of the Apostles it is confessedly acknowledged before by that worthy and Learned Scultetus But we shall not think we have fully satisfied the Reader until we shew sufficient proof That the Episcopal degree was furthermore actually exercised even in the days of the Apostles If therefore our Opposites be willing to consult with Bucer he will tell them That the Fathers before Hierome did clearly affirm That in the days of the Apostles in all the chief Churches one was chosen and placed over the rest of the Presbyters to have and exercise a charge of Souls and Episcopal Function over them in chief as James is described by Luke Acts 15. to have been Bishop of Hierusalem and the like Ordinance was perpetually observed in other Chuâ—ches So he And if we ask their most exact Searcher into Antiquity Scultetus he will testifie no less concerning this James Brother of our Lord for which he alledgeth not fewer or meaner Authors then 1. Clemens Alexandrinus Eusebius Chrysostome Ambrose Epiphanius yea and Hierome himself besides the joynt consent of the Fathers in a Council But that which makes all questionless is the personal Line of Successors set down by Epiphanius from James in the same Sea of Hierusalem by Simeon Judas Matthias c. unto Hilarion who was Bishop in Epiphanius his own time Alexandria was another Episcopal Seat whereof Beza hath taken especial notice as also Calvin doth Jâ—st lib. 4. cap. 4. v. 2. from the testimony of Hierome concerning Mark the Evangelist That even from his time there wâ—s one of the Presbyters by them elected as an Army doth their General who was placed in an higher degree and was termed Bishop This is further confirmed unto us by Eutychius an Author lately translated and published by Mr. Selden the Ornament of our Nation for Exotick Learning who saith expressly That Mark constituted Anianus Patriarch of Alexandria And the said Learned Publisher in his Commentaries thereupon hath deduced the immediate Succession of Bishops from Anianus for almost 300. years wherein according to exact Chronology he hath recounted eighteen Bishops and telleth us moreover That this Author Eutychius himself was Patriarch of Alexandria albeit he lived not till almost 1000 years after Antioch was a third and therein Ignatius will stand for an example irrefragable of whom Antiquity hath thus largely testified namely Eusebius That he was after Peter the second Bishop of Antioch Theodoret That he received the Grace of Episcopacy by the right hand of Peter And before him accordingly Athanasius That after the Apostles he became Bishop of Antioch and Martyr of Christ. We conclude with the Encornium of Chrysostome g Ignatius was familiarly conversant with the Apostles and enjoyed Spiritual Graces flowing from them and received his Dignity from the Racred Hands of the Blessed Apostles So he The like hath been antiently witnessed concerning the Church of Rome and though the course of personal Succession therein and especially about the beginning seem to be somewhat perplexed yet is there nothing more sure in Ecclesiastical History than that there was an immediate personal Succession in that Church from the Apostles times and the doubtfulness of the course is assoyled from Vedelius a most exquisite Professor at Geneva in that kind who speaketh unto us in the Margent and this Truth was so clear in antient times that Irenaeus was able to recount those that had been instituted Bishops in the Churches by the Apostles and their Successors even until his own time as one that had his reckoning at his fingers ends saying But because it would be very long in so small a Volumn to recount the Succession of all Churches I shall instance in the Church of Rome Wherein he setteth down an exact Succession of twelve Bishops the last whereof Elutherius by name was then alive when he wrote this Book Mr. Blundel the French Divine was not ignorant of the series and lines of Succession of those whom he calleth Praepositos Episcopos even of the same times Those Ecclesiastical Testimonies being so manifold so pertinent so perspicuous and so freely confessed we doubt not but that ingenuous Readers will prefer Antiquity before Novelty Universality before Paucity Solemnity of profession before Obscurity and this fully testified Apostolical practical Succession before the refactoriness of any whomsoever the rather because they in the space of 400 years after the Apostles have not had any famous and absolute Patron of a Presbyterial parity in Ecclesiastical Government excepting that one Swallow Aerius whom the Church Christian then rejected as a man Schismatical branding him with the note of Ambition as the cause of his Opposition to Episcopacy even for that he standing in competition for a Bishoprick did miss thereof as hath been shewed And now left the humor of some in hearing of Popes of Rome to have been