suggestion His 39th Argument is composed of unproved Dictates to which we have over and over answered in this Treatise Touching his last Argument we say in the general 1. There is not one of the absurdities he saith are consequent on the Opinion of non-hearing of the present Ministers but is as much the consequent of the Opinion of the unlawfulness of going to Mass or hearing a Popish Ministry were it established by Law 2. Particularly 1. We cannot consider'd in their present state as an Antichristian Ministry set up in opposition to the Ministry of Christ rejoyce in or pray to God that they may or praise God for their preaching 2. It follows not that 't is then better that Barbarism spread among the people There is no necessity of the one or the other Barbarism and rudeness may call them their Fathers or foster-Fathers since whose return barbarity and rudeness is broken in like a mighty torrent upon us Who were the promoters the Book of Sports in dayes past a great piece of barbarism and rudeness Mr. T. knows Who are more the encuragers of persons lying at an Ale-house than their fudling Priests who by their practice strengthen the hands of their drunken Parishioners therein There are other meetings in most places within a small compass whither they may go to hear so that they need not lie at an Alehouse nor sit at home idle 3. We think the Magistrates do evil to compel people to hear them 4. In respect of their Antichristian calling non-preaching Readers and their preaching Ministers are alike tolerable Their Pedigree is the same their opposition to Christ and his People the same 5. The less they preach in respect of their Antichristian standing and Office the less they sin Though 6. they accounting themselves Ministers of Christ and receiving wages from the people to preach to them 't is open injustice and unrighteousness for them rarely or not at all so to do as it is Lordly Papal pride and arrogancy in the Prelates to usurp Authority over those they accoâ—nt Ministers of the Gospel and hinder them from preaching who they say are rightly ordained thereunto Of the seeming contradictions Mr. T. hath found in some Writings of J. G. to the Book Intituled Prelatical Preachers none of Christs Teachers I am not concerned to take notice Though they might easily be reconciled And the Judicious Reader can do it himself 'T is separation from a true Church and Gospel-Ministry not a false Antichristian-Church and Ministry upon the account meerly of some difference about the subject of Baptism that he condemns which that it riseth up in opposition to what is asserted in the forementioned Treatise I am not able to discern If Mr. T. dreams that a man cannot speak against separation from a true Church without condemning separation from a false he will scarce find his Rival amongst persons of Learning and Judgment CHAP. XIII Sect. 1. Serious advice to Saints that worship with the Nation and cleave to the Ministry thereof The ground of their present practice to be considered The thoughts of their hearts in dayes past For what Saints then and now suffer hard things Their aims and ends in this matter to be pondered with the present temper of their Spirit A solemn Call out of the Parochial Assemblies The Renowned Husse his Prophesie touching Reformation HAving through Divine Assistance examined and fully answered what Mr. T. was pleased to object in his Theodulia against the S. T. I desire the patience of the Christian Reader for one moment longer whilst I open my heart in a few words 1. To the precious Children of God who are yet worshipping with the Nation and cleaving to the Ministry thereof would I humbly offer these seven things 1. Seriously weigh without prejudice in the ballance of the Sanctuary what we have been tendring to you in this Treatise and think not what you read to be the words of an Enemy they are the counsels of a Friend of one who hath through wonderful grace so far learned Christ that he cannot but love you pray for you should you account him and use him as an Enemy 2. Strictly examine by the Scriptures of Truth the bottom and ground of your present practice Where is the word of Institution by Jesus Christ that warrants your attending on the present Ministry Mr. T. hath written a large Treatise thereabout but is not able to produce one Scripture to warrant your practice in this matter 3. Recollect the thoughts of your heart in dayes past Should any one have told you when you were for a godly preaching praying Ministry for Gospel-Reformation that there would a day come when an Episcopal drunken Common-Prayer-Book dumb ignorant Clergy should be set over you to the casting out of the godly sober and judicious and that you would side with them attend their Ministry would your answer have been other then that of Hazael But are we dead Dogs