AS it is certain that Governors and Government is as necessary to the well-being of the Church of Christ, as to Bodies Poli∣tick; so it is as dangerous to have them of humane Device, and not of Divine Institution. For sith the whole Church, as such, is of Di∣vine Institution, it's necessary her Guides or Rulers, as such, should be of Divine Institution also. We shall therefore neglect as unpro∣fitable Trifles, these swelling Titles, of his Holiness the Pope, with his Attendants the Cardinals, Lord Abbots, Arch-Bishops, Lord Bi∣shops with their Appendants, Deans and Sub-Deans, Chanters and Sub-Chanters, Canons and Petty-Canons, Arch-Deacons and Sub-Deacons, Pre∣bendaries, Chancelours, Proctors, and Apparitors, &c. All which serve more for the lifting up of Men than Christ; witness (beside experi∣ence) some of eminency among themselves, who being under a deep sence, (as one reports) * 1.1 have upon their Oaths as in the presence of God acknowledged, That the Calling of Arch, and Diocesan Bishops, as now in use, was a meer Politick Device of Man, and utterly contrary to the Word of God, and of much cruelty and tyranny against the People. That the cruel Effects and pernicious Consequences thereof, have been very damnable and pernicious in all places where it hath any footing: That it hath been the cause of neglect of preaching the Word of God, and that out of it, the Primacy of the Pope hath sprung.
Leaving them therefore under consideration of the Censure of their convinced Fellow Bishops, we shall endeavour (God assisting) the Re∣stauration of Truth in this Particular, and the rather, for that upon a due settlement of the Church of God in respect of her lawful Offi∣cers, depends, in a great measure, her growth and peace in the Truth in general. And that we may the better do this, we will first shew what enquiries have been made in time past by good men, and par∣ticularly