The reduction of episcopacy unto the form of synodical government received in the ancient…The reduction of episcopacie unto the form of synodical government received in the ancient…

To the most Reverend Father in God, and my most Honoured Lord, the Lord Arch-Bishop of Armagh, and Primate of Ireland.

Most Reverend, and my most worthily Honoured, Lord.

That which fell from me yesterday, suddenly and transcursively, hath since taken up my after-midnight thoughts, and I must crave leave, what I then moved, to importune, that your Grace would be pleased to bestow one sheet of paper upon these distracted times, in the subject of Episcopacy, showing ⟨p. 175⟩the Apostolical Original of it, and the grounds of it from Scripture, and the immediately succeeding antiquity; Every line of it coming from your Graces hand, would be super rotas suas: as Solomons expression is, very Apples of Gold, with Pictures of Silver, and more worth than volumes from us: Think, that I stand before you like the Man of Macedon, and that you hear me say, Come and help us: And as your Grace is wholly given up to the common good of the Church, say, whether you can deny it? and if please your Grace to take your rise from my humble motion to express your self in this question, wherein I am publicly interested, or otherwise, to profess your voluntary resolutions for the settling of many, either misled, or doubting Souls, it will be the most acceptable, and (I hope) the most successful work that your Grace hath ever undertaken; It was my earnest motion long ago to ([Greek or Hebrew]) to entreat this labour from your Grace; which now comes from my meanness; ⟨p. 176⟩your Gracious humility will not even from so low hands disregard it; with my zealous suit, and hopeful expectation of a yielding answer, I humbly take leave, and am