which was as well of the Sacrament as of the Oblations otherwise the Apostles would not have left out the mention of the Sacrament in Acts 6.4 they transferred that part upon the VII Deacons whom they had ordayned for distribution of the Sacrament not for Consecration Act. 6. 1. Tim. 3.12 13. Iustin. Apolog. 2. Ignatius ad Heronem Tertull de Baptismo Cyprian de lapsis lib. 3. epist 9. Chrysostom hom 83. in Matth. Hieron ep 48. ad Sabinianum contra Lucifer Ambros Offic lib. 1. cap. 41. Gregor 4.88 Concil Nicaen 1. can 14. OF EVANGELISTS THey grew upon occasion of the scattering of the Disciples by means of the persecution after the death of S. Stephen Acts 11.19 Of which number S. Philip is reckoned Acts 21.8 and diverse others Acts 11.19 of whom Eusebius maketh mention lib. 3. cap. 37. and lib. 5. cap. 10. Upon these was transferred that part of the Apostles function which consisted in preaching from place to place OF PRIESTS VVHen the Churches were in some sort planted by the preaching of the Apostles Prophets and Evangelists that they might be continually watered and have a standing attendance the Apostles ordained Priests by imposition of hands in every Church Acts 14.23 and 11.30 and 21.18 And they made choyce of the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 rather then of the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 more in use with the Greeks because it includeth an Embassie and that chiefly of Reconciliation which is the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 expressed by S. Paul in 2. Corinth 5.20 with Luke 14.32 OF BISHOPS LAst of all that the Churches thus planted and watered might so continue the Apostles ordained Overseers to have a generall care over the Churches in stead of themselves who first had the same which is called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Acts 15.36 and containeth in it as a strengthning or establishing that which is already well Acts 14.22 and 15.41 Revel 3.2 so a rectifying or redressing if ought be defective or amisse Tit 1.5 These are called Acts 20.28 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in the Syrian that is Episcopi by S. Iohn Revel 1.20 the Angells of the Churches These were set over others both to rule and teach 1. Tim 5.17 1. Pet 5.2 Upon these was transferred the chiefe part of the Apostolick function The Oversight of the Church Power of Commanding Correcting Ordaining The occasion which caused the Apostles to appoint Bishops besides the patterne in the time of the Law seemeth to have been schismes Such as were in the Churches of Rome Rom. 16.17 Corinth 1. Cor. 1.11 and 3.3 4. Galatia Gal. 5.12 Ephesus Ephes 4.2 3. Philippi Phil. 4.2 Colossi Coloss 3.13 Thessalonica 2. Thess 3.11 The Hebrews Hebr. 13.9 Iam. 3.1 For which S. Cyprian S. Hierome and all the Fathers take the respect to one Governour to be an especiall remedy for which also see Calvin Instit. lib. 4. cap. 4. § 2. This power even in the Apostles time was necessary Act. 5.5 15.13.11.2.11.10.46.14.11.8.13.5.11 13. For God chargeth not his Church with superfluous burdens Yet had they such graces as power of healing doing signes sundry languages c. that they of all other might seem best able to want it For by these graces they purchased both admiration and terrour sufficient for crediting their bare word in the whole Church If necessary then in their times that were so furnished much more in the ages ensuing when all those graces ceased and no meanes but it to keep things in order So that were it not apparant to have been in the Apostles yet the necessity of the times following destitute of these helps might enforce it Seeing then God hath no lesse care for the propagation and continuance of his Church then for the first setling or planting of it Eph. 4.13 it must needs follow that this power was not personall in the Apostles as tyed to them only but a power given to the Church and in them for their times resident but not ending with them as temporary but common to the ages after and continuing to whom it was more needfull then to them to represse schisme and to remedy other abuses So that the very same power at this day remaineth in the Church and shall to the Worlds end Of the PERSONS that executed these Offices I. ALbeit the Commission were generall over all Nations which was given to the XII yet was that generality only by permission not expresse mandatory Else should they have sinned that went not through