ftian fhou'd be fo averfe to New Teftament Lan-
guage — efpccially ii we confider, «»
2. The Word FrieR is never us'd in the New Te-
ftament to fignifie the Minifters exclufive of the Veo-
fk. St. Teter calls the Body of Chriftians> a Holy
Prieflhoody and that as diftinguifhed from their Mini-
fters. I Tet. 2. $- I Pet,^. I. fo he calls the People
God's xA«f©-, God's Clergy, i Fet:. 5. 3. Hence the word
Clergy ; which Senfe has been appropriated to Mini-i
fters. Did Men love the Scriptures more, and Mens'
Traditions Icfs, there would be no Controverfy about
thefe things.
St. John calls thofe whom Chrift hath wafh'd witli
his Blood, by the Names of Kings and Prieflsy Rev.
I. $y 6.
If the Holy Ghoft never calls Gofpel Minifters as
fuch in the New Teftament by the Name of Priefli,
why
\
preferable to Epjco^al. I yy
why /hou'd we do it ? are we wifer than the Foun-
tain of Wifdom?
g. The Papifts abufe his Name to the moft abomi-
nable Idolatry of the Majs. They ordain all their
Shavelings to the Office of the Priefihood, to offer up
their Bread-Idol a,s a real Sacrifice for the dead and li-
ving. The Council of Trent anathematizeth all that
fay, there is no vifible and external Priefihood in the
New Teftament. De facr. ord. can. i.
Let Rome glory in her Priefls, who take upon 'em
to facrifice the real Body of Clirifl in their Mafsy as
they do his myflical Body in their Maffacres.
But it becomes not us who under the Gofpel
know neither Priefihood, nor Altar, nor Temple,
befides Jefus Chrifl, to fy mbolize with an Idolatrous
Church, which hates all Compliances with us, tho* vci
the mod innocent Things.
The Reformed Churches abroad have abolifh'd this
Name ; and are offended with the Englifi for ufing
it ; but fome People had rather fpeak in the Dialed
of Rome than of the Reformed Churches, in Confor-
mity to Chrifl and his Apoflles.
HAP.
XI
We ordain Mtnljlers to the whole Minijlerial JVorkj
and not deprive "^em afterwards of any Part thereof^
as the Presbyters of the Church are^ Church Mi-
nifiers^ the Chancellors Servants, The narrow
Way made broad by the Burial Office. Pulpit Threat*
ningi recanted at the Grave. Charity transformed
into Cruelty, Presbyters roVd of their Governing
Power ^contrary to Scripture and Jnti^uity,
Arg' XL f~\^^ Miniflers are ordain d to the 'whole Mi*
^^ nifterial fVork, and no {art of it taken from
\m afierivards, N Put,
1 7 S Trcshyterial Ordination^
But it is otherwife in Epifcopal Ordinations : The
Ordainers commit the Keys of the Kingdom of
Heaven to the Presbyters, faying, whofe Sins )e forgrje,
they are forgiven, and whofe Sms yc retain, they are retain d.
They giwt 'em Power to Mimjler the DoElrine andSa-
cramentSy and the Difcipline of ChriR as the Lord has
commanded, &c. But they deprive them afterwards of
the Power of Difcipline, and entrufl em with no
judicial Adminiftration in the Church.
The Presbyters have no Power left 'em to judge
whom to baptize, and whom not, but muft baptize
all that arc ofter'd, tho' the Children of Jews, Infi-
dels, Deifts, Papifts, ^'C Engl can. 6^- No Minifter
fhall refuje to chriftsn any Child according to the Form cf the
Book of Common Prayer that is brought to the Church, if
he refufe he fiall he fufpended for three Months »
They have no Power to forbear giving the Lord's
Supper to any one, how notorious an Offender fo-
ever, unlefs they will profecute him at the Bifhop's
Court : nor then, but for once,- fo that if he pay his
Fees and be abfolv'd there, tho' the Minifter know
him to be never fo bad, he muft gi\t it him the next
time. And the Profecution is fo odious and fruitlefs,
that it is very rarely attempted.
They have no Power to call Perfons to Repentance
openly before the Church.
