Peter in speciall Chrysostome who was a Presbyter of the same Church by i 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Io. Chrysost in Ignatu Encomio the Apostles in generall and without all controversie did sit in that See the very same time wherein that Epistle unto the Angell of the Church of Ephesus was commanded to be written In the I le of Patmos had S. Iohn his Revelation manifested unto him k 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Iren. advers haeres lib 5. cap. 30. toward the end of the Empire of Domitian as Irenaeus testifieth or the fourteenth yeare of his government as l Euseb Chron. Hier. Catal. scriptor Ecclesiast in Iohanne Eusebius and Hierom specifie it From thence there are but twelve yeares reckoned unto the tenth of Trajan wherein Ignatius in that last journey which he made for the consummation of his glorious Martyrdome at Rome wrote another Epistle unto the selfe-same Church of Ephesus In which he maketh mention of their then Bishop Onesimus as it appeares both by m Euseb l. 3. hist 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Eusebius citing this out of it and by the Epistle it selfe yet extant In this Epistle to the Ephesians Ignatius having acknowledged that their n 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Ignat epist ad Ephes numerous multitude was received by him in the person of their Bishop Onesimus and o 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Ibid. blessed God for granting unto them such a Bishop as he was doth afterwards put them in minde of their p 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Ibid. duty in concurring with him as he sheweth their worthy Presbytery did being q 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Ibid. so conioynd as he saith with their Bishop as the strings are with the Harpe and toward the end exhorteth them to r 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Ibid. obey both the Bishop and the Presbytery with an undivided minde In the same journey wrote Ignatius also an Epistle unto the Church of Smyrna another of those seven unto whom those letters are directed in S. Iohns Revelation wherein he also ſ 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Id. in epist ad Smyrn saluteth their Bishop and Presbytery exhorting all the people to t 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Ibid. follow their Bishop as Christ Iesus did his Father and the Presbytery as the Apostles and telling them that u 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c. Ibid. no man ought either to administer the Sacraments or doe any thing appertaining to the Church without the consent of the Bishop And that Polycarpus was then Bishop when S. Iohn wrote unto the Angell of the Church in Smyrna who can better informe us then Irenaeus who did not onely know those worthy men x 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Iren. advers haeres lib. 3. cap. 3. who succeeded Polycarpus in his See but also y Id. in epist ad Florinum apud Euseb lib. 5. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ad Victorem ibid 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 was present when he himselfe did discourse of his conversation with S. Iohn and of those things which he heard from those who had seen our Lord Iesus Polycarpus z 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Iren. lib. 3. cap. 3. Vid. Euseb lib. 3. hist 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 saith he was not only taught by the Apostles and conversed with many of those that had seen Christ but also was by the Apostles constituted in Asia Bishop of the Church which is in Smyrna whom we our selves also did see in our younger age for he continued long and being very aged he most gloriously and nobly suffering Martyrdome departed this life Now being ordayned Bishop of Smyrna by the Apostles who had finished their course and departed out of this life before S. Iohn the last surviver of them did write his Revelation who but he could there be meant by the Angell of the Church in Smyrna in which that he still held his Episcopall office unto the time of his Martyrdome which fell out LXXIV yeares afterward may sufficiently appeare by this testimony which the brethren of the Church of Smyrna who were present at his suffering gave unto him a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Smyrnens Eccles epist de martyrio Polycarpi Euseb lib. 4. bist 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 He was the most admirable man in our times an Apostolicall and Propheticall Doctor and Bishop of the Catholick Church which is in Smyrna Whereunto we may add the like of Polycrates Bishop of Ephesus who lived also in his time and in his neighbourhood affirming b 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Polycrat epist ad Victorem apud Euseb lib. 5. hist 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Polycarpus to have been both Bishop and Martyr in Smyrna So saith he in his Synodicall Epistle directed unto Victor Bishop of Rome about 27 yeares after the Martyrdome of Polycarpus he himselfe being at that time 65 yeares of age About