And we maintain, that the sacred Scripture is the universal Law of Christ, in which he hath described and instituted the office and work of the sacred Ministry, and appointed the way of their continuance in the world, by necessary Qualification, Election, Consent, and ordinarily regular Ordination. That as Presbyters now lay on hands with the Bishop, so senior Pastors are the Ordainers, as the College of Physicians license Physicians, and the Convocation of Doctors make Doctors (and man generateth man). But to avoid contention and division, the Churches have used to make one of these Presbyters or Pastors a President, and partly a Ruler in each College and Church, and given him a Negative ⟨image 3⟩voice in Ordinations; against which we strive not, but maintain, 1. That his consent is not so necessary, as that no one can be a true Presbyter that hath it not. As the Clergy at Rome in Cyprian's days long governed when they had no Bishop; so if the Bishop be dead, or refuse to ordain, or would ordain none but Heretics, or uncapable men, or would tyrannize and impose men not consented to, the Ordination is valid that is made without him. And 2. That the true chief Pastor of every particular formed Church, is a true Bishop, though Diocesans should deny it. 3. And that even Ordination it self is necessary but for Order where it may be had, and not to the Being of the Ministry where it cannot be had on lawful terms, no more than Coronation to the King, or public solemnization to Marriage. 4. And we are assured, that if Regular Ordination were interrupted by death, heresy, refusal, neglect, e. g. at Antioch, Alexandria, Constantinople, Jerusalem, &c. Christs Charter, or Scripture-Law would presently restore it to persons duly qualified, chosen and ordained by the fittest there that can be had. 5. If this were not so (as multitudes of schismatical and unlawful Popes Ordinations at Rome would be invalid, e. g. John 13. and 21. and 23. and Eugenius 4th deposed as a Heretic by a General Council, &c.) so every usurping Bishop that pretendeth falsely, that he was himself lawfully ordained, would nullify Churches, Ministry and Sacraments of all ordained by him. And many have falsely pretended to Orders. 6. And that if men must refuse the Government and Sacraments of all Bishops and Presbyters that do not prove to them a Regular Ordination uninterrupted for 1600.
And we maintain, that the sacred Scripture is the universal Law of Christ, in which he hath described and instituted the office and work of the sacred Ministry, and appointed the way of their continuance in the world, by necessary Qualification, Election, Consent, and ordinarily regular Ordination. That as Presbyters now lay on hands with the Bishop, so senior Pastors are the Ordainers, as the Colledg of Physicians license Physicians, and the Convocation of Doctors make Doctors (and man generateth man). But to avoid contention and division, the Churches have used to make one of these Presbyters or Pastors a President, and partly a Ruler in each Colledg and Church, and given him a Negative ⟨image 3⟩voice in Ordinations; against which we strive not, but maintain, 1. That his consent is not so necessary, as that no one can be a true Presbyter that hath it not. As the Clergy at Rome in Cyprian's days long governed when they had no Bishop; so if the Bishop be dead, or refuse to ordain, or would ordain none but Here•icks, or uncapable men, or would tyrannize and impose men not consented to, the Ordination is valid that is made without him. And 2. That the true chief Pastor of every particular formed Church, is a true Bishop, though Diocesans should deny it. 3. And that even Ordination it self is necessary but for Order where it may be had, and not to the Being of the Ministry where it cannot be had on lawful terms, no more than Coronation to the King, or publick solemnization to Marriage. 4. And we are assured, that if Regular Ordination were interrupted by death, heresie, refusal, neglect, e. g. at Antioch, Alexandria, Constantinople, Jerusalem, &c. Christs Charter, or Scripture-Law would presently restore it to persons duly qualified, chosen and ordained by the fittest there that can be had. 5. If this were not so (as multitudes of schismatical and unlawful Popes Ordinations at Rome would be invalid, e. g. John 13. and 21. and 23. and Eugenius 4th deposed as a Heretick by a General Council, &c.) so every usurping Bishop that pretendeth falsly, that he was himself lawfully ordained, would nullifie Churches, Ministry and Sacraments of all ordained by him. And many have falsly pretended to Orders. 6. And that if men must refuse the Government and Sacraments of all Bishops and Presbyters that do not prove to them a Regular Ordination uninterrupted for 1600.
