Sect. 2. Who the Author is, and why he resolveth his Question on the Presbyterian Principles, and passeth by the Episcopal Non-conformists, as if he were so ignorant of the present State of England, as not to know that there are many such (when at the Kings return, 1660. it was Bishop Ushers Form of Episcopal Government which they all offered for Concord, who were employed in that work) these are little matters, not to be insisted on. Only I shall tell him that I have met with few ⟨p. 5⟩Presbyterian Ministers in England: though most have that name given them in their Licenses. A Presbyterian is one that is [For the Divine Right of Ruling-Elders, unordained, having no Power to Preach and Administer Sacraments; and for the Government of the Church by Presbyteries, Classes, and Synods, composed of Teaching-Elders in Parity with these Ruling-Elders Conjunct, so that a General Assembly of them is the true Ecclesiastical Head of a National-Church.] Of late, a Presbyterian is like the Puritan of old: A word which hath as many and as bad significations, as speakers have diversity of designs or intents. In one mans mouth a Presbyterian is an Episcopal Protestant of the soberest sort, who is neither for Sects, nor for Church-Tyranny; and so impudency hath called them Presbyterians many years, who offered the said Episcopal Form, which A. Bishop Usher proved to be the true Government of the ancient Churches. And so we have made Episcopal Presbyterians, who are against unordained Elders, and for Bishops. In another's mouth a Presbyterian is one that is resolute against Popery. In another's mouth a Presbyterian is one that is for the serious practice of a holy life. In another mans mouth a Presbyterian is one that is against Bishops. And so Independents and many others Sects would be Presbyterians too. And in other mens mouths a Presbyterian is one that is of ⟨p. 6⟩Bishop Reynolds, and Dr. Stillingfleets judgment, that no Form of Government (besides the mere Pastoral Office, and Church-Assemblies) is prescribed in the Word of God, but variously left to variety of occasions. Among all these, when you speak with a Railing Ruffian, he must tell you which he means himself: But when we meet with a Divine that understandeth the common use of the Word, we must take him to use it in the first proper sense.
Sect. 2. Who the Author is, and why he resolveth his Question on the Presbyterian Principles, and passeth by the Episcopal Non-conformists, as if he were so ignorant of the present State of England, as not to know that there are many such (when at the Kings return, 1660. it was Bishop Ushers Form of Episcopal Government which they all offered for Concord, who were employed in that work) these are little matters, not to be insisted on. Only I shall tell him that I have met with few ⟨p. 5⟩Presbyterian Ministers in England: though most have that name given them in their Licenses. A Presbyterian is one that is [For the Divine Right of Ruling-Elders, unordained, having no Power to Preach and Administer Sacraments; and for the Government of the Church by Presbyteries, Classes, and Synods, composed of Teaching-Elders in Parity with these Ruling-Elders Conjunct, so that a General Assembly of them is the true Ecclesiastical Head of a National-Church.] Of late, a Presbyterian is like the Puritan of old: A word which hath as many and as bad significations, as speakers have diversity of designs or intents. In one mans mouth a Presbyterian is an Episcopal Protestant of the soberest sort, who is neither for Sects, nor for Church-Tyranny; and so impudency hath called them Presbyterians many years, who offered the said Episcopal Form, which A. Bishop Usher proved to be the true Government of the ancient Churches. And so we have made Episcopal Presbyterians, who are against unordained Elders, and for Bishops. In anothers mouth a Presbyterian is one that is resolute against Popery. In anothers mouth a Presbyterian is one that is for the serious practice of a holy life. In another mans mouth a Presbyterian is one that is against Bishops. And so Independents and many others Sects would be Presbyterians too. And in other mens mouthes a Presbyterian is one that is of ⟨p. 6⟩Bishop Reynolds, and Dr. Stillingfleets judgment, that no Form of Government (besides the meer Pastoral Office, and Church-Assemblies) is prescribed in the Word of God, but variously left to variety of occasions. Among all these, when you speak with a Railing Ruffian, he must tell you which he means himself: But when we meet with a Divine that understandeth the common use of the Word, we must take him to use it in the first proper sense.
