A64635:213
Certain discourses, viz. of Babylon (Rev. 18. 4.) being the present See of Rome…
Certain discourses, viz. of Babylon (Rev. 18. 4.) being the present See of Rome (with a sermon of Bishop Beadles upon the same words) of laying on of hands (Heb. 6. 2.) to be an ordained ministry, of the old form of words in ordination, of a set form of prayer : each being the judgment of the late Arch-bishop of Armagh, and Primate of Ireland / published and enlarged by Nicholas Bernard ... : unto which is added a character of Bishop Bedel, and an answer to Mr. Pierces fifth letter concerning the late Primate.Certain discourses, viz. of Babylon (Rev. 18. 4.) being the present See of Rome (with a sermon of Bishop Bedels upon the same words) of laying on of hands (Heb. 6. 2.) to be an ordained ministry, of the old form of words in ordination, of a set form of prayer : each being the judgment of the late Arch-bishop of Armagh, and Primate of Ireland / published and enlarged by Nicholas Bernard ... : unto which is added a character of Bishop Bedel, and an answer to Mr. Pierces fifth letter concerning the late Primate.
London: printed for John Crook, 1659
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.
In a word, to allow all sorts of men to be preachers, is to make the whole body an eye, a tongue, &c. and if so as the Apostle saith, where is the hearing, are all teachers, are all interpreters? 'tis an argument from the absurdity, as if ye would expect the foot to see, the hand to speak; In Saint Pauls days it was said, Who is sufficient for these things? and shall all persons think themselves so now; Saint Paul bids Timothy give himself wholly to it: i. e. to meditation, ⟨p. 201⟩study, reading, and not to entangle himself with the things of this world, which might take him off, and may they now meet in tradesmen and manufactures? and the office be performed without either? Is there not a distinction made between the Church of Ephesus, and the elders of it, (Acts 20.) between the Church and the Angel of it, (Revel. 2.) which if it be not meant of one person, the Bishop (as Ignatius stiles him so about twelve years after, which was the judgement of the Primate) yet must at least be collectively meant of the Bishop, & the Ministry of it; Is there not a distinction between the Saints of Philippi, 1& the Bishops & Deacons, are there not some said to be over the *Thessalonians in the Lord, and preaching & admonishing called ⟨p. 202⟩in special, their work, as appropriated to them, for which he chargeth them to know them, & to esteem highly of them; as the like in his last charge to the Church of the Hebrews, (cap. ult. 7. 17. Obey them that have the rule over you in the Lord, and that watch for your souls, as they that must give an account, and if that were the special office of the ministry, then to have curam animarum; why not now? or where doth it appear, the term is expired? I conclude this point with an observation of the several steps of our declinings, or defections of later years; First, we were offended at some titles of the Ministry, then at the office it self; First, at such a Ministry so ordained, then at the ordaining of any Ministry at all. First, the