7resbyter.t, fowas the euftoen in Alexandria:andwhendid ever the Church¡malt .. to be no Bifhopser ñlinifters ? And ¡life of Tertullians Prxfidení proba- r cfaig;.Seniores, ánß of Cyprians Salvo.intet Collegas paeis &,.contordiz .:., vinculo and that.doubtlefs if Cyprian be to be believed, theCb-erch weir- then ruledby the joint confent ofits Pallots, of whom one was indeed the Prei- detït or Moderator, who yet called hi nfclf compresbyter, and the Presbyters fra tres(not filios as it was oflate.)This anfwer Ihave had fromfomeof thent,that the Church in thofe timeswas much under the cloud,beinz perfecuted,and hadnot thatliberty to fettleDiocefan Eptfcopacy in that Glory,,which the Apottolical in- ftittition aimed at, and that theChurch was thenwhatit couldbe, and not what, it Wouldbe. Doyou judge ofits weight. For mypart, I am molt (tumbled at the reading. of Ignatius whomDr.H., fo firenuoufly defends) and cannot tell bow to evade that Teftìmony in the behalf of,Epifcopacy,. if it beandeed the tefti- móny of the trueIgnatius. But methinks his phrafe is much unlike either that of ,` Cletnens,_or of. Cyprian in this cafe. Its, great pity that .Dr. Bloudel wants:. bsseyes, and fo we arehindredofenjoying of .f more of his labours in this point. , 114 Notionofthe9rprdoa,e+pocvatle a as avery pretty on-, and it werewell ifwe, badfuller evidence added to thatwhichhe,hatb.endeavolsredafter inbis Preface, , to bis Apologyfor Hierom.; Or ifyourjudgementabottt thepower ofeveryTingle Pa fior werefully improved,,, it.would conduce much to the clearing- ofthefe controverfies. I could methinksbe:: glad ofthe practice ofthofepropofalswhichEifhóp llíher, ,hash 'Ma'de in a,Iatt, printedfheet : Eut there angry Brethren who now oppofeusare. àhigher firain. But I run out toofar andforget whom I am. writing to 2 my 1 àm .deeply fenfable, what mifchief thofe feeds which are asyet but thinfown (as I mays fay) maygrow up to an tttne : 1know not how it is withyo s;b'rt Withus; rIfear" tenfor one at leapt would eafiy drawn to fuck an opinionofus,if thetempiati, on were but fomewhatfironger;multitudes obfrving how cavil tranfàltions;hhave;: mitt in a round, begin alfoto than¢we (ball nl fo ariveatour old çhureh-earfifinks again: nowfthefè epifcopal,mens judgement fhould but:bé dtfer¡ty(. gngrt e abroad, how ealily would it make there people think that wehà'te.,-deludell themz . all this while?andfowillnot regard us,Alas!tvhat,afad though, .t is it ifr(bold s Rudy andpreach andprayfor mene fouls, avidyet berejeCted as onethdt bad o.., chargeof them as a M esi(ter,laid on mefor. God ! We thank,you, for : ,what you faid inyour ChrifUlan Concord : and iatreat youwould enlarge fisrtbereon, this _ Subjelt, asyou,,feeconvenient : That theftriplingc.in the Mní (try+ may befier- nifhedwith;arguments againft our adv rfariesfi oro pitch able hands asyours are. Ibave done; only (hall defreyour. pardon for my interruptingyou, in yotar other bafnefs;annd ifI(hall hereafter craveyour, ?ffiftanceanddirettionin forne cafes, Ipray you excufeme if uncivil, andvorechfafe tó let me, hearfrom you : for Iam about tofettle_where thecharge as great. TheLord continue you amongfI. tier, tlaatyorf,may befurtheraninftrumenpof good. I refs, 74x., Your . Affectionate frir:nd and .. $rother.E, : `a Atfért.
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