For your Majesties definition of Episcopal government, it is extracted out of the Bishops of later date, then Scripture times, and doth not suit to that Meridian, under which there were more Bishops then one in a Precinct, or Church; and it is as fully competent to Archiepiscopal, and Patriarchal government, as Episcopal. The parts of this definition, materially, and abstractly considered, may be found in Scripture. The Apostles, Timothy and Titus, were single persons, but not limited to a Precinct: The government of the Angels was limited to a Precinct, but not in single persons. In several offices, not to be confounded, the parts of this definition may be •ound; but the aggregation of them altogether into one ordinary Officer cannot be •ound. And if that word, ordinary, and standing Government, had been made the genus in your Majesties definition (as it ought to be) We should crave leave to say it would be gratis dictum, if not petitio principii: for the Scripture doth not put all these parts together in a Bishop, who never borrowed of Apostles, Evangelists and Angels, the matter of Governing and Ordaining, and left the other of Teaching, dispensing Sacraments and dealing only in foro interno, to Presbyters, until after times. By this that hath been said, it is manifest enough, that we contend not first de nomine: about the name of Episcopal Government: which yet ⟨p. 8⟩(though names serve for distinction) is not called or distinguished by that name in Scripture. Nor secondly de opere about the work, whether the work of Governing, ordering, preaching &c. be of continuance in the Church, Which we clearly acknowledge; But thirdly de munere, about the Office, it being a great fallacy to argue, That the Apostles did the same work which Bishops or Presbyters are to do in ordinary. Therefore they were of the same Office: for as it is said of the liberal, and learned Arts one and the same thing may be handled in divers of them, and yet these Arts are distinguished by the formalis ratio of handling of them, so we say of Offices, they are distinguished by their callings and Commissions, though not by the work, as all those that are named, (Eph. 4. 11.) Apostles, Prophets, Evangelists, Pastors and Teachers, are designed to one and the same general and common work: The work of the Ministry, ver. 12.
For your Majesties definition of Episcopal government, it is extracted out of the Bishops of later date, then Scripture times, and doth not sute to that Meridian, under which there were more Bishops then one in a Precinct, or Church; and it is as fully competent to Archiepiscopal, and Patriarchal government, as Episcopal. The parts of this definition, materially, and abstractly considered, may be found in Scripture. The Apostles, Timothy and Titus, were single persons, but not limited to a Precinct: The government of the Angels was limited to a Precinct, but not in single persons. In several offices, not to be confounded, the parts of this definition may be •ound; but the aggregation of them altogether into one ordinary Officer cannot be •ound. And if that word, ordinary, and standing Government, had been made the genus in your Majesties definition (as it ought to be) We should crave leave to say it would be gratis dictum, if not petitio principii: for the Scripture doth not put all these parts together in a Bishop, who never borrowed of Apostles, Evangelists and Angels, the matter of Governing and Ordaining, and left the other of Teaching, dispensing Sacraments and dealing onely in foro interno, to Presbyters, untill after times. By this that hath been said, it is manifest enough, that we contend not first de nomine: about the name of Episcopall Government: which yet ⟨p. 8⟩(though names serve for distinction) is not called or distinguished by that name in Scripture. Nor secondly de opere about the worke, whether the worke of Governing, ordering, preaching &c. be of continuance in the Church, Which we cleerely acknowledge; But thirdly de munere, about the Office, it being a greatfallacy to argue, That the Apostles did the same work which Bishops or Presbyters are to do in ordinary. Therefore they were of the same Office: for as it is said of the liberall, and learned Arts one and the same thing may be handled in divers of them, and yet these Arts are distinguisht by the formalis ratio of handling of them, so we say of Offices, they are distinguisht by their callings and Commissions, though not by the worke, as all those that are named, (Eph. 4. 11.) Apostles, Prophets, Evangelists, Pastors and Teachers, are designed to one and the same generall and common worke: The worke of the Ministry, ver. 12.
