antioch_n record_v by_o eusebius_n 43._o positive_o affirm_v that_o there_o be_v then_o in_o the_o church_n of_o rome_n 42_o acolyte_n and_o 52_o exorcist_n lector_n and_o doorkeeper_n but_o this_o as_o i_o say_v only_o by_o the_o way_n that_o which_o i_o be_o concern_v about_o at_o present_a be_v that_o when_o these_o great_a patron_n of_o presbytery_n these_o true_o learned_a man_n who_o i_o name_v have_v all_o so_o frank_o yield_v that_o there_o be_v real_a prelacy_n in_o the_o church_n in_o and_o before_o st._n cyprian_n time_n yet_o our_o author_n shall_v affirm_v so_o bold_o that_o there_o be_v no_o such_o thing_n that_o there_o be_v no_o hierarchy_n in_o the_o church_n then_o nor_o for_o many_o year_n after_o have_v our_o author_n be_v a_o more_o diligent_a searcher_n into_o antiquity_n than_o those_o great_a antiquary_n be_v that_o he_o be_v thus_o able_a to_o contradict_v their_o discovery_n i_o be_o not_o apt_a to_o believe_v it_o however_o as_o i_o say_v let_v this_o pass_v only_o for_o a_o presumption_n against_o he_o i_o proceed_v to_o other_o argument_n and_o 1._o i_o observe_v that_o in_o st._n cyprian_n time_n every_o church_n all_o the_o world_n over_o at_o least_o every_o church_n constitute_v and_o organise_v according_a to_o the_o principle_n which_o then_o prevail_v have_v a_o bishop_n presbyter_n and_o deacon_n by_o who_o she_o be_v rule_v thus_o for_o example_n we_o find_v express_v mention_n of_o the_o bishop_n presbyter_n and_o deacon_n of_o the_o church_n of_o adrymetum_fw-la 91._o for_o cyprian_n tell_v corneius_fw-la that_o when_o he_o and_o liberalis_n come_v to_o that_o city_n polycarpus_n the_o bishop_n be_v absent_a and_o the_o presbyter_n and_o deacon_n be_v ignorant_a of_o what_o have_v be_v resolve_v on_o by_o the_o body_n of_o the_o african_a bishop_n about_o write_v to_o the_o church_n of_o rome_n till_o the_o controversy_n between_o cornelius_n and_o novatianus_n shall_v be_v more_o full_o understand_v thus_o cyprian_n be_v bishop_n of_o carthage_n and_o at_o the_o same_o time_n there_o be_v in_o that_o city_n 8_o presbyter_n at_o sew_a for_o we_o read_v of_o three_o rogatianus_n britius_n and_o numidicus_n who_o adhere_v to_o he_o 43._o and_o five_o who_o take_v part_n with_o felicissimus_n against_o he_o when_o that_o deacon_n make_v his_o schism_n 59_o i_o hope_v i_o need_v not_o be_v at_o pain_n to_o prove_v that_o there_o be_v deacon_n then_o in_o that_o famous_a church_n thus_o cornelius_n in_o the_o aforementioned_a epistle_n to_o fabius_n tell_v he_o that_o while_n himself_o be_v bishop_n of_o rome_n there_o be_v in_o that_o city_n no_o few_o than_o 46_o presbyter_n and_o 7_o deacon_n etc._n etc._n a_o most_o flourish_a clergy_n as_o st._n cyprian_n call_v it_o 139._o whoso_o please_v may_v see_v the_o like_a account_n of_o the_o church_n of_o alexandria_n in_o the_o same_o time_n in_o eusebius_n 11._o indeed_o if_o we_o may_v believe_v st._n cyprian_a there_o be_v no_o church_n then_o without_o a_o bishop_n for_o from_o this_o supposition_n as_o a_o uncontroverted_a matter_n of_o fact_n he_o reason_n against_o novatianus_n 112._o his_o argument_n be_v that_o there_o be_v but_o one_o church_n and_o one_o episcopacy_n all_o the_o world_n over_o and_o that_o catholic_n and_o orthodox_n bishop_n be_v regular_o plant_v in_o every_o province_n and_o city_n and_o therefore_o novatianus_n can_v not_o but_o be_v a_o schismatic_a who_o contrary_a to_o divine_a institution_n and_o the_o fundamental_a law_n of_o unity_n labour_v to_o super-induce_a false_a bishop_n into_o these_o city_n where_o true_a and_o orthodox_n bishop_n be_v already_o plant_v and_o he_o reason_n again_o upon_o the_o same_o supposition_n in_o the_o begin_n of_o his_o 63d_o epistle_n direct_v to_o caecilius_n concern_v the_o cup_n in_o the_o eucharist_n init_fw-la from_o this_o supposition_n i_o say_v as_o from_o a_o uncontested_a matter_n of_o fact_n he_o reason_n in_o both_o case_n which_o be_v a_o demonstration_n not_o only_o of_o the_o credibility_n of_o his_o testimony_n but_o that_o