all Nations Therefore howsoever the Commission was to all Nations yet was it left to their discretion how and in what sort they would dispose themselves as the Holy Ghost should direct them So that the partition Gal. 2.9 betwixt S. Peter and S. Paul was lawfull and good and no wayes derogatory to Ite praedicate Goe teach all nations Further the Ecclesiasticall History doth testify that they parted the Coasts and Countries of the world among them by common advise and so severed themselves Peter to Pontus Galatia Cappadocia Iohn to Asia Parthia Andrew to Scythia Tontus Euxinus and Byzantium Philip to upper Asia and to Hierapolis Thomas to India Persia and the Magi. Bartholmew to Armenia Lycaonia Jndia citerior Matthew to Aethiopia Simeon to Mesopotamia Persia Aegypt Afrique Britany Thaddaeus to Arabia Idumaea Mesopotamia Matthias to Aethiopia II. Againe albeit their preaching was for the most ambulatory yet doe the same Histories witnesse that having setled Religion and brought the Church to some stay toward their end they betook themselves to residence in some one place diverse of them as S. Iames at Ierusalem Euseb lib. 2. cap. 1. Epiphan haer 66. Hierome S. Iohn at Ephesus Euseb lib. 3. cap. 26. Terturlian lib. 4. contra Marcion Hierome S. Peter first at Antioch and after at Rome Which places were more especially accompted their Sees and the Churches themselves after a more especiall manner were called Apostolick Sedes Apostolorum Augustin epist 42. Ecclesiae Apostolicae Tertullian III. Thirdly it is also plaine that the Apostles chose unto them as Helpers 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 divers who were companions with them in their journies ministred unto them supplyed their absence in diverse Churches when they themselves were occasioned to depart Such were Apollos Act. 19.1 1. Cor. 3.6 Aquila Rom. 16.3 Archippus Philem. 2. Colos 4.17 Aristarchus Act. 20.4 Clemens Phil. 4.3 Crescens 2. Tim. 4.10 Demetrius 3. Iohn 12. Epaphras Colos 4.12 1.7 Philem. 24. Epaphroditus Ph. 2.23 Epaenetus Rom. 16.5 Erastus Act. 19.22 Gaius Act. 20.4 Iesus Iustus Col. 4.11 Iohn Mark. Act. 13.5 15.37 Philem. 24. Lucas Philem. 24. Col. 4.14 Secundus Act. 20.4 Silvanus 1. Pet. 5.12 1. Thess 1.1 2. Thess 1.1 Sopater Act. 20.4 Sosthenes 1. Cor. 1.1 Stephanas 1. Cor. 16.15 Timotheus Act. 19.22 20.4 Titus 2. Cor. 8.23 Trophimus Act. 20.4 Tychicus Act. 20.4 Vrbanus Rom. 16.9 Of whom Eusebius lib. 3. Hist cap. 4. Euthymius in tertium Iohannis
doe not find to suite with our owne humours the safest way will be to consult with Christ himself herein and heare what he delivereth in the cause These things saith he that hath the seven starres Revel III. 1. He owneth then we see these starres whatsoever they be and the mystery of them he thus further openeth unto his beloved Disciple The seven starres which thou sawest in my right hand are the Angels of the seven Churches Revel I. 20. From which words a learned man very much devoted to the now so highly admired Discipline deduceth this conclusion n Quanta igitur dignitas verorum Pastorum qui tum stellae sunt non in alio firmamento quà m in dextrâ Chrisli fixae tum Angeli Tho. Brightman in Apocalyps 1.20 How great therefore is the dignity of true Pastours who are both STARRES fixed in no other firmament then in the right hand of Christ and ANGELS He had considered well that in the Church of Ephesus one of the seven here pointed at there were many o Act. 20.17 28. PRESBYTERS whom the holy Ghost had made BISHOPS or Overseers over all that flock to feed the Church of God which he had purchased with his owne bloud And withall he saw that by admitting one Angell there above the rest all as well p Iudg. 2.1 Hagg. 1.13 Matth. 11.18 extraordinary Prophets as q Malach. 2.7 ordinary Pastours being in their owne severall stations accounted Angels or Messengers of the Lord of Hosts hee should be forced also to acknowledge the eminency of one Bishop above the other Bishops that name being in those dayes r Philip. 