that we should do thus 4. Remember what it was youâ— Brethren lost their Ears Libertys Lives in days past for what they and you covenanted against was it not for witnessing against utterly to extirpate this present Hierarchie and Worship Did you not rejoyce in its extirpation and will you again encourage or comply with the building of that you once endeavoured to evert and demolish 5. Consider soberly of your aims and ends in your present attendment upon the Ministry and Worship of the Nation Whetâ—er they are such as you can comfortably own in the great Day of Assize that is now ready to spring in upon the World 6. Observe the present temper of spirit whilst attending upon the present Ministry and Worship Have you grown in grace is there not rather a spirit of declension formality deadness earthiness seising you do you meet with Christ in the Publick Assemblies Are you not rather with respect to them forced to say He is not here he is risen 7. Hasten your escape from Parochial National Churches anâ— Assemblies and get into the Assemblies of his Children where he hatâ— recorded his Name will meet with you and bless you The Vials of written vengeance are ready to be poured forth upon false Worship and Worshippers And ere long the subject of our present contest will be removed Not an Arch-Bishop or Lord-Bishop nor any of their Hierarchy shall be known in the Nation or Nations of the World none spoken of but with loathing and abhorrency Their nakedness insolency pride and contrariety to the true interest of Christ and Nations shall be so discovered that they shall be the hissing and reproach of the People insomuch that they shall be ashamed to own their function I have many times thought of that Prophesie of John Huss cited in Foxes Martyrologie Vol. 1. pag. 830. Moreover saith he hereupon note and mark by the way That the Church of God cannot be reduced to her former dignity or be reformed before all things first be made new The truth whereof
disorderly we prove Those that walk not after the tradition received from the Apostles and from the Primiâ—ive Church for above 300 years after Christ but according to the traditions of the old Bawd and Strumpet of Rome are such as walk disorderly But the present Ministers walk not after the tradition received from the Apostles but after the traditions of the Whorish Church of Rome Therefore The Major is bottom'd upon the express words of the Apostle in the place instanc'd in and were it not no person of ingenuity would have the confidence to deny it The Minor we prove by particular instances They have no Apostolical written Tradition for Liturgies Surplice Cross in Baptism c. If they have let them produce it and we are satisfied if not they are disorderly walkers and to be seperated from that they are such 2. cannot be denied by such as pretend to Reformation if submitting to ordination or reordination by a Lord-Bishop covenanting and protesting with detestation against a Reformation according to the Scriptures and the best reformed Churches be so In answer to which Mr. T. tells us 1. That it belongs not to him to speak for the present Ministers but to themselves Answ 1. And indeed many sober minded persons think so too It very ill becoms any man 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and to go about to build again the things he once destroyed But yet 2ly It s not the part of an Advocate thus to desert his Clients in open Court If he undertake their defence it appertains to him to answer for them to what is objected against them However he acquaints us 2ly what he conceives they would say for themselves 1. That they do not covenant and protest with detestation against a Reformation according to the Scripture and the best reformed Churches Answer The whole of my intendment in that expression was to intimate their renunciation of that Covenant wherein the Reformation intimated was solemnly engaged to be promoted whicâ— what is it less then to protest against the Reformation therein asserted and enjoyned That they did this is evident from their subscription of the declaration or acknowledgement following I A. B. do declare that I do hold there lies no obligation upon me or on any other person from the Oath commonly called the Solemn League and Covenant to endeavour any change or alteration of Government either in Church or State and that the same was in it self an unlawful Oath That they did because they judged the matter of the Covenant at least with respect to reformation of the Church by purging it of the Hierarchie to be sinful I do suppose they will not deny nor that they renounce sin without detestation So that the Author of S. T. will in the judgment of sober minded persons be soon acquitted froâ— being in this matter a Calumniator He tels us 2ly He conceivs they would justifie their submitting to Ordination or reordination by a Lord-Bishop their owning and reading a Liturgy in the Church their wearing the Surplice Crossing in Baptism c. Answ 1. No one doubts but they would nor can any other be expected from them who are in the practice of these things But that because they will justifie them therefore they are no disorderly walkeâ—s is not in my poor judgment an argument of the least weight The Papists will justifie their 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or Image-worship and the rest of their abominable idolatries and bring Scripture to prove it lawful too Gregorius de Valentia tels us there is some worship of Images lawful and proves it from 1 Pet 4. 