Neal - Houston-Packer Collection BX9333 .N4 1754

2347he HIS T 0 R Y of the PuRITANS. VoL. II. K.Charlesl. is ready to prove it. an APOSTOLICAL INSTITUTION, and that it has ~bem banded down through all ages and countries till Calvin's time, as foon as he is furniihed with books, or fuch divines as he ihall make choice of; he does not think that Mr. Henderjim's argun1ents to prove the church of England not built on the foundation of Chrifl and hisapofllesare va– lid, nor will he admit that mofi: of the prelates about the time of the reformation, did not infifi: upon the DIVINE RIGHT. The king adds, Mr. Henderfrm would do well to ihow, where our Saviour had prohibited the addition of more church officers than thofe named by h im, and yet the church of E11gland has not fo much as offered at this, for an archbithop is not a new officer, but only a di fl inClion in the order of government like the moderator of aifemhlies in Scotland. His majefiy denies that th~ bithops and prdbyteries always import the fame thing in fcripture, and when they do, it only refpetls the apofile's times, for it may be proved, that the order of biihops fucceeded that of the apoltles, and that the title was altered in regard to thofe who were immediately chofen by our Savi– our. As for the feveral congregations in Jerufalem, united in one church his majefiy replies, are there not many pariihes in one diocefe? And do not the deans and chapters, and fometimes the inferior clergy afli!l: the biihop r So that unlefs fame pofitive and direCt proof can be brought of aa equality between the apoflles and other prefbyteries, all arguments are with him inconclufive. The king confe!fes, that in cafe he cannot prove from an tiquity that ordination and jurifdiflion are peculiar branches of au– tbority belonging to bijhops, he ihall begin to fufpeCl the truth of ·his prin-· ciples. As for biihop Davmant's tefi:imony, he refufes to be governed by that; nor will he admit of Mr. Henderfon's exception againll: the fa . . thers, till be can find out a better rule of interpreting fcrip ture. And whereas Mr. Henderjim mged the precedent of foreign reformed churches in favour of prefbytery, his m ajefly does not undertake to cenfure them, but fuppofes nece!ftty may excufe many things which would be otherwife unlawful; the church of England, in his majefiy's judgment, has this advan tf\ge, that it comes nearefi: the primitive doctrine and difcipline ;. and that Mr. Hender)bn has failed in proving presbyters may ordain with– out a biihop, for 'tis evident St. Paul" had a ihare in Timothy's ordination, , 2 Tim. i. 6. As to the obligation of the coronation oatb, the king is fiill of opinion, none but the reprefentative body of the clergy can abfolve him; . and as for the impracticablenefs of reformation upon the king's principles, he can't anfwer for that, but thinks it fufficient to let him know, that incommodum non folvit argumentunz. His majefl:y then declares, that as it is a great fin for a prince to opprefs the church; fo on the oth~r hand, he holds it alfolutely unlawfulfor Jubjefls to make war (though difenjively) a– zainjt their lawfulfivereil£n, upon any pretence whatfoever~ Mr,

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