Baxter - Houston-Packer Collection BX5151 .B3 1659

85 ) he fecret Intention oftheApoftles to be for fuch a Mntation;an I then we (hall be fatisfied in that. But till then it is enough to us that we have the fame Government that dejaEo was let up by the Apofiles, andexercifed in Scripture times. And that its granted us that the office was not then inf}ituted which we de- ny : For it is the office of fuch fubjea Presbyters having no Power ofOrdination that we deny. Sea. 22. Objea. But though in Scripture times there wereno Bifhops over many Churches and Presbyters,.yet there rare Archbijhops that were over many. Anfw. Becaufe this obje&ion contains their ftreng:h I (hall anfwer it the more fully. And t. If there were no fubjea Presbyters in thole times, then Archbifhops could rule none. But there were none fuch, as is granted : therefore, &c. And what proof is thereof Archbifhops then ? Sea. 23. Their firfi proof is from the Apofiles : But they will never prove that they were fixed Bifhops or Archbifhops. I have proved thecontrary before. But fuch an itinerant Epic copacy as the Apojtleshad (layingby their extraordinaries) for cmy part I think thould be continued to the world and to the Church (ofwhich after. ) Another of their proofs is from Timothy and Titus , who, thy fay, were Archbifhops. But there is full evidence that Timothy and Titus were not fixed Bifhops or Archbifhops, but Itinerant Evangelifis, that did as the Apoff les did, even plant and fettle Churches, and then go further,and do the like. Seeand confider bue the proofs of this in Prins unbífhoping ofTimothy and Titus. Such Planters and Itinerants were pro tempore the Bithopsofevery Church where they came, ( yet fo as another might the next week be Bithop ofthe fame Church, and another the next week after him, yea three or four or more at once, as they (hould come into the place) And there- fore many Churches as well as Ephefus and Creet its likemight have begun their Catalogue with Timothy andTitus and ma- ny aone betides Rome might bave begun their Catalogue with Peter andTaut. Seer. 24. Anotheroftheir proofs isof the Angelsof the leven Churches which they fay wereArchbithops. But how do they prove it? Becaufe chofe Churches or forne of them 'ere plant- B b

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