The schism of the Church of England &c. demonstrated in four arguments formerly propos'd to Dr. Gunning and Dr. Pearson, the late Bishops of Ely and Chester / by two Catholick disputants, in a celebrated conference upon that point.

The Fourth Argument.

Whosoever subject themselves unto these, as to their law∣ful Pastors, who have no true jurisdiction over them, are

Schismatiques; But English Protestants, ever since Qu. Eli∣zebeth's time, have subjected themselves to those, as to their lawful Pastors, who have no true jurisdiction over them: Therefore English Protestants, ever since Qu. Elizabeth's time, are Schismatiques.

The first proposition is clear, from 1 Tim. 4. 3. where de∣scribing Heretiques, &c. S. Paul says, Ad sua desideria coacerva∣bant sibi Magistros, &c. according to their own fancies they shall heap up Teachers, or Masters, that is, confusedly and tu∣multuously, without power or authority. And from Ro. 10. 15. Quomodo praedicabunt, nisi mittantur? How shall they preach, unless they be sent? Eor their adhering to such, supposes the rejection of all those who are legally authorized to go∣vern them, which is formal Schism.

The second proposition we prove by Enumeration.

They could not have true Jurisdiction over the particular Bishopricks and Cures of England; neither by the force of Orders which they receiv'd, (if they had any such) for one may have true Order without any true Jurisdiction, as ap∣pears in the Act of K. Henry 8th, concerning Suffragans, who had true Episcopal Order, and yet had not Episcopal Jurisdi∣ction, as the Act expresly says; and many are made Ministers in the Universities, before they have any Jurisdiction over any particular Parishes. Neither could they have it from those who consecrated them; for never a one of them had any themselves, as being either Suffragans, or not design••d to any See, or elected, and not invested. Neither was there then any Primate in England to give it them. Neither had they it by general consent of the Bishops of England; for they all resisted. Neither would they have it from the Pope, or Patriarch of Constantinople; nor would either of them give it them: Much less had they either from a General Coun∣cil; for that was against them: Nor from the general Con∣sent of Catholick Bishops, either of the Eastern or Western Church; for all oppos d them. Neither did their fellow∣superintendents beyond Sea, or could they confer Jurisdicti∣on

upon them; for they were all as void of Jurisdiction as these themselves were. Neither could they have it from the Queen or Parliament; for that had been an heaping up of Teachers to themselves, 2 Tim. 4. 3. now cited. And Ec∣clesiastical Jurisdiction being a Spiritual Government, is de∣clared 1 Cor. 12. 28. to be a supernatural gift, and Institution of God in his Church; and ver. 6. Prophesying, that is, the Power of Preaching, is declared to be a Gift of the Holy Ghost; and therefore are above the politick power of Magi∣strates of any Commonwealth. And Act. 20. 28. the Holy Ghost is said to appoint Bishops to govern the Church of God; and so the giving Jurisdiction to them must be super∣natural, coming from the Holy Ghost, and above the reach of politick Governors. And if Kings, Queens, or Parlia∣ments, who are under the number of Scholars and Subjects in matters of Religion, could communicate Ecclesiastical Ju∣risdiction to their Prelates, they would be Governors of their Governors, and Masters of their Masters, which is quite contrary to Mat. 10. 24. Non est Discipulus supra Ma∣gistrum, The Disciple is not above his Master, i. e. in those things wherein he is his Master, which is here in Church-government. As therefore our Saviour Joh. 20. and Mat. 28. sent his Apostles with power of Governing and Preaching, and the Apostles gave that Spiritual Jurisdiction to others, whom they sent to divers particular Provinces, and those Ec∣clesiastical Persons only amongst all Orthodox Christians, still communicated the like Jurisdiction to others, both in the primitive and after ages; and never did any Catholick Prince, or State, pretend to confer Jurisdiction upon their own Bishops, or Pastors: It is most manifest, that neither Qu. Elizabeth, nor her Parliament, had any such power: And consequently it follows from this Enumeration of parts that those Elizabeth Bishops and Pastors had no Jurisdiction at all, or any of their Successors; and therefore, That all English Protestants, attributing such Jurisdiction to them and adhering to them as their lawful Bishops and Pastors are Formal Schismatiques.

FINIS.