the very same time wherein Polycrates wrote this Epistle unto Victor did Tertullian publish his book of Prescriptions against Hereticks wherein hee avoucheth against them that c Sicut Smyrnaeorum Ecclesia Polycarpum ab Iohanne conlocatum resert sicut Romanorum Clementem à Petro ordinatum edit proinde or perinde utique caeterae exhibent quos ab Apostolis in Episcopa tum constitutos Apostolici seminis traduces habent Tertul. de Praescript cap. 32. Vid. ejusd lib 4. contra Marcion cap. 5. as the Church of Smyrna had Polycarpus placed there by Iohn and the Church of Rome Clement ordained by Peter so the rest of the Churches also did shew what Bishops they had received by the appointment of the Apostles to traduce the Apostolicall seed unto them And so before him did Irenaeus urge against them d Successiones Episcoporum quibus Apostolicam quae in unoqueque loco est Ecclesiam tradiderunt Iren. lib. 4. advers haeres cap. 63. the successions of Bishops unto whom the Apostles committed the charge of the Church in every place e Omnes enim ii valde posteriores sunt quà m Episcopi quibus Apostoli tradiderunt Ecclesias Id. lib. 5. cap. 20. For all the Hereticks faith he are much later then those Bishops unto whom the Apostles committed the Churches And f Habemus annumerare eos qui ab Apostolis instituti sunt Episcopé in Ecclestis sucaessores eorum usque ad nos qui nihil tale docuerunt neque cognoverunt quale ab his deliratur Id. lib. 3. cap. 3. we are able to number those who by the Apostles were ordained Bishops in the Churches and their Successours unto our dayes who neither taught nor knew any such thing as these men dreame of For proofe whereof he bringeth in the succession of the Bishops of Rome from g 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Id. ibid. Linus unto whom the blessed Apostles committed that Episcopacy and Anacletus by others called Cletus and Clement who did
Rufini versione locus est restituendus 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Papias in Prooemio 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 apud Euseb lib. 3. hist 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 If upon occasion any of the Presbyters which had accompanyed the Apostles did come I diligently enquired what were the speeches which the Apostles used what Andrew or what Peter did say or what Philip or Thomas or Iames or Iohn or Matthew or some other of the disciples of the Lord and the things that Aristion and Iohn the Elder our Lords disciples did speak d 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Euseb ibid. The two last of whom he often cited by name in the processe of the work relating the passages in this kind which he had heard from them And thus have we deduced Episcopacy from the Apostolical times and declared withal that the Angels of the seven Churches were no other but such as in the next age after the Apostles were by the Fathers tearmed Bishops It followeth now that we enquire why these Churches are confined within the number of seven in the superscription of that Apostolicall Epistle prefixed before the book of the Revelation e Revel 1.4 Iohn to the seven Churches in Asia Grace be unto you and peace where S. Iohn directing his setters unto them thus indefinitly without any mention of their particular names hee cannot by common intendment bee conceived to have understood any other thereby but such as by some degree of eminency were distinguishable from all the rest of the Churches that were in Asia and in some sort also did comprehend all the rest under them For taking Asia here in the most strict sense for the Lydian or as the f Co. l. Theodos lib. 16. tit 1. de fide Cathol leg 3. Imperiall Constitutions call it the Proconsular Asia it is not to be imagined that after so long paines taken by the Apostles and their disciples in the husbanding of that part of the Lords vineyard there should be found no more but seven Churches therein especially since S. Paul that g 1. Cor. 3.10 wise master builder professeth that he had here h 1. Cor. 16.8 9. a great doore and effectuall opened unto him and S. Luke testifyeth accordingly that i Act. 19.10 20. all they which dwelt in Asia heard the word of the Lord Iesus both Iewes and Greeks so mightily grew the word of God and prevayled Which extraordinary blessing of God upon his labours moved the Apostle to make his residence k Act. 20.18 31. in those parts for the space of three yeares wherein he ceased not to warn every one night and day with teares And in particular among the Epistles of Ignatius written but twelve yeares as hath been shewed after the mention of these seven Churches made in the Apocalypse there is one directed to the Church in Trallis which by l 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Stept an de Urbib Stephanus Byzantinus is reckoned among the cities of the Lydian and by m Iul. Capitolin in Antonio Pio. Iulius Capitolinus of the Proconsular Asia wherein hee maketh mention of Polybius their Bishop or n 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Euseb lib. 3. hist 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Governour as Eusebius calleth