1.1 1. Tim. 1.2 Tit. 1.5 7. common unto all the Presbyters and to yield withall that such a one was to be esteemed as a starre fixed in no other firmament then in the right hand of Christ. To salve this therefore all the starres in every Church must bee presupposed to bee of one magnitude and though those starres which typified these Angels are said to be but seven yet the Angels themselves must be maintained to be farre more in number and in fine where our Saviour saith ſ Revel z. 1. unto the Angell of the Church of Ephesus write it must by no meanes be admitted that t Nec uni alicut Angelo mittuntur sed toti ut ita dicam Collegio Pastorum quiomnes hâc communi voce comprchenduntur Non enim un us erat Angelus Ephesi sed plures nec inter istos aliquls Princeos Brigheman in Apolyps 2 1. any one Angell should bee meant hereby but the whole Colledge of Pastors rather And all upon pretence of a poore shew of some shallow reasons that there was not one Angell of Ephesus but many and among them not any Principall Which wreasting of the plaine words of our Saviour is so extreame violent that M. Beza though every way as zealously affected to the advancement of the new Discipline as was the other could by no meanes digest it but ingenuously acknowledgeth the meaning of our Lords direction to have been this u 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 id est 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Quem nimirùn opertuit inprimis de his rebus admoneri ac per cum caereros Collegas toranque ade◠Ecclesiam Bez. in Apocalyps 2.1 To the Angell that is to the President as whom it behooved specially to be admonished touching those matters and by him both the rest of his colleagues and the whole Church likewise And that there was then a standing President over the rest of the Pastors of Ephesus he the very same as learned x Conference with Hart c. 8 divis 3. Doctor Rainoldes addeth with him whom afterward the Fathers called Bishop may further be made manifest not only by the succession of the first Bishops of that Church but also by the cleare testimony of Ignatius who within no greater compasse of time then twelve yeares afterwards distinguisheth the singular and constant President thereof from the rest of the number of the Presbyters by appropriating the name of Bishop unto him As for the former we finde it openly declared in the generall Councell of Chalvedon by Leontius Bishop of Magnesia that y 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Concil Chalcedon Act. 11. from Timothie so from the daies of the Apostles there had been a continued succession of seven and twentie Bishops all of them ordained in Ephesau Of which number the Angell of the Church of Ephesus mentioned in the Revelation must needs be one whether it were Timothie himselfe as z Vid. Perer. in Apocalyps cap. 2. disp 2. Alcasar Prooem in cap. 2. 3. Apocal. notar 1. Petr. Halloix Notat in vit Polycarp c. 7. some conceive or one of his next Successours as others rather doe imagine For that Timothie had been sometime a Notandum est ex boc loco Timotheum in Ephesino Presbyterio tum fuisse 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i.e. antistite ut vocat Iustinus Bez. Annotat. in 1. Tim. 5.19 Qui politiae causâ reliquis fratribus in coetu praeerat quem Justinus 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 vocat peculiariter dici Episcopus coepit Id. in Philip. 1.1 the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which is the appellation that Iustin Martyr giveth unto him whom other of the Fathers doe peculiarly terme a Bishop or Antistes or President of the Ephesine Presbytery is confessed by Beza himselfe and that he was ordained the first Bishop of the Church of the Ephesians we doe not only read in the subscription of the second Epistle to Timothie and the Ecclesiasticall History of b Euseb Hist lib. 3. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Eusebius but also in two ancient Treatises concerning the Martyrdome of Timothie the one namelesse in the Library of c 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Phot. Bicliot num 2.5 4. Photius the other bearing the name of d Polycrat de Martyrio Timothei inter Vitas Sanctorum edit Lovanil anno 1485. Polycrates even of that Polycrates who was not onely himselfe Bishop of this Church of Ephesus but borne also within six or seven and thirty yeares after S. Iohn wrote the fore-named Epistle unto the Angell of that Church as it appeareth by the yeares he was of when he wrote that Epistle unto Victor Bishop of Rome wherein he maketh mention of e 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Polycrat Epist ad Victorem apud Euseb l. 5. Hist 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 seven kinsmen of his who had beene Bishops he himselfe being the eight I come now to the testimony of Ignatius whom f Theodoret. in Dialogo 1. sive 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Theodoret and g Felix III. in Epist ad Zenonem Imp. recitat in V. Synodo Constantinopol Act. 1. tomo 2. Concilior pag. 220 edit Binii anno 1606 Felix Bishop of Rome and h Iohan Malela Antiochinus Chronic. lib. 10 M.S. Iohn the Chronographer of Antioch report to have been ordained Bishop of Antioch by S.
