EPISCOPACIE
BY
DIVINE
RIGHT
.
§.
1.
An
expostulatorie
entrance
into
the
Question
.
GOod
God!
what
is
this
,
that
I
have
lived
to
heare
?
That
a
Bishop
in
a
Christian
Assembly
should
renounce
his
Episcopall
function
,
and
crie
mercy
for
his
now-abandoned
calling
?
Brother
that
was
,
(
who
ever
you
be
)
I
must
have
leave
a
while
to
contest
seriously
with
you
;
the
act
was
yours
;
the
concernment
the
whole
Churches
:
You
could
not
think
so
foule
a
deed
could
escape
unquestioned
:
The
world
never
heard
of
such
a
Penance
;
you
cannot
blame
us
if
we
receive
it
both
with
wonder
and
expostulation
;
and
tell
you
,
it
had
beene
much
better
to
have
been
unborn
,
than
to
live
to
give
so
hainous
a
scandal
to
Gods
Church
,
and
so
deep
a
wound
to
his
holy
truth
,
and
Ordinance
.
If
Tweed
that
runs
betweene
us
,
were
an
Ocean
,
it
could
not
either
drown
,
or
wash
off
,
our
interest
,
or
your
offence
:
however
you
may
be
applauded
for
the
time
,
by
some
ignorant
,
and
partiall
abettors
,
wiser
posteritie
shall
blush
for
you
,
and
censure
you
too
justly
for
some
kind
of
Apostasie
:
Sure
I
am
,
you
have
done
that
to
your selfe
,
which
if
your
Presbytery
had
done
to
you
,
would
have
been
,
in
the
Construction
of
the
great
Councell
of
Chalcedon
,
Concil.
Chalced.
of
150
Bish.
Can.
29.
〈◊〉
〈◊〉
〈◊〉
〈◊〉
〈◊〉
.
no
other
than
sacriledge
.
For
me
,
I
am
now
breathing
towards
the
end
of
my
race
;
the
goale
is
already
in
mine
eye
;
young
men
may
speake
out
of
ambitious
hopes
,
or
passionate
transportations
;
I
that
am
now
setting
foot
over
the
threshold
of
the
house
of
my
age
,
what
aime
can
I
have
,
but
of
the
issue
of
my
last
account
,
whereto
I
am
ready
to
be
summoned
before
the
Judge
of
quick
and
dead
:
Neither
can
you
look
(
as
is
likely
)
to
be
long
after
me
:
setting
therefore
that
awfull
Tribunall
,
to
which
we
shall
shortly
be
presented
,
before
our
eyes
;
let
us
reason
the
case
in
a
modest
earnestnesse
.
I
should
be
ashamed
to
find
lesse
zeal
in
my self
for
holy
Episcopacy
,
than
you
think
you
have
show'd
in
disclaiming
it
.
Say
therefore
,
I
beseech
you
,
before
God
and
his
elect
Angels
,
say
what
it
is
,
(
besides
perhaps
the
feare
of
plundering
a
faire
temporall
estate
by
the
furious
multitude
;
)
say
what
it
can
be
,
that
induced
you
to
this
sinfull
,
to
this
scandalous
repentance
;
shew
me
true
grounds
,
and
take
me
with
you
.
How
wearie
should
I
be
of
this
Rochet
,
if
you
can
shew
me
,
that
Episcopacie
is
of
any
lesse
than
divine
Institution
.
The
eminence
of
that
calling
,
which
you
have
given
up
,
as
too
good
for
you
,
will
not
allow
you
(
though
perhaps
you
might
)
to
plead
ignorance
.
Win
him
by
your
powerfull
arguments
,
who
is
so
far
from
being
wedded
to
the
love
of
this
misconceived
pomp
,
that
he
envies
the
sweet
peace
of
his
inferiours
;
Let
me
tell
you
,
it
is
your
person
,
that
aggravates
your
crime
;
For
a
sheep
to
stray
,
it
is
no
wonder
;
but
for
a
Shepheard
,
yea
a
guide
and
director
of
Shepheards
,
(
such
God
and
the
Church
had
made
you
)
not
to
wander
himselfe
only
,
but
to
lead
away
his
flock
from
the
green
pastures
,
and
comfortable
waters
of
divine
Truth
,
to
the
drie
and
barren
desarts
of
humane
inventions
,
it
cannot
be
but
as
shamefull
as
it
is
dangerous
;
both
in
an
high
degree
.
That
some
poore
seduced
soules
of
your
ignorant
vulgar
should
condemne
that
calling
,
which
they
were
never
suffered
to
looke
at
,
but
with
prejudicate
eyes
;
or
,
that
some
of
your
higher-spirited
Clergie
,
out
of
an
Ambition
of
this
dignity
,
and
anger
of
the
repulse
,
should
snarle
at
this
denied
honour
;
or
,
that
some
of
your
great
ones
,
who
,
perhaps
,
do
no
lesse
love
the
lands
,
than
they
envie
,
and
hate
the
preheminence
of
Bishops
,
should
crie
downe
that
sacred
function
,
could
be
no
other
than
might
in
times
so
conditioned
be
expected
,
and
by
fore-expectation
made
the
more
tolerable
:
But
for
a
man
held
,
once
,
worthy
to
be
graced
with
the
chair
of
Episcopacie
,
to
spurne
downe
that
once
honourable
seat
,
and
to
make
his
very
Profession
,
a
sin
,
is
so
shamefull
an
indignity
,
as
the
judicious
of
the
succeeding
ages
,
will
shake
their
heads
at
,
and
not
mention
,
without
just
indignation
.
If
you
were
guilty
,
to
your selfe
,
of
any
noted
personall
exorbitances
,
or
of
any
insolencies
,
or
offensive
miscariages
in
your
ill-placed
government
(
such
perhaps
,
as
have
inraged
your
angry
vulgar
)
these
had
beene
just
matter
of
your
humble
penitence
,
and
worthy
of
your
most
submisse
deprecation
:
but
to
repent
you
of
a
most
lawfull
,
honourable
,
holy
,
divine
vocation
,
and
thereby
to
cast
mire
in
the
faces
of
the
blessed
Apostles
,
who
received
it
from
their
God
,
and
Saviour
,
and
by
the
guidance
of
his
Spirit
ordained
it
,
is
such
an
act
,
as
can
scarce
be
expiated
with
floods
of
over-latest
teares
.
Come
then
,
I
beseech
you
,
and
let
us
in
the
feare
of
God
reason
sadly
together
,
not
in
a
vaine
affectation
of
victorie
,
like
some
young
Sophisters
,
but
as
sober
Divines
,
in
a
fervent
pursuit
of
that
Truth
,
which
God
and
his
purer
Church
have
left
,
and
consigned
to
us
.
That
God
,
who
is
the
Father
of
lights
,
and
the
God
of
truth
and
peace
,
inlighten
the
eyes
of
his
poor
seduced
people
,
that
they
may
see
and
acknowledge
his
Truth
;
not
suffering
themselvs
to
be
blinded
with
unjust
prejudices
,
and
false
suggestions
;
and
that
they
may
know
those
things
which
belong
to
their
peace
.
§.
2.
The
difference
of
the
condition
of
forraign
Churches
and
Divines
,
from
those
of
our
Northern
neighbours
.
BUt
first
,
ere
we
enter
these
lists
,
let
me
advise
you
,
and
your
,
now-Maister
,
the
faction
;
not
to
deceive
your selves
vainly
with
the
hope
of
hiding
your
heads
,
under
the
skirt
of
the
authority
of
those
Divines
and
Churches
abroad
,
which
retain
that
form
of
government
whereto
you
have
submitted
:
For
know
,
their
case
and
yours
,
is
far
enough
different
.
They
plead
to
be
by
a
kinde
of
necessitie
cast
upon
that
condition
,
which
you
have
willingly
chosen
:
They
were
not
,
they
could
not
be
,
what
you
were
,
and
might
still
have
beene
.
Did
any
of
them
forsake
and
abjure
that
function
of
Episcopacie
,
which
he
might
freely
have
injoyed
with
the
full
liberty
of
professing
the
Reformed
Religion
?
It
is
true
,
many
Bishops
have
beene
faultie
in
their
owne
persons
,
and
condemned
too
justly
of
exorbitance
,
in
managing
their
calling
;
but
where
the
calling
is
(
as
it
should
be
)
severed
from
these
exceptions
to
the
person
,
did
ever
any
wise
man
,
or
Christian
Church
condemn
that
calling
for
it selfe
?
Yea
,
if
the
last
Bishop
of
Geneva
had
become
a
Protestant
,
aad
consented
in
matter
of
Doctrine
to
Calvin
,
Farret
,
Viret
,
have
you
or
any
man
living
just
cause
to
think
that
the
Citie
would
not
gladly
have
retained
his
government
still
,
and
thought
themselves
happy
under
such
a
protection
?
would
they
have
ejected
him
as
an
enemy
,
whom
they
might
have
enjoyed
as
a
Patron
?
Would
they
have
stood
upon
his
Episcopacie
,
whiles
they
had
his
concurrence
in
the
truth
of
Religion
?
No
man
that
hath
either
braine
or
forehead
will
affirme
it
;
since
the
world
knowes
the
quarrell
was
not
at
his
dignitie
,
but
at
his
opposition
to
the
intended
Reformation
:
But
because
this
is
only
a
suggestion
of
a
then-future-conditionate
contingencie
,
and
may
perhaps
meet
with
some
stubborn
contradiction
,
heare
what
Calvin
himselfe
saith
for
himselfe
,
and
his
Copartners
.
Calvin
de
necessit
.
Eccles.
Reformandae
.
Talem
si
nobis
hierarchiam
exhibeant
,
in
qua
sic
emincant
Ep●scopi
ut
Christo
subesse
non
recusent
,
ut
ab
illo
tanquam
unico
capite
pendeant
,
&
ad
ipsum
referantur
,
&c.
tum
vero
nullo
non
anathemate
dignos
fatear
,
si
qui
erunt
,
qui
n●n
eam
rev
renter
summáque
obedientia
observant
,
Cited
also
as
approved
by
Chamier
,
De
membris
Eccles.
Lib.
4.
Cap.
1.
If
they
would
,
saith
he
,
bring
unto
us
such
an
Hierarchie
,
wherein
the
Bishops
shall
so
rule
,
as
that
they
refuse
not
to
submit
themselvs
to
CHRIST
,
that
they
depend
upon
him
,
as
their
only
head
,
&c.
then
surely
if
there
shall
be
any
that
shall
not
submit
themselves
to
that
Hierarchie
reverently
,
and
with
the
greatest
obedience
that
may
be
,
I
confesse
there
is
no
Anathema
of
which
they
are
not
worthy
.
Thus
he
,
in
the
treatise
of
the
necessity
of
reforming
the
Church
.
Do
you
heare
your
Doome
from
your
owne
Oracle
?
Loe
,
such
,
and
no
other
,
was
that
Hierarchie
,
wherein
you
lately
bore
a
part
,
and
which
you
have
now
condemned
;
make
account
therefore
of
the
merit
and
danger
of
Calvins
just
Anathema
.
Confess
.
Fidei
nomine
Gall.
Eccles.
Yet
againe
,
the
same
Authour
in
his
Confession
of
Faith
,
written
in
the
name
of
all
the
French
Churches
,
speaking
of
the
depraved
estate
of
the
Roman
Church
,
then
in
the
fieri
of
Reforming
,
plainly
writes
thus
;
Interea
tamen
;
Yet
in
the
meane
time
,
we
would
not
have
the
Authority
of
the
Church
,
or
of
those
Pastors
,
or
Superintendents
,
to
whom
the
charge
of
Governing
the
Church
is
committed
,
taken
away
;
we
confesse
therefore
,
that
these
Bishops
,
or
Pastors
are
reverently
to
be
heard
,
so
farre
forth
as
according
to
their
function
,
they
teach
the
Word
of
God
.
And
yet
more
plainly
.
§
3.
The
judgement
of
the
German
Reformers
,
concerning
the
retaining
of
Episcopacie
.
ANd
that
the
French
Reformers
may
not
herein
bee
thought
to
goe
alone
,
take
notice
I
beseech
you
,
what
the
Germane
Divines
of
the
Ausburgh-Confession
,
have
freely
professed
to
this
purpose
.
Who
taking
Occasion
to
speake
of
Canonicall
Ordination
,
break
forth
into
these
words
following
;
Sed
Episcopi
,
&c.
But
the
Bishops
(
say
they
)
do
either
force
our
Priests
to
disclaime
and
condemne
this
kind
of
Doctrine
,
which
we
have
here
Confessed
;
or
by
a
certaine
new
and
unheard
of
kind
of
Cruelty
put
the
poore
and
innocent
soules
to
death
:
These
causes
are
they
,
which
hinder
our
Priests
from
receiving
their
Bishops
;
so
as
the
crueltie
of
the
Bishops
is
the
Cause
,
why
that
Canonicall
Government
or
Policie
,
Germany
,
Melancthon
and
Luther
:
That
Philip
Melancthon
not
only
by
the
consent
,
but
the
advice
of
[
*
](B13858-e13080-b)
*
Who
professeth
also
so
much
in
the
Smalcaldian
Articles
.
Art.
10.
Luther
perswaded
the
Protestants
of
that
time
,
that
if
Bishops
would
grant
free
use
of
the
true
doctrine
,
their
ordinary
power
and
administration
over
their
severall
Dioeceses
should
be
restored
unto
them
.
And
the
same
Melancthon
in
an
Epistle
to
Luther
hath
thus
;
See
now
I
beseech
you
,
how
willing
these
first
reformers
were
to
maintaine
and
establish
Episcopall
government
,
how
desirous
to
restore
it
,
how
troubled
,
that
they
might
not
continue
it
.
Might
they
have
enjoyed
the
Gospell
,
they
would
have
enjoyed
Episcopacie
:
In
whose
steps
then
do
you
tread
whiles
you
defie
it
?
Certainly
if
the
Genevian
and
Germane
Prelacie
would
have
but
tolerated
a
Reformation
of
the
Papall
corruptions
,
there
had
never
been
either
a
parity
of
Ministers
,
or
a
Lay
Presbyter
in
the
world
to
this
day
.
§.
4.
The
attestation
of
famous
Divines
abroad
to
our
Episcopacie
.
WHat
should
I
need
to
presse
you
with
those
Attestations
of
high
respect
which
the
most
eminent
Divines
of
forraign
Churches
have
ever
wont
to
give
to
our
Episcopacie
.
What
should
I
need
to
thicken
the
aire
with
clouds
of
witnesses
?
There
is
witnesse
enough
in
the
late
Synod
of
Dort
;
when
the
Bishop
of
Landaffe
had
in
a
speech
of
his
,
toucht
upon
Episcopall
government
,
and
show'd
,
that
the
want
thereof
gave
opportunities
to
those
Divisions
,
which
were
then
on
foot
in
the
Netherlands
:
Bogermannus
the
President
of
that
Assembly
,
stood
up
,
and
in
a
good
allowance
of
what
had
beene
spoken
;
said
;
Domine
,
nos
non
sumus
adeò
foelices
;
Alas
,
my
Lord
,
we
are
not
so
happy
:
neither
did
he
speake
this
in
a
fashionable
Complement
(
neither
the
person
,
nor
the
place
,
nor
the
hearers
were
fit
for
that
)
but
in
a
sad
gravitie
,
and
conscionable
profession
of
a
knowne
truth
;
neither
would
he
,
being
the
mouth
of
that
select
Assembly
,
have
thought
it
safe
to
passe
those
words
,
before
the
Deputies
of
the
States
,
and
so
many
venerable
Divines
of
forraigne
parts
(
besides
their
owne
)
if
he
had
not
supposed
this
so
cleare
a
truth
,
as
that
Synod
would
neither
disrelish
,
nor
contradict
.
What
doe
I
single
out
a
few
?
All
the
world
of
men
,
judicious
,
and
not
prejudiced
with
their
owne
interests
,
both
doe
,
and
must
say
thus
,
and
confesse
with
learned
Casaubon
,
Fregevill
,
and
Saravia
,
that
no
Church
in
the
world
comes
so
neare
to
the
Apostolike
form
,
as
the
Church
of
England
:
And
are
you
wearie
of
that
Condition
which
other
good
and
wise
men
proclaime
happy
?
Do
you
dote
upon
that
,
which
they
would
be
glad
to
change
?
§.
5.
The
particularity
of
the
difference
in
our
freedome
,
and
the
benefit
of
a
Monarchicall
Reformation
.
SAy
now
therefore
no
more
,
that
you
have
conformed
your selves
to
the
patterne
and
judgements
of
some
other
reformed
Churches
:
This
starting-hole
is
too
strait
to
hide
you
.
Wee
can
at
once
tenderly
respect
them
,
and
justly
censure
you
:
Acts
done
out
of
any
extremity
,
can
be
no
presidents
for
voluntary
and
deliberate
Resolutions
:
The
Mariner
casts
out
his
goods
in
a
storme
;
would
wee
censure
him
for
lesse
than
a
mad
man
,
who
should
doe
thus
in
a
calme
,
or
in
a
faire
gale
?
When
an
house
is
on
fire
in
the
City
,
we
pull
downe
the
next
roofe
,
though
firme
and
free
,
to
prevent
the
spreading
of
the
flame
;
would
we
not
wonder
at
the
man
,
that
should
offer
this
violence
to
his
neighbours
house
,
when
there
is
no
appearance
of
danger
?
we
cut
off
a
limbe
to
prevent
the
deadly
malignitie
of
a
gangrene
,
is
this
any
warrant
to
dismember
the
sound
?
Right
thus
stands
the
Case
betwixt
other
Churches
and
yours
:
They
found
themselves
in
danger
to
bee
wracked
,
with
the
tempestuous
storms
of
popish
Tyranny
;
to
be
consumed
with
the
flames
of
Romish
persecution
;
to
be
struck
dead
with
the
killing
Gangrene
of
superstition
;
they
saw
,
on
the
sudden
perhaps
,
no
other
way
left
them
for
their
freedome
and
safety
,
but
to
eject
,
pull
downe
,
cut
off
the
knowne
instruments
of
that
Papall
Tyrannie
,
persecution
,
infection
;
as
without
whose
perfect
exauthorization
they
could
conceive
no
hope
of
injoying
the
Gospel
and
themselves
.
Neither
could
they
finde
any
glimpse
of
hope
,
that
the
Soveraigne
State
under
which
they
then
lived
,
being
governed
by
a
superstitious
Clergie
,
Epi●c
Wi●ton
.
Mol●●
.
e●
.
Ep
3.
would
so
farre
favour
them
,
as
to
allow
them
an
Episcopall
government
of
their
owne
profession
,
opposite
to
the
over-prevalent
faction
of
Rome
:
Hereupon
therefore
they
were
forced
to
discard
the
office
as
well
as
the
men
;
But
yet
the
office
because
of
the
men
;
as
Popish
,
not
as
Bishops
;
and
to
put
themselves
for
the
present
into
such
a
forme
of
Government
at
a
venture
,
Hadr.
Sarav
.
resp
.
ad
Bez.
de
grad.
Ministr.
Factum
Ecclesiarum
reformatarum
accipio
,
&
excuso
,
non
incuso
,
nec
exprobro
Ibid.
as
under
which
they
might
be
sure
,
without
violent
interruption
,
to
sow
the
seeds
of
the
saving
and
sincere
truth
of
the
Gospell
.
Though
also
it
is
very
considerable
,
whether
the
condition
they
were
in
,
doth
altogether
absolutely
warrant
such
a
proceeding
;
for
was
it
not
so
with
us
,
after
Reformation
was
stept
in
,
during
those
fiery
times
of
Queen
Mary
?
Was
it
not
so
with
you
,
when
those
holy
men
,
Patrick
Hamilton
,
and
George
Wischart
sowed
the
first
seeds
of
Reformation
among
you
in
their
owne
blood
?
with
that
Spirit
,
the
Holy
Ghost
indued
them
,
of
patience
and
constancy
,
crowned
with
martyrdome
;
not
of
tumult
and
furious
opposition
;
to
the
disquiet
of
the
State
,
and
hazard
of
the
Reformation
it selfe
;
or
to
the
adjuring
and
blaspheming
of
an
holy
Order
in
the
Church
,
and
dishonouring
of
Almighty
God
,
while
they
pretended
to
seeke
his
honour
.
This
was
their
Case
,
but
what
is
this
to
yours
?
Your
Church
was
happily
gone
out
of
Babylon
;
your
and
our
most
gracious
and
religious
Soveraigne
sincerely
professeth
,
maintaineth
,
incourageth
the
blessedly-reformed
Religion
,
his
Bishops
preach
for
it
,
write
for
it
,
and
professe
themselvs
ready
,
after
the
example
of
their
predecessors
,
to
bleed
for
it
.
Your
and
our
late
learned
and
pious
Soveraign
of
blessed
memory
,
with
the
generall
votes
of
a
lawfull
Assembly
,
re-inforced
that
Order
of
Episcopacie
,
which
had
been
(
as
I
take
it
)
but
about
seventeene
yeares
discontinued
.
And
how
can
you
now
think
of
paralleling
your
condition
with
the
forraigne
?
But
that
you
may
not
think
that
I
speake
at
randome
,
and
upon
blinde
conjectures
of
the
state
of
this
difference
,
heare
,
I
pray
you
,
Politique
Reform
pag.
70.
of
the
Translation
into
English
.
what
wise
Fregivillaeus
(
a
deep
head
,
and
one
that
was
able
to
cut
even
betwixt
the
league
,
the
Church
,
and
the
State
)
saith
concerning
it
.
The
Ministers
of
the
reformation
,
saith
he
which
planted
it
in
France
,
had
respect
unto
their
businesse
,
and
to
the
work
they
took
in
hand
,
when
they
brought
in
this
equalitie
,
which
Was
,
to
plant
a
Church
,
and
to
begin
after
the
manner
of
the
Apostles
,
when
they
planted
a
Church
in
Ierusalem
.
As
also
they
meant
not
to
traverse
the
state
of
the
Clergy
,
or
to
submit
it
to
their
orders
,
whensoever
the
Clergie
,
or
whole
State
of
France
should
happen
to
admit
the
Reformation
:
But
their
purpose
tended
onely
to
overthrow
superstition
;
and
in
the
meane
time
to
beare
themselves
according
to
their
simple
equality
:
whereupon
I
infer
,
that
he
that
would
take
occasion
of
this
equality
brought
into
France
,
to
reverse
the
estate
of
the
Episcopall
Clergie
among
the
reformed
,
should
greatly
wrong
the
cause
of
those
,
who
there-under
have
reformed
France
,
and
had
never
that
intent
.
Thus
he
.
Whereto
adde
;
That
the
same
Authour
professeth
,
that
it
is
not
the
degrees
of
the
Clergie
,
which
the
Reformers
except
against
,
but
the
superstition
.
In
the
meane
time
he
judiciously
professeth
,
that
the
French
Ministers
have
taken
up
this
equality
of
government
,
only
provisionally
reserving
libertie
to
alter
it
according
to
occurrences
.
To
which
purpose
he
projecteth
to
the
French
King
,
the
Creation
of
one
supreme
Bishop
,
or
Patriarch
of
France
,
to
whom
the
whole
estate
of
the
French
Clergie
might
,
upon
faire
termes
be
subjected
.
Doe
you
not
now
in
all
this
,
which
hath
beene
said
,
see
a
sensible
difference
betwixt
their
Condition
and
yours
?
Can
you
chuse
but
observe
the
blessing
of
Monarchicall
reformation
amongst
us
,
beyond
that
popular
and
tumultuary
reformation
amongst
our
neighbours
?
Ours
,
a
Councell
;
theirs
,
an
uproare
:
Ours
,
beginning
from
the
head
;
theirs
,
from
the
feet
:
Ours
,
proceeding
in
a
due
order
;
theirs
,
with
confusion
:
Ours
,
countenancing
,
and
incouraging
the
converted
Governours
of
the
Church
;
theirs
,
extremely
over-awed
with
averse
power
,
or
totally
over-borne
with
foule
sacriledge
:
in
a
word
,
ours
,
comfortably
yeelding
what
the
true
and
happie
condition
of
a
Church
required
;
theirs
,
hand-over-head
taking
what
they
could
get
for
the
present
.
And
what
now
?
Shall
we
,
instead
of
blessing
God
for
our
happinesse
,
emulate
the
misery
of
those
,
whom
we
doe
at
once
respect
,
and
pitie
?
Suppose
the
late
Kings
and
Parliaments
of
France
,
before
these
separate
formes
of
administration
were
pitcht
upon
,
would
have
said
;
You
,
of
the
Reformed
profession
,
injoy
your
religion
freely
,
and
if
you
thinke
it
more
safe
to
live
under
Church-Governours
of
your
owne
,
let
your
Clergie
recommued
unto
us
such
grave
and
worthy
persons
,
as
may
be
fit
for
those
places
,
they
shall
forthwith
be
established
over
you
,
with
full
authority
,
and
just
maintenance
;
would
any
of
the
learned
Divines
of
those
times
have
slighted
the
offer
,
and
have
said
,
by
your
leave
Sir
,
we
like
it
not
;
we
have
other
projects
in
hand
;
we
will
set
up
a
new
government
that
will
better
befit
our
purposes
:
certainly
I
should
wonder
at
the
man
,
that
should
entertaine
such
an
impossible
imagination
of
those
wise
and
godly
learned
professors
,
who
were
by
the
iniquitie
of
the
times
in
a
manner
forceably
driven
(
at
least
as
they
imagined
)
upon
this
forme
;
and
necessarily
put
to
this
choice
,
whether
they
would
still
submit
to
popery
,
or
no
longer
submit
to
Episcopall
Administration
,
which
there
was
only
managed
by
Popish
hands
.
What
need
more
words
?
Themselves
have
,
as
we
have
already
seen
,
clearely
decided
it
.
Go
now
,
and
take
these
men
,
and
times
,
for
your
patternes
,
who
never
meant
to
make
themselves
,
and
their
condition
imitable
presidents
,
but
rather
the
objects
of
our
better
wishes
.
It
was
a
modest
word
of
Beza
,
That
he
never
meant
to
prescribe
the
Ecclesiasticall
policie
of
Geneva
to
other
Churches
;
for
this
were
high
presumption
.
And
will
you
be
prescribing
to
your selves
,
that
,
which
he
would
not
prescribe
to
you
?
Will
you
create
tha●
to
be
an
universall
Ordinance
of
God
,
which
he
dare
not
warrant
for
any
other
than
a
Locall
Constitution
?
Neither
is
there
a
more
sensible
difference
betweene
the
Authority
and
successe
of
a
Monarchicall
or
popular
Reformation
,
than
there
is
betweene
the
forms
which
are
fit
and
expedient
for
large
Churches
living
under
the
sway
of
a
Monarch
,
and
those
which
particular
Cities
,
or
territories
may
admit
under
a
Democraticall
or
Aristocraticall
government
:
Hereupon
(
saith
the
Reformed
Politique
discreetly
)
I
do
inferre
,
that
in
the
state
of
a
mighty
and
peaceable
Church
,
as
that
of
England
,
or
as
the
Church
of
France
,
or
such
like
,
might
be
,
if
God
should
call
them
to
Reformation
,
the
state
of
the
Clergie
ought
to
be
preserved
;
For
equality
would
be
hurtfull
to
the
State
,
and
in
time
breed
confusion
.
Thus
he
.
And
indeed
(
besides
those
holy
and
divine
considerations
,
whereof
we
shall
treat
in
the
sequell
)
it
stands
with
great
reason
,
that
there
should
be
a
correspondence
betwixt
the
Church
,
and
the
State
,
and
a
meet
respect
to
the
rules
of
both
.
As
therefore
,
because
in
a
free
Citie
,
or
State
,
we
finde
certaine
Optimates
,
who
by
successive
Elections
sway
the
government
,
according
to
their
municipall
rules
,
not
without
the
assistance
,
and
consent
of
a
greater
number
of
Plebeian
Burgesses
;
and
see
(
perhaps
)
this
forme
of
Administration
in
those
places
succesfull
,
it
were
a
crime
,
of
strange
braine-sick
giddinesse
,
to
say
nothing
of
the
hainous
morall
transgression
,
to
cast
off
the
yoke
of
just
and
hereditarie
Monarchie
,
and
to
affect
this
(
〈◊〉
〈◊〉
〈◊〉
〈◊〉
〈◊〉
)
many
headed
Soveraignty
:
So
were
it
no
lesse
unreasonable
,
where
a
Nationall
Church
is
happily
setled
in
the
orderly
regiment
of
certain
grave
over-seers
,
ruling
under
one
acknowledged
Soveraigne
by
wholesome
and
unquestionable
Laws
,
and
by
these
Laws
,
punishable
,
if
they
over-lash
,
or
be
defective
in
their
charge
,
in
a
fastidious
discontentment
to
seeke
to
abandon
this
ancient
forme
,
and
to
betake
themselves
to
a
popular
forme
of
Discipline
,
borrowed
from
abroad
;
which
what
were
it
other
,
than
to
snatch
the
reines
out
of
the
hands
of
a
skilfull
Coachman
,
and
either
to
lay
them
loose
on
the
horses
necks
,
or
to
deliver
them
to
the
hands
of
some
ignorant
,
and
unskilfull
lackeyes
,
that
run
along
by
them
.
But
of
this
point
more
elsewhere
.
My
zeal
,
and
my
respects
to
the
Churches
abroad
,
and
my
care
and
pitie
of
many
seduced
soules
at
home
,
have
drawne
me
on
farther
in
this
discourse
,
than
I
meant
:
For
who
can
indure
to
see
simple
and
well
meaning
Christians
abused
with
the
false
colour
of
Conformity
with
other
Churches
,
when
there
is
apparently
more
distance
in
the
ground
of
their
differences
,
than
in
the
places
of
their
situation
?
Be
wise
,
my
deare
Brethren
,
and
suffer
not
your selves
to
be
cheated
of
the
Truth
,
by
the
mis-zealous
suggestions
of
partiall-teachers
.
Reserve
your
hearts
free
for
the
clearer
light
of
Scripture
,
and
right
reason
,
which
shall
in
this
discourse
offer
to
shine
into
your
soules
.
For
you
,
Sir
(
fu
frere
)
confesse
(
unlesse
you
can
in
truth
deny
it
)
that
you
goe
alone
,
and
that
you
have
reason
absolutely
to
quit
all
the
hope
of
the
Patrocination
of
other
Churches
,
which
you
might
seeme
to
challenge
from
their
example
and
practice
.
For
now
that
I
have
got
you
alone
,
I
shall
be
bold
to
take
you
to
task
,
and
doe
,
in
the
name
of
Almighty
God
,
vehemently
urge
,
and
challenge
you
to
maintaine
(
if
by
any
skill
or
pretence
you
may
)
your
owne
act
of
the
condemnation
of
Episcopacie
,
and
your
penitent
submission
to
a
Presbyteriall
government
.
Wherein
I
doubt
not
but
I
shall
convince
you
of
an
high
and
irreparable
injury
done
by
you
to
God
,
his
Ordinance
,
and
his
Church
.
§
6.
The
project
and
substance
of
the
Treatise
following
.
FOr
the
full
and
satisfactorie
performance
whereof
I
shall
only
need
to
make
good
these
two
maine
points
.
First
,
That
Episcopacie
,
such
as
you
have
renounced
,
even
that
which
implies
a
fixed
superioritie
over
the
rest
of
the
Clergie
,
and
jurisdiction
;
is
not
only
an
holy
,
and
lawfull
,
but
a
divine
Institution
;
and
therefore
cannot
be
abdicated
,
without
a
manifest
violation
of
Gods
Ordinance
.
Secondly
,
That
the
Presbyterian
Government
,
so
constituted
as
you
have
now
submitted
to
it
,
(
however
venditated
under
the
glorious
names
of
Christs
Kingdome
and
Ordinance
,
by
those
specious
and
glozing
termes
to
bewitch
the
ignorant
multitude
,
and
to
insnare
their
consciences
)
hath
no
true
footing
:
either
in
Scripture
,
or
the
practice
of
the
Church
,
in
all
ages
,
from
Christs
time
,
to
the
present
.
That
I
may
clearly
evince
these
two
maine
points
,
wherin
indeed
consists
the
life
and
soul
of
the
whole
cause
;
I
shall
take
leave
to
lay
down
certain
just
,
and
necessary
Postulata
,
as
the
ground-workes
of
my
ensuing
proofs
:
all
which
,
are
so
cleare
and
evident
,
that
I
would
fain
suppose
neither
your selfe
,
nor
any
ingenuous
Christian
,
can
grudge
to
yeeld
them
:
But
,
if
any
man
will
be
so
stiffe
,
and
close-fisted
,
as
to
stick
at
any
of
them
,
they
shall
be
easily
wrung
out
of
his
fingers
,
by
the
force
of
Reason
,
and
manifest
demonstration
of
Truth
.
§.
7.
The
first
ground
or
postulate
;
That
government
whose
foundation
is
laid
by
Christ
,
and
whose
Fabrick
is
raised
by
the
Apostles
,
is
of
Divine
Institution
.
THe
first
whereof
shall
be
this
;
That
government
,
whose
ground
being
laid
by
our
Saviour
himselfe
,
was
afterwards
raised
by
the
hands
of
his
Apostles
,
cannot
be
denied
to
be
of
Divine
Institution
.
A
Proposition
so
cleare
,
that
it
were
an
injurie
to
goe
about
to
prove
it
.
He
cannot
be
a
Christian
,
who
will
not
grant
,
that
,
as
in
Christ
,
the
Sonne
of
God
,
the
Deity
dwelt
bodily
;
so
,
in
his
servants
also
and
agents
under
him
;
the
Apostles
,
the
Spirit
of
the
same
God
dwelt
;
so
as
all
their
actions
,
were
Gods
by
them
.
