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.

Corollarie 2.

The want of the President Episcopacy is prejudicial to the cause of Christ.

Answer:

We need no more resume, what this man understands by the Pre∣sident Episcopacy. Let us hear the Demonstration.

Demonstration, Major.

The want of that Govarnment in the Church, which is of Divine Right, is pernicious to the Christian Religion; for which we are re∣ferred to Axiom, 4.

Answer.

Upon this Axiom, I have told him, that as of it self, it's found and consonant to the Principles of Calvin, and all found Divines, so taking it as restricted to his scope expressed, in his citation of Calvin, (instit. lib. 4. cap. 8. Sect. 2.) anent the necessity of the Apostolick and Ministerial Office, for the Churches Preservation, wherein he supposes him to assert, an Apostolick standing preheminency, and Official Pre∣sidency in Ordination and Jurisdiction, to be of equal perpetual ne∣cessity, with the Pastoral Office it self, we have in Answer to this told him, that as he has mistaken the place of Calvin; which we have put in its right room; so these words may be soundly understood of the Ministerial Office, as continued in that of the Apostolick Materi∣ally and Eminenter, from which a Ministerial Authority, and Office of perpetual necessity is derived. In which sense, our Lord's pro∣mised presence with his Apostles, to the end of the World, is to be understood; We have also demonstrate this, and this only, to be Calvins sense, by a large account of the series and contexture of Calvin's discourse, in the Chapter where this passage stands, so that Calvin doth palpably contradict this mans sense, of the president Bishop. Calvin asserting the temporary expired state, and nature of the Apostolick Office, as above that of the Pastor, and like∣wise (in the citation of this Pamphleter immediately preceeding) that Bishops, Presbyters, and Deacons, are the only Officers, that have a Divine standing Right, of perpetual necessity; That as Cal∣vin makes the Bishop and Presybters Office one and the same, so he makes it in this distinct from the Apostolick and Evangelistick, that the one is ordinary and perpetual, the other not, the one imports

a fixed Charge over a definite Flock, the other not, the one is suit∣ed to the Churches state when exedified, the other, to its state in fieri, &c. Thus we have both admitted the Major, in a sound sense, and everted it in his sense.

Assumption.

But the President Episcopacy, (understand this still according to his mold and pleading) is that Government which is of Divine Right.

Answer.

This Assumption I deny, for proof whereof, he referrs to the pre∣ceeding Corollarie, immediately before everted, and upon which we have demonstrat the Antithesis of the Conclusion, which this man draws out in his Demonstration, brought to fortifie the same. Thus his Assumption is found nought.

Conclusion.

Therefore the want of the President Episcopacy, is prejudicial to the cause of Christ, evanishes into smoak. To which I oppose (as before) this Antithesis and Counter-Corollarie.