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
Brerewood OXFORD Printed by LEON LICHFIELD Anno Dom. 1641. THE JUDGEMENT OF M. BUCER touching the Originall of BISHOPS And METROPOLITANS BY the perpetuall observation of the Churches M. Bucer de Regno Christi ad R. Edvardum VI. lib. 2. cap. 12. inter scripta ejusdem Anglicana pag. 67. even from the Apostles themselves we doe see that it seemed good to the holy Ghost that among the Presbyters to whom the ordering of the Churches was chiefly committed some one should be appointed to have a singular charge of the Churches and the whole sacred Ministery who by that care and sollicitude had a presidency over all the rest For which cause the name of of Bishop was peculiarly attributed unto these chiefe governours of Churches although they ought to decree nothing without the counsell of the rest of the Presbyters who themselves also by reason of this common administration of the Churches have the name of Bishops in the Scriptures given unto them So we may see Idem de Animarum curâ officioque Pastor Eccles ibid. pag. 280. Act. 20.28 that by the ordinance of the holy Ghost the care of soules and the pastorall office ought to be imposed upon all the Presbyters of the Church in common And from hence S. Hierome did rightly collect that the Presbyters and Bishops office and charge was one and the same Hierome indeed writeth this withall that in the beginning of the Church those Presbyters tooke care of the Church and governed it by common counsell and that then at length one of the Presbyters was set over the rest and peculiarly called a Bishop when sects and heresies began to arise in the Church and every one laboured to advance his owne sect But it is not credible that this was so observed long nor in all Churches neither For as we have cleare testimonies out of the Fathers that were more ancient then Hierome in all the chiefe Churches from the Apostles times thus it was observed that the Episcopall office indeed was imposed upon all the Presbyters yet so notwithstanding that alwaies even in the times of the Apostles themselves one of the Presbyters was chosen and ordained to be a guide of this office and as it were a Prelate who went before all the rest and had the care of soules and administred the Episcopall office chiefly and in the highest degree Hence also our Lord Idem de vi usu S. ministerii explicat Cantabrigiae ann 1550. ibid. pag. 581. 582. when he would have his to be conjoyned and cohere one with another as members doe in the body he subjecteth every one of his unto others by whom as by members of a more ample and large power and efficacy hee might bee preserved moved and directed The same doth the holy Ghost command Eph. 5.21 Submit your selves one to another in the feare of God The holy Fathers therefore of old considering these things appointed such an order in the Clergy that all the rest of that rank should bee kept and governed by the singular care of the Presbytery and that among the Presbyters the Bishop as the Consul among the Senators of the Common-wealth should take upon him the chiefe care and custody as of the whole Church so specially of the whole order of the Clergy Such Bishops did they ordaine in all more populous Churches and to each of those Churches they commended those others that were more neare unto them in the smaller townes or villages And to that purpose would have each of the Presbyters and overseers of those Churches whom they called Chorepiscopi to be obedient to the Bishop and Presbytery that was next unto them whom those other prime Bishops did upon all occasions call together with the rest of their Clergy and informed them in the skill and diligence which was to bee used in the discharge of their function Now seeing it was Gods will that all his servants should mutually embrace and take care each of other as farre and wide as their ability could reach unto all Christians being but one body the holy Fathers did ordaine that the Bishops of every Province for all the nations subject to the Romans were now distributed into Provinces should meet together with the Presbyters