:“\:.rM“ ‘

>y

‘  g::.i4«§’"

  

T 0V.VAlRDl F1 N»
-1 N G  A  E C I s 1 0 N 0 F I
am ch:e;rc’Canllci:mzleu3cy nawdebated

A ‘mnccfming6jéa‘r§'5.(gom-ernmenx. Q

 

A A-A A .  5 :‘I"prefupp"ofclI am fa
A I , _  l'"f“pi3ak to mén ‘that fnakc con-.-
   ,  fl"-’fci’enc¢ -of th“t:ir%waiesl, ah&
A’   ‘ A 5 lconfsqucntly {ludyt0wall<c=

   

:57  =  ”'. . ,

 iv ,. V  l-fccond place, that the rule
  by which they clcfire ‘ to

 

  by 2. rule. Iprcrupporein me 

wzalkcg ‘is chic-Fly‘ the cleére l

vlrorltl-cf God l., but where thus cannot be had , that‘
the: principles and inditemcnts of lbund rcafon they"

wll'l‘not rcjcélz and l~a"l’cly 5 when rcafonings mayfbtl
A doubtful _.., ‘chit they willneithcr be fingular aindl"

wilfull in theirownc {cafe , but inclining to heam
the judgcmcnt of others, nor unwilling to ycéld
’s:z7m;c>" that , lwhemixu all fuch as are cftcémed to bee
 l   A  mofi;

fa.‘

.~ . W * *7
lg? 3% § 3-‘=‘«-A
 v‘l:’11«‘?l; 1;? M
J“



.9» "“-ll,
~J:*“'

.$..-,~.==w .
 .,,

$.='aT;1,‘;,._-‘,6

i <2)

itifizfiiiraitionall ddeiiagiree : with fueh men Idefire tee

 fpeake, and would tell them thatelifindeeeim the=con- M

7  igrovgrfie ofthis ti'mC2. divers little Treaties put forth, 

niatlfy bitterlygandjihdifcreetly, fame med.efiiy,e;nd’-

wifeiyriwritein 3;, eftiime For, and efomeeagaiiifi Epifcge; A-

paegf, all 5of them; fiandirigfor particuléziritefnets 5 13+

.4 Benito _L;pi1oiIdi%theirJ;evw1eformeof governmet:1t"as..
A the heft; and oneiylzzwfull ordmzmce of God.

None thatlhave met. withall doe-Ioolce upon the

matter without partia1ity_tQ feekevconcerning the
pbirjts chiefly to be q‘uefl:‘roned, a‘-Decifion, which
I think: maybe "taken fiom undoubted‘. grounds , L

amid undeniable principles. Therefore Ithought it"

mightzbc of rife to put: fomething to paper aifo in
this kindc 5 V as it  tomakeatr'iaI1 .; whether or  
  no the way toiidecideeihis ~grea: cdhtrbverfie might
  maths foufld fa. ass to give prefent fatisfaékion :0

t}ieiiiime':fe figmple and fcifupuleusg and toifhewtoi the

mere learnedeand judicious (whof: doubts lie dee-—»  
p:.«.r‘)~ 4‘a’%mc:t‘h0d4 whereby to refoi\%ee‘thernfelves, if ‘
they’ will foliowi thfli famewithpuz peejudice§ I {hall .

endeavfourro doe. , *

J Iftake the matterehiefly  queflionabie,_* .

iti1o1;.1ghnorzhithertemézinly,i and exprefly quefiioe

tied tti  V-.hi5~o Whether or no Chrifi ‘hath not ibis -

ekeeimti£1:gee1nd,;ibuilding, up of his Chiirch, i.mPti»

‘F tuted fame overfeefs or Biiheps (for IfflfCEi£1c"?{¢.~
‘*5 names iriciiercntiy ) to be before , and ahgvc 0....’ K
“ them in Church: government? erwhether fen: eke ~
Lfifiuiiizingk  building up_.of his Church , he hath ~

<32 ~

:9?‘  .fgQmVanod1cr§j   T  V

F $7“ Vrmdle 1.73113. gswrfcers" _-3&3.»    fiézgt. A

 Ifth¢ firft be affirmcd, then t11cV£].u¢*{:}’ioA1i_ mufl bc 
-wmc that Primjity, ‘a:ndS=up“cri<1rity;is which‘ “Chm: ’

Shath allowcdof <2’ and how it ough}: to be cxcrcii'cd
ra‘bm"m «écifhersrf B11! ifthc lfafi ‘bc?mainv:1inEd,*f}i4cn :"wg
wmufl: be taught, w11at£ha:%V:pri"mMVndAun!iAdinatc

Authority of every qvcrfcer i‘s,V in his 4‘ geculiar
+s:::harg£ er anc1ho«w":hc fhauldexcrcifc it 6 ;N0§;v to

fisndxaza way sm :c1~r::<:idc% theft que°flion%s , I am a;.s%oncA

who is .d0ubtfujil,:t4h%at I smay *bca1'.ca4 parwf ibufi
"slash ofthofe who are in doubt. ‘Therefore to bee
ablmto‘mfoim wfelfe , zit  be  tiiay
fomegmunds fmromiwhcnce infctrenccs% m ay bcjmade
appliablcto me qucfticms now in hand, AA A A % 

j ThcV:g=mu:;ads mufi rsbc mileage dV06i:rinc§ "of holy

  Scripture ., concerning the zmattcrs wh-i:::h are fun»
:axncn:a1%1 in;r$11c.q-uefiien.‘ T he: inferences mufi 
«rules taken from rth0fe.do6brVin»es , «whcmby»my4;une-
mderftandimg may be dircéicd to go the firaigm way

% towards a dccifion ,oM1e .q:ue{t.icm, and applicam
tit)‘n‘ Amufi be a %cnVfidc1‘mian particular Acir;

¢ ~ cumflancemfthings new acbaitedafp far as they are
dcterminablia “by ache mics “which “smay be 7fbun.d out;

 Thus than to ifindc agreumds bf Decificn I mufi
take notice %, Jofthi g7s‘fundament3Ill~’m the quw
Rnyvmhich I fix ;~r  ‘=C arc%:he-Fe, M ‘ 

   

LTQ

which are called his Church 5:’ l

 3 ,1i_To7what and   Chrifie hath 4 gathered «ttogcthe
and compaeced i into ‘one body i.«fcvcra1llbelccms

:4. iciisipropcrlyiobtililidi up hié  A  

3. A wciei appointed. by Chirili.,eitc5§
be the huildersofhis Churchc‘ A    A"

4. [What rlieir feverall .charges and duties fvs}'c1*e» -4

 in the Chuxch, and how; they were to adxninifizratei
the fa“!-_neevery one according to his gufi: and places? " A ~

-''-~.

~ 5. How'_rhefe_ithaf were commlitteci to their

charge , wcrc tp biehaVe.themfe1vesi tdwarcls them «-3'.»  

6. iHowv~acC<.5rclingrovthfle intention of Chrift gahcl 

 tile! rules prioceeding-fioin his ‘fpirit«, the cihiefebfuil-:

ders his immediate followers the _«ApOl’d€S did put
all in execution 2’, here then their pra;fti“ce in tlheway=~
of government is CQ be .tal<en notice‘ of.. V

Ifihefe iliizigsicizn be foundl Cleerly in Scripture;

Ihope they will afford me fome. light , t.ofatifie the
elo11,btS_~0fm}?,wea1<c confciencgwhich nowimuft ~
heefillleffcfuples fonothex mens fakes.      ; A '

But wh%ien,l fljallhavelgatheredilallthatframiclecr

‘ Scripture can he gathered in. the-fe..magt'ters , ifyee _
fomfithipg ihduld be found bfcure, 1' ancldoubtfiull  A
concerning particulars now agitated 3 wh ereofpera ~.

  MP5 "

U)‘

 hztps ho cleereptocept is extent in ‘Scri]pfu1'eh'ottt ',_
 whencelxnay beable to gather ~{'uch1niE?:rences as

may fettle my confcience and put it out of doubt 

concerning fome quefiions in government? as who:

thefthis oretthat, in inch or fuhh ayeticafe ought either A

‘V tower not to be done. Then lthihkcl fhoulddoe;

well to iookeifirfl , upon the Apofiles .praé’t-icein A ,
A‘ like cafes,or if that be perhaps alfo either uhicnowne

or not welliknowne , as not recorded in theword i,t

then I fuppofe itwillnot’beamifl'e to confidetfthe ;

i laudahiepmfticse ofother tiInC§'., and chiefly thoih"

whomoft immediately, followed the Apofiolicalij  
age 3 taking notice of that which t11cy'c.didin~fuch.i ‘
like.»cafes,;, that  pscrhapstiin o..allChu-rchcS 05 alio
ages ands places , I finde {ome undoubted tokens of “
univerfa11.conf:ht._, Ifmay be willing toteft in it, and; A
not afiizfl fingularity; chiefly if I fhould alfo fihde, A

A that all the Churches ofthis prcfent age,’ doeeithet ‘ A

eoqnfcnt fully thcreunto ,, or atleafi doe flOC»fOfafI‘¢
diffent from the fame , as to condemne;othets' who ~ A
foilow not their dif‘I“Cl‘€flCipl‘3&iC€ in fuch Acaiéso, IE  ’
all which Chutchesl fay , I ought to take notice im-
thofe cafes, which {hail he thus doubtfull , of their

formes of governmientfo Farre as I {hail findethe

fame fuhotditiatetmto the cmaine ends for which '

Chtifi gathered his Church, and nogxegiignant hm:
cohfonantunto the rules and prafitoiée of the Ape»-
Ptles which are clce rly recorded.‘ ;

A For I conceive that ifit cah he macie apparenhthztt

either the send for which Chrifl: gathered 3.2‘-Cimrchm i ii

Oi?

w\I

‘ G1‘ the me-anes Dlrxbulidlflgilt up appoirttecl by‘him,E"ii

o‘rttl*erules.and cohllritutions; of'l.thc: Apofiles cleli-»:* l
~~tzerecl tothe builciers which wereto be the11ff0l-- » A

lowers», mOl‘tl'1C‘l1‘ owne praétice in~goveming the.