Like
as
it
is
the
same
spring-water
that
is
derived
to
us
,
by
the
Conduit-pipes
;
and
the
same
Sun-beames
,
which
passe
to
us
through
our
windowes
.
Some
things
they
did
as
men
;
actions
naturall
,
civill
,
morall
;
these
things
were
their
own
:
yet
they
even
in
them
no
doubt
were
assisted
with
an
excellent
measure
of
grace
.
But
those
things
which
they
did
,
as
Messengers
from
God
(
so
their
names
signifie
)
these
were
not
theirs
,
but
his
that
sent
them
.
An
Ambassador
dispatcheth
his
Domesticall
affaires
,
as
a
private
man
;
but
when
he
treats
,
or
concludes
matters
of
State
,
in
his
Princes
name
,
his
tongue
is
not
his
owne
,
but
his
Masters
.
Much
more
is
it
so
in
this
case
;
wherein
(
besides
the
interest
)
the
agents
are
freed
from
errour
.
The
carefullest
Ambassador
may
perhaps
swerve
from
his
message
;
these
(
which
was
one
of
the
priviledges
of
the
Apostles
)
were
through
the
guidance
of
Gods
Spirit
,
in
the
acts
of
their
Function
,
inerrable
.
So
then
,
if
the
foundation
were
laid
by
Christ
,
and
the
wals
built
up
by
his
Apostles
,
the
Fabrick
can
be
no
lesse
than
divine
.
§.
8.
The
second
ground
;
That
the
practice
and
recommendation
of
the
Apostles
is
sufficient
warrant
for
an
Apostolicall
Institution
.
SEcondly
,
It
must
also
be
granted
,
That
not
onely
the
government
,
which
was
directly
commanded
,
and
enacted
;
but
that
which
was
practised
and
recommended
by
the
Apostles
to
the
Church
,
is
justly
to
be
held
for
an
Apostolicall
Institution
.
In
eminent
and
authorized
persons
,
even
examples
are
rules
:
much
more
in
so
sacred
.
Neither
did
the
Spirit
of
God
confine
it selfe
to
words
,
but
expressed
it selfe
also
in
the
holy
actions
of
his
inspired
servants
;
as
Chrysostome
therefore
truly
said
,
That
our
Saviour
did
not
only
speak
,
but
work
Parables
:
So
may
we
say
here
,
that
the
Apostles
did
not
only
enact
,
but
even
act
lawes
for
his
holy
Church
.
Nec
humanum
est
inventum
,
&c.
It
is
no
humane
device
,
but
the
Institution
of
God
himselfe
;
For
we
read
,
that
Paul
and
Barnabas
ordained
Presbyters
in
all
the
Churches
of
Lystra
,
Antioch
,
Iconium
:
And
that
direction
,
which
the
great
Apostle
of
the
Gentiles
gave
to
Timothy
,
was
,
as
Calvin
truly
,
Mandati
nomine
,
in
the
name
and
nature
of
a
command
.
And
what
els
,
I
beseech
you
,
would
the
rigid
exacters
of
the
over-severe
and
Judaicall
observation
of
the
Lords
day
,
as
an
Evangelicall
Sabbath
,
seem
to
plead
for
their
warrant
(
were
they
able
to
make
it
good
any
way
)
but
the
guise
and
practice
of
the
Apostles
.
Precept
certainly
there
is
none
,
either
given
,
or
pretended
;
Thus
the
bitter
Tileno-mastix
can
say
,
There
was
a
double
Discipline
of
the
Apostles
,
Docens
and
Vtens
;
in
the
first
they
gave
precepts
to
the
Church
,
§.
9.
The
third
ground
,
That
the
formes
ordained
by
the
Apostles
,
were
for
universall
,
and
perpetuall
use
.
THirdly
,
it
is
no
lesse
evident
,
that
the
form
which
the
Apostles
set
and
ordained
for
the
governing
of
the
Church
,
was
not
intended
by
them
for
that
present
time
,
or
place
onely
;
but
for
continuance
,
and
succession
for
ever
.
For
no
man
,
I
suppose
,
can
be
so
weak
,
Sco.
Wy
.
Paracles
.
l.
1.
c.
4
as
to
thinke
that
the
rules
of
the
Apostles
were
personall
,
locall
,
temporary
;
as
some
Dials
,
or
Almanacks
,
that
are
made
for
some
speciall
Meridians
:
but
as
their
office
and
charge
,
so
their
rules
were
universall
to
the
whole
world
;
as
farre
,
and
as
long
as
the
world
lasteth
.
For
what
reason
is
there
,
that
Crete
or
Ephesus
should
be
otherwise
provided
for
,
than
all
the
world
besides
?
Or
what
possibility
to
think
that
those
first
planters
of
the
Gospell
should
leave
all
the
rest
of
Christs
Church
,
as
the
Ostrich
doth
her
eggs
,
in
the
dust
,
without
any
farther
care
?
The
extent
and
duration
of
any
rule
will
best
be
measured
,
as
by
the
intention
of
the
Authour
,
so
by
the
nature
,
and
use
of
it
;
S.
Paul's
intention
is
clearely
expressed
for
a
continuance
untill
the
appearing
of
our
Lord
Iesus
Christ
.
§.
10.
The
fourth
ground
,
That
the
universall
practice
of
the
Church
immediately
succeeding
the
Apostolike
times
,
is
a
sure
Commentary
upon
the
practice
of
the
Apostles
,
and
our
best
direction
.
FOurthly
,
I
must
challenge
it
for
a
no
lesse
undoubted
Truth
,
That
the
universall
practice
of
the
Church
immediately
succeeding
the
Apostles
,
is
the
best
Commentary
upon
the
practice
of
the
Apostles
;
and
withall
,
that
the
universall
practice
of
Gods
Church
in
all
ages
,
and
places
,
is
next
unto
Gods
Word
,
the
best
guide
and
direction
for
our
carriages
,
and
formes
of
Administration
;
The
Copartners
and
immediate
Successors
of
those
blessed
men
could
best
tell
what
they
next
before
them
did
;
for
who
can
better
tell
a
mans
way
or
pace
,
than
he
that
followes
him
close
at
the
heeles
?
And
if
particular
men
or
Churches
may
mistake
;
yet
that
the
whole
Church
of
Christian
men
should
at
once
mistake
that
which
was
in
their
eye
;
it
is
farre
more
than
utterly
improbable
.
A
truth
,
which
it
is
a
wonder
any
sober
Christian
should
bogle
at
;
yet
such
there
are
,
to
our
griefe
,
and
to
the
shame
of
this
late
giddy
age
;
even
the
great
guides
of
their
faction
;
Nihil
pro
Apostolico
habendum
;
in
Agge
1.
Quae
absque
authoritate
,
&c.
Those
things
which
men
either
finde
or
feigne
,
as
delivered
by
Apostolike
tradition
,
without
the
authority
and
testimonies
of
Scripture
,
are
smitten
by
the
sword
of
Gods
Spirit
;
But
what
is
this
to
us
,
who
finde
this
which
we
challenge
for
Apostolicall
,
recorded
in
the
written
Word
of
God
?
Or
,
with
what
conscience
is
this
alledged
against
us
,
which
is
directly
bent
against
the
hereticall
doctrines
and
traditions
of
the
Marcionites
,
either
utterly
without
,
or
expresly
against
the
Scripture
?
§.
11.
The
two
famous
Rules
of
Tertullian
and
S.
Augustine
to
this
purpose
asserted
.
I
May
not
baulke
two
pregnant
testimonies
of
the
Fathers
,
wherewith
this
great
Anthierarchist
and
his
Northerne
〈◊〉
〈◊〉
〈◊〉
〈◊〉
〈◊〉
is
as
much
and
justly
troubled
,
as
our
cause
is
advantaged
;
not
so
much
because
they
are
the
sentences
of
ancient
Fathers
(
which
they
have
learned
to
turne
off
at
pleasure
,
with
scorne
enough
)
as
for
that
they
carry
in
them
such
clearenesse
,
and
strength
of
reason
,
as
will
not
admit
of
any
probable
contradiction
;
The
former
is
,
The
other
is
that
famous
place
of
Saint
Augustine
against
the
Donatists
,
agi●ated
by
every
pen
;
Quod
universa
,
&c.
That
which
is
held
by
the
universall
Church
,
and
not
ordained
by
any
Councell
,
but
hath
beene
alwayes
retained
in
the
Church
,
is
most
truly
believed
to
be
delivered
by
no
other
than
Apostolicall
authority
;
which
Parker
sticks
not
to
professe
the
Achillaean
argument
of
the
Hierarchists
;
Neither
have
they
any
cause
to
disclaime
it
;
the
authority
of
the
man
is
great
,
but
the
power
of
his
reason
more
;
For
that
which
obtaineth
universally
,
must
either
have
some
force
in
it selfe
to
command
acceptation
,
or
els
must
be
imposed
by
some
over-ruling
Authority
;
and
what
can
that
be
,
but
either
of
the
great
Princes
(
as
they
are
anciently
called
)
of
the
Church
,
the
holy
Apostles
,
or
of
some
generall
Councels
,
as
may
authoritatively
diffuse
it
through
all
the
world
?
If
then
no
Councels
have
decreed
the
observation
of
an
ordinance
,
whence
should
an
universall
,
not
reception
onely
,
but
retention
proceed
,
saye
from
Apostolike
hands
?
No
cause
can
work
beyond
his
owne
Sphere
;
Private
power
cannot
exceed
its
owne
compasse
;
Let
not
any
adversary
think
to
elude
this
testimony
with
the
upbraiding
to
it
the
Patronage
of
the
Popish
Opinion
concerning
Traditions
:
we
have
learned
to
hate
their
vanities
,
and
yet
to
maintaine
our
owne
Truths
,
without
all
feare
of
the
patrocination
of
Popery
;
We
deny
not
some
Traditions
(
however
the
word
,
for
want
of
distinguishing
,
is
,
from
their
abuse
,
growne
into
an
ill
name
)
must
have
their
place
,
and
use
;
and
in
vaine
should
learned
Chamier
,
Fulk
,
Whitakers
,
Perkins
,
Willet
,
and
other
Controversers
labour
in
the
rules
of
discerning
true
Apostolicall
Traditions
from
false
,
and
counterfeit
,
if
all
were
such
;
and
if
those
which
are
certainly
true
,
were
not
worthy
of
high
honour
and
respect
;
And
what
and
how
farre
our
entertainment
of
Traditions
is
,
and
should
be
,
I
referre
my
Reader
to
that
sound
and
judicious
discourse
of
our
now
most
Reverend
Metropolitan
against
his
Iesuite
A.C.
Onwards
therefore
I
must
observe
;
That
whereas
Chamier
doth
justly
defend
,
Iulius
Caesar
was
Emperour
,
or
Dictator
there
;
or
Tully
an
Oratour
,
and
Consul
;
or
Cato
a
wise
Senator
;
or
Catiline
a
Traytor
?
Certainly
,
thus
much
beliefe
will
serve
for
our
purpose
;
who
so
requires
more
,
besides
the
grounds
of
the
Apostolike
Ordinances
recorded
in
Scripture
,
thus
seconded
,
may
take
that
counsell
,
which
boyes
construe
the
Lapwing
to
give
for
her
nest
.
Two
things
are
answered
hereto
,
by
Parker
and
his
Clients
:
The
one
,
That
the
rule
of
S.
Augustine
availes
us
nothing
,
since
that
the
Originall
of
Episcopacie
is
designed
as
from
Decree
,
by
S.
Hierome
;
as
from
Councels
,
by
S.
Ambrose
:
but
what
that
decree
was
,
or
could
be
,
besides
Apostolicall
,
or
what
those
Councels
were
,
hee
were
wise
that
could
tell
;
He
,
and
all
his
abettors
,
I
am
sure
,
cannot
.
But
of
this
in
the
Sequell
.
The
other
(
after
some
mis-applied
testimonies
of
our
owne
Authors
,
who
drive
onely
at
matter
of
faith
)
that
hee
can
make
instance
in
diverse
things
,
which
were
both
universally
,
and
perpetually
received
(
no
Councell
decreeing
them
)
and
yet
farre
from
an
Apostolike
Ordination
.
Sibrandus
Lubbertus
helpes
him
to
his
first
instance
,
borrowed
from
S.
Augustine
,
a
fixed
day
for
the
celebration
of
Easter
:
And
what
of
that
?
How
holds
his
argument
in
this
?
For
that
this
or
that
day
should
be
universally
set
,
and
perpetually
kept
for
that
solemne
Feast
,
who
that
ever
heard
of
the
state
of
the
Primitive
time
can
affirme
?
Since
those
famous
quarrels
and
contrary
pretences
of
their
severall
derivations
of
right
from
the
two
prime
Apostles
,
are
still
in
every
mans
eye
;
but
that
an
Easter
was
agreed
to
be
solemnly
kept
by
the
Primitive
Church
universally
,
Nihil
illi
de
festis
,
&c.
They
,
.i.
the
Apostles
,
never
delivered
ought
concerning
Feast-dayes
,
nor
yet
of
Easter
:
Why
but
this
is
the
very
question
:
Parker
denies
it
,
and
must
we
take
his
word
for
proofe
,
whereas
we
have
the
Apostles
direct
,
〈◊〉
〈◊〉
〈◊〉
〈◊〉
〈◊〉
?
Let
us
keep
the
feast
.
And
afterwards
there
is
a
plaine
deduction
of
it
from
and
through
the
times
succeeding
,
as
is
fully
and
excellently
set
forth
by
our
incomparably-learned
,
the
late
Bishop
of
Winchester
,
to
whose
accurate
discourse
of
this
subject
,
B.
Andrewes
Serm.
of
the
Resur
.
Ser.
13.
I
may
well
referre
my
reader
.
His
second
instance
is
the
Apostles
Creed
,
which
our
Authors
justly
place
within
the
first
three
hundred
yeares
after
Christ
;
used
,
and
received
by
the
whole
Church
,
and
not
enacted
by
any
Councels
,
yet
not
(
in
respect
of
the
forme
of
it
)
delivered
by
the
Apostles
.
A
doughty
argument
,
and
fit
for
the
great
Controller
of
times
,
and
Antagonist
of
government
;
we
speak
of
the
matter
of
the
Creed
,
he
talkes
of
the
forme
of
it
;
we
of
things
,
he
of
words
:
and
just
so
Tilenus
his
friend
instances
in
〈◊〉
〈◊〉
〈◊〉
〈◊〉
〈◊〉
and
〈◊〉
〈◊〉
〈◊〉
〈◊〉
〈◊〉
,
found
in
Ignatius
.
But
do
these
men
suppose
,
S.
Augustine
meant
to
send
us
to
seek
for
all
common
expressions
of
language
to
the
Apostles
?
Let
them
tell
us
:
Is
there
any
thing
in
the
substance
of
that
Creed
,
which
we
cannot
fetch
from
the
Apostles
?
Are
not
all
the
severall
clauses
(
as
he
cites
them
from
S.
Augustine
)
per
divinas
Scripturas
sparsae
,
indè
collectae
,
&
in
unum
redactae
;
scattered
here
and
there
in
the
Scriptures
,
penned
by
the
Apostles
,
gathered
up
,
and
reduced
into
this
summe
?
As
for
the
syntaxe
of
words
and
sentences
,
who
of
us
ever
said
they
were
,
or
needed
to
be
,
fathered
upon
those
great
Legates
of
the
Sonne
of
God
?
Our
Cause
is
no
whit
the
poorer
,
if
we
grant
there
were
some
universall
termes
derived
by
Tradition
to
the
following
ages
,
whereof
the
Originall
Authors
are
not
knowne
:
This
will
not
come
within
the
compasse
of
his
(
quiddam
)
vox
est
,
praetereà
nihil
.
His
third
instance
is
in
the
Observation
of
Lent
;
for
which
indeed
there
is
so
great
plea
of
Antiquity
,
that
himselfe
cannot
deny
it
to
be
acknowledged
even
by
old
Ignatius
,
a
man
contemporary
to
some
of
the
Apostles
;
and
as
overcome
by
the
evidence
of
all
Histories
,
grants
it
to
be
apparent
,
that
the
whole
Church
constantly
ever
observed
some
kinde
of
Fast
before
their
Easter
;
no
lesse
than
Theophilus
Alexandrinus
,
To
what
purpose
do
I
trace
him
in
the
rest
?
the
ancient
rites
of
the
Eucharist
,
and
of
Baptisme
urged
out
of
Baronius
;
of
gestures
in
prayer
,
of
the
observation
of
solemne
Feasts
,
and
Embers
;
let
one
word
serve
for
all
;
it
will
be
an
harder
work
for
him
to
prove
their
universality
and
perpetuity
,
than
to
disprove
their
originall
;
let
it
be
made
good
,
that
the
whole
Church
of
Christ
alwayes
received
them
,
we
shall
not
be
niggardly
in
yeelding
them
this
honour
of
their
pedigree
deducible
from
an
Apostolicall
recommendation
:
In
the
meane
time
every
(
not
ungracious
)
sonne
of
this
spirituall
Mother
will
learne
to
kisse
the
footsteps
of
the
universall
Church
of
Christ
,
as
knowing
the
deare
and
infallible
respects
betwixt
him
and
this
blessed
Spouse
of
his
,
as
to
whom
he
hath
ingaged
his
everlasting
presence
and
assistance
;
Behold
I
am
with
you
alwayes
to
the
end
of
the
world
;
and
will
resolve
to
spit
in
the
face
of
those
seducers
,
who
go
about
to
alienate
their
affections
from
her
,
and
to
draw
them
into
the
causlesse
suspicions
of
her
chast
fidelity
to
her
Lord
and
Saviour
.
To
shut
up
this
point
therefore
,
if
we
can
show
that
the
universall
practice
of
the
Church
,
immediately
after
the
Apostles
,
and
ever
since
,
hath
been
to
governe
by
Bishops
,
superiour
to
Presbyters
in
their
order
and
jurisdiction
,
our
Cause
is
won
.
§.
12.
The
fifth
ground
,
That
the
Primitive
Saints
and
Fathers
neither
would
nor
durst
set
up
another
forme
of
government
different
from
that
they
received
from
the
Apostles
.
FIftly
,
we
may
not
entertaine
so
irreverent
an
opinion
of
the
Saints
and
Fathers
of
the
Primitive
Church
,
That
they
,
who
were
the
immediate
Successours
of
the
Apostles
,
would
,
or
durst
set
up
a
forme
of
government
,
different
from
that
which
was
fore-designed
to
them
,
and
that
either
faulty
,
or
selfe-devised
.
Certainly
it
must
needs
follow
,
either
those
succeeding
governours
practised
,
maintained
,
and
propagated
that
forme
,
which
they
immediately
before
received
from
the
hands
of
the
Apostles
;
or
els
they
quite
altered
it
,
and
established
a
new
:
If
the
first
,
we
have
what
we
desire
;
if
the
later
,
those
holy
men
were
guilty
of
a
presumptuous
Innovation
;
which
were
a
crime
to
thinke
.
Charity
thinks
not
evill
:
And
what
evill
can
be
worse
,
than
to
violate
or
transgresse
Apostolicall
Ordinances
?
How
highly
doth
the
Apostle
of
the
Gentiles
praise
the
Corinthians
,
Vultis
veniam
in
virga
,
Will
ye
that
I
shall
come
to
you
with
a
rod
,
saith
the
same
Apostle
;
All
the
Christian
world
knew
how
sacred
the
Authority
of
those
great
Delegates
of
our
Saviour
was
;
how
infallible
their
Determinations
,
how
undoubted
their
inspirations
.
Withall
,
it
must
be
granted
,
that
the
first
Ages
were
the
purest
,
as
the
water
that
first
rises
from
the
spring
is
clearer
than
that
,
which
by
a
long
decursion
hath
mixed
it selfe
with
the
soyle
of
the
Channell
;
Can
it
therefore
enter
into
any
wise
and
honest
heart
,
that
those
prime
Saints
,
even
in
the
greatest
purity
of
the
Church
,
would
wilfully
varie
from
the
holy
Institutions
of
the
blessed
Apostles
?
And
as
the
fickle
Israelites
did
,
(
so
soone
as
Moses
his
back
was
turned
)
worship
Idols
of
their
owne
invention
?
Surely
he
must
be
strongly
uncharitable
that
shall
thinke
so
,
strangely
impudent
that
dares
maintaine
it
,
and
wickedly
credulous
that
can
believe
it
.
Whitakers
,
Reynolds
,
Field
,
Mornay
;
what
need
it
,
when
the
Apostle
himselfe
tels
us
,
the
mystery
of
iniquity
began
then
to
worke
:
yea
,
and
as
it
is
said
,
your
Moderator
lately
told
you
,
Saint
Paul
himselfe
by
appointing
Bishops
,
was
himself
a
worker
in
it
.
The
mystery
of
iniquity
?
What
is
that
,
but
the
plots
of
that
Antichrist
?
Yea
but
you
ordinarily
speak
of
him
,
as
I
thought
,
but
as
one
:
The
Romane
vice-god
;
Now
I
perceive
it
is
a
mistake
;
there
was
the
Antichrist
at
Hierusalem
;
the
Antichrist
of
Antioch
;
of
Alexandria
;
shortly
in
every
Church
,
one
.
But
let
them
say
now
,
Doe
they
repute
the
Bishop
of
Rome
to
bee
the
Antichrist
or
not
?
If
they
doe
;
let
them
shew
us
what
it
is
that
makes
him
so
,
which
all
good
Bishops
do
not
as
mainly
oppose
?
What
hand
hath
the
Patri●
rch
of
Constantinople
,
or
Alexandria
,
or
the
Abassine
Bishops
in
his
transcendent
supremacy
and
usurpation
?
These
disclaime
him
,
these
resist
him
?
Did
the
Episcopacie
of
these
and
all
other
Christian
Churches
give
any
aid
to
the
advancement
of
that
usurpers
infallibility
,
or
universall
supremacie
?
Did
,
or
do
the
Christian
Bishops
of
all
other
Churches
give
him
their
shoulder
to
hoyse
him
up
above
all
that
is
called
God
?
If
they
helpe
him
up
,
who
offers
to
pull
him
down
?
Shortly
then
;
if
the
mystery
of
iniquity
did
then
work
for
Rome
,
yet
not
for
the
Grecian
,
Syrian
,
Asian
Churches
:
No
,
no
,
it
was
not
any
point
of
the
defection
,
this
,
but
rather
of
the
perfection
of
the
Church
;
But
here
we
are
choaked
with
the
examples
of
some
Churches
,
which
soone
after
their
plantation
,
swerved
from
their
former
purity
;
Of
Israel
it
is
said
:
Rehoboam
left
the
Law
of
the
Lord
,
and
all
Israel
with
him
;
Of
the
Galathians
;
I
marvell
that
you
are
so
soon
turned
away
from
Christ
;
Corinth
,
Galatia
,
Thessalonica
,
Colossae
?
If
these
particular
failings
did
not
hinder
the
soundnesse
in
doctrine
,
and
〈◊〉
〈◊〉
〈◊〉
〈◊〉
〈◊〉
in
government
of
the
universall
Christian
Church
,
what
reason
have
we
to
cast
this
aspersion
upon
the
subsequent
?
It
is
true
,
as
Physitians
observe
,
that
in
seven
yeares
the
body
changes
;
and
in
thirty
there
is
(
as
Keckerman
observes
not
ill
)
a
remarkable
alteration
in
every
state
;
Neither
is
the
Church
priviledged
from
mutability
:
but
as
a
man
changes
his
complexion
,
but
still
holds
his
visage
;
and
as
the
State
changes
its
Officers
,
but
still
retaines
the
lawes
and
formes
of
Administration
;
so
the
Church
may
perhaps
alter
some
Customes
,
and
either
mend
or
impaire
in
manners
,
and
yet
still
continue
the
rules
,
and
formes
of
her
government
;
neither
have
we
reason
to
thinke
otherwise
of
those
which
succeeded
the
Apostolike
:
And
if
some
men
therein
declined
towards
errour
or
heresie
,
God
forbid
the
Church
should
suffer
,
as
guilty
of
their
lapses
:
But
as
for
the
maine
lawes
of
Church-Discipline
,
if
the
succeding
Governours
should
have
so
foulely
forgotten
themselves
after
the
decease
of
the
two
great
Apostles
of
the
Gentiles
,
and
the
Circumcision
;
yet
Saint
Iohn
lived
a
faire
age
after
,
no
lesse
than
sixty
eight
yeares
after
our
Saviour
,
and
had
leisure
enough
to
controll
their
exorbitances
,
had
they
been
such
,
neither
would
he
have
indured
any
such
palpable
and
prejudiciall
innovation
in
the
Church
of
God
.
Briefly
then
,
if
it
shall
appeare
,
that
these
holy
men
,
who
were
immediate
Successours
in
the
Apostolike
chaires
,
continued
and
maintained
an
imparity
and
superiority
of
the
Episcopall
function
,
we
have
evicted
,
what
we
plead
for
.
§
13.
The
sixth
ground
:
That
if
the
next
successors
would
have
innovated
the
forme
of
government
,
yet
they
could
not
in
so
short
space
have
diffused
it
through
the
whole
Christian
world
.
BVt
sixtly
,
if
the
succeeding
Church-Governours
,
would
,
or
durst
have
owned
so
much
presumption
,
as
to
alter
or
innovate
the
forme
of
government
left
by
the
Apostles
,
yet
they
could
not
possibly
in
so
short
a
space
have
diffused
their
new
uniforme
platforme
of
Administration
through
the
whole
Christian
world
.
For
,
who
knowes
not
,
that
universality
of
power
and
jurisdiction
died
with
the
Apostles
;
they
onely
could
claime
the
whole
world
for
their
Dioecesse
;
neither
could
they
leave
any
heires
behinde
them
of
their
Apostleship
;
the
succeeding
Administrators
of
the
severall
Churches
were
fixed
to
their
owne
Charges
,
having
neither
power
to
command
in
another
mans
division
,
nor
such
eminence
of
authority
,
as
that
their
example
should
be
a
rule
to
their
neighbours
.
How
then
can
any
living
man
conceive
it
possible
,
if
there
had
not
been
an
uniforme
order
setled
by
the
Apostles
,
that
all
the
world
should
so
suddenly
meet
in
one
forme
of
policie
,
not
differing
so
much
as
in
the
circumstances
of
government
?
That
which
Parker
thinks
to
speak
for
his
advantage
(
neque
uno
impetu
disciplina
statim
mutata
est
,
There
was
no
speech
nor
language
where
their
voice
was
not
heard
;
Their
line
,
of
a
sudden
,
went
out
through
all
the
earth
,
and
their
words
to
the
end
of
the
world
.
The
Sun
,
which
rejoyceth
as
a
strong
man
to
run
a
race
,
could
scarce
out-goe
them
;
but
as
for
their
followers
,
the
very
next
to
them
,
they
must
be
content
to
hold
their
own
,
a
much
slower
pace
,
and
by
leisure
to
reach
their
journeyes
end
;
If
therefore
it
shall
be
made
to
appeare
,
that
presently
after
the
decease
of
the
Apostles
,
one
uniforme
order
of
Episcopall
government
,
so
qualified
as
we
have
spoken
,
was
without
variation
,
or
contradiction
received
in
all
the
Churches
of
the
whole
Christian
world
,
it
must
necessarily
be
granted
,
that
Episcopacie
is
of
no
other
than
Apostolicall
Constitution
.
§.
14.
The
seventh
ground
:
That
the
ancientest
histories
of
the
Church
,
and
Writings
of
the
first
Fathers
are
rather
to
be
believed
in
the
report
of
the
Primitive
state
,
than
the
latest
Authours
.
SEventhly
,
I
must
challenge
it
for
a
Truth
not
capable
of
just
denyall
,
that
the
ancientest
histories
of
the
Church
,
and
Writings
of
the
first
Fathers
are
rather
to
be
believed
in
the
report
of
the
Primitive
State
of
Church-government
,
than
those
of
this
present
age
.
A
truth
so
cleare
,
that
a
reasonable
man
would
think
it
a
shame
to
prove
;
yet
such
,
as
some
bold
leaders
of
the
faction
,
that
would
be
thought
learned
too
,
have
had
the
face
to
deny
:
Parker
,
the
late
oracle
of
the
schisme
,
hath
dared
to
do
it
in
termes
;
who
speaking
of
the
testimony
of
the
Primitive
times
;
At
Eusebio
defuit
,
&c.
But
,
saith
he
,
Eusebius
being
carried
away
with
the
sway
of
that
age
,
wanted
that
golden
reed
,
which
is
given
to
the
Historians
of
our
times
,
Apoc.
11.2
.
to
measure
the
distance
of
times
,
the
difference
of
manners
,
the
inclinations
of
Churches
,
and
the
●rogresse
and
increases
of
the
Antichristian
Hierarchy
,
&c.
Are
any
of
the
holy
Fathers
all●●●ed
?
Alas
poore
men
,
saith
he
,
they
were
much
mistaken
:
yet
,
howsoever
,
they
are
much
beholden
to
him
;
Ecquis
igitur
eos
credendos
dicet
?
Will
any
man
therefore
say
they
are
to
be
believed
?
Or
will
any
man
forbid
us
to
appeale
from
them
?
Blessed
God!
that
any
who
beares
the
title
of
a
Christian
,
should
have
the
forehead
thus
to
argue
:
Appeale
?
To
whom
I
pray
?
To
the
succeeding
Doctors
and
Fathers
?
No
,
they
were
in
the
same
predicament
;
to
the
rest
of
the
whole
Church
?
They
were
governed
by
these
leaders
;
whither
therefore
can
they
imagine
to
appeale
,
but
to
themselves
?
and
what
proves
this
then
,
but
their
owne
case
?
And
if
the
Fathers
may
not
be
suffered
to
be
our
witnesses
,
will
it
not
become
the
house
well
,
that
these
men
should
now
be
the
Fathers
Iudges
?
But
the
Fathers
were
Bishops
;
the
case
was
their
owne
;
true
,
they
were
Bishops
;
and
it
is
our
glory
and
comfort
,
that
we
have
had
such
predecessours
:
In
vaine
should
we
affect
to
be
more
holy
and
more
happy
than
they
;
Let
them
,
if
they
can
,
produce
such
presidents
of
their
parity
.
But
,
the
case
was
theirs
.
Had
there
been
then
any
quarrell
or
Contestation
against
their
Superiority
,
this
exception
might
have
carried
some
weight
;
but
whiles
there
was
not
so
much
as
the
dreame
of
an
opposition
,
in
the
whole
Christian
world
,
how
could
they
be
suspected
to
be
partiall
?
They
wrote
then
according
to
their
unanimous
apprehension
of
the
true
meaning
of
the
Scriptures
,
and
according
to
the
certaine
knowledge
of
the
Apostolike
Ordinances
,
derived
to
them
by
the
undoubted
successions
of
their
knowne
predecessours
;
Heaven
may
as
soone
fall
,
as
these
evidences
may
faile
us
:
See
then
,
I
beseech
you
brethren
,
the
question
is
,
whether
a
man
may
see
any
object
better
in
the
distance
of
one
pace
,
or
of
a
furlong
:
Whether
present
witnesses
are
more
to
be
believed
,
than
the
absent
;
whether
those
which
speake
out
of
their
own
certaine
knowledge
and
eye-sight
,
or
those
which
speake
out
of
meere
conjecture
;
and
if
this
judgement
be
not
difficult
,
I
have
what
I
would
;
If
I
shall
make
it
good
that
all
ancient
histories
,
all
testimonies
of
the
holy
Fathers
of
the
Church
of
Christ
are
expresly
for
this
government
which
we
maintaine
,
and
you
reject
,
the
Cause
is
ours
.
§.
15.
The
8th.
ground
:
That
those
whom
the
ancient
Church
of
God
,
and
all
the
holy
Fathers
of
the
Church
have
condemned
for
hereticall
,
are
no
fit
guides
for
us
to
follow
in
that
judgment
of
the
government
for
which
they
were
so
condemned
.
EIghthly
,
I
must
challenge
it
for
an
unquestionable
truth
,
that
those
men
,
whom
the
ancient
Church
of
God
,
and
the
holy
and
Orthodoxe
Fathers
have
condemned
for
erroneous
and
hereticall
,
are
not
fit
to
be
followed
of
us
,
as
the
Authours
of
our
opinion
or
practice
for
the
government
of
the
Church
,
in
those
points
for
which
they
were
censured
.
It
may
fall
out
too
oft
,
that
a
man
,
whose
beliefe
is
sound
in
all
other
points
,
may
faile
in
one
,
and
proceed
so
farre
as
to
second
his
error
with
contumacie
.
The
slips
of
the
ancients
are
too
well
knowne
,
and
justly
pitied
;
but
they
passe
,
as
they
ought
,
for
private
oversights
;
if
any
of
them
have
stood
out
in
a
publike
contestation
(
as
holy
Cyprian
did
in
that
case
of
Rebaptizing
)
the
Church
takes
up
his
truth
,
as
her
common
stocke
,
balkes
his
errour
,
not
without
a
commiserating
censure
.
Now
if
any
man
shall
think
fit
to
pitch
upon
the
noted
mis-opinions
of
the
holiest
authors
,
for
imitation
or
maintenance
,
what
can
we
esteeme
of
him
,
but
as
the
flye
,
who
,
passing
by
the
sound
parts
of
the
skin
,
fals
upon
a
raw
and
ulcered
sore
:
And
if
the
best
Saints
may
not
be
followed
in
their
faults
,
how
much
lesse
may
we
make
choice
of
the
examples
,
or
judgements
of
those
,
who
are
justly
branded
by
the
whole
Church
for
schisme
or
heresie
?
What
were
this
other
than
to
run
into
the
Prophets
woe
,
injustifying
the
wicked
,
and
taking
away
the
righteousnesse
of
the
righteous
from
them
.
Is
not
hee
like
to
make
a
good
journey
,
that
chooses
a
blinde
,
or
lame
guide
for
his
way
?
