A Christian Beleefe, concerning BISHOPS.

IActs 8. 13. Beleeve,1 Tim. 3. 1. that the Office of a Bishop is a worthy Office, and warrantable by the Word of God,Phil. 1. 1. approved of by the Apostles,Acts 20. 28. and instituted of God himselfe:Revel. 2. 1. having the Charge of one particular Church,Psal. 68. 26. or Congregation, under each of them,2 Cor. 4. 5. which they areActs 20. 28. set over,Rom. 1. 15. to feede;2 Tim. 4. 1. that is, to preach the Gospel to them:1 Cor. 2. 16. Instructing andMath. 15. 3. Teaching them, not by the Traditions of the Fathers,2 Tim. 3. 15. but by the holy Scriptures,1 Tim. 3. 2. and shewing them good Ex­amples, by leading2 Cor. 8. 11. unreproovable lives, andEze. 44. 13. performing such offices of the Rom. [...] 7. Ministeriall Function, as becommethIsay 51. 18. such faithfull Guides; having regard to theirActs 1. 20. Bishoprick, (which is the2 Tim. 4. 1. great Charge of theirEphes. 4. 11. Pastorall Office)Hosea 7. 12. over which they are set. And IActs 27. 25. beleeve, that our2 Tim. 4. 10. Praelaticall Bishops,1 Tim. 3. 6. who are lifted up to aHosea 4. 18. Ruling Power, and a1 Peter 5. 3. Lording Hierar­chie, are1 Thess. 5. 24. not called of God, nor of1 Pet. 39. Divine Institution, but2 Thess. 2. 3. Anti­Christian, Mark. 10. 42. Ethnicall, and2 Tim. 3. 10. Diabolicall; and1 Tim. 4. 10. suffered to beActs 19. 29. in the Church,2 Thess. 2. 4. by the good will and pleasure of Almightie God, as aAmos 8. 11. punishment for our sinnes, and a token of Gods displeasure: And thereforeJohn 17. 9. the people of God ought to pray,1 Cor. 15. 24. that they may be cast out of the Church, and onely2 Cor. 4. 5. Preaching Presbyters may remaine, to1 Cor. 3. 14. divide the Word of God, and open and1 Cor. 14. 5. inter­prete it to the people. And IJohn 2. 22. beleeve, that theRom. 13. 2. Temporall Magistrates are appointed of God, to punish sinneRom. 13. 1. upon all evill doers, whether Clergie, or Laytie; and the Government of the Church doth pertaine to the1 Tim. 5. 16. Church, or Psal. 58. 1. Congregation, with the1 Tim. 5. 19. Laytie, and theirActs 20. 17. assistance, and not to the sole1 Pet. 5. 3. Prelates.

The Church hath foure Offices.
  • First, To keepe the Canonicall Scriptures.
  • Secondly, To publish the same.
  • Thirdly, To keepe it cleare from the counterfeit Apocrypha, and all [...]oun­terfeit and corrupt Bookes.
  • Fourthly, To make it the Rule of their Actions.
The Churches Authoritie doth consist [...]hiefely in foure things.
  • First, To choose and ordaine Ministers, according to the order of th [...] Apostles.
  • Secondly, To teach by lawfull Ministers, so made.
  • Thirdly, To minister the Sacrament by tho [...]e Ministers, using su [...], time as shall be thought most expedient for the s [...]me.
  • Fourthly, To examine the Doctrines, whether they be of God, or not; [...]nd that must be done by the Scriptures.
John Northbrooke, Preacher of Gods [...]ord, Cantabr.
Cyprianus ad Cornaelium, Liber primus.‘Sacerdos Dei Evangelium tenens, & Christà Praecepta custodiens, occidi potest, non pot [...]st vinci.’‘The faithfull Beleever, that will imitate Chirist the High-Priest, in holding the Gospel, and keeping the Commandements, may well be killed, but conquered he cannot be.’

Printed in the yeere 1641.

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