( 319) Bithop with his fevexteen fouls ? And was not Alexander ( the Colliar ) whom he Ordained at Comana, a Bifhop, though but of a fmall Affembly ? Do not fame of you confers, that Bifhops inScripture.times had no fubjecft Presbyters, and confequently had but a fingleCongregation ?. If then a Parifh or Congregati- onal Bithop were a true Bithop, why may he not be fo (hll ? S. 9. Obje&. 2. But the Church tinder Chrifian Princes fhould not be conformed to the model of the Church tinder perfecto- tion : Shall Bifhops have no more power and honour now then they had then ? Wefie inConfiantines dayes a change was made. .Tuff they,be eyed to a Parifh now, becaufe they were Bifhops only of a `Parifh in. Scripture-times? g. to. Anfw. i. We would not have them perfecuted now, as they Were then, nor yet to want any due encouragement or affftance that a Chriftian Magiftrate can afford them. But yet we would have Gods Word to be our Rule, and Bifhops to be the fame things now as then, and we wouldnot have men make the ;profperity of the Church a pretence for altering the Ordi- nances or Inflitutions of Chrift, and making fuch changes as their conceit orambitious minds incline them to. We (hall never have a Rule nor fixed certainty, if we may change things our (elves on fuch pretences.Prrtend not then to Antiquity,as youdo. g, z r. And 2. I have in the former Difputation proved by many Reafons, that it was not the mind of the Apoftles them (elves, that the Parochial or Congregational Churches which they planted, fhould be changed into another fort of Churches. Nor is there any reafon for it, but againft it, in the profperity of the Church, and pietyof Magiftrates. For i. Pious Magiflrates fhould help to keep, and not to break Apoftolical inftitutions. 2. Andpious Mag ftrates fhould further the good of the Church, and not hurt it to advance ambitious men. g. I2. For 3. Minifters are for theChurches, and therefore no change mull be made on fuch pretences that is againft the good of the Churches. If every Parifh or Congregation then, were meet tohave a Bithop and Presbyterie of their own, why Mall the Church benow fo abufed, as that a whole County fhalt havebut one Bithopand his Presbyterie ? íf every Hofpital or Town had a Phyfitian with his Apothecaries and Mates, in your Fathersdayes,would yoube their benefactors, by procuring that all
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