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act_n	apostle_n	church_n	elder_n	5,779	5	10.2377	5	true

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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A09313	The letters patents of the presbyterie vvith the plea and fruits of the prelacie. Manifested out of the scriptures, fathers, ecclesiasticall histories, Papists, and sundrie other authors. By Iames Peregrin.	[Peregin, James].; Partridge, James, attributed name. aut	1632 (1632)	STC 19622B.5; ESTC S103890	43,655	62

he bids him vvrite to the Angel that is to the Pastor of the church of Ephesus and so of the rest because the Pastor as the principall man and a President in the congregation should propound and make it knovvne to the rest he being one vvhome it did a litle more concerne then the rest as he vvas Shepheard of the flock so one that should looke to such faults yet all the Elders of euerie church vvere also to looke to it as those that had share in the gouernment and things vvere determined by voices of all men members of the church The Epistles vvere vvritten to them all as appeares also by that to the church of Smyrna the deuill shall cast some of you into prison Vers 10.22 23. I vvill giue vnto euerie one of you according to his vvorks And vnto you I say the rest of them of Thiatira as many as haue not this learning c. VVhen he saith of some churches that they had kept his name and not denied the faith c. and of others that they had left their first loue or had them vvhich held the doctrine of the Nicolaitans of Balaam or the vvoman lezabel It is sensles to thinke that only the Angel of each church is commended or taxed The reproofes and incitements to repentance are not to him alone but to the church Paul speaking to the church of the Colossians Col. 4.17 saith Say to Archippus Take heede to the ministrie that thou hast receiued in the Lord that thou fulfill it He vvrit his Epistles vvherein their are directions for gouernment to the churches He vvilleth the church at Rome Rom. 16.17 to marke them vvhich cause diuisions and offences contrarie to the doctrine they had learned and to auoyde them In that greate busines Act. 15. the brethren vvere at the discussing of it the decrees vvent out in all their names It seemed good to the Apostles Act 15.22.23 and Elders vvith the vvhole church Letters vvere vvritten after this manner The Apostles and Elders and brethren vnto the brethren c. And in that it is said Vers 12. All the multitude kept silence and heard Barnabas c. All this shevves they had libertie to speake in due time if they had seene cause Act. 6.5 The saying pleased the multitude This shevves their consent and that they had voices For as Paul informed by the house of Cloe that there vvere diuisions among them 1. Cor. 2. conuinced them as an Apostle vvith vvords vvhich are the vvord of God so vvhen by them or by such others he vvas informed of the incestious Corinthian he conuinced them yet he referred the censure to the church Chap. 5.4 and vvould not doe the thing himselfe though as an Apostle he vvas a generall officer in all churches He vvisheth them to excommunicate him and after vvhen he had repented * 2. Cor. 2.7 to forgiue him It is true that the Keies of binding and loosing in this kinde vvere principallie giuen to the Pastors but ye see they did not excommunicate and restore vvithout the consent of the church And yet it is not meant hereby that this parochiall Gouernment should be ouerloaden vvith businesses much lesse vvith friuilous contentions For some things may be ended by the arbitration of tvvo or three neighbours and many causes are fitter for the common lavves and those courts vvhere the Kings Chancellour and other Iudges sit but only that such matters should be in the churches povver as are fit that the church should take care of them and iudge them So that this doth not ouerthrovv the authoritie of Christian Magistrates and their courts Neither can this be a cause of confusion making that vvhich is all mens busines to be no mans so that therevpon carelesnes should arise or pride and contention For vvee see that after this manner many things haue beene vvell discussed and determined in the high court of Parliament vvhere all things passe by voices as likevvise in ciuill corporations and common counsailes In vvhich things are best and most vncorruptlie carried vvhen men may speake their mindes freelie and are not oueravved by such greate ones as are the Bishops that haue povver to sit on their skirts that displease them For in this case men should thinke of that Mat. 23.8 One is your master euen Christ ye are brethren Doe ye not know that the saints shall iudge the vvorld 1. Cor. 3.6 chap. 2.15 He that is spirituall discerneth all things And thinke vvee then that they may not as vvell be fit Iudges of manners novv as they vvere in the Apostles time and the age next after them If it vvere once in vse men vvould soone be vvell enabled to the vvorke Besides the proofes out of Cyprian aboue mentioned Tertull. Apol. c. 39. lib. 3. contra a pist Parment