(163) command ofGod, as oft as a Dioeefenwill but fay [I baot' fonte Flerefie or Crime byyour Teacher whichyou do not, andtherefare he muff Preach no more andyou mull nomore aft hir miniltry.] Were! one of thefe people, I would be bold to ask the Diocefan [Sir what is the Heretic or Crime that he is guilty of ? Ifhe refufe to tell me I would flight him as a Tyrant: Gen- eral Counfels told the peopleof the Heretics for which they did delpofe their Paflors. Ifhe told me what it was, I would try it by Gods word: IfI wereunable, Iwould feek help. litheDiocefan fileneedmy Teach- er, and ten neighbour Bithops wiferthan fie, did tell me that it was for Truthand Duty, and that the Heretic was the Bithops, Iwould hear myTeacher, andbelieve the other Biítops beforehim, (without taking themtobe ofahigher order.) The objeâionsagainfl this, and what is before Paid (hall be anfwer- ed in the next Chapter. You fee whenit isbutopened, how the Dioce- fans power vanifheth into the air. CHAP. XIII. That there ifno need offilch as our Diocefans for the Únity or the Government of the particular Minillers, nor for the filen- cing oftheunworthy. 1 T:fiuck much in the mindsof the Ancient Doctors and Chrillians .. that Epifcopacy was neceffary to avoid Schifm and difcord among the Minifìers and the people ; and that it was introduced for that rea- fon. And I am foaveríe to fingularity in Religion, that I will not be he that (hall gainfay it. A double, yea a treble Epiropacy, thoughI can- not prove inulitutedof Cbrill, yet will I not contradiet, becauf one fort I cannotdifprove, and the other two I take to be but a prudential humane determinationofthe Circumflancesofone and the famefaired Minifieri- al office-worke. r. That which I cannot difprove as to a Divine Inifitu- tion, is a General Minifiry over many Churches (like the Scots Viliters at their Reformation) who as Succeffors to the Apollles and Evange. lilts in the durable parts of their office, were by a conjunélionof Scrip- ture evidenceandDivine authority of office, to perfwade Pallors and peopleto their feveral duties, and tohave a chief hand in ordaining and removing Minifiers. 2. That which I will not eontradifl antiquity my isa - Bifhopinevery particular Church, to beasthe chief Presbyter, like thechief Juftice on the bench or one of Quorum, asour Parifh Mi- niflersnow are in refpee to all their Citrates of the Chappels under them. g. And I would not deny but at all Minillerial Synods , one man maybeModerator,eitherpro tempore, orfor continuance, as there is cattle. Y
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