Five disputations of church-government and worship

and prudence would keep them longest in those places where most work was to be done. And therefore Pauls three years abode at Ephesus and the neighbouring ⟨p. 54⟩parts of Asia, did not make him the fixed Diocesan Bishop of Ephesus.

And what I say of the Apostles, I say also of many such Itinerant unfixed Ministers which were their helpers, as Silas, Apollo, Barnabas, Titus, Timothy, &c. For though Timothy be called by some Ancients the first Bishop of Ephesus, and Titus of Crete; yet it is apparent they were no such fixed Ministers, that undertook a Diocese durant• vita as their proper charge, which were then called Bishops; but they were itinerant helpers of the Apostles in gathering, planting and first ordering of Churches. And therefore Titus was left in a whole Nation or large Island, to place Bishops or Elders in each City, and set things in order, and this but till Paul come, and not to be himself their fixed Bishop: and Timothy is proved by Scripture to have been unsettled and itinerant as a helper of Paul, after that he is by some supposed to be fixed at Ephesus. I will not needlessly actum agere: let any man that is unsatisfied of this, read impartially Mr. Prins unbishoping of Timothy and Titus, and note there the Itinerary of Timothy from Scripture Texts. If therefore our Bishops would have been of the Apostles and their General helpers race, they should have gone up and down to gather and plant Churches, and then go up and down to visit those which they have planted; or if they live where all are Enchurched already, they should go up and down to preach to the ruder sort of them, and by the power of the word to subdue men further to Christ, an• to see that all Ministers where they come do their duty, reproving and admonishing those that neglect it, but not forbidding them to do it, as a thing belonging only to them. And by Spiritual weapons and authority should they have driven Ministers to this duty, and not by mere secular force (of which more anon.)

And what I say of the Apostles, I say also of many such Itinerant unfixed Ministers which were their helpers, as Silas, Apollo, Barnabas, Titus, Timothy, &c. For though Timothy be called by some Anients the first Bishop of Ephesus, and Titus of Crete; yet it is apparent they were no such fixed Ministers, that undertook a Diocess durant vita as their proper charge, which were then called Bshops; but they were tinerant helpers of the Apostles in gathering, planting and first ordering of Churches. And therefore Titus was left in a whole Nation or large Island, to place Bishops or Elders in each City, and set things in order, and this but till Paul come, and not to be himself their fixed Bishop: and Timothy is proved by Scripture to have been unsetled and itinerant as a helper of Paul, after that he is by some supposed to be fixed at Ephesus. I will not needlesly actum agere: let any man that is unsatisfied of this, read impartially Mr. Prins unbishoping of Timothy and Titus, and note there the Itinerary of Timothy from Scripture Texts. If therefore our Bishops would have been of the Apostles and their General helpers race, they should have gone up and down to gather and plant Churches, and then go up and down to visit those which they have planted; or if they live where all are Enchurched already, they should go up and down to preach to the rudr sort of them, and by the power of the word to subdue men further to Christ, an to see that all Ministers where they come do their duty, reproving and admonishing those that neglect it, but not forbidding them to do it, as a thing belonging only to them. And by Spiritual weapons and authority should they have driven Ministers to this duty, and not by meer secular force (of which more anon.)