and Deacons as oft as the need of the Churches did so require but constantly twice in the yeare that they might enquire touching Christs doctrine and discipline how it was administred and maintained in every Church and where they did find any thing faulty they might correct it but such things as they did find were right they might confirme and further And that these Synods might bee administred rightly and in due order they would have the Metropolitans take the charge both of congregating and moderating them to wit the Bishops of every Metropolis for so was the chiefe city of every Province called wherein was the Court of the supreme President And to this end they imposed upon these Metropolitan Bishops a kind of charge and care of all the Churches within their Province that if they did understand any thing were not rightly ordained or done either by the ministers of the Churches or by the people they might admonish them thereof in time and if by their admonitions they could not amend it they might call together a Synod of the Bishops to correct it The Judgement of DOCTOR RAINOLDES touching the same VVHen a Act. 14.23 Elders were ordained by the Apostles in every Church b Tit. 1.5 through every City D. Rainold Conference with Hart in the end of the 3. and beginning of the 5. division c Act. 20.28 to * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is to doe the duty of a Pastor to it feed the flock of Christ whereof the holy Ghost had made them Overseers they to the intent they might the better doe it by common counsell and consent did use to assemble themselves and meet together In the which meetings for the more orderly handling and concluding of things pertaining to their charge they chose one amongst them to be the President of their company and Moderatour of their actions As in the Church of Ephesus though it had d Acts 20.17 sundry Elders and Pastors to guide it yet amongst those sundry was there one chiefe whom our Saviour calleth e Rev. 2 1. the Angell of the Church and writeth that to him which by him the rest should know And this is he whom afterward in the Primitive Church the Fathers called Bishop For as the name of Ministers f 1. Cor. 4.1 common to all them who serve Christ in * Luk. 12.42 the stewardship of the mysteries of God that is in preaching of the Gospell is now by the custome of our English speech restrained to Elders who are under a Bishop g 1. Tim. 3.2 Tit. 1.7 Act. 20.28 so the name of Bishop common to all Elders and Pastors of the Church was then by the usuall language of the Fathers
both see the Apostles and conferred with them unto h 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Ibid. Eleutherius who when Irenaeus wrote had the charge of that Bishoprick in the twelfth place after the Apostles Concerning whom and the integrity which then continued in each other succession from the Apostles dayes Hegesippus who at the same time published his History of the Church saith thus i 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Hegesip apud Euseb lib. 4. hist 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Soter succeeded Anicetus and after him was Eleutherius Now in every succession and in every City all things so stand as the Law and the Prophets and our Lord doe preach When this k Cum Elcutherius vir sanctus Pontificatui Romanae Ecclesiae praeesset misit ad eum Lucius Britanncrum Rex epistolam obsecrans ut per ejus mandatum Christianus efficeretur Et mox essectum piae poslulationis consecutus est su sceptamque fidem Britanni usque in tempora Diocletiani Principis inviolatam integramque quietâ pace servabant Bed hist ecclesiast Anglor lib 1. cap. 4. Eleutherius as our Bede relateth was Bishop of the Church of Rome Lucius King of the Brittaines sent an Epistle to him desiring that by his meanes he might be made Christian. Who presently obtained the effect of his pious request and the Brittaines kept the faith then received sound and undefiled in quiet peace untill the times of Dioclesian the Emperour By whose bloudy persecution the faith and discipline of our Brittish Churches was not yet so quite extinguished but that within ten yeares after and eleven before the first generall Councell of Nice three of our Bishops were present and subscribed unto the Councell of Arles l Tom. 1. Concilior Gall i.e. à Sirmondo edit pag 9. Eborius of Yorke Restitutus of London and Adelsius of Colchester called there Colonia Londinensium The first root of