Bishops should boggle and startle at it to make the Episcopal dignity no better than Popish according to that which is now held Popedome we add and it is but a footstep out of the way the next Section SECT X. That the whole Church Christian did profess and practise the Apostolical Right of Episcopacy IT cannot but be a matter of wonder to any man of judgment to see such an averseness in our Opposites as not only to object the Testimonies of these Fathers who have given their common acknowledgement of the lawfulness of Episcopal Prelacy but much more that they cannot discern that they by instancing in some few Fathers in contradiction to Episcopacy do thereby grant their assent for it in the rest and that all the rest indeed do accord thereunto is as clear as a beam of the Sun long before that time whereof their pretended Patron St. Hierome is a plentiful witness who testifieth of the more Primitive times before him telling our Opposites plainly and roundly That it was decreed through the whole Christian World That one of the Presbyters should be set over the rest to whom the whole care of the Church should appertain So he Of many who gave their lives for the profession of the Faith of Christ among whom as Captains of the innumerable Host of Martyrs of Christ were many Bishops in the dayes of Heathenish persecutions of whom it is recorded by Antiquity and confessed by one of our Opposites That above all other Christians enquiry was made for Bishops Bishops were rather apprehended than others Bishops were afflicted with tortures and as leaders to all others constantly indured whatsoever was laid upon them It had been good therefore our Opposites had made conscience of their sayings before they had burst out into so contumelious detractions and had followed the example of the French Divine Mr. Moulin I am not so hard faced saith he against the Lights of the Primitive Church Ignatius Polycarp c. Bishops as to think them
ἘΠΙΣΚΟΠΟΣ ἈΠΟΣΤΟΛΙΚΟΣ OR THE EPISCOPACY OF THE Church of England Justified to be APOSTOLICAL From the Authority of the Antient Primitive Church And from the Confessions of the most Famous Divines of the Reformed Churches beyond the Seas Being a Full Satisfaction in this Cause as well for the Necessity as for the Just Right thereof as consonant to the Word of God By the Right Reverend Father in God THOMAS MORTON Late Lord Bishop of Duresme Before which is Prefixed A PREFACE to the READER concerning this Subject By Sir Henry Yelverton Baronét Thus saith the Lord Stand ye in the ways and see and ask for the Old Paths where is the good way and walk thereâ—n and ye shall find rest to your souls Jerem. 6.16 Quod universa tenet Ecclesia nec conciliis institutum sed semper retentum est non nisi Authoritate Apostolica traditum rectissime creditur St. Augustin de Baptismo contra Donat. Can. 24. London Printed for J. Collins in Westminster-hall 1670 To the Most Reverend Father in God GILBERT By Divine Providence Lord Archbishop of Canterbury Primate of All ENGLAND and Metropolitane and one of his Majesties most Honourable Privie Council My LORD I Have often wonder'd how it comes to pass that the Sacred Order of Bishops should in this Island meet with so many unreasonable Adversaries when in all the Reformed Churches beyond the Seas we are counted the only happy Nation who enjoy the Purity of Doctrine with the Primitive Government And I confess my wonder is the more increased when I consider that the Romanists look on our Church as their most dangerous Enemy because we have not only the External Glory of a Church but a continued Succession of Bishops which some amongst them are so ingenuous as not to deny and yet these men amongst us who so vehemently cry down Popery and so highly admire even the misfortunes of the Reformed Church do by a strange Antiperistasis assist their Enemies and despise their Friends It was a good Observation of that great man Archbishop Land That Caiaphas the High Priest advised the crucifying of our Saviour that the Romans might not take away their Name and Nation and yet that Counsel so Magisterially given so deeply laid and so wickedly contrived brought on them that suddain destruction they hoped to avoid And have not we My Lord found by sad Experience the inference that Great Prelate made fully true Since the Papists have not only had a great harvest amongst us but all sort of damnable Heresies have like a flood broke in upon us and Atheism hath so prevailed that if God out of his Infinite Mercy put no stop to it that Prediction of our Saviour will in our dayes be true That Faith shall scarce be found upon Earth But since the times are now come which St. Clement more than 1600 years ago foretold That there should be contention about the name of Episcopacy And since Reformation and Purity are the Pretenses though Interest or Sacriledge are the