Five disputations of church-government and worship

Sect. 7. Argument 2. If that sort of Prelacy that was exercised in England was not necessary it self, yea if it were sinful, and tended to the subversion or exceeding hurt of the Churches; then is there no Necessity of Ordination by such a Prelacy. But the Antecedent is true: therefore so is the consequent. The Antecedent hath been proved at large in the foregoing Disputation. Such a Prelacy as consisteth in the undertaking of an impossible task, even for one man t• be the only Governor of all the souls in many hundred Parishes, exercising it also by Lay men, and in the needful parts, not exercising it all all▪ a Prelacy not chosen by the Presbyters whom they Govern; yea suspending or degrading •he Presbyters of all those Churches, as to the governing part of the•• office, and guilty of the rest of the evils before mentioned, is not only it self unnecessary, but sinful, and a disease of the Church which all good men should do the best they can to cure. And therefore the effects of this disease can be no more Necessary to our Ministry, then the bur•ing of a fever, or swelling of a Tympany, is necessary to the body.

Sect. 7. Argument 2. If that sort of Prelacy that was exercised in England was not necessary it self, yea if it were sinfull, and tended to the subversion or exceeding hurt of the Churches; then is there no Necessity of Ordination by such a Prelacy. But the Antecedent is true: therefore so is the consequent. The Antecedent hath been proved at large in the foregoing Disputation. Such a Prelacy as consisteth in the undertaking of an impossible task, even for one man t• be the only Governour of all the souls in many hundred Parishes, exercising it also by Lay men, and in the needful parts, not exercising it all all▪ a Prelacy not chosen by the Presbyters whom they Govern; yea suspending or degrading •he Presbyters of all those Churches, as to the governing part of the•• office, and guilty of the rest of the evils before mentioned, is not only it self unnecessary, but sinful, and a disease of the Church which all good men should do the best they can to cure. And therefore the effects of this disease can be no more Necessary to our Ministry, then the buring of a feaver, or swelling of a Tympany, is necessary to the body.