that_o they_o have_v no_o such_o sentiment_n and_o indeed_o how_o shall_v we_o judge_v or_o how_o shall_v we_o know_v what_o be_v the_o church_n peculiar_a right_n and_o what_o not_o but_o by_o the_o word_n of_o christ_n commission_n and_o the_o practice_n of_o the_o most_o primitive_a church_n thereupon_o the_o performance_n of_o those_o sacred_a office_n which_o christ_n by_o his_o commission_n have_v take_v away_o from_o the_o civil_a power_n and_o vest_v in_o a_o distinct_a order_n of_o man_n we_o own_o to_o be_v the_o peculiar_a authority_n of_o the_o church_n and_o according_o the_o primitive_a father_n do_v not_o allow_v the_o laity_n to_o have_v authority_n therein_o they_o never_o condescend_v so_o far_o as_o to_o suffer_v they_o either_o to_o consecrate_v the_o eucharist_n or_o to_o lay_v on_o hand_n in_o ordination_n when_o therefore_o as_o to_o the_o designation_n of_o bishop_n to_o such_o and_o such_o particular_a district_n christ_n commission_n give_v no_o restrain_v or_o appropriate_a rule_n at_o all_o and_o the_o constant_a practice_n of_o the_o church_n have_v be_v to_o admit_v the_o laity_n to_o have_v a_o interest_n and_o a_o vote_n therein_o and_o to_o promote_v by_o their_o election_n i_o do_v not_o know_v what_o can_v confute_v the_o claim_n of_o a_o divine_a relation_n and_o a_o independent_a authority_n herein_o if_o this_o will_v not_o if_o then_o the_o designation_n of_o bishop_n and_o clergyman_n to_o their_o several_a district_n be_v no_o part_n of_o the_o church_n sacred_a and_o unalienable_a right_n certain_o the_o removal_n or_o deprivation_n of_o such_o person_n can_v be_v no_o invasion_n of_o they_o because_o doubtless_o they_o who_o have_v a_o competent_a authority_n to_o promote_v must_v be_v allow_v to_o have_v the_o same_o also_o to_o remove_v the_o conclusion_n of_o the_o whole_a then_o be_v there_o be_v no_o such_o thing_n in_o our_o day_n as_o a_o clergyman_n have_v a_o divine_a right_n to_o his_o district_n his_o claim_n and_o right_o be_v whole_o human_a and_o legal_a found_v on_o the_o law_n of_o the_o land_n and_o the_o establish_a constitution_n of_o the_o church_n and_o country_n in_o which_o we_o live_v consequent_o then_o what_o the_o state_n do_v in_o a_o legal_a way_n in_o such_o deprivation_n be_v do_v by_o a_o competent_a authority_n it_o be_v valid_a in_o all_o respect_n and_o bind_v the_o conscience_n of_o all_o men._n it_o transfer_v the_o obligation_n as_o to_o religious_a communion_n from_o the_o former_a possessor_n to_o the_o latter_a it_o make_v it_o our_o duty_n to_o adhere_v to_o such_o bishop_n as_o in_o such_o case_n the_o law_n of_o the_o land_n regular_o advance_v and_o it_o make_v our_o adhere_n to_o the_o communion_n of_o the_o bishop_n so_o deprive_v to_o be_v both_o sinful_a and_o schismatical_a ii_o the_o second_o objection_n be_v that_o what_o i_o have_v here_o advance_v seem_v not_o to_o agree_v with_o the_o practice_n and_o principle_n of_o the_o church_n for_o the_o first_o three_o hundred_o year_n as_o to_o the_o practice_n of_o the_o church_n in_o those_o time_n i_o have_v in_o some_o measure_n thus_o account_v for_o it_o already_o that_o it_o proceed_v from_o the_o exigency_n and_o necessity_n of_o affair_n at_o the_o time_n when_o the_o christian_n be_v either_o under_o persecution_n and_o so_o be_v constrain_v to_o act_v in_o opposition_n to_o their_o secular_a governor_n because_o christianity_n can_v not_o otherwise_o be_v propagate_v or_o else_o it_o be_v do_v under_o the_o connivance_n and_o permission_n of_o such_o temporal_a power_n in_o either_o of_o which_o case_n what_o be_v necessary_a to_o be_v do_v by_o the_o bishop_n and_o governor_n of_o the_o church_n for_o the_o promotion_n of_o the_o christian_a religion_n they_o undoubted_o have_v