3. because the Apostle would there deterre them from the unlawful worship of Idols yet I hope Mr. T. will not affirm they are not disorderly walkers and to be separated from as such 2ly We say not that they themselves will confess that they are disorderly walkers but that such as Mr. T. who have covenanted against Bishops and pretended to be for Reformation cannot deny but that they are indeed so with respect to the matters instanced in which he must acknowledge to be true for they are the very things they covenanted against as intolerable disorders and abuses to remove out of the way So that however they might call me an egregious false accuser which yet were but a sorry answer to the charge laid against them yet one would not have expected such language from Mr. T. These things are disorders or they are not If they are not why did this Animadverter Covenant Preach Print against them glory that he was one of the first that in print testified his dissatisfaction touching them If they are most assuredly those that practise them are with respect to them disorderly walkers And is Mr. T. of late grown such a fond Admirer of them that a man cannot speak truth of them but he must call him an egregious false accuser I am afraid 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and seriously to review with what spirit he writ such passages as these He adds 3dly These practices except the first are not of such a degree of pravity whether justifiable or sinful as that barely for them they should be reputed in the number of Disorderly walkers and so after due process to be separated from by vertue of positive precept from Christ Mat. 18. 2 Thess 3. 6. For 1. Mat. 18. 15 16. is meant of personal injuries the Separation permitted is a Separation only from civil eating and familiar reception not from Gospel-communion Answ 1. This is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and hath already been fully confuted 2dly He further affirms that the disorderly walking 2 Thess 3. 6. must be understood of sins of greater pravity than the particulars instanced in and charged upon them except the first which they will deny Answ 1. But the first we have proved against them therefore they are disorderly walkers according to this Scripture by Mr. T. his confession and so to be separated from 2. Every sin is a disorderly walking if persons will stand in justifie plead for any sin they are to be separated from by vertue of this Apostolical precept But 3dly If the sins charged upon the present Ministers be too small to constitute the disorderly walking here mentioned what are the greater that do so The gross sins he tells us of of any Brother not a Minister who was bound to work v. 10. such as those 1 Cor. 5. 11. 2 Cor. 12. 20 21. Answ 1. Why the gross sins of a Brother not a Minister Is not the Ordinance of private admonition Church-Censures an Institution of Christ out of the abundance of his love for the good of his Children Is a Minister exempt from it more than others he will not sure say so 2dly Why such gross sins as those mentioned 1 Cor. 5. 11. 2. Cor. 12. 20 21. doth the Apostle charge the Church of Thessalonica with any such evils as those there mentioned nothing less These are instanced in because the Animadverter supposeth at
Witnesses of Christ the Waldenses state the Defection of the Church Catal. Test 1509. From which time at least whatever Offices or Rites were introduced being introduced by the Antichrist that was now gradually revealing himself are justly to be accounted Antichristian 3dly Would Mr. T. had told us what Officers they are that are only continued in the Church of Rome that are of divine appointment that we might have considered the truth of his suggestion Lord-Bishops we prove are not such He further tells us 2dly That it is not true that the office of Lord-Bishops is derived from and is only to be found in the Papacy 1. It is manifest in the first Nicene Council can 6. that then and before were Patriarchs Metropolitan Bishops and Lord-Bishops with their Office Answ 1. That they were before is not so easily proved Hither as to their source