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for_o order_n and_o unity_n sake_n the_o chief_a inspection_n and_o care_n of_o ecclesiastical_a matter_n ought_v to_o be_v refer_v and_o who_o shall_v have_v authority_n to_o curb_v the_o insolence_n of_o some_o factious_a and_o turbulent_a spirit_n his_o work_n shall_v be_v to_o feed_v the_o flock_n by_o the_o word_n and_o sacrament_n as_o well_o as_o other_o presbyter_n and_o especial_o to_o try_v and_o ordain_v entrant_n and_o to_o oversee_v direct_v and_o admonish_v such_o as_o bear_v office_n and_o i_o the_o more_o willing_o incline_v to_o believe_v bishop_n and_o presbyter_n to_o be_v the_o several_a degree_n of_o the_o same_o office_n since_o the_o name_n of_o bishop_n and_o presbyter_n be_v use_v for_o the_o same_o thing_n in_o scripture_n and_o be_v also_o use_v promiscuous_o by_o the_o writer_n of_o the_o two_o first_o century_n now_o isotimus_n when_o you_o bring_v either_o clear_a scripture_n or_o
imaginable_a and_o indeed_o aught_o to_o be_v always_o accompany_v with_o the_o advice_n and_o concurrence_n of_o the_o worthy_a person_n among_o the_o inferior_a clergy_n but_o till_o you_o secure_v my_o fear_n of_o the_o great_a part_n in_o all_o society_n become_v corrupt_a i_o shall_v not_o say_v by_o the_o major_a part_n of_o they_o but_o by_o the_o better_a part_n isot._n i_o see_v you_o run_v a_o high_a strain_n and_o far_o different_a from_o what_o be_v the_o discourse_n of_o this_o country_n a_o year_n ago_o of_o a_o accommodation_n be_v intend_v wherein_o large_a offer_n seem_v to_o be_v make_v but_o i_o now_o see_v by_o your_o ingenuous_a freedom_n that_o though_o for_o a_o while_o you_o who_o be_v call_v a_o great_a friend_n to_o that_o design_n be_v willing_a to_o yield_v up_o some_o part_n of_o the_o episcopal_a grandeur_n yet_o you_o retain_v the_o â—oot_n of_o that_o lordly_a ambition_n still_o in_o your_o heart_n and_o so_o though_o for_o some_o particular_a end_n either_o to_o deceive_v or_o divide_v the_o lord_n people_n you_o be_v willing_a to_o make_v a_o appearance_n of_o yield_v yet_o it_o be_v with_o a_o resolution_n of_o return_v with_o the_o first_o opportunity_n to_o the_o old_a practice_n and_o design_n of_o the_o prelate_n of_o enhanse_a the_o ecclesiastical_a power_n to_o themselves_o and_o a_o few_o of_o their_o associate_n and_o this_o let_v i_o see_v what_o reason_n all_o honest_a people_n have_v to_o bless_v god_n that_o these_o art_n and_o device_n take_v not_o for_o a_o ethiopian_n can_v change_v his_o skin_n phil._n i_o confess_v to_o you_o free_o i_o be_v a_o little_a satisfy_v with_o these_o condescension_n as_o any_o of_o you_o and_o though_o they_o give_v up_o the_o right_n of_o the_o church_n to_o a_o peevish_a and_o preverse_a party_n who_o gentleness_n will_v never_o gain_v and_o therefore_o be_o no_o less_o satisfy_v than_o you_o be_v that_o they_o do_v not_o take_v and_o so_o much_o the_o more_o that_o their_o refuse_v to_o accept_v of_o so_o large_a offer_n give_v a_o new_a and_o clear_a character_n to_o the_o world_n of_o their_o temper_n and_o that_o it_o be_v a_o faction_n and_o the_o servile_a court_v of_o a_o party_n which_o they_o design_v and_o not_o a_o strict_a adherence_n to_o the_o rule_n of_o conscience_n otherwise_o they_o have_v be_v more_o tractable_a eud._n let_v i_o crave_v pardon_n to_o curb_v your_o humour_n a_o little_a which_o seem_v too_o near_o a_o kin_n to_o isotimus_n his_o temper_n though_o under_o a_o different_a character_n for_o my_o part_n i_o have_v then_o the_o same_o sense_n of_o episcopacy_n which_o i_o have_v just_a now_o own_v but_o whâ—n_o i_o consider_v the_o ruin_n of_o religion_n which_o our_o division_n occasion_v among_o we_o and_o when_o i_o read_v the_o large_a