a_o divine_a right_n and_o authority_n from_o god_n to_o do_v but_o then_o in_o such_o case_n the_o church_n do_v not_o claim_v a_o divine_a authority_n of_o exclude_v the_o jurisdiction_n of_o the_o emperor_n and_o secular_a governor_n but_o they_o exclude_v themselves_o by_o refuse_v to_o intermeddle_v in_o this_o government_n even_o the_o mild_a of_o the_o heathen_a emperor_n who_o as_o tertullian_n tell_v we_o apol._n cap._n v._o forbid_v the_o christian_n to_o be_v inquire_v after_o or_o persecute_v seem_v to_o have_v deal_v with_o they_o only_o as_o gallio_n the_o deputy_n of_o achaia_n do_v i_o will_v be_v no_o judge_n of_o such_o 15._o act_n xviii_o 15._o matter_n when_o therefore_o the_o christian_a bishop_n and_o clergy_n be_v so_o far_o either_o neglect_v or_o favour_v by_o their_o heathen_a governor_n as_o to_o be_v leave_v to_o themselves_o they_o have_v nothing_o more_o to_o do_v than_o to_o make_v wise_a law_n and_o proper_a canon_n and_o see_v they_o due_o execute_v and_o if_o against_o those_o who_o among_o themselves_o be_v mutinous_a and_o turbulent_a and_o schismatical_a they_o plead_v the_o just_a obligation_n of_o their_o sanction_n and_o set_v forth_o very_o emphatical_o the_o disorder_n and_o gild_n of_o those_o who_o in_o such_o case_n revolt_v from_o their_o proper_a bishop_n and_o despise_v his_o authority_n and_o separate_v from_o his_o communion_n they_o certain_o argue_v very_o just_o and_o act_v very_o right_o all_o christian_n be_v bind_v in_o conscience_n to_o conform_v themselves_o to_o such_o good_a and_o wise_a rule_n and_o to_o submit_v to_o such_o just_a and_o lawful_a authority_n but_o what_o be_v all_o this_o to_o the_o right_n of_o the_o temporal_a power_n who_o authority_n do_v not_o appear_v so_o much_o as_o once_o to_o have_v fall_v under_o their_o debate_n for_o the_o first_o three_o hundred_o year_n when_o the_o roman_n have_v conquer_v judea_n they_o yet_o leave_v the_o jew_n in_o a_o great_a measure_n to_o the_o management_n of_o their_o own_o civil_a government_n and_o what_o herod_n or_o the_o high_a priest_n and_o the_o sanhedrim_n in_o such_o case_n enact_v or_o ordain_v be_v doubtless_o in_o conscience_n to_o be_v obey_v and_o it_o be_v a_o sin_n to_o be_v mutinous_a and_o seditious_a against_o they_o but_o sure_a this_o privilege_n can_v never_o be_v extend_v to_o the_o exclusion_n of_o the_o power_n and_o authority_n of_o the_o roman_a emperor_n so_o here_o the_o roman_a emperor_n put_v the_o christian_n under_o a_o necessity_n of_o act_v independent_o on_o the_o temporal_a power_n because_o they_o will_v not_o concern_v themselves_o therein_o but_o this_o do_v not_o at_o all_o prove_v that_o therefore_o all_o secular_a power_n must_v for_o ever_o be_v exclude_v i_o be_o amaze_v therefore_o to_o find_v such_o a_o fondness_n as_o i_o do_v for_o the_o rule_n and_o sentiment_n of_o the_o cyprianick_n age_n in_o this_o controversy_n i_o can_v but_o smile_v at_o man_n attempt_n to_o determine_v it_o by_o the_o practice_n and_o principle_n of_o st._n cyprian_n or_o any_o other_o father_n of_o those_o time_n all_o that_o they_o say_v be_v out_o of_o the_o question_n and_o foreign_a to_o the_o purpose_n they_o only_o plead_v the_o power_n and_o authority_n of_o the_o church_n sanction_n among_o themselves_o and_o the_o gild_n of_o separate_n from_o the_o communion_n of_o their_o bishop_n while_o there_o be_v no_o other_o who_o will_v meddle_v in_o the_o government_n of_o it_o in_o such_o case_n they_o be_v the_o only_a proper_a authority_n to_o be_v regard_v because_o the_o secular_a power_n have_v decline_v all_o jurisdiction_n therein_o but_o this_o be_v no_o more_o a_o proof_n that_o the_o authority_n of_o king_n and_o prince_n must_v for_o ever_o be_v exclude_v from_o all_o