When
the
Spouse
of
Christ
enquires
after
the
place
of
his
feeding
,
where
he
maketh
his
flocke
to
rest
at
noone
,
he
answers
her
;
If
thou
know
not
,
O
thou
fairest
among
women
,
goe
thy
wayes
forth
by
the
footsteps
of
the
flocke
,
and
feed
thy
kids
besides
the
shepheards
tents
;
what
is
his
flocke
,
but
Christian
soules
,
and
his
shepheards
,
but
the
holy
and
faithfull
Pastors
?
The
footsteps
then
of
this
flock
,
and
the
tents
of
these
Shepheards
are
the
best
direction
for
any
Christian
soule
for
the
search
of
a
Saviour
,
and
of
all
his
necessary
truths
.
To
deviate
from
these
,
what
is
it
but
to
turne
aside
by
the
flocks
of
the
Companions
?
If
then
it
shall
be
made
to
appeare
,
that
one
onely
branded
Heretick
in
so
many
hundred
yeares
hath
opposed
the
received
judgement
and
practice
of
the
Church
concerning
Episcopall
government
,
I
hope
no
wise
and
sober
Christian
will
think
it
safe
and
fit
to
side
with
him
in
the
maintenance
of
his
so
justly
exploded
errour
against
all
the
Churches
of
the
whole
Christian
world
.
§.
16.
The
ninth
ground
.
That
the
accession
of
honourable
titles
,
and
compatible
priviledges
,
makes
no
difference
in
the
substance
of
a
lawfull
and
holy
calling
.
NInthly
,
It
must
be
yeelded
,
that
the
accession
of
honourable
titles
,
or
(
not
incompatible
)
priviledges
,
makes
no
difference
in
the
substance
of
a
lawfull
and
holy
calling
:
These
things
,
being
meerely
externall
,
and
adventitious
,
can
no
more
alter
the
nature
of
the
calling
,
than
change
of
suits
,
the
body
.
Neither
is
it
otherwise
with
the
calling
,
than
with
the
person
whose
it
is
;
The
man
is
the
same
whether
poore
or
rich
;
The
good
Patriarch
was
the
same
in
Potiphar's
dungeon
,
and
on
Pharaoh's
bench
;
Our
Saviour
was
the
same
in
Joseph's
work-house
,
and
in
the
hill
of
Tabor
;
Saint
Paul
was
the
same
while
he
sate
in
the
house
with
Aquila
making
of
Tents
,
that
he
was
raigning
in
the
Pulpit
,
or
disputing
in
the
Schoole
of
Tyrannus
.
As
a
wise
man
is
no
whit
differently
affected
with
the
changes
of
these
his
outward
conditions
,
but
looks
upon
them
with
the
same
face
,
and
manages
them
with
the
same
temper
;
so
the
judicious
beholder
indifferently
esteemes
them
in
another
;
as
being
ready
to
give
all
due
respects
to
them
whom
the
King
holds
worthy
of
honour
,
without
all
secret
envie
;
yet
not
preferring
the
Gold-ring
before
the
poore
mans
richer
graces
;
valuing
the
calling
according
to
its
owne
true
worth
,
not
after
the
price
or
meanenesse
of
the
abiliments
wherewith
it
is
cloathed
:
If
some
garments
be
course
,
yet
they
may
serve
to
defend
from
cold
;
others
,
besides
warmth
,
give
grace
and
comelinesse
to
the
body
;
there
may
be
good
use
of
both
;
and
perhaps
one
and
the
same
vesture
may
serve
for
both
purposes
.
It
is
an
old
and
sure
rule
in
Philosophie
,
That
degrees
do
not
diversifie
the
kinds
of
things
;
The
same
fire
that
flashes
in
the
Tow
,
glowes
in
the
Iuniper
;
if
one
gold
be
finer
than
another
,
both
are
gold
;
if
some
pearles
be
fairer
than
other
,
yet
their
kinde
is
the
same
;
neither
is
it
otherwise
in
callings
and
professions
.
We
have
knowne
some
Painters
,
and
in
other
Professions
many
so
eminent
,
that
their
skill
hath
raised
them
to
the
honour
of
Knighthood
;
in
the
meane
time
their
worke
and
calling
is
the
same
it
was
.
But
what
doe
I
go
about
to
give
light
to
so
cleare
a
truth
?
If
therefore
it
shall
be
made
to
appeare
,
that
the
Episcopacie
of
this
Island
is
for
substance
the
same
with
that
of
the
first
Institution
by
the
Apostles
,
howsoever
there
may
have
beene
through
the
bounty
of
gracious
Princes
,
some
additions
made
to
it
,
in
outward
dignity
or
maintenance
;
The
cause
is
ours
.
§.
17.
The
tenth
ground
:
That
those
Scriptures
whereon
a
new
and
different
forme
of
government
is
raised
,
had
need
to
be
more
evident
and
unquestionable
,
than
those
which
are
alledged
for
the
former
,
rejected
.
TEnthly
,
It
cannot
but
be
granted
,
That
those
passages
of
holy
Scriptures
wherein
any
forme
of
government
(
different
from
the
anciently
received
and
established
)
is
pretended
to
be
grounded
,
had
need
to
be
very
cleare
and
unquestionable
;
and
more
evident
and
convictive
than
those
,
whereon
the
former
(
now
rejected
)
policy
was
raised
:
For
,
if
only
Scripture
must
decide
this
question
;
and
no
other
,
either
evidence
or
judgment
will
be
admitted
besides
it
;
And
if
withall
there
be
difference
concerning
the
sense
of
the
texts
on
either
sides
alledged
;
it
must
needs
follow
,
that
the
clearer
Scriptures
must
carry
it
,
and
give
light
to
the
more
obscure
:
we
are
wont
to
say
,
that
possession
is
eleven
points
of
the
Law
;
surely
where
that
is
had
,
and
hath
long
been
held
,
it
is
fit
there
should
be
a
legall
ejection
,
and
that
ejection
must
bee
upon
better
evidence
of
right
;
If
therefore
the
Church
of
God
have
beene
quietly
possessed
of
this
government
by
Bishops
,
for
above
these
sixteene
hundred
yeares
,
it
is
good
reason
the
ejectors
should
show
better
proofe
than
the
ancient
possessours
,
ere
they
be
outed
from
their
Tenures
:
And
what
better
proofe
can
there
be
than
more
cleare
Scripture
?
Shortly
then
,
if
it
shall
bee
made
to
appeare
,
that
the
Scriptures
brought
for
a
lay-Presbytery
are
few
,
doubtfull
,
litigious
,
full
of
diverse
and
uncertaine
senses
,
and
such
as
many
and
much
clearer
places
shall
plainely
show
to
be
otherwise
meant
by
the
Holy
Ghost
,
than
these
new
maisters
apply
them
:
then
it
cannot
be
denied
,
that
the
lay-Presbytery
hath
no
true
footing
in
the
Word
of
God
,
and
that
the
old
forme
of
Administration
in
an
imparity
of
Ministers
ought
onely
to
be
continued
in
the
Church
.
§.
18.
The
eleventh
ground
:
That
if
Christ
had
left
this
pretended
order
of
government
,
it
would
have
ere
this
time
been
agreed
upon
,
what
that
forme
is
,
and
how
to
be
managed
.
ELeventhly
,
I
may
well
take
it
for
granted
,
neither
can
it
reasonably
be
denied
,
that
,
if
the
Order
which
they
say
Christ
and
his
Apostles
did
set
for
the
government
of
his
Church
(
which
they
call
the
Kingdome
and
Ordinance
of
Christ
)
be
but
one
,
and
that
certaine
and
undoubted
,
then
certainly
it
must
,
and
should
,
and
would
have
beene
,
ere
this
,
agreed
upon
by
the
abettors
of
it
,
what
,
and
which
it
is
.
For
it
cannot
without
impiety
be
conceived
,
or
said
without
blasphemie
,
that
the
Sonne
of
God
should
erect
such
a
Kingdome
upon
earth
,
as
,
having
lyen
hid
for
no
lesse
than
sixteene
hundred
yeares
,
cannot
yet
be
fully
knowne
and
accorded
upon
:
so
that
the
subjects
may
be
convinced
,
both
that
it
is
his
,
and
by
what
Officers
and
what
rules
it
must
be
managed
:
If
then
it
shall
be
made
to
appeare
,
that
the
pretenders
to
the
desired
Discipline
cannot
yet
,
all
this
while
,
agree
upon
their
verdict
,
for
that
kingdome
of
Christ
,
which
they
challenge
;
it
will
be
manifest
to
every
ingenuous
Reader
,
that
their
platformes
of
this
their
imagined
kingdome
,
are
but
the
Chimericall
devices
,
and
whimsies
of
mens
braines
,
and
worthy
to
bee
entertained
accordingly
.
§.
19.
The
twelfth
ground
:
That
if
this
which
is
challenged
,
be
the
kingdome
of
Christ
,
then
those
Churches
which
want
any
essentiall
part
of
it
,
are
mainly
defective
,
and
scarce
any
at
all
entire
.
TWelfthly
,
It
must
be
yeelded
,
that
if
this
,
which
they
call
for
,
be
the
Kingdome
and
Ordinance
of
Christ
,
then
it
ought
to
be
erected
and
maintained
in
all
Congregations
of
Christians
all
the
world
over
;
And
that
where
any
essentiall
part
thereof
is
wanting
,
there
the
Kingdome
of
Christ
is
not
entirely
set
up
,
but
is
still
mainly
defective
.
If
therefore
it
shall
appeare
,
that
even
in
most
of
those
Churches
which
doe
most
eagerly
contend
for
the
Discipline
,
there
neither
are
,
nor
ever
were
all
those
severall
Offices
,
which
are
upon
the
list
of
this
spirituall
Administration
,
it
will
irrefragably
follow
,
that
either
those
Churches
doe
not
hold
these
offices
necessary
,
which
having
power
in
their
hand
,
they
have
not
yet
erected
,
or
els
that
there
are
but
very
few
Churches
(
if
any
)
upon
earth
rightly
constituted
,
and
governed
;
which
to
affirme
,
since
it
were
grossely
uncharitable
,
and
highly
derogatory
from
the
just
glory
of
Gods
kingdome
under
the
Gospell
,
it
will
be
consequent
,
that
the
device
is
so
lately
hatched
,
that
it
is
not
yet
fledge
;
and
that
there
is
great
reason
rather
to
distrust
the
plots
of
men
,
than
〈◊〉
condemne
the
Churches
of
God
.
§.
20.
The
thirteenth
ground
:
That
true
Christian
policie
requires
not
any
thing
absurd
or
impossible
to
be
done
.
THirteenthly
,
I
have
reason
to
require
it
granted
,
That
true
Christian
policie
requires
not
any
thing
which
is
either
impossible
or
absurd
to
be
done
;
If
therefore
it
shall
be
pretended
,
that
upon
the
generall
grounds
of
Scripture
,
this
sacred
Fabricke
of
Discipline
raised
by
the
wisedome
of
some
holy
and
eminent
reformers
,
conforme
to
that
of
the
first
age
of
the
Church
,
it
is
meet
it
should
be
made
manifest
,
that
there
is
some
correspondence
in
the
state
of
those
first
times
,
with
the
present
;
and
of
the
Condition
of
their
Churches
with
ours
:
Otherwise
,
if
there
be
an
apparent
difference
and
disproportion
betwixt
them
,
it
cannot
sound
well
,
that
one
patterne
should
fit
both
.
If
then
both
the
first
planters
,
and
the
late
reformers
of
the
Church
did
,
that
which
the
necessity
of
the
times
would
allow
;
this
is
no
president
for
the
same
persons
(
if
they
were
now
living
)
and
at
their
full
liberty
and
power
;
neither
can
the
Churches
of
those
Cantons
or
Cities
,
which
challenge
a
kinde
of
freedome
in
a
Democraticall
State
,
be
meet
examples
for
those
which
are
already
established
under
a
setled
Monarchy
:
If
therefore
it
shall
appeare
,
that
many
foule
and
unavoidable
inconveniences
,
and
,
if
not
impossibilities
,
yet
unreasonable
consequences
will
necessarily
follow
upon
the
obtrusion
of
a
Presbyterian
government
upon
a
Nationall
Church
otherwise
setled
,
all
wise
Christians
who
are
members
of
such
Churches
,
will
apprehend
great
and
just
cause
why
they
should
refuse
to
submit
,
and
yeeld
approbation
to
any
such
novell
Ordinances
.
§.
21.
The
fourteenth
ground
:
That
new
truths
never
before
heard
of
,
especially
in
maine
points
,
carrie
just
cause
of
suspicion
.
FOurteenthly
,
It
must
be
granted
,
that
,
Those
truths
in
Divinity
which
are
new
and
hitherto
unheard
of
in
the
Church
,
(
but
especially
in
those
points
,
which
are
,
by
the
fautors
of
them
,
held
maine
and
essentiall
)
carrie
just
causes
of
suspicion
in
their
faces
,
and
are
not
easily
to
be
yeelded
unto
;
And
surely
,
if
according
to
Tertullians
rule
,
quod
primum
verum
,
That
the
first
is
true
,
then
the
latest
is
seldome
so
,
where
it
agrees
not
with
the
first
.
After
the
teeming
of
so
many
ages
,
it
is
rarely
seene
,
Alphons
.
Var.
Toletan
.
de
Stratagem
.
Iesuit
.
that
a
New
and
Posthumous
verity
is
any
other
than
spurious
.
It
was
the
position
(
it
seemes
)
of
Poza
the
braine-sick
Professour
of
Divinity
,
set
up
by
the
Iesuites
at
Madrill
;
That
it
is
free
for
any
man
besides
and
against
the
judgement
of
the
holy
Fathers
and
Doctors
,
to
make
innovations
in
the
doctrine
of
religion
;
And
for
his
warrant
of
contemning
all
ancient
Fathers
and
Councels
in
respect
of
his
owne
Opinions
,
borrowes
the
words
in
Ecclesiasticus
;
5.
Ecclesiast
25.
〈◊〉
〈◊〉
〈◊〉
〈◊〉
〈◊〉
.
cited
by
the
Councell
of
Constantinople
;
Beatus
qui
praedicat
verbum
inauditum
,
Blessed
is
he
that
preaches
the
word
never
before
heard
of
;
impiously
,
and
ignorantly
marring
the
text
,
mistaking
the
sense
,
belying
the
Authour
,
slandering
the
Councell
;
the
misprision
being
no
lesse
ridiculous
,
than
palpable
;
For
,
whereas
the
words
are
(
〈◊〉
〈◊〉
〈◊〉
〈◊〉
〈◊〉
)
in
auditum
;
he
turnes
them
both
into
one
adjective
(
inauditum
)
and
makes
the
sentence
as
monstrous
,
as
his
owne
stupidity
.
Pope
Hormisda
in
his
Epistle
to
the
Priests
and
Deacons
of
Syria
,
turnes
it
right
,
Qui
praedicat
verbum
in
aurem
obedientis
;
He
that
preaches
a
word
to
the
obedient
;
farre
bee
it
from
any
sober
and
Orthodoxe
Christian
,
to
entertaine
so
wild
and
wicked
a
thought
;
he
hath
learned
,
that
,
the
old
way
is
the
good
way
,
§.
22.
The
fifteenth
ground
:
That
to
depart
from
the
judgment
and
practice
of
the
universall
Church
of
Christ
ever
since
the
Apostles
times
,
and
to
betake
our selves
to
a
new
invention
,
cannot
but
be
(
besides
the
danger
)
vehemently
scandalous
,
&c.
LAstly
,
it
must
upon
all
this
necessarily
follow
;
that
to
depart
from
the
judgement
and
practice
of
the
universall
Church
of
Christ
ever
since
the
Apostles
times
,
and
abandon
that
ancient
forme
wherein
we
were
and
are
legally
and
peaceably
infeoffed
,
to
betake
our selves
to
a
new
one
,
never
,
till
this
age
,
heard
of
in
the
whole
Christian
world
,
it
cannot
but
be
extremely
scandalous
,
and
savour
too
much
of
Schisme
.
How
ill
doth
it
become
the
mouth
of
a
Christian
Divine
,
which
Parker
hath
let
fall
to
this
purpose
;
Remove
not
the
old
land-marks
.
The
Second
Part.
§.
1.
The
termes
and
state
of
the
Question
,
setled
and
agreed
upon
.
THese
are
the
grounds
;
which
,
if
they
prove
(
as
they
cannot
but
do
)
firm
and
unmoveable
,
we
can
make
no
fear
of
the
superstructure
:
Let
us
therefore
now
addresse
our selves
to
the
particular
points
here
confidenly
undertaken
by
us
,
and
made
good
all
those
severall
issues
of
defence
,
which
our
holy
cause
is
most
willingly
cast
upon
.
But
before
we
descend
to
the
scanning
of
the
matter
;
reason
and
order
require
,
that
according
to
the
old
and
sure
rules
of
Logicians
,
the
terms
be
cleared
and
agreed
upon
;
otherwise
we
shall
perhaps
fight
with
shadows
,
and
beat
the
ayr
.
It
hath
pleased
the
providence
of
GOD
,
so
to
order
it
,
that
as
the
Word
it self
,
the
Church
;
so
the
names
of
the
Offices
belonging
to
it
,
in
their
severall
comprehensions
,
should
be
full
of
Senses
,
and
variety
of
use
and
acception
;
and
that
in
such
manner
,
that
each
of
them
runs
one
into
other
,
and
oftentimes
interchanges
their
Appellations
.
A
Prophet
,
we
know
,
is
a
foreteller
of
future
things
;
an
Evangelist
,
in
the
naturall
sence
of
the
word
,
is
he
that
preaches
the
glad
tidings
of
the
Gospel
;
an
Apostle
,
one
of
Christs
twelve
great
Messengers
to
the
world
;
a
Bishop
,
〈◊〉
〈◊〉
〈◊〉
〈◊〉
〈◊〉
,
an
Overseer
of
the
Church
;
a
Presbyter
,
some
grave
,
ancient
Churchman
;
a
Deacon
,
a
servant
,
or
Minister
in
the
Church
:
yet
all
these
in
Scripture
are
so
promiscuously
used
,
that
a
Preacher
is
more
then
once
termed
a
Prophet
;
Now
we
take
Episcopacie
,
as
it
is
thus
punctually
differenced
,
in
an
eminence
from
the
two
inferior
orders
of
Presbyter
and
Deacon
;
so
as
to
define
it
,
Episcopacie
is
no
other
than
an
holy
order
of
Church-Governours
,
appointed
for
the
Administration
of
the
Church
.
Or
,
more
fully
thus
;
Episcopacie
is
an
eminent
order
of
sacred
function
,
appointed
by
the
Holy
Ghost
,
in
the
Evangelicall
Church
,
for
the
governing
and
overseeing
thereof
;
and
for
that
purpose
,
besides
the
Administration
of
the
Word
and
Sacraments
,
indued
with
power
of
imposition
of
hands
,
and
perpetuity
of
Iurisdiction
.
Wherein
we
finde
,
that
we
shall
meet
with
two
sorts
of
Adversaries
;
The
one
are
furiously
and
impetuously
fierce
,
crying
down
Episcopacy
for
an
unlawfull
,
and
Antichristian
state
,
not
to
be
suffered
in
a
truely
Evangelicall
Church
,
having
no
words
in
their
mouthes
,
but
the
same
which
the
cruell
Edomites
used
concerning
Ierusalem
,
Downe
with
it
,
down
with
it
,
even
to
the
ground
:
And
such
are
the
frantick
Separatists
,
and
Semi-separatists
of
our
time
,
and
Nation
,
who
are
only
swayed
with
meer
passion
,
and
wilfully
blinded
with
unjust
prejudice
.
These
are
Reformers
of
the
new
Cut
,
which
if
Calvin
or
Beza
were
alive
,
to
see
,
they
would
spit
at
,
and
wonder
whence
such
an
off-spring
should
come
.
Men
that
defend
and
teach
there
is
no
higher
Ecclesiasticall
government
in
the
world
,
than
that
of
a
Parish
:
that
a
Parochiall
Minister
(
though
but
of
the
blindest
village
in
a
Country
)
is
utterly
independant
,
and
absolute
,
a
perfect
Bishop
within
himselfe
,
and
hath
no
superiour
in
the
Church
upon
earth
,
and
doth
no
lesse
inveigh
even
against
the
over-ruling
power
of
Classes
,
Synods
,
&c.
than
of
Bishops
:
you
are
not
perhaps
of
this
straine
,
for
we
conceive
that
our
Northern
neighbors
desire
and
affect
to
conforme
unto
the
Genevian
or
French
discipline
,
It
is
yielded
by
the
wiser
fautors
of
Discipline
,
that
there
is
a
certain
Polity
necessary
for
the
retention
of
the
Churches
peace
;
That
this
Polity
requires
that
there
must
be
severall
Congregations
or
flocks
of
Christians
,
and
that
every
flock
should
have
his
own
Shepherd
;
That
since
those
guides
of
Gods
people
are
subject
to
error
in
Doctrine
and
exorbitance
in
manners
,
which
may
need
correction
and
reformation
;
and
many
doubtfull
cases
may
fall
out
,
which
will
need
decision
,
it
is
requisite
there
should
be
some
further
aid
,
given
by
the
counsell
and
assistance
of
other
Pastors
;
That
those
Pastors
,
met
together
in
Classes
and
Synodes
,
are
fit
arbiters
in
differences
,
and
censurers
of
errors
and
disorders
.
That
in
Synodes
thus
assembled
there
must
be
due
order
kept
;
That
order
cannot
be
kept
,
where
there
is
an
absolute
equality
of
all
persons
convened
:
That
it
is
therefore
necessary
that
there
should
be
an
head
,
President
,
or
Governour
of
the
assembly
,
who
shall
marshall
all
the
affairs
of
those
meetings
,
propound
the
Cases
,
gather
the
voyces
,
pronounce
the
Sentences
and
judgements
;
but
in
the
mean
while
,
he
(
having
but
lent
his
tongue
for
the
time
to
the
use
of
the
Assembly
)
when
the
businesse
is
ended
,
returnes
to
his
own
place
without
any
personall
inequality
.
A
lively
image
whereof
we
have
in
our
lower
house
of
Convocation
;
the
Clerks
whereof
are
chosen
by
the
Clergy
of
the
severall
Diocesses
:
They
all
having
equall
power
of
voyces
,
assemble
together
,
choose
their
Prolocutor
;
He
cals
the
house
,
receives
petitions
,
or
complaints
,
proposes
the
businesses
,
asks
and
gathers
the
suffrages
,
dismisses
the
Sessions
,
and
the
action
once
ended
takes
his
former
station
,
forgetting
his
late
superiority
.
This
is
the
thing
challenged
by
the
Patrons
of
Discipline
,
who
do
not
willingly
heare
of
an
upper
house
,
consisting
of
the
Peeres
of
the
Church
,
whose
grave
authority
gives
life
to
the
motions
of
that
lower
body
.
They
can
be
content
there
should
be
a
prime
Presbyter
,
and
that
this
Presbyter
shall
be
called
Bishop
,
and
that
Bishop
shall
moderate
(
for
the
time
)
the
publike
affairs
of
the
Church
;
but
without
all
innate
and
fixed
superiority
;
without
all
(
though
never
so
moderate
)
Iurisdiction
.
Calvin
in
this
case
shall
speak
for
all
,
who
writing
of
the
state
of
the
Clergie
in
the
Primitive
times
,
hath
thus
,
Quibus
ergo
docendi
munus
&c.
Those
therefore
which
had
the
charge
of
teaching
injoined
unto
them
,
they
named
Presbyters
:
These
Presbyters
out
of
their
number
in
every
city
chose
one
to
whom
they
especially
gave
the
title
of
Bishop
;
lest
from
equality
(
as
it
commonly
fals
out
)
discords
should
arise
.
Neither
was
the
Bishop
so
superiour
to
the
rest
in
honour
and
dignity
,
as
that
he
had
any
rule
over
his
Colleagues
,
but
the
same
office
and
part
which
the
Consul
had
in
the
Senate
,
to
report
of
businesse
to
be
done
,
to
ask
the
votes
;
advising
,
admonishing
,
exhorting
to
go
before
the
rest
,
to
rule
the
whole
action
by
his
authority
,
and
to
execute
that
,
which
by
the
common
Councell
was
decreed
.
The
same
office
did
the
Bishop
sustain
in
the
assembly
of
the
Presbyters
.
Thus
he
;
and
to
the
same
purpose
Beza
in
his
Treatise
of
the
degrees
of
the
ministery
;
Moulin
,
Chamier
,
others
.
So
as
we
easily
see
how
our
Bishop
differs
from
Calvins
,
namely
in
a
setled
imparity
,
and
a
perpetuity
of
jurisdiction
.
Give
me
therefore
such
a
Pastor
,
as
shall
be
ordained
a
perpetuall
Moderator
in
Church
affairs
,
in
a
fixed
imparity
,
exercising
Spirituall
Iurisdiction
,
out
of
his
owne
peculiarly
demandated
Authority
,
this
is
the
Bishop
whom
we
contend
for
,
and
whom
they
oppose
;
I
do
well
see
therefore
how
we
may
make
a
shorter
cut
of
this
controversie
,
than
hath
formerly
been
made
by
others
,
whose
large
discourses
(
upon
the
importune
Angariation
of
others
)
hath
been
learnedly
spent
upon
the
names
and
titles
of
a
Bishop
,
and
Presbyter
,
upon
the
extent
of
their
first
charge
,
whether
Parochiall
,
or
Diocesan
:
And
upon
the
difference
and
priority
of
those
Limitations
;
since
the
only
thing
that
displeaseth
in
Episcopacy
is
their
majority
above
Presbyters
(
which
is
pretended
should
be
only
a
priority
of
Order
,
not
a
superiority
of
degree
)
and
their
power
of
jurisdiction
over
Presbyters
(
for
yield
these
by
a
due
ordination
,
to
a
prime
pastor
for
a
constant
continuance
,
you
make
him
a
Bishop
,
denie
these
to
a
Bishop
,
you
make
him
no
other
than
a
plain
Presbyter
)
our
only
labour
therefore
must
be
to
make
good
these
two
points
;
and
to
evince
,
that
imparity
in
the
Governours
of
the
Church
,
and
the
power
of
Episcopall
Iurisdiction
,
is
not
of
any
lesse
than
Apostolicall
and
divine
Institution
:
to
which
Task
we
now
addresse
our selves
,
〈◊〉
〈◊〉
〈◊〉
〈◊〉
〈◊〉
.
&c.
§.
2.
Church
government
begun
by
our
Saviour
in
a
manifest
imparity
.
WE
begin
with
our
undertaken
issues
,
and
shall
show
that
this
imparitie
of
government
,
and
Epi●copall
Iurisdiction
was
founded
by
Christ
,
and
erected
by
his
Apostles
,
both
by
their
practise
and
recommendation
.
Who
sees
not
then
a
manifest
imparitie
in
our
Saviours
owne
choice
,
in
the
first
gathering
of
his
Chur●h
;
wherein
his
Apostles
were
above
his
other
Disciples
;
the
twelve
above
the
70
:
above
them
in
priviledges
,
and
especially
in
the
immediatenesse
of
their
calling
,
above
them
in
their
Masters
respects
,
above
them
in
gifts
,
and
in
the
power
of
their
dispensation
,
above
them
in
Commission
,
above
them
in
miraculous
operations
:
Even
those
70
were
Ministers
of
the
Gospel
,
but
those
twelve
were
(
even
as
it
were
)
the
Patriarks
of
the
Church
,
noted
still
by
an
article
of
Eminence
(
〈◊〉
〈◊〉
〈◊〉
〈◊〉
〈◊〉
)
The
twelve
,
others
were
labourers
in
the
work
,
these
were
master-builders
,
as
St.
Paul
to
his
Corinthes
;
others
might
heal
by
their
touch
,
these
by
their
very
shadow
:
Others
had
the
holy
Ghost
,
these
gave
it
:
Philip
was
an
Evangelist
,
he
preached
,
he
wrought
miracles
,
he
converted
and
baptized
the
Samaritans
,
yet
till
Peter
and
Iohn
came
down
and
prayed
,
and
laid
their
hands
on
them
,
The
Son
of
God
affects
to
imitate
his
former
Polity
,
and
therefore
chooses
his
twelve
Apostles
,
and
70
Disciples
o
tgather
and
sway
his
Evangelicall
Church
:
The
twelve
Tribes
then
are
the
Church
:
The
twelve
Apostles
must
be
their
Iudges
and
governours
:
Their
siitting
showes
author●tie
:
Their
sitting
on
Thrones
,
eminence
of
power
:
their
sitting
on
twelve
Thrones
,
equalitie
of
their
Rule
:
their
sitting
to
judge
,
power
and
exercise
of
Iurisdiction
:
their
sitting
to
judge
the
twelve
Tribes
of
Israel
,
the
universalitie
of
their
power
and
jurisdiction
:
And
what
Iudgement
could
this
be
but
Ecclesiasticall
and
Spiritual
(
for
civill
rule
they
challenged
not
)
and
what
Thrones
but
Apostolicall
,
and
by
their
derivation
,
Episcopall
?
Who
knowes
not
how
ordinary
that
stile
is
,
(
〈◊〉
〈◊〉
〈◊〉
〈◊〉
〈◊〉
?
)
we
finde
it
even
in
Aerius
himself
:
Whatsoeuer
ye
binde
on
earth
,
shal
be
bound
in
heauen
.
§.
3.
The
execution
of
this
Apostolicall
power
after
our
Saviours
ascent
into
Heaven
.
THe
power
is
clear
,
will
you
see
the
Execution
of
it
?
Look
upon
St.
Paul
,
the
Posthumous
,
and
Supernumerary
,
but
no
lesse
glorious
Apostle
:
see
with
what
Majesty
he
becomes
his
new
erected
Throne
:
one
while
deeply
[
(a)
](B13858-e19930-b)
(a)
2
Thess
36.
charging
and
commanding
,
another
while
[
(b)
](B13858-e19940-b)
(b)
1
Cor.
5.4.5.6.7
.
controlling
and
censuring
:
One
while
[
(c)
](B13858-e19950-b)
(c)
1
Cor.
11.2
.
1
Cor.
16
1.
giving
Laws
and
Ordinances
,
another
while
urging
for
their
observance
:
One
while
[
(d)
](B13858-e19960-b)
(d)
1
Tim.
1.6
.
1
Tim.
2.9
.
1
Tim.
6
13.
2
Cor.
13.2
.
2
Cor.
4.21
.
1
Tim.
1.20
.
ordaining
Church-governours
,
another
while
adjuring
them
to
do
their
duties
:
one
while
threatning
punishment
,
another
while
inflicting
it
:
And
if
these
be
not
acts
of
Iurisdiction
,
what
can
be
such
?
which
since
they
were
done
by
the
Apostle
,
from
the
instinct
of
Gods
Spirit
,
wherewith
he
was
inspired
,
and
out
of
the
warrant
of
his
high
vocation
,
most
manifest
it
is
,
that
the
Apostles
of
Christ
had
a
supereminent
power
in
Gods
Church
:
And
if
any
person
whosoever
(
though
an
Evangelist
or
Prophet
)
should
have
dared
to
make
himselfe
equall
to
an
Apostle
,
he
had
been
hissed
out
,
yea
rather
thunder-struck
by
deep
Censure
,
for
an
Arrogant
and
saucy
usurper
.
Now
if
our
blessed
Saviour
thought
it
fit
to
found
his
Church
in
an
evident
imparity
,
what
reason
should
we
have
to
imagine
he
did
not
intend
so
to
continue
it
?
It
had
been
equally
easie
for
him
(
had
he
so
thought
meet
)
to
have
made
al
his
followers
equally
great
;
none
better
than
a
disciple
,
none
meaner
than
an
Apostle
:
But
now
since
it
hath
pleased
him
to
raise
up
some
to
the
honour
of
Apostles
,
no
lesse
above
the
70
,
than
the
seventy
were
above
the
multitude
,
only
injoyning
them
,
that
the
highest
in
place
,
should
be
the
lowest
in
minde
,
and
humility
of
service
,
what
doth
he
,
but
herein
teach
us
,
that
he
meant
to
set
this
course
for
the
insuing
government
of
his
Church
.
Neither
is
it
possible
for
any
man
to
be
so
absurd
,
as
to
think
that
the
Apostles
,
who
were
by
their
heavenly
Master
,
infeoffed
in
this
known
preeminence
,
should
,
after
the
Ascent
of
their
Saviour
,
descend
from
their
acknowledged
superiority
,
and
make
themselves
but
equall
to
the
Presbyters
they
ordained
.
No
they
still
and
ever
(
as
knowing
they
were
qualified
for
that
purpose
,
by
the
more
speciall
graces
of
the
holie
Ghost
)
kept
their
holie
state
,
&
maintained
the
honour
of
their
places
.
What
was
the
fault
of
Diotrephes
,
but
that
,
being
a
Church-governour
,
he
proudlie
stood
out
against
St.
John
,
not
acknowledging
the
Transcendant
power
of
his
Apostolicall
Iurisdiction
,
whom
the
provok't
Apostle
threats
to
correct
accordinglie
?
so
as
those
that
lay
Diotrephes
in
our
dish
,
do
little
consider
that
they
buffet
none
but
themselves
,
who
symbolize
with
him
in
opposing
Episcopal
,
that
is
,
as
all
antiquity
was
wont
to
construe
it
,
Apostolicall
government
.
But
you
are
ready
to
say
,
This
was
during
their
own
time
,
they
were
persons
extraordinary
,
and
their
calling
and
superioritie
died
with
them
:
§.
4.
The
derivation
of
this
power
and
majority
from
the
Apostles
to
the
succeeding
Bishops
.