offer_n s._n augustin_n make_v on_o the_o like_a occasion_n to_o the_o donatist_n i_o judge_v all_o possible_a attempt_n even_o with_o the_o large_a condescension_n for_o a_o accommodation_n a_o worthy_a and_o pious_a design_n well_o become_v the_o gravity_n and_o moderation_n of_o a_o bishop_n to_o offer_v and_o the_o nobleness_n of_o these_o in_o authority_n to_o second_v with_o their_o warm_a endeavour_n for_o if_o it_o be_v bless_v with_o success_n the_o effect_n be_v great_a even_o the_o settle_n of_o a_o break_a and_o divide_a corner_n of_o the_o church_n if_o it_o take_v not_o as_o it_o full_o exoner_v the_o church_n of_o the_o evil_n of_o the_o schism_n so_o it_o render_v the_o enemy_n of_o peace_n and_o unity_n the_o more_o unexcusable_a only_o i_o must_v say_v this_o upon_o my_o knowledge_n that_o whatever_o design_n man_n of_o various_a sentiment_n fasten_v upon_o that_o attempt_n it_o be_v manage_v with_o as_o much_o ingenuity_n and_o sincerity_n as_o mortal_n can_v carry_v along_o with_o they_o in_o any_o purpose_n i_o know_v it_o be_v expect_v and_o desire_v that_o a_o full_a account_n of_o all_o the_o step_n of_o that_o affair_n be_v make_v public_a which_o a_o friend_n of_o we_o draw_v up_o all_o along_o with_o the_o progress_n of_o it_o but_o at_o present_a my_o concern_n in_o one_o who_o a_o late_a pamphlet_n as_o full_a of_o falsehood_n in_o matter_n of_o fact_n as_o of_o weakness_n in_o point_n of_o reason_n have_v mirepresent_v the_o case_n of_o accommodation_n page_n 31_o shall_v prevail_v with_o i_o to_o give_v a_o account_n of_o a_o particular_a pasâ—ed_v in_o a_o conference_n which_o a_o bishop_n and_o two_o presbyter_n have_v with_o about_o thirty_o of_o the_o nonconformist_n at_o pasley_n on_o the_o 14_o of_o december_n in_o the_o year_n 1670._o when_o the_o bishop_n have_v in_o a_o long_a discourse_n recommend_v unity_n and_o peace_n to_o they_o on_o the_o term_n be_v offer_v he_o withal_o say_v much_o to_o the_o advantage_n of_o episcopacy_n as_o he_o state_v it_o from_o the_o rule_n and_o practice_n of_o the_o ancient_a church_n offer_v to_o turn_v their_o proselyte_n immediate_o if_o they_o shall_v give_v he_o either_o clear_a scripture_n good_a reason_n or_o warrant_v from_o the_o most_o primitive_a antiquity_n against_o such_o episcopacy_n and_o with_o other_o thing_n he_o desire_v to_o know_v whether_o they_o will_v have_v join_v in_o communion_n with_o the_o church_n at_o the_o time_n of_o the_o council_n of_o nice_a to_o carry_v they_o no_o high_o or_o not_o for_o if_o they_o refuse_v that_o he_o add_v he_o will_v have_v less_o heartiness_n to_o desire_v communion_n with_o they_o since_o of_o these_o he_o may_v say_v let_v my_o soul_n be_v with_o they_o but_o to_o that_o a_o general_a answer_n be_v make_v by_o one_o who_o say_v he_o hope_v they_o be_v not_o look_v upon_o as_o either_o so_o weak_a or_o so_o wilful_a as_o to_o determine_v in_o so_o great_a a_o matter_n but_o upon_o good_a ground_n which_o be_v the_o same_o that_o the_o asserter_n of_o presbyterian_a government_n have_v build_v on_o which_o they_o judge_v to_o be_v conform_a both_o to_o scripture_n and_o primitive_a antiquity_n but_o for_o scripture_n neither_o he_o nor_o any_o of_o the_o meeting_n offer_v to_o bring_v a_o title_n only_o he_o allege_v some_o difference_n betwixt_o the_o ancient_a precedent_n as_o he_o call_v they_o and_o our_o bishop_n but_o this_o be_v more_o full_o enlarge_v by_o one_o who_o be_v believe_v to_o be_v among_o the_o most_o learned_a of_o the_o party_n who_o word_n with_o the_o answer_n give_v they_o i_o shall_v read_v to_o you_o as_o i_o take_v both_o from_o a_o journal_n be_v draw_v of_o that_o affair_n by_o one_o who_o exactness_n and_o fidelity_n in_o it_o can_v be_v