The divine right of episcopacy demonstrated from Calvin and Beza together with a letter to a Presbyterian minister.
         Cunningham, Alexander.
      
       
         
           1690
        
      
       Approx. 18 KB of XML-encoded text transcribed from 7 1-bit group-IV TIFF page images.
       
         Text Creation Partnership,
         Ann Arbor, MI ; Oxford (UK) :
         2004-03 (EEBO-TCP Phase 1).
         A35428
         Wing C7589
         ESTC R24900
         08648023
         ocm 08648023
         41528
         
           
            This keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the Early English Books Online Text Creation Partnership. This Phase I text is available for reuse, according to the terms of
             Creative Commons 0 1.0 Universal
            . The text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission.
          
        
      
       
         Early English books online.
      
       
         (EEBO-TCP ; phase 1, no. A35428)
         Transcribed from: (Early English Books Online ; image set 41528)
         Images scanned from microfilm: (Early English books, 1641-1700 ; 1254:15)
      
       
         
           
             The divine right of episcopacy demonstrated from Calvin and Beza together with a letter to a Presbyterian minister.
             Cunningham, Alexander.
             Calvin, Jean, 1509-1564.
             Bèze, Théodore de, 1519-1605.
          
           12 p.
           
             Printed for Randal Taylor,
             London :
             1690.
          
           
             Reproduction of original in the Union Theological Seminary Library, New York.
          
        
      
    
     
       
         Created by converting TCP files to TEI P5 using tcp2tei.xsl, TEI @ Oxford.
         Re-processed by University of Nebraska-Lincoln and Northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. Gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors.
      
       
         EEBO-TCP is a partnership between the Universities of Michigan and Oxford and the publisher ProQuest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by ProQuest via their Early English Books Online (EEBO) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). The general aim of EEBO-TCP is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic English-language title published between 1473 and 1700 available in EEBO.
         EEBO-TCP aimed to produce large quantities of textual data within the usual project restraints of time and funding, and therefore chose to create diplomatic transcriptions (as opposed to critical editions) with light-touch, mainly structural encoding based on the Text Encoding Initiative (http://www.tei-c.org).
         The EEBO-TCP project was divided into two phases. The 25,363 texts created during Phase 1 of the project have been released into the public domain as of 1 January 2015. Anyone can now take and use these texts for their own purposes, but we respectfully request that due credit and attribution is given to their original source.
         Users should be aware of the process of creating the TCP texts, and therefore of any assumptions that can be made about the data.
         Text selection was based on the New Cambridge Bibliography of English Literature (NCBEL). If an author (or for an anonymous work, the title) appears in NCBEL, then their works are eligible for inclusion. Selection was intended to range over a wide variety of subject areas, to reflect the true nature of the print record of the period. In general, first editions of a works in English were prioritized, although there are a number of works in other languages, notably Latin and Welsh, included and sometimes a second or later edition of a work was chosen if there was a compelling reason to do so.
         Image sets were sent to external keying companies for transcription and basic encoding. Quality assurance was then carried out by editorial teams in Oxford and Michigan. 5% (or 5 pages, whichever is the greater) of each text was proofread for accuracy and those which did not meet QA standards were returned to the keyers to be redone. After proofreading, the encoding was enhanced and/or corrected and characters marked as illegible were corrected where possible up to a limit of 100 instances per text. Any remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. Understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of TCP data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. Users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a TCP editor.
         The texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level 4 of the TEI in Libraries guidelines.
         Copies of the texts have been issued variously as SGML (TCP schema; ASCII text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable XML (TCP schema; characters represented either as UTF-8 Unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless XML (TEI P5, characters represented either as UTF-8 Unicode or TEI g elements).
         
          Keying and markup guidelines are available at the
           Text Creation Partnership web site
          .
        
      
       
         
         
      
    
     
       
         eng
      
       
         
           Episcopacy.
        