NOw
therefore
,
that
we
have
seene
what
ground
our
Saviour
laid
for
a
superioritie
in
them
:
Let
us
see
how
they
by
his
divine
inspiration
erected
it
in
others
,
who
should
follow
them
;
●hat
was
Apostolicall
,
this
was
Episcopall
:
It
is
true
,
as
Cal●in
saith
,
that
at
the
first
,
all
to
whom
the
Dispensation
of
the
Gospell
was
committed
,
were
called
Presbyters
,
whether
they
were
Apostles
,
Evangelists
,
Prophets
,
Pastors
and
Doctors
,
as
before
the
Apostles
were
commonly
called
by
the
name
of
Disciples
,
in
every
Chapter
,
yet
in
degree
still
above
the
70
;
and
we
do
still
say
,
one
while
Bishops
and
Curats
,
comprehending
all
Presbyters
and
Deacons
under
that
name
,
another
while
Bishops
,
Pastors
,
&
Curats
,
not
distinctly
observing
the
difference
of
names
.
So
they
all
were
called
Presbyters
,
yet
not
so
,
but
that
there
was
a
manifest
and
full
distinction
betwixt
the
Apostles
and
Presbyters
,
as
thrise
Act.
the
15.
They
therefore
,
though
out
of
humility
they
hold
the
common
names
with
others
,
yet
maintained
their
places
of
Apostles
,
and
governed
the
Church
at
first
,
as
it
were
,
in
common
;
And
thus
,
as
St.
Ierome
truly
,
All
maine
matters
were
done
in
the
beginning
by
the
common
Councell
,
and
consent
of
the
Presbyters
;
their
consent
;
but
still
the
power
was
in
the
Apostles
,
who
in
the
nearer
Churches
(
since
they
in
person
ordered
Ecclesiasticall
affairs
)
ordained
only
Presbyters
;
in
the
remoter
,
Bishops
.
This
for
the
Consummation
of
it
,
was
an
act
of
time
;
Neither
was
the
same
course
held
at
once
,
in
every
Church
(
whiles
it
was
in
Fieri
)
some
,
which
were
nearer
,
being
supplied
by
the
Apostles
presence
,
needed
not
so
present
an
Episcopacy
,
Others
that
were
small
,
needed
not
yet
their
full
number
of
Offices
,
neither
were
there
perhaps
fit
men
for
those
places
of
eminence
,
to
be
found
every
where
;
whence
it
is
,
that
we
finde
in
some
Scriptures
mention
only
of
Bishops
and
Deacons
;
in
others
,
of
Presbyters
,
not
of
Bishops
.
This
then
was
the
Apostles
course
,
for
the
plantation
of
the
Church
,
and
the
better
propagation
of
the
Gospel
,
where
ever
they
came
,
they
found
it
necessary
to
ordain
meet
assistants
to
them
,
and
they
promiscuously
imparted
unto
them
all
their
owne
stile
(
but
Apostolicall
)
naming
them
Bishops
and
Presbyters
,
and
Deacons
according
to
the
familiarity
and
indifferency
of
their
former
usage
therein
:
But
when
they
,
having
divided
themselves
into
severall
parts
of
the
world
,
found
that
the
number
of
Christians
(
especially
in
the
greater
Cities
)
so
multiplied
,
that
they
must
needs
be
divided
into
many
Congregations
,
and
those
Congregations
must
necessarily
have
many
Presbyters
,
and
those
many
Presbyters
,
in
the
absence
of
the
Apostles
,
began
to
emulate
each
other
,
and
to
make
parties
for
their
own
advantage
;
then
(
as
St.
Ierome
truly
notes
)
began
the
manifest
and
constant
distinction
betwixt
the
Office
of
Bishops
and
Presbyters
to
be
both
known
and
observed
.
For
now
,
the
Apostles
,
by
the
direction
of
the
Spirit
of
God
,
found
it
requisite
a
d
necessary
for
the
avoyding
of
schisme
and
disorder
that
some
eminent
persons
should
every where
be
lifted
up
above
the
rest
,
and
ordained
to
succeed
them
in
the
ouer-seeing
and
ordering
both
the
Church
and
their
many
Presbyters
under
them
,
who
by
an
eminence
,
were
called
their
Bishops
,
Or
,
as
the
word
signifies
,
Supervisors
,
and
Governours
.
So
as
the
Ministers
(
〈◊〉
〈◊〉
〈◊〉
〈◊〉
〈◊〉
)
Phil.
3.7
.
they
〈◊〉
〈◊〉
〈◊〉
〈◊〉
〈◊〉
,
(
for
as
the
Offices
,
so
the
names
of
Bishop
and
Deacon
,
were
of
Apostolicall
foundation
)
These
Bishops
therefore
were
the
men
whom
they
furnished
with
their
own
ordinary
power
,
as
Church-governors
,
for
this
purpose
;
Now
the
offi● es
grew
fully
distinct
,
even
in
the
Apostles
daies
,
and
under
their
own
hands
,
although
sometimes
the
names
,
after
the
former
use
,
were
confounded
.
All
the
question
then
shortly
,
is
,
whether
the
Apostles
of
Christ
ordained
Episcopacie
,
thus
stated
,
and
thus
fixedly-qualified
with
Imparitie
and
Iurisdiction
.
For
if
we
take
a
Bishop
for
a
parochiall
Pastor
,
and
a
Presbyter
for
a
Lay-elder
(
as
too
many
misconstrue
the
terms
)
it
were
no
lesse
then
madnesse
to
doubt
of
this
Superioritie
:
but
we
take
Episcopacie
in
the
proper
,
and
fore-defined
sence
;
and
Presbyterie
according
to
the
only
,
true
and
ancient
meaning
of
the
Primitive
Church
,
viz
for
that
which
we
call
now
Priesthood
;
the
other
is
a
meerly
new
and
uncouth
devise
,
neither
came
ever
within
the
Ken
of
antiquitie
.
As
for
the
further
subdivision
of
this
quarrell
,
whether
Episcopacy
must
be
accounted
a
distinct
Order
,
or
but
a
severall
degree
in
the
same
Order
,
there
is
heer
no
need
for
the
present
,
to
enter
into
the
discussion
of
it
;
Especially
since
I
observe
that
the
wiser
sort
of
our
opposites
are
indifferent
to
both
,
so
that
whichsoever
you
take
,
may
be
granted
them
to
be
but
Iuris
humani
;
And
I
cannot
but
wonder
at
the
toughnesse
of
those
other
opposites
,
which
stand
so
highly
upon
this
difference
,
to
have
it
meerly
but
a
degree
;
In
the
mean
while
never
considering
that
those
among
the
Pontificiall
Divines
(
which
in
this
point
are
the
greatest
Patrons
of
this
their
fancy
)
go
all
upon
the
ground
of
the
Masse
,
according
to
which
they
regulate
and
conforme
their
opinions
therein
;
First
making
all
Ecclesiasticall
power
to
have
reference
to
the
body
of
Christ
;
§.
5.
The
clear
Testimonies
of
Scripture
,
especially
those
out
of
the
Epistles
to
Timothy
and
Titus
,
urged
.
NOw
,
because
this
is
the
main
point
that
is
stood
upon
,
and
some
wayward
opposites
are
ready
to
except
at
all
proofs
but
Scripture
;
I
shall
take
leave
briefly
,
to
scan
those
pregnant
Testimonies
,
which
I
finde
in
those
two
Apostolicall
Epistles
;
and
first
Timothy
is
charged
,
par
in
parem
&c.
Besides
that
house
of
God
,
which
is
the
Church
(
wherin
his
behaving
is
so
required
)
is
not
some
one
private
Congregation
;
such
an
one
were
not
fit
for
that
style
of
the
Pillar
and
ground
of
Truth
,
but
that
famous
Diocesan
Church
of
Ephesus
(
yea
of
Asia
rather
(
wherin
there
was
the
use
of
the
variety
of
all
those
offices
prescribed
)
Neither
may
we
think
that
Timothy
was
before
(
after
so
much
attendance
of
the
blessed
Apostle
in
his
journeys
)
ignorant
of
what
might
concerne
him
as
an
ordinary
Minister
;
it
was
therefore
a
more
publique
and
generall
charge
,
which
was
now
imposed
upon
him
;
he
therefore
that
knew
how
to
behave
himself
in
a
particular
Congregation
,
must
now
know
what
carriage
is
fit
for
him
,
as
a
Diocesan
.
Fifthly
,
Timothy
must
put
the
brethren
,
that
is
,
Command
and
teach
.
He
must
teach
then
himself
,
he
must
command
others
to
teach
them
,
Had
he
been
only
a
simple
Presbyter
,
he
might
command
and
go
without
;
Now
hee
must
command
:
If
our
Lords
Bishops
do
so
much
,
what
do
they
more
?
Sixthly
,
Rebuke
not
an
Elder
(
roughly
)
&c.
He
is
also
to
give
charge
con●erning
the
choyce
,
carriage
,
and
maintenance
of
these
widowes
,
which
must
be
provided
for
by
the
Church
,
he
hath
power
to
admit
some
,
and
to
refuse
others
,
and
to
take
order
the
Church
be
not
charged
unduely
,
which
a
single
Presbyter
alone
,
is
not
allowed
to
do
,
even
where
their
own
Presbytery
is
on
foot
.
Seventhly
,
Timothy
must
care
and
see
that
the
Elders
,
Eighthly
,
parium
neutrum
alteri
subordinatur
,
and
paria
non
sunt
〈◊〉
〈◊〉
〈◊〉
〈◊〉
〈◊〉
;
Nullus
est
dubitandi
locus
&c.
There
can
be
no
doubt
,
saith
he
,
but
that
Timothy
was
elected
(
by
the
Colledge
of
Elders
)
to
governe
the
Colledge
of
the
Elders
,
and
that
not
w
thou
t
some
authority
,
but
such
as
had
meet
limits
;
Thus
must
,
thus
might
Timothy
do
even
to
Presbyters
:
what
could
a
Bishop
of
England
do
more
?
And
thus
Cameron
.
Though
I
cannot
approve
of
his
election
by
the
Colledge
;
that
conceit
is
his
own
,
but
the
authoritie
is
yielded
.
The
lesse
,
saith
the
Apostle
to
the
Hebrews
,
is
blessed
of
the
better
.
§.
6.
Some
elusions
of
these
Scriptures
met
with
,
and
answered
.
THe
elusion
of
some
(
not
mean
Opponents
)
have
devised
,
that
these
acts
were
injoined
to
Titus
,
as
by
way
of
Societie
and
partnership
with
the
Presbytery
;
so
as
that
he
should
join
with
them
in
these
duties
of
correction
,
and
Ordination
,
is
so
palpable
and
quite
against
the
hair
,
that
I
cannot
think
the
authours
of
it
can
beleeve
themselves
.
Had
the
Apostle
so
meant
,
he
could
as
easilie
have
expressed
it
,
and
have
directed
his
charge
to
more
;
Titus
alone
is
singled
out
;
now
if
it
were
in
the
power
of
every
Presbyter
to
doe
those
things
,
without
him
,
what
needed
this
weight
to
have
been
laid
on
his
shoulders
alone
?
And
if
the
charge
were
,
that
he
must
urge
and
procure
it
to
be
done
;
By
what
authoritie
?
And
if
he
had
authority
,
either
without
,
or
above
them
,
it
is
that
we
strive
for
:
And
now
I
beseech
you
,
what
doth
any
Bishop
of
England
challenge
more
,
as
Essentiall
to
his
place
,
than
power
of
Ordination
,
and
power
of
correction
of
disorders
?
Titus
,
A
man
that
is
an
Heretick
,
after
the
first
and
second
admonition
,
reject
.
So
then
it
is
to
Titus
,
it
belongs
to
proceed
against
erroneous
teachers
,
to
judge
of
heresie
;
to
give
formall
admonitions
to
the
heretick
;
to
cast
him
out
of
the
Church
,
upon
his
Obstinacy
;
Can
any
man
suppose
it
to
be
for
a
meer
Presbyter
to
make
such
a
judiciall
processe
against
hereticks
,
or
to
eject
them
out
of
the
Church
;
would
not
they
have
return'd
it
upon
him
,
with
scorne
and
derision
?
Or
what
is
spirituall
Iurisdiction
,
if
power
to
do
this
be
not
?
To
summe
up
all
therefore
,
it
is
no
other
than
our
present
Episcopall
power
,
that
by
the
blessed
Apostle
,
is
committed
to
Timothy
and
Titus
;
and
that
with
so
cleare
Evidence
,
that
for
my
part
,
I
do
not
more
fully
beleeve
there
were
such
men
,
than
they
had
such
power
,
and
these
warrants
to
execute
it
.
It
is
a
poor
shift
of
some
,
That
Timothy
and
Titus
were
Evangelists
;
and
therefore
persons
extraordinary
,
and
not
in
this
behalfe
capable
of
succession
;
For
,
what
ever
they
were
in
their
personall
qualifications
,
yet
here
they
stood
for
Bishops
;
and
received
,
as
Church-governors
,
these
charges
,
which
were
to
be
ordinary
,
and
perpetuall
to
all
that
should
succeed
in
Ecclesiasticall
administration
;
As
for
the
title
;
How
will
it
appeare
they
were
Evangelists
?
For
Titus
there
is
no
colour
;
For
Timothy
;
it
is
true
;
St.
Paul
charges
him
to
do
the
worke
of
an
Evangelist
;
What
of
that
?
That
might
imply
as
well
that
he
was
not
indeed
in
that
particular
office
,
which
yet
Saint
Paul
would
have
him
supply
howsoever
,
But
saith
our
Tileno-mastix
,
Four
yeers
after
Saint
Paul
had
given
this
charge
of
Episcopacie
to
Timothy
,
there
was
an
equalitie
of
Presbyters
at
Ephesus
;
they
were
all
convented
,
and
no
news
of
Timothy
,
as
their
Bishop
:
poorly
;
when
the
Sun
shines
,
what
use
is
there
of
the
Stars
?
when
Saint
Paul
was
present
,
And
now
,
what
shall
we
say
to
this
?
Tell
me
,
ye
that
look
upon
these
Papers
with
censorious
eyes
;
tell
me
,
is
all
this
,
think
you
,
no
other
than
a
formall
presidence
of
an
assembly
,
without
any
power
or
command
?
Is
this
to
do
but
as
a
Consull
in
a
Senate
,
to
propound
Cases
,
to
gather
Votes
,
to
declare
the
judgement
of
the
Presbytery
or
Synod
;
or
as
Zanchy
resembles
it
(
ut
Rector
in
Academia
)
as
a
Rector
in
one
of
their
Academies
:
or
rather
,
as
Saint
Ierome
(
whom
you
challenge
for
your
Patron
in
this
point
,
hath
it
)
tanquam
imperator
in
exercitu
,
§.
7.
The
testimony
of
St.
Iohn
in
his
Revelation
pressed
.
NEither
can
all
the
shifts
in
the
world
elude
that
pregnant
Vision
and
charge
of
the
blessed
Apostle
St.
Iohn
(
in
whose
longer
lasting
time
the
government
of
the
Church
,
was
fully
setled
in
this
threefold
imparity
,
of
the
Orders
and
degrees
(
who
having
had
the
speciall
supervision
of
the
whole
Asian
Church
,
was
by
the
Spirit
of
God
commanded
to
direct
his
7
Epistles
to
the
Bishops
of
those
seven
famous
Churches
,
by
the
name
of
so
many
Angels
:
To
the
Angel
of
the
Church
of
Ephesus
;
To
the
Angel
of
the
Church
in
Smyrna
,
&c.
For
what
can
be
more
plain
,
than
that
in
every
of
these
Chur
hes
(
as
for
instance
that
of
Ephesus
)
there
were
many
Presbyters
,
yet
but
one
Angel
;
If
that
one
were
not
in
place
above
the
rest
,
and
higher
by
the
head
than
they
,
how
comes
he
to
be
noted
in
the
throng
?
Why
was
not
the
direction
to
al
the
Angels
of
the
Church
of
Ephesus
?
To
thee
,
O
Captain
,
he
should
have
turn'd
it
off
to
the
rest
,
and
have
said
,
To
me
,
that
is
,
Not
to
me
alone
,
but
to
all
my
felllows
with
me
:
But
to
put
this
matter
out
of
doubt
,
it
is
particularly
known
who
some
of
those
Angels
were
;
Holy
Polycarpus
was
knowne
to
be
the
Angel
of
the
Church
of
Smyrna
,
whom
Ignatius
the
blessed
Martyr
mentions
,
as
,
by
his
Episcopacy
,
greater
than
his
Clergie
.
Timothy
had
been
,
not
long
before
,
Bishop
of
Ephesus
,
yea
of
the
Asians
,
now
Onesimus
was
;
whose
Metropolis
Ephesus
was
;
Wherein
Ignatius
acknowledges
〈◊〉
〈◊〉
〈◊〉
〈◊〉
〈◊〉
,
a
very
great
multitude
of
Christians
;
so
large
,
that
in
the
Emperour
Leo's
time
,
But
if
any
man
shall
imagine
,
these
things
spoken
to
the
Angel
,
as
to
him
under
that
title
,
in
the
name
of
all
the
rest
,
let
him
know
that
this
cannot
be
,
for
that
the
charges
and
challenges
there
made
,
are
personall
and
such
as
could
not
be
communicated
to
all
;
for
who
can
say
that
all
those
of
the
Church
of
Ephesus
were
patient
and
laborious
,
Besides
,
here
is
a
manifest
distinction
betwixt
the
Pastor
or
Bishop
,
and
those
of
his
charge
;
and
they
are
described
by
the
severalties
of
their
estates
.
As
when
he
had
acknowledged
the
Graces
of
Polycarpus
the
Angel
of
Smyrna
,
Behold
some
of
you
the
devill
shall
cast
into
prison
;
and
ye
shall
be
tryed
,
and
endure
Tribulation
ten
dayes
:
and
then
addressing
to
him
,
Be
thou
faithfull
to
the
death
,
&c.
And
in
his
fourth
Epistle
,
So
cleer
is
this
truth
,
that
the
Opposites
have
been
forced
to
yield
Priority
here
intimated
;
but
a
Priority
of
Order
onely
,
not
of
power
;
a
Priority
of
Presidencie
for
the
time
,
not
personall
.
Beza
yields
him
,
〈◊〉
〈◊〉
〈◊〉
〈◊〉
〈◊〉
,
as
he
acknowledges
Justine
Martyr
to
call
him
,
President
of
the
Presbytery
(
imo
ne
perpetuum
.
q.
istud
〈◊〉
〈◊〉
〈◊〉
〈◊〉
〈◊〉
,
munus
esse
necessario
opportuisse
)
but
perhaps
not
perpetuall
;
wherein
I
blesse
my self
,
to
see
how
prejudice
can
blinde
the
eyes
of
the
wise
and
learned
:
for
what
Author
in
the
whole
world
ever
mentioned
such
a
fashion
of
ambulatory
Government
in
the
Church
?
And
do
not
our
Histories
testifie
,
that
Polycarpus
the
Angel
of
Smyrna
,
dyed
Bishop
there
,
that
Onesimus
(
by
Ignatius
his
testimony
)
so
continued
Bishop
of
Ephesus
,
James
at
Ierusalem
,
and
of
these
errors
,
taxed
by
the
holy
Ghost
,
were
but
for
the
time
,
of
a
shifting
Presidencie
,
why
should
any
one
of
the
momentany
guides
of
the
Churches
be
charged
so
home
,
with
all
the
abuses
of
their
Iurisdiction
?
How
easie
had
it
been
for
him
to
shift
the
fault
,
as
hee
did
the
chair
;
for
how
could
it
concerne
him
more
then
the
next
men
?
surely
,
this
conceit
is
more
worthy
of
pity
,
than
Confutation
.
No
indifferent
Reader
can
looke
upon
that
Scripture
,
and
not
confesse
it
a
strained
Construction
.
Here
then
were
certainly
both
Continuance
,
and
Iurisdiction
.
Wherein
Parker
braves
our
learned
Docter
Field
,
as
relying
meerely
upon
the
proofs
of
humane
authority
:
but
that
worthy
Divine
,
had
he
insisted
upon
the
point
(
which
hee
but
touched
in
the
way
)
could
easily
out
of
the
very
Text
it self
,
have
evicted
the
Angels
power
,
and
Iurisdiction
;
for
how
plain
is
it
,
that
the
Angell
of
Ephesus
had
taken
the
Examination
of
the
counterfeit
Apostles
,
and
found
them
lyers
?
which
,
if
a
meer
Presbyter
had
undertaken
to
do
,
to
bee
sure
,
hee
had
been
shaken
off
with
scorn
enough
.
It
is
imputed
to
the
Angell
of
the
Church
of
Pergamus
,
that
however
himself
,
in
his
own
person
,
held
constant
to
the
Faith
,
yet
that
there
were
those
under
his
charge
,
who
held
the
doctrine
of
Balaam
,
the
beastly
errours
of
the
Nicolaitans
;
lhey
were
of
his
Clergie
that
taught
these
wicked
Doctrines
;
And
for
this
the
Bishop
is
texed
and
menaced
:
how
should
this
be
,
if
he
had
not
had
a
coercive
power
to
restraine
and
punish
them
.
And
more
plainly
;
the
Angell
of
the
Church
of
Thyatyra
,
notwithstanding
all
his
good
parts
,
graces
,
services
,
is
sharply
taxed
:
What
is
his
fault
?
Orthodox
Divines
,
yea
Christians
;
What
warrant
can
we
challenge
for
this
right
,
but
our
Saviours
practise
?
And
with
all
that
speech
of
his
to
his
Disciples
,
Do
this
in
remembrance
of
me
;
Now
if
this
,
Hoc
facite
shall
be
taken
(
as
it
is
by
some
)
as
not
spoken
of
the
Consecration
or
benediction
but
of
the
receit
;
what
warrant
had
the
Apostles
and
all
their
holy
successors
in
the
Church
of
God
,
ever
since
to
enjoyne
and
appropriate
this
sacred
worke
to
none
but
those
that
are
Presbyters
by
Ordination
?
The
receiving
of
Infants
to
holy
Baptisme
is
a
matter
of
so
high
consequence
,
that
we
justly
Brand
our
Catabaptists
with
heresie
,
for
denying
it
;
yet
,
Let
me
with
good
assurance
say
that
the
evidences
,
for
this
truth
,
come
farre
short
of
that
,
which
the
Scriptures
have
afforded
us
for
the
superiority
of
some
Church-governors
over
those
,
who
otherwise
indeed
,
in
a
sole
respect
of
their
ministeriall
function
,
are
equall
.
He
therefore
that
would
upon
pretence
of
want
of
Scriptures
,
quarrell
at
the
divine
Institution
of
Bishops
(
having
so
evident
and
unavoydable
Testimonies
)
might
with
much
better
colour
cavill
at
those
blessed
Ordinances
of
God
,
which
the
whole
Church
hath
thought
her self
bound
upon
sufficient
reason
to
receive
and
reverence
.
§.
8.
The
estate
and
order
of
Episcopacy
deduced
from
the
Apostles
to
the
Primitive
Bishops
.
DId
not
the
holy
Scriptures
yield
unto
these
firme
grounds
,
whereon
to
build
our
Episcopacy
,
in
vain
should
we
plead
the
Tradition
,
and
practise
of
the
Church
,
ever
since
;
for
as
much
as
we
have
to
deal
with
those
,
who
are
equally
disaffected
to
the
name
of
a
Bishop
,
and
to
Tradition
;
and
are
so
fore-stalled
with
their
own
prejudice
,
that
they
are
carried
(
where
Scripture
is
silent
)
to
an
unjust
jealousie
against
the
universall
practise
of
the
whole
Church
of
God
upon
earth
.
But
now
,
when
Christ
and
his
Apostles
give
us
the
text
,
well
may
the
Apostolicall
and
universall
Church
yield
us
the
Commentary
;
And
that
let
me
boldly
say
,
is
so
clear
for
us
,
that
if
our
Opposites
dare
stand
to
this
triall
,
the
day
is
ours
;
their
gultinesse
therfore
would
fain
decline
this
barre
.
Had
there
been
any
sensible
gapp
of
time
betwixt
the
dayes
of
the
Apostles
,
and
the
Ordination
of
Bishops
in
the
Christian
Church
,
we
might
have
had
some
reason
to
suspect
this
Institution
to
have
been
meerly
humane
;
but
now
,
since
it
shall
appeare
that
this
worke
of
erecting
Episcopacy
passed
both
under
the
eies
and
hands
of
those
sacred
Ambassadors
of
Christ
,
who
lived
to
see
their
Episcopall
successors
planted
in
the
severall
regions
of
the
world
,
what
reason
can
any
man
pretend
,
that
this
institution
should
be
any
other
then
Apostolicall
,
had
it
been
otherwise
,
they
lived
to
have
Countermanded
it
.
How
plain
is
that
of
St.
Ambrose
,
Paul
saw
Iames
at
Ierusalem
because
he
was
made
Bishop
of
that
place
by
the
Apostles
:
and
to
the
same
effect
St.
Austin
,
contra
Cresi●n
.
1.
2.
St.
Ierome
,
the
only
Author
amongst
the
ancients
,
who
is
wont
with
any
colour
to
be
alleadged
against
the
right
of
Episcopacy
;
yet
himself
confesseth
that
Bishops
began
in
Alexandria
,
from
Mark
the
Evangelist
,
who
died
sixe
yeers
before
St.
Peter
or
St.
Paul
;
Thirty
five
yeers
before
St.
James
the
Apostle
;
Forty
five
yeers
before
Simon
Cleophas
(
who
succeeded
St.
Iames
in
the
Bishoprick
of
Ierusalem
)
being
the
kinsman
of
our
Saviour
,
Smyrna
;
Timothy
of
Ephesus
;
Titus
of
Crete
,
or
Candia
,
That
Papias
St.
Iohns
Auditor
soon
after
was
made
Bishop
of
Hierapolis
;
Quadratus
a
disciple
of
the
Apostles
,
Bishop
of
Athens
after
Publius
his
martyred
predecessor
.
And
can
we
think
these
men
were
made
Bishops
without
the
knowledge
and
consent
of
the
Apostles
then
living
,
or
with
it
?
without
it
,
we
cannot
say
except
we
will
disparage
both
the
Apostles
care
,
and
power
;
And
withall
,
the
holinesse
of
these
their
successors
who
were
knowne
to
be
Apostolicall
men
,
disciples
of
Christ
,
Companions
of
the
Apostles
,
and
lastly
blessed
Martyrs
;
if
with
it
,
we
have
our
desire
,
what
shall
I
need
to
instance
;
Our
learned
Bilson
hath
cleared
this
point
beyond
all
contradiction
.
In
whom
you
may
please
to
see
out
of
Eusebius
,
Egesippus
,
Socrates
,
Ierom
,
§.
9
The
testimony
and
assent
of
Bucer
,
and
some
famous
French
Divines
.
BY
the
perpetuall
observation
of
the
Church
,
even
from
the
Apostles
themselves
(
saith
Bucer
)
we
see
,
it
seemed
good
to
the
holy
Ghost
,
that
among
the
Presbyters
to
whom
the
charge
of
the
Church
is
specially
committed
,
one
should
have
the
singular
Charge
of
the
Churches
,
and
in
that
Charge
and
Care
,
governed
others
;
for
which
cause
the
name
of
Bishops
was
attributed
to
these
chiefe
Governours
of
the
Church
;
Thus
he
in
full
accord
with
us
.
And
Chamier
when
he
had
first
granted
,
that
statim
post
Apostolorum
excessum
;
immediately
after
the
decease
of
the
Apostles
began
the
difference
between
a
Bishop
and
Presbyter
;
I
do
willingly
take
the
word
of
these
two
famous
professors
of
the
French
Church
;
The
one
sayes
Constitutum
est
,
It
was
constituted
in
the
time
of
the
Apostles
;
the
other
,
that
it
proceeded
from
the
Apostles
themselves
.
If
it
were
constituted
in
their
time
,
and
proceeded
from
them
,
and
were
in
this
name
received
of
all
Churches
,
then
certainly
it
must
be
yielded
to
be
of
Apostolicall
,
that
is
,
divine
Institution
:
More
,
if
it
needed
,
might
be
added
,
and
that
out
of
Chamier's
owne
allegations
;
Thus
much
truth
is
not
grudged
us
by
these
ingenuous
Divines
;
All
the
question
is
,
of
the
nature
and
extent
of
this
Superiority
.
This
difference
there
was
;
but
,
as
that
great
Pancratiast
,
&
others
with
him
,
contend
;
though
many
prerogatives
were
yielded
to
the
Bishop
in
his
place
,
especially
in
the
nobler
Cities
;
yet
this
place
,
§.
10.
The
superiority
and
Iurisdiction
of
Bishops
,
proved
by
the
testimony
of
the
first
Fathers
,
and
Apostolicall
men
;
and
first
of
Clemens
.
AS
for
that
Jurisdiction
which
we
claime
,
and
those
reverend
and
obedient
respects
,
which
we
expect
from
our
Clergy
,
if
they
be
other
than
those
which
were
both
required
and
given
in
the
very
first
times
of
the
Gospell
,
under
the
Apostles
themselves
,
and
of
those
whom
they
immediatly
intrusted
with
the
government
of
the
Church
,
let
us
be
hissed
out
from
among
Christians
.
For
proof
of
this
right
then
,
whom
should
I
rather
begin
with
,
after
the
Apostles
,
than
an
Apostolicall
man
,
a
copartner
,
and
a
deare
familiar
of
the
two
prime
Apostles
St.
Peter
and
St.
Paul
,
I
mean
Clemens
,
whom
St.
Paul
mentions
honourably
in
his
Epistle
to
the
Philippians
,
Clemens
Alexandrinus
enstyles
no
lesse
than
an
Apostle
of
so
great
reputation
in
the
Church
,
that
as
Ierome
tells
us
,
he
was
by
some
reputed
the
pen-man
of
the
holy
Epistle
to
the
Hebrews
;
and
that
learned
Father
findes
the
face
of
his
style
alike
,
if
not
the
same
:
you
looke
now
,
that
I
should
produce
some
blowne
ware
out
of
the
pack
of
his
Recognitions
,
or
Apostolicall
Constitutions
;
but
I
shall
deceive
you
;
And
urge
a
Testimony
from
that
worthy
and
Apostolike
Author
,
which
was
never
yet
soyled
,
so
much
as
with
any
pen
,
either
in
Citation
,
or
much
lesse
in
Contradiction
:
of
venerable
and
unquestionable
authority
,
It
is
of
that
noble
and
holy
Epistle
of
his
,
which
he
wrote
to
the
Corinthians
upon
the
occasion
of
those
quarrels
,
which
were
,
it
seemes
,
on
foot
in
St.
Paul's
time
,
and
still
continued
,
Emulation
and
side-takings
amongst
,
and
against
their
teachers
,
which
belike
proceeded
so
farre
,
as
to
the
ejecting
of
their
Bishop
,
and
Presbyters
,
out
of
their
places
;
He
gravely
taxes
them
with
this
kinde
of
Spirituall
conspiracy
;
and
advises
them
to
keepe
their
own
stations
.
For
which
purpose
,
having
laid
before
them
the
history
of
Aarons
rod
budding
,
and
thereby
,
the
miraculous
confirmation
of
his
election
,
he
addes
,
And
our
Apostles
knowing
by
our
Lord
Jesus
Christ
,
the
contention
that
would
arise
(
〈◊〉
〈◊〉
〈◊〉
〈◊〉
〈◊〉
)
about
the
name
of
Episcopacy
,
and
they
,
The
testimony
is
so
clear
,
that
I
well
foresee
,
you
will
be
not
a
little
pinched
with
it
;
and
desirous
to
give
your selfe
ease
;
And
which
way
can
you
doe
it
?
perhaps
you
will
be
quarrelling
with
the
authority
and
antiquity
of
the
Epistle
;
But
this
yron
is
too
hot
for
you
to
take
up
;
It
hath
too
much
warrant
in
the
innate
simplicity
of
it
,
and
too
much
testimony
from
the
ancient
Fathers
of
the
Church
,
for
any
adversary
to
contradict
:
Though
it
could
come
but
lately
to
our
hands
,
yet
we
know
long
since
that
it
had
the
attestation
of
Iustin
Martyr
,
of
Irenaeus
,
who
calls
it
〈◊〉
〈◊〉
〈◊〉
〈◊〉
〈◊〉
,
of
Clemens
Alexandrinus
,
of
Origen
,
of
Cyrill
,
of
Ierusalem
,
of
Photius
,
who
tearms
it
〈◊〉
〈◊〉
〈◊〉
〈◊〉
〈◊〉
,
a
very
worthy
Epistle
;
of
Ierome
,
who
tearms
it
valde
utilem
,
a
very
profitable
Epistle
,
and
tells
us
that
it
was
of
old
publikely
read
,
as
authenticall
,
in
Churches
,
and
that
in
the
Character
of
it
,
it
much
resembles
that
to
the
Hebrews
;
This
noble
monument
(
that
you
may
not
doubt
how
it
came
so
late
to
our
hands
)
was
by
Cyrill
the
late
worthy
Patriarch
of
Constantinople
,
sent
out
of
his
Library
of
Alexandria
,
whence
he
removed
to
our
gracious
Soveraign
of
Great
Brittain
,
for
a
precious
Present
;
as
that
,
which
was
by
the
hand
of
S.
Tecla
her self
,
transcribed
,
and
placed
at
the
end
of
the
old
,
and
new
Testament
,
fairely
by
her
written
in
the
same
Character
:
A
Present
worth
too
much
Gold
;
And
if
any
man
do
yet
misdoubt
,
his
eyes
may
informe
him
by
the
view
of
it
,
in
so
well
,
his
Majesties
Library
,
where
it
is
kept
,
and
(
out
of
a
desire
of
more
publique
good
)
was
lately
set
forth
by
the
learned
searcher
of
Antiquities
,
Mr.
Patrick
Yong
,
the
worthy
Keeper
of
his
Majesties
Library
.