They have no Power to judge any Perfon to be
excommunicate, nor to abfolve any Perfon that is
penitent after Excommunication, only they read the
Lay-Chancellor's Sentences, fentthem in the Bifhop's
Name, much h'ke our Cryersin Civil Courts that pub-
lifh the Orders of the Court. Yea, tho' they are
fatisficd in their Confciences that the Chancellor's De-
cree is fometimes unjuft, and clive err ante, excommu-
nicating a confcientious Perfon for fcrupling a Cere-
mony, or abfolving an impendent Perfon v/ho has
commuted for notorious Scandal, yet they muft pub-
lifh it or be fufpended :
How
preferable to EpfcofaL 179
How inconfiflent is this Rcftraint with the Power
of remitting and retaining SinSj given them in Ordi^
nation ? All the Power left 'em is the Privilege of be-
ing the Chancellor's Servants, to execute their De-
crees, without examining whether they be right or
wrong.
They have no Power to forbear pronouncing of
all Traytors, Murderers, Adulterers, Drunkards, Op-
preffors, Papifts, Atheifls, perjured Perfons, &c. (that
never profefs'd Repentance) at their Burial, That
God of his Great Mercy hath taken to himfelf the Soul of
our dear Brother here departedy and that they have fur^
and certain hope of his RefurreSiion to eternal Life. Can.
eS. & office for Burial.
All that die in the Communion of the Church, and
don't lay violent Hands upon themfelves, tho' they
]ive never fo wickedly, and die never fo impenitently,
go one way, (according to the Office for Burial) and
that is the narrow Way to Life, which but few found
in the Days of Chrill, (Mat. 7. i ^, 14.) but now all
find (it the Miniffer may be bcliev'd at the Grave)
that have the Happincfs to be in the Communion of
the Church of England, and don't forfeit the Benefit
of Chriflian Burial by Excommunication or Self-Mur-
der, which few People do, except they be in a fren-
zy, and fo make themfelves away, or next Degree to
it, in not buying off a damnable Excommunication,
if they happen to fall under it, which is but rarely,
for fome notorious Debaucheries.
It is the Opinion of Bifliop Jer^ Taylor, Dr. Sher-
lock, and fome others of the Church-Communion,
that there is no fuch thing as faving Repentance up-
on a Death- bed, and i^ fo, what ground of fure and
ce-itain Hope can there be of the Salvation of thofe
yvho liv'd impenitently, while they enjoy 'd Health and
Opportunities of Sinning? According to the Scrip-
tures, and the tendered Sentiments of judicious Cafu-
ifts, we may conclude that the greater part of thofe
N 2 who
1 8 o Treshytertal Ordination^
who live in open Contradiction to the Laws of the
Gofpel to the very laft, die under the incurable
Plague of a hard Heart, and leave us no vifible
ground oi fiire and certain Hope concerning their Salva-
tion. Ef,6. 9i 10. TroV' i. 24, 25, 28. Zach. 7. 12513-
Job. 8. 24.
It is true, we ought to judge charitably concern-
ing Mens final State, but Charity is no excufe for
dangerous Error and Falfhood. It can't be denied
that the Clergy in their Sermons and Writings con-
demn abundance, whom at the Grave they pronounce
faved. What a hard'ning is it to the Wicked when
they hear the fame Men, that in the Pulpit threaten
Damnation to them, recant it all in their Applicati-
on at the Grave, and pronounce them faved.
But to return from this Digreflion : The Presby-
ters are made meer Curates to the Bifhops, and di-
verted of that Power of the Keys, [or Difcipline]
which Chrift committed to all Minifters equally, and
are exprefly given them in Ordination, in thofe
Words, ivhcfe Sins foever ye remit jh all he remitted^ &c.
Vid, Vr. for B'fpi. and Curates in the Liturgy.
InJJjorty the Deacons are made half Priejisy and the
Priefts but half Presljters, for they are deprived of the
Tower of Difcipline, which yet is pretendedly given 'em
in Ordination, and which is really given them in Scrip-
ture, and which they enjoy 'd in the Primitive Church.
Bafil. de vit. fol- cap. 23. Presbyter licet, fi peccaverOy
tradere me fatan^. £"/. ad Heliod.
I. As to the Scripture, I fliall only note thefe two
following ones, which inverts Presbyters with the
Government of the Church, Hehr. 13. 17. All fuch
as ivatch over t )e Scuts of God's People, and mu(l give
account to God for them, are intitl'd to rule over them.