      
    
     
        2003-07 TCP
        Assigned for keying and markup
      
        2003-07 SPi Global
        Keyed and coded from ProQuest page images
      
        2004-01 Jonathan Blaney
        Sampled and proofread
      
        2004-01 Jonathan Blaney
        Text and markup reviewed and edited
      
        2004-02 pfs
        Batch review (QC) and XML conversion
      
    
  
   
     
       
         
         
           THE
           DIVINE
           RIGHT
           OF
           EPISCOPACY
           ,
           Demonstrated
           from
           Calvin
           and
           Beza
           .
           Together
           with
           a
           LETTER
           TO
           A
           Presbyterian
           Minister
           For
           UNION
           .
        
         
           Licens'd
           ,
           March
           the
           10
           th
           ,
           1689
           /
           90.
           
        
         
           LONDON
           ,
           Printed
           for
           
             Randal
             Taylor
          
           ,
           near
           Stationers-Hall
           .
           1690.
           
        
      
    
     
       
         
         
         
           
             DEFINITIONS
             .
          
           
             I.
             
               THE
               Power
               of
               ORDINATION
               is
               that
               Right
               
               which
               the
               Governours
               of
               the
               CHVRCH
               have
               to
               separate
               Persons
               whom
               they
               find
               duely
               Qualified
               ,
               unto
               the
               Holy
               Ministry
               of
               the
               Gospel
               .
            
          
           
             II.
             
               The
               power
               of
               Iurisdiction
               is
               that
               Right
               which
               the
               
               Governours
               of
               the
               Church
               have
               to
               make
               Canons
               which
               are
               wanting
               ,
               or
               to
               Execute
               those
               already
               made
               ,
               for
               the
               Regulation
               of
               Church-Members
               .
            
          
           
             III.
             
               The
               President
               Bishop
               ,
               is
               he
               ,
               who
               from
               his
               Pre-eminence
               to
               other
               Ministers
               ,
               is
               invested
               with
               a
               sixed
               Power
               of
               (a)
               Ordination
               ,
               Regulated
               by
               Canons
               ,
               and
               of
               (b)
               Jurisdiction
               ,
               ballanced
               by
               assisting
               Ministers
               .
            
          
           
             IV.
             
               The
               Angel
               of
               any
               Church
               Representative
               ,
               
               is
               the
               Bishop
               presiding
               over
               the
               other
               Ministers
               ,
               within
               the
               Respective
               Diocess
               ,
               Province
               ,
               or
               Patriarchate
               .
            
          
        
         
         
           
             POSTULATUMS
             .
          
           
             
             THat
             the
             70
             Disciples
             (
             from
             among
             whom
             Matthias
             was
             called
             ,
             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
               ,
               and
               (a)
               Titus
               in
               the
               Church
               of
               Crete
               ,
               were
               pre-eminent
               to
               other
               Ministers
               ,
               invested
               with
               a
               fixed
               Power
               of
               Ordination
               ,
               and
               Jurisdiction
               ,
               regulated
               by
               Canons
               ,
               and
               ballanced
               by
               assisting
               Ministers
               .
            
          
           
             III.
             
               
               That
               for
               the
               avoiding
               of
               Schism
               ,
               the
               Primitive
               Church
               retained
               the
               Government
               of
               one
               single
               person
               ,
               pre-eminent
               unto
               other
               Ministers
               .
            
          
           
             IV.
             
               
               That
               the
               7
               Angels
               of
               the
               7
               Churches
               ,
               written
               unto
               ,
               in
               the
               Book
               of
               Revelation
               ,
               are
               incouraged
               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
               ,
               is
               from
               an
               Office
               of
               an
               inferiour
               ,
               
               to
               that
               of
               a
               Superior
               Station
               .
            
          
           
             II.
             
               The
               Pre-eminence
               in
               any
               Office
               ,
               
               includes
               a
               proportioned
               Jurisdiction
               ,
               over
               the
               Officers
               who
               are
               under
               them
               .
            
          
           
             III.
             
               The
               Divine
               Right
               is
               manifest
               ,
               
               in
               that
               Ecclesiastical
               Government
               which
               was
               instituted
               by
               Christ
               ,
               continued
               by
               his
               Apostles
               ,
               retained
               in
               the
               Primitive
               Church
               ,
               and
               approved
               from
               Heaven
               by
               Revelation
               ;
               in
               subserviency
               to
               any
               end
               ,
               wherein
               the
               well-being
               of
               Christianity
               is
               concerned
               .
            
