Testimonies in All Ages
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Project Note
This is licensed under Creative Commons CC BY-NC-ND. This license allows reusers to copy and distribute the material in any medium or format in unadapted form only, for noncommercial purposes only, and only so long as attribution is given to the creator.
The source of this document is the Early English Books Online (EEBO-TCP) website. Those books were transcribed in a character for character manner and can be very cumbersome to read since there was no standard spelling during that time. Many spelling variations such as "unlesse", "vnlesse", and "vnles" regularly appear.
This project was conceived to clean up those books as much as possible and make them more accessible to the interested reader, leading to the creation of a massive list of variant spellings and their corrections. This was used to clean up the text, but is of course only as complete as the list itself. Because of the nature of the original transcription, some words have missing characters or places where the original language (e.g., Greek) was not transcribed. This effort does not change that. Be aware that the original transcription can also be faulty and in some cases entire sentences may be missing.
Although this is no substitute for a properly compared, proofed, and scholarly edition, I believe that the result is a document which is far more accessible, particularly for searching for terms using standard spelling. The document has been cleaned and presented in what I hope is a pleasing and useful format for the vast majority of Christian brothers and sisters who just want access to read these spiritually nourishing works.
However, a word of warning: The Puritans were a very diverse group of people and their age was characterized with godliness, but also much upheaval, disputation and strife. They disagreed on many doctrines and some of these works contain less orthodox or Scriptural views than others. The reader is strongly advised to read with discernment, particularly if it is unknown whether author is trustworthy.
This project took a huge amount of time and skill to bring to fruition. I would particularly like to thank David Jonescue for the initial list of Puritans he found on EEBO and the concept behind this project as well as the continuous, unceasing efforts toward seeing this complete. Without his labor, this would not be available. Alex Sarrouf was invaluable in providing the initial list of over 7,000 spelling variations he had identified and corrected, as well as continuing to review more than 16,000 additions to that list for any typos.
Logan West
(with David Jonescue and Alex Sarrouf)
www.puritansearch.org
A CATALOGVE OF SVCH TESTIMONIES IN ALL AGES AS PLAINLY EVIDENCE BISHOPS AND PRESBYTERS TO BE BOTH ONE, EQUALL AND THE SAME IN IURISDICTION, Office, Dignity, Order, and degree, by divine Law and institution, and their disparity to be a mere human ordinance long after the Apostles times; And that the name of a Bishop is only a Title of Ministration, not Dominion, of Labor not of Honor, of Humility, not of Prelacy, of painfullnesse not of Lordlinesse, with a Brief Answer to the Objections out of Antiquity, that seem to the contrary.
Printed in the Yeere. 1641.
The EPISTLE to the READER.
Christian Reader,
THere is nothing more fr • quent in the mouths of our Lording Prelates and their Flatterers, then to vaunt, That their Hierarchy and Episcopal S • periority over other Ministers is by divine Right and Institution; and that all Antiquity from Christ's till Calvin's days, and all learned men, except a despicable small number of Factious Puritans ( as they term them ) suffragate to this Conclusion. This was the more then thrasonicall b • ast of Dr. La • d, Arch-prelate of Canterbury, and some others, not only at the Censure of Dr. Layton in the Star-chamber, and Dr. Bastwicke in the High-Commission some few years past; but likewise at the late Censure of Dr. Bastwicke, Mr. Burton, and Mr. Prynne in the Star-chamber, June 14. 1637. where, in his learned Speech (since Printed by special command, through his own underhand procurement) he thus magisterially determines, pag. 6, 7. This I will say ( he might have done well to have proved it first, but that his Ipse dixit only is now an O • acle ) and abide by it, That the calling of Bishops ( to wit Archbishops and D • ocaesans, superior to, and distinct from Pres • yters, else his Speech is not only idle but impertinent ) is Iure divino: though not all adjuncts to their callings: ( he should have done well to have specify • what adjuncts in particular • ) And I say further, that from the Apostles times in all ages, in all places the Church of Christ was governed by Bishops ( to wit Diocesan Bishops like to our Prelates now, which he will prove at Graecas Calendas.) And Lay-Elders never heard of, till Calvin's new-fangled devise at Geneva. To disprove which fabulous assertion, I have not only particularly encountered it, in the Unbishoping of Timothy and Titus, to which no Answer yet hath been returned by this Over-confident Boaster, or his Champions, though specially challenged to Answer it ) but likewise by way ef Supplement to that Trea • ise, drawn up this ensuing Catalogue ( which I challenge his Arch-grace, with his brother Prelates, Doctors, Proctors, Parasites to encounter with as many contrary Authorities if they can;) • whereby both learned and illiterate may with ease discern, that both by divine Institution, the suffrages of Fathers, Councils, foreign and domestic writers of all sorts as well Papists as Protestants, and the resolution of the Church and State of England in Convocation and Parliament, Bishops and Presbyters are but one and the sam • in point of Office and Jurisdiction; and that the Superiority of Bishops over other Ministers is a mere human Institution long after the Apostles days, introduced, partly by custom, partly by the Bishops own insensible incroachme • ts upon their fellow brethren; but principally by the grants, connivances, or endowments of Christian Princes, destitute of any divine foundation to support it.
I confess, in the Council of Trent, it was much debated among the Popish Prelates and Divines there present ; Whether Bishops were by divine Ordination, Superior to Priests? But the Council being divided in opinion, left the Controversy undetermined. Those Bishops and Divines who held the affirmative, produced nothing out of Scripture, or solid Antiquity to justify their opinions, worthy answer, but that Arius was deemed an Heretic for affirming the contrary ( which I have • ere disproved: ) ye • Michael of Medina who allegeth this of Arius, was so ingenious to conf • sse, that Jerome, Austin, and some others of the Fathers ( as Ambrose, Sedulius, Primasius, Chrysostomus, Theodoret, Oecumenius) did fall into Aërius heresy in this point, it being no wonder that they did so, because the matter was not clear in all points. This his boldness, to say that Jerome and Austin did savor of Haeresie, gave great scandal: but h • insisted the more upon it: The Doctors saith the History ) were equally divided into two opinions in this point. And when this Article was propounded in this Romish Council; That the Bishops are instituted by Christ, and are Superior to Priests de Iure divino ; The Legates with others answered, that the Lutherans and Heretics having affirmed, that a Bishop and a Priest is the sam • thing ( putting no difference between a Bishop & a Priest, but by human constitution; and affirming, that the Superiority of Bishops was first by custom, and afterwards by Ecclesiastical constitution, for which they ci • e the Augustine Confession made by the German Churches ;) it was fit to declare, that a Bishop is Superior, but that it was not necessary to say qu • jure, nor by whom a Bishop is instituted From whence it appears clearly; That half or more of these Trent Fathers, with all the Lutherans and Protestant Churches at that time were clear of opinion ; That Prelates Episcopacy is not Iure divino: and those who peruse that History and B • llarmine may at • irst discern, that all our Prelates arguments and Authorities now produced to maintain their Episcopal Jurisdiction to be divine, are taken verbatim from these Popish Fathers of Trent who maintain their assertion, and Bellarmine de Clericis the stoutest Champion for their cause. Alas! to what miserable Shifts are our Prelates driven, when they must thus fly to Trent, to Bellarmine for aid to support their tottering Thrones! And yet these will stand them in no stead, all the Trent Prelates confessing with S. Jerome. That in the first beginnings of Christianity, the Churches were governed by a kind of Aristocracy, by the common Council of the Presbytery, and that the Monarchical government and Superiority of Bishops and Archbishops crept in by custom, as the History of the Council of Trent relates at large; where you may read the original of their Courts and Jurisdictions, with the steps and means of their exorbitant growth and encroachments upon the temporal Jurisdiction and Prerogative of Princes, well worthy the greatest Statesmens consideration. Besides, Dionysius Cathusianus, and Cardinal Contarenus in their Commentaries on Phil. 1.1. confess, that in Paul's time, Bishops and Presbyters were both one, and that either Order was conferred on the Presbyter. That Presbyters are there meant by Bishops, whence it is usually said, That in the Primitive times Bishops were not distinguished from Priests. Azorisus the Jesuit Moral. part. 2. l. 3. c. 16. confesseth, that in the Apostles times, everywhere, those who were ordained Elders in Cities were Bishops: Cardinal Cusanus. De Concordia Cathol. l. 2. c. 13. writes the same in eff • ct: All Bishops; and perchance also Presbyters are of equal power, as to Jurisdiction, although not of execution; which executive exercise is restrained by certain positive Laws ( not Divine but Canonical ) whence the cause of these Laws ceasing, the Laws themselves determine. And Johannes Semeca a Popish Canonist, avers ; That in the first primitive Church the Office of Priests and Bishops was the same: but in the second primitive Church, ( to wit, some space after the Apostles times ) both their names and Offices began to be distinguished.
The same Doctrine, together with the Identity and Parity of Bishops and Presbyters is professedly averred, not only by those hereafter cited in the Catalogue; but also by Huldrick Bishop of Ausburg, about the year of Christ 860. in his Epistle to Pope Nicholas, in defense of Priests Marriage: by John Crespin. L'estate de L'eglise: printed 15 • 2. fol. 14.97. by Phippe de Mornax, Tablea • des Differens. par. 2. c. 6. p. 67, 68, 69. &c. and by Mornay Lord Plessie in his Mystery of Iniquity in the French Edition, p. 7.9, 10.72.80. to 87, 9 • .92.95. to 123.125.128.152. to 155.159.160.172.179.197.210. to 218.234.2 • 4 266, 267.281.293.304.307.319, 320.366 • 389.395.397.404.410.412 • 418.424. to 427.452 • 464.467, 468.469.503.518.519.520.524. to 528 533.535.545, 546, 547.567.568, 569.603. Yea, John Ma • jor de Gestis Scotorum: l. 2. c. 3. w • ites, that in ancient times the Scots were instructed in the Christian faith, by Priests and Monks, and were then without Bishops. And John Fordon Scotichronicon. l. 3. c. 8. before him, records, That before the coming of Palladius, the Scots had only Presbyters or Monks to instruct them in the Faith and administer the Sacraments, following the custom of the primitive Church. And from Palladius days till the reign of Malcolm the 3d; the Bishops of Scotland had no Diocese at all ( and so were no Diocesan Prelates ) but every Bishop whom holiness had made reverend in that age, exercised his Episcopal function without distinction in every place he came. If then Bishops and Presbyters were all one and the same in the first Primitive Church, which Chur • h, • ogether with that of Scotland, was anciently governed only by Presbyters, not by any Lordly Prela • es, or Diocesan Bishops ( which Dr. William Fulke in his Answer of a true Christian, &c. p. 20.50. professeth • o be Antichristian, Pa • all and no divine institution,) why the Churches of Scotland, and England may not now be governed by Presbyters only without Bishops, as well as at first, I canno • conceive • their regiment of late having been so tyrannical, unchristian, antichristian and exorbitant, that they have almost wholly ruined our Religion, Church, State, and lef • them in a most perplexed, if not desperate condition; which proves their Hierarchy to be rather Antichristian and Diabolical, then Divine.
And how can it be otherwise, if we rightly consider the Persons or Condition of our Hierarchy • and their Antichristian Attendants? I remember a merry S • ory in Giraldus Cambrensis, and out of him related by Mr. Camden in his Britannia: p. 604. It happened that a certain Jew travelling towards Shrewsbury with the Archdeacon of Malpas ( in Ches-shire ) whose surname was Peche, that is, Sin, and a Dean named Devil; when he heard by chance the Archdeacon telling, that his Archdeaconry began at a place called Ill-street, and reached as far as to Malpas towards Chester; he considering a • d understanding withal as well the Arch-deacons Surname as the Deans, came out with this merry and pleasant conceit; Would it not be a wonder ( quoth he ) and my fortune very good, if ever I get safe again out of this Country, where Sin is the Arch-deacon, and the Devil is the Dean; where the entry into the Archdeaconry is Illstreet, and the going forth of it Malpas? It was St. Bernard's complaint in his age, that Jesus Christ elected many Devils to be Bishops, as he chose Judas to be an Apostle. Since then there be so many Archbishops, Deans, and Bishops, Devils, so many Archdeacons Sinners, if not Sin; and the entrance into these Offices (by reason of Simony, Ambition, and th • like) a mere Illstreet, and their going forth of them ( by reason of their wicked lives, and exorbitant actions occ • sioned by their very Office ) Malpas, it is almost a wonder, and very good fortune, if any • onest godly Minister or Professor ever get safe again out of their Courts and Diocese, or escape drowning in their Seas.
