A treatise of episcopacy confuting by Scripture, reason, and the churches testimony that sort…

2. I do not expect that ever this Controversy should be handled by¹ two more judicious Adversaries than Saravia and Beza were. And as Beza protesteth against a Parity, and pleadeth for a Prostasie, desireth that which he calleth Divine Episcopacy, tolerating and submitting to that which he calleth Humane Episcopacy, and flatly opposing only that, which he calleth Satanical Episcopacy; So Saravia professeth, p. 1, 2. & p. Defens. 4, 5. that the General nature of the Evangelical Ministry, common both to Bishops and Presbyters, containeth these three things, 1. The Preaching of the Gospel. 2. The Communication of the Sacraments, 3. The Authority of Church-Government: And only pleadeth that in this last, the Power of Bishops and Presbyters is not equal, but the Bishops power is principal in Government. Which granteth the main Question which we Nonconformist now contend for. And I confess that Saravia's Writings were the first and chief that brought me to suspect that the Apostles have Successors in the point of Government, as being but an ordinary and durable part of their Office: which Argument he hath better managed than any man else that I have seen. And p. 12. ib. He granteth that the 70 Disciples were not under the Government of the 12 Apostles. He granteth that chosen Seniors of the Laity may be great Assistants in the Government: Yea, Def. 1. 8. p. 83. He saith, that in² the absence of Paul and his Assistants, the Churches of Crete were wholly ruled, till Titus Ordained them Pastors, by such Elders. [A senioribus quos ratio & natura in quavis Societate dat, non Ordinatio: quales sunt natu majores, & quotquot aliqua virtute in populo excellunt: quibus deferre natura omnes gentes docuit: quibus addo eos quos tunc temporis passim, dona Sp. sancti venia excitabant, sed nulli loco alligabant.] And no wonder, for he affirmeth, that in times of public corruption of Doctrine, any man that is learned and able and fit, must propugne and defend the truth, as he hath ability and opportunity; or else be judged for hiding his talents as the unprofitable servant, pag. 23. cap. 2. Yet doth he most improbably imagine that Rome and Corinth had no proper Pastors, when Paul wrote his Epistles to them.

2. I do not expect that ever this Controversie should be handled by¹ two more judicious Adversaries than Saravia and Beza were. And as Beza protesteth against a Parity, and pleadeth for a Prostasie, desireth that which he calleth Divine Episcopacy, tolerating and submitting to that which he calleth Humane Episcopacy, and flatly opposing only that, which he calleth Satanical Episcopacy; So Saravia professeth, p. 1, 2. & p. Defens. 4, 5. that the General nature of the Evangelical Ministry, common both to Bishops and Presbyters, containeth these three things, 1. The Preaching of the Gospel. 2. The Communication of the Sacraments, 3. The Authority of Church-Government: And only pleadeth that in this last, the Power of Bishops and Presbyters is not equal, but the Bishops power is principal in Government. Which granteth the main Question which we Nonconformist now contend for. And I confes that Saravia's Writings were the first and chief that brought me to suspect that the Apostles have Successors in the point of Government, as being but an ordinary and durable part of their Office: which Argument he hath better managed than any man else that I have seen. And p. 12. ib. He granteth that the 70 Disciples were not under the Government of the 12 Apostles. He granteth that chosen Seniors of the Laity may be great Assistants in the Government: Yea, Def. 1. 8. p. 83. He saith, that in