true Reasons of Separation amongst us I have in obedience to Your Graces commands put out a Book written some years since by the late Learned Bishop of Durham that all men may see the great Lights of the Reformed Church beyond the Seas are so far from approving the Practices of our Dissenters that they commend and admire our Episcopal Government and therefore I cannot but hope that either these men will return again to the bosome of their forsaken Mother the Church or have so much Ingenuity to desist from deceiving ignorant People with the great Authority of the Reformed Church And now my Lord I must humbly beg Your Pardon that I prefix Your Great Name before this Discourse But since 't is the work of a famous Bishop and in defense of that Order of which in our Church Your Grace is the worthy Primate I cannot but hope acceptance and am very much pleased I have an occasion offered me to let the World know how much I am My LORD Your most humble and very obedient Servant Hen. Yelverton From my house at Easton Manduit in Northamptonshire March 26. 1669. TO THE READER READER THere present thee with a Book written some years since by that great and Reverend Bishop Tho. Morton Lord Bishop of Duresme in the defence of that Order he bore and for which he suffered so great indignities And as it was his Honour to suffer in so good a Cause so it was his great Contentment and satisfaction when he came to the end of his long race that he kept a good Conscience though he lost all this world afforded him for it It would be very superfluous in this place to write an Encomium of this Great Prelate who is farr beyond what I can do and is already well performed by that excellent person Dr. Berwick late Dean of St. Pauls who was well acquainted with him many years and had the happiness once to be his Domestick Chaplain I only think fit to say this of him that he was an Antient Bishop and had all the qualifications fit for his Order either to Adorn or Govern a Church but above all he was eminent for his invincible Patience under so many violent Persecutions and almost necessities alwayes rejoycing in his Losses and protesting he thought himself richer with nothing and a good conscience than those were who had devoured his goodly Bishoprick And certainly he that considers the excellency of this Prelate with the rest of his Brethren who with him underwent the fiery Trial will conclude as Tertullian doth of the first Persecution of the Christians Non nisi aliquod grande bonum a Nerone damnatum Nothing but some great good could be condemned by such men I must not omit among the various Qualities of this great Man to tell thee he was 44 years a Bishop a thing so extraordinary that since the first Plantation of Christianity and consequently of Bishops in this Island which if we believe Baronius was the 58 of our Saviour but one exceeded him and he came not to these Dignities per Saltum but passed through all other inferiour Charges before he arrived at the height And one thing is considerable in his Translation to Coventry and Lichfield that King James was pleased to do it at the particular motion of that great Prelate Bishop Andrews who never was known to move the King for the Preferment of any before How excellent he was in Controversies his manifold Writings against the Papists have given the World sufficient testimony and in this he went so high that if he believed not the Pope to be Antichrist he thought him very like him And yet there was never any who more approved of the antient Customs of the Catholique Church than himself And of this I shall give you this particular instance For that Ceremony of Bowing to the Lords Table at the first entrance into the Church he did not only commend by his Practice but publickly
as he did have noted One of the seven Angels in the Revelations to have been the Bishop of Ephesus Lastly Fredericus Spanhemius Professor of Divinity in the same Church may well stand for another witness who after his ample commendations and that worthily of the late Primate of Ireland manifestly extolleth The Bishops and Divines of our English Church for their accurate Writings in defence of the Orthodox Religion and their dexterity in confuting Romish subtilties after professeth in the name of the Church of Geneva Their embracing our Pastors and Prelates with Christian affection praying for the prosperity of them that sit at the Helm of this Church that their Prelatical Authority may continue unto them So they and somewhat more pertinent to our Question in hand as now followeth SECT II. That the Church of Geneva disclaimed the Opinion of thinking that their Churches Government should be a pattern for other Churches THe Smectymnians our Opposites by instancing in that Church may seem in the same book Dedicated to both Houses of Parliament that the same Church of Geneva which we