Catholic communion defended against both extremes, and unnecessary division confuted in five parts ...…Catholick communion defended against both extreams, and unnecessary division confuted in five parts ...…

13. Another Instance is in the form of Ordination, when the Words and many Circumstances are undetermined. Imposition of Hands is a lawful Sign: and so is doing it by a Writing, or by mere Words, without that Imposition; some receive it Kneeling, some Standing; some by one Form of Words, some by another, &c. some from one Ordainer, some from many, &c. And none of these determined by Institution.

13. Another Instance is in the form of Ordination, when the Words and many Circumstances are undetermined. Imposition of Hands is a lawful Sign: and so is doing it by a Writing, or by meer Words, without that Imposition; some receive it Kneeling, some Standing; some by one Form of Words, some by another, &c. some from one Ordainer, some from many, &c. And none of these determined by Institution.

14. The same is true of Discipline; The Form of Words for Admonition, for Absolution, for Excommunication, for the Penitents Confession and Request, are left to Humane Wisdom, so the matter and manner be regulated by the general Law. And they that say, that God hath Instituted, that the Church shall be Governed Necessarily by fixed Classes, with Appeals to National Synods, and that here a Major Vote hath Governing Power over the lesser part; yea, and that these must be made up of Two sorts of Elders, of which one sort are un-ordained, or are not Authorised to Administer the Word and Sacraments, do but add to the Word of God, if they say these National Assemblies are the Supreme Church-Power; what Law of God did ever Institute, That a Minister, or Classis, e. g. in Geneva, Bremen, Scotland, is not as much subject to the Decrees of a larger Council of many Nations; and that the Synod at Dort had not as much Power as a lesser at Hague: or a Synod of many Nations as much as one in Scotland? But if (as by parity of Reason they must) they say, that General or large Councils are the Governors of National Assemblies, as they are of Classis and Presbyteries: then they bring us under a Foreign Jurisdiction, which the Kingdom is sworn against; and I think they are Papists, but of the French sort, who make General Councils Superior Governors of the Universal Church.