The true nature of a Gospel church and its government

BUT yet, because it is necessary unto the clearing of the Evangelical Pastoral Office, which is now under consideration; unto what hath been pleaded before about the non institution of any Churches beyond particular Congregations, which is utterly exclusive of all pretences of the present Episcopacy, ⟨p. 46⟩I shall briefly, as in a diversion, add the Arguments which undeniably prove, That in the whole New Testament, Bishops and Presbyters, or Elders, are every way the same Persons, in the same Office, have the same Function, without distinction in Order or Degree; which also, as unto the Scripture, the most learned Advocates of Prelacy begin to grant.

1. THE Apostle describing what ought to be the Qualifications of Presbyters or Elders, gives this Reason of it, because a Bishop must be so, Tit. 1.5, 6, 7. Ordain Elders in every City, if any be blameless, &c. for a Bishop must be blameless. He that would prove of what sort a Presbyter that is to be Ordained so, ought to be, gives this Reason for it, That such a Bishop ought to be, intends the same Person and Office by Presbyter and Bishop, or there is no congruity of Speech, or consequence of Reason in what he asserts. To suppose that the Apostle doth not intend the same Persons, and the same Office by Presbyters and Bishops in the same place, is to destroy his Argument, and render the context of his discourse unintelligible. He that will say, that if you make a Justice of Peace or a Constable, he must be magnanimous, liberal, full of clemency and courage, for so a King ought to be, will not be thought to argue very wisely. Yet such is the Argument here, if by Elders and Bishops, distinct Orders and Offices are intended.