If some receive only Parish-bishops (of the old sort) and others also their Archbishops, and others such Diocesans as put down all Parish-bishops, which of these have Episcopal communion? 2. When of old, many Ages, Voting, and Fighting, could not tell men which was the true Bishop among many competitors, and when at Rome there were oft two or three at once; and when the worst oft carried the possession; and Councils themselves were for divers; which was the Episcopal communion? 3. Is communion and subjection all one with him, or divers? If divers, I have communion with many Bishops that I am not subject to▪ If the same, how many must each man be subject to? and in what order and cases? 4. Communion is 1. mental or local; and the first, 1. In essentials. ⟨p. 10⟩2. Integrals. 3. Accidents of Christianity. I have communion with all Christians in Essentials, with the best in most integrals; with none in all, nor in all accidents. 4. I am more secure in the mental communion of many Bishops, than of some one, and of All in Essentials, and certain things, than of some one in suspected things, especially in universal communion with Christ and his whole Church.
2. He that hath no communion with any true Bishops of Gods institution, in his judgment, will, and profession, hath no communion with Christs Church: But if they are, 1. of a false species, 2. incapable, 3. unordained, 4. obtruders not consented to by the Clergy and the Flock, it's safest to disown them. 5. And •f they turn wolves, thorns, and thistles, or heretics.
2. It's dangerous to refuse communion with the true Episcopi Gregis, but not with such as depose them. 3. And its doubtful as to the Episcopi Episcoporum.
1. It's but deceit to distinguish only ordinary and extraordinary, in speaking of the necessity of means. The Gospel written or preached, is an ordinary means, which to want is hazardous indeed; so is meditation, prayer, and sacraments, where they may well be had, and Pastors to administer them. But there are many lesser means that may be wanting or ignorantly refused, where salvation is safe. The Church of England thinks preaching to be such, which forbiddeth men to go for Preaching, and from a bare Reader in his own Parish. And the Indians converted by Frumentius and Edesius, might have ⟨p. 11⟩certain salvation before they had any Pastor.
If some receive only Parish-bishops (of the old sort) and others also their Archbishops, and others such Diocesans as put down all Parish-bishops, which of these have Episcopal communion? 2. When of old, many Ages, Voting, and Fighting, could not tell men which was the true Bishop among many competitors, and when at Rome there were oft two or three at once; and when the worst oft carried the possession; and Councils themselves were for divers; whih was the Episcopal communion? 3. Is communion and subjection all one with him, or divers? If divers, I have communion with many Bishops that I am not subject to▪ If the same, how many must each man be subject to? and in what order and cases? 4. Communion is 1. mental or local; and the first, 1. In essentials. ⟨p. 10⟩2. Integrals. 3. Accidents of Christianity. I have communion with all Christians in Essentials, with the best in most integrals; with none in all, nor in all accidents. 4. I am more secure in the mental communion of many Bishops, than of some one, and of All in Essentials, and certain things, than of some one in suspected things, especially in universal communion with Christ and his whole Church.
2. He that hath no communion with any true Bishops of Gods institution, in his judgment, will, and profession, hath no communion with Christs Church: But if they are, 1. of a false species, 2. incapable, 3. unordained, 4. obtruders not consented to by the Clergy and the Flock, it's safest to disown them. 5. And •f they turn wolves, thorns, and thistles, or hereticks.
2. It's dangerous to refuse communion with the true Episcopi Gregis, but not with such as depose them. 3. And its doubtful as to the Episcopi Episcoporum.
1. It's but deceit to distinguish only ordinary and extraordinary, in speaking of the necessity of means. The Gospel written or preached, is an ordinary means, which to want is hazardous indeed; so is meditation, prayer, and sacraments, where they may well be had, and Pastors to administer them. But there are many lesser means that may be wanting or ignorantly refused, where salvation is safe. The Church of England thinks preaching to be such, which forbiddeth men to go for Preaching, and from a bare Reader in his own Parish. And the Indians converted by Frumentius and Edesius, might have ⟨p. 11⟩certain salvation before they had any Pastor.