Now unlefs Bifhops will fay they only watch for
Mens Souls, and are the only Men that murt give
an account, they cannot challenge to themfelves the
folc Rule over them. So i \thef 5. 12, Know them which
lalfour
f referable to Ej)ifco^aL 1 8 1
lal;our among you [/f»/4''»5] and are o'ver you, or have
the Prefidency over you, and admomjJ) you. In this
one Church of 'thcffalonka there was not, o^aoKr\cci^<^,
but oi
but the Prefidency was in many. This Preiidency
[or Government] was in them that labour d among them
as the Presbyters did.
And the Cenfures of the Church were manag'd not
by one chief [<5'€9.o-';^^®-] Prefident, but by all in com-
mon who were to be efteem'd alike. Bafily who liv'd
Ann. Dom. 3 70. upon the Words of Chrill: to Peter^
feed my Sheep, hath this Remark — He bath comtnitted
the fame Vovser to all Pajiors and Teachers, of luhkh this
is a convincing Evidence, that they do all equally bind and
loofe as well as he.
2. As to Antiquity, I'll mention one Paflage in Je:^
rem. If I fin, the Presbyter may, faith he, de/jver me
to Satan. The old Canons give to the Presbyters e-
qual Power with the Bifhop in Church Cenfures, that
he could do nothing without their Concurrence. Cone.
4. earth, can. 23.
Doth not the Nature of the thing inform us who
are beft able to judge of the fitnefs of Perfons to be
admitted, and who fhou*d be kept out; the Parifh
Minifter who has perfonal Knowledge of his Flock,
or the Bifhop that lives twenty or thirty Miles off,
or it may be at London, and pollibly hath never feen
their Faces }
If Mens Prejudices wereremov'd, the Truth wou'd
fhine forth in its own native light.
Upon this Account alfo our Ordinations are better,
becaufe all the Minifterial Power is confer'd without
arbitrary Limitations or Reftridions of Minifters in
their Oifice.
N 5 CHAP^
1 8 2 Treshyterial Ordination^
Chap. XIL
Vl^e ddn*t frvear thofe we ordain to yield Ohedience
to their Ordainers^ as Proteflaf7t md Popifl? Bi*
/hops do. No Precedeifit for this Ecckfia/lical Oath-
in the New TeflAment^ nor for joo Tears after
CJ)riJt, No Englifh Statute for it. Presbyters
harder ty'^d than hired Servants. This Oath in-^
I'ented by Novatus the Heretick, This enjlaving
Cujlom fraclis'^d in the eighth LerHury, Frc^nce
infected with tt^ condemned by the Council of Cha-
lons. Conclufwn,
A^g' XII. 'TpHere is one thing more in which our
-I Ordinations have the Preference of
Epifcopal Ordination ; We adminifier no Oath to the
Perfons Ordain d, to oblige ''em to depend upon their Or-
dainersy and to yield to them Canonical Obedience^ as th^
Bijhops do. For among other folemn Promifes, which
the [Epifcopal] Minifter makes before God and the
Congregation, this is one ; T'hat he will Obey his Or^
dinary. The Bijhop asks him, Will you reverently Obey
"your Ordinary^ that is your Bifiop, and other chief Mini*
fters unto whom is committed the Charge and Government
over youy following with a glad Mind and Will their
Godly Admonitionsy and fubmitting yourjelves to their God^
ly judgments.
The Priefl anfwers, 1 will jo do, the Lord being my
helper^ This is the very fame with th^ Promife made
by
preferable to Epfcopal. l 8 ^
by Pofi/h Priefts at their Ordination to obey their
Ordinary. The Ordainer asks them one by one,
M/iI/ you promife Reverence and Obedience to me and my
Suaejfors ? To which the Vriefl anfwers, / will. Fro-
mittrs ml hi & fuaejfonbus meis reverent mm & obedient i-'
am ? promitto.
The Bifhop asks every one of the Regular Clergy,
JVillyou promife to Reverence and Obey your Bifhop or Pre*
late, your Ordinary for the time being /* To which he
anfwers, / xu/7/. promittis pontifici, vel pr^Jato^ ordina-
Yio tuo, pro tempore exiftenti, reverentiam & obedientiam ?
promitto. Pontif. Rom. de ord. presb.
The Form of the Oath which they impofe upon the
Englifi Clergy is this,
/ A. B. do fwear i^hat I will perform Tiue and Canon J"
cal Obedience to tbe Bifhop of N. and to his Succeffors in all
I'hings lawful and honefi. Ego A. B. juro quod prafiabo
veram & canonicam obedientiam Epifcopo N. ejufq-, Succef-
foribus in omnibus licitis & honeflis.
