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

Cap. 4. Is to tell us, 1. That Clemens puts Obedience to Rulers, and due honouring of Presbyters as a Law of God (which is not to be doubted of.) 2. That Bishops were sent by the Apostles, as the Apostles by Christ, but were joined only with Deacons to attend them. Mark here Reader, that he doth not only acknowledge that de facto the Order of Mongrel or Half-Priests was not yet Existent, but also that none such were sent by the Apostles, and so not Instituted, and that Clemens himself taketh notice of no such even in his times. But how the Dr. will prove that no great Churches (and particularly this of Corinth) had but one Bishop, you shall see with little satisfaction.) 3. He noteth that these Bishops thus sent were constituted every where, Ecclesias nondum natas, sed ad partum (bonis Dei ausp•cus) festinantes, ⟨p. 102⟩brachiis atque ulnis suis susceptum & administratum; to receive in their Arms and Arms the Churches not yet born, but (by Gods Blessing) hastening to the Birth] whereas of his own Head he had before said that the Bishops were sent by the Apostles (when Clement saith no such thing) but only that they were Constituted (sending being the word used of Itinerant Preachers gathering and visiting Churches, and Constituting with Ordaining the usual word of Bishops and Presbyters, who as such are fixed to particular Churches;) so now he more boldly forgeteth that Bishops were (yea every where) to receive Churches that were yet no Churches: Where he contradicteth both Scripture and common use of the word Bishop, and abuseth Clement. 1. Let any Man that can show us that in the New Testament the word Bishop is ever used of any Pastor that was not related to a Church, and as signifying that Relation, and that Bishop and Flock are yet as much Relatives as King and Kingdom. 2 Let him show that can, that the word was used otherwise by Christians, for many a hundred years after Christ. Though I grant that Ministers in general were (and may be) ordained sine titulo, to Preach and gather Churches, and help others, yet never Bishops, the word signifying an Over-seer of the Flock or Church to which he is related. 3.

Cap. 4. Is to tell us, 1. That Clemens puts Obedience to Rulers, and due honouring of Presbyters as a Law of God (which is not to be doubted of.) 2. That Bishops were sent by the Apostles, as the Apostles by Christ, but were joyned only with Deacons to attend them. Mark here Reader, that he doth not only acknowledge that de facto the Order of Mungrel or Half-Priests was not yet Existent, but also that none such were sent by the Apostles, and so not Instituted, and that Clemens himself taketh notice of no such even in his times. But how the Dr. will prove that no great Churches (and particularly this of Corinth) had but one Bishop, you shall see with little satisfaction.) 3. He noteth that these Bishops thus sent were constituted every where, Ecclesias nondum natas, sed ad partum (bonis Dei auspcus) festinantes,