The second part of The nonconformists plea for peace being an account of their…

23. We fear this evil will never be cured, till Church Dignities and Riches be so far taken down that they may be no strong temptation to the Proud and Covetous, and so may not entail the Ministry for ever on the worst of men: but only by a competent s••pend prevent the temptations of Poverty and worldly cares to those that seek the holy office ⟨p. 145⟩for holy ends: Lest one part of the Ministry being Great and worldly, and the other through Poverty left base and unlearned, both should subserve the enemy of souls.

24. No Bishops or Pastors have any secular coactive Power (unless the King make them his Officers): and therefore of themselves can Rule none but Volunteers.

25. Whether the Apostles or Evangelists have any successors in the ordinary work of taking care of many Churches, without being fixed to any one, and whether Magistrates may appoint any Pastors to be General Visitors of the Churches in their Dominions, are questions which we would not be too bold in determining, nor will we about them be troublers of the Church. But we believe that God hath not made such an inequality of Churches whether Rome, Alexandria, or any as Metropoles, as to make one Church a Governor of other neighbour Churches. And we wonder at them that know that Civil Rulers did set up the Patriarchs and Metropolitans in the Roman Empire, in conformity to their Civil Policy, and know that this Empire is now dissolved, and the reason of the thing (had it been lawful) ceased; and yet talk of forming General Councils by the five Imperial Patriarchs, and of subjecting themselves to the Pope as to one of the five.