attest_v by_o some_o worthy_a spectator_n who_o read_v what_o he_o write_v after_o the_o meeting_n be_v end_v and_o judge_v it_o not_o only_o faithful_a but_o often_o verbal_a and_o that_o he_o be_v so_o careful_a to_o evite_v the_o appearance_n of_o partiality_n that_o he_o seem_v rather_o studious_a to_o be_v more_o copious_a in_o propose_v what_o be_v say_v by_o these_o who_o differ_v from_o his_o opinion_n whereas_o he_o contract_v much_o of_o what_o be_v say_v by_o these_o he_o favour_v the_o account_n follow_v mr._n say_v that_o he_o offer_v to_o make_v appear_v the_o difference_n be_v betwixt_o the_o present_a episcopacy_n and_o what_o be_v in_o the_o ancient_a church_n in_o â—ive_a particular_n the_o first_o be_v that_o they_o have_v nâ—_n archbishop_n in_o the_o primitive_a church_n it_o be_v true_a they_o have_v metropolitan_n but_o in_o a_o council_n oâ—_n caâ—thage_n it_o be_v decree_v that_o no_o bishop_n shall_v be_v â—allâ—dâ—ummus_fw-la â—ummus_z sacerdos_n or_o princeps_fw-la sacerdoâ—um_fw-la sed_fw-la primae_fw-la sedis_fw-la episcopus_fw-la 2._o the_o bishop_n in_o the_o ancient_a church_n be_v parochial_a and_o not_o only_o 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d but_o in_o every_o village_n 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d for_o even_o in_o bethany_n we_o find_v there_o be_v a_o bishop_n 3._o two_o bishop_n may_v be_v in_o one_o church_n such_o be_v not_o to_o mention_v alexander_n and_o narcissus_n at_o jerusalem_n augustin_n who_o with_o valerius_n be_v ordain_v bishop_n of_o hippo._n 4._o bishop_n be_v elect_v by_o their_o presbyter_n so_o i_o tell_v we_o that_o in_o alexandria_n the_o presbyter_n choose_v one_o of_o their_o number_n to_o be_v bishop_n and_o final_o the_o bishop_n be_v countable_a to_o and_o censurable_a by_o their_o presbyter_n for_o either_o this_o must_v have_v be_v otherwise_o they_o can_v not_o have_v be_v censure_v at_o all_o for_o though_o we_o meet_v with_o some_o provincial_a synod_n in_o church_n history_n as_o that_o of_o carthage_n in_o cyprian_n time_n for_o the_o rebaptise_v of_o heretic_n and_o that_o at_o antioch_n against_o samoâ—atenus_n yet_o these_o instance_n be_v rare_a and_o recur_v seldom_o therefore_o there_o must_v have_v be_v a_o power_n in_o presbyter_n to_o have_v censure_v their_o
bishop_n otherwise_o it_o can_v not_o have_v be_v do_v which_o be_v absurd_a to_o imagine_v and_o upon_o all_o these_o account_n he_o judge_v the_o present_a episcopacy_n differ_v much_o from_o the_o ancient_a 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d upon_o this_o discourse_n the_o bishop_n be_v weary_a of_o speak_v much_o look_v to_o one_o of_o his_o presbyter_n who_o that_o pamphlet_n in_o derision_n call_v a_o worthy_a doctor_n who_o say_v he_o find_v the_o ancient_a write_n be_v so_o clear_a for_o a_o disparity_n among_o churchman_n and_o so_o full_a of_o it_o that_o he_o be_v assure_v none_o can_v doubt_v it_o after_o he_o have_v look_v but_o overly_o upon_o they_o but_o as_o to_o what_o be_v allege_v he_o first_o assume_v the_o five_o particular_n and_o speak_v to_o they_o in_o order_n to_o the_o first_o he_o say_v it_o be_v true_a the_o term_n archbishop_n be_v not_o use_v in_o the_o first_o century_n but_o in_o the_o council_n of_o nice_a mention_n be_v not_o only_o make_v of_o metropolitan_o but_o the_o canon_n say_v of_o they_o 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d let_v the_o ancient_a custom_n have_v their_o force_n which_o show_v the_o superiority_n of_o metropolitan_o to_o have_v be_v pretty_a early_o begin_v and_o the_o canon_n that_o be_v cite_v call_v he_o primae_fw-la sedis_fw-la episcopum_fw-la make_v he_o primate_n now_o we_o be_v not_o to_o contend_v about_o word_n when_o