Tertullian makes the officers to be only Presidents in the assemblie Hierom ad Demet. affirmes that the church it selfe hath right in excommunication as the Elders haue in other church censures Augustin thinks that it helpes much to the shaming of the partie that he be excommunicate by the vvhole church Zvvinglius Artie 8. explanat speaking of the contention vvhich hath bene vvhat a church is acknovvledges no other churches but 1. the companie of sure and firme beleeuers dispersed through the vvhole vvorld called the Catholick church And 2 seuerall congregations vvhich conueniently meete together in some one place c. of these he affirmes Christ to speake Mat. 18. Tell the church Peter Martyr in his common places Pant. 4. chap. 5. Sect. 9 making the church a Monarchie in respect of Christ an Aristocracie in respect of the Elders addeth also that because in the church there are matters of greate vveight and importance referred vnto the people as excommunication absolution choosing Ministers and the like it hath also a consideration of popular gouernment and vpon 1. Cor. 5.4 The Apostle as greate as he vvas vvould not excommunicate alone but did take counsaile vvith the church that the thing might be done by common authority VVhich notvvithstanding both Romish English bishops dare doe The Apostle indeede goes before the rest vvhich is the duty of the ancients of the church that the more ignorant multitude by their ●uffrages goeing before may be directed iudging Lib 1. de regno Christi cap. 9. Bucer affirmes that Paul accuses the Corinthians for that the vvhole church had not excommunicated the incestious persons Bastingius Loc. 4. quest 85. of his Catechisme speaking of the difference betvveene the tvvo keies that of preaching and the other of discipline placeth it in this that the former vvhich is of the preaching of the Gospel is committed to the ministers the other because it pertaines to the discipline of excommunication is permitted to the vvhole church I omit that vvhich Mr. Foxe Mr Cartvvright and other English men had said to this purpose because it vvould be too long for

gouernment shall be vpon his shoulders He shall smite the earth vvith the rod of of his mouth And so they are subordinate Shepheards and Bishops to feed the flock to keepe and reduce the sheepe vnto the obedience of the chiefe Shepheard Bishop of theire soules 1. Pet. 2.25 chap. 5.4 vvhich is Christ In regard vvhereof the vveapons of theire vvarfare are not carnall but mightie through God to the pulling downe of strong holds 2. Cor. 10.4 casting downe imaginations and euerie high thought that exalteth it selfe against the knowledge of God and bringing into captiuitie euery thought to the obedience of Christ The greatest question is aboute the dignitie iurisdiction povver and authoritie of these Officers and especially of the office of a Bishop vvhether by Gods Testament and ordinance it be to superintend ouer other Pastors and Elders in a diocesse or Prouince or as others affirme Pastoral ouer one flocke and congregation vvherein he is an Elder and vvith other Elders an ouerseer of the same In vvhich controuersie men that are not vvillingly ignorant or vvilfully obstinate and blind may receiue full satisfaction by the cleere testimonies of Scripture and consent of the Fathers shevving vs the old and good vvay that all should seeke follow VVhereas he that commeth vvith a scoffing or preuidicate censure speaking euill of the things he knowes not Iude 10. Pro. 3.22 Pro. 14.6 Psa 25.14 or in frowardnes will not know can not so easily discerne the Truth Ascorner seeketh vvisdome and findeth it not but knowledge is easy to him that vvill vnderstand The secret of the lord is vvith them that feare him and he vvill shew them his couenant VVhen Paul the Apostle of the Gentiles had first preached the Gospell in diuers of their cities he Barnabas retourned againe to Lystra to Iconium and Antioch Act. 13. chap. 14.21.22.23 to confirme the soules of the Disciples exhort them to continue in the faith then it is said expresly They ordained them Elders in euerie church by election The vvord in the Greeke is Presbuterois Presbyters or Elders Of it comes the Latin vvord Presbyter vvhich signifies an Elder and vvhich as all confesse in the primatiue ages of the church was giuen if not to som others yet at least to euerie ordinarie Pastor of euerie congregatiō in regard that he vvatched ouer the flock to keepe them sound in the saith and holy in life and manners In place of those that men call parsons or Curates of seuerall Parishes there vvere then presbiters of seuerall congregations Nicod Dictionar French and Latin Our vvord preist seemes to come from the French vvord Prestre a preist vvhich as Nicod obserueth properlie signifies an Elder or presbiter though after the masse vvas vnderstood to be a Sacrifice offered by the hand of presbiters the name prestre or preist remained but vvas also corruptly applied to a Sacrificer or Masse preist in time vvas only taken in that sense both in France and elsvvhere VVherein vve may ansvvere vvith