The Obedience requir'd in this Oath is Canonical
Obedience, or Obedience according to the Canons".
Thefe are the Laws by which they openly profefs to
rule the Church. And tho* the Words Godly AdmO'
nitions (or licitis & honeflis) be put in, they fignifie no
more than that our Obedience according to the Ca-
nons is godly, lawful and honeft, and not that we
are left to chufe which Canons we will obey ; for
there is no Canon that concerns the Clergy, but they
are punifhable for the Breach of it, which luppofcs
an Obligation to Obedience.
But let us fee upon what grounds the Bifhop ad-
minifters this Oath of Obedience to his Clergy.
I. What Precedent is there for this Oath and Re-
cognition? Let 'cm produce, if they c:xn, fome Exam-
ple in the New T'eftament for thislmpofition ? Did the
Apoftles fwear all the Presbyters they made, reverent-
ly to obey them } I trow not. How come fallible
N 4 Men
184 Trcshyterial Ordination.
Men to fwear tiiofs of the fame Order with them to
obey their Decrees, when the Apoftles, thofe infallible
Dodors of the Church, lay no fuch Yoke upon any
Minifter? They difclaim all Dominion over Peoples
Confcienccs, and wou*d not lord it over God's He-
ritage,' by adminiftring Oaths unto *em. This had
been to incroach on the Rights of Cafar* 2 Cor. 1.
24. • Pet.^. 3.
If the Bifhops can't bring a Scripture Example for
this O'lth of Ecclefiafiical Allegiance^ we wou*d defire
'em to fhew us fome Example or Command in the New
Te/lament, requiring one ordinary Minifter reverently
to obey another.
3. Or if they can't do that, let 'em fhew one ap-
proved Example for this Oath, within the compafs
of the firft 300 Years after Chrift. So far were they
from impoiing it then, that we can produce Multi-
tudes of Inftances, wherein the Bifhops and Fathers
of thofe early Ages, and fome of the next alfo, con-
demn all Oaths as inexpedient, if not unlawful. Vid.
Naz,ian. Orat, 45. Clem^Alex^ Strom. 7. />. 150.
4. If they can't produce any approved Examples
of this Oath in the firft Centuries, we defire to
know by what Authority they do adminifter it ?
Not by virtue of the AEl of JJniformity^ that makes
no mention of it : Nor does any other Statute men-
tion it, tho' there were feveral Statutes that were
made in favour of Bifhops, both before and fince the
Reformation. Nor can they derive their Power to
adminifter this Oath from the Canons of 1^03, for
they fpeak nothing of it. 'Tis a precarious Power
indeed, that is warranted neither by divine nor human
Laws.
5. What has been faid m the former part againft
the Popijh Oath of Obedience, which is taken by the
Priefts to their BiHiops, may be applied to this as
being both of the f^rae Original, having no Foun-
dation
p'eferalle to E^ifco^al. 1 8 5
dation in Scripture or the pureft Antiquity, but in-
vented by ambitious Prelates to bring the Presbyters
in Subjection, who by this Device are made their
/worn Servants ; nay, hired Servants are not fo fl-ri(5t-
ly tyed to their Maflers, as the Prieds are to their
Ordinaries or Ordainers.
Menial Servants are not bound by Oath as the
Clergy are, fo that a Pari£h-Prieil is in Tome Refpeds
more a Servant of the Bifhop, than the meanelt hi-
red Servant is to his Mafter.
6. The hrft Inftance that I can find of an Oath re-
quir'd by ambitious Prelates to bind Perfons to their
Communion, is that of Nwjatus the Heretick, who
fwore all his Communicants not to return to Cornelia
m Bifhop of Rome, which was about the Year of
Chrifl 251. Pld. Epift. corn, ad Fab. Antioth, in Eufeb.
Eccl Hi ft, 6. 43.
It was feveral hundred Years after, before the Bi-
fhops of Rome took up this Praftice, to oblige Men
to their Intcrefts, under the Name of that of the
Church.
The firfl of this kind that I meet with, is in the
beginning of the eighth Century, concerning an Oath
of Obedience taken by IVilfrid, alias Boniface, Bifhop
of Ment7. (about the Year yipj to Pope Gregory the
Second, who was the great Patron of Images, who
excommunicated the Orthodox Leo, the Third Empe-
ror, and drtw Ita^y from his Obedience, becaufe he
was againft Images. IVilfridy alias Boniface^ took the
Oath following to that Pope.