him whom they had sent to visit him at Smyrna adding withall his usuall admonitions o 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Ignat. epist ad Trallian Be subiect to the Bishop as to the Lord and p 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Ibid. to the Presbytery as to the Apostles of Iesus Christ our hope q 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Ibid. He that doth any thing without the Bishop and the Presbyters the Deacons such a one is defiled in conscience r 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c. Ibid. Fare yee well in Iesus Christ being subject to the Bishop and likewise to the Presbyters That in ſ Plin. lib. 5. hist natur cap. 29. Laodicea Sardis Smyrna Ephesus and t Id. ibid. c. 30. Pergamus the Roman governours held their Courts of justice to which all the cities and townes about had recourse for the ending of their suites is observed out of Pliny In u Ptolem. Geograph lib. 5. cap. 2. Ptolemy likewise Thyatira is expressely named a Metropolis as Philadelphia also is in the x Concil Constantino sub Mennâ Act. 5. Greek Acts of the Councell of Constantinople held under Menna Which giveth us good ground to conceive that the seven Cities in which these seven Churches had their seat were all of them Metropoliticall and so had relation unto the rest of the townes and cities of Asia as unto daughters rising under them The Lydian Asia was separated from Caria by the river Maeander upon the banks whereof were seated both Trallis and Magnesia which in the y Hieroclis Notit Orientalis Imperii in Append. Geograph sacr Caroli à S. Paulo edit Paris ann 1641. pag. 27. civill list of the Empire are placed under the peculiar regiment of the Proconsul of Asia and in the z Ordo Metropolitar ib. pag. 11. in tomo 1 Iuris Graeco-Romani à Io. Le unclavio edit pag. 90. Ecclesiasticall register under the government of the Metropolitan of Ephesus But whether this subordination were as ancient as the dayes of Ignatius whose Epistles are extant unto these three Churches and a Euseb lib. 3. hist 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Damas the then Bishop of Magnesia with Polybius of Trallis were at that time subject to Onesimus the Bishop of Ephesus might well be doubted but that the same Ignatius directeth one of his Epistles unto the Church b 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Ignat. epist ad Roman which had presidency in the place of the Region of the Romans and in the body thereof doth attribute unto himselfe the title of the Bishop of Syria Whereby as he intimateth himself to have been not only the Bishop of Antioch but also of the rest of the province Syria which was under that Metropolis so doth he likewise not obscurely signify that the Bishop of Rome had at that time a presidency over the Churches that were in the c Ex Vrblca riâ Regione Cod. Theod. lib. 11. tit 2. leg 3. Vrbicarian Region as the Imperiall Constitutions or the d Ex Provincià Romanâ civitate Portuen c. In nominibus quae Concilio Arelatensi I praefixa leguntur Roman Province as the Acts of the first Councell of Arles call it What that Vrbicarian Region was I will not now stand to discusse whether Tuscia only wherein Rome it selfe was situated which in the dayes of Ignatius was one entire region but afterwards divided into Tuscia Suburbicaria and Annonaria or the territory wherein the Praefectus Vrbis did exercise his jurisdiction which was confined within the compasse of a hundred miles about the City or with that those other provinces also whereunto the authority of the Vicarius Vrbis did extend or lastly the circuit within which those 69
Christi quà m ordinare To make the Body of Christ is a more noble act then to ordaine Durandus f Durand in 4. d. 24. q. 6. sect 9. Actus nobilior est consecrare corpus Christi quod pertinet ad Sacerdotem quà m ordinatio Ministri quod pertinet ad Episcopum nam secundus est propter primum It is a more noble act to consecrate the body of Christ which pertaineth to a Priest then to ordaine a Minister which pertaineth to a Bishop for the second is for the first Gerson g Gerson in Compendio Theolog. de Ordine Consecrare corpus Christi est excellentissimum humanorum officiorum to consecrate the body of Christ is the most excellent of humane offices and Bellarmine himselfe h Bellarm. de Sacramento Ordinis cap. 5 Summa potestas est posse consecrare Eucharistiam the highest power is to be able to consecrate the Eucharist PHILOD If one compare the Character or power which a Bishop hath from his last Consecration with the character which he hath from his Presbyteriall Ordination then his latter is greater in respect of intention because the highest power is to consecrate the Eucharist the former is greater in respect of Extention because it extendeth it selfe unto more things ORTHOD. The excellency of an Order dependeth not upon the variety of Objects but upon the excellency of the proper Act. Wherefore seeing that you grant the proper Act of Priesthood more excellent you must likewise grant that Priesthood is the most excellent Order Therefore the Episcopall function cannot be an order either