A85313:304
Presbyterial ordination vindicated. In a brief and sober discourse concerning episcopacy, as claiming greater…
Presbyterial ordination vindicated. In a brief and sober discourse concerning episcopacy, as claiming greater power, and more eminent offices by divine right, then presbytery. The arguments of the Reverend Bishop Dr Davenant in his determination for such episcopacy are modestly examined. And arguments for the validity of presbyterial ordination added. With a brief discourse concerning imposed forms of prayer, and ceremonies. Written by G.F. minister of the gospel in defence of his own ordination, being questioned, because it was performed by Presbyters.Presbyterial ordination vindicated. In a brief and sober discourse concerning episcopacy, as claiming greater power, and more eminent offices by divine right, then presbyterie. The arguments of the Reverend Bishop Dr Davenant in his determination for such episcopacy are modestly examined. And arguments for the validity of presbyterial ordination added. With a brief discourse concerning imposed forms of prayer, and ceremonies. Written by G.F. minister of the gospel in defence of his own ordination, being questioned, because it was performed by Presbyters.
London: printed for Nathanael Webb, 1660
Title page typeset from the transcription.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
Answer, No men in the world so obedient to their Superiors, [such as God had made Superiors] for conscience sake. But that was not the end of the injunction to try obedience, that came in accidentally. I never yet heard that our Civil Power did command Ceremonies in the worship of God, merely to try the obedience of the Subject: No nor those who took that power upon them, which God never gave them in the Church; it is not said in their Books, We enjoin these to try your obedience to us. So that there is an other End; of which before.
Answer, No men in the world so obedient to their Superiours, [such as God had made Superiours] for conscience sake. But that was not the end of the injunction to try obedience, that came in accidentally. I never yet heard that our Civil Power did command Ceremonies in the worship of God, meerly to try the obedience of the Subject: No nor those who took that power upon them, which God never gave them in the Church; it is not said in their Books, We enjoyn these to try your obedience to us. So that there is an other End; of which before.
4. Let us see whether our Ceremony-makers can better free themselves from Superstition, than those whom Tertullian charged with it, in his Exposition of the Lords Prayer; we shall find there, that the Ministers were not forced to read their Prayers out of a Book: After he had shown what frame we ought to bring with us to Prayer, as to our Brother, then he comes to speak of some who when they went to prayer washed their hands, and some their whole bodies, which cleanness, saith he, plerique superstitiosè currant adomnent orationem: yet it seems they had their Reason for it, as he allegeth. Then he adds, 1Sed quoniam unum aliqued attigimus vacuae observationis, non pigebit caetera quoque denotare, quibus merito vanitas exprobranda est, si quidem sine ullius aut Dominici, aut Apostolici Praecepti auctoritate fiunt, hujusmodi enim non Religioni sed superstitioni deputantur, affectata & coacta, & curiosi potius quam rationalis officii. Certè vel eo coercenda quod Gentilibus adaquent. Then he names some who put off their cloaks when they went to prayer, and others had their vain Observations. Tertullian here speaks like a Christian, one who took his Bible for a perfect Rule. These things we may observe in him: 1. What ought to guide and rule us in Worship; the Authority of the Lords, and the Apostles Precepts.