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

Again, let it be noted 1. That even under the Jewish Law, Magistrates were not the choosers of the Priests, but God chose them by settling the Priesthood on one line. 2. That Christ hath by his Spirit in the Apostles altered the Priesthood, and the way of their calling and entrance under the Gospel. 3. That the Church near a thousand years was in possession of that way, and many hundred of those years the possession was universal in all the Churches. 4. That the choosing of Bishops or Priests by Magistrates or Lay-Patrons ⟨p. 112⟩was none of that way which Christ appointed. Therefore seeing it is not the choosing or making, but the Governing of Bishops or Priests that is committed to Princes, and Christ's Law is the first by which they must govern, it seemeth to us that they cannot oblige the Subjects to take up with wicked Pastors, when better are prohibited, and are to be had.

Again, let it be noted 1. That even under the Jewish Law, Magistrates were not the chusers of the Priests, but God chose them by setling the Priesthood on one line. 2. That Christ hath by his Spirit in the Apostles altered the Priesthood, and the way of their calling and entrance under the Gospel. 3. That the Church neer a thousand years was in possession of that way, and many hundred of those years the possession was universal in all the Churches. 4. That the chusing of Bishops or Priests by Magistrates or Lay-Patrons ⟨p. 112⟩was none of that way which Christ appointed. Therefore seeing it is not the chusing or making, but the Governing of Bishops or Priests that is committed to Princes, and Christ's Law is the first by which they must govern, it seemeth to us that they cannot oblige the Subjects to take up with wicked Pastors, when better are prohibited, and are to be had.

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 Oodox 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;