DOMINION! Dominion is the loud Cry; which, as it has already produced all the Cruelties and Abfurdities of Popery, fo it is ftill teeming with, or bringing forth new Monfters; and what other Iffue can be expected from fo unnatural a Copulation as that of the Chriftian Priesthood with worldly Power?

To this we are beholden for all the Corruptions and Fopperies brought into Religious: Worship, as well as the ill-fhapen and ungainly Brats of Paffive Obedience; the Divine Right of Kings and Bishops; the Uninterrupted Succeffion; the Priefts Power of the Keys; of Binding and Loofing; remitting and retaining Sins, the Real Prefence in the Sacrament; the Altar, and Unbloody Sacrifice upon it; the giving the Holy Ghoft; of Excommunication, as laid Claim to; and Confecration of. Churches and Church-Yards; the Reconciliation of God's knowing what we fhall do with a Power in us not to do it; of Perfecution for Opinions, and the Tritheiftical Charity; with a long Train of Monkifh Fooleries befides: All, or any Part of which, could never have entered into the Heart of One Layman, or Clergyman either, if Nothing had been to be got by them.

T.

NUM

NUMBER XV.

Wednesday, April 27. 1720.

The Abfurdity and Impoffibility of Church-Power, as independent on

the State.

I

HAVE fhewn, in my last two Difcourfes, that the Clergy of England have no Jurifdiction, Power, or Authority whatsoever, which is not derived mediately or immediately from the Legislature; and that they have all fworn to this Principle: I now own my felf fo much concerned for their Reputation, that I will even run the Hazard of incurring the Displeasure of fome of them, by proving, that they have taken true Oaths, and that it is impoffible to conftitute a Proteftant National Church upon any other Foundation.

I intend to fhew, in the Course of these Papers, that there is not the leaft Colour or Pretence for the chimerical Diftinction of

Eccle

Ecclefiaftical and Civil, in any other Senfe than: as the Words Maritime and Military, are used to denote different Branches of the Executive Power: for, take away the legal Establishment, and the Clergy, can have no Power at all, but what flows from the Confent of voluntary Societies; a Propofition which I undertake hereafter demonftratively to make out; and I defy all the Ecclefiafticks in the World, united together, to take one Step towards proving the contrary, without plunging them-felves in everlasting Nonsense and Abfurdity.

BUT to keep them a little in good Humour, I will fuppofe, for the prefent, that their wild Hypothefis is true; and that our Saviour, whilft upon Earth, (even against his own Declarations) had Ecclefiaftical Jurifdiction over the whole Earth; that he gave it to the Apoftles; that they conveyed it on to their Succeffors; and that the Church of Rome, and the prefent Clergy of the Church of England, as by Law established, are their undoubted Suc-. ceffors: Nay, I will be fo civil as not to ask one Question, what fort of Power that was? but take it for granted that it was worldly Authority, and ought to be rewarded and fupported by worldly Equipage, Wealth, and Titles; and if they have any Thing more to ask of me, I will grant that too, and then examine what Ufe can be made of thefe Conseffions to the prefent Purpose,

I

I defire firft. to be informed, from whence. they will fetch their Ecclefiaftical Heraldry of Archbishops, Diocefan. Bishops, Deans, Chapters, Arch-deacons, the new Office of Deacons, Officials, Commiffaries, the Two Houfes of Convocation with co-ordinate Powers, Ecclefiaftical Courts, Parish Priefts, and Curates, with the whole Train of inferior Machines, and fpiritual Under-ftrappers. Here I doubt all their Texts, all their Schemes will fail them; for very few of these hard Names will be found. even in their own Translations of the Bible, and they must have Recourse to Human Au thority at last.

IF they fay, (as I fufpect they will) that the Government of the Church being conveyed down to the Bishops from the Apostles, they must have all Power which is neceffary to it; and confequently have a Right to appoint Courts of Judicature, and Ecclefiaftical Offi cers, as alfo to give them proper Powers to anfwer the Ends of their Truft:

I would then ask them,, whether this great Epifcopal Authority is given to every Bishop, independent of all the reft; to all the Bishops of the whole Church every where. difperfed, agreeing together; to the Majority of this Whole; or to the Majority of any Number of them meeting in one Place, either by Confent, Accident, or the Appointment of Princes or States? For, I think, it must be agreed by all

the

the World, that if the Bifhops had any Power from God, which is Independent of the Civil Sovereign, he cannot reftrain, model, or limit it; and that any accidental Alterations of the Bounds of Dominions, either from Conqueft, Chance or Confent, can no way affect this Divine Authority, or hinder its Operation.

IF every Bifhop has this whole Power delegated to him from God; then by what Authority can the Exercife of it be afterwards reftrained to a particular District or Diocese, fo as to make his Actions out of it, not only invalid, but fchifmatical and criminal? Who can limit a Power given by the Almighty? Not the Civil Sovereign, who has nothing to do in another Jurifdiction; nor the Bishop himself, who muft accept it upon the Terms which God has given it.

IT cannot be fupposed that he receives it for his own Sake, but as a Truft for the Benefit of Christianity; and it must be the highest Breach of this great Truft, not to discharge it perfonally, but to divide it with others, of whofe Honefty he can have no fufficient Knowledge.

BESIDES, when thefe Bifhops differ with one another, (which will happen as often as they have different Complexions, Interefts, or Understandings) what muft the Chriftian World then do?, Muft they follow the Bishop of

Bangor