Reliquiæ Baxterianæ, or, Mr. Richard Baxters narrative of the most memorable passages of his…

§ 353. By this you may see what they Answer to the Reasons of the Conformists, As,

1. To the willing Conformists, who plead a Jur Divinum, they say, That if all that Gersom, Bucer, Didoclavius, Blondel, Salmasius, Parker, Baines, &c. have said against Episcopacy it self were certainly confuted, yet it is quite another thing that is called Episcopacy, by them that plead it Jure Divino: If 1. Bishops of single ⟨p. 408⟩Churches with a Presbytery under them, 2. and General Bishops over these Bishops, were both proved Jure Divine, yet our Diocesans are proved to be contra jus Divinum.

1. To the willing Conformists, who plead a Iur Divinum, they say, That if all that Gersom, Bucer, Didoclavius, Blondell, Salmasius, Parker, Baines, &c. have said against Episcopacy it self were certainly confuted, yet it is quite another thing that is called Episcopacy, by them that plead it Iure Divino: If 1. Bishops of single ⟨p. 408⟩Churches with a Presbytery under them, 2. and General Bishops over these Bishops, were both proved Iure Divine, yet our Diocesans are proved to be contra jus Divinum.

2. To the Latitudinarians and involuntary Conformists, who plead that no Church-Government, as to the form, is of Divine Institution, they answer; 1. This is to condemn themselves, and say, [Because no Form is of God's Institution, therefore I will declare that the Episcopal Form is of Divine Institution]: for this is part of their Subscription, or Declaration, when they Profess, Assent, and Consent to all things in the Book of Common Prayer and Ordination: And one thing in it is in these words, (with which the Book beginneth) [It is evident to all Men, diligently reading holy Scripture, and ancient Authors, that from the Apostles time there have been these Orders of Ministers in Christ's Church, Bishops, Priests, and Deacons: which Offices were evermore had in such reverend estimation, &c.] So that here they declare that Bishops and Priests are not only distinct Degrees, but distinct Orders and Offices, and that since the Apostles time, as evident by Scripture, &c. (when yet many of the very Papists Schoolmen do deny it). And the Collect in the Ordering of Priests runs thus, [Almighty God, giver of all good things, who by the holy Spirit hath appointed divers Orders of Ministers in the Church]. So that in plain English they declare, That [Episcopacy even as a distinct Order, Office, and Function (for all these words are there) is appointed by the Spirit of God; because they believe that no Form is so appointed.