were written and published in behalf of Epifcopacy, before this and all the other true Rights of the Chriftian Church were called in Question, and pronounced to be none at all by that Wretch who pretended to affert them. These are the Principles of the Cyprianic Age, and a Difcourfe Shewing who they are that are now qualified to adminifter Baptifm and the Lord's Supper, wherein the Caufe of Epifcopacy is briefly Treated. This latter piece is not now to be had by its felf but with four other Difcourfes against the Quakers, by the Ingenious Author of the Snake in the Grass. Which two Books, tho' not fo large as fome of those before mentioned are not lefs Weighty, and are Argumentative even to Demonstration.

Nevertheless, forafmuch as none of thefe Reverend and Learned Gentlemen, or any other that I know of, seem to have had the fame Designs in View that I had, to give a particular Account of all the feveral Orders and Degrees that are intrufted with the care of Ecclefiaftical Government in our Church, and to fhew what Governours are of primitive Original, and what are not, wherein our Difcipline or Form of Government is exactly agreeable to that of the ancient Church, and wherein it differs from it: I conceived my Book (notwithstanding

a main part of it is intended to defend the Divine Institution of Epifcopacy (as these Worthy Perfons have done) might yet have its use, and be of fome Service to the Church tho' thefe excellent Treatises here mentioned have better handled one part of the Subject.

Hereupon I refolved upon a Second Edition of it, and having met with some Mistakes (tho' I thank God no very material ones) I took care to Correct them, tho' no Friend or Adversary was so kind as directly to point them out to me.

Indeed I have not found that any one has thought convenient to make any Reflections upon it fince it was first Published except Mr. Nokes the Paftor of an Independent Congregation, who in his Pamphlet called the Beautiful Pattern is pleased to take fome little notice of my Book, but it is only by the Bye, for that Pamphlet was defign'd against another Independent : And the very Person who put him upon examining my Book to confute it, and was, if I mistake not, a Member of his Congregation, owned to me that the very few Reflections that Gentleman had made were fo weak that they did not deferve a Reply.

And as I thought it my Duty to Correct fuch Mistakes as I had discovered, tho' they were not confiderable, fo I

A 4.

judged

judged it expedient to enlarge upon fome Chapters in order to clear fome material Points more fully than I had done before. I thought convenient also to add a new Chapter concerning Provincial Synods: Because the highest Points of Church Government have been formerly thought to belong to them as to the Dernier Refort, and I conceive ought to do fo ftill.

I thought it therefore neceffary according to the best of my understanding to vindicate thofe Rights of an English Convocation which have on all fides been afferted to belong to 'em: I mean fuch as Bifhop Wake, Dean Kennet, Dr. Hody, Synodus Anglicana, and thofe Gentlemen who are moft moderate in their Pretenfions have allowed.

For which Reason I have induftriously avoided the making any Quotations from the Author of the Letter to a Convocationman, or from Dean Atterbury, or Mr. Archdeacon Hill, left it might be faid that they Challenge more than the Inferior Clergy or even Provincial Synods ever had a Right to. Tho' I do not conceive they challenge more in any material Points than what the others allow,

And I could not but think it very neceffary thus to vindicate the Juft Rights of the Representative Body of the Clergy, because if these folemn and ftated meet

ings

ings of the Clergy in Synod be wholly laid afide; it may bring the Church it felf into Danger hereafter, tho' it be now fafe and flourishing. For when the Representative Body of the Clergy has loft their Rights, can particular Clergymen hope to see their own long fecure? It is true that under our prefent Governours both in Church and State we need not Queftion our fafety : But fince our prefent Governours are not Immortal, and we know not who fhall fucceed them, we may be allowed to fear what may be done by their Succeffors, and defire to be fecured against those Fears. And it is to be hoped that those who now fit at the Helm of Ecclefiaftical Affairs will ferioufly confider the fatal Confequences which may happen to the Church by the lofs of her Synodical Rights, and heartily endeavour the Restoration of them. That they may not only preserve the Church of England as by Law Established, safe and flourishing during their own time, but as far as is in their Power secure its fafety to future Generations. The Affembly of Presbyters in Scotland, the Presbyterians and the Quakers in England have their stated Meetings or Synods for fettling matters relating to their own Difcipline: And it is to be hoped the Church of England fhall

not

Kennet of

p. 190.

not be put into a worfe Condition than all Parties in the Realm, and be denied thofe Rights which all Provincial Churches have enjoyed from the Apoftles times to our own. What I have here faid of the Affembly in Scotland, and our Diffenters at Home, was urged by Dean Atterbury on the like occafion Nine Years ago: Who alfo added, That fuch meetings as the Clergy of England defire, are duly held in every other part of the Reformed Church. And his learned Adversary Eccles. Synods, anfwered to it in this manner: Are not Convocations more duly held, when they are made up of Bishops and their fubordinate Presbyters, than where the Presbyters reign alone? At least, are not fuch meetings a little more duly held, where the Clergy reprefent the Church; than where the Lay-Elders fit for Ecclefiaftical Judges? Since I have thought fit to repeat the Argument, I ought to reply to the Anfwer has been made to it. And therefore I muft ask Dean Kennet whether Convocations made up of Bishops and their fubordinate Presbyters can be faid to be duly held when they are not held at all, and may, for ought we know never be allowed to be holden more? And furely thofe Affemblies that are conftantly holden at ftated times, may very well be faid to be more duly held than one that is not allowed to meet

even