          
           
             IV.
             
               The
               want
               of
               that
               Government
               in
               the
               Church
               ,
               
               which
               is
               of
               Divine
               Right
               ,
               is
               pernicious
               to
               the
               Gospel
               ,
               and
               to
               the
               Christian
               Religion
               .
            
          
        
         
           
             PROPOSITION
             I.
             The
             twelve
             Apostles
             were
             President
             Bishops
             over
             the
             70
             Disciples
             .
          
           
             Demonstration
             .
          
           
             
               THE
               President
               Bishop
               is
               he
               ,
               who
               being
               Pre-eminent
               to
               other
               Ministers
               ,
               is
               invested
               with
               a
               fixed
               Power
               of
               Ordination
               ,
               Regulated
               by
               
               Canons
               ,
               and
               of
               Iurisdiction
               ,
               ballanced
               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
            
             Matthias
             
               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
               Iurisdiction
               ballanced
               by
               Assisting
               Ministers
            
             ;
             )
             by
             Axiom
             II.
             )
             
               Therefore
               the
               12
               Apostles
               were
               President
               Bishops
               over
               the
               70
               Disciples
               ,
               which
               was
               the
               thing
               to
               be
               Demonstrated
               .
            
          
        
         
           
             PROPOSITION
             II.
             Timothy
             was
             a
             President
             Bishop
             over
             the
             Church
             of
             the
             Ephesians
             ;
             and
             Titus
             over
             the
             Church
             of
             the
             Cretians
             .
          
           
             Demonstration
             .
          
           
             
               These
               are
               President
               Bishops
               who
               are
               Pre-eminent
               to
               other
               Ministers
               ,
               invested
               with
               a
               fixed
               power
               of
               Ordination
               ,
               Regulated
               by
               Canons
               ;
               and
               of
               Iurisdiction
               ,
               ballanced
               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
               Iurisdiction
               ,
               Regulated
               by
               Canons
               ,
               and
               Ballanced
               by
               assisting
               Ministers
            
             ;
             (
             by
             Postulatum
             II.
             )
             Therefore
             Timothy
             
               was
               a
               president
               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
             President
             Bishops
             .
          
           
             Demonstration
             .
          
           
             
               The
               Primitive
               Church
               retained
               the
               Government
               of
               one
               single
               ,
               person
               ,
               pre-eminent
               unto
               other
               Ministers
            
             ;
             (
             by
             Postulatum
             III.
             )
             
               But
               the
               pre-eminence
               in
               any
               Office
               includes
               a
               proportioned
               Iurisdiction
               over
               the
               Officers
               who
               are
               under
               them
            
             ;
             (
             by
             Axiom
             II.
             )
             
               And
               the
               power
               of
               Iurisdiction
               is
               fixed
               in
               the
               president
               Bishop
               ,
            
             (
             by
             Definition
             III.
             )
             
               Therefore
               the
               Fathers
               of
               the
               Primitive
               Church
               were
               president
               Bishops
               .
               Which
               was
               to
               be
               Demonstrated
               .
            
          
        
         
           
             PROPOSITION
             IV.
             The
             President
             Episcopacy
             is
             approved
             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
               incouraged
               against
               all
               the
               devices
               of
               the
               ungodly
               ,
               upon
               condition
               of
               their
               continuing
               faithful
               in
               their
               Administrations
            
             ;
             (
             by
             Postulatum
             IV.
             )
             
               But
               these
               Angels
               were
               president
               Bishops
               over
               other
               Ministers
               within
               their
               respective
               Churches
            
             ;
             (
             by
             Definition
             IV.
             )
             
               Therefore
               the
               president
               Episcopacy
               is
               approved
               by
               Christ
               ,
               in
               the
               Book
               of
               the
            
             Revelation
             .
             
               Which
               was
               to
               be
               Demonstrated
            
             .
          