acknowledge to be essentially a member of the Church of Christ ought to be a Pattern of Ecclesiastical Government to all other Protestant Churches We have a contrary Certificate from Theodore Beza speaking of Bishops as the Celebrious mouth of that Church We saith he do embrace all faithful Bishops with all reverence neither do we as some falsly object against us propose our Example to any other Church to be followed So he Hitherto of the justification of our English Episcopacy by the judgment of our most Judicious Divines of the Church of Geneva We are not destitute of like Testimonies from other Protestant Churches SECT III. That also other Protestant Divines of Reformed Churches have observed the Worthiness of the Episcopal Government in England MR. Moulin whose Name is Venerable among all Orthodox Divines acknowledgeth That our English Bishops that suffered Martyrdom in the days of Queen Mary were for Zeal nothing inferior to the most excellent servants of God which Germany or France ever had which none saith he will deny if not blinded in day-light And least that worthy Divine should be thought to approve of such of our English Bishops only as then suffered Martyrdom we have furthermore his indefinite large Testimony We affirm saith he speaking as the mouth of the French Church That the Bishops of England after the Reformation were the faithful servants of God and ought not to desert their Office or title of Bishop Hierome Zanchie amongst excellent Divines in his time exhorteth Queen Elizabeth with an Imprimis and especially to extend her care and Authority to have godly and learned Bishops whereof by the blessing of God saith he you have very many and to cherish them And again he congratulateth the Episcopal Dignity of Jewel Bishop of Salisbury Praying to God for his prosperous success in his Function and of all others the Pious Bishops of England and all this in the name of his Colleages the Pastors of the Church of Heidelburgh Sarania a Belgick Doctor though a great favourer of the Order of Episcopacy yet an earnest inveigher against the Roman Hierarchy confesseth Himself to wonder often at the Wisdom of the Reformers of the Church of England as no way deviating from the antient Church of Christ And he concludeth with this Epiphonema saying I hold it a part of her happiness that she hath retained with her the Order of Bishops Mr. Moulin again that he may be the Epilogue who was the Prologue concludeth for the Church of England saying That their agreement is such that England hath been a Refuge to our persecuted Churches and correspondently the excellent servants of God in our Churches saith he Peter Martyr Calvin Beza and Zanchie have often written Letters full of respect and amity to the Prelates of England So he To these may be added the late dedicated Books to some of our Bishops of these times together with others referring their Controversies among themselves to be decided by their judgment if we thought that such instances could be of easie digestion with some Hitherto by way of Introduction in behalf of our particular English Church We are now to prosecute the justification of Episcopacy in general so farr as to make good the Title of this Treatise inscribed A FULL SATISFACTION IN THIS CAUSE as well for the Necessary use as also for the just Right thereof as consonant to the Word of God We begin to consult with gray-headed Antiquity for the manifestation hereof SECT IV. That the Episcopal Government in the Church of Christ is for Necessary Use the best according to the judgment of Primitive Antiquity GEnerally the bestness of a thing that we may so call it is best discerned by the Necessary Use whereof Antiquity hath testified by Hierome That the original reason of constituting one over the rest of Presbyters to whom all the care of the Church should belong was saith he so decreed through the whole World that Schisme might be removed Which from the continual experimental success thereof in the Church he himself held to be such As whereupon the safety of the Church did depend Tertullian yet himself no Bishop neither will not have Presbyters and Deacons to Baptize without Authority from the Bishop for the honour of the Church which being observed Peace saith he will be preserved Chrysostom illustrateth the Necessity of Episcopal Government by resembling the Bishop to the Head in respect of the Body to a Shepheard in respect of his Sheep to a Master in respect of his Scholars and to a Captain in respect of his Soldiers with whom Ambrose agreeth in the first resemblance calling likewise the Bishop The Head of the rest of the members Augustine compareth the Bishop to the Father of the Family as being Head of the House Nazianzen Ambrose Nicetas decipher him as the Eie in that Head whose Office is to look to the whole Body whence they have their names Episcopi or