Hence is it, that the devoutest men in all ages since Prelates became Lord's paramount to Ministers, have either utterly refused to accept of Bish • pricks, or resigned them after acceptance; as I have elsewhere manifested by sundry examples, and shall here fur • her exemplify by • there evidences. Ribadenerra a Jesuit, records it to the great praise of Bernardine of Sennes, canonized at Rome for a Saint; that out of his humility he refused the 3. Bishoprics of Sennes, Ferrara, and Urban, which several Popes offered to him: and though one Pope put a Bishops Mi • er on his head with his own hands, yet he put it off again, humbly beseeching him not to impose the charge of any Bishopric upon him, and to change that estate of Poverty to which God had called him; because he should bring more advantage to the Church by preaching the Word of God, and aiding the Souls of many Bishoprics, then by being a Bishop in one Church: The Pope hearing his reasons confessed them true, and left him to his own liberty. Vincent Ferrier another Popish Saint, is highly magnified, for that' being urged by the Pope to accept the Bishopric of Leride, the Archbishopric of Valence, and a Cardinalship; it was impossible to move him to accept of any of these charges; deeming it a greater advantage to free one Soul from the chains of Sin, then to gain all the great preferments of the world. For he perceived that these honorable dignities seemed like so many golden chains, whereby he should be detained at the Court, and deprived of liberty to go and preach the Gospel with poverty, as God had commanded him. So Thomas of Aquin, canonised for a Saint, is highly applauded for refusing the Archbishopric of Naples, with other great dignities offered unto him by the Pope. In like sort Raimond of Roche • ort, another Roman Saint, is extolled, for refusing to accept the Archbishopric of Aragon, which the Pope himself conferred upon him, and commanded him to accept within few days; at which news he was very sad, and most humbly and instantly entreated his Holiness, not to lay such a burden upon him, which he knew not how to bear: and seeing that the Pope was resolved to enforce him to accept it, he fell sick with indignation, a • ieuere continuing upon him till he died of regret, and so discharged him of this care. Antoninus another • ate Romish Saint, being elected Archbishop o • Florence by Pope Eugenius the 4 th, refused to accept thereof, because being retired out of the tempests of the world, he should thereby return into • hem to the great peril of his Salvation. The Pope hereupon commanded him by his Bull to accept it, threatening else to excommunicate him: whereupon by the advise of his Covent and the Magistrates of Florence, who informed him, that he ought to obey the Pope herein, he unwillingly accepted it; and kneeling down before them, he lift up his eyes and hands to heaven, saying; O my Lord thou knowest full well that it is much against my will to accept this charge; which I have undertaken for fear to resist thine and thy Vicars will: and since thou knowest it, I beseech thee direct me to do what I ought. Then entering into his See, he had only 8. persons in his house; He had no Cupboord, Tapistry or hangings of Say in his Chamber; no vessels of Silver; no Horses nor Coaches, riding upo • a Mule that was given him; saying, that the goods of the poor ought not to be spent in nourishing beasts, and providing Superfluities. He had the Scripture always read at his Table: and ever said, they should do him a special favor to thrust him from his Archbishopric, wherein he continued with as great regret as he received it. Add to these, that Linus the first Bishop of Rome, after Paul and Peter resigned up his Bishopric te Anacle • us ; that Pope Cyriacus ( as Fasciculus Temporum, Henry of Erford, Nauclerus, Crispin • and others write ) quitted his Bishopric in a short space against the will of the Clergy; whence some have excluded him out of the number of the Roman Ponti • s; that Pope Stephen t • e 6. renounced his Episcopacy, and became a Monk, repenting of the cruelty shown by him to his predecessor Formosu • : that Pope Celestine the 5 th ( as Platina, Luitprandius, Anasta • ius, and all o • hers in his life accord) voluntarily renounced the Papacy, as a charge exceeding his forces, and hindering his Devotion: and th • s Anno 1448. Pope Felix the 5 th, renounced and deser • ed the Papacy, which he formerly swa • ed. Lo here five Popes re • ouncing and resigning their Bishoprics. Herman a Weda Archbishop of Colen, who deceased An. 1552. desired often to die a simple Christian without any charge or dignity, rather then to die a Priest or a Bishop: To come nearer hom • , Dubritius B • shop of Landaffe voluntarily re • ounced his Archbishopric; so Sampson, Paulus, Leonorius and Amon made Bishops volens nolens, voluntarily gave over their Episcopacies. St. Patrick the first Archbishop or primate of all Ireland, and Benignus his third Successor in that See, willingly resigned their Prelacies, retiring themselves to Glastenbury Abby: And Anno 1366. Richard Havering, Archbishop of Dublin, voluntarily renounced his Archbishopric upon this occasion • One night he dreamed that a certain Monster heavier then the whole world stood eminently aloft upon his breast, from the weight whereof he chose rather to be delivered, then alone to have all the goods of the world. When he wakened, he thought thus with himself, that this was nothing • ls but the Church of Dublin, the fruits whereof he received, but took no pains for the same: ( the case of most Prelates now: ) as soon as he could therefore he came to the Pope, of whom he was much beloved, and there renounced and gave over the Archbishopric; for he had fatter and better livings then the Archbishopric came unto. Why should not our Archbishops and Bishops now follow these many virtuous examples, in resigning and abandoning all their Bishoprics, for the setting of a sweet peace and blessed Harmony in our distracted Church and State, which their ambition, pride, tyranny, Exorbitances and Innovations have almost brought to ruin? Had they but their humility and piety, they would speedily renounce their most pernicious Hierarchy, to embrace a fraternal unity and parity with their fellow-brethren, whom Christ hath made their equals, as these and other Prelates have done; and as our present Archbishop of Canterbury confesseth that famous Nazianzen, rather th • n the peace should be broken, freely resigneth the great Patriarchate Constantinople, and retired: whose steps he should do well to follow.
But if he or they refuse to do it for our Churches peace, and Kingdoms safety, let them know that it is no new thing to abolish Bishoprics by Act of Parliam • by which most Bishoprics were first created, and so not Jure Divino. How many Bishoprics have been suppressed in Ireland and Wales in Later ages, Mr. Camden can at large inform us, almost half the Ancient Bishoprics there, being not now extant. The Bishopric of Westminster was no sooner erected almost, but instantly suppressed; And 7. Ed. 6. The Bishopric of Durham by Act of Parliament was dissolved, and the Lands and hereditaments thereof given to the King: but 1. Mariae Pa • l. 2. c. 3. Popery • lowing in again, that Bishopric was revived and reerected; yet not so fi • mly, but that it and all others are still subject, both to a temporal and final dissolu • ion, when eve • his Majesty, or the state in Parliament shall think meet ; ( as all the Prelates and the whole Convocation expre • lie acknowledge in their Institution of a Christian man dedicated to King Henry the 8. and ratified by Parliament ) as the Abbeys, Priories and such like Nests of Anti • hristianisme in this Real • , though se • led by La • s and long Prescription, were all suppressed by p • blick Acts of Parliament in a moment.
If any de • m the continuance of our Lorly Prelates necessary in regard of their presence in Parliaments, which some conceive cannot be held without the presence of these • ord • Spiritual.
I Answer, first, that Abbots and Priors before the dissolution of Mona • teries were Spiritual Lord's in Parliament as well as Bishops: since then Parliaments both may, have been, and are now held without Lord Abbots a • d • riors, they may by the same reason be held without Lo • d Bishops. Second •• , B • shops sit n • t in Parliament of right as they are B • shops ( for as Bishops, they are not prope • lie Peers, and shall be tried in case of Treason by a common Jury, as Scr • ope, Fisher, and Cranmer were ) bu • as they hold of the King per (a) Baro • iam, in right of their Churches, which few of them at this day do: Therefore their si • ting in Parliament is not of right, but of mere grace of the King, who may Sommon or not Sommon • hem at • is pleasure: sinc • they are no Lord's, nor yet so styled by the King, in any of their Paten • s; though they so in • itle themselves in some of their late Prin • ed Books. Thirdly, In matters of Treason, Felony, blood and Capitall Crimes debated in Parliament, the Bishops both by Common and Canon Law o • ght not to give their votes, nor yet to be present in the house, but to depart, which no other Peers do • ut they: If then the Parliament in these cases of highest na • ure may pass a complete Judgment without them, their presence is not necessary in it, nor they any needful members of it. Four • hly, Bishops in former ages e • en under Popish Kings, when they had most sway, have been excluded Parliaments, much more then may they be so now: Gardner and Bonner in King Edwards days; and all Bishops that were married ( as most then were ) in the first Parliament in Queen Mary's reign were excluded the Parliament; and in King Edward the 1. his time at the Parliament held at S. Edmond's Bury, Anno 1296. all the Bishops were put out of the Parliament and Kings protection, and that Parliament held good and made Laws without them. And Anno 1273. in the 20. year of Henry the 3. the Statute of Merton cap. 9. to • ching Bastardy, was made by the Lord's temporal and Commons without and against the consent of the Bishops. • h • se two Presiden • s are cited by Bishop Jewel in his Apology against Harding ; f. 620. who there affirms, that a Parliament may be held without any Bishops; to wh • ch Mr. Crompton, and Bishop Bilson likewise assent: therefore I shall no l • nger debate it, as being pas • all doubt; concluding this point in Bishop Bilsons words (a great Champion for Episcopa • y) which are full and notable. Claime you ( Bishops ) that interest and prerogative, that without you nothing shall be done in matters of Religion, by the Laws of God, or by the liberties of this Realm. By the Laws of the Land, have no such privilege. Parliaments have been kept by the King and his Barons, THE CLERGIE WHOLLY EXCLVDED. And when the Bishops were present, their voices from the Conquest to this day were never negative. • y God's • awe you have nothing to do with making Laws for Kingdom • , & Common-wealths: o • may teach, you may not command: P • rswasion is your part, compulsion is the Princes. I • Princes embrace the Truth, you must obey them; If they pursue Truth, you must abide them. By what Authority then claim you this dominion over Princes; that their Laws for Religion shall be void, unless you consent? After which he proves at large • , that the Kings of Judah and Israel of old, with many godly Christian Kings and Emperors since, have made not only Civil, but • cclesiasticall Laws without a Council, or any suffrage of Bishops: Much more then may they hold a Parliament without their presence; as Bishop Jewel proves at lange. It was a no • able Speech and true of Ludovicus Cardinal Arelatensis in the Council of Basel; where he maintained the parity of Bishops and Presbyters: That rich and Lordly Bishops fear the power of the Prince, and to be spoiled of their temporalities, neither have they free liberty to speak as is required in Councils. Albeit if they were true Bishops and true Pastors of Souls, they would not doubt to put their lives in venture for their Sheep, nor be afraid to sh • d their blood for their Mother the Church. But at this present (the more is the pity) it is too rare to find a Prelate in this world, which doth not prefer his temporalities before his Spiritualities, with the love whereof they are so withdrawn, that they study rather to please Princes then God ; and confess God in corners, but Princes they will openly confess. Concluding • hat the poor are more apt to give judgment then the rich, because their riches bringeth fear, and their poverty causeth liberty. For the poor fear not tyranny as rich men do, who being given over to all kind of vanities, idleness and sloth, will rather deny Christ then lack their accustomed pleasures; Such are they whom not their flock but their revenues make Bishops. Have ye not heard how they said, they would consent to the Kings will and pleasure? But the Inferiors are they which have had truth, righteousness and God himself before their eyes, and they are greatly to be commended for showing themselves such men unto the Church of God. If • hen any desire the continuance of Lord Bishops in Church or Parliament, yet it will be necessary to strip them of their Temporalities and Lordships, and to confine them to one living with Cure, where they may reside and preach like other Ministers, because their Temporalities will make them Temporizers, and to vote amiss ag • nst God and the Republic both in Parliament and Convocation, as this Cardinal truly informs us from experience.
To close up all in a few words. I shall desire 〈◊〉 • ordly Prelates and others to observe; that Rev. 4.4.10.11. c. 5, 6.11, 12.14. c. 7.11, 12, 13, 14 • 15. c. 11.15, 19, 17, 18. c. 19.4, 5, 6. The 24 Elders are placed next in rank to the very throne of Christ, as being next to him in Authority and Jurisdiction, no Archb • shops or Bishops •• ing there named, much less interposed between them. That the Angels ( whom our Prelates will needs interpret • o be Diocesan Bishops in the 2d and 3d of the Revelation, though the Contents of our last • ranslated Bibles expressly define them, to be the Ministers, not Bishops, of the 7 Churches) stand round about the Elders, and are remoters from Christ's throne then they • therefore not so honorable. That Christ standeth in the midst of the Elders; to signi • ie, that • hey are subject to no Diocesan Bishop, but Christ alone, and • hat no Lord Bishops, but Elders only belong to the Kingdom and Government of Christ, who is never said to be in the midst of Archbishop • and Bishops (none of his institution) but of the 24. Elder • only: That these Elders alone worship and prostrate themselves, give thanks, and resolve doubts upo • all occasions • not Bishops: And that when the Kingdoms of this world, become the Kingdom of o •• Lord and his Christ, and when the Lord God omnipotent is said to reign, the Elders are still said to be about Christ's throne, and to adore and praise him, there being no mention at all of Bishops. Therefore our Prelates must needs confess themselves to be but Elders only & properly; or else acknowldge, that Elders by divine • nstitution are Superior to them in dignity • and that Archbishops and Bishops have no place at all appointed them by Christ about his throne, or with • n his Church and Kingdom, and therefore must needs be Antichristian and in • o • enable in our reformed Church; out of which I doubt not • re long to see them quite ejected, and cast unto the Dunghill as most unsavory Salt; toward which d • sired good work I presume this little Catalogue may con • ribute some assistance; especially if thou correct these ensuing Errors of the Printer, ere thou begin to read it, occasioned by the Authors absence, and the Printers unacquaintednesse with the Authors names the • ein recited: which slips of course find easy pardon.
ERRATA.
PAg. 1. C • lum 2. line 19 read Papias • p. 2. col. 1. l. 101. and 15. • . Al • xandrinus, l. 25. Nazianz • num, l. 30. Arius, col. 2. l. 11. Primasius 22. Nazianze •• l. 25, 26. Rhabanus Maurus. l. 35. O •• umeniu • . l. 43. for 34.1, 3, 4. p. 3. col. r. l. 5. • vo. l. 6. Decretalium. l. 2 • . Pla • ctu. l. 29. • anormitan. l. 31. Thol • sanus. l. 32. Gratianum. l. 37. for Cla • isio • . Clavasi • col. 2. Sit, Tit. l. 9. Faber. l. 11. Senensis. l. 13. Annal. l. 22 with, which • l. • 7. intendent p. 4 col. 1. l. 41. conclusion. p. 5. col. 1. l. 21. Ausittes Hussit •• 24. Sylvius. l. 25 〈…〉 . Illiricus, l. 34. Monuments. col. 2 l 〈…〉 p. 6. col. 1. l. 2. Tabaratrum, Tabaritarum. l. 9. Pig • tum. l. 10. Galata • . l. 14. Epis • opo • . l. 18. W • tenberge. l. 20. • all. l. 21, 22. P • tricow, Madestania, Wratis • avia. l. 27. • ricus. l 41. Con • ugio. l. 42. Zwingli. l. 44. imitatem, civitatem. l. 51. Musculus. col. 2. l. 14. Responsio. l. 28. Class. l. 38. Casper. l. 34. debe • sis, diversis. l. 40. Saraviam. l. 4 • . T • egedinu • . l. 49. Con • r • v • rs. l. 42. Polanus. l. 53. Sy • tagma. l. 53. bibl • ander in chronog • . p. 7. col • • l. 1. Arinis, Aretius. l. 3. lubinu • . l. 2. Wedfulne •• s, Melsure • us. l. 9. edictum. l. 37. Alcuvinus. col. 2 l. 13. Pal • ody. l. 14. M • li • m, Melu •• i. l. 15. Palinodia. l. 36. Nug • . l. 38. Institution. p. 8. col. 1. l. 12. England, I • eland. l. 26. Chaucer. l. 28. Swinderby. l. 39. vi • iarum vitiorum. col. 2. l. 2. Stokesly. l. 3 • . Nottingham. p, 9. col. 2. l. •• . • ancol • e, lanrelot. l. 24. Osyru. l. 49. exposition. col. 2. l. 6. Ma • tyr • Martyn. l. 10. Benb •• ge. l. 20. vol. 2. f. l. 30.12.10. r. 1610. p. 10. c. 1. l. 47 Whecen • all. c. 2. l. 45. coverdale. l. 46. Pon • t. l. 47. Scory. l. 52. resolve. l. 54. exstinguished, distinguished. p. 11. c. 1. l. 9. the, thu. c. 2. l. 8. t • rasonicall. l. 2 • . • o • her. l. 41. Aeriu • . p. 12. c 1. l 1. a, a • . l. 17. Ae • ius, make. l. 18. at. l. 3 • as, •• . l. 46. this, the. c 2. l. 4. est; • oe witness. l. 16. refutation (in the Margin, l 4. v • ritatu. l. 16. Armat, Anual. ) p. 14. l. 9.10. Evag •• um. l. 16. •• etus. p. 13. c. 1. l. 38. inconsequences. l. 50. A • gu •• inum l. 54. Gersomus. 2. l. 32. as, •• . p. 14. c. 1. l 20. make. l. 29. but, • oth. l. 41. Tialliano • . l. 46. Maguesiano • . l. 47. Sc • atu • Apost • lorum. l. 49. Lymenses, Smyrnense • . • . 2. l. 13. Presbytero • um. p. • 5. c. • l. 16. for 7 18. l. 1 • extravagant l 20 geri • l 23. quod, quoad. l. 28. favor, savor. c. 2. l. 30 largnesse, largesse. p. 16. c. 1. Margin l. 12. Antiquitates, 16 Crantziu • 2 • . Annal. c. 2 l. 13. Adcodatus l. 22. W • fred. l. 25. Lanfrankes : l 27. Ca • kel, Corbel p. 18. r. 1. l. • 9, Aasina, Haf • ia. l. 34 see, so. r. 2. l. 48. these. Thesa. p. 20. c. 1. l. 33. only by : c. 2. l. 15. resolve : l. 17. vag •• : l. 25.435 p. 22. l. 20. with, which : c. 2. l. 6. expending, expecting : l. 15. blot out • : l. 38. disguises : (Margin l 1. Chy • rae •• ) p. 22. c. 1. l. 47. was shattered.