whose succession we must fetch beyond Elentherius and as high as S. Peter himselfe if it be true that he m 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Metaphrast Commentar de Petro Paulo ad diem 29. lunii constituted Churches here and ordained Bishops Presbyters and Deacons in them as Symeon Metaphrastes relateth out of some part of n 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Ibid. Eusebius as it seemeth that is not come unto our hands But to returne unto the Angels of the seven Churches mentioned in the Revelation of S. Iohn by what hath been said it is apparent that seven singular Bishops who were the constant Presidents over those Churches are pointed at under that name For other sure they could not be if all of them were cast into one mould and were of the same quality with Polycarpus the then Angell of the Church in Smyrna who without all question was such if any credit may bee given herein unto those that saw him and were well acquainted with him And as Tertullian in expresse termes affirmeth him to have been placed there by S. Iohn himselfe in the testimony before alledged out of his o Tertull. Praescript c. 32. Similiter Hieronymus in Catal. script Ecclesiast cap. 17. in Polycarpo Nicepherus lib. 3. Hist Ecclesiast cap. 2. Prescriptions so doth he else-where from the order of the succeeding Bishops not obscurely intimate that the rest of that number were to be referred unto the same descent p Habemus Ioannis alumnas Ecclesias Nam etsi Apocalypsim ejus Marcion respuit ordo tamen Episcoporum ad originem recensus in Ioannem stabit auctorem Sic caeterarum generositas recognoscitur Tertulsian a lvers Marcion lib. 4. c. 5. We have saith he the Churches that were bred by Iohn For although Marcion doe reiect his Revelation yet the order of the Bishops reckoned up unto their originall will stand for Iohn to bee their Founder Neither doth the ancient Writer of the Martyrdome of Timothy mentioned by Photius meane any other by those seven Bishops whose assistance he saith S. Iohn did use after his returne from Patmos in the government of the Metropolis of the Ephesians For q 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Phot. Bibliothec. num 254. being revoked from his exile saith he by the sentence of Nerva he betook himselfe to the Metropolis of Ephesus and being assisted with the presence of SEVEN Bishops he tooke upon him the government of the Metropolis of the Ephesians and continued preaching the word of piety untill the Empire of Trajan That he remained with the Ephesians and the rest of the brethren of Asia untill the dayes of Trajan and that during the time of his abode with them he published his Gospell is sufficiently witnessed by r Irenae advers heraes lib 2 cap. 39. item lib. 3. c. 1. 3. Irenaeus That upon his returne from the Iland after the death of Domitian hee applyed himselfe to the government of the Churches of Asia is confirmed likewise both by ſ Euseb lib. 3. hist 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Hieronym in Catal. scrip Ecclesiast cap. 9. Eusebius and by t Hierom who further addeth that u Id. ibid. Praefar in Evangel Matthaei at the earnest intreaty of the Bishops of Asia he wrote there his Gospell And that he himselfe also being free from his banishment did ordaine Bishops in diverse Churches is clearely testified by Clement of Alexandria who lived in the next age after and delivereth it as a certaine truth which he had received from those who went before him and could not be farre from the time wherein the thing it selfe was acted x 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Clem. Alexandrin in lib. de divite salvando qui falso Origenis nomine habeture editus ad calcem tomi 3. Commentariorum Michaelis Ghislerii Euseb hist lib. 3 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 When S. Iohn saith hee Domitian the Tyrant being dead removed from the Iland of Patmos unto Ephesus by the intreaty of some he went also unto the neighbouring nations in some places constituting Bishops in others founding whole Churches Among these neighbouring Churches was that of Hierapolis which had Papias placed y Euseb lib. 3 hist 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Hieron Catal. script Ecclesiast cap. 18. Chronic. ad ann Trajin◠2. Bishop therein That this man was z 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Irenae advers haetes lib. 5. cap. 33. a hearer of S. Iohn and a companion of Polycarpus is testified by his owne Schollar a Irenaeus vir Apostolicorum temporum Papiae auditcris Evangelistae Iohannis discipulus Episcopus eccle sia Lugdunen sis Hieronym epist 29. ad Theodoram Irenaeus and that he conversed with b Hi sunt Presbyteri Apostolorum discipuli quorum Irenaeus lib. 5. cap. 36. meminit the disciples of the Apostles and of Christ also he himself doth thus declare in the Proëme of the five bookes which he intituled A declaration of the words of the Lord. c 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ita enim ex Graecis MSS. vetere
