Five disputations of church-government and worship

Sect. 16. And when they shall declare themselves to be our Bishops, they must in all reason expect that the proof of it as well as the naked affirmation, be desired by us. For we must not take every man for a Bishop that saith he is so. They must show us according to the Canons that the Clergy of the Diocese lawfully Elected them, and Bishops Consecrated them; which are transactions that we are strangers to. If they take the secret Election of six or seven or very few in a Diocese, to be currant, because the rest are supposed to be uncapable by Schism; 1. Then they show themselves so exceedingly unjust as to be unmeet for Government, if they will upon their secret presumptions, and unproved suppositions, ⟨p. 196⟩cut off or censure so many parts of the Clergy, without ever accusing them, or calling them to speak for themselves, or he•ring their Defence. 2. And if upon such presumptuous Censures you make your selves Bishops besides the Canons, you cannot expect obedience from those that you thus separate from, and censure unheard.

Sect. 16. And when they shall declare themselves to be our Bishops, they must in all reason expect that the proof of it as well as the naked affirmation, be desired by us. For we must not take every man for a Bishop that saith he is so. They must shew us according to the Canons that the Clergy of the Diocess lawfully Elected them, and Bishops Consecrated them; which are transactions that we are strangers to. If they take the secret Election of six or seven or very few in a Diocess, to be currant, because the rest are supposed to be uncapable by Schism; 1. Then they shew themselves so exceedingly unjust as to be unmeet for Government, if they will upon their secret presumptions, and unproved suppositions, ⟨p. 196⟩cut off or censure so many parts of the Clergy, without ever accusing them, or calling them to speak for themselves, or he•ring their Defence. 2. And if upon such presumptuous Censures you make your selves Bishops besides the Canons, you cannot expect obedience from those that you thus separate from, and censure unheard.