LXVII. 21. In those times and Countries where the allowed Bishops are corrupted by ignorance, heresy, ungodliness or faction, and set themselves to bring in an unconscionable corrupt sort of Ministers into the Churches, and will not ordain fit and conscionable men, or by snares divide the Churches, and cast out the most worthy; and impose sinful conditions on all whom they will ordain, it seemeth to us to be no Schism to seek ordination from other Bishops, and in case of necessity at least, to be ordained by such Presbyters as are either the sole, or chief, or equal Pastors in Parochial Churches, (especially in Cities) and to perform the Office of Presbyters without such Bishops consent. We here suppose such Bishops had themselves been duly elected and ordained, yet 1. They have their power to edification, and not to destruction. 2. We are more obliged to Christ's interest, and the Churches safety, than to them. God will have mercy, rather than Sacrifice, and preferreth mens salvation to ceremony or Church Laws. 3. So the O•••odox forsook the Arian and other wicked Bishops: Malignity and wickedness is poison in the Clergy as well as Heresy and Schism: So as is aforesaid, Moses and Martin disowned the bad Bishops that were near them; ⟨p. 113⟩so the Protestants disowned the Papist Bishops; And Bugenhagius Pomeranus a Presbyter reformed and ordained Bishops in Denmark. Bishop Usher himself told one of us, that being asked by his Sovereign whether he found that ever Presbyters ordained Presbyters? he answered, I can show your Majesty more, even where Presbyters made Bishops, citing the Alexandrian custom out of Jerome to Evagrius. The Judgment of English Bishops and Divines for the validity of such Ordination by Presbyters, and of the Ordination in the Reformed Churches abroad, some of us have proved heretofore at large. 4. Christ having made a Law which conferreth the Pastoral Power on him that is made a due Receiver (as the King's Charter doth the Power of the Lord Mayor on him that is duly chosen to it) it followeth that no more is absolutely necessary to such reception of that Power, but that the person be duly qualified, and have consent and opportunity, and the best investiture which the time and place will afford:
LXVII. 21. In those times and Countries where the allowed Bishops are corrupted by ignorance, heresie, ungodliness or faction, and set themselves to bring in an unconscionable corrupt sort of Ministers into the Churches, and will not ordain fit and conscionable men, or by snares divide the Churches, and cast out the most worthy; and impose sinful conditions on all whom they will ordain, it seemeth to us to be no Schism to seek ordination from other Bishops, and in case of necessity at least, to be ordained by such Presbyters as are either the sole, or chief, or equal Pastors in Parochial Churches, (especially in Cities) and to perform the Office of Presbyters without such Bishops consent. We here suppose such Bishops had themselves been duely elected and ordained, yet 1. They have their power to edification, and not to destruction. 2. We are more obliged to Christ's interest, and the Churches safety, than to them. God will have mercy, rather than Sacrifice, and preferreth mens salvation to ceremony or Church Laws. 3. So the O•••odox forsook the Arrian and other wicked Bishops: Malignity and wickedness is poison in the Clergy as well as Heresie and Schism: So as is aforesaid, Moses and Martin disowned the bad Bishops that were neer them; ⟨p. 113⟩so the Protestants disowned the Papist Bishops; And Bugenhagius Pomeranus a Presbyter reformed and ordained Bishops in Denmark. Bishop Vsher himself told one of us, that being asked by his Sovereign whether he found that ever Presbyters ordained Presbyters? he answered, I can shew your Majesty more, even where Presbyters made Bishops, citing the Alexandrian custom out of Jerom to Evagrius. The Judgment of English Bishops and Divines for the validity of such Ordination by Presbyters, and of the Ordination in the Reformed Churches abroad, some of us have proved heretofore at large. 4. Christ having made a Law which conferreth the Pastoral Power on him that is made a due Receiver (as the King's Charter doth the Power of the Lord Mayor on him that is duly chosen to it) it followeth that no more is absolutely necessary to such reception of that Power, but that the person be duly qualified, and have consent and opportunity, and the best investiture which the time and place will afford:
