Priests and Levites 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 diversities of gifts of God of administrations and operations By Gods appointment and gracious dispensation the high Priest had the chiefe place other Priests were under him the Levites inferiour to these had one chiefe in every degree the rest under them had their different administrations some were Singers others Porters Some of these were gifted by God for exposition of Scripture or Prophecy or making sacred hymnes and other holy imployment So in time of the Gospel There were b 1. Cor. 12.4 5 6. diversity of gifts by one and the same Spirit diversity of administrations by one and the same Lord diversitie of operations by one and the same God Of the Disciples and scholars of Christ some were called to be Apostles and Teachers and Workers of miracles c. some to be Evangelists some to be Prophets These trained up 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Attendants Deacons fellow workemen fellow souldiers These according as the Apostles pleased and saw expedient for the Churches use grew up from Schollars or Disciples to be helpers or Deacons and then afterward to be fellow workmen and fellow souldiers with the Apostles themselves for they of inferiour gifts were to endevour to obtain 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the c 1. Cor. 12.31 more excellent gifts This Paul commands In the Law the chiefe places of the Priests and Levites over their brethren came to them by succession of bloud so that the hoary head found in the way of a faithfull and right performance of the charge entrusted unto him upon the death of the Sar or Nagîd prince or chiefe man in the high priesthood or any of the 24. Courses and the other places was preferred and succeeded the deceased But in time of the Gospel the Apostles and Apostolicall men by their appointment having the dispensation of matters under their Lord Christ committed to them and observing in severall persons the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 gracious gifts bestowed by the divine power upon them whom they instructed destinated them to administrations and imployments accordingly which were diversified as was requisite for the building of Gods Church For as in the d 1 Co. 12.12 naturall body there be divers members of more noble or meaner use and all even the meanest very usefull so 't is in the Church or body of Christ And in regard that the Church is here militant under Christ the chief captain he hath his under and subordinate Captains they inferiour captains under them and lastly the common souldiers namely each private Christian who all in their places civill or sacred war under Christs banner for God hath not gifted men with an equality of courage and indowments and therefore intended not a parity either in Civill or Ecclesiasticall places There were of old among the sacred officers Sarim Negidim Nesiim Chieftains Rulers Princes of the sanctuary for the well ordering of the Priests in their severall administrations according to their faculties who were under them and doth not the equity of the matter require the same subordination in the Church of God now yea it appeareth that the Church of God was so ordered in the Primitive times for Christ ascending into heaven sate there as King of kings to preserve his people notwithstanding all Roman tyranny and appeareth there as high Priest for ever He sent twelve Apostles Bishops under him into severall parts of the world they disposed of such scholars as Christ in his life time or themselves did educate and instruct and planted Apostolicall men Presbiters Deacons their fellow workmen and the rest under other titles as they found the occasions of Gods Church to require and people fitted and ready to receive them This was put in practise in the seven Churches of Asia at Philippi Corinth and elsewere For see what course was observed in some few Churches the like we may conceive of the rest for their generall carriage The Epistles in the Apocalipse are directed to the e Apoc. 2. 3. Angel of each Church of the seven in Asia as denoting one principall man in each for so The Lord of the vineyard The Lord of the House The Lord of that servant elsewhere speeches in form like these imply one speciall Lord and not many Lords one equall to another Besides in those times there were some 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 not men which seemed to be eminent and were not but who were such as they seemed men f Gal. 2.6 9. of chiefe place above others dignified both by God and men pillars in Gods Church not pillars in the same rank as all good Christians are that is standing stedfast in Gods truth but pillars in regard of eminency and administration above others such were James Caiphas John And