The nonconformists plea for peace, or, An account of their judgment in certain things…

One testimony more we will add for the antiquity, and the estimation of many that are against us. And that is the Apostolical constitutions, Lib, 8. cap. 4. de ordinationibus, (having said before cap. 2. that Episcopus ignorantia aut malo animo oppletus, Episcopus non est. sed falsus Episcopus, non a Deo sed ab hominibus promotus,) they here say that a Bishop must be one that [a cuncto populo ex optimis quibusque electus est. Quo nominato & placente, populus in unum Congregatus (not a thousand Churches but one) una cum Presbyteris, atque Episcopis praesentibus Die Dominico consentiat. Qui vero inter reliquos princeps Episcopus est, percontetur Presbyteros & populum an ipse sit quem praeesse petant? & illis annuentibus rursus percontetur an tribuunt ei omnes testimonium quod dignus sit hoc magno & illustri munere praesidend•? An quae ad pietatem erga Deum pertinent recte peregerit? An jura adversus homines servarit? An domum suam résque domesticas recte administraverit, & an vita ei peromnia honest & laudate act a suerit? cum vero Omnes simul, non secundum opinionem praejudicatam, sed secundum veritatem testificati suerint, talem esse eum, tanquam in conspectu j•dicis Dei & Christi, praesente etiam Spiritu Sancto, atque omnibus sanctis & administratoriis spiritibus, rursus tertio interrogent, utrum sit dignus Ministerio, ut in ore duo•um vel trium stet omne verbum: Et cum tertiò annuerint, et dignum esse assensi suerint, petatur ab omnibus ut praebeant signum assensus: Et libenter praebentes audiantur] We urge not this as of Apostolical authority, ⟨p. 75⟩but as of great antiquity, and agreeing with the primitive practise. This course much differeth from the ordaining of a Bishop at an hundred miles distance from his Church; Yea ordaining him, not in or to a particular Church, but to many hundred Churches when the people neither know him nor are present, and yet the question's asked as if they were. And as the people had ever a choosing or a free consenting Voice, so they oft received Bishops and Presbyters who were ordained by such as were outcasts, Nonconformists, and banished both by Emperors and Synods; as in many more instances might be proved: As also that they adhered to the Pastors so chosen, notwithstanding their ejections by the Imperial Power; yea and by such Councils as they thought to be unjust;

One testimony more we will add for the antiquity, and the estimation of many that are against us. And that is the Apostolicall constitutions, Lib, 8. cap. 4. de ordinationibus, (having said before cap. 2. that Episcopus ignorantia aut malo animo oppletus, Episcopus non est. sed falsus Episcopus, non a Deo sed ab hominibus promotus,) they here say that a Bishop must be one that [a cuncto populo ex optimis quibusque electus est. Quo nominato & placente, populus in unum Congregatus (not a thousand Churches but one) una cum Presbyteris, atque Episcopis praesentibus Die Dominico consentiat. Qui vero inter reliquos princeps Episcopus est, percontetur Presbyteros & populum an ipse sit quem praeesse petant? & illis annuentibus rursus percontetur an tribuunt ei omnes testimonium quod dignus sit hoc magno & illustri munere praesidend? An quae ad pietatem erga Deum pertinent recte peregerit? An jura adversus homines servarit? An domum suam résque domesticas recte administraverit, & an vita ei peromnia honeste & laudate act a suerit? cum vero Omnes simul, non secundum opinionem praejudicatam, sed secundum veritatem testificati suerint, talem esse eum, tanquam in conspectu jdicis Dei & Christi, praesente etiam Spiritu Sancto, atque omnibus sanctis & administratoriis spiritibus, rursus tertio interrogent, utrum sit dignus Ministerio, ut in ore duoum vel trium stet omne verbum: Et cum tertiò annuerint, et dignum esse assensi suerint, petatur ab omnibus ut praebeant signum assensus: Et libenter praebentes audiantur] We urge not this as of Apostolicall authority,