o way appertained to them under the notion of a church. This is
Saravia's answer to Beza, _de Tripl. Epist. Genere_, p. 42, 43, yea, the
Papists' answer to Protestant writers, by which they would hold up the
authority and sole jurisdiction of the prelates, as the apostles'
successors, to excommunicate.

They do not more agree with the prelatical principles than they differ
from the votes and ordinances of Parliament, which is the other point that
I have here undertaken to discover; and I shall do it by the particular
instances following:--

First, The ordinance of the Lords and Commons assembled in Parliament, for
the calling of an assembly of divines, beginneth thus: "Whereas, among the
infinite blessings of Almighty God upon this nation, none is, or can be,
more dear unto us than the purity of our religion, and for that as yet
many things remain in the liturgy, discipline, and government of the
church, which do necessarily require a farther and more perfect
reformation than as yet hath been attained: and whereas it hath been
declared and resolved, by the Lords and Commons assembled in Parliament,
that the present church government, by archbishops, bishops, &c., is evil
and justly offensive, &c.; and that, therefore, they are resolved that the
same shall be taken away, and that such a government shall be settled in
the church as may be most agreeable to God's holy word, and most apt to
procure and preserve the peace of the church at home, and nearer agreement
with the church of Scotland, and other reformed churches abroad." After it
was resolved and voted in both the honourable houses of Parliament, and
sent as one of the propositions to the treaty at Uxbridge, "That many
particular congregations shall be under one presbyterial government." Now,
therefore, what can be more contrary to the votes and ordinances of
Parliament than that which Mr Coleman and Mr Hussey hold, that there ought
to be no ecclesiastical government beside civil magistracy, except we
please to take preaching and baptism under the name of government, as if,
forsooth, the Parliament had meant, by presbyterial government,
Parliamentary government; or as if, by the purity of religion in point of
the discipline of government of the church, they had intended nothing but
their civil rights and privileges; or as if the wise and honourable Houses
had understood themselves no better than to intend that for a nearer
agreement with the church of Scotland and o