and spring are they usually referred The learned Hooper tells us A Bishop ought to be a Bishop only of one City it is to be lamented that the Episcopal Office is so greatly degenerated Iâ— was not so from the beginning when Paul commanded Titus to constitute Bishops through every City And certainly if the ancient love toward the people did flourish in us we should confess that there is more to be done in one City than can easily be performed by the best 'T is sufficiently known that the Primitive-Church had no such Bishops as were over more Cities or Congregations than one before the time of Sylvester the first In whose time was the first Nicene Council 2dly That because the first Nicene Council acknowledged Metropolitane and Lord-Bishops therefore they are not derived from the Papacy is not so easily demonstrated This Council was in oâ— about the year 315. Long before the Spirit by which the body Antichristian is animated visibly manifested it self not once nor twice aâ— is known What other spirit shewed it self in Victor who excommunicated the Eastern Bishops for not keeping Easter with him at the same time which brawl continued till the first Council of Nice which sides with Victor an Argument that they were acted by the same spirit 3dly What assurance will our Animadverter give us that this Canon as well as some others which confessedly are is not foisted into the Acts of that Council by persons of after-ages He is not ignorant that Protestants plead this against the Papists who for the establishment of the Tyranny of the Roman Primacy produce a fictitious Canon of the Nicene Council 4thly 'T is incumbent upon him to prove that such Metropolitane Bishops and Lord-Bishops as are now in England were in and before the first Nicene Council which he knows to be false and untrue 1. The English Episcopacy is an order above the order of Presbyters then Episcopacy and Presbytery was accounted one and the same order 2. Ruledom and Jurisdiction is the peculiar flower of the Garland of our English Episcopacy of that it was not so As the Presâ—yters were to do nothing without the Bishop so neither was the Bishop to do any thing without the Presbyters He adds 2. That in the Greek Eastern Russian Churches the same Office is continued Answ 1. Nor do we affirm the contrary that we should do so is not necessary The Greek-Churches were at the first involved in the same Apostasie with the Roman at least with respect to the matter in debate betwixt us 2. We only say that 't is only found in the Papacy with respect to the Reformed-Churches none of them have continued it He therefore adds 3. That it is also pleaded that the Lutheran Churches Reformed that have separated from the Papacy in Germany Denmark Swethland have retained the same Office under the name of Superintendents Answ 'T is indeed thus pleaded by Downham c. who 't is like took up the story of Hadrianus Saravia a known Patron of the Popish Hierarchy who asserts it in a way of reproach to the Lutheran Reformation whether it be truly pleaded or otherwise Mr. T. tells us not though he cannot be ignorant of the contrary The Superintendency of the Lutheran Churches is exceeding different from the Office of our Bishops 1. Their Superintendent is only as a President or Chairman for the preservation of order in an Assembly 2. He is only so during the Session out of it he exerciseth no authority at all more than the rest of his Co-Presbyters as do the Bishops of England 3. He is subject to the Presbytery our Bishops Lords over them 4. He differs not in order and degree from the rest of the Ministeâ—â— as do the Bishops of England 5. He is but a Pastor of one particular Church our Bishops are of scores hundreds He proceeds after the same rate of confidence and verity 4. That it is false that the true Spouse and Witnesses of Christ have in all ages utterly rejected the Office of Lord-Bishops and that it hath its entertainment only by the false Antichristian Church Answ 1. 'T is much he doth not produce one instance of this Assertion and yet so confidently avers it which could he have done he would as well have proved it false as said it was so 2dly For the confirmation of the truth of what he saith is false we have produced several Testimonies his Answer thereunto such as it is we have already taken notice of it and manifested its lightness and vanity He adds This is manifest by the many Epistles written to the English Prelates by their reception at the Synod of Dort Answ 1. What the Epistles are he intends what the Reception mentioned is not of such import as to spend our time in enquiring thereabout 2dly That they have rejected the Office of Lord-Bishops is known they have published their dislike and detestation of it in their Confession to the world What respect any of them give them either in point