A85313:317
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.
Harding tells Bishop Jewell, That if the blessed Sacrament of the Altar were no other than he and the rest of the Sacramentarians think of it, then were it not well done for the people to bow down to it. Transubstantiation was that which brought in Kneeling, and it seems, the Papists think if we do not own that, there is no reason to Kneel, nay, we do not well to bow down to the Bread and Wine.
But that which hath much run in my mind is this, Suppose in the Mahometan worship, there were some dispute what gesture there should be used in it, and the Mohammedans should find in their Alcoran, that Mahomet and some of his chiefest followers whom they most reverence, did use such a gesture in the worship, and this is recorded in the Alcoran; do we think the Mahometans would not give so much honour to Mahomet, his chief followers, & their Alcoran, as to say, That is the gesture we must and will use, which by our Alcoran we find, our great Prophet and his Followers used? I am confident they would not disgrace their Alcoran, Mahomet, nor ⟨p. 48⟩his Followers so much, to say, because we are not bound to it, we will use another. I beseech you Brethren, when as we find in our Holy Bible, that Jesus Christ administered, and the Apostles received the Sacrament, not kneeling, but with another gesture suiting a feast. If the Question be now moved, What gesture must we use at the Sacrament? do we when we have the gesture of sitting [to be sure it answered sitting at our feasts] recorded in our Bibles, that thus the Apostles received it, give due honour to our Bibles, and the Apostles with our Lord, when we cast by that, and use another? For the honour of my Bible, which I take to be the rule for my Religion, and for the honour of the Apostles, who first received it, and were the Lords Pen-men, I would choose rather to use this gesture, because I would surely give as much honour to my Bible, as a Turk to his Alcoran.
But that which hath much run in my minde is this, Suppose in the Mahometane worship, there were some dispute what gesture there should be used in it, and the Mahometanes should find in their Alcoran, that Mahomet and some of his chiefest followers whom they most reverence, did use such a gesture in the worship, and this is recorded in the Alcoran; do we think the Mahometans would not give so much honor to Mahomet, his chief followers, & their Alcoran, as to say, That is the gesture we must and will use, which by our Alcoran we finde, our great Prophet and his Followers used? I am confident they would not disgrace their Alcoran, Mahomet, nor