        
         
           
             COROLLARY
             I.
             The
             President
             Episcopacy
             is
             of
             Divine
             Right
             .
          
           
             Demonstration
             .
          
           
             
               The
               Divine
               Right
               is
               manifest
               ,
               in
               that
               Ecclesiastical
               Government
               which
               is
               instituted
               by
               CHRIST
               ,
               and
               continued
               by
               his
               Apostles
               ,
               retained
               in
               the
               Primitive
               Church
               ,
               and
               approved
               by
               CHRIST
               ,
               by
               a
               Revelation
               from
               Heaven
               ,
               for
               subserviency
               to
               any
               end
               ,
               wherein
               the
               well-being
               of
               Christianity
               is
               concerned
            
             ;
             (
             by
             Axiom
             III.
             )
             
               But
               the
               President
               Episcopacy
               was
               instituted
               by
               CHRIST
            
             ;
             (
             by
             Proposition
             I.
             )
             
               Continued
               by
               His
               Apostles
            
             ;
             (
             by
             Proposition
             II.
             )
             
               Retained
               in
               the
               Primitive
               Church
            
             ;
             (
             by
             Proposition
             III.
             )
             
               And
               approved
               by
               CHRIST
               ,
               by
               a
               Revelation
               from
               Heaven
            
             ;
             (
             by
             Proposition
             IV.
             )
             
               For
               avoiding
               of
               Schism
               wherein
               the
               well-being
               of
               Christianity
               is
               concerned
               (
               by
            
             Postulatum
             
               III.
               )
               Therefore
               the
               President
               Episcopacy
               is
               of
               Divine
               Right
               .
               Which
               was
               to
               be
               demonstrated
               .
            
          
        
         
           
             COROLLARY
             II.
             The
             want
             of
             the
             
               President
               Episcopacy
            
             is
             prejudicial
             to
             the
             Christian
             Church
             .
          
           
             Demonstration
             .
          
           
             
               The
               want
               of
               that
               Government
               in
               the
               Church
               ,
               which
               is
               of
               Divine
               Right
               ,
               is
               pernicious
               to
               the
            
             Christian
             Religion
             ;
             (
             by
             Axiom
             IV.
             )
             
               But
               the
               President
               Episcopacy
               ,
               is
               that
               Government
               in
               the
               Church
               which
               is
               of
               Divine
               Right
               ;
               (
               by
               the
               preceeding
            
             Corollarie
             .
             )
             
               Therefore
               the
               want
               of
               the
               President
               Episcopacy
               is
               prejudicial
               to
               the
               Christian
               Church
               .
               Which
               was
               to
               be
               demonstrated
               .
            
          
        
         
           FINIS
           .
        
      
       
         
         
         
           A
           LETTER
           TO
           A
           Reverend
           Minister
           OF
           THE
           GOSPEL
           ,
           OF
           THE
           Presbyterian
           Perswasion
           .
        
         
           
             REVEREND
             SIR
             ,
          
        
         
           WHEN
           in
           the
           
             doctrinal
             Truths
          
           of
           the
           
             Reformed
             Religion
          
           ,
           and
           in
           the
           
             substantial
             parts
          
           of
           Divine
           Worship
           ,
           all
           sober
           Pretestants
           of
           Episcopal
           and
           Presbyterian
           Perswasion
           ,
           are
           firmly
           united
           together
           ;
           our
           sad
           Divisions
           about
           Ecclesiastical
           Government
           (
           which
           have
           these
           many
           years
           mischief'd
           
           us
           )
           are
           certainly
           incosistent
           with
           the
           
             Gospel
             of
             peace
             and
             love
          
           ,
           subservient
           to
           Popery
           which
           would
           swallow
           us
           up
           quick
           ,
           and
           scandalous
           to
           all
           thinking
           Men.
           Let
           me
           therefore
           conjure
           you
           by
           the
           bleeding
           Wounds
           of
           our
           
