Five disputations of church-government and worship

For 1. If Presbyters be of humane Institution, then neither Preaching or Ruling is any Essential part of their Office by Divine Institution; because they have none such: and therefore I may say one is as essential as the other: that is, neither is so. But yet of their humanly instituted Office, it is as essential a part still: for if it be true, that there were no Presbyters in the Church till about Ignatius his days, yet its certain that when they were instituted (whether by God or man) they were as truly made Rulers as Preachers. And therefore we find their Ignatius still calling on the people to obey the Presbyters as well as the Bishops. And Hierom tells us, (Epist. ad Evagr.) how long the Presbyters governed the Churches Communi Consilio, by Common Counsel or Consent, and how themselves at Alexandria chose our one and made him their Bishop: and Cyprian tells us enough of the Presbyters ruling in Council or Consistory with the Bishop in his time: so that he would do nothing without the Presbyters. Much more proof may easily be brought of this, but that I find it now acknowledged, and so it is needless. I will not go far, but only note a few Canons, especially of the fourth Council of Carthage. Can. 23. is, Ut Episcopus nullius Causam audit absque praesentia Clericorum suorum; alioquin ir•ita erit sententia Episcopi, nisi Clericorum praesentia confirmetur.

For 1. If Presbyters be of humane Institution, then neither Preaching or Ruling is any Essential part of their Office by Divine Institution; because they have none such: and therefore I may say one is as essential as the other: that is, neither is so. But yet of their humanly instituted Office, it is as essential a part still: for if it be true, that there were no Presbyters in the Church till about Ignatius his daies, yet its certain that when they were instituted (whether by God or man) they were as truly made Rulers as Preachers. And therefore we find their Ignatius still calling on the people to obey the Presbyters as well as the Bishops. And Hierom tells us, (Epist. ad Evagr.) how long the Presbyters governed the Churches Communi Consilio, by Common Counsel or Consent, and how themselves at Alexandria chose our one and made him their Bishop: and Cyprian tells us enough of the Presbyters ruling in Council or Consistory with the Bishop in his time: so that he would do nothing without the Presbyters. Much more proof may easily be brought of this, but that I find it now acknowledged, and so it is needless. I will not go far, but only note a few Canons, especially of the fourth Council of Carthage. Can. 23. is, Vt Episcopus nullius Causam audit absque praesentia Clericorum suorum; alioquin irita erit sententia Episcopi, nisi Clericorum praesentia confirmetur.