Episcopacy Not Prejudicial to Regal Power, Postscript
A POST-SCRIPT to the Reader.
WHereas in my Answer to the former of the two Objections in the foregoing Treatise, I have not any where made any clear discovery what my own particular judgement is concerning the Jus divinum of EPISCOPACY in the stricter sense, either in the Affirmative or Negative: and for want of so doing, may perhaps be censured by some to have walked but haltingly, or at least wise with more caution and mincing, then became me to do in a business of that nature; I do hereby declare,
1. That, to avoid the starting of more Questions then needs must, I then thought it fitter (and am of the same opinion still) to decline that Question, then to determine it either way: such determination being clearly of no moment at all to my purpose, and for the solving of that Objection.
2. That nevertheless, (leaving other men to the liberty of their own judgements) my opinion is, that EPISCOPAL GOVERNMENT is not to be derived meerly from Apostolical Practise or Institution: but that it is originally founded in the Person and Office of the Messias, our blessed Lord JESUS CHRIST. Who being sent by his Heavenly Father to be the great Apostle, [HEB. III. 1.] Bishop and Pastor [1 PET. II. 25.] of his Church, and anointed to that Office immediately after his Baptisme by JOHN with power and the Holy Ghost [ACT. X. 37-8.] descending then upon him in a bodily shape [LUK. III. 22.] did afterwards before his Ascension into Heaven, send and impower his holy Apostles, (giving them the Holy Ghost likewise as his Father had given him) in like manner as his Father had before sent him [JOH. XX. 21.] to execute the same Apostolical, Episcopal and Pastoral Office for the ordering and governing of his Church until his coming again: and so the same Office to continue in them and their Successours, unto the end of the world. [MAT. XXVIII. 18—20.] This I take to be so clear, from these and other like Texts of Scripture; that if they shall be diligently compared together, both between themselves, and with the following practise of all the Churches of Christ, as well in the Apostles times as in the Purest and Primitive times nearest thereunto; there will be left little cause, why any man should doubt thereof.
3. That in my Answer to the later Objection I made no use at all (nor indeed could do) of the Opinion of the Reverend Judges in that point, nor of his Majesties Proclamation grounded thereupon. For although the Proclamation had been extant Ten years before this task was imposed upon me; yet I had never seen, nor so much as heard of the same in all the time before, nor yet in all the time since; till about ten dayes ago I was advertised thereof, when these Papers were then going to the Press. Which, since they give so much strength to the main Cause, and so fully avoid the Objection; I have followed the advise of some friends, and caused them to be printed here withal.
FINIS.
End of the text · Robert Sanderson, Episcopacy Not Prejudicial to Regal Power (1661)