Five disputations of church-government and worship

Sect. 30. He that is the Governor over many Congregations of Christians associated for the public Worship of God and holy communion and Edification, under their Proper Pastors, is the Governor of many Churches. But such were our English Bishops: therefore, &c. That such Societies as are here defined are true Churches, is a truth so clear, that no enemy of the Churches is is able to gainsay with any show of Scripture or reason, they being such Churches as are described in the Scriptures. And 2. That our Ministers were true Pastors, if any will deny, (as the Papists ⟨p. 188⟩and Separatists do) I shall have occasion to say more to them anon.

Sect. 30. He that is the Governour over many Congregations of Christians associated for the publick Worship of God and holy communion and Edification, under their Proper Pastors, is the Governour of many Churches. But such were our English Bishops: therefore, &c. That such Societies as are here defined are true Churches, is a truth so clear, that no enemy of the Churches is is able to gainsay with any shew of Scripture or reason, they being such Churches as are described in the Scriptures. And 2. That our Ministers were true Pastors, if any will deny, (as the Papists ⟨p. 188⟩and Separatists do) I shall have occasion to say more to them anon.

Sect. 31. Argument 4. If Ordination by such as the English Bishops be of Necessity to the Ministry and Churches, then was there no true Ministry and Churches in the Scripture times, nor in many years after: But the consequent is false; therefore so is the Antecedent. The reason of the Consequence is because there were no such Bishops in those times; and this is already proved, they being neither the Itinerant Apostolical sort of Bishops▪ nor the fixed Pastors of particular Churches; besides which there were no other.