jurisdiction of a bishop, the bishop is fubject to the king in his real fpiritual character; and therefore by the conftitution of our laws, the king is more than merely the fupreme head of the civil establishment of religion. In answer to this it may be said, that the king's appointment to a bishoprick operates in a fimilar manner, as does the presentation of a lay patron to a living; the clerk appointed cannot acquire any cure of fouls or fpiritual charge, if he be not properly ordained; and his jurisdiction no more exceeds the limits of his parish, than that of a bishop does thofe of his diocefe; yet from the alliance between church and ftate, where there is a civil eftablishment of religion, the civil and the spiritual power fo far accommodate themselves to each other, as to Original diftri avoid any confufion from their respective jurifdictions; and this has been always attended to in all Chriftian countries, where the Chriftian religion had acquired a civil eftablishment, as it is clearly and conftitutionally explained in a book published in the year 1701, commonly attributed to bifhop Fleetwood.

bution of dio

cefes.

"The apostle's commiffion reaching to

• Account of Church, Government and Governors, P. 39, & feq.

all parts of the world, and they being commanded to make all nations difciples, to go into

all the world, and to preach the gospel to every creature, (Matt. xviii. 19.) could not be long fixed to any one place; yet it was neceffary that pastors and teachers fhould be fettled among all believers, who might continue to inftruct and teach them, to offer up prayers for them in the public affemblies, and to adminifter the facrament to them. Hereupon they ordained them elders in every church; (Acts i. 14. 23.) that is, a bishop with a competent number of prefbyters and deacons to affift him, as will be evident from what fhall be faid hereafter. (Heb. xiii. 7. 17.) Thefe were rulers of the church wherem they were placed, and the people were commanded to obey them. But though they were rulers, yet their authority extended not cyer the whole church, but only that flock over which the Holy Ghost (A&ts xx. 28.) had made them overfeers or bishops. They were fixed to a particular place, and the fpiritual government of all perfons within those limits was committed to them; and in this divifion into particular districts (which was prudential at the apofiles difcretion) the general divison of the empire was observed. It was neceffary that particular churches Should

fhould be circumfcribed within certain bounds; but it was indifferent where those boundaries fhould be fixed. The apostles therefore took the limits already laid out for them, and accordingly fettled churches, and either (Tit. i. 1. 5.) ordained themselves, or appointed others to ordain elders in every city, or city by city, as Dr. Hammond renders it. And herein they thought it expedient strictly rally accommo- to obferve the imperial divifion; fo that the

The fpiritual divifion gene

dated to the

civil divifion of council of Calcedon decreed, (6 Can. 17.)

diocefes.

that if the emperor should change the condition of a city by his authority, the order of the parish churches fhould follow the civil conftitution. Thus the power of these elders was confined within the compafs of that particular city and its territories, where they were ordained to minifter; and all within those limits were under their care and jurisdiction. They were, indeed, bifhops and prefbyters of the universal church, (for the true church is but one and the fame in all parts of the world) but for the fake of decency and order, and that each pastor might know his own peculiar flock, it was neceffary, that the catholic church fhould be divided into particular churches." For "whilft our Sa

* Account of Church Government and Governors, P. 36, 37.

viour lived on earth, he ruled and governed his church perfonally; and though the apostles could preach, and baptize, and pronounce remiffion of fins, which is the priests office now, yet could they not perform the functions of the epifcopal office, to give others a commiffion to preach the gofpel. But when Christ was risen, and ready to afcend into heaven, then he enlarged the apoftolic power, and gave them authority to collect and fettle churches, and to give commiffions to others, as he himself had done. As my Father bath Sent me, says he, even so I send you. And when he had faid this, he breathed on them, saying, receive ye the Holy Ghost. (Joh. xx. 21.)”

CHAP.

CHAP. XI.

OF THE PREROGATIVES OF THE CROWN.

More difputes about the title

to the prerogatives, than

about the prerogatives themfelves.

IT

T may be generally remarked, that the difference or difpute between moft writers, is not fo much about the prerogatives of the crown, as about the right and title to them. I have already endeavoured to render my opinion upon this matter unequivocal and explicit; and the confequence of that opinion is, that as a member of the community, I entertain the moft dutiful attachment to the perfon, in whom the community vests the executive power of the legislature, and the most awful and refpectful deference for the dif tinguished and exalted properties, preroga tives, and powers, with which the community has found it adviseable to dignify him. Mr. Acherley, in a fort of allegorical expofition or direction of what this fupreme head of the body ought to be, fays, *« That_the first and most excellent eftate, or fupreme head of this great body, fhould be a political fupreme office, to guide and conduct the reft, and, for that reafon, fhould be raised

Britannic Conflitutien, p. 39.