Paul and Barnabas taken unto them Again God who is * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Architection The chief builder of the Church vouchsafeth the title to St. Paul that he is called an Architecton g 1. Cor. 3.10 a chiefe builder which intimates that the other Apostles were chiefe builders also and if Paul may well be stiled an Arch-builder he may also rightly be called an Archbishop Also St. John the Apostle was an Archbuilder an Archbishop under Christ The Archbuilder and the Archbishop For if Paul was so the same cannot be denyed to John Quia similium similis est ratio Christ supreme in authority gives order to John John sends the Epistles to the Angels of the Churches the Angels receive them for their own and the other Teachers for there were other Teachers besides the seven Angels and the peoples instruction This also is deducible from the equity of the Law and the order settled among the Priests of old for while Aaron the Type of Christ was alive Eleazar his sonne was stiled Nasi Nesiim Prelate of prelates or Chieftain of chieftains and the chief fathers in the 24. courses are Roshei Aboth Archpatriots and Patriarchs And seeing the new Testament doth often borrow not onely doctrine but termes of speech from the old and that very usually may we not judge that we have Architecton and Patriarch Bishop and the like borrowed from the old Testament and conceive that in the Grecian Eastern and African Churches as well as in the Roman Western Churches these titles and a like subordination of governours have taken place seeing Paul calleth himself Architecton this warranteth the rest of like nature Only a care must be had that they who have these titles 1. must not love a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Mat. 23.6 the title or preheminence belonging thereunto nor earnestly affect to be great in dignity but being call'd to any high place becom as Moses meek men and be truly fathers and overseers performing usefull service for the whole Church where they are thus dignified for Christ forbidding men to be called b verse 8 9 10 Rabbi Father Doctor yet in Scripture stileth men by the same c
heire that is not onely enjoy his substance but succeed him in the Priesthood and continue the knowledge of Godamong the rest of his retinue In the times next after Moses and Josuah's death it pleased God to let the Israelites know by experience the evill consequences of the want of a chiese Rulet to bee Deputy under God for thereupon it followed that f Judg. 2.11.12 21.25 every one did that which was good in his owne eyes This gave occasion to the people to neglect the Priests maintenance and to the Priests g Judg. 17.8 to become servile and matters both in civill and Ecclesiasticall State h Judg. 2.12 3.7 10.13 to be very corrupt and Idolatry to prevaile whereupon God punished them with forraigne enemies famine and civill warre When Samuel * 1 Sam. 3.19 20. was deputed Gods Prophet Priest and Judge he took speciall care of Gods worship and the observance of his Laws Upon Samuels religious performances and i 1 Sam. 7.3 the peoples repentance God himselfe supplyed the place of k 1 Sam. 12.12 their King or Ruler and all the time of Samuel before Sauls raigne plagued l 1 Sam. 7.13 14. the Israelites enemies and gave Israel repossession of the Lands which in time of the Judges they had lost by negligence of the Rulers and of the Priests at the corruptions of those times doe evince When God defending his people as their King was unthankfully rejected and Saul annoynted to rule over them who in many of his carriages proved an evill Deputy of God and trespassed so far that God rejected him Samuel and the Priests in place after him better observed and continued the Ecclefiasticall charge After David and Salomons time Jeroboam made Gods Deputy over ten Tribes set up Idolatry cast out Gods Priests made lewd Priests fitting his own humour and thus set up a wicked pattern which his successors imitated till God sent Israel captive to Assur Now also Rehoboam and some wicked Kings of Judah badly managed the deputation with which God entrusted them yet the Priests driven from their Cities in Israel were entertained by Rehoboam and setled their abode in Judah and Benjamin There were also in those times houses of the Prophets supplyed with Students in Bethel Gilgal and Jericho The m 2 Kin. 4.23 new moons and Sabbaths were by some observed first fruits paid to n 2 Kin. 4.41 the Prophets by some some o 2 Kin. 10.23 Priests servants of the Lord remained in Israel yea in the dayes of Athaliah's most wicked usurpation there were some p 2 King 11. religious Captains of hundreds and some Priests observant of their courses as wee see by one course of the Priests going out of their charge another part coming in on