THE FIRST SQVADRON.
T Hese Tes • imonies I shall Marshal into 5 distinct Squadron • , for o • der sake. The first Sq •••• on consists of Divine Authorities; Whereof our Lord and Savior Christ himself ( the chi • fe Shep • ea • d and Bishop of ou • Souls ) is the Sup • eame gene • all, whose testimony of this nature we have upon record. Matth. 10.1 • . c. 11.1 • . c. 1 • . • .4. • .20. • 0. to 29. c. 23.8. to 13. c. 18.19. 20. Ma • k. 9.34.35. c. 10.35. to 46. •• 16.15. Luke 9.46.47.4 • . c. 22.2 • .24.2 • .26.2 • . Io • . 6.1 • . c. 1 • .36. c. 20.2 • 23. Ne • t to him we have his Apostle • St. Pete • : 1 Pet. 5.1, 2, 3, 4. together with the Apostle St. John, 1 John 2.15.16 • 2 John 1 3. I • hn 1.9. The Apostle St. I am • s I am. 5.14. A • t • . 15.3. to 30. Pa • l the Apostle. Acts. 20.1 • .2 • . Phil. 1, 1 • 1. Timo. 3.1. to 6. c. 4.14. c. 5.1 • . • C • r. 1. • 4. Tit. 1.5. to 14. 1 Co • . 1.14. • 3. to 34. • phes. 4.11.12. • nd Luke the •• ang • list: Act • 1 • .23. c. 15.2, to 30. c. 2 • .17.28. to which all other • ore alle • ged • exts in Tim • t • y and Titus may be added.
THE SECOND SQVADRON.
THe second Squadron is made up of Fathers and Councils ranked according to their several antiquities, Ann • Christi 1 •• . We have Ignatius the Ma • tyr ( if the Epistles be his and • ightly unde • stood ) •• istle 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 1 • , 11, 12, 13.14. 〈◊〉 apa • Lusebiu • Eccles. Hist. l. 3. c. 33. Po •••• rp • he Mar ••• , Epist. ad Ph • lip. Bibl. Patrum. Tom. 1 p •• . B. Anno 102. Pope Anacle • us, apud 〈◊〉 Decre • , pars 5. c. 5 • . & Laurentium 〈◊〉 council: Tom. 1. p. 165. Anno 150. Justin Martyr. Apologia 2 Anno 160. A • ollinarius apud Eusebium Eccles. Hist. l. 5. c. 16. An. 1 • 0 Iren • us Contra har • ses. l. 3. • . • . l. 4 c. 43.44. & apud Eusobium, Eccles. 〈◊〉 . l. 3. c. 23. l. 5. c. 20.26. Anno 2 •• . •• men • Al • xandrius: Apud Eus • bium 〈◊〉 . l. 3. c. 20. T ••• ullian Apologia ad ••• s • Gen • e • c. 39. Anno 220. O • ig • n in Mattha •• Homily 1.13 • & 31. in 〈◊〉 Hom. • . Anno 240. Di • nysius 〈◊〉 . a • ud • us •• ium • ccl • s. 〈◊〉 . l. 〈…〉 Ambrose in • phes. 4. Tom. 3. p, 239 in 1 Tim. 3, p, 272, Adrius apud 〈◊〉 • ontra 〈◊〉 l. 3. 〈◊〉 . •• , p, 7 •• . 7 •• . Pope Damasus. the 1 • pis • le apud 〈◊〉 Tom. 1 p. 466, 467, Anno 3 •• , Sa • di •• nse Council • um Can. • . • , ibid p, 414, • nno • 90, St. Jerome Epist. 2, 83, and •• , ad • vagi • um. Com, in • hill. 1 Tit. 1, & 1 Tim. 3 • Epist. 3. ad heliodorum c. 7. C • m in • zek. l. 10 c, 33, in Soph. c. 2. C • m l. 2, in Epist. ad Galatas c, 4, Com. l. 2, in Ep • es, • , 6, De 7, Ordinabus • cclesia, T • m. 9, p, 58, 59. Anno 400. S • , Ch • isostome • Hom. 1. in Philip. Tom • 4. Col. 1039, • om. 11, in 1 Tim. Col. 135 9. • om. 2. in Tit. 1, Col. 1463: Hom • 35, in o • ere imperfecto in Matth. Homil. 11, in Ephes. & de Sacerdotio l, • . Anno 410. St. Augus • ine Epist. 19. 38. • 5. Tom. 2. • , • 2, 3 •• , 310, 311, questiones ex utro{que} • ixtim, Qu • st. 101. D • • aptism • Contr Donatum Tom. 7. pa • s • p, 471 472, de Civ •• ate Dei l. 1 • , c, 1 • , En •••• tio in Psal. 126, & adv • rsus har • s • s; 〈◊〉 53, A • 430, T • eodorer Interpretatio in Phil. 1 • 1, 1 Tim. 3. and T • t, 1. • , Tom. 2, p, 8 • , 129.1 • 9, An 436, The 4. Council of C • rthage Can. 14, to 26, An 450, Pope Leo the 1. Epist Docret: 8 • . c, 2. Pri • as • u • in P • il. 1, 1. 1 Tim. 3. & Tit. 1 & Apoc. 2, Anno 500 Rem • giu • in P • il 1, 1, & 1 Tim. 3, An: 550. Isidor P • l • siota Epist. l, 2 : Epist. 125, l, 3, Ep. 223 An 600 Gregory first : Pa •• o • alis cu • a lib pa •• 2, • 6, Epist. l, 7, Epist. 117, Moral • um l, • 4, c, 29, 30, l, 20. c 28, l. •• . c 23. & 〈◊〉 1 •• in Evang • l • a. 4 • • 30, Isi • d •• •• palensis O • iginum l, 7, c 12, l, • , • 5, & de Ecclesiasticis 〈◊〉 l, 2, c 71 An. 657. The council o • •• ispalis 2 Can. 6, 7, An: 790, Eli • s • retensis Coment: in Nazianzen Orationes fo • e repeated, An • 16. The Counsel of A • en under Louis the podly, c • , 8 10, 11, Anno 840 Rh • ba • us M • uru • de universo l, 45 • , •• Matth. l, 5, c. 16, Tom. 5, p, •• , • n • pist. Pa ••• l, 19. in Phil. 1, 1, l, 23, in 1 Tim. 3, l, 25, in Tit. 1, Tom. 5, p, 455, 456, 498, 499, 521, 522, 523, De institu •• ons Clericorur • l, • , • , 4, 5, 6, Tom: 6, p. 5, 6, Haymo Halberstatensis, in Phil. 1. • , & Tit. 1, An 560. ( ) The 12 Council of Toledo, Can: 8, A •• la • i • s Fortunatus Ecclesiastic •• Ofsi •• s l, 2, c, 13, Anno 1050, Pecumen • a in A •• a Apost : 5 15, & 2, in Phil: 1, 1 Tim: 3, & Tit: 1, fol, 79, 586, 655, 683, Anno 1070, Theophylact. Com: in Act: 20, 17 • 28, in Phil: 1, 1, 1, Tim: 3, & Tit: 1, p, 517.576, 600, 801, Anno 1 • 00, Conradus Bruno, in Phil: 1, 1, 1 Tim : 3, Tit: 1, Anno 1130, Barnard De Consideratione ad Eugenium l. 2, 34, Epist. 42, Serm • 23, 25. & 77. Super • anti •• De laudibu • Maria, Homil 1 & Concio in Concilio Rhemensi, & ad Past ••• s S • r •• .
THE THIRD SQVADRON.
T He third Squ • dron is constituted of foreign Cannonists, and Popish Schoolmen, w • iters and Councils from th • Yeare of our Lord 1100 till this present: as I • o Carna •• nsis D • . • all • lu •• pa. • 5. c, • 8, 59.72, 1 •• .143.144. Peter Lombard Sententiarum l, 4. distin • . 24. I. K. L, m • & Comen • a • i • m Phil. 1, 1, Tit: 1. & 1, Tim: 3 Gratian the g • ea • Can • onist distinctio 18, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 39, 50, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 6 • , 67, 68, 80, 93, 95, Causa 2, qu. 7, Causa 24, qu, 3, Hugo Ca • dinalis in Phil: • , 1, Tit: 1, & 1: Tim: 3, Aquinas secund • secundae, qu: • 4, Ar: 6 • rg: 1. Supplementum in tertiam p • rtem qu: 37, Art 7 Durand in l, 4, Sentent: Distinct: 24. qu: 5, 6, & Rational Divinorum l, 2, Johannes Parisiensi • , de potestate Regia & Pap • li apud mo ••• um de Ecclesia c, 11, & Catalogum Testium veritatis p, 525) Carthusi •• Ca • etan and the Author of the O • dina • y gloss in Acts 15, & c, 20, 17, 28, Phil: 1, 1, 1, Tim: • Tit, 1, 5, 7, cardinalis Arelatensi • apud AEneam Sylvium de Gestis Concilij Basiliensis l. 1, p, 27, 28, 29, Alvarus Pelagius de Plainetu Ecclesia • , 1, Art: 70. l, 2, Art 1 to 17, Panormitam c, 4, de Consuetudine, Anselmus Lucensis Collectanea Can: l. • , c. 87 & 127: G • egorius Tholosamus, Polycarp l, 2, Tit: 19, & 39, John Thiery Glos • a in G • ationum distinct: 95, cap olim, with all other Glosses and Canonists on that Text He •• i • us Gorichen. in l, 4, Sentent: Distinct: 24 • Astensis Summa pars 2 l, 6, Tit: 2, Artic: 2, Angelus de claucisio Summa Angelica Ordo 1, The council of Lingon, Anno 1404, & of Paris Anno 1557 Duarenus de sacr: Eccle: injust l, 1, c, 7, Onus Eccl • sia c, 14, to 27, Nicholas Cusa ••• de conco • di • Catholic • , l. 2, c. 13. Alphonsus a C • st • o adverse, 〈◊〉 Sit • piscopus, Michael Medina de sacro h • m O • ig, et continetia, 〈◊〉 • spenca •• in 1 Tim. c 3, Digressio •• m in Tim, • 1 c: 1, 2, 3 • and in Tit, 1 • , • The Rhemist; • nnot • tion; on Acts 〈◊〉 sect 4 and in Tim 4. Phil, 1. 1, • it. 1 • • , I •• obus Fabor in 1, Tim, • &, 4 • & Tit 1. Sixtus
Sevensi, Bibl 〈◊〉 , l • , Anno 32 • , Azo • ius M ••• lium: p • r • , 2 l, 3 c, 1 •• Buoniu • An • u • ll Eccles, • om 1. p, 5 •• Jacobus de Gr • ss • s d • s •• lionum Au •• carum par • , 2 l, 1 c 9: 11, 5, • , 9, 1 • , 14 16, l, 3, c. 12, 11, 3.4. Pet •• s B •• sseldin, • uchy • idion, Te ••• giae P • storalis p •• s, 1 c, 15. with other Pontis ••• ans though sundry else of them are the greatest s • icklers for •• is • op • ll M •••• ne of Pu • pose to adv • nce the 〈◊〉 Suprem • cy with the Parity of Bishops and P • esbiters Iu •• D •• m • , • sterly subverts and ruin •• I shall close up this Squ • dr • n with the •• e Authorities of some Semi ••• Priests in En • land. As namely of Ni • c •• las Smi • h, in his modest and b • iefe discussion of certain Assertions which are taught by Mr. Doctor •• l • ison in his Treatise of the • cclesiasticall 〈◊〉 . where thus he determines, I judge is no rashness to affirm that since England enjoyed a Bis •• p • (to wit a Po •• s • ishop • to confirm the Papists, and control the P • jests, namely Rich •• d bis • op of Ch • lced •• created the general • ishop and superintend • nt, both of England • and Scotland, by Pope Vrbaus special Bull, dated the 4 th. of August, Anno 1625. The Copy whereof you shall • ind printed, in Censura Proposition • m qua • undam &c. per sacram facultatem Theolog • a Parisi • nsis factae Pa • isiis, 1631, p, 63, 64, 65: that more damage hath happened to the Catholics in general by reason of discord, and frequent loss of charity, then they have received benefit, by the Sacrament of Con • irmation only conferred on some few.
That all holy men have exceedingly e • deavoured to s • un such an high dig • ity.
That a Bishop is in a State which presupposeth but yet gives not perfection: which the State of Religion, not only presupposeth but giveth.
That a vow not to receive a Bishopric is valid and sacred.
That • o desi • e a Bishopric even for that which i • best in it, to wit for the good of souls according to St: Thom • s s • cunda s •• u • da, que 185. Art, 1, seems to be presumpti • n, and there are some who stick not to say (and that commonly) it is a mo • tall sin.
