Episcopacy by Divine Right Asserted, Table of contents
The Contents.
The Firſt Part.
§ 1 AN expostulatorie entrance into the queſtion. Page. 1
§ 2 The difference of the condition of forraigne Churches and Divines from thoſe of our Northerne neighbours. Page. 6
§ 3 The judgement of the German Reformers concerning the retention of Epiſcopacie. Page. 10
§ 4 The atteſtation of forraign Divines to our Epiſcopacie. Page. 14
§ 5 The particularity of the difference of our freedome, and the benefit of a Monarchicall reformation. Page. 17
§ 6 The project and drift of the treatiſe following. Page. 27
§ 7 The firſt ground or Poſtulate, That government whoſe foundation is laid by Chriſt, and whoſe fabricke is raiſed by the Apoſtles, is of divine inſtitution. Page. 28
§ 8 The ſecond ground, The practice and recommendation of the Apoſtles is ſufficient warrant for an Apoſtolicall Inſtitution Page. 30
§ 9 The third ground, That the formes ordained for the Churches Adminiſtration by the Apoſtles, were for univerſal and perpetuall uſe. Page. 32
§ 10 The fourth ground, That the univerſall practice of the Church immediately ſucceeding the Apoſtolike times, is a ſure Commentary upon the practice of the Apoſtles, and our beſt direction. Page. 35
§ 11 The two famous rules of Tertullian and S. Auguſtine to this purpoſe, aſſerted. Page. 39
§ 12 The fifth ground; That the Primitive Saints and Fathers neither would, nor durſt ſet up another forme of government different from that they received of the Apoſtles. Page. 50
§ 13 The ſixth ground; That if the next ſucceſſors would have innovated the forme of government, yet they could not in ſo ſhort ſpace have diffuſed it, through the whole Chriſtian world. Page. 56
§ 14 The ſeventh ground; That the ancienteſt Histories of the Church, and writings of the firſt Fathers are rather to be believed in the report of the Primitive ſtate of the Church, than the lateſt Authors. Page. 59
§ 15 The eight ground; That thoſe whom the ancient Church of God, and all the holy Fathers of the Church ſince, have condemned for Hereticks, are no fit guids for us to follow in that their judgement of the government for which they were ſo condemned. Page. 64
§ 16 The ninth ground; That the acceſsion of honourable Titles and Compatible priviledges makes no difference in the ſubſtance of a lawfull and holy calling, Page. 66
§ 17 The tenth ground; That thoſe Scriptures whereon a new and different forme of government is raiſed, had need to be more evident, and unqueſtionable, than thoſe which are alledged for the former that is rejected. Page. 69
§ 18 The eleventh ground; That if Chriſt had left this pretended order of government, it would have ere this time been agreed upon what that forme is, and how to be managed. Page. 71
§ 19 The twelfth ground; That if this which is challenged be the Kingdome of Chriſt; then thoſe Churches which want any eſſentiall part of it are mainly defective; and that there is ſcarce any at all entire. Page. 72
§ 20 The thirteenth ground; That true Chriſtian policie requires not any thing abſurd, or impoſsible to be done. Page. 74
§ 21 The fourteenth ground; That new pretences of truths never before heard of, eſpecially in maine points, carry juſt cauſe of ſuſpicion. Page. 76
§ 22 The fifteenth ground; That to depart from the judgement and practice of the univerſall Church of Chriſt ever ſince the Apoſtles times, and to betake our ſelves to a new invention, cannot but be (beſide the danger) extremely ſcandalous. Page. 78
The Second Part.
§ 1 THe Termes and ſtate of the Queſtion ſetled and agreed upon. Page. 1
§ 2 Church government begun by our Saviour in a manifeſt imparity. Page. 11
§ 3 The execution of this Apostolicall power after our Saviours aſcent into Heaven. Page. 16
§ 4 The derivation of this power and majoritie from the Apoſtles to the ſucceeding Biſhops. Page. 19
§ 5 The cleare teſtimonies of Scripture for this majoitie, eſpecially thoſe out of the Epiſtles to Timothy and Titus, urged. Page. 26
§ 6 Some eluſions of theſe Scriptures met with, and anſwered. Page. 35
§ 7 The teſtimonie of S. John in his Revelation preſsed. Pag. 41
§ 8 The eſtate and order of Epiſcopacie deduced from the Apostles to the Primitive Biſhops. Page. 49
§ 9 The testimony and aſſent of Bucer, and ſome famous French Divines. Page. 54
§ 10 The ſuperiority and juriſdiction of Biſhops proved by the teſtimonie of the first Fathers, and Apoſtolicall men: and firſt of Clemens, the partner of the Apoſtles. Page. 59
§ 11 The pregnant and full testimonies of the holy Saint and Martyr, Ignatius, urged. Page. 65
§ 12 The teſtimonie of the ancient Canons, called the Apoſtles. Page. 79
§ 13 The ſtate and historie of the next age. Page. 84
§ 14 Proofes of the confeſſed ſuperiority of Biſhops from ſeverall forceable arguments out of antiquitie. Page. 88
§ 15 Power of Ordination only in Biſhops. Page. 90
§ 16 Power of juriſdiction appropriated to Biſhops from the first. Page. 95
§ 17 Exceptions against our Epiſcopacie anſwered, and particularly, of the diſsimilitude of our Biſhops to the Primitive in their Pompe and perpetuity. Page. 99
§ 18 The practice of the whole Christian Church in all times and places, is for this government by Biſhops. Page. 110
§ 19 Of the ſuppreſsion of contrary Records; and of the ſole oppoſition of the heretick Aerius. Page. 117
§ 20 The vindication of thoſe Fathers which are pretended to ſecond Aerius his opinion. Page. 120
§ 21 The practice of the Waldenſes and Albigenſes in allowance of Epiſcopall government. Page. 125
§ 22 The government by Biſhops both univerſall and unalterable. Page. 129
The Third Part.
§ 1 THe appellation of Lay-Elders, and the ſtate of the Queſtion concerning them. Page. 1
§ 2 No Lay-Elder ever mentioned, or heard of in the times of the Goſpell in all the world till this preſent age; the texts of Scripture particularized in pretence of the contrary. Page. 7
§ 3 Lay-elderſhip a meere ſtranger to all antiquitie, which acknowledgeth no Presbyters, but Divines. Page. 15
§ 4 S. Ambroſe's testimonie, urged commonly for Lay-Elders, anſwered. Page. 19
§ 5 The utter diſagreement and irreſolution of the pretenders to the new Diſcipline concerning the particular ſtate of their deſired government. Page. 24
§ 6 The imperfections and defects which must needs be yeelded to follow upon the diſcipline pretended, and the neceſſary inconveniences that must attend it, in a kingdome otherwiſe ſetled. Page. 30
§ 7 The knowne newneſſe of this invention, and the quality of the late authors of it. Page. 36
§ 8 A recapitulation of the ſeverall heads; and a vehement exhortation to all Readers; and firſt to our Northerne brethren. Page. 42
§ 9 An exhortatorie concluſion to our brethren at home. Page. 53