the Sabbath all of them at good Iehojadah's cōmand By these religious assistants help Iehojadah slue Athaliah and seated Ioash true heir to the Crown on the Throne as Gods Deputy In his later dayes and in the dayes of the bad Kings who succeeded him the deputation was corruptly managed and all good order exceedingly depraved so that God suffered Babel to overcome Judah and carry the Jewes away captive as Assur had done Israel After Malachies time when the neighbouring nations of Egypt and Syria and q 1 Mac. 1.11 some false brethren among the Jewes themselves caused great mischiefe to the people of God so that no King sate on Davids's throne to take care of the Civill and Ecclesiasticall government yet the b 1. Mac. 1.23 Sanctuary of God the golden Altar the Candlesticke the Table for the shew bread and the like remained untill Antiochus Epiphanes tooke them away The bookes of the Law the customes and rites the Sabbaths and feasts were kept untill this wicked tyrant sought to abolish them Notwithstanding all pressures and miseries befalling this people some c 1. Mac. 4.56 among them endevoured to live according to Gods Laws paid their d 1. Mac. 3 49. first fruits and tithes maintained their e 1. Mac. 3.55 Captains of thousands hundreds fifties tens And here when Egypts and Syria's power began by Romes rising to decline the Maccabees inflamed with a zeale to their Law and Nation and incouraged by the peoples applause were not content with their owne Ecclesiasticall charge and to blow the trumpets for stirring up their peoples valour valiantly to defend their liberty but tooke to themselves the places of Princes and Captaines 1. Mac. 5.3 6. and in their owne persons waged war against their enemies In Christs time the Pharisees sate in Moses chair and taught some things well but loved preheminence and badly managed it There were then some religious persons as Symeon Anna Joseph Mary Joseph of Arimathea and others These feparated not from the Jewish Church then much corrupted Zacharie ministred in the course of his family and departing to his owne dwelling place left the ministration to other Priests succeeding in their course And untill the destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple and the slaughter or dispersion of this people the Rulers of the Jews in an obstinate presumption that the Messias was not then come and that yet he should come and be seene in that Temple and receive the kingdome of David strove to hold up the Lawes and Ordinances of Moses and David so far as the miseries and tyranny of those times would permit CHAP. III. Gods Deputation of the Government of the Church in and after Christs time and how for the chiefe passages thereof it was managed IN the fulnesse of time Jesus Christ came in his owne person did preach and instruct the Jewish Nation who were then very erroneous both for government and doctrine He found their Rulers to be unworthy husbandmen of Gods vineyard and that the people did persevere in the deviations of their factious leaders and blind Priests with extremity of obstinacy and would not admit him the Lord of the vineyard to rule over them Therefore forty and odde yeares before the desolation of the City and Temple that the Nation might have time to repent Christ began to builde the Christan Church by his owne gracious sermons and dying for the sins of the world rose again and sent his Apostles unto all Nations with the glad tidings of the Gospel and that the work might prosper by their ministration he sent down the Holy Ghost a comforter to his Church and Apostles to leade them into all truth and to furnish labourers with abilities for the building of the universall Church For effecting whereof a diversity a 1. Cor. 11.4 c. Rom. 12.4 c of gifts administrations and faculties were requisite Wherefore these were bestowed on the Apostles and others by one Lord one Spirit one God who worketh all in all and distributeth to every one severally according to his will that every one might profit and the members of Christs body by their severall offices as the
