The true and only way of concord of all the Christian churches the desirableness…

§. 22. But not to anticipate my fuller answer to this case, I briefly answer, that Gods Law or Charter giving the Ministerial power to the duly qualified receiver, no Ordination doth more than to determine (with the peoples consent) who is the qualified receiver, and for the sake of Order, and the Churches notice, to declare his right and solemnly invest him. And God hath not appropriated this declaring and investing power, so to their Prelates distinct from Presbyters (that I ever found) as that the Church should receive none but of their ordination. What men decree is one thing, and what ⟨p. 212⟩God ordaineth is another. Where an order is settled by men according to Gods allowance and general rules, there the people should caeteris paribus receive him that is most regularly commended to them. But if they receive one less regularly sent them, if he want nothing necessary to the Being of the office, he is their Pastor who is so received by them. When Justices of the Peace did marry the people in England, the Marriage was valid before God, as truly as when the Clergy did it. The same is a sufficient designation of the Recipient person in some times, places and circumstances, which is not at others. And when the Person is but Determined of and consented to, Gods word authorizeth him.

§. 22. But not to anticipate my fuller answer to this case, I briefly answer, that Gods Law or Charter giving the Ministerial power to the duly qualified receiver, no Ordination doth more than to determine (with the peoples consent) who is the qualified receiver, and for the sake of Order, and the Churches notice, to declare his right and solemnly invest him. And God hath not appropriated this declaring and investing power, so to their Prelates distinct from Presbyters (that I ever found) as that the Church should receive none but of their ordination. What men decree is one thing, and what ⟨p. 212⟩God ordaineth is another. Where an order is setled by men according to Gods allowance and general rules, there the people should caeteris paribus receive him that is most regularly commended to them. But if they receive one less regularly sent them, if he want nothing necessary to the Being of the office, he is their Pastor who is so received by them. When Justices of the Peace did marry the people in England, the Marriage was valid before God, as truly as when the Clergy did it. The same is a sufficient designation of the Recipient person in some times, places and circumstances, which is not at others. And when the Person is but Determined of and consented to, Gods word authorizeth him.