of civility or as Messengers or persons sent from the King or perhaps not being truly informed what the Jurisdiction and Office is they exercise in their private Letters or otherwise is not considerable in the matter in hand The Office of Lord-Bishops or a superiority of Order above Presbyters or Elders they absolutely condemn as we have proved We add in S. T. One Stone of Offence must be removed out of our way It is said that though Lord-Bishops are Antichristian yet it doth not follow that the Office and Ministry derived from them is so for they are also Presbyters and ordained as Presbyters To which Mr. T. subjoyns 1. There is nothing replied to the allegation that Bishops ordain with Presbyters Answ 1. Nor is there any such allegation in the objection proposed 2ly If there were it s not so considerable as to deserve to be taken notice of They are only assistants to the Bishop 't is he not they that sets them apart admits them into Sacred Orders as they heathenishly call them He adds 2dly Nor to this that some of the Bishops have acknowledged Episcopacy
such thing 1 Cor. 12. 28. speaks not a tittle to it For 1. The Church vers 28. is the Body of Christ vers 27. This Paul tells them the Church of Corinth they were and every Saint in the Church a Member in particular 2. 'T is such a Church amongst whom a Schism might be vers 25. as in the Church of Corinth there actually was which was the occasion of Pauls writing to them That there should be no schism in the Body But Schism is entirely in one Church amongst the members of one particular Society saith that learned man J. O. in his Treatise of Schism Besides 3. It will be hard to prove that in the Church catholick-visible as such Officers are set and placed as 't is vers 28 29. These were in the Church of Corinth which was founded by Paul Acts 18. 8 9 10. Probably Peter had been there for he intimâ—tes That at least some of them had gloried overmuch in him 1 Cor. 3. 21 22. Cephas i. e. Peter Prâ—â—hets Teachers Miracles Gifts of heaâ—ing Helps Governments diversities of Tongues were found amongst them as is known Some of these there is no question but they relate to a particular Church That the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or Teachers here are the same who are elsewhere called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Presbyters Elders and Overseers Mr. T. will not I presume deny Arguments lie near at hand for the demonstration thereof were it needful These are placed of God in particular Churches relate to them as such Acts 14. 23. 15. 2 4 6 22 23 16. 4. 20. 17. 21. 18. Tit. 1. 5. Jam. 5. 14. Act. 20. 28. Nor am I singular in the application of this Scripture to the particular Church of Corinth Pareus hath these words upon the place Et quia c. And because he had said that the Church of the Corinthians was the Body of Christ c. manifesting his consent and harmony with us herein that Paul is not treating of the Church-Catholick-visible but of a particular Church of Christ viz. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of the Church of God that was in Corinth Nor can this Scripture be meant of the invisible Church of Christ for in it God hath placed no Officers that I know of nor will the Animadverter say he hath 2dly If by the Universal Church-visible he mean the Elect of God redeemed sanctified justified by the spirit of the Lord and the blood of Jesus These are indeed called by the name of the Church in Heb. 12. 23. Eph. 1. 22. To which we may add Mat. 16. 28. Eph. 5. 25 26. That the word Church 1 Cor. 15. 9. is taken for the visible Church indefinitely I cannot subscribe to Possible by the Church of God he means First The Churches of God by an usual Figure there being in those dayes few or no Believers but were added to one Church or other as might easily be demonstrated Acts 2. 41 42. and Acts 4. 32. The multitude of Believers is a Paraphrastical description of the Church Acts 5. 11. The great care of the Apostles was to reduce them that embraced and believed the Gospel into a Church-state or that Order of the Gospel which however oppugned by Mr. T. will be found to be of the Institution of Christ As is evident from the Churches in Jerusalem Acts 7. Samaria chap. 8. Antioch Chap. 14 15. In Syria Cilicia Acts 15. 41. Phrygia Galatia Acts 16. 