holy Nation Exod. 19.6 so under the Gospel God hath chosen a generation a royall Priesthood an holy nation nation a peculiar people 1 Pet. 2.9 God of old c Psal 76.1 was known in Jewry salvation was of the Jews Now also there are the Jews indeed and the d Gal. 6.16 Israel of God those who know God in Christ and he e Rom. 2.28 is not a Jew who is one outward in the flesh but he is one who is one within in the heart whose praise is not onely of men that his brethren should praise him but of God also by whom to be praised argueth a true praise indeed And now the old Jerusalem being demolished Jerusalem f Gal. 4.26 from above is the true mother of us all There is also a great correspondence between the enemies of Gods people then and of true Christian now Then was an enmity between the seed of the woman and the seed of the serpent Christ in his time found a generation g Mat. 23.33 of vipers or serpents opposing him Himself h Apoc. 12. and his Angels Apostles and others were fought against by the Dragon and his Angels or instruments A late upstart persecuting Egypt and Babel exercise cruelty on the Christian Church as the former Egypt and Babel did on Gods people Sundry crosses betided Israel formerly in the wildernesse the Church under the Gospel is again driven into the i Apoc. 12.6 wilderness and gratiously still maintained by Gods hand as before another Gog k Apoc. 20.8 and Magog fight against the Church in these last dayes as in former times There were false Prophets among Gods people of old and a 1 Jude 11. Balaam who loved the wages of unrighteousnesse such there are now who spare not the flock wolves m Act. 20.29 in sheeps cloathing There were before a Jannes and Jambres who resisted Moses so now there n 2 Tim. 3.8 are some who resist the truth There was of old a gainsaying of Koreh against Moses and the Priests in sacred administration above others as if God had made a parity the like gainsaying to that of Koreh is foretold to been in o Jude 11. these last times So then seeing God giveth us no new Scripture over and above the old and new Testament but of his great mercy hath left them unto us for to direct our judgements and practice to them both we ought carefully to attend The old Testament was made usefull and was sufficient for the Jewish Church the old and new together have whatsoever is necessary for these last times We must fetch our instruction from both and therefore the new often relateth to the old for the old is of great use still in very many things and the equity still remaines of many observances types and ceremonies which themselves are not to bee used Christ fulfilled and put an end to some of them as the sacrifices and Paschal lamb which typed Christs dying for our sins and Jonas type shewing his rising againe the third day the observance of beasts cleane and uncleane shewing a distinction of Jews and Gentiles and some other the like Yet when Christ had fulfilled these and put a period to their observance some instruction thence is to bee raised to our selves as thus Christ was offered up as a sacrifice for us and dyed on the Grosse wee therefore must not p As Paul Act. 20.24 refuse to dye for the Gospel and must q Col. 3.5 sacrifice and mortifie our lusts Christ was the true Pascha and ended that type but in stead of it instituted the Lords Supper Christ as Jonas rose againe the third day we must rise from the death of sin the Gentiles were as beasts unclean but Christ purifying their hearts by faith they are become clean and fellow heires and one body with us yet even to this day wee r 2 Cor. 6.14 must not bee unequally yoked by marriage with infidels nor ſ 2 Thes 3.6 communicate with such as walk inordinately Other rites and ceremonies there be in the Law which do directly concern us yet their literal observance is utterly taken away as namely the seventh daies Sabbath answerable to Gods resting from creating the world was fulfilled and ended by Christs body resting that day in the grave but yet a new * Heb. 4.10 day of rest comes in place of it the Lords day in which Christ rested from the work of our Redemption Circumcision is abolished yet circumcision of heart and lips are still of use And as a Jewish child was to be circumcised the eighth day so ought a Christians child to be baptized in its infancy though Christ hath not expressely injoyned this in the new Testament The Israelites were to keep the Paschal feast to express their belief in Christs deliverance of them to come and their thankfulnesse for the same so hath not the Christian Church well ordained a solemn Easter feast in memory and thankfulnesse for our deliverance from a worse bondage purchased by Christ The Jews kept a feast at Pentecost in memory of Gods giving them the Law at that time and hath not the Christian Church well appointed us to observe with thankfulnesse our Pentecost at which time Christ sent downe the holy Ghost on the Apostles and others inabling them to write for us the Gospel and to deliver unto us all necessary saving and comforting truth and if the Jewes lawfully kept the feast of dedication instituted for the memory of Gods mercy unto them after Antiochus Epiphanes profanation of the Sanctuary as verily they did for Christ witnessed thereunto a Joh. 10.22 by his observance of that feast much more may wee lawfully in a thankfull remembrance of any great deliverance or favour of God observe a solemnity which publick authority shall ordaine As the Israelites in the wildernesse gathered Manna as every