’ x

Cilmrtrli according to Gods will, is repagnant to all  
Priot-ity, and St:pe1‘iority, ofone Paltotabove ano-— ; lg
thee, then it timft be granted , that no fueh govern»
mentougllt to be admitted‘. But if this not onelyri
eaunot be made apparent, but rather the contrary

namely that both the aime of Chrift in compaéting

his Chutch into one body, and the means by which
A it is to be built up , hp and the rules given to th€t;‘bul_l7v‘;
ders, and the Aprarftice of the éhiefe Mailer builders; ‘T

whom I talc: to have been infallible in the Wayof

publlckc“governmengdoeflaew fottln that a Priority:

and fupetiorityl ofoae toverfeetabove“anothet, is ala-
lowed of: then me thiinltesr the fitltiqueftiointwillllt
be decided, and mull be anfweredyea: butlth”et1‘the4‘
fecond queftiont will i come Iinto cohfideratien. 
namely that Priority, and Superiority,‘ istvhich 
ing aec0rdi,ng to‘Chrills-aime, ‘is anfwet*able= antral
the meanes of mutual! edifieatiott, is fettled. bgyvea-—l
ptelle rules , was praétifed by. the Apofilesitthemfe
i’elves., and hath been continued by all their follow:
ease, fiom t«l1e.p'10f°c incormpt primiftive times“, tmtill
this tirefentage *3 which if IlCi1l‘ll)y eleer 'xv‘otd bl’
Scripture , -andarefcimony of Authors worthy" of
eteelit, in all ages finde out,'.thcj.n I thitlle: I ought to:
feteny minde at tell, and Cali 0 fYfurtl1er doubtings,

. as tlfthts tale of p1‘oCeeding   towards a deeifioa» at
 = -' the

V V %  ( 7)_i

L V  rénaitécria 'bethusxvithoiztifurthérire'fh'i6iioz1Tami

§“0l1‘oW‘it ciofely , and take hced Iefiit be unfappied
to things indifferent,‘ either in nztmrc or pmpc'>rtioz%2,i
{mm thofcwhleiéin Chrifi: and his Apofties with
,;t;h1éirtr:1c foiiowers in times mofi inC01‘1‘L1ptx*JCr3‘ri

exception adrnitted , g then my mcxt Care muff be tr)

i_§:‘0nv€fl”anit. _

Nowthcn to 1mi<c’one1y §’atti*1istin-'ac:1'meic:f53
:;*iyail‘of this way (foi:1_1e1fc:;1ftc3r if neccibe m%’:1tte11§
‘my, be: in1a_rgcd‘)7I‘wi1i fi1mr1__miiy obfervc“ tim
which is clecrscrifpturc concerning the forenamcfl
‘}1¢ad.5_~ M    1 ~   % V _.i  V:
 ' :Fir&i, ‘A I__ i"f‘ii1<i'i!e:"‘i~iit1‘1i1,t‘"At1‘1;‘c?’i &n‘djfwhereibirc cm-:1“:
.§S.L[0?u_1diI1a;vc all his belcevers cojnxpacfihrd and .g3th«:-Lriiir

ii‘?ed‘ intoiioneboidyi is;th"at‘ theiW.e1~1"dfl1duld bc1ecm*€:~

and k‘now'th'e’fe itwo things  ‘That the Fzttimirii iiatim

afitntihisisonne to ,1_1s,4and.itha;t the Father, iO‘V€‘t11

“:;uhé'be.ic:cvcrs as’ he lovcth his; Senna.  A This isciccsi:
in lab. I7.?.I,"22,2,3; Another wand c_>ft‘ms t121i()t1.iis;

"that thébc1ceVcirs,Tmay:bce able to bu'i~1d~iL1pt11er1i*i=»

,i‘CiV.'CiS inigracei This isiclcer in Epéeflzmé. ’"AnQ~i

thér c_nd.is, ‘that théyifmayipimfcrvei thcmfeivcs fi*0ri‘i
the ‘dangers of:{dvcrfa1f1es , V and the‘caufc-s of over-+

throw ., Phil. 1, 247,218. "Gal. 3 :1 3°,i4513. 'And“:£
,f’urthcrcnd A is the holding up of the credit of Gods

A KiBgdOf11€iflithCi\V01‘i"Ci, afwcll by life, as bydc-:

iciginfi, P/xii. 2i.~I,2i,;. and fa-q1‘1ent:but chiefly verfe
141, ii 5,16. From whence I fuppofe theie..:=;fl"c1*tions

ma i.fa.fc1w.fbci°‘athcrcdiasrulcs oTf'f1:turcé Decifion.  
  3'.»   W  -   4  ".   

wart" 

  1t.i.tIfthe_icnow1edge and faitho‘fChriPc.,i ifthef

;_Pathers ‘love toali belecvers be t?t1:tc;i'e‘rn;/titziifefti unto
~the,worci,i€the . but-ikiingt up .ofai1? beleevers ttrnongflz
themfeives , if their prefervation from adverifitriesg,
and if the credit of Gods Kingdome both in life 
'do¢‘9crine,be upheld irtgtiie Church of God.,more d‘ig-

'reé3dy jufiiy and ifitfeiy by a Priority‘ and’ Superiority

ofoverfeers one above another,then by an ind'epen--V

~dency offpirituall perfons and charges one from a-
nother, then it isto. be conceivedgthat a Priority and
Superiority of overfeets in Chrifls Church, is
more anfwerabie tohis air-ne in compztcfiing it irt--.

V to one body,then an ihdiependency. But: it may Bee “

conceived , that thefe ends may be attained more
direéfly, .j.uPc1y andfafcly by the ohe,ithen by the 0-
t:her.rThereforeitt1‘1ay  eonpceiieci , that thcirtone
[is more anfwterable to his airne thetlipthc other. 4 V

J  i -2; Iiftherehe my Priority 2ttid1phS_uperiotrit57 of

fpirituail chggrges, and performs, or any parity anc1“in:~
detpendeneyiof charges amoingfi per-Fons which is
not: fuhotdinate ._,p but,repugnat1.t unto thofe. ends‘;
xheniitié to bee conCeii*ed“'that ifufch‘ both Priority’

it and fuperiority,_as alfo parity and independency is

1‘ti'EQg€_ti1fitti‘ eun1awfuii..‘ But’ ]perp'haps there is forrie
7iaoth?Prior"ity,atnd Sit1;p.eriority..,as aifo independiency
Lend’ parity , p not fttbordhtate but repugnangt to thefe
tends: 2:: ttheirefiore it is to be co.pt1cei‘$/redo ,_ that perhaps
fame both parity and” independency‘ i_., as aifo Priori”-=4
 and Superiority is utiiawfitilg   A ‘

   ¢t.eke3thefe affertions though doabt u1lyptopo-
 . . e ;

<95"     r  

fed inrel‘pe5trofp:irtieulars,to he nevertihelelle outof
all doubtin itheiijgenet*ality-,iantl therefore I lay them A

as groundscifi future direétitm-3 t0i3V;1rd5at¢Cifi_Cfm.

  ‘<25th¢P°3nf~  

 Secondly;  eoncern—ir.1g the huilcling up ioftlte
Church , Ifincle in Scripture that to build up ‘the
Church of Chrift is to ule rneanes to perfeét the

“ Saints till they all come unto the unity ofthe fairly '

“ and of the knowledge of the Son of God unto it

A “ perfeéi man,'\ut~1tc> the meafure of the flatureofthe

5‘;fulneIl"elorf Chrifi, that they may not afilwaies bee
ff‘ carried toand fro as II~1fafi=tS with divers windeslof
5‘ dtjntfitriltne gi rbutidehling truly in love tmygrow up
“»in ‘him, that is"the'vhead even Chrift , froxnwhorm

V V?‘ the whole body ifitlyl joynecl together , arid com.

QC.‘ paéted by‘ that which every joynt fupgalieth-l,;tTarc.

ii‘s‘lcordingtt the reffeéluallworking in the meafure;

M“ of every part, “<tnal<eth enc-reafe <51-‘the body to the
.3“ ecliffying ofiffelfitr love,  E1;/2  I2 ,1, 3 ,:1r4fl,lt 5,‘t€§,.

Thefe are word's of exceeding deepe and great
lenfe ., and yet mcthinkes exceeding cleere ifthejr
he refolved into fingle propefitions , wl’1i<;l1nmv'I
wwillnot {land to d;0t:,,, becaufell” mufl: be”bree'fer
Thereforel will againe ‘take uplrthefetrules. "A V

  A x .. Ifitmay be conceivedifihlat a Priority zmdl su-
periority of form fpirituall overfeers over othersghe
3 more dire-6°: and proper memes then :1 parity,and'
;izi1,dep,endene.yofthe l“ame,is ,-to bring all the S:ti;rts.,
A A 4 i it  B3_’ "  

£to) 

‘offiGod unto, ghcunity of ~‘Faith; and %KoowieHigé;;  
;an“<.1—»ti1crci‘t1'ktio a pcrfcét manly flatur?.r,i andthc  
mmfure-oftino fuineffc of Chrifig tiacnirl am bouod A
to thinks that a priority and fupcriofityis"mo’nc

V anfivcrobic to Chriflsintcntioninbuilding up his

Church, thexi is a paritié and .indcpendénci%c, ‘but
tin: Antcccdcnt is plcrhaps trur;5thcric4forc the Confiw

  f;qVucntpcrhapsFa1io.

2. Is 1 finds. um um inacpcixdmparstieii
Miniflcrs doth keep: the Saints ofGod ~aI1waycs in

infant i,, fufi’criLag;thcnntoiabcgcarficd to andfrio

wi:h’~ ixvcrs windcs of Doéicirinc. arid malficth an of»
ipcnfway to tho‘ {Right and Cunning crafiingffc of
mcngwhicrcbythcy lye iinwaittofidoccivt 5 then “i
am boundito think: that an incicpcndcntwparity v of
Minificrs is not ianfwtrable to C-hrifis intéintiotig iii
building up his Church. But I Edda thati the int
dcpcndcnt parity of 'M’ni{icrs do,th‘i pérhapsi ;his’.

Ergo I xnuflziconciudc-that it is~noti-pcrhaips aniw¢“-  
rablcto Chriiis V mention in building.‘ upwhis  i

VChurci:i;‘  

o_  3. Ifthc incicpcncicot parityof Qvericcrs may
{acme to mcrepugnant to that fit jommg and com; A

paéiing ofaii b“ciccvIcrs~iintoi our body, whereby

as mmbers W 0? amthcr rm’ 91°31“ {apply by  
..;-heir co mmon yjoyms each om: towards another

thatwhich according to tho camuall woxkingm

the mpafurc oi"cv2cryA pattgfluouid tiiakh the iocrcafe A

*7?§iih.c"Abodytoibiui1id it %1:clfc3iiu§p'in loiic a9‘nc.i~iTf«a
 “ ‘*4 4*" a priority

  {Ix 1“):    
~prioriry ana ~ fupcriority of ;Ovcrfccrs may fccmc

‘ notat_all‘rcpugnant, but moi’: cofifon'anttcf1rhis_ V

kinda: of Wmzke, rthcn {may rconccivcr that the ‘in-
écpcnrd;cnr~parrityis mtat all, and that the fizlptri-»
our priority is raltogcthcr emiwcrablc urntochrifls
imc,-mien in buildingup his Church 5 but the far-
mcrmayr fccm fo to jimc , and therefor: aifo the
latter. 4  -  :,  A  rm % _  
4 Thirdlyfionccrningfrhc Ofiecrs, wccfirzdc in
Scripture thcfc by name: 1. Apofllcs, 2. Pro-
fihats, 3. Eva"ng”cli’&S, 4; Paftons and Teachers; 15--
f-&_€_[;,4L.I‘I.z clfcwhcrcrrwcc fir-"mic miner namcsrof'
Ggifis and O~ffiCC‘S§5  as workers of «Miracles, Gifté

..‘ qr

af Hcalin;g,4rHclprcs,r ,rGra.vcrnorurs,,i'D1vcIfitics of.