our Sauiour from the beginning it vvas not so but a Preist that was a Presbiter or Elder therfore throughout the vvhole booke of God vvhere there is any speech of those orders of Aarons Sons that vvaited at the Altar the french Protestants do not in their Bibles translate it preist but Sacrificer blame vs that vvee do not the like to distinguish them all masse mongers from the presbiters or priests ordained in the nevv Testament Indeede Reuel 1. Christ is s●●de to make vs kings Hiereis Sacrificers vvhere you haue the same vvord that in the Septuagint and in the Gospell is put for the Ievvish Sacricificers but this is by Iohn mysticallie applied to all true Christians and is not here Presbuterois Presbiters but a vvord far different and therefore can not be vnderstood of the office and ministrie of the Presbyters ordained by the Apostles In the nevv Testament mention is oft made of these Presbyters or Elders Act. 15.2.4.6 Paul Barnabas and others vvere sent to Ierusalem vnto the Apostles and Elders vvhen they came thither vers 22. They vvere receiued of the church and of the Apostles and Elders And the Apostles and Elders came together Act. 16.4 to consider of this matter Then it pleased the Apostles and Elders vvith the vvhole church And vvrote letters The Apostles chap. 10.17.18 c. and Elders and brethren send greeting They deliuered them the decrees that vvere ordained of the Apostles and Elders From Miletus he sent to Ephesus called the Elders of the church and said vnto them ye know from the first daie that I came into Asia c. vers 28. Take heede therefore vnto your selues and to all the flock ouer vvhich the holy Ghost hath made you Bishops to feede the church of God The new translation reads it Ouerseers but the vvord is Episcopus Bishops the same that is vsed 1. Tim. 3. A Bishop must be blamelesse c. Indeede both there and here it may be translated a Bishop or an Ouerseer For in the original as a Presbiter is an Elder so a Bishop is an Ouerseer But marke he saith to the Presbyters Take heede to all the flock ouer vvhich the holy Ghost hath made you Bishops to feede c. VVhence it is infalliblie plaine 1. That the Presbiterall gouernment is the expresse ordinance of the holy Ghost Ioh. 16. vvho changeth not and of vvhome Christ saith He shall not speake of himselfe for he shall take of mine shew vnto you Heb. 13. Novv Christ is yesterdaie and to daie and the same also for euer This ordinance is therefore vnalterable 2. That Elders by Christs ordinance are or ought to be ouer euery congregation Take heede to all the flock ouer vvhich the holy Ghost hath made you Bishops Act 14 23 So Paul and Barnabas ordained them Elders in euerie church by election Paul saith to Titus I left thee in Creete to set in order the things that are vvanting Tit. 1.5 c. ordaine Elders in euerie citie as I had appointed thee For a vvhole prouince or diocesse is to greate a flock for one man he can not take heede to all the flock as the Elders of one church may 3. That their office is to feede the flock church of God vvhich one man can not doe in a vvhole Diocesse vvhen they haue occasion to binde or loose to reproue correct or comfort to excommunicate or restore that must also be by the vvord for it is he that in iust causes giues them authority themselues are not Lords of Gods heritage as S Peter saith 1. Pet. 5.3 to doe it at their ovvne pleasure by their ovvne rules and traditions but * 1. Cor. 5.4 vvith the power of Christ. For he smites the earth vvith the rod of his mouth 4. That the holy Ghost hath made the Presbiters Bishops ouer the flock For the vvords are

peremptorie Take heede to your selues to all the flock ouer vvhich the holy Ghost hath made you Bishops there vvere diuers Elders of the church of phesus the places that bordered neer it as of that of Philippi or Ierusalem act 21.18 to them all Paul saith The holy Ghost hath made you bishops to feede the church So Phil. 1. To all the saints vvhich are at Philippi vvith the Bishops Deacons that is vvith the Elders presbiters Phil. 1.1 and deacons for ye see the presbiters are bishops or othervvise you must graunt that there vvere more bishops then one in 〈◊〉 citie therefore Theodore vvell vnderstands it of the presbiters vvhich Bellarmine obseruing can not denie Bellar. de Clericis l 4 c. 14. Tit. 1.5.6.7 but that here also presbiters are called Bishops VVhich is yet more cleere by that to Titus I left thee in Creete that thou shouldest ●●daine presbiters in euerie citie if any be blamelesse the husband of one vvife haueing faithfull children not accused of riot ●r vnrulie for a bishop that is the Presbiter before mentioned must be blamelesse c. Vbi supra All vvhich places are so cleare that Bellarmine confesseth that in them all the presbiters are called Bishops consequently that the Trent fathers cried vvho vvould proue that Diocessan Bishops are instituted by Christ and superiour to Presbyters iure diuino Histor of the councel of Trent pag. 597. 