But
if
any
man
shall
hope
to
elude
this
Testimony
;
by
taking
advantage
of
the
only
mention
of
Presbyters
and
Deacons
in
the
foregoing
passages
,
let
him
know
,
this
was
onely
according
to
the
occasion
of
the
writing
of
that
Epistle
;
and
withall
,
let
him
consider
who
wrote
it
:
Even
Clement
,
Bishop
of
Rome
(
whether
the
first
(
as
some
of
the
ancient
)
or
,
the
third
,
(
as
others
)
after
Saint
Peter
(
a
difference
not
hard
to
be
reconciled
)
and
therefore
how
little
danger
there
is
of
his
favouring
a
parity
in
that
sacred
Administration
.
§.
11.
The
pregnant
and
full
testimonies
of
the
holy
Saint
and
Martyr
Ignatius
urged
.
AFter
him
,
what
better
and
more
convincing
authority
can
we
appeal
unto
,
than
that
of
holy
Ignatius
,
the
famous
Martyr
of
Christ
,
whose
memory
is
justly
precious
to
the
whole
Church
of
God
,
to
this
very
present
age
,
that
Miracle
of
Martyrs
,
who
called
his
fetters
,
Christ's
chains
of
Spirituall
pearls
;
who
(
when
he
was
to
be
throwne
to
the
wilde
beasts
for
the
profession
of
Christ
)
could
boast
,
I
am
,
said
he
,
Christ's
Wheat
;
Oh
let
me
be
ground
with
the
teeth
of
wilde
beasts
,
that
may
be
found
pure
bread
for
my
God
;
make
much
of
these
wilde
beasts
,
that
they
may
become
my
Sepulcher
,
that
nothing
my
be
left
of
my
body
,
&c.
I
had
rather
dye
for
Christ
,
then
raigne
over
the
whole
world
.
This
blessded
Saint
in
all
those
confessedly-genuine
Epistles
,
which
he
wrote
,
Seaven
in
number
,
still
so
beats
upon
this
point
,
(
as
if
religion
depended
upon
it
)
Reverence
and
Obedience
to
their
Bishops
.
This
man
lived
in
the
dayes
of
the
Apostles
,
conversed
with
them
,
and
in
likely-hood
saw
Christ
in
the
flesh
,
being
martyred
in
the
Eleventh
yeere
of
Trajan
,
according
to
Baronius
,
and
therefore
throughly
acquainted
with
the
state
of
Gods
Church
in
the
Apostles
time
,
and
his
own
;
and
should
in
this
name
be
more
to
us
then
a
thousand
witnesses
;
Eevery
word
of
his
,
is
worthy
to
carry
our
hearts
along
with
him
;
Heare
then
,
what
he
saith
in
his
Epistle
,
ad
Trallianos
;
Be
subject
to
your
Bishop
,
as
to
the
Lord
,
for
he
watcheth
for
your
soules
;
And
streight
,
Necessary
it
is
,
that
whatsoever
ye
doe
,
ye
should
doe
nothing
without
your
Bishop
;
But
be
ye
subject
also
to
your
Priests
,
as
to
the
Apostles
of
Christ
.
See
what
a
distance
here
is
;
whereas
other
of
the
Fathers
compare
the
Bishops
to
the
Apostles
,
Presbyters
to
the
70
disciples
;
this
man
advanceth
his
patterne
higher
,
requiring
obedience
to
Bishops
,
as
to
Christ
,
to
Presbyters
,
as
to
the
Apostles
:
And
what
proportion
is
there
betwixt
the
respects
we
owe
to
God
and
to
man
.
And
a
while
after
yet
higher
.
The
Bishop
,
saith
he
,
And
lest
any
man
should
construe
these
words
to
sound
onely
of
a
generality
of
reverent
respects
,
without
yeelding
of
any
power
of
command
;
Soone
after
,
he
speaks
home
,
for
what
other
,
saith
he
,
is
a
Bishop
,
then
he
that
is
superiour
to
all
principality
and
power
,
What
say
ye
now
to
this
,
ye
Patrons
of
Paritie
in
Church-government
?
How
do
yee
think
your
opinion
consorts
with
this
blessed
Saint
,
the
holy
partner
of
the
Apostles
?
Here
ye
have
the
three
distinct
Orders
of
Bishops
,
Priests
,
or
Presbyters
,
and
Deacons
:
Here
you
have
a
cleare
,
and
constant
Superiority
of
Bishops
,
above
Priests
,
with
no
lesse
difference
then
betweene
a
Prince
and
his
Councell-bord
;
above
Deacons
,
no
lesse
then
betweene
a
Prince
and
his
attendants
;
And
this
,
delivered
according
to
the
received
judgement
and
practise
of
the
Primitive
Church
;
The
testimony
is
too
pregnant
to
be
eluded
;
And
yet
wel-fare
a
friend
in
a
corner
:
Nico
:
Vedelius
;
because
he
sees
the
witnesse
so
cleare
,
that
he
cannot
be
shifted
off
,
charge
him
with
corruption
,
and
subordination
,
pretending
that
sure
these
words
are
foysted
in
,
he
knows
not
how
,
into
the
Text
;
we
are
yet
beholding
to
him
for
asserting
the
truth
,
and
legitimation
of
these
seven
Epistles
of
our
Martyr
,
which
Coke
,
and
Parker
,
and
Antitilenus
;
being
netled
with
their
unavoydable
evidences
,
durst
cry
downe
for
bastardy
;
whom
I
leave
to
be
throughly
Schooled
by
Chamier
,
Rivitus
,
Nic.
Vedel
.
Amonst
the
rest
,
it
is
remarkable
,
that
the
very
same
sentence
that
hee
cites
for
his
defence
out
of
Chrysostome
,
cuts
his
throat
:
then
their
praefecture
(
speaking
of
the
Apostle's
Bishop
)
was
not
an
honour
,
but
a
provident
care
for
those
whom
they
ruled
over
.
Lo
here
was
a
praefecture
first
,
and
then
here
are
〈◊〉
〈◊〉
〈◊〉
〈◊〉
〈◊〉
,
which
implyes
〈◊〉
〈◊〉
〈◊〉
〈◊〉
〈◊〉
,
a
rule
not
alluding
to
the
abuses
of
his
owne
time
(
as
Vedelius
,
poorely
)
but
to
the
Apostles
,
in
whom
honour
did
well
agree
with
care
;
was
there
ever
man
that
denyed
Apostle-ship
to
be
an
honour
?
much
lesse
,
holy
Chrysostome
:
The
Fathers
meaning
plainly
is
,
that
the
Apostles
did
not
stand
so
much
upon
their
own
honour
,
as
the
care
of
their
charge
,
as
what
good
Bishop
doth
otherwise
?
In
the
meane
time
,
here
is
an
(
〈◊〉
〈◊〉
〈◊〉
〈◊〉
〈◊〉
)
a
rule
,
implyed
in
that
Testimony
,
which
is
brought
to
impugne
it
;
for
Ignatius
,
his
passage
,
is
as
undoubted
as
his
Epistle
,
and
the
Bishops
power
is
not
〈◊〉
〈◊〉
〈◊〉
〈◊〉
〈◊〉
,
onely
which
Vedelius
could
yeeld
,
but
〈◊〉
〈◊〉
〈◊〉
〈◊〉
〈◊〉
.
And
what
need
Vedelius
to
stand
upon
this
terme
,
when
Chamier
himselfe
so
fully
yeelds
it
.
What
will
our
refractaries
say
to
this
,
who
affect
to
make
head
against
their
Bishops
,
yea
not
onely
suffer
him
to
do
nothing
without
them
,
but
suffer
him
to
do
nothing
at
all
,
yea
suffer
him
not
to
be
:
Oh
God!
if
thy
blessed
Martyr
Ignatius
now
lived
,
and
saw
these
insolencies
,
how
would
he
thinke
himselfe
falne
amongst
more
fierce
beasts
,
than
those
which
were
prepared
for
him
!
In
his
third
Epistle
to
the
Phyladelphians
;
So
many
,
saith
he
,
as
are
Christs
,
are
for
the
Bishop
,
and
those
that
decline
from
him
,
and
take
part
with
the
accurst
,
they
shall
be
cut
off
together
:
And
not
long
after
in
the
same
Epistle
,
in
Christ
saith
he
,
there
is
neither
bond
nor
free
;
Let
the
Princes
,
or
chiefe
governours
obey
Caesar
:
Let
the
souldiers
obey
their
chiefe
governours
;
Let
the
Deacons
and
the
rest
of
the
Clergie
,
with
all
the
people
,
souldiers
,
governours
,
and
Caesar
himselfe
obey
their
Bishop
:
Let
the
Bishop
obey
Christ
,
as
Christ
obeyed
his
Father
,
and
thus
shall
Vnity
be
conserved
in
all
things
:
Thus
he
.
Now
comes
in
Nic:
Videlius
,
and
seconding
Scultetus
,
cries
out
of
manifest
interpolation
;
I
wish
I
had
leisure
in
this
place
,
to
follow
him
home
,
he
is
out
of
my
way
,
yet
I
must
step
aside
to
him
a
little
;
And
what
,
and
where
,
then
is
this
so
open
fraud
,
in
foysting
in
this
clause
of
Ignatius
?
Caesar
was
then
no
Christian
.
In
vaine
should
the
true
Ignatius
have
charged
Caesar
to
obey
the
Bishop
.
weakly
objected
,
for
as
Maestraeus
answers
him
well
:
The
Martyr
tels
us
what
should
be
done
,
not
what
was
.
It
is
true
that
the
greatest
Monarchs
of
the
world
,
even
those
,
whose
vassals
we
confesse
our selves
in
temporall
respects
,
yet
in
Spirituall
reguards
,
ought
to
submit
their
soules
to
our
government
,
or
rather
to
Gods
in
us
.
But
Ignatius
admonisheth
Christians
,
not
heathen
of
their
duty
.
Weake
still
!
His
amonition
is
universall
,
though
directed
to
Philadelphians
,
and
those
men
which
were
now
Ethnicks
,
might
prove
Christians
.
The
rules
must
not
vary
with
the
persons
;
But
,
it
would
have
been
scandalous
,
especially
in
those
times
,
to
exhort
an
Heathen
Emperour
,
to
submit
himself
to
a
Christian
;
still
alike
;
what
scandall
more
in
this
,
than
in
the
rest
of
the
doctrine
of
the
Gospell
,
which
in
the
mouthes
of
all
faithfull
Preachers
,
requires
Princes
to
yield
their
necks
to
the
yoke
of
Christ
?
Why
more
then
;
Go
tell
that
Foxe
?
And
the
Non
licet
,
of
the
Baptist
to
Herod
?
why
more
than
the
bold
speeches
of
the
Martyred
Saints
to
their
heathen
persecutors
?
Why
more
than
of
that
Christian
Bishop
to
Julian
;
of
Chrysostomus
to
Eudoxia
why
more
than
the
high
language
of
Valentinian
and
Trajan
to
Valens
,
and
hundreds
other
of
this
kinde
?
Yet
again
therefore
hear
what
our
St.
Ignatius
sayes
in
the
same
Epistle
;
Our
Martyr
goes
on
:
In
his
Epistle
to
those
of
Smyrna
he
is
,
Let
all
things
,
saith
he
,
be
done
to
the
honour
of
God
:
give
regard
to
your
Bishop
as
God
to
you
.
In
his
Epistle
to
the
Ephesians
,
magnifying
their
Bishop
Onesimus
,
he
charges
them
to
give
all
respects
to
him
,
and
addes
,
Ye
ought
to
look
upon
your
Bishop
,
as
upon
God
himself
,
since
he
waits
upon
the
Lord
,
and
serves
him
.
And
towards
the
end
,
Following
the
holy
Ghost
for
your
guide
,
obeying
your
Bishop
,
and
the
company
of
Presbyters
,
with
an
intire
heart
,
&c.
What
shall
we
think
of
all
this
?
was
not
St.
Ignatius
see'd
to
speak
on
the
Bishops
side
;
Or
how
would
these
words
have
sounded
in
the
late
Assemblies
of
Glasco
and
Edinborough
?
Are
we
more
holy
than
he
?
Is
the
truth
the
same
it
was
,
or
is
the
alteration
on
our
part
?
All
these
have
been
large
and
full
Testimonies
of
the
acknowledged
superiority
of
Bishops
,
and
of
the
high
respects
that
are
,
and
were
ever
due
to
these
prime
governours
of
the
Church
:
But
if
any
man
think
these
came
not
yet
home
to
the
point
,
let
him
cast
his
eye
back
upon
the
first
Epistle
ad
Trallianos
,
and
mark
well
what
he
saith
:
where
having
reckoned
up
the
three
(
so
oft
mentioned
Orders
)
of
Bishops
,
Presbyters
and
Deacons
,
he
addes
;
Without
these
,
there
is
no
elect
Church
,
without
these
,
no
holy
Congregation
,
no
assembly
of
Saints
;
And
I
perswade
my self
that
you
also
are
of
the
same
minde
;
Lo
here
,
words
which
no
Vedelius
can
carp
at
as
interpolated
,
imposing
such
a
necessity
of
the
being
of
these
three
severall
Orders
in
Gods
Church
,
that
it
cannot
be
right
without
them
.
I
see
and
pity
his
shuffling
,
In
the
mean
time
,
I
wish
,
with
learned
Bishop
Andrews
,
those
Churches
where
they
are
missing
,
that
happinesse
,
which
now
to
our
grief
,
and
I
hope
theirs
,
they
are
forced
to
want
.
I
have
dwelt
long
with
blessed
Ignatius
,
where
could
I
be
better
?
That
one
Author
is
in
stead
of
many
;
why
should
I
not
boldly
say
,
if
besides
the
divine
Scriptures
,
there
were
no
other
testimony
but
this
one
Saints
,
it
were
abundantly
enough
to
carry
this
Cause
;
and
I
must
wonder
at
any
man
,
who
confessing
Ignatius
to
have
been
so
holy
a
Bishop
,
so
faithfull
a
Martyr
,
so
true
a
Saint
,
can
stick
at
a
Truth
so
often
,
so
confidently
,
so
zealously
,
recommended
by
him
to
the
world
;
For
me
let
my
soul
go
with
his
,
let
his
faith
be
mine
,
and
let
me
rather
trust
one
Ignatius
,
than
ten
thousand
Cartwrights
,
Parkers
,
Ameses
,
or
any
other
their
ignorant
and
Male-contented
followers
.
Tell
me
now
,
my
dear
brethren
,
tell
me
in
good
eanest
,
Do
you
not
think
this
Ignatius
a
likely
man
to
build
up
the
kingdome
of
Antichrist
?
were
not
these
shoulders
fit
for
the
supportation
of
that
man
of
sin
?
Away
with
these
absurd
and
wicked
fancies
:
and
if
this
charge
of
his
were
holy
and
Apostolicall
,
wherein
he
requires
us
to
honour
our
Bishops
,
as
the
Lord
himself
,
whom
they
serve
and
represent
;
what
doom
do
you
suppose
would
he
have
passed
upon
those
,
who
(
as
such
)
abhorre
them
,
and
eject
them
as
Devills
.
I
cannot
without
horrour
think
of
either
the
act
or
the
issue
§.
12.
The
testimony
of
the
Ancient
Canons
,
called
the
Apostles
.
YEt
perhaps
if
Ignatius
went
alone
,
he
might
herein
incurre
some
suspicion
;
now
all
antiquity
is
with
him
,
never
any
ancient
Author
said
otherwise
:
We
will
begin
with
those
Canons
which
are
instyled
(
〈◊〉
〈◊〉
〈◊〉
〈◊〉
〈◊〉
)
of
the
holy
and
most
venerable
Apostles
;
Surely
if
not
theirs
,
yet
of
some
Apostolicall
men
,
near
to
their
times
,
worthy
even
for
their
age
and
authority
to
be
reverenced
of
all
Christians
,
as
the
most
credible
witnesses
of
the
state
of
those
Primitive
times
.
In
them
(
besides
the
note
of
professed
distance
)
betwixt
the
Bishops
and
Presbyters
proclaimed
in
every
Chapter
)
there
are
those
which
do
imply
a
power
and
Iurisdiction
,
as
Can
:
15.
Hear
this
now
,
ye
that
pretend
there
is
so
much
difference
betwixt
the
state
of
our
Bishops
,
and
the
Primitive
;
What
do
we
challenge
more
than
the
Apostolike
Canons
injoyn
,
what
do
they
prescribe
lesse
than
we
challenge
?
There
is
a
power
over
the
Clergie
;
a
power
of
disposing
them
to
generall
stations
,
a
power
of
deposing
,
or
sequestring
them
(
upon
just
demerits
)
from
those
charges
;
a
power
not
to
over-see
only
,
but
to
regulate
their
Clergie
;
a
power
to
manage
all
Ecclesiasticall
affairs
;
and
if
this
be
no
rule
no
Jurisdiction
,
we
claim
none
.
Certainly
,
no
wit
of
man
can
devise
any
Evasion
here
,
but
by
exception
at
the
credit
of
the
Evidence
;
Loud
clamours
are
raised
of
their
Counterfaysance
;
Rather
than
fail
,
Pope
Gelasius
himself
is
brought
in
to
disprove
these
Canons
,
as
Apocryphall
;
And
they
that
do
most
eagarly
cry
the
Pope
down
,
for
the
Antichrist
,
are
readiest
to
plead
his
authority
against
their
brethren
:
Not
considering
the
Pope
herein
(
Vafer
Afer
)
as
Fregevill
justly
calls
him
,
drave
his
own
Plough
;
for
nothing
could
more
cut
him
in
the
affectation
of
his
Supremacy
,
than
those
Canons
,
which
therefore
it
is
no
marvell
if
he
disparage
.
The
truth
is
,
whereas
there
are
85
of
those
Canons
,
in
more
than
one
Edition
,
50
of
them
are
most
ancient
and
legitimate
,
the
other
35
later
and
Superious
.
With
this
distinction
Binius
answers
the
censure
of
his
Pope
;
The
50
first
,
saith
he
,
are
received
as
authenticall
,
by
the
ancient
Popes
,
Councels
,
Fathers
,
as
containing
Orthodox
doctrine
;
The
other
later
are
condemned
by
Gelasius
.
Indeed
such
age
and
worth
plead
for
the
first
ranke
,
Nice
,
Gangra
and
Antioch
,
not
without
the
very
Appellation
of
Apostolicall
;
The
like
afterwards
done
by
the
Councels
of
Constantinople
,
Ephesus
,
Chalcedon
,
Orleans
,
Cabilon
;
There
he
shall
finde
them
cited
(
for
such
)
with
approbation
of
Eusebius
,
Socrates
,
Theodoret
,
Sozomen
;
There
he
shall
finde
that
Aurelius
,
Bishop
of
Carthage
made
use
of
these
Canons
as
the
Test
whereby
to
examine
the
Roman
Popes
decrees
;
that
by
these
the
African
Fathers
repelled
the
Popes
Tyrannicall
Usurpation
;
but
what
shall
I
need
to
urge
these
Attestations
,
when
Calvin
himself
,
and
Chamier
,
§.
13
The
state
and
History
of
the
next
age
.
AS
touching
the
state
of
this
truth
in
the
age
next
succeeding
,
how
easie
were
it
to
accumulate
histories
to
make
it
good
?
Marianus
Scotus
,
who
tells
us
,
That
the
Apostle
Peter
directed
Eucharius
one
of
the
70
,
with
Valerius
and
Maternus
,
to
preach
the
Gospel
in
Germany
and
France
;
And
that
Eucharius
planting
a
Church
in
Treners
,
held
the
Bishoprick
of
that
City
23
yeers
,
viz.
Peter
and
Paul
,
founding
and
furnishing
the
Church
(
of
Rome
)
delivered
the
Episcopacy
of
the
Government
of
that
Church
to
Linus
;
Of
this
Linus
,
Paul
makes
mention
in
those
Epistles
he
wrote
to
Timothy
;
Anacletus
succeeded
him
:
In
the
third
place
Clemens
,
after
him
took
that
Bishoprick
,
who
both
saw
the
Apostles
themselves
,
and
had
Conference
with
them
&c.
After
this
Clement
,
succeeded
Evaristus
;
after
Evaristus
,
Alexander
,
and
after
him
,
Sixtus
was
made
the
sixth
Bishop
from
the
Apostles
;
and
after
him
Telesphorus
,
who
most
gloriously
suffered
Martyrdome
;
after
him
Higinus
,
then
Pius
,
and
after
him
Amicetus
;
and
after
that
Soter
had
succeeded
Amicetus
,
now
in
the
twelfth
place
from
the
Apostles
,
Eleutherius
possesseth
the
Bishoprick
;
And
soon
after
he
addeth
(
a
passage
which
I
cannot
pretermit
)
And
Polycarpus
,
saith
he
,
was
not
only
taught
by
the
Apostles
,
and
conversed
with
many
of
them
who
saw
our
Lord
Christ
,
but
also
was
by
the
Apostles
made
Bishop
in
Asia
,
in
that
Church
which
is
at
Smyrna
,
whom
we
our selves
saw
in
our
yonger
age
,
for
he
lasted
long
,
and
being
very
old
,
he
most
nobly
and
gloriously
suffering
Martyrdome
,
passed
out
of
this
life
!
Lo
here
was
but
one
ages
difference
.
Polycapus
saw
,
and
conversed
with
the
Apostles
,
Irenaeus
saw
Polycarpus
;
by
their
hands
was
he
ordained
Bishop
,
constantly
lived
and
dyed
a
Martyr
in
that
holy
function
.
Tertullian
was
not
much
below
Irenaeus
in
age
,
not
at
all
below
him
in
the
clearnesse
of
his
suffrage
,
§.
14.
The
confessed
Superiority
of
Bishops
,
from
severall
arguments
out
of
Antiquity
.
ANd
here
in
the
first
place
it
is
well
worthy
to
weigh
much
with
us
,
that
all
antiquity
makes
Bishops
the
successors
of
the
Apostles
.
The
testimonies
of
Irenaeus
,
Tertullian
,
Cyprian
,
Basil
,
Theodoret
,
Hierome
,
Ambrose
,
Augustine
,
Sidonius
,
and
others
,
are
so
familiarly
quoted
by
all
Writers
,
that
I
shall
not
need
to
urge
them
.
In
the
next
,
those
titles
of
superiority
and
Jurisdiction
,
which
are
giuen
by
all
antiquity
to
Bishops
above
Presbyters
,
Ignatius
;
Principes
sacerdotum
in
Ambrose
;
the
same
with
〈◊〉
〈◊〉
〈◊〉
〈◊〉
〈◊〉
in
Dionysius
;
An
order
generative
of
other
Fathers
,
as
Epiphanius
.
They
have
an
(
〈◊〉
〈◊〉
〈◊〉
〈◊〉
〈◊〉
)
given
them
by
the
Councell
of
Carthage
,
Excelsiorem
gradum
by
Jerome
,
〈◊〉
〈◊〉
〈◊〉
〈◊〉
〈◊〉
,
by
the
Councell
of
Constantinople
;
eminence
of
oversight
by
the
Councell
of
Sardica
:
Incomparably
eminent
Apostleship
by
Sidonius
Apollinaris
;
Excellent
dignity
and
authority
by
the
Councell
of
Constantinople
in
Trullo
.
〈◊〉
〈◊〉
〈◊〉
〈◊〉
〈◊〉
,
Concil.
Antioch
.
c.
25.
It
were
easie
to
be
tedious
in
this
kinde
:
If
now
the
Bishops
of
this
Island
challenge
no
more
than
is
given
to
those
Church-governours
of
the
Primitive
times
,
certainly
either
they
must
be
condemned
,
or
not
justified
.
In
the
third
place
it
will
easily
be
made
to
appear
,
that
in
all
the
passages
of
Fathers
and
Councels
,
the
Presbyters
are
called
,
the
Bishops
Presbyters
.
Indeed
how
should
it
be
otherwise
?
Iraenaeus
,
Timotheus
and
Macarius
to
have
been
Athanasius
his
Presbyters
;
by
the
same
token
that
Timotheus
(
a
grave
and
reverend
personage
)
as
the
history
reports
(
wittily
and
justly
took
off
a
foul
aspersion
from
his
innocent
and
honoured
Diocesan
)
The
Deputies
of
Silvester
in
the
Councell
of
Nice
,
were
his
Presbyters
:
Thus
Crispio
is
named
Epiphanius
his
Arch-deacon
;
Heraclides
to
have
been
Chrysostome's
Deacon
;
It
were
easie
to
fill
up
pages
out
of
Eusebius
alone
with
such
instances
.
§.
15.
Power
of
Ordination
only
in
Bishops
.
BUt
in
the
fourth
place
the
severall
acts
that
were
appropriated
to
the
Bishops
alone
,
by
the
universall
consent
of
all
times
,
do
more
than
sufficiently
evince
their
acknowledged
superiority
;
wherein
even
those
Testimonies
,
which
are
wont
to
be
alleadged
against
us
,
do
directly
plead
for
us
.
Hierome
himself
can
say
,
Excepta
ordinatione
;
and
Chrysostome
(
who
is
cited
for
〈◊〉
〈◊〉
〈◊〉
〈◊〉
〈◊〉
)
can
yet
adde
〈◊〉
〈◊〉
〈◊〉
〈◊〉
〈◊〉
.
Only
in
laying
on
of
hands
Bishops
go
beyond
them
.
Neither
is
this
any
sleight
difference
,
or
despicable
priviledge
;
but
such
as
implyes
a
manifest
Superiority
(
as
Ambrose
justly
inferreth
)
and
a
clear
distinction
of
Order
:
Hands
were
imposed
in
the
Church
of
old
,
for
more
than
one
purpose
.
In
absolution
for
the
penitent's
reconciliation
to
God
and
the
Church
:
In
Confirmation
for
the
increase
of
Grace
upon
the
baptized
:
In
Ordination
for
the
blessing
,
Aegypt
;
Ischiras
himself
is
convented
,
his
Ordination
examined
,
and
he
found
to
be
no
Presbyter
,
because
only
ordained
by
a
Presbyter
;
he
is
sent
away
without
remedy
,
with
a
devestitute
from
his
pretended
Orders
,
and
together
with
all
his
fellows
,
turned
down
to
the
Laick
form
.
Tales
merito
&c.
Those
men
are
worthy
to
be
discarded
,
because
they
were
wrongfully
made
:
What
need
I
presse
the
history
of
Musaeus
,
and
Eutichianus
,
whose
Ordinations
were
also
in
this
manner
rescinded
,
and
nullified
by
the
Councell
of
Sardica
;
Or
that
of
the
great
Councell
of
Constantinople
concerning
Maximus
,
or
,
out
of
Sozomon
,
the
proceedings
against
Elpidius
,
Eustathius
,
Basilius
,
Eleusius
,
for
their
mis-ordination
of
Presbyters
;
this
peculiar
act
was
a
thing
so
universally
both
granted
to
,
and
practised
by
Bishops
,
that
in
vain
shall
we
search
through
all
antiquity
,
for
an
instance
of
any
regular
performance
to
the
contrary
.
Neither
can
the
opposites
hope
to
finde
shelter
under
that
noted
text
of
St.
Pauls
to
Timothy
;
Anselme
,
Haimo
,
Lyra
,
and
others
;
referring
it
to
the
gift
,
not
to
the
hands
:
whose
reason
also
is
more
strong
than
his
authority
:
For
if
Timothy
were
ordained
by
a
Presbytery
,
then
by
more
than
one
:
but
St.
Paul
in
another
place
saith
,
that
his
hands
(
and
no
other
)
were
imposed
on
Timothy
:
And
if
more
hands
were
required
to
this
service
,
it
had
been
as
easie
for
the
Apostles
to
have
encharged
it
upon
the
Presbytery
,
as
upon
Timothy
.
Little
did
Calvin
think
of
the
double
Presbytery
of
Tileno-mastix
,
§.
16.
Power
of
Jurisdiction
appropriated
to
the
Bishops
from
the
first
.
THus
for
Ordination
the
case
is
plain
;
I
speak
it
confidently
,
it
is
more
plaine
(
if
more
may
be
)
for
power
of
Jurisdiction
;
It
is
for
a
Timothy
or
Titus
(
Bishops
)
to
receive
accusations
against
Presbyters
,
or
to
reject
them
;
not
for
one
Presbyter
against
another
;
It
is
the
charge
laid
upon
Presbyters
by
more
than
one
ancient
Councell
,
or
single
Father
,
to
do
nothing
at
all
without
the
consent
(
〈◊〉
〈◊〉
〈◊〉
〈◊〉
〈◊〉
)
of
the
Bishop
.
We
have
heard
it
from
holy
Ignatius
,
and
from
the
Apostolike
Canons
;
we
may
hear
it
(
when
we
please
)
from
the
holy
Martyr
St.
Cyprian
,
Mucro
Episcopi
(
for
as
for
that
giddy
conceit
of
the
whole
Churches
interposition
and
act
,
Alexander
;
Eutyches
,
by
his
Diocesan
:
So
the
holy
Martyr
Cyprian
in
that
famous
Epistle
to
R
gatianus
,
tells
him
,
That
he
being
a
Bishop
,
and
abused
by
his
Deacon
,
might
by
the
vigour
of
Episcopacy
,
and
Authority
of
his
chair
,
proceed
in
censure
of
such
Contumacy
;
and
advises
(
if
the
offender
hold
on
)
to
exercise
upon
him
potestatim
honoris
,
the
power
of
his
honour
,
and
either
to
depose
,
or
excommunicate
him
:
And
yet
who
dares
say
that
our
blessed
Martyr
was
proudly
Tyrannicall
,
and
not
holily
zealous
in
observation
of
lawfull
discipline
?
And
lastly
(
for
it
were
easie
to
be
tedious
in
particularities
)
the
ancient
Canon
of
Apostles
(
32
)
to
this
purpose
is
recited
and
ratified
by
two
Councels
,
Hitherto
we
have
clearly
deduced
the
superiority
of
Bishops
above
the
other
Clergie
,
and
the
power
of
their
Jurisdiction
from
Christ
and
his
Apostles
,
and
conveyed
it
through
the
constant
practise
of
the
Primitive
Church
,
since
which
time
no
adversary
doubteth
of
it
.
§.
17.
Exceptions
against
our
Episcopacy
answered
;
and
particularly
of
the
dissimilitude
of
our
Bishops
from
the
Primitive
;
especially
in
their
pomp
and
perpetuity
.
BUt
two
main
exceptions
are
taken
at
our
Episcopacy
,
wherein
it
is
pretended
,
there
is
an
utter
dissimilitude
betwixt
the
anciently
acknowledged
superiority
and
ours
:
The
one
is
perpetuity
,
the
other
,
Lordlinesse
;
In
both
which
regards
,
Parker
,
(
according
to
his
loud
langua●e
)
sayes
,
there
is
as
much
likenesse
betwixt
the
English
Episcopacy
and
the
ancient
,
as
betwixt
light
and
darknesse
.
For
both
these
briefly
.
That
there
is
and
must
needs
be
a
superiority
of
some
Pastors
aboue
others
,
Beza
himself
cannot
deny
(
who
makes
the
7
Angels
〈◊〉
〈◊〉
〈◊〉
〈◊〉
〈◊〉
)
neither
indeed
can
there
be
any
government
without
it
;
D●●●
ham
.
the
governour
of
his
brethren
;
the
action
ended
,
and
his
course
finished
,
returnes
to
his
old
forme
,
with
a
sumus
ergo
pares
.
And
was
this
the
inequality
of
the
Church-governours
in
the
Primitive
times
?
Was
this
the
forme
of
the
Regiment
and
Presidency
of
the
Primitive
Bishops
?
Blessed
God!
Where
was
this
monster
of
opinion
formed
?
Who
ever
read
or
heard
of
such
a
course
of
Administration
,
from
the
beginning
of
Gods
Church
upon
earth
,
untill
this
present
age
?
And
yet
these
men
,
the
better
to
guilde
their
upstart
fancies
to
the
eyes
of
the
vulgar
,
dare
thus
confidently
obtrude
it
upon
the
Primitive
times
.
Did
not
James
,
Ignatius
Polycarpus
,
and
all
those
noted
Successors
,
in
their
severall
charges
,
live
and
die
Bishops
there
?
Do
not
all
the
Subscriptions
of
Councels
,
all
histories
that
ever
were
in
the
Church
,
testifie
so
much
?
was
there
ever
any
Writer
(
but
any
one
)
that
hath
given
intimation
(
but
bare
intimation
)
of
any
such
shifting
of
Church-governours
(
for
that
mistaken
allegation
of
St.
Ambrose
is
justly
hissed
out
of
all
Countenance
.
)
Did
ever
the
man
fall
into
any
kinde
of
mention
,
that
once
practis'd
it
?
And
shall
grave
Divines
give
themselves
liberty
to
dream
of
such
strange
Chimaericall
devices
,
and
then
(
meerly
to
get
glory
to
themselves
,
and
strength
to
their
own
fancie●
)
so
boldly
obtrude
them
upon
Gods
Church
for
good
Law
,
and
as
highly
tending
to
Gods
glory
?
If
we
do
not
finde
among
the
ancient
so
direct
contradictions
to
this
conceit
,
we
must
impute
it
to
this
,
that
they
did
not
suppose
so
impossible
a
fancy
could
have
fallen
into
any
wise
heads
:
(
viz.
)
during
his
life
,
there
cannot
be
a
second
;
whosoever
after
that
one
(
who
ought
to
be
alone
)
is
made
,
he
is
not
a
second
,
but
none
at
all
;
Thus
he
.
But
what
need
I
urge
this
,
when
the
very
word
of
Ordination
strikes
it
dead
:
For
what
Ordination
to
that
their
In-and-out
Office
;
have
these
succeeding
and
Momentary
Presidents
?
And
what
Bishop
was
ever
in
the
Church
without
Ordination
?