ecclesiastical_a affair_n than_o the_o decree_n of_o herod_n and_o the_o jewish_a sanhedrim_n be_v a_o proof_n that_o julius_n and_o augustus_n caesar_n have_v no_o authority_n in_o judaea_n what_o shall_v we_o say_v then_o to_o dr._n hickes_n who_o will_v send_v all_o christian_a emperor_n and_o king_n to_o these_o very_a time_n to_o learn_v new_a lesson_n and_o to_o know_v from_o these_o example_n what_o power_n they_o ought_v to_o exercise_v in_o ecclesiastical_a 26._o prop._n 26._o affair_n certain_o this_o be_v a_o very_a odd_a way_n of_o argue_v that_o because_o heathen_a emperor_n will_v not_o meddle_v with_o the_o government_n of_o the_o christian_a church_n therefore_o christian_a king_n and_o prince_n must_v not_o as_o though_o the_o neglect_v and_o disregard_v of_o the_o one_o be_v to_o be_v a_o bar_n and_o a_o interdict_v to_o the_o just_a right_n and_o claim_n of_o the_o other_o that_o this_o be_v the_o truth_n of_o the_o case_n and_o that_o there_o be_v no_o more_o than_o this_o in_o it_o will_v be_v undeniable_o plain_a and_o clear_a 3._o from_z the_o great_a concession_n and_o large_a compliance_n that_o the_o christian_a bishop_n and_o clergy_n soon_o make_v when_o the_o roman_a emperor_n favour_v their_o interest_n and_o interpose_v their_o authority_n in_o the_o management_n and_o settlement_n of_o the_o affair_n of_o the_o church_n if_o
the_o primitive_a father_n have_v have_v the_o same_o sentiment_n with_o dr._n hickes_n and_o his_o friend_n as_o to_o the_o church_n divine_a right_n to_o a_o independent_a authority_n it_o be_v impossible_a that_o they_o shall_v have_v give_v in_o to_o the_o authority_n and_o jurisdiction_n of_o the_o emperor_n as_o they_o be_v find_v to_o have_v do_v and_o whether_o they_o will_v impute_v it_o to_o the_o ignorance_n of_o the_o primitive_a christian_n or_o whether_o they_o will_v make_v they_o the_o first_o betrayer_n of_o the_o church_n sacred_a right_n i_o leave_v to_o themselves_o let_v they_o account_v for_o it_o as_o they_o please_v i_o be_o content_v to_o observe_v from_o a_o very_a learned_a treatise_n of_o our_o present_a 35._o author_n christian_n prin._n c._n 2._o sect._n 4._o c._n 17_o 21_o 27_o 34_o 35._o great_a and_o good_a archbishop_n who_o have_v support_v his_o assertion_n with_o authority_n which_o be_v indisputable_a that_o no_o soon_o do_v the_o affair_n the_o euseb_n vit_n const_n lib._n iii_o c._n 6_o 7_o 10_o 12_o 13_o 17._o contanstine_n call_v the_o first_o general_a council_n by_o his_o imperial_a authority_n appoint_v the_o city_n nice_n in_o bythinia_n for_o the_o place_n of_o their_o meeting_n and_o on_o the_o day_n set_v for_o open_v the_o synod_n he_o come_v and_o sit_v among_o they_o and_o reason_v with_o they_o and_o compose_v their_o difference_n ibid._n lib._n iu._n c._n 42_o 43._o he_o summon_v another_o council_n to_o meet_v at_o tyre_n a._n d._n 335_o and_o threaten_v those_o who_o disobey_v his_o summons_n with_o banishment_n or_o ejectment_n out_o of_o his_o see_n afterward_o he_o adjourn_v it_o to_o jerusalem_n to_o this_o council_n athanasius_n come_v in_o pure_a obedience_n to_o the_o emperor_n and_o appeal_v from_o it_o to_o his_o authority_n ib._n lib._n i._o c._n 44._o eusebius_n commend_v constantine_n for_o his_o piety_n and_o religious_a care_n in_o all_o this_o dr._n cave_n hist_o lit._n vol._n 2._o p._n 152._o in_o the_o assembly_n at_o carthage_n a._n d._n 411._o marcellinus_n the_o emperor_n commissioner_n direct_v the_o manner_n of_o their_o proceed_v appoint_v seven_o bishop_n only_o of_o a_o side_n to_o enter_v into_o debate_n and_o in_o the_o end_n give_v sentence_n in_o favour_n of_o the_o orthodox_n and_o when_o upon_o marcellinus_n his_o death_n the_o donatist_n will_v have_v have_v all_o that_o have_v be_v do_v