598. english because Paul saith Take heede to all the flock ouer vvhich the holy Ghost hath made you Bishops vvhich by his ovvne confession is spoken to Presbyters therefore he ansvvers to all the three places verrie poorely that in those daies these names Bishop Presbyter vvere common to all preists as if Phil. 1. vvith the Bishops and deacons the sense must be thus VVith the Preists theire ministers the deacons vvhich is a vveake shift of a Iesuit and so learned a Cardinal For did the Apostle call the presbyters Bishops in all these three places say the holy Ghost had made them Bishops ouer the flocke yet are they not so And if it vvere then a name so common to all preists why should it novv be thus restrained to one in a countie or prouince and he accounted an heretick that vvith the holy Ghost affirmeth the presbiters to be Bishops as in these three places And therefore out of all doubt 1. Tim. 3. vvhen Paul saith If any man desire the office of a Bishop he desireth a good vvorke c. That is the office of a presbiter or Elder vvho is a Bishop that so he addeth These things vvrite I unto thee that thou mightest know how thou a Bishop or presbiter oughtest to behaue thy selfe Othervvise he vvould not haue passed as he doth from the duty of a Bishop to the duty of a deacon but rather first from the duty of a Bishop to the duty of a presbiter or pastor that is if it had not beene one and the fame office somtime set forth vnder the name of an Elder or presbiter Tit. 1.5.6.7 somtime of a Bishop as in that to Titus before alleadged vvhich shevves vs that vvhen it is said of Titus that he vvas ordained the first Bishop of the Cretians that must needes be the first presbiter Chrisost in 1. Tim. 3. so Timothie 2. Tim. in fin vvhich in effect is acknovvledged by Chrysos in his Comentarie on that chapter to Timothie vvho though he liued in a time vvhen canons custom and cloaked ambition had made a litle difference saith There is almost no difference betweene a Bishop and a presbyter seeing the care of the church is also graunted to the presbyters surely by giuing of orders only they are their superiours herein they only seeme to be more then the presbiters Bellarmin acknovvledgeth that Primasius Bellar. de clerìcis l. 4. c. 14. Theophilact and Oecumenius in their Comentaries vpon the same place do teach the same thing almost in the same vvords VVherin they come but litle short of that vvhich is more plainly affirmed by Hierom on the first of Titus Hieron in Tit. 1. A presbiter and a Bishop is one and the same thing and before by the instinct of the deuil factions vvere made in religion and it vvas said among the people I am of Paul I of Apollo I of Cephas the churches vvere gouerned by the common consent of the presbiters but after euery one thought those which he had baptised to be his not Christs it vvas ordained in all the vvorld that one chosen from among the presbiters should be set ouer the rest unto vvhome all the care of the church should pertaine and the seedes of Sbhismes should be taken away And a litle lovver As therfore presbiters know themselues to be subiect by the custome of the church to him that is set ouer them so let the Bishops know it is rather by the custom of the church then by any disposition of the diuine truth that they are greater then the presbiters and that the church ought to be gouerned in commune Vbi supra Bellarmin doth not only cite these places thus but confesseth farther that Hierō hath the like things in his 85. Epistle to Euagrius Yet he vvould faine haue it thought that Hierō held a Bishop to be greater then a presbiter iure diuino contenting himselfe for lack of a better to take that for a sufficient proofe vvhere he saith to Euagrius vvhat doth the Bishop giueing of orders excepted vvhich the presbiter may not also doe vvhereas indeede this doth rather proue the contrarie namely that presbiters had decisiue voices in councels might excommunicate or doe any thing else in their flocks belonging to gouernment saue the giuing of orders this beeing all the difference of povver and authority the Bishops had them gained VVherein you must needes vnderstand him as before that it is rather by the custome of the church then any disposition of the diuine truth that they vvere herein greater then the Elders the same or the like humain ordinance custom vvhich restrained the title of a Bishop to one in a Diocesse vvhich before vvas common to all presbiters gaue him also the sole povver of giuing of orders vvhich before belonged to presbiters in common 1. Tim. 4.14 as is cleere by that Neglect not the gift that is in thee vvhich vvas giuen thee by prophesie vvith the laying on of the hands of the presbiterie Kemnitius therefore doth vvell obserue here Vbi supra that a Bishop may be ordained by Presbiters therefore there is no difference betweene a Bishop and a presbiter Bellarmin hereat offended ansvvers vvith the Greekes verie vveakely By the presbiterall name they vnderstood the quire or companie of the presbiters that i● of the Bishops vvhich laide their hands on the new bishop They that laied their hands on him vvere presbiters but that is say Bellarmin and others Bishops So saith