"4mnrgues,rrlntcrprgtcrs of tongues,‘ 4 I Can: :2}: 8,291,
ram Icc.m,Dreaccms,ExhortcrLs,RuIcrs,Ram.12.7, S‘.
—~ar£71dBifhops,rPrcsbytcrs3 and —Dcamns,  Tim. 3.

rzr,~53i4.r. handxg. 17,1851“ 9;

: :i9From wircncczl make that‘: infércrnccs. 1. If
‘_;rrh¢*{ér’Orfliccrr§appointed for ‘the firfl: building of
fichrifis Church were A by dcgrccs fsr in mpriorirty
..jar3d rfupmiority cmcrr abuve another ,, rrhen I may
gserrccivc thatar priorrity and fupcriority of fpririmk
ad! :Offi?C‘rrs is mt rcpugmnt to the. government of
.C11ri;fis C;hUYCh. But there Officcrs were 50 For

' ifnirglréatien of degrees on: rabovc another 5 them-

farcl may comccivc. that finch a gradation of 1p?..
xicuzrll Oficclrsis not rcgugnam :0 rhc govcrnnacnr
_yGfGh£1fi$ Church; % .    J   A ~

24  V

CI‘-’v3—[

 2. If zf1ez'c.uva§ 4noA.indcpchdcnfT parity inth»

fix fix Offic*ci$ ~in&itutcd in Chxifisv A Chqrcb, ;thenI

have rcaion to conccivcthat an indcpendcnt pari»
mc is noraniwcrablc co Chrxfts xntcmxjon, A‘ m anflx-'~

t¢uti‘nVg Oficérs inhis%%AChurch. Bm-ygthcrc wagswna 

independent parityin thcfc firfl Otficcrs infiigutcd.
high: Church: Thcrcforc Ihavé:4%rcafon;w;‘c0n;
ccivgthat anVindepcndcnt parity is not aaivvgrablc,
to Chirifis intcntioim.  V A    ~

    Hal-ccwozhgngg mam objc&cdor_cx§c§tcd

“againfith.is Rule ofD:cifion. % Firfi,that.zh5A-9 AV

gpofilcs who wcrc«Chrifls fir&%Qflicérs wm equal
oncto another, and independent due from anew
then. But tothis I aniwc-13, Thapl fpcak; not of
the Officcrs Sppointcd betorgjgfllc con&itutin~o;f
the Church, butofthofc that_arc_m'm~cd V cxpréfly

to bear: oflicc in the; Church ajrcady confiicutéd;  
‘ Secondly, ifthen it be: (aid, thatthcincquality of

thgfc firfi Ofl9cc. bearers doth proceed fmmthc
difference ofcxtrgxo rdinary and ordinary Oficcrfi,
them rcq»uifitatthcfirfi conftizution Ofthc Church
whichis not now rcquifitc after it is Aonisc confii...
tutcd 5 then I anfwcgthat here I neither intend no-r

V’ have nccd to confidcr which Officcrswcrc extra»

ordinary, and which ordinary, bccaufcA%I take 120-

ricc of them onbly at this time as they were Ofl§’“-

.ccrs extant at Erflr, to build up the Church 5 and \

"my inference gocth no furthcr as yet 5 nor mufi I

epmc to admit of that difiinétion in my thought,
all the mam‘ ritfc1fc.carry me to in

Fourthlyg

<i3}lh  ~(

  “ .Fourr‘h1y‘,; ,1‘ fifide'tl1eilieve1‘all chéV1rg»eé#ié1hcld11ties‘i‘

hfthefe.  to he thefet  A V A   

  I. Chiiifi ffe1';%lciiz1lgif‘<i>Trti,aitl1is Apoflles appolinteth
thcmto be‘h»1s’ witnelfes pinto the utmoft pttrtsol‘
tlxe earth, ofthht: whxchhe hath ‘doneifor our (‘aim-

tion, A62‘: t.i8.l it All?) hcegiveth "t«l1€f1"lCh:11‘gCiéJ'"i
‘teach all cemento ohferve wltatfoever hee had com- 
_..mandecl them , and to%baptil'etho{e that received

their cloétrinc, M.<mh28. I 9.20. This they did and
lb gathered a Church *toge;ther:, whei‘einfa_t hrfi,

_tl1c_faithf'ull Itaving all things common, bi‘otxg,h::

their goods to the Apbfcles feet “, tnaking them icltt»

fiributersithereohmtoi its“ hi3(Ili“"fl(‘;‘iCi‘(3l." ~:Bur the “

Apofiles found this 3charge impof ed upon them [U
be too trotiblefome, and not proper unto their fpiii'i%
tuall calling ; therefore; they betooke themlllvesz
unto*thcir*‘0iwne peculiar. ‘charge wliich A was lI0.‘21C‘?‘
tend untof prayer; and the Minifiery of the word;
Afi: 6 .. 4.. and gave advice that Deacons , {hould be
chofl:-n,.vvhofe pee-uliar charge at their firfi’ iinfiituti»

on,was to ferve the tables, 1ézd.verfe2I,3. yet it is

Qevidentthat theygalfo reiacheclitheiword; and bore
Witnefle of’Chrifl,I" .verfe 9;1o.:.mcl Cap.8.Verfe

5?.am:l haptilecl the beieevers,!é.Chap.8.verf. 1 2.38 E!

ii  = Befides thefe Deacons, we finde that the Church
being con{’cituted,other« Oflicers in it are 113 med and
faidto bee clifferenc in charges. As thechargeeof
Prophets was to .lprophefie accorclingtothe “ Ana»-

,logie0fTai'th, of De accmsi toattcndtheir eDeacon«—i

1hip,of Teachers to attend teaching, i of Exhcrrtersi

F743‘

i ti?--2a*fifi.I‘s{.§, f3Xi"i'0.1'fin,g9..-‘Qf DifiYi5i1W‘1'5 10. difiri1vux¢;o»£»'

11 111m,-.9 to .I’ui€_\K.?iti1 diligence ., A Rm. iIz,,i5.7.8'.. ofr»
1”“ pcakcrs with_ ronguesito: fpCakC_, and -0fIflf€fPY¢tC1’5 
E0ifl§€IPf¢C,’I’.‘Cflf.14-:2   M i i  A

‘_   Bicficies thcfe d utics thus. gcncraily V mcntioncti,;_

'w¢ find: morcipzarciculari charges imicncioncd. As;

firft ,‘ concerning thC duties of Prophctghow they»
might to prophcfic,& offpcakers with t0ngues,,11oW i
they ought to {peak ,L1n;t:o cdi«fi'4_:aciQn imhc.Chu£ch
Iicax‘I4"2'§5-2'7;$?85293"39331332933" '

zfi

iS’ccond1yi,ic0ncérning Rulers , where: we fiificii

thcchargc given to Iimotiry , and Titw , either as

.Evange1i{’cs,i o1:.as0rdinaryBifl1q>ps , and Overfmrs

of the Churches , nexci unto the Apdfllcsg their
chargcxvas K’) 52: in order thingsiii .WhiCht:hC Ape-w
fiicslcft undone for the confiituting of the Chum
ciws 3 A amongfl: which tiae_.ou:iaining of Ei.dcrs,andZ
ifleacwmnsin cve1‘yiChurch , wasvachiefc dutybe-is
}®{1giflg.C0th€‘m-9 x Tim. 1.3. Tix.1,.5. mm To rim;
p.refi7*:iandini1ibii§fai{e dflékrincsv 1.Tim I. 3fl'“it..‘ rfi. _
iz.«;>,.; 1, irgm To feztiea courfc of prayers infi1e,—
icizurcia,  77m.. 2.:  i1wz,.:.TQ appoint; due nlainteh
mnice forwidmvcsi, aindi Eiders; -1 ’I‘§":zg.5.9.I7§
1+8.» aim, T0 be Judgés in maswrs iofaccufaricih ja-
ggxinft i.E»1inicrs,;'ézid, v¢i*fe 19. midi togivc imfitioti =
net hamdfs to Ighoibthat Wfifc: approved -and Ht fax‘ the

'~Mini{imy.,. it&:'a'uerifc‘¢2. rim: To maintaine" chair ii

,.$§2c;rr:;,n,, 31 Timqi. x 2;, Tit. mg I 5. Andiafily," to with

-:1 urhqriry, 8: rzmzzm zfufiicr thcmfelvcs to be dcfpifcci-2

c
0

“$155. 1

VHS “'9 ‘  

‘rnit the things when they hfidetht¢L1fL§'0f‘_thht3 Pi»,
poyftlhes, tuftto fitit}1f‘tr111hnI€‘f1,i1b—}€ to‘ teach others» who r
"hfltou1’d*h*e fuccefT°ot5- in thrtt ph.‘~iCE‘f,',* A ofimt 2.7,-.. {As
for other Rulers in they Pfaftotalt ehatgeg, their duty
‘is f ecified to be 3. watching over the t‘"ou1esot*t1:eir

flockas thofe which mutt givean aceount,, ~b'aé.x 3.

1 7. and in doingrthis M , they are bound to tea}! their 4

Theepth by name, to lead them ‘out and to gore before
them, Iolz. 1323.3 .4‘. item To defend thetnagainftthe
Wolves, though they hzzzarditheir life in fO1G'0ing‘}
‘i5.w'erfe 1 1.13818 To‘ vifit the ficlt, 8: pray for thenty
"Imnté,5.~t4. item Toheepe the keyes of the King-
tdomeof Heaven to {hut it, _and open it at oecafioh

that: requitte,t; *1 61.; rhgfyand tt8;tttr7, r 8. and

r Cor.*5.i4.5,

A  And thcnmegenerall duty of a11OPficet'sis,that
as everyonej hath received the gift ,   fo he fhould

"mittifter thgefame to others’ as a good Reward of tht.
thattifoldgraccs ofGod, t Pet.4.ro, A A

A ?Froma11this'1 make thefe inferenceso

1., If all thefe charges and duties are different, A

and yet fhould be adminiftred jointly as by feverall

. members of one body, then it feems fuch 3 priority

‘and fuperiotity in Tome , and fubordinzttion in o-»
ithers, isto be obferved asts tn themembers ofa D21»
turallbodypne in tefpefi: of another. But alltltefe

A charges are diffeteng and yet ‘ {o to be ttdminifi red

has is ment’ioned,1'r Cor.12.4,5.. anti till theetendfof-the
 to   is C 2 . Chapter.

Q15)

-Chaplet. THCIEFOIGKA feeme "fuch ‘:1 priority an&

5 ft:perior:R}vinlotneti,A atidellubordination inrothersg e

is? to beoblervcd.

her Ifthefe charges in their mturall property;

as they {land in relation one toA‘anot_her,¢ be repngg

mm to an indepcn dent parity , then there is no in:

_dependent parity allowed or emongfi theOffi-- 

eers who are to difcharge the fame. Butitmty
perhaps be made good that theft: chlarges art-in
their natural! property as they {land in relation
one to another, repuignantrto an lindepenolent pa.-
rity, therefore perhaps there is noindependent
parity allowed of amongli the Oficers whoare
to clifchiarge the fame. re A -  p A ~ 

  Fiftbly, tltedntyof the acct is in more to be
obedient untotheir Rulers , anclto ftrbmit them-

_felves unto them , Heé. 13. 7. 17.; and to provide I

neceflltry tnzintbnance f‘0r,th::m, G4l.l6..l6.~ 
1 Car.9.7,8,9,xo',rt,t3,14... A i

From hence I inFeirre,tltatifuhmillioin and o...

brdience is to be yeelded , and if Rulers be difl'e- A A
*:_r<.'nt in charge, thenaccordm-Lg to every ones de...

gree and diP,F:rentpl.1ce in his charge, the lubmif‘.

lion ought robe differenccd: Butthe%Anteccdenit
istruegtndrtherefore all'otheConlequAent, There.

fore I;o‘neeit'e , A that more refpeét w ts due unto
Apgzrllles evengasthey were ordinary Minillers,

tihentothe-it ortfinaryli Rulers 5 andmore to the
  A r     Bxfl3A‘op“s

<1?)  