rescind_v honorius_n confirm_v their_o decree_n and_o make_v they_o valid_a ib._n p._n 158_o etc._n etc._n upon_o the_o feud_n and_o contrary_a decree_n in_o the_o council_n of_o ephesus_n a._n d._n 431._o between_o john_n patriarch_n of_o antioch_n and_o cyril_n of_o alexandria_n against_o nestorius_n theodosius_n the_o emperor_n command_v all_o that_o have_v be_v do_v on_o both_o side_n to_o be_v rescind_v and_o upon_o a_o full_a and_o true_a information_n of_o what_o have_v pass_v he_o confirm_v the_o decree_n make_v against_o nestorius_n as_o to_o imperial_a law_n in_o ecclesiastical_a affair_n i_o will_v mention_v a_o few_o only_a out_o of_o the_o code_n and_o novel_n of_o justinian_n god_n lib._n i._o tit._n three_o cap._n 8._o if_o a_o clergyman_n give_v false_a witness_n in_o a_o pecuniary_a case_n he_o be_v to_o be_v suspend_v from_o his_o office_n for_o three_o year_n if_o in_o a_o criminal_a cause_n to_o be_v degrade_v from_o the_o priestly_a office_n clericatûs_fw-la honore_fw-la nudatus_fw-la etc._n etc._n ib._n novel_a coll._n ix_o tit._n vi_fw-la 123._o cap._n x._o a_o clergyman_n play_v at_o table_n or_o stand_v by_o to_o lay_v wager_n or_o look_v on_o be_v to_o be_v suspend_v for_o three_o year_n jubemus_fw-la tribus_fw-la annis_fw-la a_o venerabili_fw-la ministerio_fw-la prohiberi_fw-la ib._n c._n 17._o he_o that_o shall_v give_v or_o take_v money_n to_o procure_v the_o election_n or_o ordination_n of_o a_o minister_n be_v to_o be_v degrade_v a_o gradu_fw-la sacerdotij_fw-la retrahatur_fw-la ib._n c._n 31._o a_o bishop_n not_o consecrate_a according_a to_o some_o particular_a imperial_a constitution_n be_v to_o be_v depose_v jubemus_fw-la hunc_fw-la omnibus_fw-la modis_fw-la epicsopatu_fw-la depelli_fw-la novel_a ix_o tit._n vi_fw-la 123_o 1._o a_o presbyter_n ordain_v before_o examination_n if_o he_o have_v be_v accuse_v as_o unfit_a be_v to_o be_v depose_v a_o sacerdotio_fw-la repellatur_fw-la c._n 2._o a_o bishop_n desert_v his_o see_n and_o not_o return_v in_o a_o set_a time_n be_v to_o be_v deprive_v ab_fw-la episcopatu_fw-la expelli_fw-la ib._n c._n 9_o if_o a_o bishop_n or_o presbyter_n excommunicate_v any_o without_o hear_v his_o cause_n the_o person_n unjust_o excommunicate_v shall_v be_v absolve_v by_o another_o presbyter_n and_o he_o that_o unjust_o excommunicate_v he_o shall_v himself_o be_v excommunicate_v ib._n c._n 11._o if_o a_o bishop_n that_o be_v deprive_v or_o depose_v sacerdotio_fw-la pulsus_fw-la presume_v to_o return_v to_o the_o city_n he_o have_v belong_v to_o he_o be_v to_o be_v confine_v in_o a_o monastery_n ib._n a_o bishop_n permit_v a_o deacon_n to_o marry_v after_o he_o be_v ordain_v be_v to_o be_v deprive_v expellatur_fw-la ab_fw-la episcopatu_fw-la and_o a_o presbyter_n so_o marry_v be_v to_o be_v degrade_v expellatur_fw-la a_fw-la clero_fw-la ib._n c._n 14._o many_o more_o law_n of_o this_o kind_a equivalent_a to_o our_o act_n of_o parliament_n may_v be_v mention_v and_o they_o all_o demonstrate_v that_o the_o christian_n of_o those_o age_n know_v no_o such_o principle_n as_o the_o independent_a power_n of_o the_o church_n in_o ecclesiastical_a affair_n christian_a emperor_n concern_v themselves_o in_o the_o affair_n of_o the_o church_n and_o the_o government_n of_o it_o but_o the_o bishop_n admit_v they_o to_o summon_v council_n by_o their_o imperial_a authority_n to_o appoint_v the_o time_n and_o place_n of_o their_o meeting_n to_o direct_v the_o matter_n to_o be_v treat_v on_o and_o the_o manner_n of_o their_o proceed_v to_o preside_v in_o and_o regulate_v their_o debate_n to_o exercise_v authority_n over_o their_o declaration_n and_o canon_n sometime_o to_o revoke_v and_o sometime_o to_o suspend_v their_o decree_n sometime_o they_o not_o only_o make_v law_n about_o