Bishops Basil yet higher compares the Church to the Body and the Bishop to the Soul saying That the Members of the Church by Episcopal Dignity as by one Soul are reduced to Concord and Communion Cyprian Bishop and Martyr doth more than once complain of the Contempt and Disobedience of the inferior Clergy and People against their Bishops as the Original Spring of Heresies and Schisms We have done with the Fathers whom we have found generally asserting the Necessary Use of Episcopal Government and whom iâ— the next place we shall find seconded by the ingenious confession of Judicious Protestants of remoâ—â— Churches SECT V. The Protestant Divines of remoâ—â— Churches have generally acknowledged Episcopal Government to for Necessary Use the best THe Protestant Witnesses whicâ— we shall here alleadg are 〈◊〉 two Classes the one Lutheram with
thing inferior to Hierome Secondly to speak to the matter iâ—self Because all that Augustine aâ—tributeth to the Institution of thâ— Church is only Honorum Vocabulaâ—â— namely the appropriation of the word Bishop as more significant 〈◊〉 express the Office Episcopal over Presbyters the general use hereof may well be ascribed to the Church though it had its Original from the Apostles times when the Office was instituted for even from thence this Father is found to derive the Pedegree of Episcopacy when he saith That the root of Christian Society is diffused through the world by the Apostolical Seats and Successions of Bishops Which Successions are relative to Episcopal Predecessors and so upwards till we come to the Apostolical Seats whence they had their foundation Yet so as deducing Episcopacy from an higher Original namely That none can be ignorant that our Saviour did institute Bishops who before his ascension into Heaven laying his hands on the Apostles ordained them to that function So he So farr was he from blemishing Episcopal Order with an opinion of its Ecclesiastical Ordination that he acknowledgeth them to be the institution of Christ. Now let us proceed to Nazianzen who is the third objected Father by our Opposites SECT IV. Thirdly Gregory Nazianzen a Primitive Father who is verbally objected against Episcopacy doth really contradict the Objectors THis Father is alleadged by the Smectymnians not so much against the Apostolical Right as the Necessary Use of Episcopacy Yet falling in the number of Objected Fathers we have reserved him for this place The point Objected out of him is that he being cast out of his Bishoprick by the sinister practices of Maximus wished That there were no principal Seat or Dignity in the Church nor any Tyrannical preeminence of place But what of this Thus spake he say they of Episcopacy holding it a principal part of Wisdom in that age to shun it So they Whose scope is to make the Reader believe That Nazianzen had renounced Episcopacy as a Degree in his opinion Unlawful or at least Unnecessary in the Church In answer unto this we have just cause to complain of the want of ingenuity of the Objectors both in translating the words of Nazianzen and also for concealing his own explanations For First The word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which signifieth that very time and present occasion they translate That Age which word hath usually in Authors the latitude of an Hundred years Secondly They conceal his precedent and subsequent words the two Lamps and lights of his meaning herein For first he having said That 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or Episcopal Dignity was wont to be had in admiration amongst right wise men he added But now as it seemeth to me it is a principal part of Wisdom even to shun it And he gave his reason for it not to note it to be Unlawful or yet Unnecessary but Because saith he whatsoever belongeth to me is hereby tossed and shaken And not thus only but most clearly in the same Oration he expresseth his full inclination to imbrace Episcopacy saying to his Flock of Nazianzum I was driven from you by violence but I return to you again most willingly the Spirit of God like the Plummet in a Clock moving me thereunto or rather driving as it were in the stream of a violent River running down from a steep place So he Expressly manifesting his willingness to return to his Episcopal Function as moved thereunto by the Spirit of God who will furthermore profess the Divine Right of Episcopacy when that point shall fall under out perusal In the interim we are to know that words of Passion though of the Saints of God must not be interpreted to be words of their Profession For Gregory Nazianzen was at that time of his Complaint driven out of his Bishoprick by the malitious machinations of Maximus whom he termeth 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 meaning in a simile a most malitious man but afterwards was restored unto it as hath been