AN ESSAY CONCERNING Church Government, Out of the Excellent WRITINGS OF CALVIN AND BEZA  
By A. C. M. A.  
Printed Anno DOM. MDCLXXXIX.   

TO THE MODERATE PRESBYTERIAN.  
WEre Picques and Resentments kindled unto Charity, Prejudices of Education, and Worldly Designs laid aside, RELIGION preferred to Interest, and the power of Godliness to that of Dominion; then all the powers of Hell endued with the Pharisee himself, should never make Protestant's of this Reformed Church of Scotland divide about matters of Ecclesiastic Government: It is clear to a Demonstration, (such as the Nature of the thing requires) that a Precedent Episcopacy hath the Divine Institution, the Apostolic practice, the Reception of the Primitive Church, and the Solemn Approbation of a Revelation from Heaven: This Demonstration (from Calvin and Beza themselves) is the matter of this Essay; Which I cheerfully offer to your censure and ingenuity; Adding, my Hearty Prayers, That, Our Zion may at length be at unity within herself, serving one Lord, according to one Rule, with one Heart, and Mouth, to the Glory of GOD, the joy of Heaven, and all good Men upon Earth; The true happiness of the King and People; The good contentment of our Brethren abroad; And the Melancholy displeasure of the Adversary.   

DEFINITIONS  

I.  
THE Power of ORDINATION is that Right in the Governors of the CHURCH, 
Calvin. Instit: Lib: 4: cap. 4: Sect. 2. This is to be considered, that only the Pastors, and not the whole multitude laid on hands on their Ministers at Ordinations.  to separate Persons duly Qualified, unto the Holy Ministry of the Gospel.   

II.  
The power of jurisdiction is that Right in the Governors of the Church, 
Calvin: Titus chap. 1: verse 5: We learn indeed from this place that there was no such Equality among the Ministers of the Church. but that some One was pre-eminent in Authority and Council.  to make Canons which are wanting, or to Execute those already made, for the Regulation of Church-Members.   

III.  
The Precedent Bishop, is he, who from his Office Pre-eminent to other Ministers, is invested with a fixed Power of 
a Calvin: 2 Tim: chap 1. verse 6. Paul himself declares, That he alone and no other Ministers with him, laid on hands on Timothy.  Ordination, Regulated bv Canons, and of 
b Calvin: Inst: lib: 4: cap: 4: sect: 2: What ever parts the Consul had in the Senate, the same Office did the Bishop always sustain in the Meeting of Presbyters.  Jurisdiction, balanced by assisting Ministers.   

IV.  
The Angel of any Church Representative, 
Beza, Rev: 2: chap: 1: & 24: v: To the Angel, that is, To the Precedent, as whom it behooveth, especially to be admonished, touching those matters; and by him both the rest of his fellow Colleagues, and the whole Church likeways. 24: verse, But unto you, that is, unto you the Angel the Precedent, and the Assembly of your Colleagues, and to the Rest, that is, to the whole Flock.  is the Precedent Bishop over the other Ministers, within the Respective Diocese, Province, or Patriarchat.    

POSTULATUMS  

I.  
THat the 70 Disciples (from among whom Mathias was called, 
Calvine, Luke 10: chap: I, 16, verse. After the Apostles had returned to Christ, he sent out moe secondary Preachers: And this is the great commendation of the outward Ministry; That CHRIST Declares, that whatsoever honour is given to his Faithful Preachers, is given to Himself.  to be ordained one of the 12: Apostles) were Persons in holy Orders in the Ministry.   

II.  
That (b) Timothy in the Church of Ephesus, 
Calvine, 1 Tim: 1: chap. 18: v:  & 
a Timothy was not one of the common Ministry, but one next to the Apostles, who in the frequent absence of Paul, was in his place, Titus 1. 5. Beside the ordinary Office of Pastors, Titus had th●s charge, that he should constitute a certain Form of Church Polity and Discipline; and likewise ordain Ministers over the Churches.  Titus in the Church of Crete, were from their Offices preeminent to other Ministers, invested with a fixed Power of Ordination, and Jurisdiction, regulated by Canons, and balanced by assisting Ministers.   

III.  
That for the avoiding of Schism, 
Calvin: Inst: lib: 4: cap: 4: sect: 2: Presbyters out of their number in all the cities, chose one, to whom especially they gave the title of Bishop; lest from a Parity, as useth to be, Divisions might arise. jerom says, at Alexandria from Mark the Evangelist to Heraclas and Dionysius, Presbyters always placed one in a pre-eminent degree, whom they called a Bishop.  the Primitive Church retained the Government of one single person, pre-eminent in Office, unto other Ministers.   

IV.  
That the 7 Angels of the 7 Churches, 
Beza, Rev: 2: chap: 26: v: My works, that is, he who shall faithfully perform the work laid upon him; For he bespeaks the Assembly of Pastors in the person of the Precedent, to whom he promiseth Victory against all the wicked, if he rely and trust in the Authority and Power of that true and only head of the Church.  written unto, in the Book of Revelation, are encouraged against all the devices of the ungodly, upon condition of their continuing faithful in their Administrations.    

AXIOMS  

I.  
THE Regular Call of any Minister already ordained, 
Calvin, 1 Tim: 3: 13: Because in one or two Centuries after the death of the Apostles, it was the constant custom that from the Order of Deacons, the Presbyters were chosen, therefore commonly they have exponed this place, of the Advancement to a Superior Degree.  is from an Office of an inferior, to another of a Pre eminent Station.   

