Rome ruin'd by VVhite Hall, or, The papall crown demolisht

SECT. 11.

ANd as touching those Angels, mentioned in the Revelati∣ons,* 1.1 I answer also in words of your owne coyning, viz. that they were in no place called Presbiters, in vulgar acceptation; neither is there mention of Superiority, of one Presbiter to ano∣ther, as a Classicall, Provinciall, and Nationall Sinod, but in Diotrophes in effecting of it, as you of the Sinod did not. And for the more cleare and full satisfaction of your Worships in this point, I will briefly declare into what Officers hands the ordi∣nary standing Office of the Church were transmitted, and deri∣ved, by and from, the Apostles.

The Apostles had no Successors, in eundem gradum, the Apo∣stolicall office was not derived by Succession, being established by Christ, by extraordinary and speciall commission; but for the ordinary, and standing use of the Church, there were ordained only two orders of Offices, viz. Bishops, and Deacons, which the Apostle expresseth, Phil. 1. 1. and only of them, doth the Apostle

give the due character of 〈◊〉〈◊〉 ••. 1 Ti•••• 3. 2. 8. from both which places of Scripture, 〈…〉〈…〉, that besides Presbiters,* 1.2 there is no other Order, but 〈…〉〈…〉; and though the order of a Presbiter, 〈…〉〈…〉 order of a Dea••on, yet in the same order of a De••••on, or 〈◊〉〈◊〉, there was not any one superiour to another; no 〈◊〉〈◊〉 w•••• above an Apostle, no E∣vangelist above an Evangelis•• 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Presbiter above a Presbiter, no Deacon above a Deacon. And if ••o, how will your Classicall, Pro∣vinciall, and Nationall S••••ods ••o••d together, by which you doe as∣sume a power, beyond the power which the Apostles used in the Church, binding, and consining your fellow Presbiters, to observe your Injunctions, and Decrees, as if you were rather Apostles, then Presbiters, admitting only such Creatures as are of your owne stam••e, into the Ministry; and to such, must all the Parishes of the Kingdome subscribe, and admit of, whether they have either seene, or heard of them before or no; your approbation is sufficient, if they have but received the Popish stampe of Orders, by your Prede∣c••ssors the Bishops, they are well enough, otherwise not, how gifted soever they be.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Vid. fol. 7••▪
• * 1.2

  Vi••, fol. 8.