The Epifcopal Divines fpoken of, have by their Conceffions, contradicted the Doctrine and avow- ed Practice of the Church of England, A Comparison of a True Priest of the Tribe of Aaron, undertaking to defend the Validity of the Priesthood which Jeroboam had set up, 123 No Cafe of Neceffity can of it felf Authorize us to Epifcopacy cannot be utterly extinct, But if it were, 'tis fafer for us to wait and hope X. Of the Nullity of their Orders and Miniftra- tions who have not been Baptiz'd, and yet have XI. Of the Powers of the Hierarchy, to relax Stated Rules in Cafes of Neceffity, and of Con- firming and Ratifying by Chrifm or Impofition of Hands, fuch Heretical, Schifmatical, or Mi The Powers of the Hierarchy are for ever limited (in things fundamental) to the Canon of the If the external Rite of fuch Baptifms does not con- fer Spiritual Graces, &c, as the Objection fup- pofes, then no after Att of the Bishop, can con- firm thofe Baptifms; but the external Rite muft be perform'd by a Lawful Minifter, The ill Ufe that Hereticks and Schifmaticks may make of the Church's fuppofed Power to Licenfe Lay-men to Baptize in Cafes of Extremity, 148 The Benefit of Afferting the Miniftration of the XII. Of the Church of the Jews changing the First Pofture of Standing to eat the Pafchal Lamb, into that of Leaning or Lying along,- Of David and his Mens eating the Shew-Bread, which was not lawful but for the Priests alone; and of our Saviour's telling the Jews that God will have Mercy and not Sacrifice. None of thefe Scripture Inftances at all parallel to of of the Jewish High Priesthood and Atonement, XIV. Of our Saviour's commanding not to for bid the Man who caft out Devils,when the XV. Of the Scriptures calling All Chriftians, The Conclufion, in a Serious and Humble Addrefs to the Moft Reverend, the Right Reverend, and the Reverend, The Governors and Ministers of ERRATA. falfe paged xxiii. ibid. line to, inftead of hav- Read having, A LETTER to the AUTHOR. SIR, HE deplorable State of Chriftianity in those Parts of it which have reform'd from Popery in Doctrine, is chiefly to be afcrib'd to the Contempt or Neglect of the Divine Inftitutions, relating to the Conftitution and Oeconomy of the Church. This in par ticular hath brought all the Disorder and Confufion in Matters of Religion, for which England is fcandalous above all o ther Chriftian Countries; having ever fince the Great Rebellion, abounded with Religious Sects and Factions, which owe their Original, more or lefs, to the direful Change and Overthrow of that Government, which Chrift ordain'd for his Church, and his Apoftles left in it, and which throughout all Ages was continued without Interruption in the Chriftian World for 1500 Years, as that very Form of Church-Government, which all Chriftians thought was ordain'd to to continue unto the End of the World. There never was in all that Time any Church founded but in, and with EPISCOPACY; nor did ever any Sect of Men affume the Title of a Church, till they could get a pretended Bishop, from whom they. had their Priefts, and their Priefts their Miffion, till the Time of the Reformation; nor did any Chriftian Priests, or People of an Epifcopal Church, ever rife up againft their Bishops as fuch, and reject the whole Order, but thofe of Great Britain, under the Pretence of farther Reformation; by which they have brought fuch Confufions, and fo expos'd Religion among us, that it is in a great Measure loft, fo that we may fay (as was long fince faid of Juftice in the Iron Age of the World) that fhe hath taken her Flight from Earth to Heaven. Could any Church, or Father of the Catholick Church, in Antient Times, have imagin'd or believ'd without the Gift of Prophecy, that an Age would come, when the Presbyters of a National Church would take upon them to depofe their Bi hops, and teach the People that their Or der was contrary to God's Word, or grie, vous and unneceffary to the Church! Could they have imagin'd, that in a flourish. ing Church, pure in Doctrine and Worship, confifting of Two Provinces, an Affembly |