The Unlawfulness and Danger of Limited Episcopacy, Title page – To the reader
THE VNLAVVFVLNESSE and danger of LIMITED EPISCOPACIE. VVhereunto is ſubioyned a ſhort reply to the Modeſt advertiſer and calme examinator of that Treatiſe. AS ALSO The Queſtion of Epiſcopacie diſcuſſed from Scripture and Fathers. BY Robert Bailly Paſtor of Killwunning in Scotland.
LONDON Printed for Thomas Vnderhill, at the Bible in Woodſtreet. 1641.
To the equitable Reader.
SOme moneths ago there came out, from a learned and very judicious hand, a ſmall treatiſe to prove the unlawfulneſſe and danger of limited Prelacy. Shortly there after, there appeared in anſwer to this, a modeſt Advertiſement, and calme Examination, which was ſent encloſed in a letter, from a Biſhop of prime place, to a Stationer for the preſſ, written whether by the Biſhop himſelfe, or a friend of his acquaintance, a Doctor of good eſteeme, I do not know. Some very few days after the firſt appearance of this anſwer, the reply following was readie, albeit till now it could not get the benefit of a preſſe. I confeſſe the Reply is not ſutable to the great worth of the firſt Treatiſe, but if it do ſufficiently retund with cleere reaſon, all that the Anſwerer has oppoſed, it attains its end: of this performance be thou the judge, unto thy diſcretion I freely permit the pronouncing of the ſentence. I could wiſh from thy hands but one not very unreaſonable favour, that thou mightſt be pleaſed to call for, & compare all the three Writs which are al but ſhort, that thou wouldſt lay together in every paſſage, firſt, what the Authour did ſay, Secondly, what the Biſhop or Doctor does anſwer, and thirdly, what is here replied. This little labour will enable thee from due conſideration to make they equitable decree in the court of thy conſcience, according to which thou mayſt cheerfully proceed, firſt, to thy hearty deſires, & thereafter, as thy calling permits, to thy beſt endevours, either for the holding up or pulling down this much agitate eſtate of Biſhops. Farewell.