CY71) Prelates and Priefts have been fo vile, that in reafon we could a. pea no better frommen fovicious , then forgery and abufe; he that reads what gildas andothers fay ofthe B: ittifh, and what even Baronies, much more Efpenceus, Cornelius cAltrf. and others fay of the Romanios ; yea he that knows but what {late the Bithops and Priefts have been in and yet continue in, in our own duics, will never think it an improbable thing that forceofour ptedeceffors fhould be guilty either of Simony or other vice that made them uncapable or fhould be ulcer ufur. pers under the name ofBithops and Minifters of Chrift. See. 14. Argument z. If uninterrupted Regular Ordination ofall our Predeceffors be Neceffiry to the Being of the Miniftry, thencan no Bithop or Paftors whatfoever comfortablyOrdain For who dare lay his hand on the beadof another and pretend CO deliver him authority, in the name of Chrift, that bath no affurance nor probability neither) that he bathany Commif lion from Chrift to do it ? But the Confequent will be difowned by thofe that difpute againft us ? therefore fo fhould the Antecedent be alfo. Se& a 5. Argument 3 if there be a Neceffity of an unin- terrupted fucceffion of true Regular O; dination, then no man can know of the Church that he is a memberof, or of anyother Church on earth, that it is a true Church. ( By a Church I mean not a Community, but a Society : not a company of private Chriflians living together as C.hrifliansneighbours,but a Politick Church confining of Paftor and people of%eiated for theufe ofpublick Ordinances and Communion therein:)But the confequent is falle ; ---- -- &c. Sea. 16. The Major, or confequence is certain : For no man can know that the Church is a true Political Organized Church, that knows not that the Paflor of it isa true Minifter ofChrift. Becaufe the Pallor is an Effential confiitutive part ofthe Church in this acceptation. And I have proved already that the truth ofthe Miniftrycannot be known upon ,,I.e Opponents terms.And for theMinor , I think almoft all Church members will grant it me. For though they are ready enough to accufe others, yet they all take their owh Churches for true, and will be offended with any that eveoion or deny it. Sect. 17. Argument 4. If there be a Ncceffity of an unin- Z z terrupted
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