2ly. Yet as to the thing it self: Imposition of hands upon men set apart to office, was no Humane Invention; that, Sir, you know, it was Gods own appointment. But whether all that taught in the Synagogues were first Officers. 2. And those that had only mans authority for their Institution: 3. And these had admission by Imposition of hands. These are different questions, and here we must have Scripture-light to convince us; as for Mr. Selden, we regard him not, nor Scaliger, whatever he saith of our ignorance, which Quotation of yours out of him, I observed well when I read him. We are upon things that concern God; Humane Quotations, and so whatever you bring from Fathers and others, I look on them as a Cypher; as the Cypher may stand, it signifies much, and as it may stand, it signifies nothing. First give me a Scripture, then give me Humane testimony suitable to it, and it signifies much. Yea, if there be a Scripture not so clear and plain as some ⟨p. 50⟩are, yet may fairly carry such a sense, and there be not another Scripture that doth plainly oppose that sense, here the practise of the Churches next to the Apostles, and so long since, shall carry me into that sense. Which I desire the Reader to consider and judg of my opinion, because I shall make use of it afterwards; but all mens opinions, and Churches practises, without a Scripture, are but a Cypher before or without a figure to me, they signify nothing. I know very well that Jews and Gentiles too have a nature that is cross to God in every Commandment; our enmity will not let any command escape, but even in his Instituted Worship where there is the least temptation, there it will show it self, 'tis not handsome enough as God appoints it, unless we like Apes may dress it. If Selden and Scaliger could have given us the practises of such a Church where this root of enmity was not, then I should have listened to them very much.
2ly. Yet as to the thing it self: Imposition of hands upon men set apart to office, was no Humane Invention; that, Sir, you know, it was Gods own appointment. But whether all that taught in the Synagogues were first Officers. 2. And those that had only mans authority for th eir Institution: 3. And these had admission by Imposition of hands. These are different questions, and here we must have Scripture-light to convince us; as for Mr. Selden, we regard him not, nor Scaliger, whatever he saith of our ignorance, which Quotation of yours out of him, I observed well when I read him. We are upon things that concern God; Humane Quotations, and so whatever you bring from Fathers and others, I look on them as a Cypher; as the Cypher may stand, it signifies much, and as it may stand, it signifies nothing. First give me a Scripture, then give me Humane testimony suitable to it, and it signifies much. Yea, if there be a Scripture not so clear and plain as some ⟨p. 50⟩are, yet may fairly carry such a sense, and there be not another Scripture that doth plainly oppose that sense, here the practise of the Churches next to the Apostles, and so long since, shall carry me into that sense. Which I desire the Reader to consider and judg of my opinion, because I shall make use of it afterwards; but all mens opinions, and Churches practises, without a Scripture, are but a Cypher before or without a figure to me, they signifie nothing. I know very well that Jews and Gentiles too have a nature that is cross to God in every Commandment; our enmity will not let any command escape, but even in his Instituted Worship where there is the least temptation, there it will shew it self, 'tis not handsome enough as God appoints it, unless we like Apes may dress it. If Selden and Scaliger could have given us the practises of such a Church where this root of enmity was not, then I should have listned to them very much.