Bilhops and Overfécrs tfiliart wet: xniidc IJudgcs%V "(SF    
_ L other Elders, thcnf to thc5EIdcrs  rim % am~c Afufi-»  

jcfi tbbc judged 5 and more ‘rcvcrcncc duc tothcf
Ejld"cV:rs*thcn to the Deacons. '  %   A ¢‘
 Lafily, the piaéticc of the Apoftlés as%cI1i:£"eiA
Mafia-builders was this :thcy laid the fO{Jnd“ati0?:3 ‘
which is Chrifi, I Cargg, m, 11. may builtby

prcachingfupenthc foundarionjgold, am, and A »

precious fioncs‘ ,1 they b;1pti1c3_ the; 'bcI:‘c‘V”\?cr5,: .
and gathered them together in o'ncbody,% and or-“
daincd Eldcrs «and Officcrs os;rcrT thcm ‘-to rulcf
them, and doc the work ofthg AMiVniflcry.S:‘c Aifs

I 3 .and 14;.» Chaprdrs ;* an«d%>pf:’r“t%ic4u1é‘rIy”  pf’
14;. the: vv;-grics‘2x‘.,22.,2~. ThcyMg.1v:: orders my
their followers" conccrnmg all things ncedfull for M
cdification in the Churchzs 7,  as may bc {cc-ncin ’

A 1_Cor.CVha’ptcrs5<,andV 6,<"%;i'nd 7,‘-md 3, and 9, and 9’

arid 1o,'i"nd1 x,and 12#and' I 4, aAd[d’A‘”i  vcrfc x :‘an‘d*
in the 2 Cori. Cl1ap.f48‘,.a_n’d9.‘ in tFl1cEpi{iIcs-tof‘T;'-5
Mala} andgfitm‘ throughougand clfwhcrc,as%in’thc
A5?.s in Chap. 6.'and15.ahd 20¢ V .  

From whence Tinfci',t'hat i{*'j“nci‘th‘cr% in the? A-‘V

  pofilcs otvpc prasfficc, nor in thq praéiicc 0-fthefc

.-'

whom they icti over the Churches Minfthcir owncj
tif'§”3”E“~t4hcrcV bcgny example 0fin__c:1ép‘ cndcni p;1rizy_
intimated or ujcd in the: way of ‘ordinzzry govcrin%—~ “ V
mcnt, than fuck a pirity may {cc mzfo be ’incoh‘v cu-: 
nicnt ta b: admittéd into the Chuzch of G 35.  h 

   A ’ L   i4%‘B‘m%y

admitted.

 -  %   Mi)  
i”iBu:"pciha‘ps no " f'uc:11 pxam pléiii

 tiio1i'bcc faund in

mhcig iprafificci or in the prafiicc of ithoigi whom ‘i

thcy appaintcd rd ‘beg § ordinary Ruiérs <i>F;hc:;—
‘Churches in thcifownci nmc. ‘fhcrcfore an 1:14..‘
dcpendcnt parizyxgnay iccm inconvcmcm: to bafc

V Ls.

“ Thusihave brie fly tuaovct “the futidamcntaii
mattcrsbf the: fiifi qucfiion in hand , «*njo_t int¢;qgi%
ding to dczcrmifi: any thing prcciiciiiy , but itmgié-A-i;W
thcr tome ruicshi of _ eictcrminaxion whcrcby the:
matter ofpriorityand fupciiority in government
imisy be triad more at large in due time; 4 

A jf0nly*thus much! mufi new intima‘tc~g, that my
«doubt contcrningprioxizy and i«fup:riorizy%oE I-‘pi-f
ritual! 0'fficcrsizi the “Church isio farrc.-iircI‘oI~

'vc<:i , f A that 4 it   Iccmc ch notatyaili‘ repugnant to ‘mcjj
but rather more coinlonanri and anfwcrabic to’
"ChriPcsi inzcnzioniiin the fiirflriniiitution of his

‘Church; then an hdcpcndcntpzgity. And this

is ah: firfi pofition“Whtr'“cin‘iiT meavic fdmcifitisfib-‘
éiion to mydqvubtsi V A » A -

, Ifthcrcfotc anywilicontradiét this pofitionitiq
make me again: doinbtfullef it , 1 tliinléc he is ob).
Jigcd toihclw that an‘ indcpcadcnt purity of Ru-2
igrs is not om-ly no lcffc, but as much %,i and ram»:
much morcginfwcrablc to Chrifis intention : ia?ni::I;
this he n.::u&'ihcw' from the iami: grourid s which‘!
hgva hid, except base can flmv thefc [0 be in£ufl‘i-

“ V - elem’,

K 419 P“  

. fiicnt, andlqy fame othcrsthatm mdom ftidrisfhw

éi‘ory%: which if he! dotlgthcn "it wi»1!"b:¢%wa53fi3Arc qu§m..  A
fitc, ‘thathc define clccrly what that pr§mcznd‘in- 4

dcpcndcnt authmizy ig , %J1ich mryy Rulgzr  uh
 himfclf¢jin%his pgrtxcularcharga.   ’ % A  A

V As far mew, . bgcaugc Ijakg thisfiofiticin #5 gm.
tcd ,% th.at.Chrx£t-dxd znflitutc zn thr: fizrfi con»

Aikimtign of hisChurcl; a priority and fapcrim

my of {prituall =Qfliccrs.;. thcrcfam 1: thmkel
may fafcly gathcr 5‘ that for-the bu.ild,:ing up and
pgrpctugll propagating ofciixc {me a his %intmti<m

Lwas not altcrgd awhich f¢wnd;pofi%zion ifapy will V
dfi-:p.y,f}, fuppolcg he ¢xwiIlfimVi%m{@lfwbl§g¢d w

 

fhswxrmto ma fufficicntiand cviclsnt cams , ‘ whyV

}hi.$:'iixlént%ion Ihould be alrcrcdémndfhtxcfora that
framc of government: whxch was ¢lthcgLn.¢'gcfl:32fiy,; A  

mo11¢onv¢n%i:nt forfltlw fiasit aotifiimtion and %

byilging up of his C!1ur¢h, is incentmcnn with the;
jztrpsxxlall pmgfigamn thmgqfm. %   A  ;   

'  V Bijt f¢:ing<IV¢¢on:§-ivcit not lik¢lyVthmhi4s ca:;%s.1L

fie fhcwnc,thc-rc,tm¢ ii ought :9 pxoméd Aand.wme..:
tothcy fccond quqftion , to find: out what thc pri-V
[Amity and fupexioriw is Wb§«C;h«  dflth allow

% Qfifl tbs: V£piri£ua11'4%Ru1¢Vr.§ 01-’ am C3h:um:h 5 zmdito  
4find;e»ou:Aw%thi.s;,  will we Axcquifitc im r.wi¢wm- W
gain; t%hc%gmunds4¢hcmofcm:  mam «mace ~
flit pmficion ha£.hb«.mc gathcrad .». what a~pri0*ri£y  

 —and*1upcvri9ric3r pf»B,u1ars in ! pi vi cu.ai1 gmrernmm~c

7; is A AVAa%nfw%cx,ab1@ ma C'hIj£t’§ ia§€mi@m whiih tb3‘twc%~:

may

Q2  dds

  mgayddoc ;3S‘+%t~l3dsd= I-,5‘: gin at thdlafl and 
 4    V  

. dd "ddIjhcd!a%fEd ofourfgrodundswas t%hcapfaéHcc oF‘r!‘}e
dA_pofi1cs,,which ycclfdcmno example to%us¥‘of43rjiy
ing‘: pcndcnt pmtyddy, but rather bfafupcrior ddprib-
rity which in t‘hE:"way» of thcir ordinary go-5

vcrnment thcyulcd over othcdrs;F0rdI fuppof; no A

mandoubtcth of»~thisA , -‘A but the Apoftlcs dwcré in
%t_‘l_-ac ordinary comffc of thcirniyfltry abovdc “a1l.<’>>-
A thcrdfpirizusll’ Oflicers which ordit”1ar:1ydruI3L-zddic
*Churchcs.*It~thcn it be granted that in ‘the .or.d.i-«

nary, c%ourfc%_do:fd’thci~r Miniflcry? they 4 wéxc ébdbvc '

others , the next thing to be fought after will be

,,dthis,;w‘hcrein dqthcir ‘V Iuperiori‘ty»' did‘ Confifi <3 “ and

howfard it was   dcrivcdd or ~no; ~dérivcd.”uhto ghcir

,,.%Vfucccfl"ors:" A A  

 Andtofin‘dc c>u"t*this7,A Icontcivc that ititffc

, ,Apo'fl.1csdi{chargco'F thcir duty fo’mcd~thdi’ng was

Vcxtraordinary, asd-fbcing ufffull and rcquifitc Ohcfy

for that time yvhcrcin they lived 5 and A fomc-thing
 dordiriarydand of? pcrpquall mulé ddwhich wasyd tdbcc
dtranfmittcdduntothéir fucccflors; A   A   1' '

- ddddThccVxtra‘ordinary dilchargc of thcird«Apo;flo-

Jicaill duty was fiffi may the foundation, d and
~ (then to raifc a‘n‘d*fct‘tlc that fr2m'1c~d7ofd Chrifls
» Church upon the fame‘ whichwas mo{t;3nfwc¥-
 table to hisKingdc)m1-,4: ‘And to doc tl1is,,Goidix._z}.
 ducdtbcm with_¢xtraordinarygifis, pt tongucs,

 dfknowlcdgcg.of%wifdomc,4of prudbncc ,  and (if A

in m 

. , . 
Ismfalixbiiigji -’*ifr+~:,mthA and »pub!ic-‘kc Agovcrnmcnt 3
and ‘cor1hr:nc‘d Emir ;mthoriz‘y v<vich~ lhisHOw"nc 

  mjfliinonjyLb5:arin”gtAh<:m \vitn;fi%Wa~s we Aipofflbf.

§.ii:§2l,H¢5.  2 .4.?b0xh Mb figncs am} iimndéé rs tuna? 