That these • ropositions following are strange, idle, and absurd.
That it is d • iure divin • , and that the law of God is, that every particular Church (as England is) ought to have a Bishop.
That without a Bishop England were not a particular Church.
That unless every particular Church hath its Bishop or Bishops, the whole and Vnive • sall Church could not be) as Christ hath instituted it) an Hierarchy composed of divers particular Churches.
That without a Bishop we cannot have con • irmation &c.
All which principles (saith he) are worse then the concultion it self and demonstrated by us (to • it in that Treatise) to have no foundation at all.
Thus this Popish Priest who proving that the Church of England may well subsist without a Popish Bishop to sway and order it; grants that it may do the like without our Protes • ant Prelates, and that plainly resolves that it is not from any divine law or institution, that the Church of England should have any Bishop at all to govern it. Daniel a Jesus another Priest, and a Reader of Divinity thus seconds him, in his Apology for the proceeding of the holy see Apostolic, as to the government of the catholickes in England during the time of Persecution That it is most false and of dangerous consequence, that a particular Church cannot be without a Bishop: That God's law requires no more, but that there be some • Bishops in the Church to wit so many, that there be no danger, that the whole Order should suddenly be taken away by their deaths and so dispersed through the world, that all Christians may be sufficiently provided of learned and virtuous Priests.
If this be done the law of God is satisfied although there be no Bishops in F • ance, Spain, or, England.
Give me there • o • e a mul • itude of Christians how great soever who want not a Bishop to ordain Priests, and I will boldly affirm that there is n • need that the governor of that society should be a Bi •• op.
Yea let us suppose the Ordina • ion o • Priests and the Ministry of the Chu • ch, not to be necessary in the Church, and presently it follows, that there is no need the universal Church should be governed by Bishops who are superior to Priests.
That in the time of Persecution it is neither good, nor convenient, nor any solace or comfort to the Church to have a Bishop.
That though • e who of Bishops are made Religious persons may be said in some sort to fly • igher, and not at all to descend.
That if the Catholics of England should yield to this motion (name • y to receive the Bishop of Chalcedon as their p • oper Pastor and Bish • p they could by no means excuse themselves • from being worthy of that reprehension which the C • rinthians received from Saint Paul, namely, that they rashly, and indiscreetly, put themselves into subjection that they should bestow their temporal goods, so as they could expect no reward from God, as exercising humility, Obedience, Pat • ence, for which no crown of Righteousness is prepared: yea that they may by their blind receiving o • him (though by the Popes own Bull and authority) expose themselves to manifest peril by falling into mortal sin &c.
These Positions of theirs were publicly taught and maintained by many other Priests both in England, and Ireland as appears by the censure of the faculty of Paris, and Nicholas I • Maistre his Instauratio antiqui Principatus Episcoporum Parisijs 1633. Written upon this occasion in answer of these Treatises and some others. Some of which Propositions though they were censured as Eronious, by the faculty of the Divine • of Paris. Anno 1631. through the power of the Bishop of Chalcedon, as striking at the Popes Supremacy and the Bishops Hierarchy, yet in all that censu • e, I find not one passage of Scripture produced to prove them contrary to the word of God, and therefore that censure of theirs not much to be regard •• .
THE FOURTH SQVADRON.
T He 4th Squadron consists of Forraigne Protestant Churches and writers, which I shall muster & rank in order according to their antiquities as near as I may.
I shall begin with the Waldenses Taborites Albigenses & Au •• ites, (whose opinions and resolutions touching these particulars are registered at large, by AEneas Sylvias: histor, Bohemiae c, 35, by Renaerus contr: Waldenses lib, c, 6. by Refutatio: Waldensuim, Bibl. Patrū. Tom. 13, p. 383, by Thomas Waldenses • operum. Tom. 1, l, 3, Arti, c • 29, 30, 31, 32, Tom, 2. de Sacramento ordinis c. 117, 118, & Tom, ;, c, 60, 61, 62, by Alphonsus de castro adversus hereses, Tit, Episcopus, & de Sacramento ordinis, by Illiritus Catalogus Testium veritatis, p, 426, 433, 445, by Mr. John Fox Acts and Monnments p, 210, Albertus Pighius Hierarch. Eccles. l, 2, c, 10, Gersomus Bucerus de Gubernatione Ecclesiae p, 599 • 600, 601. Marsilius Patavimus, (Anno 1320) seconds them in his Defensoris Paris pars 2, c. 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, and who Ann • 1330) is backed by Michall Cezenas, Henricus de Iota, Nicholaus orem, Johannes, de Ianduno Petrus de Corbaria, Johannes de Polaco, John of Castele, • rancis de Archatara, and divers others of tha • age Witness, Extravagant, Ioannis 23 Antoninus quarta pars, Sum, Catalogus, Testium veritatis p, 512, 524, 525, 529, Fox Acts, and Monuments, p, 358, 359 360. with others AEtates Ecelesiae written about that time, c. 2 Registred in Catalogo Testium veritatis p, 453, 454 • & Laurentius Valla, The restorer of the Elegance of the Latin tongue, succeed next in order. Annotationes in Act. c. 15, & c, 20, in 1 Tim: 3, & Tit. 1, John • Hus, and Jerome of Prague, two learned Godly Martyrs, tread in their footsteps witness AEneas Sylvius Histor • Bohem c, 35, Fox Acts and Monuments, p 55 • , 559, & Gerson Bucerus de Gubernati • n • Ecclesiae p. 602, 603, After 〈1 page duplicate〉 〈1 page duplicate〉 these successively ensued Ioannis Lu • atwitz in Confessione • a • oratrum contr. Roke • zanum c, 13, apud Lidij Walde • . siam p, 53, Erasmus of Rot •• rdam, Annota • , & pa •• pht. in Act 1 • , in 1 Tim: 3, & 4, Phil. 1, Tit 1, 1, • et. 5, Scholia in • pist: • ieronym: 〈…〉 , & adversus a ••• ert • m 〈◊〉 : Martin Luther, in • salm. 2, •• , & 134, in Epist. ad Gal •• es 〈…〉 1, Art • 15, The Synod of • e • icon, Artic: 6 • The Synod of Modis • a • ia. Ar •• c : 8, 11, 12, & G • rs • m Buc • r •• d 〈◊〉 : E •••• siae, p, 370, 373, 374, 4 •• , 49 • , 500, 51 • , 518.575, 616.61 • , 618, C • ristian the 3, King of Denmark, Anno 1537 • and the whole State of Denma •• e together with • Gus • 〈◊〉 Cricus • ing of Sweden, about the same • ime who s • ppressed, banished, and hanged, up the Lordly Bishops, of their Re • lms, a • false Traitors, and Rebels contrary to Christ's ins • itution, and having no foundation in the word of God. Cl •• trae • s Cl • r • n: Saxon l, 6. p. 49. l • 7, p, 219.2 •• . l • 9. p, 259, 261, 262, 263, 270, 279, l, 10, p, 297, 309, 311, 340, 341, 342, l, 12, p. 358, 359, l, 13, p, 388, l, 14, p, 407, 421, l, 15, p • 433, 434. Philip Melan •• hon, A • gam & Response • Pezel pa •• 7 • Com • in 1 Cor: 4, Et dis • utatio d • Politia Ecclesias • ica & d • coni • g • o Sacerdotum Oecolampa • ius in Rom: 12, • ald • i • us ••• nglius in Amica s • a Parenaesi a • Commun • m Helve • iorum • mitatem operum. Tom. 1. p, 115, 117, in P •• l. 1.1, Tom. 3, p • 504. Opus Articulor • m Artic. 34 • 36: Francis Lambert, his Summa Ch • i •• iani • atis. Anno 1536. Pr • sat Mr. Balli • ger in Act. 20, v, 28, & decad. 5. Ser : 3, 4, Brenz Apol. 〈◊〉 wettemb: c, 21. Pelican • s in Mat. c. 16, & 18, in Act : 16, & 20. Mustulus loc • rum Com. locut de Ministris verbi D • i. p. 596.597, 598. Mr. John Calviu Instij • l, 4, c, 3, sect. 8, c, 4, sect, 2, in Phil, 1, 1, 1, Tim. 3, 8, Ti •• 1, 5.7, Antidotum Concilij Tridentin • Ses. 7 de Conformation • Martin B • cer, de vt & usu Ministerij, & in Ma • th. 16, Araetius Problem: Lo • us de O • si • ijs Eccles. •• Pi • l, 1, 1, in 1 Tim • 3, & 4 • & Tit. 1, 5, 7. Mr. Ralph G •• l • her, on Acts. 20. verse • 8. Phil. 1, 1, 1, Tim. 3. Tit, 1.5.7. M • rtin Chem •• tius Examen • on • ilij Trid •• t pars. 2, de Sac • amento 〈◊〉 , 223, 224: Innocentius Gentiletus, exam •• • on • ilij Trid • nt: Ibid Ioa • nis Ma • o • , Kin • sius & Ma • lorat on Phil. 1, 1, 1, Tim. • , Ti • . 1, 5, 7, Acts 20, 28. 1 Pet, 5, 1, 2, 〈…〉 2, • , 8, & in 〈…〉 ; c, 53, 〈…〉 5, • , 14, & Co ••• 3, c • 3, 〈…〉 & lig • in 4 P • aecept: Defide c, 25, s • ct. 9, & in P •• l. 1, 1, • yperius in Tit, 1, 17, & d • M • th • do T •• ologi • l, 3, Matthi • s Ill • rieus Clavis S • ripturae. Tit Presbiter, Catalogus Testi • m Ve • ita •• s p, 426, 433, 445, 512, 524, 525, 529, 553, 554, 488, 528, &c. 〈…〉 & Basilius Faber, Centur: Eccles: Magd • 1, l, 2, c, 7, Col, 530, 531, 507, 508, Cent. 1. c, • , Col, 125, 126, Centu • 4, c. 5, de haresibus, &c, 10, Peter Martyr Loca •• m come • Tom, 1. Glass, 4, • ocus 6: Tom, 2, d • Eucharistia locu • 1. Object, 50, Virellas Religioni • Christi co • pendium l, 3, c, 11, • os • annus in Tit, 1, 5. 7, Heming • us, and John May •• , in Phil, 1, 1, 1, Tim: 3, Tit. 1, 5, 7. Antonis Sad • el ad Repetita Tarriani Responsio p, 50, 51, 61, De Legitim • voca • ione Pas • oram p, 66, to 88, ad Repeti •• Tu • riani locus, 12, p, 406, to 500, Pezelius. A • gum & Response. pars 7, de Ordin Ministr. in Argument 1 Cos •• r • levian in Pi • l: 1, 1, & Theodoret Beza de dibes •• s ministrorum grad •• as cont • a Sarabiam & Annotat. in Phil: 1, 1, & Tit: 1. 5, 7, Viret • s de Minis •• is Verbi Dei, & Sacram: l, 11, c, 19, & de Adulterinis Sa • ram Stephanus Ezegedim • s locorum Com de Ministr: Sab 4, p. 202: Lavather in Ezech come 10, George So • i ••• Methodo Theologia, P • scator Theses Theologi • locus 23: Thes: 50, in Act: 20, 28, P • il, 1. 1, 1 Tim. 3. & 4: Tit. 1.5, 7 Junius Controa • ares 5 lib. 1. c, 14. n 2.15 • 23, c, 25. n. 4.14. Contr. 3. l. 1. c. 8. n 24 • Contr • • . l 1. c. 5. n. 24. Morney Lord of P • essa Tractatus de Ecclesia c 11 Holan •• Syntagin • Theology l. 7, • . 11, Bucanus loc. 42.44. Theodorus Biblainder in Chromagr. Arinis Scult • tus Paraus, Selneccorus, Tossian •• An • onius Fayus, Io • nnis M • d •• lne •• s Eilhard • s Lubmus, George Weinrichus, •• d • ous willichus, Cosma • Megalianus Th • m • s Ven • torius Fredericus Baldwenus, & G • o • ge De • vadius on Phil. 1, 1.1. Tim. 3. & 4, 5, Tit. 1.5.7. De o • ficio & jus • i • Mi • istorum. & speculum S ••• rdot • Carolus M • linaeus Comment in Edict ••• . 2, Cont • pa • nas datus & abus •• Papa •• m p. 148, to 1 • 6 Petrus Molmeus de vo • a • ion • Mini • tror • m l, 1, c, 7, l, 2, c, 8, 9, 10, l, 3, c. 6, 3, 8, Daniel Chamierus Pa • stratiae, Catholica. Tom, 2 De O •• um: Pon • if l, 10, c, 6, l, 9, c, 14, 15, Gersom Bucerus de Gubernatione E • clesiae • M ••• l • , 1618, (in answer to Bishop Downhams Sermon, • nd his defense thereof, never yet replied to, the best and learnedest Treatise ext • nt of this Subject) with infinite others Doctor Reynolds (the greatest bookeman of his age or since) confessing that all learned men in foreign Nations • that he had read, and m • ny more (no doubt) which he had not re • d, treating of this Subject did all co • sent in this particular of the Parity of Bishops and Presbyters, by God's law, and divine institution
To these I might add many s • ottish writers a • Mr. John Knox in the troubles of Frank • ord in his History of the Church of Scotland & in his godly Letter to the faithful Mr. Robert Ro ••• : Comment in Ephes: 4, the whole • Synod of F •• se An 1591, & Patrick Ad • mso • Arch-Bishop of St An • rewes his Polinody therein • Andrew M • lium, in his M • s • , Patricij: Adamsoni Palniodia, & Cels • Commis • ionis A •• omia, printed Anno 1620. Altare Damascenum. A protestation. and Tre • tise from Scotl •• d Printed 1608. William Cooper Bishop of Gall •• a • in his Sermon before th • States Anno 1606. The review of the Synod of Perth, with sundry others concurring in the self same jud • meant with all eage • nesse that may be.
THE FIFTH SQVADRON.