5 6. Macedonia Chap. 16. Thessalonica Chap. 17. Achaia Chap. 18. Ephesus Chap. 19. Asia Rev. 1. and 2. and 3. Rome Rom. 1. c. planted by them notwithstanding the utmost attempts of the power of darkness or great Red Dragon in the Roman Pagan Empire and of the Children of the Kingdom or the chief Priests Scribes Pharisees Rulers multitudes of People especially of the baser sort fit for any desperate design contradicting blaspheming opposing them herein When once we read of the Gospel preached and mingled with Faith in them that hear it the next news we frequently hear is that these Believers embody together for the worshiping God in the same numerical Ordinances the enjoyment of those priviledges and mutual performance of those duties which in a scattered individual state and capacity they were not capable of Though Secondly By way of eminency he might in that expression and no doubt he did so I persecuted the Church of God have his eye upon that famous Church of Jerusalem in the persecution and dispersion whereof he had it seems no mean hand Acts 7. 58. and 8. 3 4. As for Saul he made havock of Gr. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 he laid waste the Church entering into every house halling 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 by force and violence dragging them along the ground both men and women he committed them to Prison And the very truth is this is the most considerable instance if not the only one of Sauls Persecuting the Church of God 'T is true Acts 9. 1. 't is said And Saul breathing out threatnings and slaughters against the Disciples of the Lord but that only imports the wrath and fury that was in his spirit against them and resolution to persecute imprison waste and destroy them the usual issue of blind zeal for the Tradition of their Fathers in other places as he had already done at Jerusalem For which end he procures Letters to Damascus to bring men and women disciples bound to Jerusalem that he should find of this Heresie there But Oh the wonder of Love Before he arrive thither Christ way-layes him speakes from Heaven to him converts him and sets him upon preaching up that very way and truth he was thus violently persecuting and setting himself against So that not the visible Church indifinitely taken but some particular Churches of Jesus Christ and in especial and by way of eminency that famous Church at Jerusalem is intended 1 Cor. 15. 9. That which Mr. T. mentions in the 5 th place That the word Church is taken for the Church Topical i. e. A particular Church of Christ or a company of Believers dwelling in this or that place giving no themselves to the Lord and one another according to his will walking to gether in the fellowship of the Gospel and meeting 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in the same place for the worshiping God in the same numerical Ordinances according to the prescription will and institution of Christ Acts 8. 1. 1 Cor. 1. 1. Ephes 1. 1. and many other places Of which Chap. 4. of S. T. we assent to as true But that we should ever subscribe 6thly To that dictate of the Animadverter That Church in Scripture is taken for a Church of a Country or Nation and then it is put in the Plural Number as the Churches of Asia Galatia Judaea being so dissonant to truth and contrary to the express language of the Spirit of the Lord he could never imagine For the Churches of Asia Christ tells us expresly they were Seven
Not one Provincial or National Church but seven particular instituted Churches First To each Church is there a distinct Epistle written Secondly Each Church had its particular Officer or Angel to whom each Epistle was directed to be communicated to the Congregation for to them in it doth Christ by his Spirit speak Rev. 2. 7 11 17 29. 3. 6 13 22. 3dly Each Church received its particular commendation bore its particular burden The Evils found in one are not charged upon the rest nor the Good found in either imputed to them generally but severally 4thly The power of Excommunication or rejection of Scandalous Offenders seems to be seated in each Church severally and apart therefore no Provincial or National Churches but Congregational For the neglect of which power some of them are expresly rebuked by Christ Rev. 2. 14 15 20. which our English Annotators apply and that truly to a non-rejection of them by excommunication and cite 1 Cor. 5. 2 6. Alas a National Diocesan Provincial Church was not then thought of Diocesan Churches were first founded as 't is said but it were no difficult task to evince that their original is antidated some scores of years by Dyonisius Bishop of Rome about 280 years after Christ or as some will about 251 he was the first that appointed the limits and bounds of Parishes Here in England they received their rise and original from one Honorius Bishop of Canterbury Polyd. Virgil. de Invent. rer lib. 4. c. 9. Nay the truth is the Churches mentioned were so far from being a Church of a Region or Nation that they were not all that lived in the same Place City or Town appertaining to the Church there As for the Church of Ephesus one of the seven Paul speaks of it as distinct from the rest of the Inhabitants Eph. 1. 1. so doth Christ of the Church of Pergamos Rev. 2. 13. I know thy works and where thou dwellest i. e. among what manner of people thine abode is Psal 57. 