TA WITH OXIA~}{~GREEK SMALL LETTER ALPHA~}, the authority and power of dispensing the word,
sacraments, and discipline, which was given in ordination, so none have
power to depose who have not power to ordain. It belongeth not to the
magistrate either to make or unmake ministers. Therefore, in the ancient
church, the bishops had power of the deposition as well as of the
ordination of presbyters, yet they were bound up that they might not
depose either presbyter or deacon without the concurrence of a presbytery
or synod in the business.(1352) Mark, of the _synod_, not of the
magistrate. As for the testimonies brought by Mr Coleman, he doth, both
here and in divers other places, name his authors, without quoting the
places. It seems he hath either found the words cited by others, but durst
not trust the quotations, or else hath found somewhat in those places
which might make against him. However, all that he can cite of that kind
concerning deposition of ministers by emperors, is meant of a coercive
expulsion, not of that which we call properly deposition. And to this
purpose let him take the observation of a great antiquary.(1353)

And, withal, he may take notice that Protestant writers(1354) do disclaim
the magistrate's power of deposing ministers, and hold that deposition is
a part of ecclesiastical jurisdiction: ministers being always punishable
(as other members of the commonwealth), according to the law of the land,
for any offence committed against law.

CHAPTER III.

THAT MR COLEMAN'S AND MR HUSSEY'S OPPOSING OF CHURCH GOVERNMENT NEITHER IS
NOR CAN BE RECONCILED WITH THE SOLEMN LEAGUE AND COVENANT.

Mr Coleman's doctrine was by me charged to be a violation of the solemn
league and covenant. This he acknowledged in his _Re-examination_, p. 13,
17, to be a very grievous charge, and a greater fault in him than in
divers others, if made out; and he desired seriously, yea, challenged it
by the right of a Christian, and by the right of a minister, that I should
prosecute this charge; whereupon I did, in my _Nihil Respondes_, prosecute
it so far, that, by five strong arguments, I did demonstrate the
repugnancy of his doctrine to the covenant. About a month afterward comes
out Mr Hussey's book, wherein the charge itself (before desired to be
prosecuted) is declined expressly by Mr Coleman in the few lines by him
prefixed (which are ranked together with the errata), in which he des