But yet it is but an improper word, to call all the Churches one Church on that account, which we contend not about.
§. 7. But it is the Thing that we stick more at then the name. A General Head doth properly specifie and individuate the Body. Prove either, 1. That the Archbishop of Canterbury or any other. 2. Or an Assembly of Bishops or Presbyters, is properly an Ecclesiastical Head, having Authority from Jesus Christ to be the chief Ruler of all the Churches in the Land and then I will confess that we have properly and strictly a National Church. But no such thing can be proved.
§. 8 As for an Assembly, I have already shewed (which Bi∣shop Vsher asserted to me) that they are not superior Governors, nor instituted gra••ia Regiminis, but gratia unitatis; having no more Rule over particular Bishops, then a Convention of Schoolmasters over a particular Schoolmaster. If they say that Kings and Parliaments give Power to Convocations, I answer, that can be but such as they have themselves: which we shall speak of anon, and is nothing to this place.
§. 9. And as for a Primate or Archbishop (of Canterbury, e. g.) 1. It will be a hard task to prove Archbishops, as such, to be of Divine Institution. 2. And it will be harder, even Impossible, to prove Archbishops of the English species, as such, to be of Divine institution. 3. And certainly Christ hath no∣where told us, that every Nation shall have such a Head, nor every Province, nor every County: nor told us whether there shall be one over ten Nations, or ten over one: Their limits are not to be found in Scripture (supposing there were such an office there known.) 4. Nor is it anywhere determined, that such a City shall have the preheminence, and Canterbury, v. g. be Ruler of all the rest. All these are of meer humane institu∣tion: And therefore that which the imposers of Ceremonies call [the Church of England] is a meer humane thing, which there∣fore can bind us no further then the Magistrate can authorize them to do.
§. 10. But the stronger pretence will be, that the particular Bishops of England were severally officers of Christ, autho∣rized to Govern their several flocks, and therefore a Conv••ca∣tion of these Bishops binds us in conscience gratia unitatis. The People they oblige as their Rulers: and the several Presbyters