So
as
I
must
have
leave
to
wonder
at
this
uncouth
Novelty
,
and
to
say
that
I
cannot
tell
how
to
resemble
it
better
than
to
that
old
abusive
sport
,
which
was
cryed
down
in
the
Councell
of
Salisbury
(
called
Ep.
tus
puor
.
)
practised
also
in
the
Popish
times
here
in
England
,
Quis
furor
,
O
Cives
!
As
for
the
title
first
,
alas
,
how
poor
a
quarrell
it
is
?
Certainly
,
if
there
were
that
true
piety
,
and
those
gracious
dispositions
in
the
hearts
of
men
,
professing
the
Gospell
,
towards
Gods
Ambassadors
and
Agents
,
which
there
ought
to
be
,
they
would
not
,
they
could
not
grudge
them
any
styles
of
Eminence
;
their
very
feet
would
be
beautifull
,
their
hands
sacred
,
their
heads
glorious
;
now
every
thing
is
too
much
.
But
not
to
scan
the
Originall
〈◊〉
〈◊〉
〈◊〉
〈◊〉
〈◊〉
,
and
Dominus
,
which
every
man
knows
how
common
it
was
of
old
to
Fathers
,
Masters
,
Husbands
,
Governours
,
Prophets
;
that
no
man
may
wonder
,
Drink
my
Lord
:
Nay
what
if
it
be
made
to
appear
that
even
those
Titles
which
are
now
stumbled
at
,
were
the
usuall
style
of
the
ancient
Bishops
?
So
Eusebius
to
the
Bishop
of
Trevers
:
Cartwr
.
Calvin
Epist.
Farello
de
Basileens●
quodam
.
Practice
of
Prelates
D.
2.
Cited
in
the
survay
of
Disc.
p.
372.
and
how
much
below
that
other
,
Non
minus
Farello
,
quàm
Paulo
,
meaning
the
blessed
Apostle
of
the
Gentiles
:
And
again
that
in
the
practise
of
Prelates
,
Calvin
,
Beza
,
Viretus
,
Knox
,
Cartwright
,
are
the
only
Worthies
of
the
world
,
that
have
maintained
Discipline
:
For
us
;
If
then
it
hath
pleased
gracious
Princes
,
for
expression
of
the
honour
which
they
gave
to
God
,
in
the
honor
given
by
them
,
to
our
holy
function
,
to
grace
us
with
eminent
titles
and
rights
,
can
any
Christian
man
be
so
foolishly
spightfull
,
as
to
think
,
because
we
are
Lords-Bishops
,
that
we
challenge
to
be
Lords
of
our
Clergie
:
as
he
said
well
,
because
they
themselves
are
usually
styled
Masters
,
are
they
therefore
the
Masters
of
their
Church
?
I
would
these
maligners
should
know
that
with
high
titles
,
we
can
bear
as
humble
minds
(
to
say
no
more
)
as
those
that
pick
that
quarrell
;
and
are
so
little
transported
with
these
puffes
of
style
,
that
we
account
it
(
according
to
our
Saviours
prescription
)
our
greatest
glory
to
be
servants
to
the
souls
of
the
meanest
drudges
in
the
family
of
our
God
.
But
if
the
name
offend
,
the
thing
offends
much
more
:
We
have
the
Lands
,
Rents
,
Royalty
,
possessions
of
Lordships
,
Rights
of
Barony
:
What
?
Have
we
not
yet
been
prey
enough
to
this
malignant
and
sacrilegious
envy
?
Are
we
not
yet
despoyled
to
purpose
?
Is
that
little
pittance
which
hungry
sacriledge
,
and
cruell
rapine
have
left
behinde
them
,
still
a
beam
in
these
evill
eyes
?
We
are
Barons
by
our
places
,
but
,
as
one
said
truely
,
Bare-ones
indeed
,
for
the
most
part
;
and
if
these
men
may
have
their
wish
,
shal
be
(
as
a
Lawyer
was
long
since
pleased
to
tearm
us
)
Barones
Elemosynarij
;
Henric.
Spelman
Collect.
Synod
in
Anno
●
34.
Cast
your
eyes
you
greedy
Church-robbers
,
upon
what
we
had
,
and
then
tell
me
if
you
can
grudge
us
a
feather
of
that
soul
which
you
have
stolne
and
devoured
.
To
speak
of
one
which
I
have
reason
to
know
;
There
is
a
Bishoprick
in
the
world
which
had
27
rich
Mannors
within
the
Diocese
(
besides
other
forrain
)
and
14
faire
houses
and
Parkes
about
them
;
which
bath
now
but
7
of
the
meanest
Mannors
left
,
in
full
Lease
,
and
one
only
house
,
without
so
much
as
a
stick
of
wood
for
the
heirth
,
or
an
handfull
of
Hay
for
the
stable
,
and
yet
none
of
the
ancient
burdens
subtracted
.
What
think
you
of
this
abatement
?
There
are
others
(
I
suppose
)
proportionably
in
the
same
predicament
.
If
it
be
not
yet
low
enough
,
ye
that
have
our
Cloak
,
take
our
Coat
too
;
We
were
not
worthy
to
be
St.
Paul's
Disciples
,
if
we
had
not
learned
to
want
,
and
to
abound
.
Little
do
these
men
think
what
charges
do
necessarily
attend
our
places
)
what
hospitality
is
expected
from
us
,
what
Competencie
of
means
is
requisite
to
bear
us
up
from
that
contempt
which
unavoidably
accompanies
a
base
Condition
;
But
if
this
satisfies
them
not
,
ringantur
.
In
the
mean
time
,
what
a
difference
is
there
between
times
.
Our
poor
well
meaning
ignorant
forefathers
,
thought
their
Clergie
could
never
have
enough
;
Statutes
of
Mortmain
needed
to
hold
their
hands
;
their
knowing
,
rich
,
zealous
off-spring
,
think
their
better
deserving-Clergie
can
have
never
too
little
.
We
see
and
heartily
pity
the
incompetent
provision
of
our
forraign
brethren
,
whose
parts
are
as
eminent
as
their
maintenance
poor
.
And
this
is
that
passe
of
perfection
which
these
mis-zelotes
would
bring
our
Clergy
unto
,
and
are
angry
because
we
are
not
enough
beggers
.
They
would
have
their
Pastors
true
Ministers
,
that
is
,
their
servants
;
and
even
in
that
state
,
not
too
full
fed
.
He
that
delicately
bringeth
up
his
Servant
,
shall
have
him
become
his
Son
at
the
last
.
Blessed
be
God
that
we
are
not
under
such
mercy
;
though
it
is
the
regret
of
some
that
we
are
not
.
That
double
honour
which
St.
Paul
thinks
some
good
Elders
worthy
of
,
is
held
too
good
for
our
best
and
that
moyens
is
too
vast
for
a
Bishop
,
which
some
Lay
Presbyter
may
put
over
without
envy
;
yea
some
noble
Elder
(
for
such
the
time
now
yields
)
shal
be
cryed
up
for
spending
upon
one
Supper
a
Bishops
yeerly
revenue
.
As
it
is
,
we
blesse
God
and
our
good
Kings
,
for
what
we
have
left
;
But
I
wis
it
is
not
so
much
,
as
that
any
man
should
at
the
sight
of
it
,
need
to
feed
upon
his
own
heart
,
in
stead
of
our
Trencher
:
But
if
any
of
our
profession
being
blessed
with
plenty
of
means
,
shall
run
forth
into
lavish
excesse
;
pampering
his
Appetite
with
Apician
delicates
,
or
ruffling
in
proud
and
costly
attyres
,
and
furnitures
,
beyond
the
bounds
of
gravity
and
holy
Moderation
(
as
I
verily
suppoie
our
Island
yeildeth
none
such
)
let
his
person
ruler
,
let
his
calling
be
innocent
,
and
honourable
:
It
is
not
wealth
or
power
,
that
is
justly
taxable
in
a
Bishop
,
but
the
abuse
of
both
;
and
that
man
is
weakly
grounded
,
which
would
be
other
than
faithfull
to
his
God
,
whether
in
an
higher
or
meaner
Condition
.
Forasmuch
therefore
as
these
imaginary
dissimilitudes
betwixt
the
Primitive
Episcopacy
and
ours
are
vanished
,
and
ours
for
substance
is
proved
to
be
the
same
,
with
the
first
that
ever
were
ordained
,
and
those
first
were
ordained
by
Apostolike
hands
,
by
direction
and
inspiration
of
the
holy
Ghost
,
we
may
confidently
and
irrefragably
conclude
our
Episcopacie
to
be
of
no
lesse
than
Divine
Institution
.
§.
18.
The
practice
of
the
whole
Christian
Church
,
in
all
times
and
places
,
is
for
this
government
of
Bishops
.
HOwever
it
pleaseth
our
Anti-praesulists
to
sleight
the
practice
and
judgement
of
all
Churches
save
the
Primitive
Church
,
which
they
also
,
without
all
ground
,
and
against
all
reason
shut
up
within
the
strait
bonds
of
250
yeers
;
out
of
a
just
guiltinesse
of
their
known
opposition
;
yet
it
shall
be
no
small
confirmation
to
us
,
nor
no
lesse
conviction
to
them
,
that
the
voice
as
of
the
Primitive
,
so
of
the
whole
subsequent
Church
of
God
upon
earth
to
this
very
age
,
is
with
us
and
for
us
:
Quod
semper
et
ubique
:
Alwaies
and
every
where
;
was
the
old
and
sure
rule
of
Vincentius
Lirinensis
;
and
who
thinks
this
can
fail
him
,
as
well
worthy
to
erre
.
It
were
a
long
task
to
instance
in
all
times
,
and
to
particularize
in
all
Churches
:
Let
this
be
the
triall
,
Turn
over
all
histories
,
search
the
records
of
all
times
and
places
,
if
ever
it
can
be
shown
that
any
Orthodox
Church
in
the
whole
Christian
world
,
since
the
times
of
Christ
and
his
Apostles
,
was
governed
otherwise
than
by
a
Bishop
,
superiour
to
his
Clergy
(
unlesse
perhaps
during
the
time
of
some
persecution
,
or
short
inter-regnum
)
let
me
forfeit
my
part
of
the
cause
.
Our
opposites
dare
not
stand
upon
this
issue
;
and
therefore
when
we
presse
and
follow
them
upon
this
point
,
they
runne
back
fifteen
hundred
years
,
and
shelter
themselves
under
the
Primitive
times
,
which
are
most
remote
.
And
why
will
they
be
thus
cowardly
?
They
know
all
the
rest
are
with
us
,
and
against
them
;
yea
they
yeild
it
;
and
yet
would
fain
think
themselves
never
the
worse
.
Antichrist
,
Antichrist
hath
seized
upon
all
the
following
times
,
and
corrupted
their
government
:
what
a
meer
gullery
is
this
?
Do
not
they
themselves
confine
Antichrist
to
Rome
?
And
hath
not
Bishop
Downham
diligently
noted
his
〈◊〉
〈◊〉
〈◊〉
〈◊〉
〈◊〉
in
Boniface
;
his
〈◊〉
〈◊〉
〈◊〉
〈◊〉
〈◊〉
in
Hildebrand
,
his
〈◊〉
〈◊〉
〈◊〉
〈◊〉
〈◊〉
in
the
latter
times
?
Sur●ly
had
these
men
bestowed
that
time
in
perusing
Bishop
Downhams
discourse
concerning
Antichrist
,
(
Semper
)
is
plainly
ours
,
and
so
is
the
(
ubique
)
too
;
All
times
are
not
more
for
us
,
than
all
places
.
Take
a
view
of
the
whole
Christian
world
:
The
state
of
Europe
is
so
well
known
,
that
it
needs
no
report
;
Look
abroad
,
ye
shall
finde
that
for
the
Greek
Church
,
For
the
Patriarchate
of
Jerusalem
,
to
which
have
belonged
the
three
Palestines
,
and
two
other
Provinces
;
Tirius
reckons
also
five
Metropolitans
,
and
ten
Bishops
.
For
the
Patriarchate
of
Antioch
,
which
hath
been
accounted
one
of
the
most
numerous
for
Christians
,
it
had
,
as
the
same
author
reckons
,
fifteen
Provinces
allotted
to
it
,
and
in
them
,
Metropolitans
,
Arch-bishops
,
and
Bishops
,
no
fewer
than
142.
For
the
Armenian
Christians
,
they
acknowledge
obedience
to
the
government
of
two
Patriarks
of
their
own
;
the
one
of
Armenia
,
the
greater
,
who
kept
his
residence
of
old
at
Sebastia
;
the
other
of
Armenia
the
lesse
,
whose
residence
was
formerly
at
Mytilene
,
the
Mother
City
of
that
Province
,
now
neer
Tarsus
in
Cilicia
:
Mr.
Sands
reports
their
Bishops
to
be
300
,
but
Baronius
,
1000.
For
the
Jacobite
Christians
,
they
have
a
Patriarch
of
their
own
,
whose
Patriarchall
Church
is
neer
to
the
City
of
Merdin
in
Mesopotamia
;
and
he
hath
under
his
government
many
Churches
dispersed
in
the
Cities
of
Mesopotamia
,
Babylonia
,
Syria
.
For
the
Maronites
,
whose
main
habitation
is
in
Mount
Lebanus
,
containing
in
circuit
700
miles
;
they
have
a
Patriarch
of
their
own
,
who
hath
eight
or
nine
Bishops
under
his
Jurisdiction
.
For
the
mis-named
Nestorian
Christians
,
they
are
subject
to
their
Patriarch
of
Musal
,
or
Seleucia
,
besides
others
which
they
have
had
;
Under
one
whereof
is
said
to
have
been
22
Bishopricks
,
and
more
than
six
hundred
Territories
.
For
the
Indian
Christians
,
named
from
St.
Thomas
,
they
have
their
Archbishop
lately
subjected
to
the
Patriarch
of
Musall
.
For
the
African
Christians
,
we
finde
that
in
one
Province
alone
,
under
one
Metropolitane
,
they
have
had
164
Bishops
;
They
are
under
the
government
of
the
Patriarch
of
Alexandria
,
to
whose
Jurisdiction
belong
both
the
Christians
of
Aegypt
,
and
those
about
the
Bay
of
Arabia
;
Upon
whose
late
solemn
Consecration
,
how
many
Bishops
attended
,
and
what
solemnity
were
used
,
were
too
long
to
rehearse
.
For
the
Abassine
Christians
,
they
are
subject
to
their
Abuna
,
a
Patriarch
of
their
own
;
Some
report
of
an
127
Arch-bishops
:
And
Alvares
,
that
in
one
Church
of
the
holy
Trinity
,
upon
a
solemn
occasion
,
he
saw
two
hundred
of
their
Mitred
Clergie
together
.
Thus
have
I
for
the
readers
satisfaction
,
contracted
into
a
short
view
,
some
passages
of
laborious
Christianography
of
Mr.
Paget
,
gathered
by
him
out
of
many
Authors
,
whereby
it
well
appears
how
the
Christian
Church
is
governed
abroad
,
and
(
which
is
very
remarkable
)
well
near
all
of
these
(
in
a
manner
)
utterly
divided
from
the
correspondence
with
Rome
,
and
professedly
opposite
to
most
of
her
errors
,
and
chiefly
to
her
ambitious
and
tyrannous
usurpation
;
but
all
gladly
ever
submitting
themselves
to
that
Episcopall
government
,
which
some
few
very
ill-advised
,
but
very
well
self-conceited
new-commers
,
here
in
a
corner
of
our
Europe
,
have
for
their
own
ends
presumed
to
contradict
.
§.
19.
Of
the
Suppression
of
contrary
records
:
and
the
sole
opposition
of
the
heretick
Aerius
.
CLearly
then
,
all
times
,
all
places
,
all
histories
are
for
us
;
not
one
that
ever
mentioned
the
discipline
and
government
pretended
;
It
is
a
very
poor
and
beggerly
evasion
of
Parker
,
and
Anti-tilenus
,
that
perhaps
there
were
some
,
but
they
were
suppressed
;
suppressed
?
now
gramercy
for
that
:
By
whom
I
hope
,
by
the
Hierarchy
?
what
,
when
there
was
no
opposition
?
No
colour
of
offence
?
suppressed
?
what
,
not
only
their
edition
in
this
age
of
Presses
but
their
very
mention
?
Can
they
perswade
themselves
(
others
sure
they
cannot
)
or
if
they
can
,
I
would
fain
see
them
that
among
so
many
holy
Fathers
,
and
faithfull
recorders
of
all
occurrences
that
befell
the
Church
,
whose
worthy
monuments
are
in
our
hands
,
there
should
not
be
the
least
touch
,
either
of
their
dislike
of
Episcopacy
,
if
there
had
been
any
,
or
of
their
allowance
of
the
discipline
called
for
;
not
so
much
as
the
least
intimation
of
any
City
or
region
,
that
was
,
or
wished
to
be
otherwire
governed
then
by
a
Diocesan
Bishop
?
As
well
may
they
tell
us
,
there
are
people
at
this
day
on
,
and
beyond
the
mountains
of
the
moon
,
who
do
still
,
and
ever
have
governed
themselves
by
their
platform
,
though
who
,
and
what
they
are
,
could
not
,
cannot
possibly
be
discovered
.
Onwards
then
:
It
can
be
no
great
comfort
or
credit
to
the
disparagers
of
Episcopacy
,
that
the
only
founder
and
abettor
of
their
opinion
(
which
we
meet
with
in
all
the
world
of
history
,
and
record
)
is
a
branded
heretick
,
Arius
;
branded
,
even
for
this
very
point
,
which
they
now
maintain
;
And
how
could
this
be
,
if
the
conceit
had
been
formerly
currant
?
Or
,
why
he
singled
from
the
rest
,
if
there
had
been
others
known
to
have
been
of
the
same
minde
?
No
man
ever
wrote
of
hereticks
,
who
did
not
name
him
for
one
;
Epiphanius
,
Austen
,
Philaster
;
And
who
can
choose
but
blush
to
hear
those
;
who
would
go
for
Orthodox
Christians
,
now
at
the
latter
end
of
the
day
(
after
so
many
ages
of
exsibilation
)
to
take
upon
them
the
defence
of
a
noted
heretick
,
against
all
the
holy
Fathers
of
the
Church
,
yea
,
against
the
whole
Church
of
God
,
whose
judgment
those
Fathers
expressly
declared
.
Hear
then
of
your
Patriarch
,
all
ye
opposers
of
Episcopacy
;
and
then
judge
how
you
like
him
:
All
agree
in
the
story
;
Epiphanius
is
the
fullest
.
§.
20.
The
vindication
of
those
Fathers
that
are
pretended
to
second
Aerius
.
BUt
what
noyse
is
this
I
hear
from
our
Antepiscopists
,
of
many
Fathers
who
favoured
,
and
cryed
up
this
opinion
of
Aerius
,
surely
,
if
there
had
been
any
such
,
the
world
would
have
rung
of
it
,
ere
now
.
The
then-present
Church
would
sooner
have
noted
it
,
than
those
that
lag
after
them
,
so
many
hundred
paces
of
years
.
But
to
make
this
good
,
more
than
once
is
laid
in
our
dish
by
Parker
,
Jerome
,
Sedulius
,
Primasius
,
Theodoret
,
held
with
the
Aerian
hereticks
that
the
Order
of
Bishops
and
Presbyters
is
Jure
divino
the
very
same
.
It
is
well
that
he
omitted
St.
Augustine
,
Ambrose
,
Chrysostome
,
Oecumenius
.
Well
,
what
of
this
,
the
learned
Bishop
cites
Medina
,
but
doth
he
approve
him
?
he
scornes
the
motion
:
Medina
cites
those
Fathers
,
as
for
this
opinion
;
The
more
shamelesse
he
:
Is
it
ever
the
truer
,
because
a
sworn
champion
of
the
tyranny
of
Rome
,
and
a
professed
enemy
to
the
reformed
Religion
,
impudently
avers
it
?
It
is
enough
for
me
to
leave
him
to
the
castigation
of
Bellarmine
:
and
though
I
might
spend
paper
in
vindicating
these
sacred
names
,
from
the
aspersion
of
the
favour
of
Aerianisme
yet
for
that
it
is
but
incidently
in
our
way
,
Spalat
de
Rep.
Eccles
.
l.
2.
c.
3.
I
shall
rather
remit
my
Reader
to
the
learned
and
satisfactory
discourse
of
the
Archbishop
of
Spalato
,
who
hath
prevented
that
labour
.
All
the
rest
are
easily
freed
;
St.
Jerome
and
St.
Ambrose
in
the
opinion
of
some
seem
to
take
in
water
:
For
the
former
as
he
was
naturally
a
waspish
and
hote
good
man
,
so
now
being
vexed
with
some
crosse
proceedings
(
as
he
thought
)
of
John
Bishop
of
Hierusalem
,
heflew
out
into
some
expressions
indeed
,
but
yet
such
as
in
other
places
he
doth
either
salve
or
contradict
;
The
passages
are
scanned
throughly
by
many
authors
.
It
is
true
then
,
that
he
saith
,
Bishops
are
greater
than
Presbyters
rather
consuetudine
ecclesiae
,
Dominica
dispositio
of
which
he
spake
,
was
to
be
taken
of
a
personall
appointment
from
Christ
our
Saviour
;
As
for
St.
Ambrose
,
they
could
not
have
pitch'd
upon
a
better
man
;
a
renowned
Archbishop
and
Metropolitan
,
and
of
so
holily-high
a
grain
,
as
that
he
would
not
abate
one
inch
of
Archiepiscopall
port
and
power
;
no
not
to
an
Emperour
;
Yet
this
is
the
man
that
shall
plead
against
the
superiority
of
Bishops
.
And
what
will
he
say
?
Of
a
Bishop
and
a
Presbyter
saith
he
,
there
is
one
order
or
Ordination
;
for
either
of
them
is
a
Priest
,
but
the
Bishop
is
the
first
;
so
that
every
Bishop
is
a
Presbyter
,
but
not
every
Presbyter
a
Bishop
,
for
among
the
Presbyters
,
the
Bishop
is
the
first
.
But
first
of
all
,
by
Parkers
own
confession
,
it
is
not
St.
Ambrose
that
saith
so
,
but
a
changling
in
his
clothes
;
So
not
only
Whitakers
,
spalato
,
Cocus
,
Rivetus
,
and
others
,
but
even
some
of
the
great
Pontifician
authors
,
as
we
shall
see
upon
another
occasion
more
fully
:
Secondly
Ambrose
himselstells
another
tale
,
§.
21.
The
practice
of
the
Waldenses
and
Albigenses
in
allowance
of
Episcopall
government
.
SHortly
then
,
all
times
,
all
histories
,
all
Authors
,
all
places
are
for
us
:
yea
(
which
is
most
remarkable
)
even
those
factions
,
which
divided
themselves
from
the
Church
,
as
the
Arrians
,
Novatians
,
Donatists
,
yet
still
held
themselves
to
the
government
of
their
Bishops
;
It
was
their
question
,
whether
this
or
that
man
should
be
their
Bishop
,
it
was
never
questioned
whether
they
should
have
any
Bishops
at
all
.
Yea
in
these
latter
times
the
very
Waldenses
and
Albigenses
when
in
some
things
they
justly
flew
off
from
the
Romish
superstition
,
yet
still
would
have
a
Bishop
of
their
own
;
It
was
one
of
the
Articles
that
was
objected
against
them
,
the
Supremacy
of
the
Pope
,
Aeneas
Silvius
in
his
Bohemian
history
reporting
the
Tenets
of
the
Waldenses
hath
thus
,
George
Maurellus
,
and
Petrus
Latomus
to
conferre
with
the
learned
men
of
those
parts
;
they
met
with
Oecolampadius
,
Bucer
,
Capito
;
Maurellus
escaping
home
alone
,
told
his
Compatriots
how
much
they
had
erred
,
and
how
their
old
Ministers
,
whom
they
called
their
Barbes
,
that
is
their
Uncles
,
had
misled
them
.
But
before
this
,
their
complices
the
good
Christians
,
who
were
termed
Albigenses
,
did
set
up
to
themselves
a
Bishop
of
their
own
one
Bartolomaeus
remaining
about
the
coasts
of
Croatia
and
Dalmatia
;
Etenim
de
Carcasona
or●undus
,
&c.
For
one
Bartolomaeus
the
Bishop
of
the
Hereticks
,
borne
in
Carcasona
,
taking
upon
him
the
Deputation
of
that
Anti-pope
,
yeelded
unto
him
a
wicked
and
abhominable
reverence
,
and
gave
him
a
place
of
residence
in
the
Town
of
Porlos
,
and
removed
himselfe
to
the
parts
of
Tholose
.
This
Bartolomaeus
in
the
tenour
of
his
letters
,
which
run
every
where
in
the
first
stile
of
his
salutation
,
entitles
himselfe
on
this
manner
,
Bartolomaeus
,
the
servant
of
the
servants
of
God
to
.
N.
the
salutations
of
the
holy
faith
.
This
man
,
amongst
all
his
other
enormities
,
makes
Bishops
,
and
takes
upon
him
perfidiously
,
to
govern
and
order
the
Churches
.
Thus
that
Cardinall
.
And
those
Angragnians
,
who
are
commonly
said
for
some
hundred
of
yeers
to
have
cast
off
all
relation
to
the
Church
of
Rome
,
yet
in
their
Confession
of
faith
,
and
answers
exhibited
to
the
President
(
appointed
Commissioner
for
their
examination
)
confessed
and
acknowledged
(
upon
mention
made
of
ancient
Councells
)
That
the
Councels
had
made
divers
notable
Decrees
concerning
the
Election
of
Bishops
and
Ministers
of
the
Church
,
concerning
Ecclesiasticall
Discipline
,
as
well
of
the
Clergy
as
the
people
.
These
Chrisians
were
far
from
that
peevish
humour
,
wherewith
divers
miszealots
are
now-a-dayes
transported
.
What
speak
I
of
these
?
The
very
late
Christians
who
within
the
Ken
of
memory
,
Johannes
a
Lasco
for
their
Bishop
.
Thus
it
was
with
all
Christian
men
and
assemblies
all
the
world
over
,
till
(
within
the
age
of
some
(
who
might
be
yet
living
)
the
waters
of
the
Cantons
,
and
the
Lake
of
Lemanus
began
to
be
troubled
:
And
now
,
when
the
grosse
errors
of
Doctrine
came
to
be
both
discovered
by
one
side
,
and
impetuously
defended
by
the
other
,
and
the
impugners
cruelly
persecuted
to
bonds
and
death
,
those
who
could
not
enjoy
the
freedome
of
the
true
Religion
,
under
their
Popish
Bishops
,
thought
themselves
driven
to
set
up
Church-governors
and
Pastors
of
their
own
:
And
these
once
estblished
,
now
must
belike
,
be
defended
.
They
might
not
be
under
those
they
had
;
they
could
not
have
those
they
should
;
they
rested
under
those
they
could
get
.
And
hence
is
all
this
Distraction
.
§.
22.
The
government
by
Bishops
,
both
universall
and
unalterable
.
WE
have
seen
the
grounds
of
Church-government
laid
by
our
Saviour
himself
in
imparity
:
We
have
seen
it
so
built
up
by
Apostolike
hands
;
we
have
seen
the
practise
of
the
ancient
and
subsequent
Church
,
laying
on
the
roof
to
make
a
perfect
Fabrick
;
Yet
what
is
all
this
,
if
the
charge
be
not
universall
and
perpetuall
?
yeild
it
to
be
so
ancient
as
the
Apostles
themselves
;
yet
if
it
be
arbitrary
,
whether
for
time
or
place
,
what
have
we
gained
?
Surely
as
God
is
but
one
,
and
ever
himself
,
so
would
he
have
his
Church
.
There
may
be
threescore
Queens
,
and
fourscore
Concubins
,
and
Virgins
without
number
;
but
his
Dove
,
his
undefiled
is
but
one
;
and
though
she
may
go
in
severall
dresses
and
trimmings
,
yet
still
and
ever
the
stuffe
is
the
same
.
Plainly
,
though
there
may
be
varieties
of
circumstantiall
fashons
in
particular
Churches
,
yet
the
substance
of
the
government
is
,
and
must
be
ever
the
same
.
That
ordinary
power
which
the
Apostles
had
,
they
traduced
to
their
successors
,
as
bequeathed
by
our
Saviour
,
in
his
last
fare
well
to
them
unto
the
end
of
the
world
.
For
we
may
not
think
,
as
one
said
well
,
that
the
Apostles
carried
their
Commission
with
them
up
to
heaven
.
They
knew
it
was
given
them
for
a
perpetuity
of
succession
.
He
that
said
,
Go
teach
all
Nations
,
and
baptize
,
added
,
Behold
I
am
with
you
to
the
end
of
the
world
;
He
could
not
mean
it
of
their
persons
which
staid
not
long
upon
earth
after
him
;
he
meant
it
of
their
Evangelical
successors
;
So
was
he
with
them
;
as
he
was
with
his
domesticks
their
Predecessors
,
not
in
the
immediatnesse
and
extraordinary
way
of
calling
;
not
in
the
admirable
measure
and
kinds
of
their
〈◊〉
〈◊〉
〈◊〉
〈◊〉
〈◊〉
,
or
gifts
,
not
in
the
infalliblenesse
of
their
judgement
,
nor
in
the
universality
of
their
charge
,
but
in
the
effectuall
execution
of
those
offices
,
which
should
be
perpetuated
to
his
Church
,
for
the
salvation
of
mankinde
.
Such
were
the
preaching
of
the
Gospell
,
and
the
administration
of
the
Sacraments
,
the
ordaining
Church-officers
,
the
ordering
of
Church
affairs
,
the
infliction
of
censures
,
and
,
in
short
,
the
power
of
the
Keys
,
which
we
justly
say
,
were
not
tyed
to
St.
Peters
girdle
,
but
were
communicated
to
all
his
fellows
,
and
to
all
his
and
their
successors
for
ever
.
By
vertue
whereof
,
all
true
Pastors
can
open
and
shut
heaven
gates
above
,
much
more
the
Church
doors
hereupon
earth
:
And
all
these
as
are
of
such
necessity
,
that
without
them
the
Church
could
not
at
all
subsist
;
at
least
,
not
long
and
in
any
tolerable
Condition
.
The
power
of
these
acts
,
as
it
was
by
our
Saviours
Commission
,
originally
in
the
Apostles
,
being
by
them
conveyed
to
the
Church
,
and
not
by
the
Church
conveyed
to
them
;
So
it
succeeded
accordingly
in
,
and
to
their
successors
and
was
incorporated
into
their
office
;
we
that
are
Priests
receive
the
Keys
in
Peter
(
saith
St.
Ambrose
)
Veniat
ad
Antistites
,
saith
St.
Augustine
;
Let
them
come
to
the
Bishops
,
by
whom
the
keys
are
ministred
in
the
Church
.
As
Beza
said
truly
of
the
promise
of
the
holy
Ghost
,
Philadelphia
;
Laodicea
,
and
the
rest
:
And
why
are
those
single
persons
challengeable
for
the
neglect
?
And
if
this
power
and
this
charge
,
were
by
the
very
hands
of
the
Apostles
,
entayled
upon
these
eminent
persons
,
which
should
by
due
ordination
therein
succeed
them
,
and
from
them
lineally
descend
upon
us
,
I
wonder
what
humane
power
dare
presume
to
cut
it
off
.
Neither
do
I
lesse
marvell
at
the
opinions
of
those
Divines
,
which
holding
Episcopacy
thus
to
stand
Jure
Apostolico
,
in
the
first
institution
,
yet
hold
it
may
be
changed
in
the
sequel
.
For
me
I
have
learned
to
yeild
this
honour
to
these
inspired
men
,
that
I
dare
not
but
think
these
their
ordinances
,
which
they
intended
to
succession
;
immutable
.
Some
kinds
of
Ceremonious
prescriptions
fell
from
them
,
which
were
meant
to
be
only
locall
,
and
temporary
;
those
we
have
no
reason
to
think
our selves
oblieged
to
,
but
those
which
they
left
for
the
administration
of
Gods
Church
,
it
shall
be
high
presumption
in
any
to
alter
:
because
the
Apostles
did
but
meet
together
divers
times
,
on
the
first
day
of
the
week
;
and
St.
Paul
ordered
that
day
for
the
laying
aside
their
Collections
;
And
that
is
only
called
the
Lords
day
by
the
Apostle
;
How
strongly
are
the
vehement
opposites
of
Episcopacy
,
wont
to
maintain
that
day
,
in
succession
to
the
Jewish
Sabbath
;
and
that
in
all
points
unalterable
,
by
any
humane
authority
?
Surely
had
they
but
the
tenth
part
of
that
plea
from
the
Apostles
,
for
this
their
Judaicall-Evangelicall
Sabbath
,
which
we
have
for
our
Episcopacy
,
they
would
make
us
feel
the
Dint
of
this
argument
,
and
would
in
the
rigorous
observation
of
it
,
out-do
the
Jews
:
But
you
are
now
ready
to
choak
me
with
some
Apostolicall
ordinances
,
which
were
even
of
t●
emselves
reversed
.
Be
it
so
:
Then
you
tell
me
of
the
first
form
of
their
goverment
of
the
Church
,
which
(
say
you
)
was
by
an
equality
from
:
which
,
if
(
as
we
plead
)
they
afterwards
ascended
to
this
imparity
(
which
we
now
contend
for
)
why
is
it
not
as
safe
say
you
,
for
us
to
take
up
that
their
first
form
,
as
this
latter
.
Admitting
all
this
,
our
answer
is
the
readier
;
we
like
well
to
make
those
holy
men
of
God
our
choosers
:
They
thought
fit
to
alter
to
this
:
and
therefore
we
think
fit
to
hold
to
it
:
They
tryed
both
,
and
left
this
to
be
continued
.