WY wifiidiyers mimclcsand gifis ofthc holy ‘GAh*o’44ft[_5%‘
 "whiehby the im poficion ofthcir hands he: conférs»

red ajépwon ch; bcl "c:«ir:vcrs,a‘s1,is ev%id:::x-ztby4 ’A§&¢: 8.17.» .z_
azjdx_9,6¢              

V This I cénccivc was their ca;::raOrd"inary autho» ‘
my and dizischargc of“‘thtfir~duty‘ which iihould not A
bc:tra:z1finitt¢idLtoa;)y9’ aftcrmtm , but {hot‘:!d%rc_Pc ,
its thcig’ pcrffons & ‘bfcé fbrgfccrtimcs rccordcadin
Spriptufc ,, th1r‘Vt%hM:réfBy‘§&tHéy fl10uldbcVcom%cp%¢’r-‘L :

  p;lguall%Apofi%le5,.unto all 3%; as bciag fcbmni

 

ahciirthroncs imG:0dsL  wjudgc? the twelve 
nribcs M lfraci-.3, fa that their Apaflicfljifi although“

in rgfpeélpf thcirpmfonall co‘ndition it was‘ccm%- ‘

parary, yet in rcipca oftheirchargc and méifigc

from God to his Church it ispcrpgmall ,A and yet

fl%‘il_hxtant in  the Church. )

4. The“ mjdizfnvary difcharg;   of their ’ininiflcriaIVl ’
duty‘, j was to bcarc [witn‘efl'c of Ch:-ifl ‘unto the
worfid , “m dccfiam by preaching the counfcflof
Gedué-M0 mankind, to attend the work: ofpray- j
er, an-dm govgcrnc the Church according tome
rules by which_ thcy did arfitfi‘ conflimtc the
famc; For no doubt the Rules which they gave
toicthcrs my ma work: ofthc ordinary Minifiew;
zyand :[G;ovemmcnt%, they thcmfclvcs fitfl: oh»

A’ " % ‘  '<  A  D‘ A   ‘ “ icrvécg‘

i¢%r_i‘i’§g %’{oth*fat n?otoncIy*b‘y prccépts.bt1%fb%y_pt£it+* A
 ilcft t_h¢:ir examples to 'br:c fdllowéwd A’
r13l'E§   éc‘ P621;  .M"17, 7 2 Tim, 3. 10;; II ,3 ‘_ A Exam;
%x"fh*c’°tici‘é: "Igachcr thzzf what priority   1f :1 pi:r§o1fif§r_ ‘*'
focvcr‘ in thc‘{ord%in:ary govcmm -gut ofch: con{h'. 
‘raged Ch_u.‘.r'ch‘OfAGc)d they ufcd ov.5;:r%0thd:r I\gj{‘étu’=.. ’
flcffto w§1omthé’p2rticu3§ar% £piritu%a1‘1A%%charge’off‘
3 Church did bclong , tbatrhc fern; prioriryéinfi
fuperioxity: may uppn the‘ like occafions be; u fed in . «

A the _fa71}11_c; 9rdinz;i*y ggvptnmgtnt “ : i:eg:n_, I gather *
”fu1*gt1hc“r3 that thcy;did,cran1mic their priority and,“

i£i%pcrJi@>i’i‘iY%‘un:é ,tl1of¢Wh%Aom%::tt;1;Y ap%pc>intcd to: 

 b‘¢fcheii‘%A'iI%uc¢géflbrs in“ thc‘"A«oriit’inajry:chargcéjmy; 
tbcy'cfid-tVf:;anfrn1t% xt ext%h‘cr bygxprcffc prcccprs,‘m€:f

byaahalt jitaéticcipropofgd to be an example: uh-— 

  tc' 3’t’!ic':'rr“i to;bc‘fc;}1‘o‘wcd“inA»Iike cafcs,’for}‘-*§_h%us %
A 2“}j‘2“ii::‘;‘3;: g5;;,¢1'I .,thc Afpoiflc rccomcfldctlfhi§§;)Wn.J

p:r%1‘&.idcto“{5'¢.obfc,r\icd. I  lzzflly, from j both 

V‘ thrfc :"ir;fcr%c%ncg3$ Vlgathcf a th%i’1f"d cpficluficn-»i, thf3tv37
A if we will trulymqw what thcpriq riry andfupcié‘

r.ior.ity ofanc fpjj'1t1ualI% govt;-rnour; is above“ ‘zmcaw
thcr m the nrd'iziary cgugfi of +goy‘c‘rnm¢ mt! A,7~i.w::c V
muff takc n¢":),c1(_:t; of a11thc“p2fl?zgcs of Apoflfilié‘

‘ cgllpraéficg :h%i;.;caf¢. Add this will 1u1i5g;f%‘

aciV4.%his.%%tim§ fi1tat1%‘cnt‘tjy  raw-ard4s _thcVdct~ct*t3;)i‘t'1é1g-"’,

.4

%zibnoftha£whichw:f’cc:kf'or. A  

4‘ |{ L‘

  Th; ncéx; ground goingbcforcfhisA*; w;gsth¢¢;,
pmrcpt of obedkncc and fhtymiifiofi‘ dud by ‘th°c*_
nipmbérs Aofthe; I. Gh1LI“ch‘ gintb V thcir R;‘ulcrs'that 
watched ova-Ar their} : ah‘: ‘precept is AcIc’cr,',AHé£

A ~ 374%?“ I91? ififstrcé .§r%0r3;$h¢nc¢ was» that accord  

ditggi’.

  V (23%
dine; to ehe dihfiferencee 095 A RL11ershe«hehoin the ecgrees oz?‘

4 331256; theefubmeoiiiionetindh} obedience *W:rs,::o he dif-
‘ 5‘feren‘ced.» New 1*fIe.WO'-L1'1d.e R nowW11hat:rhe different

 degreeshof Rulers are ,.  Ietlxioliel ought: toeohferve  

ehepropertyexvhiclm the Apofile adderh untoth:e
eifice of aRu1er as :1 eha1'aé’cerifi;ico11 note of his

~~cohangehwhen he eaileth him awatching Rulereover
V V-thetiflock. A From" which property Irgather this infer-
renee" toward s~a fim.=her.d eteerminatione of the point

in hand 5 namely that‘: whim:priority»andfuperiority
xfoevere may bee e found infthe. ordxnary ..?cou.x;fe of

. zvfimtcheing, pI'3.é}.'if€d*byeo the Apofflves ,. "and fo tonfe-

quently traofmioz-edV‘11ntotheir followers ,» that fame
priorxty and fuperiority hiwatching may bee law-

fully ufedsnowiz ~ aidaies 5 and therefore if in the or»
dihary courfe:;~of7 watching they did extend their

bare unto more particular congreg atiohs thenone ,
~the1%7rhee*I.:thin1<chir ‘maybe fafely, conchided: ehat: Inch

«wanhfeflztent of care’ in a priority: and‘e.fupei*irity,of
watching., and confequently of "r”u1ing,may alfo‘ hee
“»ufe’d'.>: And’ lecvthisalfo {mice for a timber entry

* ‘at this‘ time towards the deeterminationeoof that

         V 

‘ - .,‘ ‘-

 7  ‘ eAgaine, the groundp1*ecedem»o»fo this ehéizléwfourc

branches , whereof the laft concerned the peculiar

M ‘ -3 d§zty‘ofpe1petua11 Rulers where we obferved their

charge—to' confifi it? watching over the‘fou‘1es: of

e «their flocks ,1 byca11ingthe;n;’h“y leadiog them, oes
fending them, vifirfing them, and keepmgthe kexes
  of the heavenlejr flueepfoeldg to {hot out the {heep5:or

filer; ei:hem‘;in5 as theyheflioulidefee oeea£.ion..

  _   [D :2» A   e~hm*m

£i  i  ;i47 W r.x
* A .i   Frtom Whencelregatliert t11is_iniCl‘€f1C¢:,itilaittwimtfe
~ priorityfand fuperiority foever, any ordinaryeliulers

*.-‘had irirthe 4Apoft1es time above others in their A

V watching oirertheflocke; by calling.. ’ileading,i die?-=

rfendi11g,”viefiting and keeping the keyes of the fold,  .  
vthatnowi aifo the fame priority 8: fuperiority may  A

thee-iauvfuiiy eixercifed : and ifit can be made: appa-»
tent, that any ordinary rulers had; a priority and fit-~
I pcriforityi of’ watching above others whichtiextended
A ittfetife unto t more congregations then one, then I

A fuppogfetit may fafely bee concluded that fucha “ 

A fuper1oripriorityV,_of; watci1it1g“’ mqyibee lawfully .  

9:. exrcifedr,    W

 - The other concerned the charge- ,of T21-

*mm5y'aud. Uta? as they Wereeitlieg; Evangeliftsrrt 4 A»

or ordiinaryfiverfeers, I take them either rwaly :and
A lookeg LI‘§DD.I1~1.ti7!£ilC.'Wi11Ci’m1‘ ,theyr-had to rldoe g, aindifay
"thus Ii7:11i‘the;thmgsTxvh1ieh they had recommcns»

dedtothcrrrbeofperpet‘uaI1 gtxfein the Church of i
‘ God,then what priority midi fuperiority foe-yer they
rirmd oven Oilhéitfstilli~tii¢11‘,:EQl1Pf¢aQr‘f ii:‘¢;1i]flYU€Ii1I fior V

the 3dLI1iUifi.‘1'£1EiOfl of thofe chargés,’ithfat fitrnei niay
(now aiio be i1«’i?1Ci;‘C..11i‘€‘:'r0f;3fld7 18 requifiteto be in the

Churches 0£'&“11‘iflg®SI“:Jut33:1t11‘iingS‘ir€CbmniendB&. V i

-tothetn as I conceive arleiofperpetuall u{'e._~

A Therefore the H priority and fuperifority_iwihi£:h
-they ‘had error ,thei'7 rt<imini{’trationi of ti1e;'{ame
may’ aifo be "made of A : “for although it be {aid

that irimatby and ifiinw  were no ordinary overfeers  r

-hut EV3ng¢§‘:3{&3  istiextraordinary , yet I capnggi
' A   i " -conceive

  ti;-23  

ieonceiveg themi A t C no more then Itc‘io~et _
thcmfi:Ive§s)g:, to be ext-raordiearyegotvernoutsfofthe i A
Church A -1”nt,hcfe* dutieskwiiich are ‘ perpetuallytto 4

be difich 4 rged in ti_me‘it'o come; for whatireafon is

there to thinks a manian’extraorditi'£1'ry Of‘HCC1‘ for '

difcharging an ordinary duty 2’ :is for the ref’: who

are called Prophets, T~eatc11c:rs,Exhorters,Deacons,., _A it

Diflribtttcrs, SpC£1i(C1'S_Of tongues, and Interpreters
oftongucs; all theft‘: though fomething there might
be extraordinary in them , yet fo fiirre as the {uh-
retjnatinintg untill this ciayih the Church, to i":11‘i‘€21i.-A-~
fothat rclatioI:‘,l_0f pri0rit_y’ ,   or tpofteriorityoffupew
riorityi or inferiority _ , iwhercin they flood one to-

Itancc oithc officeisitinfomeikinde, or aitogetheti , '

wards another , or all towards the chiefe ruling M

fizvatchmeh of the Churches ought to rem;ti.ne. f '

Btitiittilaybeetltought, that ti1€yPc0OCi under
irimtlvy and Titm, as under ehiefe watchmen, that

they fhould be ordered andrcgulated by them in

theirpublicke aéiions , accotding to Apoftolticall
.ru}e<;=, therefore it may be t1‘10ught alto that all Ofi1-
oers having the fame charge now a dayes, ought to

,;ftand in the fame relation under the like ehieh: A

W3t=ChI1‘ECfl.:: 

» ;And“1a—fi:ly .,--iconcetningtthe dttti~esi1aidupomhe V
Apoftles ané Deacons heretofoee 1DC‘flt10‘HC’d; if 

there-bee nothing extraordiinakry therein for {hub-2

oefiance, butonlyin refpeét of cex*t2t‘it1e_eirIcun1{1:ata.- _
ees of thattime, of their perions‘, tmdottheou.t9-“‘ 4 

..-_«,{}’

D 2   ward

.i (263

  ware mama: of ¥313*fi”T§55i§FYi‘/Y*?¢i*‘i‘hi11. tbs imiai
iicrtifi-1¢'n3  irhcni: ‘:m~ayi,b¢e* rhcvghtthat autho-

x;;y.whe:g5y they ijdrdcérédj ffialflh-‘tl;l\i.n‘|g.'$ féi.‘ thegoizia

  cafihe¢‘€3hureh,i‘isiin0tfi‘hi@1i‘fl1ed,he:ifeggilgfifiyi‘trani:
_'mi:tediuntotheir uceefforgth 3'3;inihke"e;zfevs_ii: may
she made ufe of by tihefihcefei wa"tc‘1_in:aen Over the

C hL1!g‘C_h4.‘i’S : From ~.x;he;:&egac1;er, that when:
ificy and fuperiority was deferred bytlie Church Tm

‘_ te1npb{ra}1- tliings,‘ firfhunto the Apofllesg and after‘-

Ward by them refigneduntoi the Deacons ;, may in

miz: cafes be exe.rcifed in thefi: times. And; this may

fufiieeeiélfo con cerriingw this r-héztfe: tbhgiveiiyet .3 
thercntry rdwzzrds the determinatxondof the point

.inha.nd_. We _ 9

. * h Then the grtmnd next gireccdeni“, was the diftiné
étion ofOflicers firft mfiituted in the Church-from

which I did infer J that ifthere was no independent
:pariry, but a fuperior p1‘lQl‘1ty' amongflf them , that

A ezhena fuperiorpriority was nothto hee thought re-
ipugnan1:,'toiiChriPe~3 intention invbuilding up his.

