A summarie view of the government both of the old and new testament whereby the episcopall government of Christs church is vindicated out of the rude draughts of Lancelot Andrewes, late Bishop of Winchester : whereunto is prefixed (as a preamble to the whole) a discovery of the causes of the continuance of these contentions touching church-government out of the fragments of Richard Hooker.

The forme of government under JOSHUA.

THe Common-wealth being changed from the ambulatory form into a setled estate in the Cities of Canaan: as before, the Levits were divided accord∣ing to the severall Quarters of the Camp; so now were they sorted into the severall territories of the Tribes. So God commanded; Num. 35.2, 8.

The lot fell so, that the foure partitions of the XII. Tribes were not the same, as when they camped be∣fore together; but after another sort. For the Tribes of

• 1. Iuda, Simeon and Benjamin made the first Quarter.
• ...

• ... 2. Ephraim, Dan, and halfe of Manasses the second.
• 3. Issachar, Asher, Napthali, and the other halfe of Manasses the third.
• 4. Zebulun, Reuben, and Gad the fourth.

Now in these foure;

• 1. The charge or oversight of the first was com∣mitted to Aaron and his family: and they had therein assigned to them XIII. Cities. in Iudah and Simeon, IX. and in Benjamin, IV. (Ios. 21.9, 10, &c.)
• 2. Of the second, the care was committed to the fa∣mily of the Cohathits: and they had assigned to them X. Cities. in Ephraim, IV. in Dan, IV. and in the halfe of Manasses, II. (Ios. 21.20.)
• 3. The third was committed to the family of Ger∣shon: and they had therein assigned to them XIII. Cities. in Issachar, IV. in Asher, IV. in Naphtali, III. in the other halfe of Manasses, II. (Ios. 21.27.)
• 4. The oversight of the fourth partition was com∣mitted to the Merarits: and they had therein assigned to them XII. Cities. in Zebulun, IV. in Reuben, IV. in Gad, IV. (Ios. 21.34.)

These were in all, XLVIII. Cities: whereof the chiefe (as may appeare) were Cities set on Hills; and all so situate, in such proportion and distance, as that they most equally parted their Tribe among them, to performe unto them their duties of attendance

and instruction.

Further, there were in Ioshuahs time added, by the decree of the Princes, the Nethinims of the people of Gibeon; for the lowest ministeries, and for the ser∣vice of the Levits. (Ios. 9.27.)

So that now the order was thus:

• 1. Eleazar.
• 2. Phineas.
• 3. Abisua.
• 4. The three Nesiims.
• 5. The Rase Aboth, [or, Heads of the Fami∣lies.]
• 6. The Levits.
• 7. The Nethinims.

If this power and superiority was necessary, when all the People and Priests were within one Trench, e∣ven within the view of Aarons eye: much more in Ca∣naan, when they were scattered abroad in divers Ci∣ties farre distant, was the retaining of it more then necessary.