Five disputations of church-government and worship

I shall put Tertullians meaning out of doubt by another place, and that is, de Corona Militis cap. 3. [Eucharistiae Sacramemtum & in tempore victus, & omnibus mandatum à Domino, etiam antelucanis ritibus, nec de aliorum manu •uam praesidentium sumimus.] And if they received this Sacrament of none but the Presidents, (and that every Lords day at least, as no doubt they did) then they could have no more Congregations in a Church then they had Presidents. And (though Pamelius say that by Presidents here is meant also Presbyters, yet) those that we now dispute against, understand it of the Prelates. And if they will not so do, then may we will interpret the foresaid passage Apol. to be meant of the same sort of Presidents; and then you may soon see what Bishops were in Tertullians days. For we have no reason to think that they are not the same sort of Officers which he calleth Presidents, and of whom he there saith, Praesident probati Seniors.

I shall put Tertullians meaning out of doubt by another place, and that is, de Corona Militis cap. 3. [Eucharistiae Sacramemtum & in tempore victus, & omnibus mandatum à Domino, etiam antelucanis ritibus, nec de aliorum manu •uam praesidentium sumimus.] And if they received this Sacrament of none but the Presidents, (and that every Lords day at least, as no doubt they did) then they could have no more Congregations in a Church then they had Presidents. And (though Pamelius say that by Presidents here is meant also Presbyters, yet) those that we now dispute against, understand it of the Prelates. And if they will not so do, then may we will interpret the foresaid passage Apol. to be meant of the same sort of Presidents; and then you may soon see what Bishops were in Tertullians dayes. For we have no reason to think that they are not the same sort of Officers which he calleth Presidents, and of whom he there saith, Praesident probati Seniores.

So in the foregoing words in Tertullian, ibid. its said [Aquam adituri ibidem, sed & aliquando prius in Ecclesia sub Antistiti• manu contestamur nos renunciare Diabolo, & Pompae & angels ejus] Where it seems that there were no more thus initiated then the Antistes himself did first thus engage in the Congregation; And I believe they take this Antistes for a Bishop.