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ALL men haue their owne infirmities, but good men are not presumpteously bold for the loue of the world, to hold on in a course of defection against so many obligations frō them∣selues, and so many warnings frō good men. Infirmitie one thing and presumption another. The pastors of the Kirk of Scotland
had begunne to roote out bishoprie, and to condemne it in their assemblies, before these Scollers came from Geneve: but never condemned but allowed the charge of Superintendents, appoin∣ted for a time in the beginnings of the Kirk, the one and the o∣ther being different in substance: For
[ 1] The Superintendent according to the Canon of the Kirk was admitted as an other Minister, without consecration af any bishop.
The Prelate is chosen for fashion by Deane and Chapter, without any Canon of the Kirk, & with solemne consecration of the Metropo∣litane and their bishops.
[ 2] The Superintendent appropriated not the power of ordina∣tion and jurisdiction, but both remayned common to other ministers.
The Prelate hath taken to himselfe the power, to ordeyne and depose Ministers, and to decree excommunication.
[ 3] The Superintendents made not a Hierarchie of Archsuperin∣tendents and others inferior, some generall, and some pro∣vinciall, some Primates and some Suffraganes, some Arch∣deanes, and some Deanes &c.
The Prelates haue set up a Hierarchie of all these.
[ 4] The Su••erintendent was subject to the censure not onely of the nationall, but of the provinciall Kirk, where he superin∣tended
The Prelate is subject to no censure, hut may doe what, and may goe whither he will, and no man aske him, why he hath done so.
[ 5] The Superintendents charge was meerely ecclesiasticall, and more in preaching then in government.
The Prelate is more in ruling then in preaching, & more in the world then in the Kirk.
[ 6] The Sup. acknowledged his charge to be but temporarie, & oftē desired to lay it downe before the general assembly.
The Prel. thinketh his office to be perpetuall, by reason & vertue of his consecration.
[ 7] The Sup. had no greater power thē the commissioners of pro∣vinces, & in respect of his superintēdencie was rather a cō∣missioner of the Kirk, then an officebearer essentially diffe∣rent from the pastor.
The prel. neyther hath received commission from the Kirk, nor mea∣neth to render a reckoning to them, nor account of himselfe, as of a commissioner, but thinketh his office essentially diverse from the office of the pastor, as the pastors office is from the deacons. The pope may as well say that the Euangelists were popes, as the prelate, that the Superintendents were prelates.
Answ. Shewing particularly, that the Superinten∣dents were not prelates.