Five disputations of church-government and worship

Sect. 113. Lastly, it is confessed by the Dissenters that such Presbyters or Bishops as are mentioned, Act. 20. Phil. 1.1. 1 Tim. 3. Tit. 1, &c. had power of Ordination: But according to the judgement of most of the Fathers (that ever I saw or heard of that interpret those texts) it is Presbyters that are meant in all or some of those texts. It is granted us also by the Dissenters that the chief or sole Pastors of single Churches in Scripture-times did ordain▪ and had the power of Ordination: But the Presbyters of England, and other Protestant Churches are the chief or sole Pastors of single Churches; therefore, &c.

Sect. 114. Object. 3. But the English Presbyters have broke their Oaths of Canonical obedience, and therefore at least are schismatical. Answ. 1. Many never took any such oath, to my knowledge: For my part I did not. 2. The particular persons ⟨p. 239⟩that are guilty must be accused: and neither must they be judged before they speak for themselves, nor yet must others be condemned for their sakes. In these parts, there is not one Presbyter I think of ten, who differs from the Prelates about Ordination, that ever took that oath. And therefore it is few that can be called Schismatics on that account. Yea 3. And those few that did take that Oath, have few of them that I know of, done any thing against the Prelates.

Sect. 114. Object. 3. But the English Presbyters have broak their Oaths of Canoical obedience, and therefore at least are schismatical. Answ. 1. Many never took any such oath, to my knowledge: For my part I did not. 2. The particular persons ⟨p. 239⟩