one could best find it laid it down in cōmon to bee distributed to every family according to their need in regard of the number of their persons yet in Canaan every one held a propriety in their possessions and goods So the Apostles and primitive Christians in case of necessity had all things common which concerned their present maintainance yet afterward left every man to hold a propriety in his estate and goods The Fire which descended from heaven to burn the sacrifices was by the care of the Priests to be kept ever burning and never to goe out so now the Spirit of God which came downe from heaven upon the Apostles in the similitude of fiery tongues is ever to be kept in and not to be quenched 1. Thes 5.19 The Priests and Levites who in time of the Law * 1. Cor. 9.13 attended at the Altar partaked with the Altar so now they which labour in the Gospel ought to live of the Gospel The sacrificing Priests and Levites teachers of the Israelites had as the Priests in the Patriarchs time
the tithes Gods portion for their maintenance and God now gives this rule that the b 1. Cor. 9.11 ministry sowing spirituall things should reape of the carnall things sowed by the Laity And in what proportion rather should that be then in that which was of old Gods portion namely a tenth part of the encrease of the ground and cattle And if we upon good ground of the equity of the Law give God and imploy in sacred duties every seventh day of our whole time as before was done in the Patriarchs time and under the Law hath not likewise our Church now well ordained that the Ecclesiastical estate should have the tithe of the increase of the earth and cattell as was done in the Patriarchs time and in the times under the Law The equity of both is alike Besides the generall Rule of mens bounty or duty in this kind shewing their thankfull acknowledgement to God was to make the extent thereof according c Deut. 16.17 Lev. 5.7 11. 14.21 Neh. 5.8 Acts 11.29 1. Cor. 16.2 2. Cor 8.12 to their ability and according to Gods blessing on their labours as God hath prospered their estate And what can bee more sutable thereunto then to render unto God a tenth ever in use untill Christs time when by Heathen tyranny it was interrupted For thus it will come to passe that each man shall have nine parts for his owne use and Ecclesiasticall persons receive a tenth and so partake in a fit proportion with the Laity in yeares of plenty and scarcity and condole in affliction or rejoyce in Gods bounty together with the Laity In the first times of the world the Kingly and Priestly offices were conjoyned in one person and must needs make him of more authority and require and move the people in their own hearts to shew the more reverentiall observance in civill and sacred duties But afterward when the burden and charge was become very great too heavy for one person to undergoe God appointed Mosem custodem utriusque tabulae to take the speciall charge of civill matters and Aaron of the Priestly calling And afterward untill Christs time the Priests tooke care of the sacred performances and were usually assistant unto the chiefe Rulers and Kings as Eleazer to Josua in dividing Canaan Zadock to Solomon in building the Temple Jehoiadah a preserver and instructor of Joash Jehosuah in commission with Zorobabel at the returne from Babel And as the chiefe Fathers and Princes of the severall Tribes assisted the King in civill matters so the Priests and Levites were subordinate to the high Priest in Ecclesiasticall businesses and he and they subject to the King so now when the Kingdomes and occasions of Christian Princes are much increased they have made use of Nobles being men of eminent parts for civill affaires and of Ecclestasiicall men being conspicuous for vertue religion prudence and learning in Ecclesiasticall performances And as the d Deut. 17.9.2 Chro. 19.6 8. Priests and Levites were in joynt commission with Judges for the judgement and cause of the Lord whose the Judgement is so have such Ecclesiasticall men as above been joyned in Judgement with prudent Lay-men in Courts where Christian Lawes subordinate to Gods Law and guided in many things by humane reason and by custome of the Nations well settled have bin the Rule determining controversies Furthermore As the Jews had one solemn place for Gods worship and service namely the Temple in Jerusalem where every day sacrifice was made and holy rites performed and prayers and praises offered up to God and had also many Synagogues in their Land for prayer and expounding the word so have not our forefathers under the Gospel being partakers of a better Covenant and enjoying better promises then they of old well shewed their thankfulnesse to God by building large and goodly Churches for prayer and praising God thrice