'Churc‘:'h : whichbeing granted,  ‘haw pirocecdi..f‘u‘ri.

  -~t»hCt‘ to gather this‘, tharif the fuperior parity was
notground upon theperfons A of the0ficei:s , Abate A
; uponthe effices committed unto them ,i i which in

{came refpeft were to beperpetuall inithe Church 5,
then Im:1y.inf‘:rre, that as the perpetual] officegm.
in priority and fuperiority one zibove anam¢;r,fo the
{Otficers znufl: bee diflinguiiflued by their degrees:
and tbfifffoire tofinde V out the cieigrees of fiihordi4-

A i mtion in the Offi cers, we mun rcfleéi upcin theiihaw

4 ERIC

'v

c F ‘_  _‘ 1!

mo; :hc'fi¢rficeéA :gsr:h¢y Mud 2zr:%;~e1;=.:io;~;7¢.}afs~.¢‘%-go‘  ~

n¢>thcr~A ;zA‘mA<:A1]th‘is.Aa1f9AaIIW"fuFficeAac this % iimc to; ‘
Wardg a,fu§thcr4. c_§§t;crrmn: ;2,t1;m of the ipoiririn hrmd’;

  thcii gt<§)iA1h<iAAt1‘A1Aat  béfbrc this , wasA A

that .which, ccnccrnéd, t1&1§::AA b_L,1i1diArA17<._.=; up ofA_thc

Church» ,; Afg:fior1:fvAgAA1ac__r3ict; A315 _1;‘Lf<:r¢toAfAc:$rc it hath‘bccn¢'
defcrxbcd, {I infAer_re%tl*nsA, that fuch a prxoxjity :;.md_fu--' VA

pcriority’ o£fpiritua11A%O‘ificcr_s.oné above zmozzhcr gzg
1smo£’cfit:.»T A  ”      

‘ ~ I. To unite AaA1lAASA2fimA:sAAint’Ao ‘one perf¢‘5* maniilfg

they come to the fulncffe of the f’cz'1tur%c*oF Chrifhfl
‘ 2. To free them from the dxvcrs wmdes of do»

fifine, anéidféccit 0FfeduAcersfl  12:33  M A

A A3 . To rnakc thcrn able to fupply fpi1*ituzi1I §é;i.FtAé  A
one to janpchcr, for their mutuall cdification : is that 

”tiority_anc1 -fuperiority which Chrifi: A dmh Aallow
of.  wIEth ejr"ef0reAwe can obfcrvc what kinds of pri-
ority :;mdA flfpfifiority is. bcfl able to work tht? cifcrétsa .

or if it; be:

ound that they cannot bee,b1tough'tV to q

pafliz, exccptfcvcrall congpcgarions become asone %

body Iitidérr one Watghing filpcriority , which may

have an eye unto them all alike, A than we, {hall %Ab::*1e 

, 3131;; yact mom: fully ta) d~-ccermine this poimzin Ahand. ,

4? And tAhcn the firft ground 052211 was , % that which %
d:.efcribed tha ends whcirefmcc C.hri{t would have,

A a11be1ecvc:r“s“ Vuniited to antibody‘. ‘ From whence

Igat11erth‘i<;, that the prioriryand fuperiofity of

oflicers in fpirituall governmcnt,whic~h is moi’: fit [9 ;

zagalacwtlme faith and =know 1edgc of Chrift z1.ppa1"CI}t~
A A V’ uflt0_ 2

    (2 333   r
unto the World, ., to build upthe heiectfers atrtongflr

i themfeh/es, iitopreferve them from aal‘ladverfaries,;~

= and to uphold the credit oF,Godsi tKin”gduO133¢ai, raisin

mofi anfwerahle to isiChri{’cs intentionyand therte-.2:
fore to know What that priority“-»«and ftrperxorttyisg

A the properties which can reach thefe ends muff bee i

found in it, which properties if they be »npr"trepu-A:
gnant but rather confonant to that infpefiion w~high=e-
one overfeer may have over others A in ‘tr1any_ con»-
gregations; then it will follow, that fuchv-an.inf.pe-.-,‘
étion is not repugnant , but rather confonantto

Chriiizs intention;  

*' And fo I thinice I have found rriatter Wenought
whereby the nature of that priority and fuperiority

iwhiicheis robe defined maybe knownc :‘ if we wilie
meditate now fully upon thefeheads , at-tddifcuffe -

more difiinétlyt the particulars  contained under;
the fame ,whichin due‘ time may be done by Gods}
afliflance.  r y it is « 7 . i e in at ;
Thus I have laid grounds and gathered rules to
refoive my doubts, firfhewhetltcryea or no a fupe-V
rior priority be rnoreitanfwerablie ”ro”Chri&s inrenti-are A
on , then an independent parity in the government
of his Church? Sccondly.,what that priority and fu-—
periority is 2’ Now I muff come to the confequcnt V
of this fecond queflion. viz. How this priority and
fuperiority sought to be exercifed towards others,
and to determine this , weernay gather rules from
three grounds which deert: Scripture doth yeeld
unto us . - a ~

I

  mi

 A ‘The’ fi1‘{iMg1‘d‘tInd'iSitO he tzzketg from th+e;1i:ituii;§oii°
-the dutie exprefi'eciin. the peculiar A name ;,i iwhfffiifi
the finguiar properties ofthe*chatge'is denoted ; 

The fecondistcvbetfound in the fpeciaiii chm»
miartciementts given to theichiefvvatchmen; accor-
d‘ihgtetto.wi1ic11i-they were to behave themfeivesitt
their charge of Supetiotitie ziboveethers. T

Thethitd is to be obferved, inthe exampiesatié
pi‘a'(9:iC€ 0f thofe’ithat”commendabIy and”I”:mffhily‘
exetciftfltheit authority over others; or in the dif-«

«€0I11‘m€nCi3biC pfafiice’ of thofe-that varied {mm

the Rules. A 4
'i‘o:touch:thefe .things,bu1:i1;£Jegitxw'orci at this.time;
I ohfetve.fromthee‘t"tt3‘h”ie'f’e““””N:itn 6f‘She‘p-
hetd,of Ruler, if Wattchnxtaeni , and of Bifltopot
Over-feet, that the ipiro_pertie of '~St1peri{)rity {taw-
eth chiefly in the Relzttiont which hC“tha"C isifet over:

others hath unto the members ofth~e‘iChm1ch, who  

in cC»mpa1'ifon of him are like afloeke of flteepee, or -
Alike a C o1nmon~we2iiith,Aandicompany o.fm¢n;fi1b-
tjieét to certaivne~LaWs1:tmc‘i Cionfiitutions , by which

they are to be direéteti in their joynt fcourfe zmdway
ofiife, and iePt;~they‘1h0u1d fall int0"fo"mtet‘da11ger by
’CI‘3;I1fg1‘€mflg the f3lTl€;thC infpeétion to he had over
them is cémitted to his chatg: 50 that if-Wfitfialcfi nu-

  ticetwhat the true effentiai property of :1 Shephearti
his-in his leading fuperiority , otof a wzttch-man fet

in the Tower of :1 Citie, or ofzm 0\Ieti'eet fet ta

lookto at-family in 3. houfe, the fame Priority 8t Sti-

peti<>tity—mav’he 3tI‘ibUt€<£i unto :!£}:1€‘VC i‘€  otfi71t:ets,i
‘Wi'1iCi‘1iChI‘1PC hath appointed for his Church. From
"whence againel infette, that accottung as the iioeit

‘ E its

if so 3

his {man of "great, the watchtower high or lowing A a

big or little C itie; the coimpaniielefle or more; {'0

the fuperiority in the charge maybe diiferenced,

i and by degrees extended o1*contraél:ed.

I The name of Steward alfois attributed untoiithe
chiefe officer but not unto him alone.-, yet it imploy-
eth a‘ power oifdifpenfiengthefe things which theM.

of the houfe hath appointed to be given unto his

houfhold; Theret"ore as the things to be clifpen -
ifed are diferent, and either more or l’e1fl'e uniuerfal»
lyto bee adtniniftred , fo the clifl’e1jence offuperio«
rity may be obferved in the Stewardfhip. .
The name of a husbandman is fomewhat ofan

V other kind, for it imployeth a property rather of

=painfnl~nefie thenof “power and authority wherein
wee cot~1ce1ve._,ethatt ‘.~1‘CCOI"11=‘1g‘tO the entent and na-

mre oiftihe foi‘le,i fothe husbandry muflhe -.-, fotas

A-Ithe‘foIi’l‘ernajr be laroerori leffer , fo the Charge gin»

O

the ihusbandrylthereoefmay be di-fiereinced.

In like manner, the name of Builder may be difl
ferenced according to the largenefle of the houfe,
and different duties in then building thereof .; A

Laftly,fI;he name ofAngell is given to the Chief

iOfl‘icer in a » eculiar manner, as denoting a Superio-

rity of rne age, wherein he is employed by”God

tOWa1‘d9SvOtl‘1C1"S._, to declare hiswili and fee it eixeeu...

ted in his Kingd-o«me_. For hee is ’the'Arnhaffadour

of God unto his people, and hath the beams of hie
authority con—Ferre<:i"uponhim. Thus then I gather
that all thefe namesof Shepherd , Ruler , Watch-»
man; 0ver—i‘eer-, Steward, Hushandmana Builder,

and Angelledenote cleetl},*~:.a tsuperiority of _ Office a»

0V,C‘?i'..

K31)

over and towards the perfons unto which they are apl

pointed to difcharge the fame; not doe their proper-
ties feeme repugnant ma gradation and differencing

cfthat fuperiority which their name denoteth.e1y.A
. peculiar manner of dxfchargmg the dutxeicommit-»

ted unto the Ofl‘ice.-hearers in Chrifis Church. for as
each nemei bath at feverall fignifieatiomfo it earieth
with it a peculiar relation which the Oflice-bearer
hath towards the Church, according to which hee
ought to behave himfelf in the miner of difcharging
his dutie. And this will fuffice to thew in general! the
way , how this priority and fuperiorite ought to bee
exercifed towards others. A
The m+@»re«repaflrtieuiat.deterrm"1rathiematter
mufl bee taken from the fpeciall coznmaodeme nts
which are given to this efeét , which are many , and
cannot now be infifiedfupon at iarge.'the‘ref'ore we will
only point at them , in {ho-wing the places of Scrip-
ture,where they maybe found.   ‘ " A  
The peculiar duties of a Shepheard, and the man.»

her of performing the fame,are fer forth, john ma.

till 16. and Ez;ee.g4.2. ‘till 20.
it The Ruletstdu tie is menvtio11edrt,.,t.Eom~. 712.8. and
He5.1;.17. andMezb.18.17,I8,rg. A
The Watchmans dutie is mentioned, E.zeIE,,3. E73,,

3 

T he Bifhops dutie is Iargeiymeotioned in the

Epifiiestor Timorlay,..and Titer, throughout, and
iehiefly in the places heretofore alleaged concerning
their pecuiiat charges, and 1 Tk:jfl..$.t e,r 3,14

The Stewards ciotie is mentioned , 1!/ImI.«.r 3,5 2 

  24-04-30 \  C0r¢4~0I,?ah

E 22 The

K33’)

‘ The Huslaandmans and Builders dutiesware ‘men;

~tyione;d together, ,1 Cor.3.6.