the_o thing_n be_v clear_a neither_o will_v â—any_v archbishop_n judge_v himself_o injure_v if_o instead_o of_o that_o name_n he_o be_v call_v metropolitan_a or_o primate_n beside_o archiepiscopus_fw-la do_v not_o import_v prince_n of_o the_o bishop_n but_o that_o he_o be_v the_o chief_a and_o first_o of_o they_o and_o this_o prefix_v of_o 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d to_o 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d be_v not_o so_o odious_a for_o nazianzen_n call_v a_o bishop_n 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d and_o the_o areopagite_n 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d for_o the_o second_o particular_a it_o be_v true_a bishop_n be_v in_o many_o place_n very_o thick_o set_v for_o in_o s._n augustin_n '_o s_o time_n it_o appear_v from_o the_o journal_o of_o a_o conference_n he_o have_v with_o the_o donatist_n that_o there_o be_v about_o 500_o bishopric_n in_o a_o small_a tract_n of_o ground_n but_o this_o be_v not_o universal_a for_o theodoret_n tell_v he_o have_v 800._o parish_n in_o his_o diocese_n and_o sozomen_n tell_v of_o great_a country_n where_o there_o be_v very_o few_o bishop_n and_o to_o prove_v this_o the_o canon_n of_o ancyra_n make_v a_o difference_n betwixt_o the_o presbyter_n of_o the_o country_n from_o those_o of_o the_o city_n and_o over_o the_o former_a there_o be_v a_o chorepiscopus_n which_o show_v that_o the_o whole_a diocese_n be_v not_o within_o the_o city_n but_o this_o be_v not_o much_o to_o our_o purpose_n since_o the_o more_o or_o the_o less_o do_v not_o vary_v the_o kind_n and_o if_o a_o bishop_n may_v be_v over_o the_o minister_n of_o the_o city_n it_o can_v be_v unlawful_a that_o he_o be_v likewise_o set_v over_o more_o in_o the_o country_n which_o can_v be_v no_o more_o essential_a to_o this_o matter_n than_o it_o be_v whether_o a_o parish_n be_v great_a or_o small_a so_o that_o this_o difference_n may_v well_o make_v the_o one_o unexpedient_a but_o unlawful_a it_o can_v be_v if_o the_o other_o be_v lawful_a for_o the_o three_o particular_a there_o be_v a_o canon_n of_o the_o council_n of_o nice_a that_o there_o may_v be_v but_o one_o bishop_n in_o a_o city_n and_o he_o be_v amaze_v to_o hear_v the_o instance_n of_o s._n augustin_n allege_v who_o be_v indeed_o ordain_v coadjutor_n to_o valerius_n but_o himself_o in_o his_o i_o 10._o epist._n condemn_v that_o tell_v that_o he_o do_v it_o ignorant_o not_o know_v it_o to_o be_v contrary_a to_o the_o nicene_n rule_v and_o therefore_o he_o tell_v how_o he_o design_v eradius_fw-la to_o be_v his_o successor_n but_o will_v not_o ordain_v he_o in_o his_o own_o time_n because_o of_o that_o canon_n other_o instance_n of_o more_o bishop_n in_o one_o city_n may_v have_v beâ—â—_n more_o pertinent_o adduce_v to_o this_o purpose_n but_o they_o be_v either_o coadjutor_n such_o as_o nazianzen_n the_o son_n be_v to_o his_o father_n or_o it_o be_v agree_v to_o for_o settle_v a_o schism_n as_o be_v do_v in_o the_o schism_n betwixt_o meletius_n and_o paulinus_n of_o antioch_n and_o so_o s._n augustin_n and_o the_o african_a bishop_n with_o he_o offer_v to_o the_o donatist_n that_o will_v they_o agree_v with_o they_o these_o schismatical_a bishop_n shall_v be_v continue_v as_o conjunct_a bishop_n with_o those_o already_o settle_v in_o those_o see_v where_o thâ—y_o live_v it_o be_v true_a some_o will_v have_v both_o linus_n and_o clemens_n to_o have_v succeed_v s._n peter_n at_o rome_n and_o evodius_n and_o ignatius_n â—o_o have_v succeed_v he_o at_o antioch_n but_o for_o this_o none_o assert_v that_o both_o succeed_v to_o s._n peter_n some_o be_v for_o one_o and_o some_o for_o another_o and_o so_o in_o a_o historical_a matter_n the_o testimony_n of_o these_o who_o live_v