4. 120. 5 6. Ezek. 2. 6. Phil. 2. 15. viz. a wicked graceless ungodly people even where Satan's seat is where Satan dwelleth who were sure no part of the Church The like may be said of the rest of them 'T is strange to me that when God calls them Churches any person pretending to sobriety should dare to aver them to be but one Touching the interpretation of Mat. 16. 18. 18. 17. there are indeed great debates as our Animadverter saith betwixt Protestants and Papists amongst Protestants also and Protestants The exposition the Papists give of Mat. 16. 18. who from hence would infer that Peter and after him the Bishop of Rome was made Universal Bishop is so frivolous that 't is not worth the mentioning 1. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 super hanc petram is not 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 super hunc Petrum upon this Rock will I build my Church we English-men think to be very different from upon St. Peter will I build i◠The Faith Peter confessed we take to be one thing his person another 2. We find not notwithstanding this promise that Peter was the Prince of the Apostles at which lofty rate these Gentlemen love to speak or Universal Bishop If he had been so Paul much forgot himself when he said 2 Cor. 11. 5. For I suppose Gr. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 I conclude for certain I was not a whit behind the chiefest Apostles And much more Gal. 2. 11. But when Peter was come to Antioch I withstood him to the face because he was to be blamed Strange that he should carry it with no more respect to the Prince of the Apostles and Universal Bishop and head of the Church-Catholick-visible 3. But if these were granted them what is this to their Pope Why Peter was at Rome Answ That is uncertain Yet should it be granted he was there it would not in the least advantage them in their present cause 'T is most certain he was at Samaria Antioch Lydda Joppa Cesaria yet no Primacy or Supremacy affixed to either of them upon that bottom 4. Yea but he placed his Chair at Rome fixed his Seat there Answ This is false and untrue nor can they ever make it appear that he did so Yet if this should be granted they are never a whit the nearer the mark except they prove 1. That a succession in this universal Unlimited Archiepiscopal power was entailed to the Church of Rome and that so that 1. Though those who ascended that Chair came to be invested therein by bribery cozenage cruelty bloo◠whilst they possessed it were Hereticks and declared by Councils to be so and their Successors Conjurers Adulterers Idolaters Atheists Blasphemers bloody Persecutors destroyers of bodies and souls of men the veriest Villains and Wretches that ever the Earth bore 2. Though this Succession hath been interrupted by a Vacancy or Interregnum of some years polluted by a Woman a Whore delivered with her Cardinals about her in solemn Procession whence Papa parit Papam peperit Papissa Papillum By the setting up of Anti-Popes two or three at a time contesting to the pouring out of much Blood wasting destroying Villages Towns Cities Cursing excommunicating one another and all that adhere to each other for the Popedom or St. Peter's Chair yet when in it and those that succeed them be they as bad or worse than they that went before must infallibly be his successor which when they prove I will be a Papist and before they shall effect this it being the grand Principle of their Religion or Superstition rather it would become all that have or would be accounted to have the least spark of Wisdom remaining in them to have nothing to do with such a generation For my part I am abundantly satisfied that the Church there is neither the Church-Catholick visible nor any particular Church as such but the Invisible-Church or Elect of God Tell the Church Mat. 18. 17. hath divers interpretations put upon it according as the interests of some lead and encline them In the language of the Episcopalians it is Tell the Lord Bishop and his Consistory but this is such an heterogeneous piece so wild an interpretation that it would put a sober man if concern'd in them to a blush to hear it mentioned 1. There were no such creatures at that day nor for some hundreds of years after Alas there was somewhat else to do than to think of erecting Episcopal Seas and Consistories when they were every day fighting with beasts and made a spectacle to Angels and men for the Truth and Gospel-sake which was the state of the Church of God for the most part for the first three-hundred years and upwards as is known 2. One man as saith precious Cotton is not the Church nor can he represent the Church unless sent by them but so is neither the Bishop nor his Commissary 3. The Bishop ordinarily is no member of the Church where the offence is committed