can be shewn that a change in this particular took place, we may presume that the same ecclesiastical constitution existed from the time of the apostles. A presbyterian might argue, that in the apostolical history of the New Testament there is nothing which militates against the hypothesis of the two orders only, at least nothing which proves the point; that St. James might have been the chief elder, the moderator, of the church of Jerusalem ; that Timothy and Tituse might have held no higher office than that of dean in a cathedral church, or archdeacon in a diocese; and that as the presbytery had the power of ordaining, they, as its superintendants, were directed by St. Paul to set all things in order. But then this hypothesis does not account for the introduction of episcopacy, without even a hint from the historians that any alteration in the church government was effected. When to this it is added, that there never existed a church without episcopacy till the reformation, the proof seems as strong as moral proof can be, that it is most probable that episcopacy is derived from the times of the apostles. And this conclusion is quite sufficient to guide the

e For myself, I cannot understand how this hypothesis can explain the words of St. Paul, (Tit. i. 5.) “ For this cause left “ I thee in Crete, that thou shouldest set in order the things “ that are wanting, and ordain elders in every city, as I had ap“ pointed thee," &c. Titus must have had a delegated authority very different in its nature from that of a moderator in a presbyterian church. But other persons may see the matter differently.

writing seditious books and pamphlets, were on the high road to introduce the horrors of anarchy which the anabaptists had exhibited in Germany*. These extreme cases, however, cannot fairly be charged on the puritans; for though they were the natural fruit of the proceedings of that party, yet the better sort of nonconformists utterly disliked what these persons didt, and were in their turns exposed to the animadversions of these ultra reformists, who regarded them as only half reformed. It may be doubtful perhaps, even in these cases, whether gentler remedies might not have been adopted with success; but it is obvious that something more than argument was necessary for beings who made so bad a use of their reasoning faculties. And the satirical productions of Tom Nash f, who answered them in their own way, had probably more effect with the people than either argument or severity.

§. 462. The national alarm, excited by the conduct of foreign Roman catholic courts, and which proved so injurious to those of that persuasion who belonged to England, had not been obliterated by the general readiness and fidelity exhibited by Roman catholics themselves during the period of danger which was lately passed; and the continuance of the same threatening policy on the part of Spain and Italy, tended to continue the same cautionary and harsh measures on that of the English government. The parliament of this year

* Paul's Whitgift, 357.

+ Ibid. 362. Wordsw. Eccl. Biog. iv. 245.

Walton's Hooker,