' I Boniface, by the Grace of God, do promife to
* thee Veter, Prince of the Apoftles, and to thy Vicar
* Pope Gregory and his SucceiTors, by the Father,
* Son, and Holy Ghoft, the infeparable Trinity, and
* this moft Holy Body of thine, that I will exhibit
' all Faith and Purity of Holy Catholick Faith, and
' in Unity of the fame Faith by the helo pf God
' will
1 8 6 Trcshyterial Ordination ^
< will perfift, and will no way confent, whoever per-
* fuade me againft the Unity of the common and
* univerfal Church ; but as I faid, will exhibit my
* Faith, and Purity, and Concurrence to thee, and
< to the Interefts of thy Church, to whom the Power
^ of binding and loofing is divinely given, and to
< thy aforefaid Vicar and Succeflbr in all Things.
* Bin.p' 178.
By means of this Oath, the Nations were made
fubjed to Rome Antichriftian, in a leffer time than
they were to Rome Pagan. Hence Dr. IVillet makes
this Oath a Mark of A^uichrifl. Synops. contr. 4. q. 10.
the True Church, which fubfifted in all Ages, had no
recourfe to this politick Method.
Some Bifliops in France following this Example,
affected the like Dominion over the Confciences of
their Brethren, and requir'd an Oath of them at their
Ordination, viz,.
'That they fioud do nothing againft the Canons^ and that
they xuoud be Obedient to the Bijhops -who ordain d 'erriy
and to the Church in xmich they were ordain d.
The Council of Chalons, which was call'd by the
Order of Charles the Great, in the Year 813. con-
demns this Oath 05 dangerous, and enjoynd the BijhGVs
not to require it of their Clergy for the future. Qiiod ju-
ramentum, quia periculofum efly omnes una inlnbendum
jiatuirnm, Concil. Cabilon. can. 1 3.
Qt^^rey Whether the Oath which Englifi Clergy-
men take to Obey the Bifhops, does not deferye
the Confideration of a Proteftant Council, if not of a
Pritijh Parliament ?
The End of the Third Tart.
THE
HISTORY
O F
OR D I N A T I O N.
Begu» by the late Reverend Mr. James Owen.
J'/2d now Publtjh'd hj Cha. Owen.
PART IV.
■■■■■'■' ... »
^^ J
Ch
A P.
I.
The Opinion of contending Parties confider^d ; the
Cafe fiated in fever al Propofitions,
I. The Power of Ordination originally in Qhrifi\
Ordainers only deliver PoffeJJion,
, 'Jefus Chrifl ordained the Jfoflles.
, The Jpofiks ordained Pres^ters or Bijhops.
. Thefe Presbyters or Bijhops governed the Churches^
proved firfi from Scripture^ illuflrated in five
Things. Two Obje^ions anfwer'd. Second from
Antiquity.
, Presbyters intrufled with the Ordaining Power ^
proved by Scripture Inflames.
, The Jpoflles ordained fever d Presbyters or B/-
fl)op5^ in particular Churches.
. Jfter the Jpofiolical Jge, one Presbyter or Bi-
/hop was fet over the reft. One Church had fever al
Btfhops.
Will not here enter into the Contro.
verfie about the Ordination of Mi-
niflers, whether the Power of Or-
daining be vefted in Diocefan Bi-
fhops, or in Presbyters, or in both ;
but I will briefly confider what may
be fairly alledg'd from Scripture and
the Records of Antiquity in favour of each Partv,
and refer the Judgment of the whole to the impar-
tial Reader. ^
They
1 90 I he Hijlory of Ordination.
They that plead for the Power of Presbyters to
Ordain, urge the Identity of Biihops and Presbyters
in the New Teflament ; that Presbyters have all a-
long concur'd with Bi/hops in Ordaining, and do in
the Church of England to this Day; and that Ordi-
nation by Presbyters can't be fairly denied without
Unchurching all the Reform'd Churches beyond Sea,
who have no Bifhops.
Thofe that aflert the neceffity of Epifcopal Ordi-
nations, fay, that the Apoftles referv'd the Govern-
ment of the Church in their own Hands while they
lived ; that they confign'd this Power not unto Pref-
byters, but unto Bifhops, whom they ordain'd in all
Churches to fucceed them in the Ecclefiaftical Go-
vernment, as they did "fmothy at Epbefiti, I'ltm at Crete^
&c. that the Power of Ordination, which was exer-
ciied by Timothy and l^itus, and not by the Presbyters,
belongs to the Bifhop alone, and is appropriated to
them by the old Canons, and the general Practice of
ail Chriftian Churches in ail Ages, until near Two
Hundred Years ago, Luther and other Reforming
Presbyters ufurp'd the Ordaining Power.
