A reply to Dr. Mortons general Defence of three nocent [sic] ceremonies viz. the…A reply to Dr. Mortons generall Defence of three nocent [sic] ceremonies viz. the…

4 The charge which he saith our Bishops have of appointing Ministers, I wonder from whence they have it, or by what conveyance. They say that they themselves are the proper pastors of all the parishes in their Diocese. It is well, if they have an ubiquitary faculty, and vvill, to perform the office of pastors to so great a people: but who made them such? Christ and his Apostles never knew of ordinary pastors, having charge of so many Churches. But suppose they did, by whom doth Christ call one of our Bishops? by the Kings congedelier, the Chapters nominal election, or by the Arch-bishops consecration? There is none of these that can bear the trial of scripture, nor of the Primitive Churches example?

4 The charge which he sayth our Bishops haue of appoynting Ministers, I vvonder from whence they haue it, or by vvhat conveyance. They say that they themselues are the proper pastors of all the parishes in their Diocesse. It is well, if they haue an ubiquitary facultie, and vvill, to performe the office of pastors to so great a people: but vvho made them such? Christ and his Apostles never knew of ordinary pastors, having charge of so many Churches. But suppose they did, by vvhom doth Christ call one of our Bishops? by the Kings congedelier, the Chapiters nominall election, or by the Arch-bishops consecration? There is none of these that can beare the triall of scripture, nor of the Primitiue Churches example?

6 Is the Bishops power of appointing a minister no ways determinate to this or that minister? then it seemeth his mere will determineth of the particular person, without any just reason. For if there be certain causes or reasons which the Bishop is bound to follow in designing of this or that minister, rather then another, then is the Bishop determinate. The Council of Nice it self determined the authority even of Patriarchs in this case: viz. that the Elders should first nominate fit men [Greek or Hebrew] secondly that the people should elect or choose out of that number, per [Greek or Hebrew]: and thirdly, that the Bishop should confirm the elected [Greek or Hebrew]. Socrat. l. •. p. 177. What exorbitant power is this then which our Bishops do now-a-days challenge unto themselves? All Classical Divines do consent to that which Junius setteth down, Conc. 5. l. 2. c. 6. n. 73. that no Bishop can send or appoint a minister sine certa ac justa ecclesiae postulatione, without the certain fore-choice of the Church: Id enim esset obtrudere non mittere. For that were to obtrude him, not to send him.