             Holy
             Mother
          
           who
           received
           us
           by
           one
           Baptism
           ,
           unto
           the
           profession
           of
           
             one
             Lord
             ,
             and
             one
             Faith
             ,
          
           that
           when
           the
           Episcopal
           Clergy
           are
           of
           so
           reconciling
           inclinations
           ,
           you
           neglect
           not
           this
           opportunity
           of
           shewing
           your
           abhorrence
           of
           wilful
           separation
           .
           And
           that
           my
           fervent
           persuance
           after
           Peace
           ,
           may
           have
           the
           honour
           to
           contribute
           in
           any
           way
           for
           so
           happy
           an
           accommodation
           among
           Christian
           Brethren
           ;
           suffer
           me
           in
           all
           that
           tender
           Compassion
           that
           becometh
           a
           Minister
           of
           Salvation
           by
           a
           dying
           Saviour
           ,
           to
           put
           you
           in
           remembrance
           of
           these
           three
           Matters
           of
           Fact.
           1
           st
           .
           That
           the
           Representative
           Church
           of
           Scotland
           ,
           never
           confest
           any
           Divine
           Right
           in
           Presbytery
           .
           2
           ly
           .
           That
           the
           Solemn
           League
           never
           ajbur'd
           the
           
             president
             Bishop
          
           regulated
           by
           Canons
           ,
           and
           ballanced
           by
           assisting
           Miisters
           .
           3
           dly
           .
           That
           the
           Reverend
           Ministers
           in
           England
           ,
           for
           providing
           against
           violation
           of
           that
           Covenant
           ,
           petitioned
           for
           such
           an
           Episcopacy
           as
           is
           liker
           to
           our
           present
           Establishment
           ,
           than
           any
           other
           seen
           by
           the
           Christian
           World
           these
           thousand
           years
           .
        
         
           1
           st
           .
           The
           representative
           Church
           of
           Scotland
           ,
           never
           confest
           any
           
             Divine
             Right
          
           in
           Presbytery
           .
           Since
           the
           Blessed
           Reformation
           ;
           we
           have
           but
           two
           of
           her
           Confessions
           ,
           the
           first
           whereof
           in
           
             K.
             I.
          
           I.
           his
           Reign
           ,
           avoweth
           in
           its
           19
           Act
           about
           the
           Notes
           of
           Holy
           Church
           ,
           that
           
             that
             Ecclesiastical
             Discipline
             is
             rightly
             administred
             as
             God's
             Word
             prescribes
             ,
             whereby
             Vice
             is
             repressed
             and
             Virtue
             nourished
             .
          
           And
           lest
           it
           should
           be
           imagined
           that
           Presbytery
           can
           only
           afford
           such
           a
           Discipline
           ;
           in
           the
           21
           Act
           it
           avoweth
           ,
           
             that
             no
             Polity
             can
             be
             appointed
             for
             all
             Ages
             ,
             times
             ,
             and
             places
             .
          
           And
           after
           all
           ,
           Church
           Government
           is
           thus
           left
           to
           be
           of
           
             Human
             Institution
          
           ;
           the
           Civil
           
           Magistrate
           is
           confest
           in
           the
           25
           Article
           ,
           to
           have
           the
           Supream
           Power
           to
           settle
           it
           .
           Then
           for
           the
           other
           Confession
           made
           at
           Westminster
           ,
           by
           being
           voiced
           unto
           by
           the
           Commissioners
           which
           were
           sent
           from
           this
           place
           ,
           and
           afterwards
           approved
           by
           the
           general
           Assembly
           here
           ,
           it
           's
           adopted
           unto
           the
           National
           Church
           of
           Scotland
           :
           And
           it
           's
           well
           enough
           known
           ,
           that
           the
           25
           
             th
             .
             Ch.
          
           thereof
           asserts
           the
           
             Supream
             Civil
             Magistrate
          
           his
           power
           of
           Establishing
           the
           external
           Polity
           of
           the
           Church
           :
           Yea
           ,
           and
           the
           
             General
             Assembly
          
           here
           in
           the
           
             Act
             of
             Approbation
          
           of
           that
           Confession
           ,
           for
           all
           its
           protestation
           that
           the
           31
           ch
           .
           concerning
           Synods
           and
           Counsels
           ,
           should
           not
           encroach
           upon
           the
           intrinsick
           Power
           of
           the
           Church
           ,
           takes
           no
           notice
           if
           the
           Presbyterian
           Government
           hath
           a
           
             Divine
             Institution
          
           .
        
