A counter-essay, or, A vindication and assertion of Calvin and Beza's presbyterian judgment and principles drawn from their writings, in answer to the imputations of a late pamphlet, entituled, An essay concerning church-government ... attempting to fasten upon them an episcopal perswasion ... / by a minister of the true Presbyterian Church of Scotland, established by law.

Answer.

Not to resume what we have animadverted, upon his Assertion a∣nent the 70 Disciples and Calvin's silence as to Mathias in both the places cited by him, and his Comment upon Mathias Election; As for that which he asserts from Axiom 1▪ anent the Colledge of Apostles, their fixed preheminence, the Axiom itself asserts the regular Call of any Mi∣nister already ordained, is from an Inferior, to a Superior station, we did shew the impertinency of Calvins citation to prove this, and that he neither simply asserts this matter of fact, as he sets it down, nor gives his approbation of it, so that this Axiom is none of Calvins.

2. For his inference from it, that the 12 had a fixed Preheminency over the 70, who sees not its remotness? Behold, the visage of this Reason, Calvin says, that the Church sometimes choosed Presbyters, out of Deacons, ergo he ass••rts that the 12 Apostles had a fixed Prehe∣minence over the 70 Disciples.

3. If by [Fixed] he mean a preheminence ordinary, and to be con∣tinued, we have proved that Calvin denyes and disowns this, in the places above cited, and asserts as evidently as man can speak, that the Apostolick Official Preheminence, as such, was neither Fixed, Limited, nor Ordinary; that they were invested with a power of Ordination regulat by Canons, he tells us is proved by Postulatum 1. and Defini∣tion 1.

The Postulatum says, that the 70 Disciples were in the holy Order of the Ministry, and how he has proved this from Calvin, we have above seen, especially with relation to Mathias; Where we told him that Calvins assertion of the Sameness of the pastoral Function in all ordinary Pastors, and the extraordinary expired Nature of the Apostolick Inspe∣ction and Authority, cutts off his inference of such a standing Subordi∣nation among Pastors, as he imagins him to hold.

Next, what a Rope of Sand is this, the 70 were inferiour to the 12 Apostles, ergo they had a fixed ordinary power of Ordination over them; and (forsooth) regulated by Canons.

He next proves this by Definition 1. Which asserts that the power of

Ordination, is the Right of Governours of the Church to separate per∣sons duely qualified to the Ministry; This Calvin asserts, is proper on∣ly to Pastors, which we proved, doth infer clearly against this mans Design, Calvins asserting the Pastor to be the highest ordinary Officer, and the expired extraordinary Nature of the Apostolick and Evange∣listick Offices, together with the equal Function of all Pastors, which Assertions of Calvin doth render this Inference, Ergo the Apostles were invested with an ordinary power of Ordination and Iurisdiction over Pastors, to be transmitted to the Church, (which is this mans Scope and Conclusion upon the premised general Assertion of Calvin, anent the right of Church-Governours) to be a meer non sequitur, and an ergo, baculus stat in angulo.

The Apostles Preheminency in jurisdiction ballanced by assisting Mi∣nisters, he proves by Axiom 2. which he refers to Definition 2 and 3. Upon which i•• the examination of his Citations, we have proved, that this supposed Apostolick Preheminency is with Calvin neither Fixed, nor ordinary, or of a moral standing Nature, but did expire with these extra∣ordinary Functions; and that in Calvin's principles, it was cumulative unto, not privative of, the ordinary standing collegiat power of Pastors, which is to continue to the end; besides the inconsistency wherein we have observed, he involves Calvin in his Collections upon the place cited by him. Follows our Pamphleters grand Conclusion of his Demonstration.