Episcopacy by Divine Right Asserted, Part 2 · Section 3
§. 3.
The execution of this Apoſtolicall power after our Saviours aſcent into Heaven.
THe power is clear, will you ſee the Execution of it? Look upon St. Paul, the Poſthumous, and Supernumerary, but no leſſe glorious Apoſtle: ſee with what Majeſty he becomes his new erected Throne: one while deeply(a)2 Theſſ 36. charging and commanding, another while(b)1 Cor. 5.4.5.6.7. controlling and cenſuring: One while(c)1 Cor. 11.2. 1 Cor. 16 1. giving Laws and Ordinances, another while urging for their obſervance: One while(d)1 Tim. 1.6. 1 Tim. 2.9. 1 Tim. 6 13. 2 Cor. 13.2. 2 Cor. 4.21. 1 Tim. 1.20. ordaining Church-governours, another while adjuring them to do their duties: one while threatning puniſhment, another while inflicting it: And if theſe be not acts of Iuriſdiction, what can be ſuch? which ſince they were done by the Apoſtle, from the inſtinct of Gods Spirit, wherewith he was inſpired, and out of the warrant of his high vocation, moſt manifeſt it is, that the Apoſtles of Chriſt had a ſupereminent power in Gods Church: And if any perſon whoſoever (though an Evangeliſt or Prophet) ſhould have dared to make himſelfe equall to an Apoſtle, he had been hiſſed out, yea rather thunder-ſtruck by deep Cenſure, for an Arrogant and ſaucy uſurper. Now if our bleſſed Saviour thought it fit to found his Church in an evident imparity, what reaſon ſhould we have to imagine he did not intend ſo to continue it? It had been equally eaſie for him (had he ſo thought meet) to have made al his followers equally great; none better than a diſciple, none meaner than an Apoſtle: But now ſince it hath pleaſed him to raiſe up ſome to the honour of Apoſtles, no leſſe above the 70, than the ſeventy were above the multitude, only injoyning them, that the higheſt in place, ſhould be the loweſt in minde, and humility of ſervice, what doth he, but herein teach us, that he meant to ſet this courſe for the inſuing government of his Church. Neither is it poſsible for any man to be ſo abſurd, as to think that the Apoſtles, who were by their heavenly Maſter, infeoffed in this known preeminence, ſhould, after the Aſcent of their Saviour, deſcend from their acknowledged ſuperiority, and make themſelves but equall to the Presbyters they ordained. No they ſtill and ever (as knowing they were qualified for that purpoſe, by the more ſpeciall graces of the holie Ghoſt) kept their holie ſtate, & maintained the honour of their places. What was the fault of Diotrephes, but that, being a Church-governour, he proudlie ſtood out againſt St. John, not acknowledging the Tranſcendant power of his Apoſtolicall Iuriſdiction, whom the provok't Apoſtle threats to correct accordinglie? ſo as thoſe that lay Diotrephes in our diſh, do little conſider that they buffet none but themſelves, who ſymbolize with him in oppoſing Epiſcopal, that is, as all antiquity was wont to conſtrue it, Apoſtolicall government.
But you are ready to ſay, This was during their own time, they were perſons extraordinary, and their calling and ſuperioritie died with them:Par…c… …l. 1. c. 4. Thus our Tileno-maſtix in terms. The only queſtion is, Whether of the ordinary Presbyters, which were ſinglie ſet over ſeverall Churches, they advanced one in degree above his brethren. We ſhall erre then if we diſtinguiſh not. Theſe great Ambaſſadors of Chriſt ſuſtained more perſons than one; they comprehended in themſelves the whole Hierarcy: they were Chriſtians, Presbyters, Biſhops, Apoſtles. So it was, they were Apoſtles immediatlie called, miraculouſlie gifted; infalliblie guided, univerſallie charged. Thus, they had not, they could not have, any ſucceſſors; they were (withall) Church governours appointed by Chriſt to order and ſettle the affairs of his Spirituall Kingdome; And therein (beſides the preaching of the Goſpel, and baptizing, common to them, with other Miniſters) to ordain a ſucceſsion of the meet Adminiſtrators of his Church. Thus they were, would be, muſt be ſucceeded: Neither could the Church otherwiſe have ſubſiſted; No Chriſtian can denie this, all binding upon a neceſsitie of Apoſtolicall ſucceſsion, though differing in the qualitie, and degree of their ſucceſſors.