near_a that_o time_n shall_v decide_v the_o question_n but_o the_o constitution_n of_o clemens_n offer_v a_o solution_n to_o this_o that_o at_o first_o there_o be_v in_o some_o city_n two_o church_n one_o for_o those_o of_o the_o circumcision_n and_o another_o for_o those_o of_o the_o uncircumcision_n and_o after_o the_o destruction_n of_o jerusalem_n this_o distinction_n be_v swallow_v up_o this_o be_v rational_a and_o not_o without_o ground_n in_o scripture_n beside_o that_o that_o book_n though_o none_o of_o clement_n yet_o be_v ancient_a and_o from_o all_o this_o it_o be_v clear_a that_o there_o may_v be_v but_o one_o bishop_n in_o a_o city_n as_o for_o the_o four_o particular_a it_o be_v true_a the_o ancient_a election_n of_o bishop_n and_o presbyter_n be_v partly_o by_o synod_n partly_o by_o presbyter_n and_o partly_o popular_a but_o as_o none_o will_v say_v it_o make_v any_o essential_a alteration_n of_o the_o constitution_n of_o a_o church_n if_o instead_o of_o these_o election_n patron_n have_v now_o a_o right_a of_o present_v to_o church_n so_o though_o instead_o of_o these_o election_n the_o king_n be_v patron_n of_o all_o the_o bishopric_n it_o do_v not_o alter_v the_o nature_n of_o episcopacy_n much_o less_o justify_v a_o schism_n against_o it_o but_o beside_o this_o it_o be_v know_v the_o capitular_a election_n be_v still_o continue_v and_o for_o the_o five_o particular_a he_o desire_v they_o may_v give_v one_o instance_n in_o all_o antiquity_n where_o a_o bishop_n be_v censure_v by_o presbyter_n it_o be_v clear_a that_o they_o can_v finish_v nothing_o without_o the_o bishop_n sentence_n 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d be_v the_o word_n of_o the_o canon_n and_o if_o they_o can_v finish_v nothing_o without_o the_o bishop_n much_o less_o can_v they_o censure_v himself_o provincial_n synod_n be_v begin_v in_o the_o second_o century_n which_o appear_v from_o many_o synod_n be_v hold_v about_o the_o day_n of_o observe_v easter_n another_o expedient_a they_o have_v when_o a_o bishop_n be_v heretical_a that_o the_o neighbour_a bishop_n use_v to_o publish_v it_o in_o their_o cicular_a letter_n which_o go_v around_o and_o so_o they_o do_v excommunicate_a or_o depose_v they_o but_o the_o regular_a way_n of_o procedure_v against_o bishop_n be_v in_o provincial_a synod_n which_o be_v now_o offer_v to_o be_v seâ—_n up_o yet_o even_o this_o exception_n can_v be_v no_o ground_n for_o separate_v no_o more_o than_o in_o their_o principle_n lay_v elder_n have_v to_o separate_v from_o their_o minister_n who_o be_v their_o fix_a precedent_n and_o yet_o do_v not_o judge_v themselves_o censurable_a by_o these_o lay_v elder_n though_o as_o to_o the_o power_n of_o rule_v they_o hold_v they_o to_o be_v equal_a with_o this_o he_o end_v say_v he_o have_v now_o propose_v what_o occur_v of_o a_o sudden_a to_o his_o tho_o ught_n on_o these_o head_n though_o he_o believe_v much_o more_o may_v be_v adduce_v but_o he_o suppose_v there_o be_v enough_o say_v to_o clear_v these_o particular_n and_o it_o seem_v the_o person_n who_o have_v engage_v he_o to_o this_o judge_v so_o since_o neither_o he_o nor_o any_o of_o his_o brethren_n offer_v a_o reply_n and_o by_o this_o account_n of_o the_o truth_n whereof_o i_o be_o willing_a all_o there_o present_a bear_v witness_n let_v the_o company_n judge_n of_o the_o ingenuity_n of_o these_o writer_n but_o i_o shall_v pursue_v the_o discourse_n of_o the_o accommodation_n no_o further_o basil._n i_o be_o sure_a it_o have_v leave_v this_o conviction_n on_o all_o our_o conscience_n that_o that_o party_n be_v obstinate_o fix_v to_o their_o own_o humour_n without_o the_o least_o colour_n of_o reason_n but_o now_o i_o think_v enough_o be_v say_v for_o justify_v both_o