4 y r The Angels duties are mentioned,RevéZ.z. and  i

Chapters throughout. In all which places ll’ do per:
ceive that the tnanner of dil‘cl1arrgingatl1eir duties is
chiefly-rinfiolledupon, as it hatharelation unto the
flock at 170 that their Priority and Superiorityis only
in that refpeét , cleerly who gathered, namely from

the duty which towards thetlocke is to bee. done:  

Therefore perhaps very little will be found tending
to tefolve.us.of the doubt in hand , namely, how the

Priority and Superiority in C harge whichone Over.-'

leer may haveabove another, is to be exercifed. Yet:
then if there be nothing at all repugnant unto this
Superiour Priority of one Over-feet above another
inthe difcharge of the dutiesthere mentioned; then I

fay I ought to conceive that they may very well fiend.

together : Butif onthe otherfitle any thing here
mentioned in ' the manner of exercifingr theft:
Charges of Superiority 3... bee altogether incon-
fiflsent with ant-Independent Paritie of Over~feers,
andyetif that which isuto. beeydpneyymt1l’t bee
perpetually -made ufe or in  Government 2
then I fay it may be -lirorrgly inferred ,.that as for
this.real'on an independent ~1:>aritya is not to bee ad...‘
mitted , fo a fuperior priority ought to be allowed»
yet alwaysfo, asit may be a furtheranc to all the clu-
ties of a particularpallzorallcharge-.3 andno vvayesa
erofiiel to the true manner of difcharging the fame»

PI Andhere I will leave it unto the impartiall confide»

 ration of thofe thatare j-uditious , whether or no the
pecial,co_m.mandemcnts given unto Timothy and Ta»
‘ l ” * A i  ’ me

had?)

  r(AA3.‘g;‘)‘h} AA

A r,-nror the cTifcAhaI'gin”g ofthat Pitioneytcthnzfi”Superioé e

A rity"Whe1*ein they were fet above other O‘fhcers,be
‘not-‘of perpetual-1 ufe both in ref peft of the thing to

he done, and in refpecft of the ma1‘me1*roE doingthe
fame, as it is recommended unto them; whe.re=:fpee-
ciall notice m:1y*be taken of that itlfpeétion, which
is deferred unto them, over others7"\,‘ for the repreil
fing of falfe Doé‘trines,{-‘or the ordaining oferfilders:
inrfeverallr Churches, »f‘Or1‘iAth€ impofition of hands,
for the receiving-Aofitccufittions‘ aAg:1inr‘t Elders, and
for the power of the Keyes : which «things ought
fifll’ ‘both for matter and manner to be continued as
they were recommended unto Tzémarhy and ?‘irm',—.

c exceptforne»fuh1}:2tntiall.d.i.nrce4;an.he.flaew.ec§,

which as yet I cannot fee; or
The exanup-1esr»«~ofPraét‘ice both cotnmentdabrlecr
and difcommendablhe 5.. in refpea: of the lavvfull or
unlawfhll difchatrge of this duty, may be gathetefi
from fuch places of Scripture , wherein the Aétsr

of Priority and Su~_perio1*ity', and the manner ofex-  
ercifing the fame are nrentronred, I xviltname fornee 
~ few that come no W in my mxnd.

A A Fi1‘fl:,thC pI'&&1A:aCC~rOfEh»€.,Ch4H§Q:AQatQ‘YilhiahtChfifh
doth fendtug rnecefesr of fcandztlij eflmzzla. 18. I7}
whofe authority is eftabhflred the1‘e.;zw. I 8 , I 9,20."

Secondly , the practice of the Apoftles zztjeruw-»

fnietnt A5355 1 . I 3. till the end . And Chap-, 6. in the
ordination of'Deacons. AndA:S%.r15r. in holding.
ofthesynod , which determined the-controverfie

rifen at Antiadaia. And ASL; I4. 23'. in ordainingr  
A ZElde1*s.  

r   T hirdlyg.-he %p1:ac"tice crew in theernattert ofex»-A
 A  7 A   com.»

(343

  communication, I C0f.5.*334a§~ and in the marmet

of exercifing his power, I C0129. throughout. Anal

2 ~Cor.ro; throughout. Andééid. C/Mp-» I 3- 2» 3-‘ ion

Item,t Tl~2cfl.2t.3.till 212.1387”; 2435‘ 20-2o.2‘6§iz7,33,
' A 3 5 ~ *
34 'I3‘hefe are examples of comm eudahle pracfticez
the examples of praétice which is difcommendecl
are thefe:   t "
Firfc of Diotreplaer , gjolm 9.10. who loved to
lhavea preeminencie. , e ‘ .
Secondly, ofthofe that in the lafl times fhoulol
be clifobedient unto the truth through prefirmptu-»

ufnefle, who defpifing all Superiority fhould pe--~  

rifh in the contraclléhion ofcarejndg. 2 I . by which
wee perceive that Care, Dazlmrt, and Abiram, were
types of that difobediencetr which will be under the
Gofpell in fome , who will take upon them to bee

A equalhancl in nothing inferiour to their lawfull Sum

at elfiort thereof may bee found” Amlljtere Imult

periours...

Thirdly',the reproofof the Angels of the Chur» A
Aches for not exercifing the authority which they

had, Revel.2.I4,I5,2o.

Thefe examples being wel erxa1‘nlned,I fuppofe, ll

mayigiveus fome light to fhew the manner how
the Superiour Prrority Which fotne have over on
the-rs’ In the Church ought to be put in praétice.

Thus having laid the grounds , and gathereo A

fame inf'erences;, whereby to regulate my thoughts
in this doubtful! matter. I th?nl<e I may come to
the application of the fame unto the Cohtrover'{ie
at this time debated , to fee by what memes a de—

£0fl“j

    i(35“)* °       .
confiderthe circumftances and propertiesrof am: I

A g Authority which is now queftioned, whether it be ,

l=awful1Tor no? But when I intend to doethis, I

‘meet: with a difficulty incidents to all great diiputes,

which are commonly involved in a multiplicity of
particularsand variety ofcircamftances , confum
fedly «debated , and partially related by oppofite

parties , Where every one feeketh his owne ad»-

vantage; fo that it is very hard to flare the cafe

truly, according to the circumftances, vvhich are

molt materially therein to be confidered , that the

. Rules may be applied unto the lfundamentall mat-»

ter of doubt, vvhich ought to be decided.
Yeti~iF“I”‘1t1uii:rrbettiimpmfiaITi‘l"fo«mi  it owne
and other mens fcruples , Iought to flare the mat-—
ter fo , as both fides may agree to have the fore-
rtamed Rules applied thereunto ;. And to doe this,I
conceive, it is heft to proceed from that which it
generall, till by degrees Icome to that very parti-
cular, wherein thelcontroiverifie and contradiélciort
of parties is rrtofi apparanr. To :'JVi'liC’h~CfF(5'(5iZ, Ire-
fleél: fir-It upon this generall allertiorr : Namely,
that there be I o me Eoclefiatfiicai  .Vcr»-f€€“I'5,WhiC'i1
have a. Priority and Superiority of govern ment
above others in the Church of England 3 to which,
as it is, out of‘ all doubt,that it is {o in England, {o in
‘-the generall notion my former Rules are not re-«
ugnant -, but rather agreeable, that it may be fo. ‘
Thenin the next place, I fay, that this Priority
and Superiority given to Tome in the Church of
England, is in the purpofeof the Law , by which it

is publiquely authorized 5 no more , buta Supe»

rior.i~t’%y ‘

‘i am
it-iority I.tnCi";P'1‘iOl‘:ity ofsowatching. over O€i’i6i‘S‘f0lf'
t:i1CgOOti-Oftilfi Society. And ti11S,IfuppOf€, as it
is granted by both -{ides totbe true 5%; F0 I thinicthat
it is not repugnant to my i'O1‘I-I161‘ Rules.

Thirciiy, I comceive that this watching Priority
and Superiority intended by the Law, isappointeci

to‘be for ti1'iS“pZi1‘tiCl1i€ii.‘ good of the Society; nattnt‘- A
I35, that the Ploclcscotnmittedto every Over.-feersf

Charge, ihould be called and led oninsthe tyay oi?
Godiineii'e,through.the pubiick p-tofeffion of Gods ,
t1‘ueswor{hip, fo as it may become tnoit lawfully

confpicuous untothe world. And to this efieétg ,
the Over-Jeers are authorizedto fee, that thesflock A
he provided with Ht Teachers,”Pai’co1<s, and Dem» i

icons, by lawfulleleétion and otciination.througi1
impofition ofhands , that it ihoulcibee fetleciin a
cotuflfe ofpubliclc prayers and "ordinances, befitting
A theiadminiiiration oftC11rifiian Religion; that it
ihould hepteferred -from fitife Doiitrines &r.1ven-

A A «nous Wolves: T hat it ihould not want :1 fpitituall

Judicature, as well in matters ofaccitifation agziinit
Eiders”, as inmatters offcanciall anti o1’r3en<:e~be-
rtwixit member tanti inemberti ; fihci that in it the
power of the keyes, to ihut andtopen the Kingdom
of heaven, asi.occ2cfion fhould require might not be
wenting; and that fuch maintenance as is due unto
thefe thatlabottr in the 'Word and Doétrine, and
neceiiaty for the poore-,the vvidow, and the fi1ther--
iefl"e , inay he provided for them. Thofe I take to

' he the true end s 5 for which the fuperiour .VV;m;;h...
men in the Church offizzglami are appointed by the

- —C_hurci1i‘and S.tat.e D; to have iinfpeétion over other
A . A is V — A Watciiig

Be

(437%)

it ‘Watchu1€fl"iof:'ah inferiour degreeii; i r’  i

iAnd that fucht Superiority p in Watching may he“

exercifed, I take it as granted from my former (

ground and Rules. e

A r So then I finde no difiiculty in thethirtrg it feifei 5“
nor does! thinke that any doth oppofea Supetiour a