         
           2
           ly
           .
           The
           
             Soelmn
             League
          
           did
           not
           abjure
           the
           
             President
             Bishop
          
           ,
           regulated
           by
           Canons
           ,
           and
           ballanced
           by
           Assistant
           Presbyters
           .
           For
           since
           the
           
             General
             Assembly
          
           here
           in
           Scotland
           ,
           by
           her
           Acts
           acknowledgeth
           ,
           that
           the
           
             Solemn
             League
          
           strikes
           against
           the
           same
           Episcopacy
           ,
           against
           which
           the
           National
           Covenant
           was
           levelled
           ;
           then
           doubtless
           the
           single
           judgment
           of
           the
           Royal
           Martyr
           ,
           (
           the
           best
           Protestant
           and
           Casuist
           of
           his
           time
           )
           about
           the
           Sense
           of
           the
           National
           Covenant
           ,
           must
           weigh
           down
           the
           Opinion
           of
           all
           the
           diffusive
           Church
           of
           Brittain
           ,
           in
           this
           Question
           ;
           and
           the
           World
           knows
           that
           his
           Princely
           desire
           of
           a
           Regulation
           ,
           always
           hated
           the
           Destruction
           of
           Episcopacy
           .
           Then
           for
           the
           Church
           Representative
           of
           both
           Kingdoms
           ,
           neither
           the
           Synod
           of
           Westminster
           in
           her
           Directory
           for
           Church
           Government
           ,
           nor
           the
           
             General
             Assembly
          
           here
           convened
           ,
           in
           her
           Act
           of
           Approbation
           of
           that
           Directory
           ,
           do
           any
           thing
           in
           condemnation
           of
           a
           president
           Bishop
           .
        
         
           But
           ,
           3
           dly
           ,
           The
           Reverend
           Ministers
           of
           the
           Presbyterian
           Perswasion
           in
           England
           ,
           petitioned
           An.
           1661
           ,
           the
           late
           King
           Charles
           the
           II.
           for
           such
           an
           Episcopacy
           ,
           as
           is
           liker
           our
           present
           
           Establishment
           in
           Scotland
           ,
           than
           any
           other
           that
           hath
           been
           seen
           by
           the
           Christian
           Church
           these
           thousand
           years
           .
           Their
           Petitions
           are
           printed
           in
           two
           Papers
           of
           Proposals
           ,
           in
           which
           they
           insist
           upon
           the
           Form
           of
           a
           Synodical
           Government
           ,
           conjunct
           with
           a
           fixed
           Presidency
           ,
           according
           to
           Arch-Bishop
           Vshers
           Reduction
           ;
           and
           the
           last
           Motive
           inducing
           them
           to
           desire
           such
           a
           Government
           ,
           is
           plainly
           this
           ,
           in
           words
           .
           
             That
             it
             will
             save
             the
             Nation
             from
             the
             violation
             of
             the
             Solemn
             Vow
             and
             Covenant
             ,
             without
             wronging
             the
             Church
             at
             all
             ,
             or
             breaking
             any
             other
             Oath
             .
          
           Now
           Reverend
           Brother
           ,
           you
           know
           as
           well
           as
           my self
           ,
           that
           the
           foresaid
           Reduction
           by
           that
           most
           Reverend
           Primate
           of
           all
           Ireland
           ,
           is
           liker
           our
           present
           Episcopal
           Government
           ,
           consider'd
           in
           its
           Nature
           ,
           than
           hath
           ever
           been
           seen
           in
           any
           National
           Church
           since
           the
           Blessed
           Reformation
           :
           Yea
           ,
           so
           very
           like
           in
           the
           weekly
           Session
           ,
           Monthly
           Presbytery
           ,
           and
           Diocesan
           Synod
           ,
           that
           with
           a
           due
           Modification
           ,
           whereunto
           the
           Regular
           Clergy
           will
           be
           found
           complying
           ,
           you
           should
           not
           be
           able
           to
           know
           the
           difference
           .
           Therefore
           beseeching
           the
           Author
           of
           Peace
           ,
           and
           lover
           of
           Concord
           ,
           that
           all
           of
           us
           of
           Episcopal
           and
           Presbyterian
           Perswasion
           ,
           having
           
