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CHAP. VII. Some instances to prove that moderate men will agree upon the foregoing terms. (Book 7)
§. 1. LEST any think that it is a hopeless work that I have motioned, and the parties will not agree upon these terms, I shall shall next prove to you that the godly and moderate of each party, are agreed already (at least the Episcopal and Presbyterians, and I think the rest:) and that its in Practice more then Princi∣ples that we disagree.
§. 2. I. I will begin with the Episcopal Divines, of whom there ate two parties, differing much more from one another, then the one of them doth from the Presbyterians. The ancient Bishops and the moderate of late, did maintain the Validity of Ordination by Presbyters, and own the Reformed Churches that had other, supposing their Episcopacy usefull to the perfection or well being of a Church, but not necessary to the being of it. And this sort of men (who also agree with us in doctrine) we could quickly be re∣conciled with. But of late years there are many Episcopal Di∣vines sprung up, that embracing the Doctrine called Arminianism, do withal deny the Being of the Ministry and Churches that want Prelatical ordination: and with these there is no hope of concord, because they will have it on no other terms then renouncing our Churches and Ministry, and being again ordained by them, and thus coming wholly over to them. These separate from us, and pretend that our Churches have no true Worship (wonderous au∣dacity,) and our Ministers are no true Ministers, and call the Church into private houses (as D. Hide expresly in his [Christ and his Church] in the beginning of the Preface; and many others.) Of whom I spoke before.
§. 3. That the ancient English Bishops that hold to the doctrine of the Church of England, and are peaceable men, are easily