238 The LIFEof the that they be not chargedwith ordinary Confirming (or admitting into the Rate of AdultMembers) all the People, which willbind them in Confcience to know and try them all, or molt: Nor yet tó receive Prefentments of all Scandals, nor to Excommunicate and abfolve, or impofe Publick Penitence, on all that thefe be- long to. 9. If thefe things may not be granted, we Inuit be bold to leàve our Telliínony, that Diocefans affirming the particular Government of all the People , in fo many Churches; as they have inEngland , are deftruetive r. To the very being of all the particular Churches, fave the Cathedralor City where theyare; (It being that old Maxim, Ubi non eFt Epifeopu, non eft Peclefra ; viz. in fenfupolitica) r z. And to the Paltoral Officeof Chrift's InRitution : ;. And to the molt ancient Epifcopacy. Whenas by the eftablithing of thefe Parochial Bishops, ( at lealt Oppidarim) the Diocefans may become of great ufe for the Work of General Overfighr. We re- fute not General Officers, fo they overthrow not the particular Officers and Churches: As if General Officers in an Army or Navy would be the fòle Com- manders, and depofe all the Captains, and confequently make the Difcipline im poffible. Io. We molt earneftly befeech your Majefty, that inMatters of Doebine, Dif- cipline and Worship, the Modesand Circdmftànces and Ceremonies may not be made more neceffaryto our Ordination, Infitution , Minifiration, or Commtf+ pion than God hath made then,,either in Scriptureor in the Nature of the thing ; left they be Rill the Engines of our Divifions and Calamity ; but thatwe may hold our Concord andCommunion inNccefary things, according to the Primitive Sim- plicity ; and may have Liberty in things Unneceffary, as to Subfcriptions, Promifes and Practice; that fo the Churchesmay have Peace and:Charity in both. And that our Difcipline which operateth on the Will, maynot be corruptedby unreceffarÿ and unfeafonable violence; nor any permitted, much lets confrained to be Member, of our Churche, andCommunion that vilifie [cob Priviledges, and cannot be 'moved by our Exhortations, nor feel tbe weight of a meet Excommunication. . Though a gentle Force isneceffary to compelthe Learners or Catechumens to fubmit to theneceffa- ry means of their Inftruetion : and to reftrain the petulant from abufing the Wor- fhip and Worìhippers of the Lord. He that will rather be callout of the Church by Excommunication, than repent and amend his wicked Life, is fo unfit to bea Member of the Church, thatit is molt unfit to drive him into it by Imprifon- ment, Mulish, or Secular Force: And this is that which dots corrupt and undo the Church. I shall here Annex Archbifhop UJber's Model of Government, which we nowal: fo prefented. The Reduction of Epifcopacy unto the Form of Synodical Govern- ment received in the Ancient Church,propofed in the Tear 1641. as an Expedient for the prevention of tbofe Troubles which af- terwards did arife about the Matter of Church-Government. Epifcopal and Presbyterial Government conjoÿned. (a) The 1;? Y the Order of the Church of England, all Presbyters are charged to (a) nil.: Norm of Miter the Doctrine and Sacramentsand the Difcipline of Chrift as the Lord order ng bath commanded, and as this Realm bath received the fame. And that we might of Prienn the better understand what the Lord had commanded therein , the Exhortation of (d) mid,, alts so. St. Paul to theElders of (b) the Church of Epbefur, is appointed to be read unto 7, 18. them at the timeof their Ordination : Takeheed unto your 'jive, and to all the Flock, foxta(en"' among whom the Holy Ghofl hatb madeyou Overjets, to rule the Congregation of God, Matth.2.5. which he hash púrcbafed with bh Blood. ez Rev... Of the many Elders who in common thus ruled the Church of Ephefuc, there 5.& 595.was one Prefident whom our Saviour in his Epiltle to the Church, in a peculiar tie`' s' manner ítileth the (c) Angel of the Churchof Ephefus. And Ignatius in , another E- piffle
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=