A Christian belief, concerning BISHOPS.  
I 
a Acts 8. 13.  believe, 
b 1 Tim. 3. 1.  that the Office of a Bishop is a worthy Office, and warrantable by the Word of God, 
c Phil. 1. 1.  approved of by the Apostles, 
d Acts 20. 28.  and instituted of God himself: 
e Revel. 2. 1.  having the Charge of one particular Church, 
f Psal. 68 26.  or Congregation, under each of them, 
g 2 Cor. 4. 5.  which they are 
h Acts 20. 28.  set over, 
i Rom. 1. 15.  to feed; 
k 2 Tim. 4. 1.  that is, to preach the Gospel to them: 
l 1 Cor. 2. 16.  Instructing and 
m Math. 15. 3.  Teaching them, not by the Traditions of the Fathers, 
n 2 Tim. 3. 15.  but by the holy Scriptures, 
o 1 Tim. 3. 2.  and showing them good Examples, by leading 
p 2 Cor. 8. 11.  unreproovable lives, and 
q Eze. 44. 13.  performing such offices of the 
r Rom. ●● 7.  ministerial Function, as becometh 
s isaiah 51. 18.  such faithful Guides; having regard to their 
t Acts 1. 20.  bishopric, (which is the 
u 2 Tim. 4. 1.  great Charge of their 
w Ephes. 4. 11.  pastoral Office) 
x Hosea 7. 12.  over which they are set. And I 
y Acts 27. 25.  believe, that our 
z 2 Tim. 4. 10.  praelatical Bishops, 
a 1 Tim. 3. 6.  who are lifted up to a 
b Hosea 4. 18.  Ruling Power, and a 
c 1 Peter 5. 3.  Lording hierarchy, are 
d 1 Thess. 5. 24.  not called of God, nor of 
e 1 Pet. 39  Divine Institution, but 
f 2 Thess. 2. 3.  Antichristian, 
g Mark. 10. 42.  Ethnicall, and 
h 2 Tim. 3. 10.  diabolical; and 
i 1 Tim. 4. 10.  suffered to be 
k Acts 19 29.  in the Church, 
l 2 Thess. 2. 4.  by the good will and pleasure of almighty God, as a 
m Amos 8. 11.  punishment for our sins, and a token of God's displeasure: And therefore 
n John 17. 9  the people of God ought to pray, 
o 1 Cor. 15. 24.  that they may be cast out of the Church, and only 
p 2 Cor. 4. 5.  Preaching Presbyters may remain, to 
q 1 Cor. 3. 14.  divide the Word of God, and open and 
r 1 Cor. 14. 5.  interpret it to the people. And I 
s John 2. 22.  believe, that the 
t Rom. 13. 2.  temporal Magistrates are appointed of God, to punish sin 
u Rom. 13. 1.  upon all evil doers, whether clergy, or laity; and the Government of the Church doth pertain to the 
w 1 Tim. 5. 16.  Church, or 
x Psal. 58. 1.  Congregation, with the 
y 1 Tim. 5. 19  laity, and their 
z Acts 20. 17.  assistance, and not to the sole 
a 1 Pet. 5. 3.  Prelates.  

The Church hath four Offices.  
First, To keep the canonical Scriptures.  
Secondly, To publish the same.  
Thirdly, To keep it clear from the counterfeit Apocrypha, and all counterfeit and corrupt books.  
Fourthly, To make it the Rule of their Actions.   

The church's authority doth consist chiefly in four things.  
First, To choose and ordain Ministers, according to the order of the Apostles.  
Secondly, To teach by lawful Ministers, so made.  
Thirdly, To minister the Sacrament by those Ministers, using such, time as shall be thought most expedient for the same.  
Fourthly, To examine the Doctrines, whether they be of God, or not; and that must be done by the Scriptures.   
John Northbrooke, Preacher of God's Word, Cantabr.  Cyprianus ad Cornaelium, Liber primus. Sacerdos Dei Evangelium tenens, & Christà Praecepta custodiens, occidi potest, non potest vinci. The faithful believer, that will imitate Christ the highpriest, in holding the Gospel, and keeping the commandments, may well be killed, but conquered he cannot be.  

Printed in the year 1641.