The Popifh Writers, Ttmiamis, Bellarmin, Petavi-
us an d others of that Communion, who are follow'd
Ijy fome of our own, condemn all Ordinations by
Presbyters as Nullities, and make Epifcopal Orders
effential to the Being of Churches and Sacraments.
Others, on the contrary, reject Ordination by Bi-
fhops of the modern Species as Unfcripturai and
Antichriftian. Where then lliall we find true Mini-
fters ? If we be determin'd by the Judgment of the
Ccnforious and Bigotted of either fide, we may
fooner loofe the Miniflry it (d^ than fettle our Con-
fciences, for though Extremes feem very diflant, it*s
an eafie and lliort Step from one to the other. They
who in one Humour acknowledge no Miniflers but
fuch as bear the Epifcopal Charader, will in another
Mood be as ready to appropriate the Ordaining
\ Power
The Hijlory of Ordination, i ^ i
Power to Presbyters, and by another turn of Thought
to difown both, as fome among us have done.
Forthe neceffary and jull Vindication of all the Re-
formed Churches, namely, the Epifcopal, whofe Mi-
nifters are made by Bifhops, and the Antiepifcopal,
whofe Minifters are ordained by Presbyters, I will
^ivQ a fhort Hiilory of the Ordniation of Minifters
in thefe following Propofitions.
Prop. I- T'he Power of Ordination is Originally and
Authoritatively in the Lord Jefus Chrif?. Gofpel Mini-
fters are his Servants. They derive their Qualificati-
ons, Commiffion, Call, and Opportunities from him
alone, and to him they muft give an Account of
their Miniflrations. It is ea/ier to condemn one a-
nother, than to approve our felves faithful and dili-
gent in the difcharge of our great Truft.
The Ordainers givt not the Power, they only Mi-
tt iflerially deliver the Pofleflion to fuch Perfons as are
duly qualified and call'd to the Office. They have
no Power to admit fuch as Chrift rejeds, or to re-
ject whom he admits. Separate me Paul and Barnabas ^
faith the Holy Ghofl, to the Work to which I have
call'd them, (a) God Calls and Man Separates. There
fore the firft Queftion which the Bifhop asks the
Candidates for the Priefthood is. Do you think in your
Hearts that you be truly call'd according to the Will of our
Lord Jefus Chrifi — to the Order of Priefihood ? *
Prop. 11. Jefus Chrffi ordain d and appointed Apofiles,
to ivhcm he committed the fupreme Miniflry for the gather^
ing, fettling, and governing of the New Tejiament Churches,
We have their Commiflion in John 20. 21. As the
Father hath fent me, even fo fend 1 you. And in Mat-
thew 28. 18, 19. All Authority is given to me in Heaven
and in Earth ; Go ye therefore and teach all Nationsy
haptijLing them, &c. Under teaching and baptizing.
(a) A^s 13.2. i^ See the Form of ordnmng Vr lefts.
which
19^ The Hiftory of Ordmation.
which are two chief Parts of the Miniflry, is com-
prehended the ordaining Power.
Prop. III. 'fhe Apoftles ordain d Presbyters or Elders in
all the Churches which they planted, (b) Thefe zvere^alfo
Effiops. That the Scripture Bifhop and Presbyter are
one and the fame is evident, and will riot be denied
by the more judicious Defenders of Epifcopacy. The
fame Perfons are call'd (c) Presbyters and Bifhops,
and injoyn'd to kcd, or rule the Flock. So in Tit^
I. thofe who are call'd Elders or Presbyters (T^fcr^t/rjVK?;
in Verfe the 5th are call'd Bifhops, Verfe 7th they
have the fame QualiHcations, Tttus i- 5,6, 7. i 7/w.
^. and the fame Work aflign*d them, to overfee and
rule the Flock, i Pet. 5. 1,2.
Nor do we read of any diftin^t Ordination of Pref-
bytcrs and Bifhops in the New Teftament. One
Ordination can imprefs but one Charader. We read
of the Ordination of Deacons (d) as diftind from
that of Presbyters^ which is an evidence that they are
two diftind Orders -, on the contrary, one and the