said to his good contentment even as Job in the extremity of his tryal wished himself unborn but yet after the blessings of God were redoubled upon him his comforts likewise were proportionable It would be but a wild piece of Sophistry in our Smectymnians to have argued from the words of Job's passion that therefore life it self was simply undesirable There remaineth a fourth Father to be examined although last in place yet first in order of time but therefore hitherto reserved that his Testimony might be more lasting in our Readers memories SECT V. That Clemens one of the most Antâ—ent of Fathers objected proveth to be a Counterwitness against the Objectors THe Smectymnians call upon us earnestly to hearken unto Clemens telling us of a Prophesie Concerning a future contention which should happen about the name of Bishop Next That there is no piece of Antiquity of greater esteem then this Epistle of Clemens to the Corinthians Then That this was brought to light by a learned Gentleman Mr. Patrick Young And lastly for the matter it self That therein is a common and promiscuous use of the words Presbyter and Bishop So they In answer whereunto we are first to speak to the Prophesie Secondly The Author Thirdly The Publisher and Fourthly The promiscuous use of the Names which are punctually to be unfolded The Prophesie was of a future Contention about the names of Bishop and Presbyter which if we should ask the Smectymnians When it befel in Christ's Church after the dayes of Clemens they would be loath to tell lest they should betray their Aerius whom Antiquity rendreth unto us as one Schismatically opposing Episcopal Function because he himself could not get to be a Bishop so excellently is the choice of this Prophesie here made by these Objectors The next point concerneth Clemens the Author of whom we esteem as highly as our Opposites can but from his not differencing of Appellations of Bishop and Presbyter to conclude that therefore the Offices were the same is so ill framed a Consequence that both besides antient Fathers our later worthy Protestant Divines Mr. Beza and Dr. Reynalds will disclaim it In the mean time we must have our matter tryed by the most Reverend Father Clemens himself concerning whom we have a competent witness even from Geneva Vedelius by name Divinity Professor in that University testifying That after the death of Linus and Cletus Clement was left alone and retained the name of Bishop both because he then survived all those who had been Assistants of the Apostles and also for that the distinction of Names of Bishop and Presbyter was even then iâ— force So he Which is as full a Confutation of the Smectymnians as if he had said to their faces My Masters you do but dream Our Third and Fourth answers must be unto Clemens his Book and to the learned say they no more even exquisitely learned Publisher thereof wherein Clement immediately
instruct us in the particular Instance which we have in hand who although he held it uncertain whether Timothy be here called an Evangelist in the general notion of Preaching the Gospel or for some peculiar Function yet doth he grant that an Evangelist is a middle degree between Apostle and Pastor and upon those words of St. Paul to Timothy Do thy diligence to come speedily unto me he Commenteth telling us That St. Paul called Timothy from the Church over which he was Governour for the space of almost a whole year This is a pregnant testimony to teach us That Timothy had both the Government over Presbyters in the Church of Ephesus and also that it was his peculiar Charge whence except upon great and weighty Cause he was not to depart which is as much as we contend for Before we conclude this Point we make bold to intreat our Opposites to satisfie us in one particular namely seeing that Philip being one of the seaven Deacons is found Preaching the Word in Samaria Act. 8.5 and yet afterwards is called Philip the Evangelist one of the seven viz. Deacons Act. 21.8 Our Quaere hereupon is Why Timothy and Titus might not as well be called Evangelist for Preaching the Word of God being Bishops as Philip was for the same cause named an Evangelist being but a Deacon It may be our Opposites would wish to be satisfied by Reverend Zanchy upon these points whom yet they will find to be chief Opposite to themselves And albeit he will have the Apostles by their Vocation to have been as it were Itinerants for their time For the founding and erecting of Churches Yet he granteth That Churches being once erected the same Apostles set a Pastor or Bishop over them And what he meaneth hereby he sheweth when more distinctly he confesseth That at first indeed Presbyters were ordained in the Churches and after them Bishops as Hierome affirmeth even in the Apostles times So he Where by the judgment of Zanchy First Bishops were ordained by the Apostles