Priority of Gov-ernours: in this refpeét; But if any
do;e,i then I cortcjeive theyare bound to fliew , that
in fuch‘ things no Priority or Superiority in Watch-«
ing or forne few over many , may lawfully heap-4
pointed in the Church of God 3 but that every par-
ticular Officer iri ail ithefe things is independenty
and may doe herein yyb_yM1;ig}feW_Lfe,;,tiywhatfoever heed

  fhalilthink  rwiiiihout £11"re1ati3hW3r’iiiTdiE3i‘di-

nation unto"any,rvhomth~e Church doth appoint
over ftichthtxfiuefies. _ V V . y it
  TT*he1‘eforefron1tthe thing, appointed ,and the
en‘idi“Whe'refore it is appointed in this Churehsg I
come to the manner of appointing it it: andherel
enquire whether this Priority , and Superiority in
government“, hath not beetle appointed by thofe_
who have authority ‘to do it,that is, by the Church
it felfe (herel meanpeiirby thie C’hhreh,f up fdy ei-
ther reprefentative or colleélive) according to the
precepts of theApo{i1es , and the moi’: laudable
examples of primitive times 2’ If yea, then I flip;
rpofe no exception ought to be taken at it-, but if‘n.o5
then I think that the irre'gL11ari?tyof the appoint»
inentgought onely to be excepted againft and cor-—
reéted, and the Oflice it felfe neither condemned
7nor1*ejeé‘ted but maintained. a A _        V  B
‘Nowv what the ApoFco1ic'al1Precepts vsiere it,‘ or

E t whethtzr

' oft 33"» )7

tiwhether or no there weteany at all ever given: for
the manner of appointing fuch Officersv in the

Churches,I doe not knowi becaufe I finde nothing

in Scripture more tlfen-.I have intimated nlreizrdy 5,

which is, thatliuch Superiour Officers , are neither
4 repugnant to Chrifts inte‘nt1on,nor to the Rules and

formes» of Government exprefly delivered unto us,

in Scripture 5 but how they to be appointed (thati

is to l'ay).what manner of procyeeditng ought to he
' ufedifor their Ele€tion~, calling and inftitutionin
~ their Sup-eriour Charoe) I find nothing in. Scripture
: that I can call. to ruin e, except I will reprefent an,-
A cient types unto my felfei , from which Ican_per—

haps gatherpno Inore hut the llmdorves of inferen-
ces. Therefore in tins cafe , ill lhpplofe, I mufl: he...

i * take my felfe unto my nextgenerallground of p1"0a—

ceeding ,_Which is the laudable praétice of primin

tive times,.to 1’ ee what. hath beene ‘ done in like ca-

fes by thol'e:,y4whorn~ wee efleeme tohave beenmofl:
rationall in the ways of true govern.ment,ztncl mofi:
l'll<ely to havefeenei and’ knowne the Apoftolicall

Praiiticeif thereiwasstyet.anyiwinthiskind, differenyt "A

from the ordinary way of appointing other Oeffie
cers inthe Church. But ifit be more likely that
the manner of appointing fuch l Superiour Oifficers
was rather not dsiffierenttin fubfiance then different
from the ordinary way of calling and inltalling 0».

ther oflieersg tchentperhaps it will not be ‘amilie to

tfefleét upon the molt imnredinte followers ofthe
Apofiles, lb as to take noticeof their pmcftice both

in refpeét of the thing it felfe , ?Jz7.%t, that thtey:-thyagis.

tlilJChySyuperiouryQfi1Cersgzmd of. the  er of app N‘

pointing

e (‘:9 3

‘bointing ”the'rna*s it was molt an-fwerablc uintoit-he
ordinary Inftitution. And this I will rather doe

from other rnensf Obfervations J then from mine
i I find then that Doétour Reynold: in his Conl'e--

rence with Ham, Chapter 8. inthe end of the third

Divifion,and_ the%beginning of the fifth doth well

obferve; whenas Elders were ordained by the As

ipofiles in feverall Churches , that in procelle or

V time they did ufe to alfemble themfelves , to the A

end that things belonging to rnutuall and common
edification, might be done by mutuall 8: cotntnon

icounfell and confent. In thefe meetings they did
V\ things orderly, an‘di~follil?3‘iiEre“tl“ theexarnpil~es"&of' their

predecelfours in like occalions ,, to chufe one who

was to be of theircompany , and Moderatour of 

their aétions. i

So amonglt the Apoftles at jerufalem, firmer, Pie;
tegandjalm, are called the Pillars , (591.2 .9. and in
the meeting,u! 51‘: I5 . the matter,Was' Eonclucled at
the determination of Peter and flames. a

Thus alfo in after times although there might b

 many Elders and Paftors inoneCl1umher,.:t as at E5
phefur, A53: zoo. 17. yet it maybe gathered from

Rev£l.:2.. t. that there was one Chiefe in that

i~ Church, Whom Chrift calleth the Angeli thereof’,

and direéteth that to him which the tell were to
know by his meanest Hee was afterward fromthe
Priority and Superiority of his Office by the fFa«

A therscalled a Bifhop -.;,For it is apparant, that in an-
s tient times there was one who had the Prefident-»

fllip amonglt the Elders. _
F 2. “This

  49>

_ A"§3‘hisDoé‘tou;'.K.ej;zoldr in the F0ren3.~r1redVgat‘he.? A
7:rethf’ro1n Cyprian, Ep%."6-.@’ 13. ‘P1‘£5jt8rt76' 63’ Die...’  

r:?svr2r':.A From Ezzfe5.z'm.Hzflar.Ecclcfi.l.6.c.42.afld from
‘«£’orrzeIz’zr:r Eerter to. Cgprian Epift‘. 4.6. dyad Cylvriazz.

._’Whi-Ch D'o‘cf?:Or Vflaer alfo hath mzzdeemore cleere by’

forge obfervaeions takez1fi‘0In /gfitwiw hi‘?-S Epifi-‘L3

fro;thee,Church of Eflaavfm , Written but twelve

yeeres after t11‘Vefwriting of the Revelation of Saint

‘_ 30/923, and from Termzfzzzn who flourifhed zzboutcr
A hundred yeares after Ignazim , and fi‘O~m 1560mm of

Magnejia, who at the Generall Counceli of C/mite
doe tefiifieth that fiforn Timothy until that rimegrlrere
had- been at Epbefm 3 continued fucceflion of {even

‘" and twenty Bifl10ps,WhiC11 Bifl1?ops(no doubt)Were

rrrone elfe but, r11e,1?r.e.fiderrts oftqhe Ephqfizzc Pre.{1¢
byter§»z.e A . ‘ 4  ‘ A V

Thefe Witneffes being next to the firfi t?.mes, arrd‘

wortlry bf credit fee-m to make the matter of pri-- X

mitive,and (for oughtthar I fee can be excepre.d)

. efApofl'o1icaIl praéfice alf 0,011: ofdoubr. And if

rhis Prioritie and Superioritie was frrch, and was in

 this“ rnannerg, received "and deferred to one above 0--.

‘xhers; I corzjcéfurc, th'Z2““"ti“t Grrasbyrrimitationrof A-
poftolrcall pra&ice thusdeferred and received, be.-
eaufe I find nothxtrgdeereirrr repugnant ,. but every

’ thing rafther,.and every way Vconfonant ta Apoftoli-4

eall RuI’es,. fa that unto this Biflrbp as Prefidenr of’
; rhe Presbytery aflrhepowerrbelonging tothe or
- ditmry Rulers did primelybelong 5 whiehhee 
4 eonfent ofthe refi edit? exercife , omhe ref’: by

.3%.3r.irn~didput.rro»exeerrtion. M A
V e Ame?

.,.r.

  tw 

And this I eeneeine was the pra8t§ee of Eghéfltgt

  Athemfelves in their coutfe of ordinary governtnentges %

may be gatheted,_{t0m .fiff5,5 .15. 35 t Cor.3:.Thittint

A my apprehenfinn is alfo tnofl atn{évetab1eAt0 the tuies
' 0-fperpetnal ‘ government givenunto Timmy and Ti»
  ms. and this is every way conionant to the d men &i9

on Qfoffieerst inthe Chttrch to. the meansof. build ing
up the Church 83: to the intention ofchrifl tn uniting

an tbelievers into one body, and therefore maysvith -

ent fctuple be believedjto have beene the pmétice
of the fitft primitive and incormpt times. vvhichbe -_,
jug granted as I think it 1h0uid,thenI ought not to‘
make any more doubt of the matter; chiefely if’
ftmm thatttttttimednywandt glwfo at this

‘Stine; in aI1VtheChtiftian and protefleant C\!11ii'Cf1€S

‘ etteeptnnely thofe that are in fe-are of danger by tea.-
fan of the ebufe of this authority , mete tender the

A .t:tofiE nfa fizperttitious State-gnvernrnentjeithet the
nndeubted: footzefieps otthe manifefi:ufE:- of fuch n

‘Ptintity and Supetiotityhath beene in at! ages ézfndé
pieces and {H11 is in fame tneaftre to be feund which
it‘ E perceive fo to-bee, as ttnfy F fine; then X judge
that my mindeetetnfhnttle fnilybee a£.r§13:,t3DdtfdubI¢

sit {é!fe*no mare about this tnattet%.Tthu’s I have fatisu

fined mafia 05 mine owne doubts fefattre as Icenceive
theme teabee common both to the fitnple and? mare
Eeetrnedt There be fome nthetficwples more proper
to tftiofe that dive deeper into mattetsgtvhéch Utnow
nntifit be fit to propofe to {every em 1 Eeafi in fleacfl
ef taking away ntdinaty 5, wee may nrdinnry at wee
tttight tette €'mmQTt§iflar}7 ft2Et1pY1€fi‘5,~ therefore ti}?

‘ié

€412 ‘l

‘ hehettet tefolved, what ought to bee done in this?

N J and perceive how farre this way of deciding matters
a doth it give fatisfaétion unto divided Judgements. I

thinlce it will nothe amilfe to furceafe. In the mean

time fuch as are lfpirituall, ought to exh or: all {ides
not to cenfure one another , with rigour ,[not to dm
things with paflion and rafhly, ortojudge of per...

fans according to the outward appearance, but to

judge righteous judgement which may bee done if &

they will Rudy to feperate in thefe particular courier
and different opinions of molt men, theprecious
from the vile, and apply themfelves rather to heale

then to exafperate foxes l._, rather to build up then to

pull downed. The Lord give us‘ all underftanding

that keeping the foundation afwell in knowledge as

in pra étice we may through Charity build thereon,
not hay and fiuhbleghut Gold, Silver and, precious
fiones , yet when weefhall he carefull, firfl to keepe

our {Elveswithout blame in the imidit of this fro-l
reward generation , wee may thenalfio be able to hold

forth unto al the word of lite-we making a difierence

“have? compaflionlof fame and fave others with feare

as pulling them out ofthisi fire of ehdléffe fitilfe and

-contention; Now the Lord enable us to doe this in

the Spirit of lenity, with godly Zeale tohisGlory,
lg/Imerz.    A

lEINI.S{%

  Erram.    A

'Pag.2 1; an asp; 6 17 20 whazp. 71. 3 fiar vnfapflcd read’ 7
mifapplicd p.7,l.a,.% far indiikrcnt read diffi-rent P58 1, 

3 for word r-moi word p, 1,2 I for thczfc rmalthofe p.
19.1. I 5 . fartherefore ream’ wherefore pa 9.}. 2 2 . for the
rmflthat p.203. 9,fivr miflcry mar! miniflry p. I 6. 1. 22. for

parit§,w~mdPriority‘ p, 4.26.1. 2 3’. far ground mm’ grounded 
P. 27 Y. E8.far the rmdchcfé: p. 127 1 23 for to readinm p... 5

n8~1.a6fmmoW mzdmorc p. 39 1. 2 far name mad names
9. 29 L 3:2. far for vrmdovcr p. 3 8 E. 8.. Me ought p. 39 E.

; a 7 the Prcfiflcnfi V p. 4 1 L pcnulz: Mk war: may ordinary pa,
¢ 40 H. 3 m for particular rmdpartial1'. L 3 8, for yet mm’ that A