r 525 J How it is tohe anfwered I have before lhewed; .· and more ·fully in my Treati{eof .J.Vational Churches. § v. Have not the old and many later Noncon~ formifis advantaged Pqpery by decrying a·U. Epif– copacy or Imparity of.Minifrers? VVhen it is , fo . plain that Chrift did fet 'Twelve above Seventy, and kept up the number by Matrhi.u ? and gave power to Apoftles , and they to other to be exercifed over other Churches and Pafcors ? And when it is apparent that all the Churches for many hundred years, had Epifcopal Government,(thougb llot fuch as Popery and Tyranny harh fince brought in :) Thofe called Herericks and Schi(maticks· ·were for it : The Novatians and Donatifts over zealous for ·it, Neftorians, Eucychians, Monothe- .. lites, Macedonians, Acacians , and all the Seets in the time of Heathen Perfecution: I find not that A erius (alone excepted) did ever call it un-· lawful, or fay that it was better for the Churches to be without them.Bur that the Bilhops ~n.d Presbyters·Officers \<V ere equal. · And will it not greatly confirm the Papifts to find fuch Proteftants re jeer the judgment·and· pr:H~tice of all the ancient Churches, and differ fi·om the refc of the Chriftian VVorld. § VI. But it advantaged them much more than cur opinion; when the Scots Covenant was im– pofed as the neceffary terms ofMiniftry and Ma.. gifcracy : Thereby weakening the Proteftants by a doleful Divifion, that by opinions were divided too .,m.uch before. VV11en fo grea t apart of the Kingdom, Clergy, Gentryand Vulgar were for the /· renounced Prela,cy,to !but all chefe, and all oftheir mind ·that ever fhould come after, from .Miniftry and Magift~acy, fuch men as Vjl]{:r, Beadle, paw– name,
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