A53737:396
A vindication of the Animadversions on Fiat lux
A vindication of the Animadversions on Fiat lux wherein the principles of the Roman church, as to moderation, unity and truth are examined and sundry important controversies concerning the rule of faith, papal supremacy, the mass, images, &c. discussed / by John Owen.
London: printed for Ph. Stephens, 1664
A Vindication of the Animadversions on Fiat Lux. › Chapter 16
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
As first of the Scheme or Series of Ecclesiastical Power which you ascribe to Prelate Protestants, and the Laws of the Land, from which you say, the Presbyterians dissent, which you thus express; By the Laws of our Land, our Series of Government Ecclesiastical stands thus, God, Christ, King, Bishop, Ministers, People. The Presbyterian Predicament is thus, God, Christ, Minister, People So that the Ministers head in the Presbyterian Predicament toucheth Christs feet immediately and nothing intervenes. You Pretend indeed that hereby you do exalt Christ; but this is a mere cheat as all men may see with their eyes. For Christ is but where he was, but the Minister indeed is exalted, being now set in the Kings place one degree higher then the Bishops, who by Law is under King and Bishops too.
As first of the Scheme or Series of Ecclesiastical Power which you ascribe to Prelate Protestants, and the Laws of the Land, from which you say, the Presbyterians dissent, which you thus express; By the Laws of our Land, our Series of Government Ecclesiastical stands thus, God, Christ, King, Bishop, Ministers, People. The Presbyterian Predicament is thus, God, Christ, Minister, People So that the Ministers head in the Presbyterian Predicament toucheth Christs feet immediately and nothing intervenes. You Pretend indeed that hereby you do exalt Christ; but this is a meer cheat as all men may see with their eyes. For Christ is but where he was, but the Minister indeed is exalted, being now set in the Kings place one degree higher then the Bishops, who by Law is under King and Bishops too.
If I mistake not in my guess, you greatly pleased your self with your Scheme, wherein you pretend to make forsooth an ocular Demonstration of what you undertook to prove; whereas indeed it is as trivial a fancy as a man can ordinarily meet withal For 1. Neither the Law, nor Prelates, nor Presbyterians ascribe any place at all unto the Kings Majesty in the Series of Spiritual Order; he is neither Bishop, nor Minister, nor Deacon, or any way authorized by Christ to convey or communicate power merely spiritual unto any others. No such thing is claimed by our Kings, or declared in Law, or asserted by Protestants of any sort. But in the series of exterior ⟨p. 411⟩