§. 15. Rule 2. p. 220. &c. The Church hath power to make Laws &c. By the Church I must first mean the Church Catholic, or all the Governors of the Christian assemblies in the world—But because all did never meet since the Apostles days, who being few and united and absolute and supreme could then do what never could be done since, it is necessary that the Legislation be subjected in some more particular subject, and therefore I shall instance in the least. By the Church I mean every particular Church joined to the Head of Union; and by the particular Church I mean the Angel of that Church the Bp.—A Diocese is the least circuit of Government, but it is an entire body subject to distinct commands— whether the Diocese be little or great, allowed or disallowed, in City or Country, divided into Parishes or not divided, under Metropolitans or not under, of many ⟨p. 92⟩Churches or but of one, it matters not: where there is a Bishop and a Congregation, there is a Diocese —As for Parishes in the late sense of the word, that is, the charge of a single Presbyter, it is no body politic of Apostolical or Divine appointment. For the Presbyters were called in part in solicitudinis into the help of the Ministry, but they had NO CURE OF SOULS save only by delegation and special temporary appointment for some whole ages in the Church. And therefore the Governing and Commanding authority cannot be extended to Parishes and their Curates, which are of late date*] p. 222. If we go higher (than a Bishop) we can never come to a society of Apostolical or Divine institution in the Church, because between the whole Catholic Church either in diffusion or representation, and a single Diocese, all the intermedial unions, as of Metropolitans, Primates, Patriarchs, Councils Provincial or ECUMENICAL are by consent and positive and humane institution, but they directly establish no Divine Government: This only is properly such—A Bishop and his charge more or less is an entire society or Common-wealth, that is, an entire Government, and Prelate and people make the parts of the integral constitution*. (What Laws he meaneth see him after.)
§. 15. Rule 2. p. 220. &c. The Church hath power to make Laws &c. By the Church I must first mean the Church Catholick, or all the Governours of the Christian assemblies in the world—But because all did never meet since the Apostles days, who being few and united and absolute and supreme could then do what never could be done since, it is necessary that the Legislation be subjected in some more particular subject, and therefore I shall instance in the least. By the Church I mean every particular Church joyned to the Head of Union; and by the particular Church I mean the Angel of that Church the Bp.—A Diocess is the least circuit of Government, but it is an intire body subject to distinct commands— whether the Diocess be little or great, allowed or disallowed, in City or Countrey, divided into Parishes or not divided, under Metropolitans or not under, of many ⟨p. 92⟩Churches or but of one, it matters not: where there is a Bishop and a Congregation, there is a Diocess —As for Parishes in the late sense of the word, that is, the charge of a single Presbyter, it is no body politick of Apostolical or Divine appointment. For the Presbyters were called in part in solicitudinis into the help of the Ministry, but they had NO CURE OF SOULS save only by delegation and special temporary appointment for some whole ages in the Church. And therefore the Governing and Commanding authority cannot be extended to Parishes and their Curats, which are of late date*] p. 222. If we go higher (than a Bishop) we can never come to a society of Apostolical or Divine institution in the Church, because between the whole Catholick Church either in diffusion or representation, and a single Diocess, all the intermedial unions, as of Metropolitans, Primates, Patriarchs, Councils Provincial or OECUMENICAL are by consent and positive and humane institution, but they directly establish no Divine Government: This only is properly such—A Bishop and his charge more or less is an intire society or Common-wealth, that is, an intire Government, and Prelate and people make the parts of the integral constitution*. (What Laws he meaneth see him after.)
- *1. Note that elsewhere he saith, A man cannot be answerable for the souls that he cannot know. 2. Note that he maketh a Bishop essential to a Church (in the proper political sense) And so our Parishes are all unchurched by the Bishops way. 3. One Congregation with a Bishop is a Diocesan Church. 4. Parish Curates have no Government. 5. All this fully proveth that Dioceses in those ages that he speaks of were no bigger than one man could govern, that is, than our Parishes. 6. Quer. By what right were the changes in specie made.1. Note that elsewhere he saith, A man cannot be answerable for the souls that he cannot know. 2. Note that he maketh a Bishop essential to a Church (in the proper political sense) And so our Parishes are all unchurched by the Bishops way. 3. One Congregation with a Bishop is a Diocesane Church. 4. Parish Curats have no Government. 5. All this fully proveth that Diocesses in those ages that he speaks of were no bigger than one man could govern, that is, than our Parishes. 6. Quer. By what right were the changes in specie made.
- *This with Dr. Hammonds denying that there were any subject Presbyters in Scripture times, make up pure Independency.