every day and for frequent preaching in the great Cities of this Land and yet built in the lesse townes and villages ordinary and smaller Churches and Chappels for prayer and preaching at due times Where God affords more meanes he requires more duty according to mens ability so in regard that the great Cities have beene more able to build furnish and maintain Gods Churches and service they may seem religiously in this but to have done their duty Yet the equity of this will not extend so farre as Rome doth stretch it arrogating to her selfe a superintendency over all the world and desiring that all Churches on the earth should vaile to her and depend and be regulated by her as all Canaans Synagogues and Ecclesiasticall persons received their direction from Jerusalem For first in the time of the Law there was such a multiplicity of rites and ceremonies and performances that had not God made the King his Counfell and the chiefe Ecclesiasticall persons in Jerusalem to regulate all parts of the Land of Canaan unity and concord in all points could never have bin observed but in the Christian Church and in the worship and service of God therein Christ ordained few and easie Sacraments a plainer and more familiar doctrine of faith and practise so that it is very possible to keepe peace and unity and for Churches in Lands farre remote one from another to be of one accord and mind if they will rest in the simplicity of the Gospel much more for all the greater Churches in our Land to agree one with another in all performances and chief doctrines and necessary truths because they have the same plain direction from sacred Scripture and one King Parliament to regulate them Secondly whereas God foretold that many a Rev. 17.13 14 15 c. Kings should give power and authority to a tyrannous Beast and should submit themselves to the great City which then raigned and ever since desired to domineer over the Kings of the earth and yet should afterward when the Lamb of God Christ had overcome them re-assume to themselves their own power given them by Christ and should hate that great City called by the Spirit of God The Whore and make her desolate and naked This is in great part already come to passe and Kings and Queens have become nursing fathers and mothers to the Church and rightly hold and maintaine that they have supreme power in their owne Kingdoms next and immediately under Christ the head of the Church and are as independent of any forraine person whatsoever as David and Solomon in their times and therefore that they neither ought nor may be subordinate to the Roman Church which is now manifestly proved to have left her first love and to be The Whore whom the Kings of the earth should ruinate But to returne to the observances of old In the Law from which an equity being deduced is still of use in the Christian Church wee observe that there were in those times * This word is often answerable to the Hebrew for the courses of the
1 Chr. 15.16 27. chief of the Levites To the g 1 Chr. 24 5. Prince of the Sanctuary Here then resipsa differenceth the generall term and prevents misprision confusion So likewise the term Rosh an Head or chiefe person is spoken of h 2 Ch. 13.12 God Of K. i 1 Ch. 20.27 Jehosaphat Of k 2 Chr. 24.6 Jehojadah the high Priest Of other l 1 Chr. 9.34 Priests Of a m Num. 7.11 chief man of a Tribe Of a n Judg. 11.9 Judge of Israel Of the chiefe o 1 Chr. 9.17 doore keeper of the Temple Of a p 1 Chr. 11.6 chiefe Captain The like variety of acception is to bee found in the words Nagid Prince and Nasi Ruler or Prelate By all which it appeareth evidently that the same terme may bee used of men much differing in place and degree and having an imparity in their callings So then the term Bishop being given to persons of severall degrees must be differenced according to the condition of their places God is the Bishop and great overseer of all the world Kings are now Overseers of all kind of affairs in their kingdoms Civill Magistrates are Bishops in matters secular Eleazar and Jehojadah were Bishops over the Priests and Levites The Apostles had each of them a Bishoprick superintendency over the severall nations to which they were sent The Elders of Ephesus were overseers and Bishops over their flocks The Angels overseers of the 7. Churches of Asia were their Bishops and S. John by Christ made a Bishop over them Thus cum de rebus constet vana est de verbis altercatio seeing the things themselves are plain why should wee strive about words But further it is objected Seeing the term is common to many why doth one only degree of men arrogate it to themselves Answ This scruple might well bee passed over but men prone to take exception will not let slip any the least atome The case is cleare to any seriously observant