             one
             Lord
             ,
             one
             Faith
             ,
             and
             one
             Baptism
             ,
          
           may
           be
           brought
           to
           be
           all
           
             of
             one
             mind
             and
             judgment
             ,
             perfectly
             join'd
             together
             without
             all
             Divisions
             in
             our
             Lord
             Iesus
             Christ.
          
           I
           rest
           ,
           though
           unknown
           as
           yet
           ,
        
         
           
             Reverend
             Brother
             ,
          
           
             Your
             Affectionate
             Servant
             .
          
           
             Edin
             .
             
               Mar.
               4.
               1689.
               
            
          
        
         
           FINIS
           .
        
         
      
    
     
       
         Notes, typically marginal, from the original text
         
           Notes for div A35428-e110
           
             
               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
             .
          
           
             
               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
             .
          
           
             (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
             .
          
           
             (b)
             
               Calvin
               .
               Inst.
               lib.
            
             4.
             cap.
             4.
             sect
             .
             2.
             
             Whatever
             parts
             the
             Consul
             had
             in
             the
             Senate
             ,
             the
             same
             Office
             did
             the
             Bishop
             always
             sustain
             in
             the
             meeting
             of
             Presbyters
             .
          
           
             
               Beza
               ,
               Rev.
            
             2.
             chap.
             1.
             &
             v.
             24.
             
             To
             the
             Angel
             ,
             that
             is
             ,
             To
             the
             President
             ,
             as
             whom
             it
             behoveth
             ,
             especially
             to
             be
             admonished
             ,
             touching
             those
             matters
             ;
             and
             by
             him
             both
             the
             rest
             of
             his
             fellow
             Collegues
             ,
             and
             the
             whole
             Church
             likewise
             ,
             vers
             .
             24.
             
             But
             unto
             you
             ,
             that
             is
             ,
             unto
             you
             the
             Angel
             the
             President
             ,
             and
             the
             Assembly
             of
             your
             Collegues
             ,
             and
             to
             the
             Rest
             ,
             that
             is
             ,
             to
             the
             whole
             Flock
             .
          
           
             
               Calvin
               ,
               Luke
            
             10.
             chap.
             1.
             vers
             .
             16.
             
             After
             the
             Apostles
             had
             returned
             to
             Christ
             ,
             he
             sent
             out
             more
             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
             .
          
           
             Calvin
             .
             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
             ,
             Tit.
             1.5
             .
             Beside
             the
             ordinary
             Office
             of
             Pastors
             ,
             Titus
             had
             this
             charge
             ,
             that
             he
             should
             constitute
             a
             certain
             Form
             of
             Church
             politie
             and
             Discipline
             ;
             &
             likewise
             ordain
             Ministers
             over
             the
             Churches
             .
          
           
             
               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
             .
             Ierom
             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
             .
          
           
             
               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
             President
             ,
             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
             .
          
           
             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
             .
          
           
             See
             Definition
             II.
             &
             III.
             
          
           
             
               Calvin
               .
               Inst.
               lib
            
             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
             Catholick
             Church
             is
             only
             with
             them
             :
             because
             it
             hath
             not
             taken
             its
             Original
             from
             CHRISTS
             institution
             ,
             nor
             the
             custom
             of
             the
             Ancient
             Church
             ,
             as
             the
             other
             Offices
             have
             done
             ,
             (
             viz.
             Bish.
             Presb.
             &
             Deacons
             ,
             cap.
             4.
             sect
             .
             1.
             )
             mentioned
             already
             .
          
           
             
               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
             Apostolick
             and
             Ministerial
             Office
             ,
             for
             preserving
             of
             a
             Church
             upon
             Earth
             .