church_n government_n without_o the_o clergy_n but_o even_o regulate_v their_o qualification_n and_o punish_v their_o miscarriage_n sometime_o with_o command_n to_o the_o church_n to_o degrade_v they_o and_o sometime_o to_o excommunicate_v '_o they_o they_o take_v upon_o they_o to_o judge_v of_o the_o controversy_n between_o the_o bishop_n suspend_v one_o and_o set_v up_o another_o and_o threaten_v the_o refractory_a with_o deprivation_n if_o they_o but_o dispute_v the_o authority_n of_o their_o summons_n these_o thing_n they_o do_v sometime_o at_o the_o request_n of_o the_o church_n and_o often_o with_o hearty_a thanks_o for_o what_o they_o have_v do_v and_o those_o age_n know_v no_o such_o thing_n as_o dispute_v the_o competent_a authority_n by_o which_o they_o act_v or_o the_o validity_n of_o their_o sentence_n so_o long_o as_o nothing_o be_v do_v by_o they_o to_o the_o detriment_n of_o the_o christian_a faith_n or_o religion_n this_o show_v most_o plain_o that_o what_o be_v practise_v by_o the_o independent_a authority_n of_o the_o bishop_n and_o clergy_n for_o the_o first_o three_o hundred_o year_n be_v only_o out_o of_o necessity_n and_o not_o in_o a_o claim_n of_o any_o divine_a right_a to_o exclude_v the_o secular_a power_n and_o now_o i_o come_v to_o the_o iii_o and_o last_o objection_n some_o be_v apt_a to_o think_v the_o principle_n i_o advance_v too_o prejudicial_a to_o the_o church_n interest_n and_o advantage_n that_o they_o tend_v too_o much_o to_o oppress_v and_o enslave_v she_o but_o i_o hope_v i_o have_v not_o lay_v myself_o open_a deserve_o to_o any_o such_o charge_n i_o have_v grant_v it_o a_o divine_a unalienable_a right_n to_o the_o holy_a office_n of_o all_o religious_a ministration_n to_o the_o power_n of_o the_o key_n and_o to_o ordination_n i_o have_v allow_v it_o a_o natural_a and_o common_a right_n to_o all_o the_o general_a power_n of_o government_n and_o own_v that_o by_o virtue_n of_o christ_n commission_n it_o have_v a_o trust_n useful_a to_o it_o in_o all_o its_o exigency_n and_o a_o authority_n to_o do_v every_o thing_n in_o the_o exercise_n of_o its_o spiritual_a power_n that_o be_v necessary_a to_o be_v do_v for_o the_o propagation_n and_o support_v of_o the_o christian_a religion_n where_o then_o be_v the_o slavery_n or_o oppression_n in_o these_o principle_n or_o what_o be_v it_o that_o we_o can_v by_o the_o authority_n of_o god_n and_o christ_n claim_v more_o other_o privilege_n and_o authority_n may_v be_v grant_v to_o it_o by_o the_o state_n but_o of_o its_o own_o right_a i_o be_o not_o convince_v that_o it_o can_v pretend_v to_o more_o than_o these_o i_o be_o in_o truth_n very_o sensible_a that_o the_o clergy_n be_v in_o some_o man_n esteem_n and_o opinion_n
very_o low_a and_o mean_a and_o i_o hope_v i_o shall_v always_o carry_v a_o ready_a inclination_n to_o do_v my_o endeavour_n to_o support_v both_o the_o honour_n and_o the_o true_a interest_n of_o the_o order_n but_o as_o all_o the_o contempt_n that_o we_o seem_v to_o lie_v under_o be_v either_o with_o man_n of_o profligate_v principle_n and_o wicked_a life_n who_o reproach_n can_v do_v we_o but_o little_a or_o no_o harm_n or_o else_o with_o those_o who_o take_v offence_n at_o our_o carriage_n and_o conduct_n so_o nothing_o certain_o will_v go_v far_o to_o raise_v our_o character_n and_o promote_v our_o interest_n and_o engage_v king_n and_o state_n to_o entrust_v we_o with_o additional_a honour_n and_o power_n than_o our_o prudence_n and_o piety_n and_o modesty_n and_o great_a humility_n which_o be_v none_o of_o they_o inconsistent_a with_o a_o due_a regard_n to_o our_o just_a authority_n and_o while_o these_o virtue_n and_o grace_n be_v sound_a to_o shine_v through_o all_o our_o 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