The
truth
is
,
the
Church
of
God
at
the
very
first
,
was
only
in
framing
,
and
not
all
of
a
suddain
framed
;
In
framing
thereof
,
as
the
equality
among
themselves
by
the
fulnesse
of
Grace
which
they
all
had
)
conduced
to
that
work
;
so
all
that
while
,
for
the
better
promoting
of
the
same
work
,
they
themselves
maintained
their
own
superiority
and
power
over
other
Presbyters
:
So
then
the
change
being
made
by
the
Apostles
themselves
,
and
not
by
other
;
they
being
infallibly
guided
by
the
Spirit
of
God
,
though
they
changed
,
we
may
not
;
Nay
,
because
they
changed
,
we
may
not
;
the
holy
Ghost
led
them
unto
it
;
and
therefore
we
,
unlesse
we
will
oppose
the
ordinance
of
the
holy
Ghost
,
must
not
detrect
to
continue
it
.
Otherwise
,
why
may
I
not
urge
the
same
argument
in
the
instanced
Sabbath
,
The
Apostles
had
duly
kept
the
seaventh
day
according
to
the
Law
;
they
after
fell
to
the
observation
of
the
first
day
.
What
,
shall
any
man
now
infer
,
why
not
the
Jewish
Seaventh
,
which
was
first
kept
rather
than
the
Evangelicall
first
,
which
was
last
taken
up
?
However
then
(
as
it
is
usually
upbrayded
to
us
out
of
our
reverend
Whitgift
)
there
may
be
some
appendances
and
formalities
of
government
,
alterable
by
the
wisedome
and
discretion
of
the
Church
;
yet
for
the
main
substance
,
it
is
now
utterly
indispensable
,
and
must
so
continue
to
the
worlds
end
.
Indispensable
by
any
voluntary
act
(
what
inevitable
necessity
may
do
in
such
a
case
,
we
now
dispute
not
)
necessity
hath
dispenced
with
some
immediately
Divine
Laws
:
Hadr.
Sarav
.
resp
.
ad
Bez.
de
gradi●
.
&c.
Where
then
that
may
be
justly
pleaded
,
we
shall
not
be
wanting
both
in
our
pity
,
and
in
our
Prayers
.
The
Third
Part.
§
1.
The
appellation
of
Lay-Elders
,
and
the
state
of
the
question
concerning
them
.
THE
question
concerning
the
lay-Presbyter
is
not
easily
stated
;
the
thing
it selfe
is
so
new
,
that
we
are
not
yet
agreed
of
the
name
.
Presbyter
,
we
know
,
in
the
Greek
,
as
also
Zachen
,
in
the
Hebrew
(
whence
the
use
of
it
is
borrowed
)
is
a
word
importing
age
;
and
signifies
a
man
elder
in
yeares
:
Now
,
for
that
yeares
should
and
doe
commonly
bring
knowledge
and
experience
,
and
carry
gravity
and
authority
:
therefore
it
is
traduced
from
that
naturall
sence
,
and
used
to
signifie
a
man
of
some
eminence
in
place
,
and
government
:
so
we
have
in
the
Old
Testament
,
Elders
of
the
house
,
Gen.
50.7
.
Elders
of
the
Congregation
,
Levit.
4.15
.
Elders
of
the
City
,
Deut.
19.12
.
Elders
of
the
land
,
Gen.
50.7
.
Elders
of
the
people
,
Mat.
21.23
.
and
these
,
sometimes
marched
with
the
hi●hest
offices
;
so
we
have
Elders
and
Iudges
,
Deut.
21.2
,
Princes
and
Elders
,
Ezra
10.8
.
Priests
and
Elders
,
Lam.
1
10.
And
all
these
were
titles
of
civil
authority
:
But
when
we
come
to
the
daies
of
the
Gospell
,
under
the
New
Testament
;
now
we
finde
the
Elders
of
the
Church
,
Acts
20.17
.
Acts
11.30
.
and
14.23
.
A
name
which
comprehended
all
those
sacred
persons
who
were
imployed
in
the
promulgation
of
the
Gospell
(
as
Calvin
well
observes
whether
Apostles
,
Prophets
,
Evangelist
,
Pastors
and
Doctors
:
)
and
indeed
none
but
them
;
and
in
vaine
shall
we
seeke
for
any
other
Presbyers
,
or
Elders
in
the
Acts
,
or
Epistles
of
the
blessed
Apostles
,
or
in
all
following
antiquity
.
What
to
make
therefore
of
those
Elders
,
or
Presbyters
which
are
now
in
question
,
which
,
saith
Travers
(
if
you
will
speake
properly
)
are
onely
them
that
rule
,
he
were
wise
that
could
tell
:
meerely
civill
they
would
not
be
,
for
they
take
upon
them
Ecclesiasticall
charges
:
Meerly
sacred
and
sprituall
they
are
not
,
for
they
are
neither
Bishops
,
Priests
,
nor
Deacons
;
Meerly
Laik
they
would
not
be
,
§.
2.
No
Lay-Elder
ever
mentioned
or
heard
of
in
the
world
,
till
this
present
age
:
The
texts
of
Scripture
particularized
,
to
the
contary
.
ANd
that
you
may
not
thinke
this
to
be
some
bold
unwarranted
suggestion
from
an
unadvised
adversary
;
let
mee
tender
this
faire
offer
to
you
:
It
is
an
hard
and
long
taske
for
a
man
to
prove
negatives
;
let
any
of
your
most
learned
and
confident
teachers
produce
but
the
name
of
any
one
Lay-Presbyter
,
that
ever
was
in
the
Church
from
the
times
of
Christ
and
his
Apostles
,
untill
this
present
age
,
I
shall
yeeld
the
cause
,
and
liue
and
die
theirs
.
We
finde
in
common
experience
,
that
we
apprehend
things
according
to
our
owne
prepossession
:
Iaundised
eies
seeme
to
see
all
objects
yellow
;
blood-shoten
,
red
:
it
is
no
marvell
if
those
who
have
mancipated
their
mindes
to
the
judgements
of
some
,
whom
they
over-admire
,
and
have
lent
their
eies
out
of
their
owns
heads
,
wheresoever
they
finde
mention
of
an
Elder
in
the
New
Testament
,
think
presently
of
a
Lay-Presbytery
;
like
that
man
in
Erasmus
,
who
perswaded
himselfe
,
he
saw
a
strange
Dragon
in
the
aire
,
because
his
friend
confidently
pointed
to
it
,
and
seemed
to
wonder
at
his
not
seeing
it
but
those
who
with
unpartiall
and
unprejudiced
hearts
shall
addresse
themselves
to
the
Booke
of
God
,
and
with
a
carefull
sincerity
,
compare
the
Scriptures
,
shall
finde
,
that
wheresoever
the
word
Elder
,
or
Presbyter
is
,
in
an
Evangelicall
sence
,
used
in
the
holy
Epistles
,
or
the
history
of
the
Acts
,
(
excep
it
be
in
some
few
places
,
where
eldership
of
age
may
be
meant
)
it
is
onely
and
altogether
taken
for
the
ministers
of
the
Gospell
.
There
are
(
if
I
reckon
right
)
some
two
and
twenty
places
where
the
word
is
mentioned
,
were
it
not
too
long
to
take
them
into
particular
examination
,
I
should
gladly
scan
them
all
;
some
we
will
;
let
us
begin
with
the
last
;
The
elder
unto
the
well-beloved
Gaius
:
And
,
The
Elder
to
the
elect
Lady
:
Iohn
?
The
Elders
which
are
among
you
I
exhort
,
who
am
also
an
Elder
&c.
Feed
the
flock
of
God
which
is
among
you
,
(
saith
Saint
Peter
.
quae
sola
spirituale
est
pabulum
.
Js
any
man
sicke
among
you
?
saith
St.
Iames
,
Let
him
call
for
the
Elders
of
the
Church
,
and
let
them
pray
over
him
,
anointing
him
with
oile
in
the
name
of
the
Lord
,
and
the
prayer
of
faith
shall
save
the
sick
.
Are
these
Lay-Elders
,
thinke
we
,
whom
the
Apostle
requires
to
be
called
for
:
who
must
comfort
the
sicke
,
cure
him
by
their
prayers
,
anoint
him
with
their
miraculous
oyle
,
for
recovery
?
Let
me
aske
then
,
were
there
no
spirituall
Pastors
,
no
Ministers
among
them
?
And
if
there
were
such
,
was
it
likely
,
or
fit
,
they
should
stand
by
,
whiles
lay-men
did
their
spirituall
services
?
Besides
,
were
they
lay-hands
to
which
this
power
of
miraculous
cure
by
anointing
the
sicke
,
was
then
committed
?
Surely
,
if
we
consult
with
S.
Marke
,
we
shall
finde
them
sacred
persons
;
such
lips
,
and
such
hands
must
cure
the
sick
;
so
then
the
Elders
of
S.
John
,
S.
Peter
,
S.
James
are
certainly
Pastors
,
and
Ministers
;
And
what
other
are
S.
Pauls
?
For
this
cause
(
saith
he
to
Titus
)
I
left
thee
in
Crete
,
that
thou
shouldst
set
in
order
the
things
that
are
wanting
,
and
ordain
Elders
in
every
City
.
What
Elders
are
those
?
The
next
words
shall
tell
you
;
Jf
any
be
blamlesse
,
the
husband
of
one
wife
,
having
faithfull
children
,
&c.
For
a
Bishop
must
be
blamelesse
,
as
the
steward
of
God
;
Lo
S.
Pauls
Elder
here
,
is
no
other
than
a
Bishop
,
even
then
,
as
the
Fathers
observe
,
every
Bishop
was
a
Presbyter
.
And
though
not
every
Presbyter
a
Bishop
,
yet
every
Presbyter
a
sacred
and
spirituall
person
;
such
a
one
as
is
capable
of
holy
Ordination
:
thus
might
we
easily
passe
through
all
these
texts
,
wherein
there
is
any
mention
of
Presbyters
;
One
onely
place
there
is
,
that
might
to
a
fore-inclined
minde
seeme
to
give
some
colour
,
(
and
God
knowes
,
but
a
colour
)
of
a
lay-Presbytery
,
Let
the
Elders
that
rule
well
,
Paul
to
Timothy
,
be
counted
worthy
of
all
honour
,
especially
they
who
labour
in
the
word
and
doctrine
.
A
place
,
which
hath
been
so
throughly
sifted
by
all
,
who
have
medled
with
this
ill-raised
controversie
,
as
that
no
humane
wit
can
devise
to
add
one
scruple
of
a
notion
,
towards
a
farther
discussion
of
it
.
I
dare
confidently
say
,
there
is
scarce
any
one
sentence
of
Scripture
,
which
hath
undergone
a
more
busie
and
curious
agitation
,
The
issue
is
this
,
that
never
any
expositor
for
the
space
of
fifteene
hundred
yeeres
after
Christ
;
tooke
these
aeresbyters
for
any
other
then
Priests
,
or
Ministers
:
Of
eleven
or
twelve
severall
expositions
of
the
words
,
each
one
is
more
faire
,
and
probable
,
than
this
,
which
is
newly
devised
,
and
obtruded
upon
the
Church
:
That
the
text
is
so
farre
from
favouring
these
lay-Presbyters
;
that
we
need
no
other
argument
against
them
;
For
,
where
was
it
ever
heard
of
,
or
how
can
it
be
,
that
meere
Laicks
should
be
〈◊〉
〈◊〉
〈◊〉
〈◊〉
〈◊〉
?
Bishops
and
Pastors
have
had
that
stile
,
as
in
Scripture
,
so
in
following
antiquity
,
that
passage
of
Clemens
Alexandrinus
,
cited
by
Eusebius
,
concerning
Saint
Iohn
,
that
he
at
Ephesus
committed
the
charge
of
his
young
man
to
an
old
Bishop
,
whom
he
cals
〈◊〉
〈◊〉
〈◊〉
〈◊〉
〈◊〉
,
besides
that
of
Iustin
Martyr
,
already
cited
,
and
others
,
shew
it
plainly
.
And
if
(
as
some
)
our
appellation
of
Priest
come
from
〈◊〉
〈◊〉
〈◊〉
〈◊〉
〈◊〉
,
as
it
well
may
,
how
can
a
lay-man
be
so
?
Or
if
from
Prebstre
,
(
as
the
more
think
)
let
us
have
Lay-priests
,
if
Lay-presbyters
:
And
what
better
Commentary
can
we
have
of
Saint
Pauls
〈◊〉
〈◊〉
〈◊〉
〈◊〉
〈◊〉
,
than
himselfe
gives
of
himselfe
,
in
his
exhortation
to
the
Elders
or
Pastors
at
Ephesus
,
who
interprets
it
,
by
carefull
attending
to
themselves
,
and
their
flocks
;
which
even
their
owne
authours
are
wont
to
appropriate
to
Pastors
.
And
what
can
that
double
honour
be
which
the
Apostle
claimes
for
these
Elders
or
Presbyters
,
but
respect
,
and
due
maintenance
?
To
whom
is
this
due
,
but
to
those
that
serve
at
the
Altar
?
As
for
Lay-presbyters
,
was
it
ever
required
that
they
should
be
maintained
by
the
Church
?
And
what
can
those
〈◊〉
〈◊〉
〈◊〉
〈◊〉
〈◊〉
be
,
but
those
Priests
which
diligently
and
painfully
toile
in
Gods
harvest
;
in
the
Word
and
Doctrine
?
all
the
Elders
therefore
there
intended
,
are
exercised
in
the
Word
and
Doctrine
,
but
there
are
some
that
doe
〈◊〉
〈◊〉
〈◊〉
〈◊〉
〈◊〉
,
labour
more
abundantly
than
the
rest
;
these
must
be
respected
and
incouraged
accordingly
;
Neither
is
there
any
reason
in
the
world
to
induce
an
indifferent
man
to
think
,
that
this
〈◊〉
〈◊〉
〈◊〉
〈◊〉
〈◊〉
should
imiplie
a
severall
and
distinct
office
,
but
rather
a
more
intense
,
and
serious
labour
in
the
same
office
;
as
might
be
showne
in
a
thousand
instances
.
Whereas
therefore
this
is
the
onely
Scripture
that
in
some
fore-prised
eares
seemes
to
sound
towards
a
Lay-presbytery
;
I
must
needs
professe
for
my
part
,
if
there
were
no
other
text
in
all
the
Booke
of
God
more
pregnant
for
their
disproofe
,
I
should
thinke
this
alone
a
very
sufficient
warrant
for
their
disclamation
.
And
I
doe
verily
perswade
my selfe
,
that
those
men
,
who
,
upon
such
weake
,
yea
,
such
no-grounds
,
have
taken
upon
them
,
being
meer
Laicks
,
to
manage
these
holy
affaires
of
God
,
have
an
hard
answer
to
make
one
day
,
before
the
Tribunall
of
Almighty
God
,
for
this
their
presumptuous
usurpation
.
Now
then
,
since
this
one
litigious
,
and
unproving
text
,
is
the
onely
place
in
the
whole
New
Testament
,
that
can
beare
any
pretence
for
the
lay-Presbytery
,
(
for
,
as
for
their
Dic
Ecclesiae
,
and
their
〈◊〉
〈◊〉
〈◊〉
〈◊〉
〈◊〉
,
they
are
so
improbable
,
and
have
been
so
oft
and
throughly
charmed
,
that
they
are
not
worth
either
urging
,
or
answer
)
and
on
the
contrary
,
so
many
manifest
,
and
pregnant
testimonies
of
Scriptures
,
have
been
and
may
be
produced
,
within
the
Presbyters
,
or
Elders
of
the
Church
,
are
,
by
the
Spirit
of
God
onely
meant
for
the
spirituall
guides
of
his
people
;
I
hope
every
ingenuous
Christian
will
easily
resolve
,
how
much
safer
it
is
for
him
to
follow
the
cleare
light
of
many
evident
Scriptures
,
than
the
doubtfull
glimmering
of
one
mistaken
text
.
§.
3.
Lay-Eldership
a
meere
stranger
to
antiquity
:
which
acknowledgeth
no
Presbyters
,
but
Divines
.
ANd
as
the
Scriptures
of
God
never
meant
to
give
countenance
to
a
lay-Presbytery
,
so
neither
did
subsequent
antiquity
;
I
speak
it
upon
good
assurance
;
there
was
never
any
clause
in
any
Father
,
Councell
,
History
,
that
did
so
much
as
intimate
any
such
office
in
the
Church
of
God
,
or
the
man
that
weilded
it
:
The
fautors
of
it
would
gladly
snatch
at
every
sentence
in
old
records
,
where
they
meet
with
the
name
of
a
Presbyter
,
as
if
there
the
bels
chimed
to
their
thought
:
But
certainely
,
for
fifteene
hundred
yeares
,
no
man
ever
dreamed
of
such
a
device
;
If
he
did
,
let
us
know
the
man
.
I
am
sure
our
Apostolicall
Clemens
makes
a
contradistinction
of
Laicks
,
and
Presbyters
:
memorabile
sacerdotum
vestrorum
collegium
,
a
Colledge
of
Presbyters
:
such
the
Bishops
of
those
first
times
had
(
as
we
have
still
the
Deane
and
Chapter
,
to
consult
withall
,
upon
any
occasion
)
but
those
Presbyters
were
no
other
than
professed
Divines
:
Neither
were
ever
otherwise
construed
.
If
we
looke
a
little
lower
,
who
can
but
turne
over
any
two
leaves
of
the
first
Tome
of
the
Councels
,
and
not
fall
upon
some
passage
,
that
may
settle
his
assurance
this
way
?
Those
ancient
Canons
which
carry
the
name
of
the
Apostles
,
are
exceedingly
frequent
in
the
distinction
.
They
speake
of
the
Bishops
,
or
Presbyters
offering
on
the
Altar
of
God
,
which
no
Lay-man
might
do
?
They
make
an
act
against
a
Bishops
or
Presbyters
rejection
of
his
wife
,
Dionysius
the
mis-named
.
Areopagite
hath
〈◊〉
〈◊〉
〈◊〉
〈◊〉
〈◊〉
and
,
〈◊〉
〈◊〉
〈◊〉
〈◊〉
〈◊〉
,
for
Bishops
and
Presbyters
:
and
the
holy
Martyr
Cyprian
,
Cum
Episcopo
Presbyteri
Sacerdotali
honore
conjuncti
,
the
Presbyters
joyned
with
the
Bishop
in
Priestly
honour
,
l.
3.
ep.
1.
in
terminis
directly
oppose
it
indeed
;
How
should
he
oppose
that
wich
never
was
?
But
he
attributes
such
acts
and
offices
to
a
Presbyter
,
as
never
any
Laick
durst
usurpe
;
such
as
never
were
,
never
could
be
ascribed
to
any
that
was
not
consecrated
to
God
,
by
an
holy
ordination
:
Had
this
man
then
,
but
dreamed
of
a
Lay-presbytery
either
to
supply
,
or
affront
Episcopacie
,
it
might
have
been
some
countenance
(
at
least
,
to
the
age
of
this
invention
)
but
now
,
the
device
hath
not
so
much
patrocination
(
pardon
an
harsh
word
)
as
of
an
old
Stigmatick
:
yea
it
is
quashed
by
the
sole
and
onely
Marprelate
of
the
ancient
Church
.
§.
4.
Ambrose's
testimony
urged
for
Lay-Elders
fully
answered
.
YEt
,
let
me
eat
my
word
betimes
,
while
it
is
hot
:
there
is
an
holy
and
ancient
Bishop
,
they
say
,
that
pleads
for
a
Lay-presbytery
;
and
who
should
that
be
,
but
the
godly
and
renowned
Archbishop
,
and
Metropolitan
of
Milaine
St.
Ambrose
,
a
man
noted
,
as
for
singular
sanctimonie
,
so
for
the
height
of
his
spirit
,
and
zeale
of
mantaining
the
right
of
his
function
;
and
what
will
he
say
?
Remigius
Lugdunensis
,
who
lived
Anno
870.
farre
from
any
authentick
antiquity
;
and
confidently
saies
;
no
man
that
ever
read
Ambrose's
Writings
,
can
think
these
to
bee
his
.
It
is
then
first
no
great
matter
what
this
witnesse
saith
;
but
yet
let
us
heare
him
;
Vnde
synagoga
,
(
saith
hee
)
Whereupon
the
Synagogue
,
and
after
,
the
Church
also
,
had
Elders
:
And
whereupon
was
this
spoken
,
I
beseech
you
?
Let
my
reader
but
take
the
fore
going
words
with
him
,
and
see
if
hee
can
forbeare
to
smile
at
the
conceit
.
The
words
run
thus
;
upon
occasion
of
Saint
Pauls
charge
,
Rebuke
not
an
elder
,
but
intreat
him
,
as
a
father
,
&c.
Propter
honorificentiam
aetatis
,
majorem
natu
cum
mansuetudine
ad
bonum
opus
provocandum
,
&c.
For
the
honour
of
age
,
the
elder
in
yeares
is
by
meeknesse
to
bee
provoked
to
a
good
worke
,
&c.
Nam
apud
omnes
ubique
gentes
honorabilis
est
senectus
:
For
,
saith
he
,
amongst
all
nations
every
where
old
age
't
is
honourable
:
And
so
inferres
,
whereupon
,
both
the
Synagogue
,
and
afterwards
the
Church
,
had
certaine
elder
or
ancient
men
,
without
whose
counsell
nothing
was
done
in
the
Church
.
Plainly
the
words
are
spoken
of
an
elder
in
age
,
not
any
Elder
in
office
.
And
so
S.
Pauls
words
import
too
,
for
it
follows
,
the
elder
women
as
mothers
,
&
I
suppose
no
man
will
think
S.
Paul
meant
to
ordain
Eldresses
in
the
Church
;
Thus
in
the
supposed
Ambrose
,
all
runs
upon
this
strane
;
fort
here
is
Honorificentia
aetatis
,
the
honorificence
of
age
;
majores
natu
,
honorabilis
senectus
;
no
intimation
of
any
office
in
the
Church
.
But
you
will
say
,
here
is
mention
of
the
Elders
that
the
Synagogue
had
:
True
,
but
not
as
Iudges
,
but
onely
as
aged
persons
;
whose
experience
might
get
them
skill
,
and
gravity
procure
them
reverence
;
and
such
the
Church
had
too
;
and
made
use
of
their
counsell
;
and
therefore
it
followes
,
quorum
sine
consilio
,
without
whose
counsell
,
nothing
was
done
in
the
Church
;
he
saith
not
,
without
whose
authority
.
these
then
,
for
ought
this
place
implieth
,
were
not
incorporated
in
any
Consistory
,
but
,
for
their
prudence
,
advised
with
,
upon
occasion
;
and
what
is
this
to
a
fixed
bench
of
Lay-presbyters
?
Or
,
if
there
were
such
a
settled
Colledge
of
Presbyters
,
in
ancient
use
(
as
Ignatius
implies
)
yet
where
are
the
Lay
?
They
were
certaine
ancient
experienced
Divines
,
who
upon
all
difficult
occasions
were
ready
to
give
their
advice
and
aid
to
their
Bishop
;
how
little
the
true
Ambrose
dreamed
of
any
other
,
let
him
be
consulted
in
his
noble
,
humble
,
and
yet
stout
Epistile
,
(
Let
the
Elders
that
rule
well
he
counted
worthy
of
double
honour
)
construes
those
Elders
,
for
boni
dispensatores
,
ac
fideles
;
and
because
you
may
thinke
this
may
well
enough
fit
Laick
Presbyters
;
he
adds
,
Evangelizantes
regnum
Dei
,
those
that
preach
the
Kingdome
of
God
,
And
againe
:
Adversus
Presbyterum
,
&c.
Against
a
Presbyter
receive
not
an
accusation
,
&c.
Because
,
saith
he
,
(
Ordinis
hujus
sublimis
est
honor
)
the
honour
of
this
order
is
high
,
for
they
are
the
Vicars
of
Christ
;
and
therefore
an
accusation
of
this
person
is
not
easily
to
be
admitted
;
for
it
ought
to
seeme
incredible
to
us
;
that
this
man
,
who
is
Gods
Priest
,
should
live
criminously
;
Thus
he
:
so
as
this
Ambrose's
Presbyters
,
are
no
other
in
his
sens●
,
than
Gods
Priests
,
and
Christs
Vicars
:
If
our
Lay-presbyters
then
have
a
minde
to
be
,
or
to
be
called
Priests
,
and
Vicars
,
their
Ambrose
,
is
for
them
;
else
he
is
not
worthy
of
his
fee
for
what
hee
hath
said
.
If
all
antiquity
have
yeelded
any
other
witnesse
,
worth
the
producing
,
how
gladly
should
we
heare
him
out
,
and
returne
him
a
satisfactory
answer
;
but
the
truth
is
,
never
any
man
thought
of
such
a
project
;
and
therefore
,
if
any
authour
have
let
fall
some
favourable
word
,
that
might
seeme
to
bolster
it
,
it
must
be
against
his
will
:
neither
did
any
living
man
(
before
some
Burgesses
of
Geneva
in
our
age
took
it
upon
them
)
ever
claime
or
manage
such
an
office
since
Christ
was
upon
the
earth
.
§.
5.
The
uter
disagrement
,
and
irresolution
of
the
pretenders
to
the
new
discipline
,
concerning
the
particurlar
state
of
the
desired
government
.
ALl
this
considered
,
I
cannot
but
wonder
,
and
grieve
,
to
heare
a
man
of
such
worth
as
Beza
was
,
so
transported
,
as
to
say
,
that
this
Presbyter
,
of
their
device
,
is
the
Tribunall
of
Christ
:
a
Tribunall
erected
aboue
fifteene
hundred
yeares
after
his
departure
from
us
:
an
invisible
Tribunall
to
all
the
rest
of
Gods
Church
besides
;
a
Tribunall
not
knowne
,
nor
resolved
of
by
those
that
call
it
so
.
Surely
our
blessed
Saviour
was
never
ashamed
to
owne
his
ordinance
;
neither
was
he
ever
so
reserved
,
as
not
to
show
his
owne
Crowne
and
Scepter
to
all
his
good
subjects
:
he
never
cared
for
an
outward
glorious
magnificence
,
but
that
spirituall
port
,
which
he
would
have
kept
in
his
government
,
he
was
farre
from
concealing
,
and
smothering
in
a
suspitious
secrecy
.
If
this
then
be
,
or
were
Christs
Tribunall
,
where
,
when
,
how
,
in
whom
,
wherefore
was
it
set
up
?
Who
sees
not
that
the
wood
whereof
it
is
framed
,
is
so
green
,
that
it
warpes
every
way
;
Plainely
,
the
sworne
men
to
this
exoticall
government
,
are
not
agreed
of
their
verdict
;
An
exquisite
forme
they
would
faine
have
,
but
what
it
was
,
or
what
it
should
be
,
they
accord
not
:
Even
amongst
our
own
,
in
the
Admonition
to
the
Parliament
,
An●
o
1572.
a
perfect
platforme
is
tendred
,
not
so
perfect
yet
,
but
two
yeares
after
it
is
altered
,
nine
yeares
after
that
,
Anno
1583.
a
new
draught
,
fit
for
the
English
Meridian
,
is
published
;
yet
,
that
not
so
exact
,
but
that
Travers
must
have
a
new
essay
to
it
,
29.
Eliz.
And
after
all
this
,
a
world
of
doubts
yet
arise
,
which
were
in
1588.
debated
at
Coventry
,
Cambridge
,
elsewhere
.
And
yet
still
,
when
all
is
done
,
the
fraternity
is
as
far
to
seek
in
very
many
points
for
resolution
,
as
at
the
first
day
:
yea
,
at
this
very
houre
,
faine
would
I
know
whether
they
can
ring
this
peale
without
jarres
;
It
is
not
long
agoe
,
I
am
sure
,
that
they
found
every
parcell
of
their
government
litigious
;
Cartwright
is
for
a
Presbytery
in
every
Parish
,
wheresoever
a
Pastour
is
,
and
his
late
clients
make
every
village
a
Church
absolute
,
and
independent
;
the
Genevian
fashion
is
otherwise
;
neither
doth
Danaeus
think
it
to
be
Christs
institution
,
to
have
every
Parish
thus
furnished
and
governed
:
Our
late
humorists
give
power
of
excommunication
,
and
other
censures
to
every
Parish-Presbytery
:
The
Belgick
Churches
allow
it
not
to
every
particular
congregation
,
without
the
councell
and
assent
of
the
generall
Consistory
:
There
are
that
hold
the
Elders
should
be
perpetuall
:
There
are
others
,
for
a
Trienniall
,
others
for
a
bienniall
Eldership
;
others
hold
them
fit
to
be
changed
,
so
oft
as
their
liveries
,
once
a
yeare
.
The
Elders
(
sayes
T.
C.
)
are
joyntly
to
execute
,
with
their
Pastour
,
the
election
and
abdication
of
all
their
Ecclesiasticall
officers
;
Not
so
,
Inst.
c.
3.
saith
I.C.
Soli
pastores
,
onely
the
Pastours
must
doe
it
;
And
good
reason
;
what
a
monster
of
opinions
it
is
,
that
lay-men
should
lay
on
hands
to
the
ordination
of
Ministers
;
I
wonder
these
men
feare
not
Vzzah's
death
,
or
Vzziah's
leprosie
:
There
are
that
doubt
whether
there
should
be
Doctors
in
every
Church
,
and
I
am
deceived
,
if
(
in
Scotland
)
you
do
not
hold
your
Consistories
perfect
without
them
:
There
are
that
hold
them
so
necessary
a
member
of
this
body
of
Christs
ordinance
,
that
it
is
utterly
maimed
and
unperfect
without
them
.
And
indeed
,
what
to
make
of
their
Doctors
,
neither
themselves
know
,
nor
any
for
them
,
To
make
them
a
distinct
office
from
Pastors
,
as
it
is
an
uncouth
conceit
,
and
quite
besides
the
Text
,
(
which
tels
of
some
Evangelists
,
some
Prophets
,
some
Pastours
and
Doctors
,
and
not
some
Pastours
,
and
some
Doctors
)
so
it
is
guilty
of
much
errour
and
wildnesse
of
consequence
.
For
,
how
is
it
possible
,
that
spirituall
food
,
and
teaching
should
be
severed
?
Who
can
fe●
d
the
soule
,
and
not
instruct
it
?
Or
,
who
can
teach
wholsome
doctrine
,
and
not
feed
the
soule
?
This
is
,
as
if
every
child
should
have
two
nurses
,
one
to
give
it
the
bib
,
another
the
brest
;
one
to
hold
the
dish
,
and
the
other
to
put
in
the
spoone
.
Now
,
if
Doctors
must
be
,
whether
in
every
Parish
one
;
whether
admitted
to
sit
,
and
vote
in
the
Presbyterie
,
and
to
have
their
hand
in
censures
or
not
;
or
whether
they
bee
Lay-men
,
or
of
the
Clergie
,
whether
as
Academicall
Readers
,
or
as
rurall
Catechists
;
are
things
so
utterly
undetermined
,
that
they
are
indeed
altogether
undecidable
.
As
for
Deacons
,
there
is
(
if
it
may
be
)
yet
more
uncertainty
amongst
them
,
whether
they
bee
necessary
in
the
constitution
of
the
Church
,
or
whether
members
of
the
Consistory
,
or
not
;
whether
they
should
be
onely
imployed
in
matter
of
the
purse
,
or
in
the
matters
of
God
;
or
if
so
;
how
farre
interessed
;
whether
fixed
or
moveable
;
and
if
so
,
in
what
circle
?
And
least
there
sould
be
any
passage
of
this
admired
government
free
from
doubt
;
even
the
very
widdowes
have
their
brawles
.
These
to
some
are
as
essentiall
as
the
best
;
to
others
like
to
some
ceremonies
,
of
which
Iunius
his
judgement
was
,
Si
adsint
,
non
recuso
;
si
absint
,
non
desidero
:
not
to
be
refused
where
they
are
,
and
not
to
be
missed
where
they
are
not
;
however
,
I
see
not
why
the
good
women
should
not
put
in
for
a
share
,
and
chide
with
the
Elders
,
to
be
shut
out
:
These
which
I
have
abstracted
from
our
judicious
surveyer
,
and
an
hundred
other
doubts
concerning
the
extent
,
and
managing
of
the
new
Consistory
,
are
enough
to
let
an
ingenuous
reader
see
,
on
what
shelves
of
sand
this
late
Allobrogicall
device
is
erected
:
shortly
then
,
let
the
abettors
of
the
discipline
pretended
,
lay
their
heads
together
,
and
agree
what
it
is
that
we
may
trust
to
,
for
Christs
Ordinance
,
and
(
that
once
done
)
let
them
expect
our
condescent
;
till
then
(
and
we
shall
desire
no
longer
)
let
them
forbeare
to
gild
their
owne
fancies
with
the
glorious
name
of
Christs
Kingdome
.
§.
6.
The
imperfections
and
defects
which
must
needs
be
yeelded
to
follow
upon
the
discipline
pretended
;
and
the
necessary
inconveniences
that
must
attend
it
in
a
kingdome
otherwise
setled
.
THIS
uncertainty
of
opinion
cannot
choose
but
produce
an
answerable
imperfection
in
the
practice
,
whiles
some
Churches
,
which
hold
themselves
in
a
Parochiall
absolutenesse
,
necessarily
furnished
with
all
the
equipage
of
discipline
,
must
needs
finde
those
defective
,
which
want
it
;
so
as
the
Genevian
and
French
Churches
,
and
those
of
their
correspondence
,
which
goe
all
by
divisions
of
Presbyteries
,
must
needs
by
our
late
reformers
be
found
to
come
short
of
that
perfection
of
Christs
kingdom
,
which
themselves
have
attained
.
Those
Churches
which
have
no
Doctors
,
those
which
have
no
Deacons
,
those
which
have
no
Widdowes
,
what
case
are
they
in
?
