The Doctrine of the Saints' Perseverance

It is not a little burdensome to the thought of sober and learned men, to consider how frequently, causelessly, absurdly in the midst of discourses quite of another nature, and tendency, the Author of those Epistles (or some body for him) break in upon the Commendation of Church Officers Bishops and Presbyters, exalting them with titles of honour to the greatest Potentates on earth and comparing them to God the Father and Son; where as none of the Sacred writers that went before him, nor any of those good and holy men who (as is supposed) followed after him do hold the least communion or society with him. [Greek or Hebrew] Epist: ad Tral: whereunto is immediately subjoined that Doctrine concerning Deacons, which will scarcely be thought to be exegetical of Act. 6. [Greek or Hebrew] &c. And [Greek or Hebrew]. What the Writer of this passage intended to make of a Bishop well I know not: but thus he speaks of him Epist: ad Magnes. [Greek or Hebrew] (as the Apostle speaks concerning God, Heb: 6 10.) [Greek or Hebrew]. Thus indeed some would have it, who to help the matter, have further framed such an Episcopacy, as was never thought on by any in the days of Ignatius, as shall afterwards be made evident. And in the same Epistle this is somewhat uncouth and strange. [Greek or Hebrew]. Whether the Lord Christ hath bound any such burden upon the shoulders of the Saints, I much question; nor can I tell what to make of the comparison, between God the Father, and the Bishop, Christ, and the rest of the Church; the whole sentence in word and matter, being most remote from the least Countenance from the Sacred writings Epist: ad Philadel: [Greek or Hebrew] (well aimed however) [Greek or Hebrew]. The Epistle to the Church at Smyrna is full of such stuff, inserted without any occasion, order, coherence or any colour to induce us to believe that it is part of the Epistle as first written. One passage I may not omit. [Greek or Hebrew] (in the language of our Saviour repudiating the Pharisees corrupted glosses on the Law) [Greek or Hebrew]. So Peter's mistake is corrected: his reasons follow, [Greek or Hebrew] (as was Jesus Christ) and it is added, [Greek or Hebrew]. How well this suits the doctrine of Peter and Paul, the Reader will easily discern.

It is not a little burdensome to the thought of sober and learned men, to consider how frequently, causlesly, absurdly in the midst of discourses quite of another nature, and tendency, the Author of those Epistles (or some body for him) break in upon the Commendation of Church Officers Bishops and Presbyters, exalting them with titles of honour to the greatest Potentates on earth and compareing them to God the Father and Son; where as none of the Sacred writers that went before him, nor any of those good and holy men who (as is supposed) followed after him do hold the least communion or society with him. Epist: ad Tral: whereunto is immediatly subjoyned that Doctrine concerning Deacons, which will scarcely be thought to be exegetical of