Selected quad for the lemma: authority_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
authority_n	bishop_n	church_n	jurisdiction_n	5,357	5	9.3309	5	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A78955	His Maiesties paper containing severall questions propounded to the commissioners Divines touching Episcopacy. With an humble answer returned to his Majesty by Mr. Marshall, Mr. Vines, Mr. Carill, and Mr. Seaman 4. October 1648. Published by authority.	England and Wales. Sovereign (1625-1649 : Charles I); Marshall, Stephen, 1594?-1655.; Vines, Richard, 1600?-1656.; Seaman, Lazarus, d. 1675.; Caryl, Joseph, 1602-1673.; Westminster Assembly (1643-1652)	1648 (1648)	Wing C2533; Thomason E466_6; ESTC R205221	7,335	14

standing use and service of the Church there were ordained only two orders of offices viz. Bishops and Deacons which the Apostle expresseth Phil. 1. 1. To all the Saints in Christ Jesus which are at Phillipi with the Bishops and Deacons And only of them doth the Apostle give the due characters of Officers I Tim. 3. 2. 8 From both which places of Scripture we conclude with ancient Expositors both Greeke and Latine that Bishops are the same with Presbiters and besides Presbiters there is no mention of any other Order but that of Deacons of both which Orders there were in the Apostles times in one City more then one as in Philippi and Ephesus And we humbly offer to your Majesty as observable That though one order might be superiour to another order yet in the same order of Officers there was not any one superiour to others of the same order No Apostle was above an Apostle no Evangelist above an Evangelist no Presbiter above a Presbiter no Deacon above a Deacon And so we conclude this part that since Church Officers are instituted and set in the Church by God or Christ Jesus And that Ordination by or in which the Office is conveyed is of no other Officers but of Presbyters and Deacons therefore there are no other orders of ordinary and standing Officers in the Churches of Christ As for the ages immediately succeeding the Apostles we answer First Our faith reacheth no further then the holy Scriptures no humane testimony can beget any more then an humane faith Secondly We answer that it is agreed upon by learned men as well such as contend for Episcopacy as others that the times immediately succeeding the Apostles are very darke in respect of the History of the Church Thirdly That the most unquestionable record of those times gives cleare testimony to our assertion viz. The Epistle of Clement to the Corinthians who reciting the Order of Church Officers expresly limits them to two Bishops and Deacons And they whom in one place he call'd Bishops he alwaies afterwards nameth Presbyters The Epistles of Ignatius pretend indeed to the next Antiquity but are by some suspected as wholly spurious and proved by Videlius to be so mixed that it is hard if not impossible to know what parts of them are genuine Besides Bishop Vsher in his last observations on them Cap 18. Page 238. confesseth that of the twelve of his epistles six are counterfeit the other fix mixt and none of them in every respect accompted sincere and genuine Fourthly We grant that not long after the Apostles times Bishops in some superiority to Presbiters are by the writers of those times reported to be in the Church but they were set up not as a Divine Institution but as an Ecclesiasticall as afterwards both Arch-Bishops and Patriarkes were which is cleare by Doctor Reynolds his Epistle to Sir Francis Knowles wherein he shewes out of Bishop Jewell that Ambrose Chrysostome Jerome Augustine and many more holy Fathers together with the Apostle Paul agree that by the word of God there is no difference between a Presbyter and a Bishop And that Medina in the Councell of Trent affirmes not only the same Fathers but also another Jerome Theodoret Primatius Sedulius and Theophilact to be of the same judgement and that with them agreed Occuminius Anselme Arch-Bishop of Canturbury and another Anselme Gregory and Gratian and after them many others that it was inrol'd in the Canon Law for sound and catholique doctrine and publiquely taught by learned men and adds that all who have laboured in the reformation of the Church for these five hundred yeeres have taught that all Pastors be they instituted Bishops or Priests have equall authority and power by Gods word The same way goes Lumbard Master of the sentences and Father of the Schoole-men who speaking of Presbyters and Deacons saith the Primitive Churches had those Orders only and that we have the Apostles precept for them alone with him agree many of the most eminent of that kinde and generally all the Cannonists to these we may adde Sextus Senensis who testifies for himselfe and many others and Cassander who was called by one of the Germane Emperours as one of singular ability and integrity to informe him and resolve his conscience in questions of that nature who saits it is agreed among all in the Apostles times there was no difference betwixt a Bishop and a Presbiter For a conclusion we adde that the doctrine which we have here in propounded to your Majesty concerning the identity of the Order of Bishops and Presbiters is no other then the Doctrine published by King Henry the eight 1543. For all his Subjects to receive seen and allowed by the Lords both Spirituall and Temporall with the nether House of Parliament of these two Orders only so saith his Booke that is to say Priests and Deacons the Scripture maketh expresse mention and how they were confer'd of by the Apostles by prayer and imposition of their hands by all which it seems evident that the order of Episcopacie as distinct from Presbiters is but an Ecclesiasticall Institution and therefore not unalterable Lastly we answer that that Episcopall Government which at first obtained in the Church did really and substantially differ from Episcopall Government which the Honourable Houses of Parliament desire the abolition of The Bishop of these times was one presiding in and joyning with the Presbytry of his Church ruling with them and not without them either created and made by the Presbiters chusing out one among themselves as in Rome and Alexandria or chosen by the Church and confirmed by three or more of his neighbours of like dignity within the same precinct Lesser Townes and Villages had and might have had Bishops in them as well as populous and eminent Cities untill the Councell of Sardis decreed that Villages and small Cities should have no Bishops least the name and authority of a Bishop might thereby come into contempt but of one claiming as his due and right to himselfe alone as a Superiour order or degree all power about Ordination of Presbiters and Deacons and all jurisdictions either to exercise himselfe or deligate to whom he will of the Laity or Clergy as they distinguish according to the judgement and practice of these in our times we reade not till the latter and corrupter ages of the Church By all which it appeares that the present Hierarchy the abolition whereof is desired by the Honourable Houses may accordingly be abolished and yet possibly the Bishops of these Primitive times might be they are so far differing one from another In answer to that part of your Majesties Paper wherein you inquire whether our Saviour and his Apostles did so leave the Church at liberty as they might totally alter or change the Church-government at their pleasure we humbly conceive that there are substantials belonging to Church-government such are appointed by Christ and his Apostles which are not in the Churches liberty to alter at pleasure But as for Arch-Bishops c. we hope it will appeare unto your Majesties conscience that they are none of the Church Governours appointed by our Saviour and his Apostles we beseech your Majesty rather to looke to the originall of them then Succession FINIS Act. 14. 23 Acts 6. 6 1 Cor. 16. 1 1 Cor. 14. 1 Cor 5. 3 3 Joh. 9. 10 1 Tim. 5. 22. Titus 1. 5 Rev. 2. 3 Chap. 1 Tim. 5. 19. Tit. 3. 10