And
how
few
have
all
these
?
Neither
is
the
imperfection
more
palpable
,
and
fatall
,
where
these
ordinances
are
missing
;
then
is
the
absurdity
,
and
inconvenience
of
entertaining
them
where
they
are
wisht
to
be
:
for
howsoever
,
where
some
new
State
is
to
be
erected
(
especially
in
a
popular
forme
)
or
a
new
City
to
be
contrived
,
with
power
of
making
their
owne
Lawes
;
there
might
perhaps
be
some
possibility
of
complying
,
in
way
of
pol●cie
,
with
some
of
the
rules
of
this
pretended
Church-government
:
yet
certainly
,
in
a
Monarchiall
State
fully
setled
,
and
a
Kingdome
divided
into
severall
Townships
,
and
Villages
,
some
whereof
are
small
,
and
farre
distant
from
the
rest
;
no
humane
wit
can
comprehend
,
how
it
were
possible
,
without
an
utter
subversion
,
to
reduce
it
to
these
termes
;
I
shall
take
leave
to
instance
in
some
particulars
;
the
strong
inexpediences
,
and
difficulties
whereof
will
arise
to
little
lesse
than
either
grosse
absurdity
,
or
utter
impossibility
.
Can
it
therefore
be
possible
in
such
a
kingdome
,
as
our
happy
England
is
,
where
there
are
thousands
of
small
village-parish●s
,
(
I
speak
according
to
the
plots
of
our
own
la●est
reformers
)
for
every
Parish
to
furnish
an
●ccl●siasticall
Consistory
,
consisting
of
one
,
or
more
Pastors
,
a
Doctor
,
Elders
,
Deacons
;
perhaps
there
are
not
so
many
houses
,
as
offices
are
required
;
And
whom
shall
they
then
be
Iudges
of
?
And
some
of
these
so
farre
remote
from
neighbours
,
that
they
cannot
participate
of
theirs
,
either
teaching
,
or
censure
:
And
if
this
were
faisible
,
what
stuffe
would
there
be
?
Perhaps
a
young
indiscreet
giddy
Pastour
,
and
for
a
Doctor
,
who
,
and
where
,
and
what
?
Iohn
a
Nokes
,
and
Iohn
a
Stiles
,
the
Elders
,
Smug
the
Smith
,
a
Deacon
;
and
whom
,
or
what
should
these
rule
,
but
themselves
,
and
their
plougshares
?
And
what
censures
,
trow
we
,
would
this
grave
Consistory
inflict
?
What
decisions
would
they
make
of
the
doubts
,
and
controversies
of
their
Parish
?
What
orders
of
government
?
For
,
even
this
Parochiall
Church
hath
the
soveraignty
of
Ecclesiasticall
jurisdiction
:
If
any
of
the
fautors
of
the
desired
discipline
dares
deny
thi●
,
let
him
look●
to
argue
the
case
with
his
best
friends
,
who
all
are
for
this
,
or
nothing
:
Else
what
means
Cartwright
to
say
,
that
in
such
cases
,
God
powres
out
his
gifts
upon
men
,
called
to
these
functions
,
and
makes
them
all
new
men
?
Here
are
no
miracles
to
be
expected
,
no
enth●siasmes
;
an
honest
●
hatcher
will
know
how
to
hand
his
straw
no
whit
better
,
after
his
election
,
than
he
did
before
:
and
was
as
deeply
politike
before
,
as
now
,
and
equally
wise
and
devout
,
though
perhaps
he
may
take
upon
him
some
more
state
and
gravity
,
than
he
formerly
did
;
and
what
a
mad
world
would
it
be
,
that
the
Ecclesiasticall
Lawes
of
such
a
company
should
be
like
those
of
the
Medes
and
Persians
,
irrevocable
;
that
there
should
be
no
appeale
from
them
:
for
,
as
for
Classes
,
and
Synods
,
they
may
advise
,
in
cases
of
doubt
,
but
over-rule
they
may
not
;
And
if
a
King
should
,
by
occasion
of
his
Court
fixed
in
some
such
obscure
Parish
,
fall
into
the
Censure
,
even
of
such
a
Consistory
or
Presbytery
,
where
is
he
?
Excommunicable
he
is
with
them
,
and
what
then
may
follow
,
let
a
Buchanan
speake
.
Now
were
it
possible
that
an
Hockley
in
the
hole
,
or
(
as
Cartwright
pleases
to
instance
)
an
Hitchin
,
or
Newington
could
yeeld
us
choice
of
such
a
worthy
Senate
,
yet
whence
shall
the
maintenance
arise
?
Surely
,
as
the
host
said
upon
occasion
of
a
guest
with
too
many
titles
;
we
have
not
meat
for
so
many
;
it
is
well
,
if
a
poore
and
painefull
incumbent
can
but
live
.
But
whence
(
as
the
Disciples
said
)
should
we
have
bread
for
all
these
?
And
what
doe
you
think
of
this
lawlesse
Polycoyranie
?
That
every
Parish-Minister
and
his
Eldership
,
should
be
a
Bishop
and
his
Consistory
;
yea
a
Pope
and
his
Conclave
of
Cardinals
within
his
owne
Parish
,
not
subject
to
controlement
,
not
liable
to
a
superiour
Censure
?
What
doe
you
thinke
of
the
power
of
Lay-men
to
binde
and
loose
?
What
of
the
equall
power
of
votes
in
spirituall
causes
with
their
grave
and
learned
Pastour
?
What
,
that
those
which
are
no
Ministers
,
should
meddle
with
the
Sacraments
;
or
should
meddle
with
the
Word
,
and
not
with
Sacraments
?
To
see
a
velvet
cloake
,
a
gilt
rapier
,
and
gingling
spurres
,
attending
Gods
Table
?
To
see
a
ruling
Elder
,
a
better
man
than
his
Pastour
?
Who
knowes
not
,
Longè
est
dissimile
,
&
inferius
,
&c.
The
place
of
the
Elders
is
utterly
unlike
,
and
below
the
order
of
Pastours
;
neither
(
me
thinks
)
should
it
work
any
contenting
peace
to
their
great
spirits
,
to
heare
that
upon
their
Consistoriall
Bench
,
their
Peasantly-Tenant
is
as
good
as
the
best
of
them
;
T.
C.
suggests
)
they
disdaine
not
men
,
but
Christ
:
These
are
but
a
handfull
of
those
strange
incongruities
,
which
will
necessarily
attend
this
mis-affected
Discipline
,
which
certainly
if
they
were
not
countervailed
with
other
(
no
lesse
unjust
)
contentments
,
could
never
finde
entertainment
in
any
corner
of
the
world
;
but
each
man
would
rule
;
and
to
be
a
King
,
though
of
a
mole-hill
,
is
happinesse
enough
.
Had
men
learned
to
inure
their
hearts
to
a
peaceable
and
godly
humility
,
these
quarrels
had
never
been
.
§.
7.
The
knowne
newnesse
of
this
invention
,
and
the
quality
of
of
the
late
authors
or
it
.
BVt
that
which
is
aboue
all
other
exceptions
most
undeniable
,
and
not
least
convictive
,
and
,
which
I
beseech
the
reader
in
the
bowels
of
Christ
,
to
lay
most
seriously
to
heart
,
is
the
most
manifestly-spick-and-spannewnesse
of
this
devised
Discipline
,
for
all
wise
and
staid
Christians
,
have
learned
to
suspect
,
if
not
to
hate
noveltie
,
in
those
things
which
are
pretended
to
be
the
matters
of
God
.
In
matter
of
Evidence
they
are
old
Records
that
will
carry
is
.
As
the
ancient
of
dayes
is
immutable
,
and
eternall
,
so
his
truths
are
like
him
,
not
changeable
by
time
,
not
decayable
by
age
:
who
was
the
father
of
this
child
,
I
professe
I
know
not
,
otherwise
than
I
have
specified
in
my
premonition
to
the
Reader
.
I
am
sure
Calvin
disclaimes
it
,
(
Quam
vis
renitente
magistratu
)
in
Saint
Peters
Church
,
was
not
to
be
brag'd
of
by
himselfe
or
his
friends
.
Pet
Balms
;
(
though
perhaps
faulty
enough
)
and
the
introducing
of
this
new
forme
of
government
:
Antho.
Frumentius
,
vehement
young
man
,
who
was
set
up
by
the
people
to
preach
upon
a
Fishstall
;
and
no
doubt
equally
heartned
his
auditors
to
this
tumultuous
way
of
proceeding
;
but
then
,
when
Viret
came
once
into
the
file
,
here
was
,
at
the
least
,
fervour
enough
.
The
spirit
of
that
man
is
well
seene
in
his
Dialogue
of
White
Divels
;
these
were
the
founders
of
that
Discipline
;
men
of
eminence
wee
must
believe
,
but
farre
inferiour
to
Calvin
,
who
came
into
Geneva
,
first
as
a
Lecturer
,
or
Preacher
,
and
then
became
their
Pastour
,
:
insomuch
as
Zanchy
reports
,
when
Calvin
preacht
at
S.
Peters
,
and
Viret
at
S.
Gervases
,
concurrent
Sermons
,
a
Frenchman
asked
,
why
he
did
not
come
somtimes
,
and
heare
Viret
,
Surv.
Disc
.
answered
,
Si
veniret
Sanctus
Paulus
,
qui
eâdem
horâ
concionaretur
,
quâ
&
Calvinus
,
ego
,
relicto
Paulo
,
audirem
Calvinum
:
If
Saint
Paul
should
come
and
preach
in
the
same
houre
with
Calvin
,
I
would
leave
Paul
,
and
heare
Calvin
;
which
was
spoken
like
a
good
blasphemous
zelote
:
But
it
is
not
to
be
wondered
at
in
men
of
such
spirits
.
Frankfort
.
in
marg
.
The
zeale
of
A.
G.
The
authour
of
that
bitter
Dialogue
betwixt
Miles
Monopodius
,
and
Bernard
,
Blinkard
,
one
of
the
hottest
and
busiest
stickers
in
these
quarrels
at
Frankfort
.
So
young
is
this
forme
of
government
,
being
untill
that
day
unheard
of
in
the
Christian
world
;
in
which
name
Peter
Ramus
(
though
a
man
censured
for
affecting
innovations
in
Logicke
and
Philosophie
)
is
(
if
we
may
credit
his
old
friend
Carpentarius
)
said
to
dislike
it
,
and
to
frump
it
by
the
name
of
Talmud
Subaudicum
.
I
cannot
be
ignorant
of
the
common
plea
of
the
pretenders
,
that
so
farre
is
this
forme
from
novelty
,
as
that
it
was
the
most
ancient
,
and
first
modell
of
Churchr-government
under
the
Apostles
.
Thus
they
say
,
and
they
alone
say
it
;
All
they
have
to
say
,
more
,
in
colour
of
reason
,
for
it
,
is
,
That
the
twelve
Apostles
themselves
were
all
equall
:
What
then
?
If
their
pretended
forme
were
bred
From
thence
;
where
hath
it
lien
hid
all
this
while
till
now
?
That
,
they
can
tell
you
too
:
Vnder
the
tyranny
and
usurpation
of
Antichrist
.
Deare
Christians
,
I
hope
,
you
now
believe
it
;
that
the
very
Apostles
themselves
,
who
lived
to
see
and
act
the
establishment
of
Episcopacie
,
would
betray
the
Church
,
at
their
parting
,
to
that
man
of
sin
:
That
all
the
holy
Fathers
and
Martyrs
of
the
Primitive
Church
,
were
either
,
through
ignorance
,
or
will
,
guilty
of
this
sacrilegious
treachery
;
that
all
the
eyes
of
the
whole
world
were
blind
,
till
this
City
(
which
was
once
indeed
dedicated
to
the
Sun
,
and
beares
it
still
for
her
emblem
)
inlightened
them
;
and
if
ye
can
believe
these
strange
suggesters
,
wonder
ye
at
them
,
whiles
I
doe
no
lesse
wonder
at
you
.
But
with
all
give
me
leave
to
put
you
in
mind
,
that
this
is
a
stale
plea
for
more
vnholy
opinions
than
one
.
The
Anabaptists
,
when
they
are
urged
with
the
Churches
ancient
practice
of
baptizing
of
infants
,
straight
pretend
,
that
this
ill
guise
was
brought
in
by
Popery
,
and
is
aparcell
of
the
mystery
of
iniquity
;
H.
N.
Beware
therefore
,
I
advise
you
,
how
you
take
up
this
challenge
,
but
upon
better
grounds
;
disgrace
not
Gods
Truth
with
the
odious
name
of
Antichristianisme
;
honour
not
Antichrist
with
the
claime
and
title
of
an
holy
Truth
;
Confesse
the
device
new
,
and
make
your
best
of
it
;
But
if
any
man
will
pretend
this
governmet
hath
beene
in
the
world
before
,
though
no
footsteps
remaine
of
it
in
any
history
or
record
,
he
may
as
well
tell
me
,
there
hath
beene
of
old
a
passage
from
the
Teneriffe
to
the
Moone
,
though
never
any
but
a
Gonzaga
discovered
it
.
§.
8.
A
Recapitulation
of
the
severall
heads
;
and
a
vehement
exhortation
to
all
Readers
;
and
first
to
our
Northerne
brethren
.
NOw
then
I
beseech
,
and
adjure
you
,
my
deare
brethren
,
by
that
love
you
professe
to
beare
to
the
Truth
of
God
,
by
that
tender
respect
you
beare
to
the
peace
of
his
Sion
,
by
your
zeale
to
the
Gospell
of
Christ
,
by
your
maine
care
of
your
happy
account
,
one
day
,
before
the
Tribunall
of
the
most
righteous
Iudge
of
the
quick
and
dead
;
lay
every
of
these
things
seriously
together
,
and
lay
all
to
heart
:
And
if
you
finde
that
the
government
of
Episcopacie
established
in
the
Church
,
is
the
very
same
,
which
upon
the
foundation
of
Christs
Institution
,
was
erected
by
his
inspired
Apostles
,
and
ever
since
continued
unto
this
day
,
without
interruption
,
without
alteration
;
If
you
finde
that
not
in
this
part
of
the
Western
Church
alone
,
into
which
the
Church
of
Rome
had
diffused
her
errours
,
but
in
all
the
Christian
world
;
farre
and
wide
,
in
Churches
of
as
large
extent
as
the
Roman
ever
was
,
and
never
in
any
submission
to
her
,
no
other
forme
of
government
was
ever
dreamed
of
from
the
beginning
;
If
you
finde
that
all
the
Saints
of
God
,
ever
since
,
the
holy
Martyrs
,
and
Confessors
,
the
Fathers
,
and
Doctors
,
both
of
the
Primitive
and
ensuing
Church
,
have
not
onely
admitted
,
but
honoured
,
and
magnified
this
onely
government
,
as
Apostolicall
;
If
all
Synods
and
Councels
that
have
been
in
the
Church
of
God
,
since
the
Apostles
time
,
have
received
and
acknowledged
none
but
this
alone
;
If
you
finde
that
no
one
man
from
the
dayes
of
the
Apostles
till
this
age
ever
opened
his
mouth
against
it
,
save
onely
one
,
who
was
for
this
cause
amongst
others
,
branded
and
discarded
for
an
heretick
;
If
you
finde
that
the
ancient
Episcopacie
,
even
from
Mark
,
Bishop
of
Alexandria
,
Timothy
,
Bishop
of
Ephesus
,
and
Titus
of
C●ete
,
were
altogether
in
substance
the
same
with
ours
,
in
the
same
altitude
of
fixed
superiority
,
in
the
same
latitude
of
spirituall
jurisdiction
;
if
you
finde
the
Laicke
Presbytery
,
an
utter
stranger
to
the
Scriptures
of
God
;
a
thing
altogether
unheard
of
in
the
ancient
times
,
yea
,
in
all
the
following
ages
of
the
Church
;
If
you
finde
that
Invention
full
of
indeterminable
uncertainties
;
If
you
finde
the
practice
of
it
necessarily
obnoxious
to
unavoydable
imperfections
,
and
to
grosse
absurdities
,
and
impossibilities
;
Lastly
,
if
you
finde
the
device
so
new
,
that
the
first
authours
and
abettors
of
it
are
easily
traced
to
their
very
forme
,
as
those
that
lived
in
the
dayes
of
thousands
yet
living
;
If
you
finde
all
these
,
(
as
you
cannot
choose
but
finde
them
)
and
many
weighty
considerations
moe
,
being
so
clearly
laid
before
you
,
I
beseech
you
suffer
not
your selves
to
be
led
by
the
nose
,
with
an
vnjust
prejudice
,
or
an
over-weening
opinion
of
some
persons
,
whom
you
thinke
you
have
cause
to
honour
;
but
without
all
respects
to
flesh
and
blood
,
weigh
the
cause
it self
impartially
in
the
ballance
of
Gods
Sanctuary
,
and
judge
of
it
accordingly
.
Vpon
my
soul
,
except
the
holy
Scripture
,
Apostolicall
acts
,
the
practice
of
the
ancient
Church
of
God
,
the
judgement
of
all
sacred
Synods
,
of
all
the
holy
Fathers
,
and
Doctors
of
the
Church
,
all
grounds
of
faith
,
reason
,
policie
,
may
faile
us
;
we
are
safe
,
and
our
cause
victorious
.
Why
then
,
O
why
will
you
suffer
your selves
to
be
thus
impetuously
carried
away
,
with
the
false
suggestions
of
some
mis-zealous
teachers
,
who
have
(
as
I
charitably
judge
of
some
of
them
,
whatsoever
grounds
the
rest
might
have
)
over
run
the
truth
in
a
detestation
of
error
:
and
have
utterly
lost
peace
in
an
inconsiderate
chace
of
a
fained
perfection
;
For
you
,
my
Northerne
brethren
(
for
such
you
shall
be
,
when
you
have
done
your
worst
)
if
there
were
any
foul
personal
faults
found
in
any
of
our
Church-governours
,
(
as
there
never
wanted
aspersions
,
where
an
extermination
is
intended
)
alas
,
why
should
not
your
wisdome
&
charity
have
taught
you
to
distinguish
betwixt
the
calling
,
&
the
crime
?
were
the
person
vicious
,
yet
the
function
is
holy
:
why
should
God
&
his
cause
be
stricken
,
because
man
hath
offended
,
&
yet
to
this
day
no
offence
proved
?
Your
Church
hath
been
anciently
famous
for
an
holy
and
memorable
Prelacie
,
and
though
it
did
more
lately
fall
upon
the
division
of
Dioeceses
;
Hector
Boetius
writes
;
Sacer
Pontificatus
Sancti
Andreae
tanta
reverentia
,
&c.
The
Bishoprick
of
St.
Andrewes
,
was
with
so
great
reverence
,
and
innocence
of
life
,
from
the
first
institution
of
it
,
in
a
long
line
of
Episcopall
succession
continued
to
the
very
time
,
wherein
we
wrote
this
;
That
six
and
thirty
,
and
more
,
of
the
Bishops
of
that
See
were
accounted
for
Saints
:
Good
Lord
!
How
are
either
the
times
altered
,
or
we
?
There
may
be
differences
of
carriage
;
and
those
that
are
Oxthodoxe
in
judgement
,
may
be
faulty
in
demeanour
;
But
I
grieve
and
feare
to
speak
it
;
There
is
now
so
little
danger
of
a
Calender
,
that
no
holinesse
of
life
could
excuse
the
best
Bishop
from
being
ejected
,
like
an
evill
spirit
,
out
of
the
bosome
of
that
Church
.
Deus
omen
,
&c.
In
the
name
of
God
,
what
is
it
,
what
can
it
be
that
is
thus
stood
upon
?
Is
it
the
very
name
of
Episcopacie
,
which
(
like
that
of
Tarquin
in
Rome
)
is
condemned
to
a
perpetuall
disuse
?
What
hath
the
innocent
word
offended
?
Your
own
Church
,
after
the
Reformation
,
could
well
be
contented
to
admit
of
Superintendents
;
and
what
difference
is
here
(
as
Zanchius
well
)
but
that
good
Greek
is
turn'd
into
ill
Latin
;
Orkney
,
Catnesse
,
and
Strathnever
;
his
Residence
in
the
town
of
Kirkwall
.
The
Superintendent
of
Rosse
;
his
Dioecesse
shall
comprehend
Rosse
,
Sutherland
,
Murray
,
and
the
North
Isles
,
called
the
Skye
,
and
Lewes
,
with
their
adjacents
;
his
residence
shal
be
the
Canonry
of
Rosse
.
The
Superintendent
of
Argile
,
his
Dioecesse
shall
be
Argile
,
Kintire
,
Lorne
,
the
South
Isles
,
Argile
,
and
Boot
,
with
their
adjacents
;
his
residence
is
at
Argile
.
The
like
of
the
Superintendent
of
Aberdene
;
the
Superintendent
of
Breckin
;
the
Superintendent
of
Fiffe
;
the
Superintendent
of
Edinburgh
;
the
Superintendent
of
Iedburgh
;
the
Superintendent
of
Glasgow
;
the
Superintendent
of
Dumfreys
;
all
of
them
bounded
with
their
severall
jurisdictions
;
which
who
desires
to
know
particularly
,
may
have
recourse
to
the
learned
Discourse
of
D
Lindsey
,
then
Bishop
of
Brechen
,
concerning
the
proceedings
of
the
Synod
of
Perth
;
Where
he
shall
also
finde
the
particularities
of
the
function
and
power
of
these
Superintendents
:
Amongst
the
rest
,
these
;
That
they
have
power
to
plant
and
erect
Churches
,
to
set
,
order
,
and
appoint
Ministers
in
their
Countreys
;
That
,
after
they
have
remained
in
their
chiefe
townes
,
three
or
foure
moneths
,
they
shall
enter
into
their
Visitation
;
in
which
they
shall
not
onely
preach
,
but
examine
the
life
,
diligence
,
and
behaviour
of
the
Ministers
:
as
also
they
shall
trie
the
estate
of
their
Churches
,
and
manners
of
the
people
;
They
must
consider
how
the
poore
are
provided
,
and
the
youth
instructed
,
they
must
admonish
where
admonitions
need
,
and
redresse
such
things
,
as
they
are
able
to
appease
,
They
must
note
such
crimes
as
are
hainous
,
that
by
the
censures
of
the
Church
the
same
may
be
corrected
.
And
now
,
what
main
difference
,
I
beseech
you
,
can
you
finde
,
betwixt
the
office
of
these
Superintendents
,
and
the
present
Bishops
?
How
comes
it
then
about
,
that
the
wind
is
thus
changed
?
That
those
Church-governours
,
which
your
owne
reformers
with
full
consent
allowed
,
and
set
downe
an
Order
for
their
Election
in
your
Constitutions
before
the
Book
of
Psalms
in
Meeter
;
should
now
be
cashiered
?
There
,
and
then
,
M.
Knox
himselfe
,
whose
name
you
professe
to
honour
,
by
the
publike
authority
of
the
Church
,
conceives
publike
prayer
for
M.
Iohn
Spotteswood
then
admitted
Superintendent
of
Lothian
,
in
these
words
;
O
Lord
,
send
upon
this
our
Brother
(
unto
whom
we
doe
in
thy
name
commit
the
chiefe
charge
of
the
Churches
of
the
division
of
Lothian
)
such
a
portion
of
thy
holy
Spirit
,
as
that
,
&c.
And
,
in
the
name
of
the
Church
,
blesseth
his
new
Superintendent
,
thus
;
God
that
hath
called
thee
to
the
office
of
a
watchman
over
his
people
,
multiply
the
gifts
of
his
grace
in
thee
,
&c.
Now
I
beseech
you
,
how
is
this
Superintendency
lost
?
That
which
was
then
both
lawfull
,
and
usefull
,
and
confessed
for
no
other
then
a
calling
from
God
,
is
it
now
become
sinfull
and
odious
?
Are
we
become
so
much
wiser
,
and
more
zealous
than
our
first
reformers
,
as
there
is
distance
betwixt
a
Superintendent
,
and
no
Bishop
?
But
what
?
is
it
the
stroake
the
Bishops
have
in
government
,
and
their
seat
in
Parliament
,
which
is
so
great
an
eye-sore
?
Let
me
put
you
in
mind
,
that
your
greatest
patrons
of
your
desired
Discipline
have
strongly
motioned
an
Ecclesiasticall
Commission
for
the
over-looking
and
over-ruling
your
Consistories
;
and
even
when
they
would
have
Bishops
excluded
both
out
of
those
Comitiall
Sessions
,
Q
Eliz.
time
by
the
humble
Mot.
and
out
of
the
Church
,
yet
have
moved
(
such
was
Beza's
device
long
since
for
Scotland
)
That
in
the
place
of
Bishops
there
might
be
present
in
the
Parliament-house
,
some
wise
and
grave
Ministers
of
speciall
gifts
and
learning
,
sorted
out
of
all
the
land
,
to
yeeld
their
Counsell
according
to
Gods
heavenly
Law
,
even
as
the
Civill
Iudges
are
ready
to
give
their
advice
according
to
the
temporall
Law
;
and
for
matters
of
greater
difficulty
.
What
a
world
is
this
?
Grave
and
wise
Ministers
,
and
yet
no
Bishops
?
Doth
our
Episcopacie
either
abolish
our
Ministery
,
or
detract
ought
from
wisdome
and
gravity
?
Away
with
this
absurd
partiality
.
But
these
must
be
to
advise
,
not
to
vote
;
in
any
case
beware
of
that
,
where
then
is
the
third
estate
?
Beza's
Counsell
,
we
see
,
is
yet
alive
,
but
it
comes
not
home
to
the
purpose
;
Welfare
that
bold
Supplicator
to
Q.
Elizabeth
,
which
moved
,
that
foure
and
twenty
Doctors
of
Divinity
,
to
be
called
by
such
names
as
should
please
her
Highnesse
,
might
be
admitted
into
the
Parliament
House
,
and
have
their
voices
there
,
instead
of
the
Bishops
.
O
impotent
envie
of
poore
humorists
;
Doctors
,
but
no
Bishops
,
;
Any
men
,
any
names
,
but
theirs
;
the
old
word
is
,
Love
creepes
where
it
cannot
goe
;
How
much
are
we
beholden
to
these
kinde
friends
,
who
are
so
desirous
to
ease
us
of
these
unproper
secularities
?
Even
ours
at
home
can
nibble
at
these
(
as
they
think
)
ill-placed
honours
,
and
services
;
yours
goe
(
alas
)
too
roundly
to
worke
;
striking
at
the
root
of
their
Episcopacie
,
not
pruning
off
some
superfluous
twigs
of
priviledge
,
&
rather
than
not
strike
home
,
not
caring
whom
they
hit
in
the
way
;
would
God
I
might
not
say
,
even
the
Lords
Anointed
,
whom
they
verbally
professe
to
honour
;
at
whose
sacred
Crowne
and
Scepter
,
if
any
of
the
sons
of
Belial
amongst
you
do
secretly
aime
,
whiles
they
stalke
under
the
pretence
of
opposition
to
Episcopacie
,
the
God
of
heaven
find
them
out
,
and
powre
upon
them
deserved
confusion
But
for
you
,
alas
,
Brethren
,
what
hopes
can
I
conceive
,
that
these
pre-judged
papers
can
have
any
accesse
to
your
eyes
,
much
lesse
to
your
hearts
;
my
very
Title
is
barre
too
much
:
But
if
any
of
you
will
have
so
much
patience
,
as
to
admit
these
lines
to
your
perusall
,
I
shall
beseech
him
for
Gods
sake
,
and
for
his
own
,
to
be
so
farre
indifferent
also
,
as
not
upon
,
groundlesse
suggestion
,
to
abandon
Gods
Truth
and
Ordinance
;
and
out
of
meere
opinion
of
the
worth
of
some
late
Authour
,
to
adore
an
Idoll
made
of
the
earings
of
the
people
,
and
fashioned
out
with
the
graving
toole
of
a
supposed
skilfull
Aaron
:
Shortly
,
after
these
poore
well-meant
(
howsoever
,
I
doubt
,
ineffectuall
)
endeavours
,
my
prayers
shall
not
be
wanting
for
your
comfortable
peace
,
loyall
obedience
,
perfect
happinesse
.
Oh
that
the
God
of
heaven
would
open
your
eyes
,
that
you
may
see
the
truth
;
and
compare
what
you
have
done
,
with
what
you
should
doe
,
how
soone
would
you
finde
cause
to
retract
your
own
decrees
;
and
to
re-establish
that
true
Ordinance
of
the
living
God
,
which
you
have
beene
mis-induced
to
abandon
.
§.
9.
An
exhortary
conclusion
to
our
brethren
at
home
.
ANd
for
you
,
my
dearely
beloved
Brethren
,
at
home
;
For
Christs
sake
,
for
the
Churches
sake
,
for
your
soules
sake
,
be
exhorted
to
hold
fast
to
this
holy
Institution
of
your
blessed
Saviour
,
and
his
unerring
Apostles
;
and
blesse
God
for
Episcopacie
.
Doe
but
cast
your
eyes
a
little
back
,
and
see
what
noble
instruments
of
Gods
glory
,
he
hath
beene
pleased
to
raise
up
in
this
very
Church
of
ours
,
out
of
this
sacred
vocation
:
What
famous
servants
of
God
,
what
strong
Champions
of
Truth
,
and
renowned
Antagonists
of
Rome
,
and
her
superstitions
;
what
admirable
Preachers
;
what
incomparable
Writers
;
yea
,
what
constant
and
undaunted
Martyrs
,
and
Confessours
;
men
that
gave
their
blood
for
the
Gospell
,
and
imbraced
their
fagots
,
flaming
;
which
many
gregarie
Professours
held
enough
to
carry
cold
and
painlesse
:
To
the
wonder
and
gratulation
of
all
forraigne
Churches
,
and
to
the
unparallelable
glory
of
this
Church
,
and
Nation
.
I
could
fill
this
page
with
such
a
Catalogue
of
them
,
who
are
now
in
their
heaven
,
that
come
for
the
present
to
my
thoughts
;
(
besides
those
Worthies
yet
living
,
both
here
,
and
in
Ireland
,
who
would
be
unwilling
from
my
pen
tO
blush
at
their
owne
just
praises
)
as
might
justly
shame
and
silence
any
gaine-sayer
.
After
that
a
malicious
Libeller
hath
spit
out
all
his
poyson
against
Episcopacie
,
and
raked
together
,
out
of
all
histories
,
all
the
insolencies
,
and
ill
offices
,
which
have
,
in
former
ages
,
been
done
by
professedly
Popish
Prelates
(
which
do
almost
as
much
concerne
us
,
as
all
the
Treasons
and
Murders
of
formerly
male-contented
persons
can
concerne
him
)
faine
would
I
have
him
shew
me
,
what
Christian
Church
under
heaven
,
hath
,
in
so
short
a
time
,
yeelded
so
many
glorious
Lights
of
the
Gospell
,
so
many
able
and
prevalent
adversaries
of
Schisme
and
Antichristianisme
;
so
many
eminent
Authours
of
learned
workes
,
which
shall
out-bid
time
it selfe
,
let
envie
grinde
her
teeth
,
and
eat
her
heart
,
the
memory
of
these
worthy
Prelates
shall
be
ever
sweet
and
blessed
.
Neither
doubt
I
but
that
it
will
please
God
,
out
of
the
same
rod
of
Aaron
still
to
raise
such
blossomes
,
and
fruit
,
as
shall
win
him
glory
to
all
eternity
:
Go
you
on
to
honour
these
your
reverend
Pastors
;
to
hate
all
factious
withdrawings
from
that
government
,
which
comes
the
nearest
of
any
Church
upon
earth
to
the
Apostolicall
.
And
(
that
I
may
draw
to
Conclusion
)
for
the
farther
Confirmation
of
your
good
Opinion
of
the
Bishops
of
your
Great
Britaine
,
heare
what
Iacobus
Lectius
,
Iacob
.
Lectius
.
Prascriptionum
Theologicarum
l.
2.
Nota.
2.
the
learned
Civilian
of
Geneva
in
his
Theologicall
Prescriptions
,
dedicated
to
the
Consuls
,
and
Senate
of
Geneva
,
saith
of
them
,
De
Episcoporum
autem
vestorum
vocatione
,
&c.
As
for
the
calling
of
your
Bishops
(
saith
he
)
speaking
to
his
Popish
adversaries
)
others
have
accurately
written
thereof
,
and
we
shortly
say
,
that
they
have
a
show
of
an
Ordinary
Ministery
,
but
not
the
thing
it selfe
,
and
that
those
onely
are
to
be
held
for
true
and
legitimate
,
which
Paul
describes
to
us
in
his
Epistles
to
Timothy
and
Titus
,
Cujusmodi
olim
in
magno
illo
Britanniarum
regno
extitisse
,
atque
etiamnum
superesse
,
subindeque
eligi
Episcopos
non
diffitemur
;
Such
kind
of
Bishops
as
we
doe
not
deny
,
but
yeeld
,
to
have
been
of
old
,
and
to
be
still
at
this
day
,
successively
elected
in
the
great
Kingdome
of
Britaine
:
Thus
he
:
when
Geneva
it selfe
pleades
for
us
,
why
should
we
be
our
owne
adversaries
?
Let
me
therefore
confidently
shut
up
all
,
with
that
resolute
word
of
that
blessed
Martyr
,
and
Saint
,
Ignatius
:
〈◊〉
〈◊〉
〈◊〉
〈◊〉
〈◊〉
.
Let
all
things
be
done
to
the
honour
of
God
;
Give
respect
to
your
Bishop
,
as
you
would
God
should
respect
you
.
My
soule
for
theirs
which
obey
their
Bishop
,
Presbyters
,
Deacons
;
God
grant
that
my
portion
may
be
the
same
with
theirs
.
And
let
my
soule
have
the
same
share
with
that
blessed
Martyr
that
said
so
.
Amen
.
FINIS
.