A treatise of miscellany questions wherein many useful questions and cases of conscience are…A treatise of miscellany questions wherein many usefull questions and cases of conscience are…

CHAP. VIII.

That the primitive Apostolical pattern holdeth forth unto us for our imitation, a Presbytery. i. e. an Assembly of Elders, having power of Ordination, with laying on of hands.

That the primitive Apostolicall pattern holdeth forth unto us for our imitation, a Presbyterie. i. e. an Assembly of Elders, having power of Ordination, with laying on of hands.

This I gather from 1. Tim: 4. 14. neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee by prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the Presbytery, I have already evinced from this Text, the necessity of Ordination. Let us now see, whether it doth not also show us the right hands, unto which Christ hath committed this power. It is a Text most miserably darkened and obscured by controversial Glosses, put upon it by Popish and Prelatical writers: Some would have [Greek or Hebrew] here to be a company of Bishops, who were both Elders, and more then Elders as they hold. This Interpretation had so little probability of reason to strengthen it, that it was abandoned by some of the ablest friends of Episcopacy; Camero: praelect: in Mat: 18. 17. Dr. Forbesse Irenic: lib. 2. cap: 11. pag: 161. And why should we understand by Presbytery, a company of Bishops, when it is yielded even by writers of that side, that in these Cities where the Apostles planted the Gospel, there was Collegium Presbyterorum, a College or company of Presbyters. So Mr. Thorndike, of the government of Churches, cap. 3. The author of the History of Episcopacy, part: 2. pag: 28. &c. Both of them in this following Hooker. It was also ⟨p. 98⟩acknowledged by them, that this College of Presbyters did together with the Apostles lay on hands in Ordination, thereby contributing their blessing and assisting with their prayers, Whence (as was alleged) came the custom of the Presbyters, their laying on of hands in the Ordination, together with the Bishop, conc: Carthag: 4. can: 3. so that even themselves say as much as may make us understand by [Greek or Hebrew] in this Text, Concessus Presbyterorum as Camero calls it. The footsteps of Ordination by Presbyteries might be seen, not only in that Canon of Carthage, but in the Canon law it self, which appointeth the same thing, Dist: 23. cap: 8. Both Ambrose in Ephes: 4. and Augustine in quaest: ex utroque Test 4. 101. bear witness that Presbyters did ordain in Egypt, when a Bishop was not present, Dr. Forbesse Irenie: lib: 2. pag. 177. citeth out of Panormitan, Olim Presbyteri in communi regebant Ecclesiam & ordinabant sacerdotes.