T He 5. Squadron is compacted and made up of our own domestic writers, Martyrs, Authors, as well ancient as Modern, which I shall here digest i • to a Chronologicall order. Anno 390, we have Sedulius Scotus in 1 Tim, 3, & Tit • 1, Bibl. Patr. Tom. 5, pars 3, p, 516. b. 519. g • h. An. 5 • 0 Gilda • in his Acris co •• eptio Cleri Angli • 720: Venerable • eda in acta Apost • , 20, Tom: 5, Col: 657, Anno 790, Alcuminus de Divinis officijs c, 35: 16. Col, 1082, 108 • , Epistola 108, ad sparatu •• Comment in 5 John l, 5 • Cap: 25, Col. 547, 548, 549, Anno 1080: Anselm Arch-Bishop of Canterbury styled the Pope of the other world by Pope Vrb • n himself) Comme • t in Ephes. 4, Tom: 2, p, 280, in Phil: 1, in 1 Tim. 3.4. & Titus 1 ibid p. 295, 356, 357 Anno 1140 John Saresbury come. in Phil. 1. Tit • 1 • & 1. 4, 1 Tim. • .3 & de Nuges Curialium l, 8, c, 17, & 23, Anno 1160, Petrus Blesensis de I • stitutione Episcop, Tractatus & Epistola 18, 22, 25, 43, 64, Anno 12 40, Alexander Alensis Summa Theologia pars 4. qu. 26, n. 8, 9. Artic. 1. & in 1 Tim. 8. & Tit. 1, An: 1280. Richadus de media Villa. in l, 4. Sent: Distinct. 24. Anno 1320. William Occam in Catalogo Testium veritaris p, 524, 525, 589. & Fox, Acts, and Monuments, p, 358. 359, 360. Nicholas Lyra, in Act: 20: Phil. 1, 1. Tim. • , Tit. 1, & 1. Pet: 5, Anno 1350, Richard Fitz-ralph Arch-Bishop of Ardmagh, and Primate of all England, Responsio ad quest. Armenorum l: • 1, c. 1, to 7. & apud Thomam Waldensem Tom. 3. c. 60.61, 62, 63. & Catalogum Testium Veritatis p, 52 S. Robert Holcot in l, Sapienti • Sect. 77 & 163. An. 1380. our Famous English Apostle John Wycliffe Dialogorum l, 4, c. 15.16, 17, 18.26, apud Thomam Waldensem Tom, 1, l, 3, Artic. 3, c • 29, 30, 31, 32. Tom. 2 de Sa • cramento ordinis c, 117, 118. Tom. 3, c, 60, 61, 62, 63. Thomam Walsinghamum: hist. Angliae p. 299 • 303, 304, & Fox Acts and Monuments, p, 414 Geofry Chancer the P • oughmans tale patt 1, 2, Pierce Plowman passus 23, Anno 1390 William Swinderbg Martyr. Fox Acts, and Monuments, p, 430. 431, 434. See the Epistle of Lucifer to the Prelates &c, written about that age (thought to be his) Anno 1391, Walter Brute Martyr, Ibid p. 439. Anno • 2425. Sir John Old-Castle, the Lord C • bham Martyr. Fox Ibid p, 517, 518, 522, All the Disciples of Wicklif • e in that age, Walsingham hist. Anglia p, 372. & Antiqu, Ecclesia, Brit, p, 302, Anno 1430, Alexander Fabritius destructorium viviarum pars 4, c, 8 B, 5, 14. C, c. 21, B. C. I, c. 22. D, pars 5, c, 2, E, I, l, c, 14: A pars 5. c, 2, L. pars, 6.3, John de B • rgo, Pupilla Oculi pars, 6 7, c. • , C, D, William Lyndewood Provinc. Constit, l, 3, Tit. de vita & honestate Clerìcorum f, 86, cap, Ordinis, John de Aton Constit. Othonis de officio Archiepisc. f. 44. c, Archiepiscopum Reginald Peacock Bishop of Chichester, Anno 1457. de AEqualitate Ministrorum lib. apud Balaum Cent, 8, Scriptorum Brit, c, • 19. Anno 1536, John Lambert Martyr, Fox, Acts, and Monuments p, 1009, 1016, Cuthbert Tonstall Bishop of Duresme, and John Stokes by Bishop of London, in their Epistle to Cardinal Poole, Fox p. 972, 9 • 3. & in Thomas B • con his reports of certain men vol, 3, fol. 267, William Tyndale Martyr. Obedience of a Christian man in his works p, 114, 124. 133, 192, 185. The practice of Popish Prelates p. 342. 343. 354. & in Fox p. 986. Anno 1537. Thomas Arch-Bishop of Canterbury, Edward Arch-Bishop of York, John Bishop o • London, Cut • bert Bishop of Durham, Stephen Bishop of Winchester, Robert Bishop of Carlisle, John Bishop of Exeter, John Bishop of Lincoln, John Bishop of Bath, Rowland Bishop of Coven •• y and Lichfield, Thomas Bishop of Eli, Nichola • Bishop of Salisbury • John Bishop of Bangor, Edward Bishop of Hereford • Hugh Bishop of Worcester, John Bishop of Ro • hester, Richard Bishop of Chichester, William Bishop of Norwich, Robert Bishop of Assaph. Robert Bishop of Landaffe, Richard Wolman Arch-Deacon of Sudbury, William Knight Arch-Deacon of Richmond, John Bells Arch-Deacon of Gloucester, Edward Bonner Arch-Deacon of Leicester, William Skippe Arch-Deacon of Dorcet, Nicholas Heath Arch-Deacon of Stafford, Cuthb • rt Marshall Arch-Deacon of Vottingham Richard Corren Arch-Deacon of Oxford, William Cliffe, Geoffrey Dowes, Robert Oking, Ralph Bradford, Richard Smith • Simon Matthew, John Prynne, William Buokmaster, William May, Nicho • as Wottin, Richard Cox, John Edmunds, Thomas Robertson, John Baker, Thomas Barrett, John Hase, John Tyson Doctors, and Professors of Divinity and of the Civil and Canon Law, with the whole convocation house and Clergy of England in their Book entitled the institution of a Christian man dedicated by them to King Henry 8. Printed cum Privilegio subscribed with all their names, and ratefied by the Statute of 32 H, 8, c. 26. chap, of the Sacrament of order fol. 48. &c, an excellent place Anno 1538. Robert Barns Doctor of Divinity, and Martyr in his works, p. 210. Anno 1540. William Wragh • on in his h • nting and finding out of the Romish Fox among the Bishops in England, dedicated to King Henry the 8. and his reseue of the Romish Fox A Book entitled The Image as well of a true Christian Bishop as of a counterfeit and Anti-Christian Bishop, printed about the same time, Rode • icke Mors his Supplication or complaint to the • arleament of England, c. 19.20.
A supplication to King Hen • y the 8. by a nameless Author, against Bishops their jurisdiction, pride, Lordlinesse, and wealth, Henry Stalbridge his exhortatory Epistle to his most dear Country of England, against the Pompous Bishops of the same, as yet the true members of the great Antichrist of Rome, their most filthy Father Lincoln Ridley, his Exposition on Ihil. 1. John Frith a Pious learned Martyr, his answer to Sir Thomas Moore, p. 116. Nayler his answer to the epistle of the great Turk, printed Anno 1542. John Bale afterward Bishop of Osgris, in Ireland, his image of both Churches, on Apoc. c, 6, f, 42, 9, f, 56.65. c. 13. f. 105, 116, 118. c. 14, f. 126. c, 15, f, 150. c. 17. f, 160. King Henry the 8 himself in his Book inscribed • A necessary erudition for any Christian man published with the advise and approbation of all the Prelates, Clergy of England in their convocation and of the Lord's Spiritual and temporal; and nether house of Parliament with the Kings own Royal Epistle to all his loving Subjects before it Anno 1545. by virtue of the Statute of 32 H. 8. c. 26. chap. of the Sacrament of order Anno 1551. The Book of Ordination of Ministers and Bishops confi • med by act of Parliament 3 Ed. 6. c. 12.5. & 6. Ed. c. 1. & 8. Elizab. c. 1. (which prescribed the 1 Tim. 3. & Tit. 1. to be read at the Ordination of Ministers, and consecration of Bishops, and limits the self same form of Ordination, with the power of impesi • ion of hands both to Ministers and Bishop • ) Anno 1552. John Hooper Bishop of Gloucester, a Martyr expition upon the 8. Commandments, and in Psalm 23 • p. 40. Hugh La • ymer once Bishop of Worces • er, a Martyr in his Fourt • Sermon of the Plough, and in his 2.3.4. and 6. Sermons before King Edward the 6. Anno 1 •• 5. I • hn Pove • Bishop of Winchester, in his Apology against Thomas Martyr • c, 4. 5. f. 43.44.52.53. 59 Doctor Harpesfield Arch-Deacon of London, and John Bradford Martyr, Fox Acts, and Monuments, p, 1465, Anno 1558, Thomas Bomb • edge Martyr, Fox ibid p, 1856. John Elmer (after Bishop of London, ) in his Harborow for faithful Subjects, Master Bullingham, (after Bishop of Lincoln. ) in his Letter to Master Bull Det 5.1 • 64. Master Thomas Becon, in his cat • chisme, in his works dedicated to all, the Bishops of England by name approved, applauded by them, and Printed Cum Privilegio London 1562. vol. 499.500. The Doctrine of Christ and Anti-christ. vol. 3, f, 409, 4010. sect. 18.19, James Pilkington Bishop of Durham, Exposition on Agge c, 1. verse 1, 2, 3.4, 9.12.13. c. 2. v. 1, 2, 3. 4.9.10.11. on Obidias v. 7.8. and in his Treatise of bu • ning Paul's Church.
Incomparable John Jewel Bishop of Salisbury, defense of the Apology of the Church of England, Edit, 16.10. part 2, cap: 3, divis: 5. c: 4: divis, 2, cap, 5, divis: 1, cap: 7, divis, 5, cap, 9. divis: 1, p 99.100, 101.196: 202, &c, William Alley Bishop of Exeter, in his poor-man's Library, part 1, Miscellanea Pr • lect, 3. f. 95, 96. Printed cum Privilegio Edit. 2.1571. Alexander Nowell Dean of Paul's, his Reproof of Do • man's Proof LONDON 1565. cum privilegio f. 43.44.45. Doctor Lawrence Humfryes Regiu • Professor of Divinity in the University of Oxford, Puritano papismi Confu • atio : ad Rat. 3. p. 262.263 John Ke • ridge his Sermon on 1 • im. 3: 1, 2, 3, London 1578, John Whitgi • t Arch-Bishop of Canterbury against Cart-wright, p, 353, Master Cart-wright in his second Reply against Whit-gist, Anno 1585. • Tract,. 8, of Arch-Bishops, and Bishops p, 404, to 616. CONFVTATION of the Remish Testament on Acts. 20. sect. 4, • hill. 1, sect. 1, 1. Tim. 3. sect. 2. Tit. 1, sect. 2, Doctor William Fulk against Brislow motive 40 against Gregory Martin, London, 1583, p, 172. Confutation of the Rhemi •• Testament, on Tit. 1, sect 2, phil. 1, sect 1. Master John Fox in his Acts and Monuments, (prescribed to be had in every Arch-Bishop, Bishops, Archdeacons, Deans, and Prebend residentiaries house & in every Cathedral and Collegiate Church by the Canon • made in the Synod of London, Anno 1571) Edit 1610, p, 216, 358, 359. 360, 414, 430, 432, 434, 439, 517, 518: 599, 625, 961, 972, 1009, 1016, 1465, 1856 both in the text and marginal Notes. Doctor William Whittaker Regius Professor of Divinity in the University of Camb • id •• : Contra Duraum l, 6, sect: 19, Responsio ad 6, Rationes camp • ani Rat: 10. p, 122, 141, Contr, 2, q • . 5. c, 7, contr, 4, qu, 1, c, 1, Master P • ilip Stu • t, his display of corruptions near the end.
The • ee hive of the Romish Church oft printed and lately reprinted Anno 1635. passing on • most learned Doctor John Rayn • lds in his conference with Hart Anno 1584, London 1609 c, 3, divis: 1. p, 100, 101.105. c, 4, divis: 2, p, 122, 123, c, 6. divis: p, 185. divis: 3, p, 218, c. 8. divis 3 p, 4 • 1, divis: 5, p, 540, 541, and his Letter to Sir Francis Knolles, in refutation of Doctor Bancrof • s Sermon at Paul's-Cross 9. Feb. 1588, dated s • pt. 19. 1598 Doctor A • dr •• willes Synopsis Papisini, The 5 general Controversy. Qu: 3, Doctor Thomas Bilson, after Bishop of Winchester in his true difference between Christian Subjection and unchristian Rebellion Oxford 159 • , p, 125, 126. John Bridges Bishop of Oxford, his defense of the Princes Supremacy p. 359.
The Petition to Queen Elizabeth, p, 7 20, 21: Discursus de Gubernatione Ecclesiastica. Anno 1584: Thoma • Whete • sall, his discourse of the corruptions now in question: London 1607 Doctor Richa • d Field, of the Church. l. 5, c, 27, Master Richard Hooker, his Ecclesiastical Polity •• 5, sect, 7. • , Tho: Wilson his Christian Dictionary, Title Bishop, Doctor Henry Airay Sermon 2. on Phil, 1, 1, Doctor Thomas Tailor in his Commentary upon Titus 1 v: 5, 7: p, 121, 122, Mr: Robert Parker De Politia Ecclesiastica Christi & Hiorarchia, apposita 1614, a learned discourse Paul Bayne his answer to Bishop Down • ham his consecration Sermon, Doctor William Ames, in his Bellarminus enervatus. Printed by License at Oxford Anno 1629. Tom, 2, l, 3, c, 3, 4 • Iamss Peregrin his Letters Patents of the Presbytery Anno 1632. Doctor John Bastwicke his Flagollum Pontificis & Episcoporum La • ialum & his Apologeticus with above 40, Anonymous T • eatises that I have seen; All these unamiously testify; that Bishops and Presbyters by God's law and divine institution are all one equal and the same; That the superiority of Bishops over other Ministers is only of human and canonical institution long afte • the Apostles most of them condemning it as Anti-Christian, unlawful. Diabolical, pernicious, to Religion, & the Church of God, & the cause of all the tyranny, schisms, corruptions, disorders, errors, abuses that now infest the Church or hinder the power, the purity of Religion and progress of the Gospel.
