The Doctrine of the Saints' Perseverance

Now this second answer is, that the Elders or Presbyters here mentioned, were properly those whom he calls Bishops, Diocesans: men of a third rank and order above Deacons, and Presbyters in the Church-Administrations and government. And for those who are properly called Presbyters, there were then none in the Church, to give colour to this miserable evasion, Disser: 4. chap. 10 11: He discourseth about the government and ordering of Church affairs by Bishops and Deacons, In some Churches that were small, not yet formed or completed, nor come to perfection at the first planting of them: how well this is accommodated to the Church of Corinth which Clement calls, [Greek or Hebrew]: & which himself would have to be a Metropolitical Church, being confessedly great, numerous; furnished with great and large gifts, & abilities is seen with half an eye. How ill also this shift is accommodated to help in the case for whose service it was first invented, is no less evident. It was to save the sword of Phil: 1. 1. From the throat of the Episcopacy he contendeth for; That Epistle is directed to the Saints, or Church at Philippi, with the Bishops and Deacons. Two things do here trouble our Doctor. 1 The mention of move Bishops then one at Philippi. 2 The knitting together, of Bishops and Deacons, as the only two orders in the Church, bringing down Episcopacy one ⟨image 16⟩degree at least from that height whereto he would exalt it. For the first of these, he tells you that Philippi was the Metropolitan Church of the Province of Macedonia, that the rest of the Churches, which had every one their several Bishops (Diocesan we must suppose) were all comprised in the mentioning of Philippi: so that though the Epistle be precisely directed [Greek or Hebrew], yet the Bishops that were with them, must be supposed to be Bishops of the whole Province of Macedonia; because the Church of Philippi was the Metropolitan: The whole country must have been supposed to be converted (and who tha• knows any thing of Antiquity will dispute that) and so divided with Diocesan's, as England of late was: the Arch-Bishops so being at Philippi: but how came it then to pass, that here is mention made of Bishops, and Deacons only, without any one word of a third order, or rank of men distinct from them called Presbyters or Elders?

Now this second answer is, that the Elders or Presbyters here mentioned, were properly those whom he calls Bishops, Diocesans: men of a third rank and order above Deacons, and Presbyters in the Church-Administrations and goverment. And for those who are properly called Presbyters, there were then none in the Church, to give colour to this miserable evasion, Disser: 4. chap. 10 11: He discourseth about the goverment and ordering of Church affaires by Bishops and Deacons, In some Churches that were small, not yet formed or compleated, nor come to perfection at the first planting of them: how well this is accomodated to the Church of Corinth which Clement calls, : & which himselfe would have to be a Metropolitical Church, being confessedly great, numerous; furnished with great and large gifts, & abilties is seen with halfe an eye. How ill also this shift is accommodated to helpe in the case for whose service it was first invented, is no less evident. It was to save the sword of Phil: 1. 1. From the throat of the Episcopacy he contendeth for; That Epistle is directed to the Saints, or Church at Philippi, with the Bishops and Deacons. Two things do here trouble our Doctor. 1 The mention of move Bishops then one at Philippi. 2 The knitting together, of Bishops and Deacons, as the only two orders in the Church, bringing down Episcopacy one