of one tongues borrowing words from another for words so borrowed usually by custome vary from their primitive acception And if custome of speech once bee taken up and become inveterate neither the plaine origination of words nor former practice of elder times once abandoned nor the clear use of words in Scripture nor any reason can prevaile against it Our cares will not endure that a Maior of a Citie bee called a Bishop of the same for though hee bee the Overseer of it the use of our English tongue will reject the calling of him Bishop Such a tyrant is Custome that Caesar may make a free-man of a Citie but cannot enfranchise a word Loquendum ut vulgus is the old Rule and therefore it would bee a vaine and idle quarrell to reason thus Why should Duke bee arrogated to one degree of men Herealt to another Heathen to all people not Jewes or Christians Clergie to Church-men Laity to the civill State Martyr to such onely as were put to death as witnesses of Gods truth Ecclesia to the Church of God seeing Dux is any Leader Herealt signifieth Herum altum an high Lord Ethnos a Joh. 11.47 signifies also the people of God Cleros b Deut. 4.20 9.29 1 Pet. 5.3 all members of the Church Laos c Joh. 11.51 the whole people Martyr d Mat. 18.16 one witnessing to the truth though never violently put to death for the same Ecclesia e Acts 19.39 a tumultuous assembly of Silver-smiths the like Custome of the times restrained the signification of these words and so of the word Bishop So that Bishop in Greeke whence it descends is any Overseer but in our English and some modern tongues it is restrained and appropriated to one in place as Overseer of the Clergy a work of singular use if well performed Secondly Nor doth the custome of our speech only in the practice of these our times make for this but Scripture it selfe shews the prevalency of custome and how use takes up and warrants some words for currant and lyes by others So hee of ancient time was f 1 Sam. 9.9 called Rhoe a Seer whom afterwards custome nominated Nabi a Prophet And whereas neither doth God give nor Moses and Aaron take to themselves in expresse Scripture the title of Sarim Princes but Korah and his adherents lay that to their charge that they made g Num. 16.13 themselves Sarim Princes and Rulers so that there the word is first used and in Korah's malice attributed to Moses and the Priests God who made them Rulers over the Priests though hee never before so farre as I know gave them that title yet afterward doth frequently stile the Priests Sarim Princes or chiefe Rulers in sacred performances to see them duly observed Wee know also that the name Apostle was given to the twelve and afterward to Paul Matthias and others but yet in the Epistles to the seven Churches of Asia Angel a terme equivalent is used Afterward as by the writings of succeeding times is evident the chiefe Ecclesiasticall person in any Church was not called Apostle or Angel but Archbishop Bishop or Papas Father or Patriarch chiefe Father and the word Apostle given commonly to the twelve and to Paul so often called Apostle that no custome could take it from him and the terme Angel appropriated to the ministring Spirits Gods messengers Also the terme Presbyter denoted any ancient ecclesiasticall man in the Apostles time as even the Apostles themselves 2 John 1. 1 Pet. 5.1 insomuch that the name of Presbyter is attributed to the twenty foure sitting on Thrones and having Crownes on their heads Revel 4.4 These wee may conceive to bee Angels of the Churches and so called when speech was of them with reference to the Churches to which they had their mission but in presence of the Lambe they rise from their Thrones and cast downe their Crowns and are termed Presbyters so a deputed Officer in presence of his Prince stands by as a private man and layes downe the ensignes of his honour Yet after times appropriated the title Presbyter that is Priest to them whom wee call Ministers and since that custome hath so prevailed that the terme Priest is by our common people and others confined to a Popish Priest nor will they well endure to have the word righted according to his ancient acception and have Presbyter translated Priest which might justly be done if custome would give leave And thirdly As the Apostles imparted the titles of Apostle Presbyter Deacon Watchmen Souldiers Husbandmen Labourers Teachers Pastours to others so likewise they left the title of Bishop for each of them had 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a Bishoprick as above to Ecclesiasticall men succeeding them Only after times appropriated some of these Titles to certaine degrees of men as the prevalency of custome settled them and distinction of termes was entertained to avoyd confusion and misprision when the Church of