To these I might accumulate the Statute of 25, H. 8 c, 19, 20, 21, 26, H, 8. c, 1, 27, H • 8, c, 15, 31, H. 8, c, 9.10, 37, H 8, c, 17, 1, Ed. 6, c, 21, & 2: Phil & Marie c, 8, 1 Eliz c. 1, 5, Eliz. c, 1, 8, Eliz. c. 1. The Patents of 31 H, 8, pars 4. to enable Bishops to consecrate Churches, Chapels, and Church-yards with the Kings License first obtained of 36 H. 8 pars 13. to Robert Holga • e Arch-Bishop of York, to enable and authorize him to keep a Metropolicall visitation, the Patents for the creation of the Bisho • rick • of Oxford, Gloucester, Bristol, Peter •• roug • , and Westminster, An. 34, & 35, H, • , the Patents of Miles Goverdake, Bishop of Exeter, John Povet once Bishop of Winchester, and John Story Bishop of Rochester, 5, E. 6, pars Prima, and of all the other Bishops made in his Rain, by virtue of the Statute, of 1 E. 6, c, 2. wiih all the High-Commission Patents grounded on 1 Eliz, c. 1. all which expressly resolves, That all manner of Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction, whereby Bishops are extinguished from, and elivated above ordinary Ministers, is wholly vested in, and forever, inseparably united and annexed to the imperial Crown of this Realm: that our Arch-Bishops, Bishops, Arch-Deacons • and other • cclesi • sticall Persons have no manner of jurisdiction Ecclesiastical, but only by, under, and from the Kings Majesty, that they ought to have the jurisdiction delegated and divided to thē by special Letters Patents and Commissions under the Kings great Seal to execute the same, not in their own names and right, but only Nomin • vice, Authoritate nostris Regijs (as King Edwards, Patents run) in the Kings own name right and Authority, as his Officers and subs • itutes, making out all their Proces, Citations, Excommunications, Commissions o • Administration, Probate of wills, and writs of Iur • Patron •• us &c: in the Kings name only, and under his Seal of Arms, not their own under pain of imprisonment and a premunire; for the neglect and willful contempt whereof all our Bishops and their Officers have encurred several Premunires to the forfiture of all their temporalities, goods, estates, and liberties to his Majesty, who may much enrich his Exchequer thereby.
All which Acts and Patents judicially condemn and overturn our Bishops pretended superiority, over their fellow Brethren by a divine right, the very claim whereof alone makes them all liable to a Premunire and mere perjured persons both to God and the King, being directly contrary to the very oath of Supremacy, prescribed by 1 Eliz, c, 1, which every Bishop oft times takes, and every graduate and Clergy man whatsoever who must either abjure this pretended Ius Divinum with which they would support the Hierarchy, or prove: perjured disloyal Subjects to their Sovereign.
Having thus presented you with this large Catalogue of Authorities proving the parity • quality, and identity of Bishops, and Presbyters by divine right and institution.
I shall now challenge all our great swelling • relates, and their s • attere • s jointly and severally ( • s • ecially the two Arch-Bishops who have made so many throsonicall brag • s of the proof of their divine Title in open Court befo • e thousands of people) to produce a contrary Catalogue of Auth • rities of thes • several kinds eviden • ing thei • divine pretended right, supe • io • ity and jurisdiction over other Minis • e • s, • f they are able to do it and to give a satisfactory, answer to this Treatise, I shall su • s • ib • to their opinion, and recant what I have written.
But if they cannot perform • t, (as I am certain they are altogether unable) then let them retract their former vain glorious vaunts • and abjure their pretended Ius Divinum by subscribing to that truth, (which they are unable to contradict) and laying down their Bishoprics at (least their Rochests • ) as they have ofttimes solemnly protested they would do.
If they can or will do neither, they must give all the world leave to pass this censure on them.
That they have neither that learning truth or honesty in them as hitherto they would make the world believe they had •
And that they may have no starting hole to evade: I shall in as few words as may be, answer what ever they can Object for themselves out of any undoubted A • tiquity which is but this •
That Acce • s was bran • ed for an Heretic by Epipha • i • s and Augu • tine, for affirming Bishops and Presbyters to be equal one to the other: by divine insti • ution:
This is all that either the Papists or our Prelates do or can allege for their Hierarchy out of the Fathers or Antiquity; and this in truth is a good as nothing.
For first this opinion of Arius was never condemned as Heretical, by any Counsel or Father whatsoever, but only by Epiphanius, who alone is insufficient to brand or make any man an Heretic. Saint Augustine indeed (if the Book be his cites this opinion of his, out of Epiphanius in his Book de haeresibus, c, 53, yet he brands it not as an Heresy, but stiles it Proprium Dogma in express terms to wit, his proper assertion (and his own too) taxing him only of Heresy for • siding with the Arians in their branded heresy, Isiodor Hispalensis & Gratian reciting the Heresy of Arius makes no mention a all either of this as an Heresy or error in him, passing it over in silence and expressly aver • ing it thenselves as a truth.
Wherefore no ancient Counsel or Author whatsoever but Epiphanius branding it either for an heresy or Error. I see not well how it should be so esteemed.
[ 2] Secondly, this hath been the constant received Doctrine both of Christ and his Apostles, of all the Fathers and learned Orthodox writers, in all ages as the precedent Catalogue witnesseth, therefore no Heresy or Error, as Epiphanius and some few of late (out of him alone) have rashly deemed it.
[ 3] Thirdly, it cannot properly be called an Heresy, because the superiority of Bishops over other Ministers, by a d • vine institution, as no fundamental point of faith, neither hath it any foundation at all in Scripture, as I have elsewhere manifested. Therefo • e it is most absurd to call it an heresy.
Fourthly, Epipha • ius there condemns [ 4] Arius as much for reprehending and censuring Prayer for the dead, as for affirming Bishops and Presbyters to be equal.
But this our Prelates must confess (unless they renounce this Doctrine of our Church) was no Error or Heresy in Arius but rather in Epiphanius, why not therefore the other.
Fifthly, Epiphanius himself doth not [ 5] conde • ne A • rius his opinion in this particular for an Hereticko but only as a fond opinion (as his words) E • quod tota res stu • titiae plena est apud prudentes manifestum est.
Sixthly, St. Jerome • Nazia • zen, Basel [ 6] Sedulius Ambrose, Chrysostom, and Augustine taught the same Doctrine that Arius did, at or about the same time, but they were never taxed of Heresy or Error for it either then or since: why then should A • rius only be blamed who argues just as Jerome doth, producing the same Sc • ipture to prove his assertion as Jerome • hath done in his Epistle to Evagrius & on Tit. 1.
Seventhly, Epiphanius his refutations [ 7] of Arius his Arguments and opinion is very ridiculous, false, and absurd.
For first he saith, that Presbyters then had not the power of ordination, neither did they use to lay on hands, in the election and Ordination of Ministers, which is a mere falsehood, as Jerome in Soph. c. • . with the • th. Counsel of Carthage, witness, and I have elsewhere manifested at large.
Secondly, he saith that Presbyters had [ 2] no voice in the Election of Bishops and Ministers, which is contrary to all Antiquities, extant, and a most palpable untruth.
Thirdly, he saith that there were then more Bishops then Presbyters and men sufficient & worthy enough to be made Bishops but no • Presbyters, and therefore the Apostle writing to the Philippians and others makes mention only of Bishops, not of Presbyters, because they had then Bishops but not Presbyters.
A miserable ridiculous, answer, which subverts that he contends for, and constitutes Bishops without any Ministers under their command or jurisdiction • whence it will necessarily follow. That seeing the Apostles instituted Bishops without Ministers under them, a • d more Bishops then Presbyters, there ought now to be no Presbyters subject to Bishops, but Bishops to be pl • ced in every church • without any Ministers under • hem, but Deacons only and more Bi • hops then Ministers, which I presume the Lordly Prelates will not grant, for this would over-turn not only their Lordships, but their • ioces • e and Episcopalities
Fourthly, he saith that the Apo •• les first constituted Bishops only in the Church, with • ut Elders and then they afterwards elected Elders as they f • und them worthy, which is contrary to St • Jerome and • ll antiquity averring that Elders were first ordained in every Church, 〈◊〉 14 • 23, Tit. 1, 5, and that they afterward elected a Bishop out of themselves.
[ 5] Fifthly, he saith that the Apostles used to write to the Bishops of one Church in the plural number, when there was but one Bishop there, which is very improb • ble yea contrary of all other expositors, on • hill. • . 1. Tit. 1, 5, 7, Act. 20, 17, 2 • .
[ 6] Sixthly, he peremptorily determines Timothy to be a Bishop which I have elsewhere proved false, and f • om this false ground would prove Bishops and Presbyters distinct.
Seventhly, he interprets an Elder [ 7] in the 1 Tim. 5.1, to be a Presbiter which most Fathers else expound only to be an ancient man.
[ 8] Eighthly, he would prove Timothy a Bishop and Bishops to be Superior too, and distinct from Presbyters, because Paul exhorts him not to rebuke an Elder, but to exhort him as a Father, and not to receive an accusation against an Elder, but under two or three witnesses, which are gross inconsequence (as I have else where manifested) so that Epiphanius whilst he goes about to prove Arius his assertion still of folly steps into many Errors, follies, and absurdities himself, as Bellarmine is enforced to confess, though desirous to make the best of it.
In a word then as all the forecited Authors in general, • o in special, Chemnitz examen Concilij Tridentini part 4. de Ordinis • acramento, Danaus in Augustium de haresibus c. 53, Theodorus Bibliander, in Chronagr. Bucanus l • corum come. c, 32, Magdeburgenses cent. • , c. 5. de haresibus Beza de diversis ministorum gradibus c, 22. Bersomus Bucerus de Gubernation • Ecclesia p, 2 •• , to 29 • . Bishop Io •• ll defense of the Apology part 2, c. 9. divis, 1. p: 196 202. Doctor Humphry conf • tat Puritan • , Papismi ad Rat. 3, p, 261.262. Doctor W • itake • c • ntr. Duraum l, 6. sect, •• ad ratio 10 Campiani Resp. Contr. lib. • . qu. 5. c. 7. Doctor Fulke, and Mr. Cartwright confutation of the Remish Testament Phil. 1. 1. Bishop Bridges in his defense of the Princes Supremacy, p. 359. Doctor Will • t Synopsis Papismi contr. 8. qu. 3. part 2. Dr. Reynolds in his Letter to Sir Francis Knolls and to Michael Medina a Papist • de Sacr. hom. Orig. l. 1 • c. 5. & Doctor Arms in his Bellarminnus enarvatus Tom. 2. l 3 c, 4. (to omit others) do all jointly acquit A •• ius both • rō the guilt of Heresy or Error, in thi • very point, and tax Epiphanius for censuring him without the judgment of a Synod or of the Church, condemning his answers to Arius his reasons as notoriously absurd & impertinent yea as foolish & Childis • worthy to be hissed and derided I shall therefore conclude as doth our learned Whittaker, in this case; verily if to condemn prayers for the dead and to equ • ll Presbyters • with Bishops be heretical. Nihil Catholicum esse potest, Nothing can be Catholic, so far as it from being either an Heresy or Error as o • r absurd Prelates and their Sycophants Pretend.
If they object the Authority of Ignatius that he advanceth Bishops above Presbyters commanding them to obey the Bishops as the Apostles obeyed Christ, and willing the people to be subject to their Bishops as to God and Christ, and to their Elders as to Christ's Apostle • s: therefore in his days Bishops were Superior to Presbyters.
To this I answer, that these Epistles of Ignatius are false and spurious as many of our learned men have proved at large, therefore of no Authority.
Secondly, it is clear by Acts 10.2 • Phil. 1. 1. Tit. 1, 5, 7. that in Ignatius his days Bishops & Presbyters were all one both in Title, office, and jurisdiction: that there were many Bishops in every chief City and Church, not any sole • ishop paramount the Presbyters, over one or many Churches: and that Dioc • san Bishops were instituted long after the Apostles and therefore after Ignatius his days (who lived in the Apostles age) as all Authors forecited accord and the whole Clergy of England, in their Institution of a Christian man dedicated to King Henry the 8 resolve in direct terms, These Epistles therefore of Ignatius which spe • k of one Bishop in a • hurch, distinct • rom and superior to Presbyters must needs be • orged.
Thi • dly, Ignatius in these Epistles makes Bishops successors to Christ and to s • and in his stead, and Presbyters to succeed the Apostles, whereas all others ma • es them successors to the Apostles only, not to Christ, who le • t no successor or Vicar general behind him, b • t remains hi • self forever the High Priest, chief Shepherd and Bishop of our S • ules, and hath promised to • e with us always even to the end of the world: This therefore ma • es his Authority but suspici • us and co • te • ptible.
Fourthly, Ignatius hath not o • e word in him that Bishops are superior to •• e • biters • y any divine l • w or i • stitution • (the thing in question) therefore his Authority (if ge • uine) proves nothing for the oposites.
Fifthly, Igna • ius equals Bishops and Presbyters both in jurisdiction, rule, and Authority, for • pist. • . ad • ral •• anus he writes thus: • ut be ye subject to the Presbyters as to the Apostles of Christ: for the Presbyters are a certain conjoined Sessions and • ssembly of Apostles Epist. 6. ad Magnesianes • rebyteri president • oco Sinatus Apostolis The • resbyters rule in the place of the Senate of the Apostles. Epist. 10. ad Symenses. Do ye all • ollow the College of the presbiters as Apostles: Now if Presbyters succeed the Apostles in the government o • the Church, & all are to be Subject to them, to follow them as Christ's Apostles, then certainly • hey are equal at least to Bishops, who at the highest are by God's institution only to be obeyed and followed but as Christ's Apostles not to be pre • erred before them, if equalized with them, as the proudest Prelate of them must acknowledge and and the Fathers witness.
Sixthly, Ignatius confesseth that the Churches in those days were not ruled by the Bishops as they are now but by the College Senate and Synod of the Elders, & communi Praesbyt • oum concilio as Jerome and all other after him affirm the Presbyters therefore had then equal and joint authority with the Bishops even in point of Jurisdiction & governments and did r • le and govern, the Church in common with them, therefore the Bishops were not then Lord's Paramount, as now they ma • e themselves, but equal and one with them, yea their Colleagues & companions as Ignatius and the • our • h counsel o • Ca •• h • ge style thē.
