3 i.&) §. 6. But yet it is certain that the Original ofthis cullom,of fettirg np one as Preftdent or chief Presbyter in a particular Church, cannot be found out, fo as to fay, by whom and when it was fir ii brought in But if it began upon the death of Mark at eAlrx, dria , it muff needs be long before the death of yohn tl e Apoitle, (in that Church, what ever other Churces did. ) But it feems Lhat therewas then a difference and indifferency in this point, and that other Churces did not prefently imitate the Churches of Alexandria and Rome herein. He that reads Cle- mens Epiflle to the Corinthians without partiality, I think will be of Grotisss mind ( before cited, Epifl. ad Gal. adBignen.) that Clemens knew nor any fuch Prelacy among the Corinthians,when he wrote that Epiflle : And fo we snag fay of fome other Witneffes and Churches in thofe times, and afterwards in ma- ny places. §. 7. It is not another Order of Miniflers, or Office, that was in fuch Churchesdiflin&from the Presbyters thataffifted them. Their Prefidents orEminent Bithops werenot made thenEpifcopi EpifcoporHm, vel i'aflores Paflorum,as having an Officeof Teach- ing and Governing the other Pallors , as Pillars have of teach- ing and Governing the flock But they were only the chiefPres- byters, or chief Bithops or Paflors of that Church,as an Arch- ,deacon is to the Deacon, when he is made filch by their choice, as Flieromscompanion is (adEvagr. ) §. 8. Nor is it lawful! now, even in the fmalleft Parifh,for any One to affume fuch a fuperiority over any Presbyters ( though fuch as have their maintenance from him, and are chofenby:him, and are cailed,his Curates) as ifhe were of a Suptr:our Order or Offiec, and fo the Governour of theother as his inferiours. §.9. But yet that a Primacy of degree, or Prefidency, or gated c ?vtoderaiorf{,ip of one in fuch a Church and Presbyterie, is lawful!, I think with fmall labour may be evinced. And i.All the Arguments before ufed, for thePrefidency ofone in an Affociation, will prove this Parochial Prefsdency withadvantage. 4. io. z. It is a thing that is conftantly or very ordinarily pratiifed among us already ; with common approbation or without contradit ion,as far as I have heard. Manyplaces have one Minifter only that is prefented by thePatron ; and this one Paftorbath divers with him (or as the common laying is,Vnder him .j
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