superior or equall unto it And it was proved before that it cannot be an order inferiour So the conclusion followeth that it is not properly any sacred Order at all PHILOD The whole and entire Episcopall character is composed of a double character the first whereof is received when he is made Priest the other when he is made Bishop Now this whole and entire Episcopall character is more excellent then the Presbyteriall only because it includeth it and addeth another unto it ORTHOD. This doth not answere the point For the Argument framed according to the Question speaketh distinctly of that wherein the Bishop differeth from a Priest and compareth it with a Priesthood Your Answere is of a totum aggregatum which comprehendeth both Therefore it is not ad idem So the Conclusion remaineth firme as before that it is not an Order VVHich me thinks you should more willingly grant because Bellarmine your great Bellwether who first held that they were the same Order and afterward maintained the contrary is now in his old age returned to his former opinion What his judgement was in his former years may be seen in his book de Clericis where he saith that i Bellarm. de Clericis cap. 11. §. 4. Ecclesiasticall Orders are taken two waies properly and commonly Orders properly taken he calleth such as are conferred by a Bishop with a certaine sacred and solemne rite and are referred to the performance of some certaine ministery about the Divine sacrifice Orders commonly taken he calleth such as are any way dedicated to Divine offices though it be without relation to sacrifice which he exemplifieth in Monkes and Nunnes The proper Orders he affirmeth to be seven in number the chiefe whereof is Priesthood Concerning the difference of a Priest and a Bishop these are his words Et si Episcopus Presbyter distinguantur tamen quantum ad sacrificium idem omninò ministerium exhibent proinde unum Ordinem non duos faciunt i. Although a Bishop and a Presbyter be distinguished yet in respect of the sacrifice they performe alltogether the same ministery Therefore they make one order not two Yet in his book of the Sacrament of Order he affirmeth that k Id. de sacramento Ord. cap. 5. sect 11. 13. Episcopall Ordination is a Sacrament that a Bishop hath a new Character that Episcopatus is one Order with Priesthood in generall not in speciall that the Episcopall character is compounded of a double character and that two Sacraments are required to make a Bishop So here he holdeth it to be truly and properly a new Order a new Character a new Sacrament Notwithstanding now at length having put his last hand to his former workes of Controversies considering be like that this is contrary to the common tenent of your Church he retracteth and disclaimeth it in these words l Id. in Recognit pag. 89. Vbi dixi Episcopatum Presbyteratum esse unum Ordinem sed genere non specie paulo infrà Presbyteros Episcopos esse duas species Sacerdotum rectiùs dixissem esse unum Ordinem sed gradus diversos That is Whereas I said that Episcopatus and Presbyteratus are the same Order in generall not in speciall and a little after that Presbyters and Bishops are two species of Priests I might have said more rightly that they are one Order but divers degrees This is the finall judgement of your chiefest Champion PHILOD YOur owne Book of Orders calleth it an Order even in the first sentence of the Preface saying It is evident unto all men diligently reading Holy Scripture and ancient Authors that from the Apostles time there have been these Orders of Ministers in Christs Church Bishops Priests and Deacons ORTHOD. The Canonists affirme it to be an Order the Schoolemen deny it Yet m Id. in lib. de Clericis cap. 11. sect ult Bellarmine and n Sculting Bibliothecae catholicae tom 4. contra lib. 4. Calvini c. 9. §. 22. Scultingius avouch there is no difference betweene them Because the Canonists call it an Order in respect of Regiment the Schoolemen deny it as Order is a Sacrament In like manner because a Bishop is sanctified and set a part with Imposition of hands to publick employment in Ecclesiasticall Government the Church of England with your Canonists call it an Order and yet many deny with your Schoolemen that it is properly an Order as Deaconship and Priesthood To which you may the rather be induced because the Authors of the Book having spoken first of the Ordering of Deacons and then of Ordering of Priests when they come to the Forme of making Bishops they never call it Ordering but alwaies Consecrating PHILOD Surely the Fathers and Councells doe commonly call it Ordering shall there be Ordination and not an Order ORTHOD. They call it so largely and improperly as witnesseth Bonaventure o Bonavent in Sentent lib. 4. d. 24. part 2. art 2. q. 3. resp ad object Non ita propriè dicitur aliquis ordinari cùm promovetur in Episcopum ut cùm promovetur in sacerdotem sed magis propriè dicitur consecrari i. One is not so properly said to be Ordained when he is promoted to be Bishop as when he is promoted to be Priest but is more properly said to be cōsecrated Neither is this the opinion of Bonaventure alone but it is the common and