examine diligently the proofs of Scripture in this little Work , for it tends to the Salvation of your souls , bodyes and estate .

MEn and Brethren let me tell you in love : that if your Ministers were not ordained to the ministery by Bishops , they have not the spirit of truth , and ye ought not to hear them , they are not sent of God , their ordination is nothing , and it will come to nothing , for I shall briefly shew you by Scripture that your Presbytery ( falsly so called ) have no power from God to ordain Ministers : neither doe they understand the word Presbytery , on which they ground their power , 1 Tim. 4.14 . which word is Prophets , or Elder Elders , or Eldership ; for so the Greek word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifyeth , which word ye have no where else in Scripture , but only in 1 Tim. 4.14 . ye have 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , or 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , or 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 : but not 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 no where else save only 1 Tim. 4.14 . and it means Prophets , as the words going before doth sufficiently manifest it : for saith he 1 Tim. 4.14 . neglect not the gift that is in thee : which was given thee by Prophesy , with the laying on of the hands of the Prophets : and St. Paul renders it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , or in English Elder Elders or Eldership , because the Prophets were of a more ancient order then the Apostles , for Enoch was a Prophet Iude 14.15 . yet they were now under the Apostles or Bishops , 1 Cor. 12.28 . Ephes. 4.11 . and an Apostle and a Bishop is all one , for Christ is called an Apostle Heb. 3.1 . and a Bishop 1 Peter 2.25 . and Iudas before he fell was a Bishop Act. 1.20 . an Apostle signifies a planter , and a Bishop signifies a Steward or overseer , he that planteth a Church and looks well to it , is an Apostle and a Bishop , but to wave that discourse and come forward : there was in the Apostles time abundance of Prophets , and they were not ordained of any man , neither did they ordain any , for God raised them in a miraculous way , 1 Sam. 10.11.12 . they had no power to ordain Ministers , that was the work of the Apostles and Bishops ; but the Prophets did incourage the Ministers to go forth and preach , and told them their best way , and what Countryes and Cities was dangerous for them to goe into ; and them Prophets alwayes spake in the name of the holy Ghost ; saying thus saith the holy Ghost Act. 13.1 , 2. Act. 16.6 , 7. Act. 20.23 . Act. 21.4.10 , 11. and St. Paul and Barnabas was sent forth to preach by the holy Ghost , and the Prophets laid their hand upon them Act. 13.1 , 2 , 3 , 4. but it was done above 17. years after St. Pauls conversion Act. 9.6 . Galat. 1.17.18 . Galat. 2.1 . Act. 9.26.27 , 28 , 29 , 30. Act. 11. from verse 22. to the end of the Chapter , Act. 12.25 . and if you compare these Scriptures above cited one with another , for that is the way to find out the truth 1 Cor. 2.13 . you shall find it to be above 17. years after St. Paul began to preach at Damascus Act. 9.20 , 21 , 22. and surely St. Paul and Barnabas having been so often with the Apostles sent forth to preach , and received into fellowship by them Galat. 2.7 , 8 , 9. were ordained Ministers long before that time they came to Antioch Act. 13.1 , 2 , 3 , 4. and that which the Prophets did to them then : It is not said that they ordained them , but it is said that they Recommended them to the grace of God , Act. 13.1 , 2 , 3 , 4. Act. 14.26 . and if ye would have that to be their ordination then Ministers must be often ordained ; for St. Paul was Recommended again to the grace of God , by the same Prophets that abode at Antioch Act. 15.30.40 . Act. 13.1 , 2 , 3 , 4. and if you compare Act. 13.1 , 2 , 3 , 4. with 1 Tim. 4.14 . you shall find that the Prophets prophesied good things concerning Timothy , that he should be a good Minister and do great matters in converting the world , laying their hands upon him as they spake , that was all , and to this agreeth St. Pauls charge to him to warfare according to the prophesies , which went before on him , 1 Tim. 1.18 . but Timothy was ordained a Minister by St. Pauls own hands 2 Tim. 1.6 . therefore St. Paul cals his own Son , 1 Tim. 1.2 . his dear beloved Son , 2 Tim. 1.2 . because none other Minister had a hand in the begetting or the ordaining of him to the Ministery , but of St. Paul himself , which ordained Timothy as he ordained them twelve , Act. 19.6 , 7. who were them Ministers of Ephesus , St. Paul sent for to Miletus Act. 20.17 . and if ye compare 1 Tim. 4.14 . with 2 Tim. 1.6 . you shall find much difference between the one Text and the other , for saith he 2 Tim. 1.6 . Stir up the gift of God , which is in thee , by the putting on of my hands ; but saith he 1 Tim. 4.14 . Neglect not the gift that is in thee , which was given thee by Prophesy with the laying on of the hands of the Prophets , or Elder Elders or Eldership : Mark the first , he calls the gift of God , and bids Timothy to stir it up in him , the second he calls a gift , he doth not call it the gift of God , nor doth he bid Timothy stir it up in himself ; but saith he neglect not the gift , or despise not prophesyings , 1 Thessal. 5.20 . see here St. Paul presseth upon Timothy the gift of God in his ordaining of him to the ministery of Iesus Christ , but for the sayings of the Prophets , he bids him not neglect them or despise prophesyings , 1 Tim. 4.14.1 . 1 Thessal. 5.20.21 . but to fulfill them , 1 Tim. 1.18 . as St. Paul and Barnabas had done , Act. 13.1 , 2 , 3 , 4. Act. 14.26 . and thence they sailed to Antioch , from whence they had been recommended to the grace of God , for the work which they fulfilled : and again you may see by the Scripture that to commend and to ordain are two several things , Act. 14.23 . and when they had ordained them Elders in every Church and had prayed with fasting , they commended them to the Lord on whom they believed : and these Elders ordination was thus , St. Paul laid his hands on some , and Barnabas on the others , as ye see , Act. 19 , 6 , 7. for ordination of Ministers is a similitude of the procreation of Priests under the Law , and as those priests were bastards and sons of whores , that had three or four priests to beget them ; so spiritually are those Ministers bastards & sons of whores who had many ministers hands on them in their ordination , therefore according to the Scripture as ye have it in the Book of Ordination of Ministers , the Lord Bishop himself alone layeth his hands upon the Deacons head at his first ordination to the ministery , and then he receives the gift of God , and is begotten 1 Tim. 1 , 2. 2 Tim. 1.2.6 . Philem. 10. Titus 1.4 . and that which in after times is done to him are but Ceremonies that must be used by the Lord Bishop and others , to prefer him into higher degrees in the ministery , as there was Ceremonies used to the sons of Aaron by the old Law , Exod. 40.12 , 13 , 14 , 15. and as a Priest by the old Law must needs be the seed of Aaron , else no Ceremony could make him a Priest after the old Law ; so I say now , if a Minister as abovesaid , have not his being only from a Lord Bishop at first , he cannot be a Minister of God , by no means else ; now you see brethren that your Presbytery ordination is a false thing , having not the least shadow of truth in it , for your Presbytery deny any Prophets to be in our dayes : Therefore they have no right at all to shelter themselves under their shadows ; if there were any hopes that way as they would perswade you , from 1 Tim. 4.14 . but you may see by what I have spoken , how they deceive themselves and you , and as their false Presbytery ordination came to have an usurping visible power , and being for a time by the strength of Apollyons Rebellious bloody sword of war : so it shall be utterly null'd and made void by the righteous sword of the Prince of peace , and he that will favour their way shall be destroyed for ever .