II.  
The Pre-eminence in any Office, 
See Definition, II. & III.  includes a proportioned Jurisdiction, over the Officers who are under them.   

III.  
The Divine Right is manifest, 
Calvin: Inst: ilb: 4: cap: 6: sect: 1: We have not before touched upon the primacy of the Roman See; whence the Papists strive to prove that the Catholic Church is only with them: because it hath not taken its Original from CHRIST'S institution, nor the custom of the Ancient Church, as the other Offices have done, (viz. Bish: Presb: & Deacon: cap: 4: sect: 1:) mentioned already.  in that Ecclesiastic Government which is instituted by Christ, continued by his Apostles, retained in the Primitive Church, and approven from Heaven by Revelation; in subserviency to any end, wherein the well-being of Christianity is nighly concerned.   

IV.  
The want of that Government in the Church, 
Calvin: Inst: lib 4. cap 8: sect: 2: For neither the light and heat of the Sun, Meat or Drink are so nourishing and sustaining this present Life, as the Apostolic and Ministerial Office, for preserving of a Church upon Earth.  which is of Divine Right, is pernicious to the Gospel, and Christian Religion.    

PROPOSITION I.  
The twelve Apostles were Precedent Bishops over the 70. Disciples.  

Demonstration.  
THe Precedent Bishop is he who from his Office Pre-eminent to other Miinisters, is invested with a fixed power of Ordination, Regulated by Canons, and of jurisdiction balanced by assisting Ministers; (by Definition III) But in respect to the 70 Disciples, who were all in the holy Ministry, (by Postulatum I.) and from among whom Mathias was called to be of the 12. (by Postulatum I.) The sacred College of, the Apostles had a fixed Pre-eminence (by Axiom I.) Invested with the power of Ordination regulated by Canons; (by Postulatum I: and Definition I:) And of jurisdiction balanced by Assisting Minister's; (by Axiom II.) Therefore the 12. Apostles were Precedent Bishops over the 70. Disciples, which was the thing to be Demonstrated.    

PROPOSITION II.  
Timothy was a Precedent Bishop over the Church of the Ephesians; and Titus over the Church of the Cretians.  

Demonstration.  
These are Precedent Bishops who are from thei● Office Pre-eminent to other Ministers, invested with a fixed power of Ordination, Regulated by Canons; and of jurisdiction balanced by assisting Ministers; (by Definition III) But Timothy in the Church of Ephesus, and Titus in the Church of Crete, from their Offices had a pre-eminence over other Ministers, invested with a fixed power of Ordination and jurisdiction, Regulated by Canons, and Balanced by Assisting Ministers; (by Postulatum II.) Therefore Timo●hy was a precedent Bishop over the Church of the Ephesians, and Titus over the Church of the Cretians. Which was to be Demonstrated.    

PROPOSITION III.  
The Fathers of the Primitive Church were Precedent Bishops.  

Demonstration.  
The Primitive Church retained the Government of one single person, pre-eminent in Office unto other Ministers; (by Postulatum III.) But the pre-eminence in any Office includes a proportioned jurisdiction over the Officers who are under them; (by Axiom II.) And the power of jurisdiction is fixed in the precedent Bishop, (by Definition III) Therefore the Fathers of the Primitive Church were precedent Bishops. Which was to be Demonstrated.    

PROPOSITION IU.  
The Precedent Episcopacy is approven by CHRIST in the Book of the Revelation.  

Demonstration.  
The 7: Angels of the 7: Churches written unto by St: John, in the Book of the Revelation, are encouraged against all the devices of the ungodly, upon condition of their continuing faithful in their Administrations; (by Postulatum IU.) But these Angels were precedent, Bishops over other Ministers within their respective Churches; (by Definition IV.) Therefore the precedent Episcopacy is approven by CHRIST, in the Book of the Revelation. Which was to be Demonstrated.    

COROLLARY I.  
The Precedent Episcopacy is of Divine Right.  

Demonstration.  
The Divine Right is manifest, in that Ecclesiastic Governuent which is instituted by CHRIST, and continued by his Apostles, retained in the Primitive Church, and approven by CHRIST, by a Revelation from Heaven, for subserviency to any end, wherein the well-being of Christianity is nighly concerned; (by Axiom III) But the Precedent Episcopacy was instituted by CHRIST; (by Proposition I.) Continued by His Apostles; (by Proposition II.) Retained in the Primitive Church; (by Proposition III) And approven by CHRIST, by a Revelation from Heaven; (by Proposition IV.) For avoiding of Schism wherein the well-being of Christianity is nighly concerned; (by Postulatum III.) Therefore the Precedent Episcopacy is of Divine Right. Which was to be Demonstrated.    

COROLLARY II.  
The want of the Precedent Episcopacy is prejudicial to the cause of CHRIST.  

Demonstration.  
The want of that Government in the Church, which is of Divine Right, is pernicious to the Christian Religion; (by Axion IV.) But the Precedent Episcopacy, is that Government in the Church which is of Divine Right; (by the preceding Corollary.) Therefore the want of the Precedent Episcopacy is prejudicial to the cause of CHRIST. Which was to be Demonstrated.