Seventhly, his words that they sh • uld • e s • bject to the Bishop as to God and Christ, if rightly understood ma • e nothing for the Prelates Hiera • chie • • or Saint Paul Ephes. 6, 5.6, 7. co • mands servants to be obedient unto them that are their Masters according to the flesh, with • ear and •• embling in singleness • e of heart as unto Christ, not with eye-service as • en pleasers but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from his heart, with good will, doing service unto the Lord, and not to men, &c. Is therefore every Master a Bishop, equal unto Christ, and superior in inrisdiction and degree to Presbyters No, So Polycarpus in his Epistle to the • hilippians chargeth them to be subject to their Elders as unto God and Christ using the same words of Elders as Ignatius doth of Bishops. Are Pre • byters therefore Paramount Bishops, and succes • o • s to Christ himself? I trow not Ignatius his meaning therefore is not, that Bishops are as high above Presbyters and the people as God and Christ are above the Apostles (as some ambitious Prelates fancy) but only that we must obey Bishops in all things that they command and prescribe us out of God's word, as far • orth as we would obey God or Christ himself, for he that heareth them, heareth Christ himself, and he that despiseth them, despiseth God and Ch • ist himself. Luke 10.16. 1 Thes. 4 • 8. In this manner likewise are we to be subject to every Minister whatsoever • Heb. 13.17.7.1 Thes. 2.13. This therefore proves nothing for the Prelates superiority over other Bishops, especially since this Igna •• us himself Epist. 5 chargeth the Trallians to reverence De • cons (in • e •• or to • resbyters) as Christ himself, whose Vicars they are. As for those extravagail expressions of Ignatius Episcopus typum Dei Patris • mnium ge • ut, quid enim aliud est Episcopus quam is qui • mni •• incipatu & protestate Superior est & quod homini licet pro viribus imitator Christi Dei factus, (and the like) on which same ground both the Popes and Prelates Monarchy, they are so ridi • ulous, • alse, ambitious, and hyperbolical, as favor neither of Ignatius or any Christian, but rather of a mere papal and Anti-Christian spirit • discovering these Epistles to be none of his, and those • rela • ts who ass • me these speeches to themselves to be none of Christ's Mat. 11.29. All which considered • this forged A • tiquity will stand thē in no stead at all, to prove them superior or distinct from Presbyters by any divine institution, and other Antiquity, making for them I find not extant.
That Presbyters and Bishops by God's law and Ordination are both one and the same & of equal authority and jurisdiction as all these authorities resolve, I shall undeniable manifest by this one Argument.
Presqyters by the express resolution of the Scripture have the very name, and not so only but the very office of Bishops Act. 20.17, 28. P •• l. 1, 1, 1. Tim. 3.1 • to 5. Tit. 1, 5. to 1 • . the same mission, and commission, the same function, charge, Ordination, and quallification. Matth. 28.19.20. 1 Tim. 3, 1. to 7. c. 4.14. c. 5 17. 2 Tim. 4.1, 2, 1, Pet. 5, 1, 2, 3. Tit. 1, 5. to 12. neither doth the Scripture in any place make any difference distinction, or superiority between them, or attribute any power to the one, that it doth not to the other, • s the premises evidence, and Matth. 20 25.26, 27, 28. Mar. 10, 42, 43: 44 Luk. 22.25.26.
Therefore by God's law and institution they are one and the same, and of equal authority power and jurisdiction in all things.
As for that distinction in power, precedency, and jurisdiction, whi •• hath since been made between them it hath proceeded, partly from Canons and constitutions made by Bishops themselves, partly by mere usurpation, and encrochment, but principally from the grant and largeness of Christian Princes, who as they erected Bishoprics and Diocese and multiplied them or divided them as they saw occasion, so they limited and granted them all that Episcopal power, and jurisdiction whereby they were distinguished from, or advanced above Ordinary Ministers, as appears by the Original Charters of the foundations and erections of our own English Bishop-rickes, the forecited Statutes, and by our own and foreign Histories, Now that jurisdiction and superlority thus acquired, is but mere and human not divine. Again Bishop-ricks are mere h • mane institutions directly contrary to the Holy Ghost, who ordained many Bishops in every Church and City, not one Bishop over many (which he can never well instruct, rule, and oversee) Acts 20. 17.28, 1 Tim. 5.17. P • il. 1, 1, Tit. 1 • 5, 7. 1 Pet. 5, 1, 2, 3. Now that Episcopal jurisdiction which distinguishet • Bishops • rom Presbyters. was created with and annexed to their Bish • pricks, yea it is delegated bot • by the • ing to Lay Commi •• ione • s and visitors, and by Bishops themselves to Officials commi •• a • ies and mere Lay men 26. H. 8. c. 1.31. H. 8, c, 9, 37. H. 8, c, 17.1 • , 6, c. 2.1 Eliz, c, 1. Therefore it is merely human, and belongs not to Bishops by any divine right, neither is it peculiar unto them alone, Moreover Bishoprics with all Episcopal ju • isdiction; incident to them have been usually granted here • o • ore by our Kings of England to their Chancellors, Trea • u • ers, Secretaries, Kinsmen, and temporal O • hcers, being mere Lay-men, as an advancement and augmentation only of their temporal revenues, and civil temporal things. And in Germany at this day they are given to Dukes, Earls, and Nobles, yea to Children and in • ants only as a temporal dig • ity and revenue. There • o • e they are • nly temp • rall • ffices and revenues, and mere hu • ane in • titutions which may well be spare • in the Church, not divine o • God's and Christ's institution, Moreover most of the re • ormed •• otes • ant churches be • ond the 〈…〉 the Re ••• ma •• n 〈…〉 Bishoprics and Dioce • an Bishops as Anti-Christian, and human in ••• tutions pernicious to the Church of Christ, and to the power pu • ity, and progress • e of the Gospel, making Bi •• ops proud, Lordly, idle, Luxu • ious, covetous, Tyrannicall, Symoni • call, Seditious, Sch • smatica • , • pp • essive, vindictive, profane, impious, lascivious unchas • , per • ideous, rebellious & • recherous to their Sovereigns, Therefore certainly they are no divine insti • ution, use • ull or necessary for God's Church, and people, o • which they have been the bane and ruin in all ages as our Acts and Monuments of Martyrs testify, they being the Authors of all perse •• tions in our Church, and of all our Martyrs Buchery & blood • shed. And in truth our Kings in all former ages have • eeme • Bishops not all • oge • her so useful or necessary in our Church, as some now make them, which may appear by the long vacancies, o • •• ve • s Bishoprics in sundry ages, of which I shall give you a • ho •• ta •• , and so conci •• e An •• 653 After the death of Honorius Arch-Bishop or Can • erbury, that See continue •• void 18 months Ann • 669. After Adeota • us • is death it remained vo • d almost 4 years, An 690. Af • e • Th • odorus his death it was void almo • t • u •• two ye • res • and as long a • ter • a •• yus • ecease An 734: After • u • hber • s death An 758. • t was vacant above one year. Anno 762 two years a • ter • regwins death An 790, 3 years a •• er Lamb • r • s death An 830, a • ove one Yeare after W •• reds decease An 958: almost 3 years after Odo his expi • ation An 1089. 4 ye • res after La ••• aches departure An 1109 5 years after An • elmes death An • . 36. 2 years after Wi • liam Carke • A • . 11, • , • 3, yea • s a • ter Ri • hard We •• er • ne • , An 1242, 2 years a •• e • St. • dm • n • An 1270 • s long a •• er • oni • ac • An 1502, 2 years after 〈◊〉 Dean, A • 15 • 8, o • e • ear a •• e • 〈…〉 A • 644, a •• er Pau •• nus the 〈◊〉 A •• h-Bi • h • p 〈◊〉 • o • ke • that • ee w • s vacant 20, ( •• me say 3 •• ye • es An 1114 s •• ur, years af • er ••• mas the second An 1140 • lmost 2 • ears a • ter T ••• stan An 〈◊〉 10 Years after Rogers de • th • An. 1213. 4 Yea • es after 〈◊〉 , An 1255, 13, • loneths after W ••• e • G • ay, An • 13 • 3, after • homas de ca • bridge, above 2, years. An 315, • Years after • illiam •• Greenfiel • A •• 1240 • 2 ye • res af • er Wi • liam de Mel ••• , An, 1405, 2 years and an ha •• e a • te • 〈◊〉 S •• ope, that Arch-traitor benea • e • for his Tre • son. An • 1423, 2 Yeares, after Henry Bowe • • An 14 • 9. almost 4 Yeares after John K • mp, An 1464, 2 Yeares after William B •• th, almost a • ull yea •• both after Cardinal Wolpe, and •• • ard Lee, An • 1559, ••• er •• c • olas Heath. 2 years An • 1568 after Thomas • oung, above one year. Thus long have both our Arch-Bishoprics been, void in several age • without any prejudice to Church or State Anno 619 after Mellitus his translation from London to Canterbury, that see continued void 31 Ye • res together, An • 64 2 Yeares An: 1133. 7 Yeares a • ter Guilbert An. 1187 alter Gilbert Fol • o • above 2 years An: 1279 above one year a •• er John de Chishul. An: 1303, almost 2 years after Richard de Granef • rd. Anno 1501 after Thomas Sa • age above two years An 1171 after the death of Henry de Bloyes, the Bishopric of Wincheste • was void above 3 years An 1238, after Peter de la Roch 5 • years • An 1243. after William de Rawley 16 Ye • res, Ethelmanus holding it 9, years without consideration Anno 1259 after Henry de Wengham 6, years, An 1492, after Peter Coventry above one Yeare An 1500 after Thomas Langton 2 years An: 1528 a • ter Richard Fox 2 Yeares An 1530. after Cardinal • Woolsey, almost 4 yea • es, An 1131 after the death of H • rnaus first Bishop o • Eli, that See was void above 2 years, An: 1169 after Negellus the Second Bishop 5 years An 1197, afte • William Longchamp, above one Yeare. An 1214, after Eustachius above 5 years, An 1256, after William de Kil • enny above one year, An 1297, after William de Luda 2 Yeares. An 1373 after John Barnet 2 years An 1434 after • hillip Morgan 3 years • An : 1486 after I •• n • oorion 3 years An 1500 a •• er I • hn Alcocke one whole year, An : 1533: as long after Nicholas West; An : 158 • after Richard Coxe almost 20 years together • n 11 • 7, after the death of Ro • ert de Chisney the 4 Bish • p o • Lincoln, that See continued v • cant almost 17 years, Ce •• ry • en • y the 2, his base S • nne ta • ing the • rofits thereof without any consecration An 1184, af • er Walte • de C •• st • rtiis 2 • ears, An, 1200 after St. • ugh almost • years, • n 1206, after William de Bl • yes 3 ye • res, An, 1490, after John Rus • el 2 yea • es An 1513, after William Smith one year, An 1086 the Bishopric of Coventry and Lichf • eld was vacant 2 years, after the death of • eter, and as long An 1 • 27 after Robert • each, as long An 118 after Gi • acdus Puella, as long, An 1208, • fter Geof • ry de Muschamp, An 1238, almost 3 years after Alexander • e Sa • ensby An 1243, after Hugh Pateshul 2 ye • es, An 1386 as long after • ichard Scroope An 1490: as l • ng after John Hu •• e An 1099 after Os • ond his death the second Bishop of Salisbury that See was 8 years vacant An 1225, after Richard Poor 4 years, An 1 •• 0, 4 years a •• er Walter de la Wi • e, An 1588 3 years a • ter John • ierce, An 1596 2 years a • ter John Coldwell An 1166, the Bishopric of Bath and Wels upon the death of Robert continued void 8, years, 8 months, and 15 days An 1242 after Ioceline, 2 years, Anno 1262 as long after William Butt • n Anno 1503 as long after Oliver King, An 1547. as long after William Knight, An 1381 3 years after Gilbert Barkely An 1590, 2 years a •• er Thomas Godwin, An. 1103 the Bishopric of Exeter after Osber • us decease was vacant 4 years, Anno 1182 after Bartholmeus Iscartus 2, years An 1119 after William Herbert the last Bishop of Thelfords, death that See (now Norwich) was vacant 2 Yeares, An 1214, after John de Grey it was vacant 7 years, Anno 1222 afte • Pandulfus 3 yea • es, Anno 1236 after Rodulphus almost 3 years, and as long after William de Releigh, An 1240, after Henry Spencer An. 1406, • lmost 2 years, An 1095 after the death of Wolstan Bishop of Wor • hester, that See was vacant 2 yea • es An 1113, as long after Samson's, An 1123 almost as long after Theulphus, & An, 1179. after Roger An 1184, after William de Northale 5 years An 1198, after John de Constantijs 2 yea • es An • 1212, 〈◊〉 long after Mangere, Anno 1373, as long after William de Lyn, An 1417 as long after Thomas Pondrell An 1427 7 years after Thomas Polton Anno 1590, 3 years after Ednica Freat, An 1556 the Bishopric of Hereford, after Leoneyards death continued 4. years vacant, An, 1127, after Richa • d above 4 years An • 1167, after Ro • ert de Melim, above 6 years, An 1539 after John Skip above 13 years An, 1585 after Herbert West failing 17 years, An 1526 the Bishopric of Chichester was void almost 4 years, after John Reempale his death, An 1006, after Richard Fitz-James 2 yea • es, An 1235, the Bishopric of Rochester, after • enry de Sand • ords death, was va •• nt 3 years, An: 1277, 2 years a •• er Walter de Merton 1316 after Thomas de Waldham 3 years, An 1401, as long after John Boltesham • Anno 1535, after John Fisher 2, years, An: 1557, the new created Bishopric of Oxford, after the decease of John King first Bishop, there, was vacant 10 years, An 1568, af • er Hugh Carrow the 2. Bishop it was void 21. years together. An 1592, after John Underhill the third Bishop it continued void 11. years, so little want was there of a Bishop in that See, An • 1559, the new created Bishopric of Oxford, after James Brookes the third Bishops death was vacant three years • An 1578, as long after Edmond Cheyney. An 1558, the new created Bishopric of Bristol, after Paul Bush the first Bishop was vacant 4 • years • An: 1578, 3, years after Richard Cheyney which See continued void otherwise then by Commendani 31 years together. Anno 1593, it continued vacant 10 years together. So little need was there of a Bishop in this See, An 1397, the Bishopric of St. David's after John Gilberts death, was vacant 4. years, An: 1592 after Marmaduke Middleton almost 2 years: An: 1133, the Bishopric of Landa •• e upon Vrbans decease was void 6, years An: 1183, after Nicholas ap Georgant, 5, years An: 1240, after Elias de Radnor, above 4, years, An 1287, after William de Brews 9 years: An 1213, the Bishopric of Bangor after Robert of Shrewsbury was vacant 2 years, An. 1374, as long after John Gilbert, An: 1378, after John Swaffham 22, years • An, 1266, after 〈◊〉 the 1 of Bangor, that See was vacant two years, An: 1313, after Lewelin 6, years, Anno: 1406, after John Trevane 5, years, An 1439, after Robert 5. years, An 1017, after Aldhunus of Durham, that See continued void above 3 years, An 1097, as long after William Carlaypho An 1140. after Geoffrey Rufus above five years, An 1207, after Philip of Poitiers, above 10 years, An 1226. above 2 years the King threatening the Covent that they should have no Bishop in 7. years, An, 1237, after Richard Poor 2 years. An: 1249, the King threatened to keep it vacant 8, or 9, years, till (Ethelmare his half Brother (whom he commended to the Monks election) should be of age. An 1505, after William Severus 2 years, An 1587. after Ri • Ba • n • s, almost 2 years An: 1577, the Bishopric of Chester was vacant two years.