as a degree contradistinct from Presbyters Secondly That the Bishops so ordained although they had been Evangelists and fellow Labourers with the Apostles yet when Churches were once erected some of them were placed Residentiaries in the said Churches And lastly That although Presbyters had their Institution void of subjection to Episcopal Authority at the first as Deacons likewise had theirs yet because of the insufficiency of Presbyterial Government the Episcopal was erected as more perfect even in the dayes of the Apostles The next Obstruction is to be removed SECT V. That Timothy was Bishop of Ephesus notwithstanding that objected Scripture Act. 20. THere is one Objection for we may not dissemble which the Smectymnians press thrice as being inexpugnable and thereupon call it Lethalis Arundo as that which must strike all opposition quite dead In summe thus Timothy was with Paul at the meeting of Miletum Act. 20.4 Therefore say they if Timothy had been Bishop of Ephesus Paul would there and then have given him a charge of feeding the Flock and not the Elders So they As though Timothy before this had not been sufficiently instructed in this duty both by his long and constant attendance on St. Paul and also by his former Epistle unto him which was written and received before this time as some have probably conjectured or as though Timothy should need a particular Admonition to discharge that duty which was respectively common to him with the rest of the Bishops and Presbyters there assembled For though the Smectymnians tell us It is a poor evasion to say that they who were there assembled were not all of Ephesus but were callâ—d also from other parts because say they these Elders were all of one Church made by good Bishops over one Flock and therefore may with most probability be affirmed to be the Elders of the Church of Ephesus Yet we must tell them that Dr. Reynolds whom they and we admire for his exquisite learning speaking of the same meeting at Miletâ—m Act. 20.17 saith notwithstanding all these objected circumstances That though the Church of Ephesus had sundry Pastors and Elders to guide it yet amongst those sundry was there one Chief c. The same whom afterwards the Fathers in the Primitive Church called Bishop So he But yet though he or all Protestants should fail us there is a Father Irenaeus by name who was so antient as to be acquainted with the Apostles of the Apostles themselves and him we can produce distinguishing the persons here met at Miletum into Bishops and Presbyters and affirming That they came not only from Ephesus but also from other Cities near adjoyning to it Which makes the Smectimnians Arundo but a bruised Reed Thus have we fully as we hope satisfied the contrary Objections We proceed now to our proof SECT VI. That Timothy and Titus were both of them properly Bishops by the judgment of Antiquity THe greatest Opposite that we can name even Walo Messalinus the very Atlas of Presbyterial Government will spare us the labour of citing the Greek Fathers or Scholiasts for confirmation of this point who confesseth That most of their Commentaries upon Titus record him to have been Bishop of Crete alleadging by name Chrysostom Theophylact Oâ—cumenius Theodoret and others whose Testimonies we shall not need to repeat only we shall add which may serve for a transition to Timothy the testimony of that antient Ecclesiastical Historian Eusebius who speaking of S. Pauls fellow Labourers reckons Timothy amongst them Whom saith he History recordeth to be the first Bishop of Ephesus adding with the same breath and so was Titus Bishop of Crete Thus this famous Author concerning the Episcopacy of Timothy also To whom we may adjoyn as concurring in the same Judgment Epiphanius Chysostomus Theophylact Oecumenius Gregory Ambrose Primasius yea and Hierome himself who hath positively affirmed That Timothy was Bishop of Ephesus and Titus of Crete But the Smectymnians hearing of a Cloud of Witnesses averring Timothy and Titus to have lived and and died Bishops answer That this Cloud will soon blow over and the greatest blast that they give is That the Fathers who were of this judgment borrowed their Testimonies from Eusebius Assuredly this will seem but a poor evasion to any judicious Reader who shall but observe that the Testimonies of these Fathers are in their Commentaries and Collections out of Texts themselves But the best is other Protestant Divines will appear to be more ingenuous SECT VII That Protestant Divines of very great esteem have acknowledged Timothy and Titus to have been properly Bishops WE begin with Luther who amongst other Resolutions setteth down this for one That Episcopacy is of Divine Right which he groundeth upon St. Paul's appointing Titus to Ordain Elders in every City which Elders saith he were Bishops as Hierome and the subsequent Texts do