Five disputations of church-government and worship

Sect. 20. But two things will be here objected: The one is, that he was not consecrated to this Presidency or▪ Moderatorship, by Bishops. To which I answer, 1. That Consecration is not of Necessity to such a Bishop according to the principles of Episcopal Divines; it being no new Office or Order that they are exalted to, but a new Degree; Ordination (which was received when they were made Presbyters) may suffice, and is not to be iterated. 2. The Election of the Presbyters served (as Hi•rom testifieth) in the Church of Alexandria: therefore it may ⟨p. 204⟩serve now: (of which more anon.) 3. He is chosen by true Bishops, as is showed.

Sect. 20. But two things will be here objected: The one is, that he was not consecrated to this Presidency or▪ Moderatorship, by Bishops. To which I answer, 1. That Consecration is not of Necessity to such a Bishop according to the principles of Episcopal Divines; it being no new Office or Order that they are exalted to, but a new Degree; Ordination (which was received when they were made Presbyters) may suffice, and is not to be iterated. 2. The Election of the Presbyters served (as Hi•rom testifyeth) in the Church of Alexandria: therefore it may ⟨p. 204⟩serve now: (of which more anon.) 3. He is chosen by true Bishops, as is shewed.

Sect. 21. The other Objection is, that our Presidents are but pro tempore, and therefore are not Bishops. To which I answer, 1. That in some Places they are for a long time, and in some for an uncertain time. Dr. Twiss was Moderator of the Synod at Westminster, for many years together, even durante vita; and Mr. Hurl after him was long Moderator: The London Province hath a President for many months; even from one Assembly to another. 2. I never yet met with an Episcopal Divine that maintained that it was essential to a Bishop, to be such durante vita: I am sure it is not commonly asserted. If a man be made the Bishop of such or such a Diocese, for one and twenty years, or for seven years, it will be said to be irregular; but I know none of them that have averred it to be so great an Error as nullifieth his Power and administrations. And if it may stand with the Being of Episcopacy to be limited to seven years, then also to be limited to seven months, or seven weeks, or days: Especially when (as usually with us) they fix no time at the first Election, but leave it to the liberty of the next Assembly to continue or to end his power. Let them prove that affirm it, that duration for life is essential to a Bishop.