If then all our Bishoprics in several ages have been void thus, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 10, 15, 17, 20, and 30, years or more together at divers times (to omit all annual vacancies) without any prejudice to the Church or State, and with great benefit to the Kings of England, who enjoyed the temporalities in the mean time, t • en certainly Bishops are no such necessary creatures of divine institution, but that we may spare them all together, For if we may want them 2, 3, 5, 9, 10, 15, 20, 30, years without prejudice, Why not an Hundred? why not 500. years? yea why not altog • there, as they do in all reformed Churches, who have quite cacashierd them long ago? when as no Church can spare or want their Pastors and Ministers that are of God's institution above 6 months, at most After which if the Patron present not in the interim an able and sufficient Clerke the ord • nary by the common Law may collate, and may seqnester, the profits in the mean time for the officiating of the cure, which must be at no time intermitted or neglected because of divine institution, and so absolutely neces • ary which the Bishops are not • I shall close up this discou • se with a m • morable I resident of the D • nes, An Dom, 1537 Christian the third King of Denma •• e, removed and suppressed by public Edict, all the Bishops of his Kingdom, for their intolerable Treasons & Rebellions, abolishing their Bishoprics as contrary to our Savior's institutions, (the means that made them, Idle, proud, ambitious, unpreaching • relates, and seditious t • echerous Rebels to their • rinces, and instead of 7, Bishops of De • mark, he instituted 7, Superintendents to execute the office of Bishops, to give orders to others, and execute all Ecclesiastical af • ai • es, which 7, Superintendents, (Aug • st 26, 1537. ) • eceived • heir ordi • ation from John Bugenhagius ( • P • otestant minis • er) in the Cathedral of H • sina, in the prese • ce of the King, and Se • ate of the Kingdom, Lo • e • e all Bishops cashiered as false rebellious Traitors to their Sovereign, (as they have ever been in all States and ages, the • e having been more noto • i • us Traitors Rebells, and conspir • tors, of Bishops then of all other ranks of men in the world (as I • m able to ma • e good) as contr • ry to divine institution, and see not Iure divino, as they now bo • st, and Superinte • dents ordained by a mere •• es • iter in their stead, to confer orders unto others in all the Danish Churches. In the beginning of reformation in Germany and other places, Luther and other Ministers usually ordained Deacons and Ministers, and set out Books of t • e manner of Ordination without any Bishops assistance, which power of Ordination and imposition of hands hath, ever since been pr • ctised by Ministers in all reformed Chu • ches which have abandoned Bishops (such as ours are and ma • e themselves as contrary to God's word,) • atrick Adamso • (Ar • h-Bishop of St. Andrew's in Scotland, ) in his recantation publicly made in the Synod of Fi •• e, (April 8, 1591,) con • es • eth, that this office of a Diocesan Bishop Omne • uthoritate verbi dei destituitu • & solo politico h • minum c • n • mento • u • datur is destitute of of all authority from God's word, and is only • ounded in the political figment of men, out of which the primacy of the • ope or Antichrist • ath sprung, and is worthily to be condemned, bec • use the as • embly of the •• esbytery penes qu • m est j • risdictio & inspectio •• m in visitationibus tum in ordinationibus, which having the jurisdiction and inspection, both in visitations and in Ordinations, will perform all these things, with greater authority, piety, and zeal, then any Bishop whatsoever, whose ca • e is for t • e most part, intent not upon • od or his ••• ction, but t • e world which he especially serves, A 〈◊〉 bl • w to our prelates Hie • achie. For i • Bishops be not Iure divino and have no • oundation in the word of • od, the • the power of Ordinatiō belōgs not • to them Iure divino as they a • e Bishops neither can do or • ught, they to con • e •• e Orders as Bishops but • rely as they are Ministers: And if so (as is most certain,) Then this power of Ordination belongs not at all to Bishops as Bis • ops, but only as Ministers, and every Minister as he is a Minister, • ath as much right and authority to give o • ders as any Bishop whatsoever, the true reason why even among us at this day, Ministers ought to join with the Bishop in the imposition of hands, neither can our Bishops ordain any one a Minister, unless 3, or 4, Ministers at least, join with him in the Ordination and laying on of hands. This being an apparent •• uth, I shall hence from the Bishops own principles prove Presbyters Superior and greater then Bishops, in jurisdiction dignity and deg • ee.
These, say they, to whom the power of Ordination belongs of Right are •• eater in jurisdiction, dignity, •• d degree then those who have not this power, and the Ordainer higher in all these then the ordained,
But the power of Ordination belongs only jure divino to • resbyters as presbyters, not to Bishops, as to Bishops themselves, not, as Bishops, but Presbyters and Bishops when they ordain in a lawful manner, do it only as Presbyters not as Bishops.
Therefore Presbyters are Superior to Bishops in jurisdiction, Order, and degree, and Bishops themselves • arre greater in all these • as they a • e Presbyters, an office of divine •• nction, then as they are Lordly Prelates or Diocesan Bishops, a mere human institution.
Thus are our great Lord Bishops who vaunt of the weakness of puri •• ne principles, whereas th • ir Episcopal are far more feeble and absur • , wounded to death with their own weapons, and all their Domi • eering, swelling authority overthrown by that very principle, and foundation on which they have presumed to erect it, the ancient proverb being here truly verified, vis •• nsilij •• p • rs • ol • ruit s •• . I shall close • p this with the words of acute A • t •• ius S • d •• l, who after a large proof of Bi •• ops and presbyter • to be both • ne and the same by divine institution, winds up all in this m • nner. We conclude therefore, seeing that Superior Episcopal dignity is to be avouched only human institution, Tantum ess • h • m • ni iuris, that it is only of hum • ne right: On the contrary, since it is evident by the express • testimonies of Scripture, that in the Apostles times Bishops were the same with Presbyters jur • diuin • p • t • st • t •• ordinandi no • minus presbyt • ri • qu • m Episc • pis convenir • , that by God • law and divine right, the power of Ordination belongs as much to pre • biters as to Bishops.
I have now, I hop • sufficiently ma • ifested our Lordly prelates, Arch- • ishops, Dioces • n Bishops, distinct from presbyters to be none of God's institution being therefore: none of God's Bishop • , as they vainly pretend whose then must they be, not the kings • for th • n they are only Iur • human • which they have publicly •• s • l • imed i • Court • therefore certainly eithe • the Popes or the • evils or both, as many of the recited writers style thē, for I know no other that can claim or own them: wherefor being neither God's nor th • Kings, but th • Pope • or Devils • or both • what remains but that now at last they should be sp • red out of our Church • as no members at all of Christ's Church, or body • but of the Devil, Pope, or Antichrist of Rome (whose limbs and creatures in t • uth they are as Maurice d • Al •• d • , Henry St • lbrid •• and others • expressly resolves, and their actions past all dispute, discover many of them to be) yea as mere Individuum vaginus and mere unnatural monsters, they being neith • r Pastors nor members of any particular Church or congregation, as all other Christians are beside • themselves. I read in the great Dutch Chronicle written by an Augustine • Frier, that in the year of our Lord 1033, beyond Poland there was a strange Fis • taken, of the quantity, length, and breadth, and shape of a living man, adorned with a Bishop • Miter • a pastoral Staff, a Cassock, a white Surplice, a Chessible Sandals • Gloves • and all oaths Robes • and ornaments requisite to the Dignity of • Prelate, like a Bishop solemnly attired and prepared to say divine Service • his Cassocke might be well lifted up before, and behind, from the feet, to the knees, but not higher • and he permitted himself to be sufficiently • andled, and touched by many • but especi • lly of the Bishops of that Country • which Fish being presented to the King, and demanded in the Language of that Country • and of divers other • nations who he was, and answering • othing, albeit he had opened hi • mouth, giving reverence and hono • r to the Bishop • that were there in the Kings presence, one Monster and dumb unpreaching beast • saluting and respecting another, the King being a • gry when he had determined to commit him to prisō • or shut him up i • sone strong tow • r, the Fis • being very sorrowful at this news, thereupon closed his eyes and would by no means open them until the Bishops, of that Kingdom ( kneeling down before the king in the fish • s prese • ce, had with many prayers entreated and obtained of the King that he should be sent back again alive to the Seashore • where he had been taken • that God whose works are incomprehensible might show his nature and Acts, least otherwise a plague should there ensue, both to the King and his Subjects, which their suit the King had no sooner granted, but presently the • oresaid Monster opened his eyes, giving great thanks as it were to the King, and especially to those Bishops.
After with a Chariot being prepared to carry the Fish back again, the Fish in presence of an infinite multitude (of both sexes) ascending into it in a decent manner with the said Bishops, • ate down between them like • Domestical tame creature endued with reason.
The Bishops whiles they were yet f • rre off from the Sea, descended out of the Chariot, and the Fish like •• se • omming down from the chariot by himself, stood upon his feet and began to walk between two Bishops, putting one of his hands upon one Bishops shoulder • & the other upon the other Bishops • houlder, (so lovingly • id these Monsters embrace on the other) as if he had been • a reasonable creature, neither wondered he or was he moved with the tumult of the people • who flocked round about thē, but walked modestly.
When he was come to the Seashore he courteously beheld the Bi • hops and rout of people there present and craving leave to depart of the Bishops with all humility, by the gesture of hi • body, and obtaining it he thereupon went into the Seawater.
And going into the Water, on his feet as high as his belly (the Se • being hard • y to deep for him to wade in • turning himsel • e towards the Bishops, and people expending the end of this matter he bowed down his head in a most humble manner • bestowing a blessing on them with his right hand in form of • cross • and fo • thwith descended into the depth of the Sea after which he was no more seen of any man.
Thus the Historian ve • batim.
Now what should I make this strange dumb Devil or Monster, in the shape, the habit and attire of a Lordly Bishop, so courteous loving, and •• miliar towards these Lordly Bis • ops • and they re • iprocally thus to him, or what doth or could all this pretend But that Lordly Prelates with their pontificiall Mass-array, and muming disguises are mere monsters in God's Church, and for the most part as mute as thi • dumb or other fishes in the Pulpit opening their mouths wide ofttimes, to bite, yea devour their fellow Brethren, and God • faith • ull people with their teeth like so many ravening wol • es or Sea Monsters, but seldom or never piously to instruct thē w th their diligent, pious, gracious preaching tongues, and that therefore they shall one day and I hope that day is now at hand,) with all their Anti-Christian Pomp, Pride, Vestments, Trinkets, and masking massing disguised, be eternally cast out of the Church of God, sent back again to (the Sea of Rome ) from whence they came, and there so utterly drowned, that they shall never be seen nor heard of more in our or any other true Christian Church.
This hath been already fulfilled, not long after the appa • ition of this Monster in Denmark, and most of the reformed Churches beyond • he Seas, which cast out their Lordly Prelates, as mere Anti-Christian, dumb, mishappen, ravenous Monster,, devouring Christ's dear flock, and likewise in Biscaie among the Papists where Bi • hops a • e so execrable, to the people, that they will admit no Bishop so much as to come among, them or enter into their Territories, (such terrible mons • ers are they) insomuch that when Ferdinand the catholicie came in Progress thither accompanied among others • with the Bishop of Pamp • line, the people ar • se in Arms, drave back the Bishop and gathering all the dust which they thought he had trodden on • and • lung it • nto the Sea.
And certainly their late intolerable ty • anny, pride, amb • tion, cruelty, oppression, cove • uous • es, Popery, secularity (for now they are altogether secula • , not spiritual Lord's, injustice malice, persecutions, impieties, and monstrous prophannes, have deservedly made our Bishops as detestable as execrable to all sorts of English men (who now groan and languish under these outrageous dumb silencing and silent Monsters,) as ever • hey were, or are to Bis • ane • s, so as we shall doubtless shortly see their fatal final ruin who now seek nothing but the utter overthrow both of our Church, our State, and our Religion, as I will make good, at my uttermost peril, to all their faces, and prove it to their shame.
We know, that two of their Cathedrals, Eli & Chichester, where Bishop White and Montague, two late Innovaters and Champions of the Prelates, Lord it, were lately s • attered & much of them blown down, and that the Bishop of Lincolns chair with the fall of his study of Bugden shattered all to pieces, with a poor despicable instrument a sudden unexspected blast • of wind, all in one day on Novemb. 4 1636.
What is this and their present great wrath, and malice against God's people: but a certain prognosticke, that their time and Lording tyranny is short, and their total final ruin near at hand, though to carnal reason it seems impossible: and that a sudden unexpected puff of wind, (even the prayers, c • ie • , and tears, of those many Godly Ministers, and poor Christians they have lately si • enced, persecuted, oppressed, and still proceed to vex and grieve with all despite and cruelty, not withstanding all God • plagues, all late discoveries of • heir vileness, tyranny and injus • ice, shall shortly and suddenly overturn their Lordly Chaires, throw down their Epicureous Sees, Dismount their mushrom Lordships, unexspectedly sprung out of the earth, the dunghill, and swoln so great with pride and ambition, that they will be all head, yea heads and Lord's over all in Church and State affairs, and dash ( , these Babylonish brats of Rome in pieces so as they shall never recover or get head again.
In the mea • e time I shall pray and conclude all in the words of our English Litany •
From all our Lordly Prelates evil and mischief, from the crafts and assaults of the Devil, (who rules and works both in and by them) from their wrath and unjust damnations, in any of their courts and High • commissions, mere Spanish inquisitions,) from all their blindness of heart, their pride vain glory • and Hypocrisy, their envy hatred, malice, and all their uncharitableness, from all their sedition & privy conspiracy (with Rome Priests Jesuits and between themselves • to ruin, & root out our faithful preaching Ministers and Religion, and set up popery) from all their false doctrine and Heresy • (both in Press and Pulpit,) from their hardness of heart, against their poor persecuted and oppressed Brethren, against all God's mercies, threatenings, Judgments, a • d Plague • of late inflicted) and from all their contempt of God's word and commandments • in suppressing the frequent Preachers, and preaching of the one, and most insolent violation of the other, especially the 2, 4, 6th Command • men • s, by setting up Altars, images, crucifixes, crosses &c, & bowing down unto them, by idolizing their own canons • ceremonies, an • Romish Fopperies, by maintaining the open profanation of God's holy Sabbath, with all Heathenish sports and pastimes • and spurring men on headlong to this sin, and starving, murthering the very souls of thousands of God's people, by robbing them of their • pirituall • ood, and encouraging them to all sin and dissoluteness.) Good Lord deliver us And le • all the people say Amen.