to gather at large as o Erasm Annot in Act. 16 Rom. 16. Erasmus did after him that Asia in the New Testament denoteth that part of Asia minor in which Ephesus standeth It is here also further to be noted that as in the state of the civill governement the jurisdiction of the annuall Presidents by Aristides styled p 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Aristid in orat citat quum antea dixisset 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Bishops was extended unto all the cities that were contained within the limits of their severall provinces so in the Easterne empire especially the Ecclesiasticall regiment was herein conformed unto the civill there being but one Metropolitan Bishop setled in every Province unto whom the Bishops of all the rest of the cities were subordinated By which meanes it came to passe that of the seven Churches in Asia spoken of in the book of the Revelation Ephesus alone in the dayes of Constantine had the Metropoliticall dignity lest unto it Then after the dayes of Valens the Emperour Lydia being separated from Asia the Bishop of Sardis which had been the q 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Strabo lib. 13. pag. 625. ancient seat of the Lydian Kings became the Metropolitan of that province the sees of Philadelphia and * In the Latin edition of the subscriptions adjoyned unto the 6 Action of the Councell of Chalcedon Thyatira is made subject to Synnada but the Greeke readeth there not 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 but 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 rather a see well knowne to be suffragan to Synnada which Synnada in Socratis histor Ecclesiast lib. 7. cap. 3. is by another error made to be a city of Phrygia Pacatiana whereas it was without all controverfy the Metropolis of Phrygia Salutaris See the subscript of the V. generall Councell Collat. 8. Thyatira being made subject to him as Smyrna and Pergamus were to the Bishop of Ephesus There remained then of the seven only Laedicea which got the honour of being the Metropolis of Phrygia Pacatiana as we read in the Greeke subscription of the first epistle unto Timothy the latenesse whereof is thence rightly collected by the learned q Vnde satis liquere potest de subscriptione primae epistolae ad Timotheum recentiorem eam esse Cujac in exposit Novell 145. Cujacius For as the distinction of Phrygia Pacatiana and Salutaris is no where to be found before the distribution of the provinces made by Constantine so at that time also when but one Metropolis was allotted unto every Province it is a question whether of those two * Laodicea and Hierapolis as they were neere one another and so conjoyned by the Apostle in Coloss 4.13 so have they the first place also assigned unto them among the cities of Phrygia Pacariana by Hierocles in the civill list of the Provinces Append Geogr. sacr pag. 21. prime cities that were so neare together Hierapolis which without all controversie was acknowledged to belong unto Phrygia was not rather chosen to be the mother city therein then Laodicea which by reason of the doubtfull situation thereof as wee have heard was indifferently challenged to appertaine unto Phrygia Garia and Lydia In the dayes of the succeeding Emperours indeed r 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Concil Chalcedon Can. 12. who yielded so farre to the ambition of some Bishops that they were content there should bee two Metropolitans in one Province both these cities were accounted for the Metropoles of Phrygia Pacatiana which is the cause why in the fourth generall Councell assembled at Chalcedon aswell ſ Concil Chalced. Act. 6. Nunechius Bishop of the Metropolis of Laodicea as Stephen Bishop of the Metropolis of Hierapolis doe subscribe for themselves and the absent Bishops which were under them as also in the fifth generall Councell held at Constantinople there is mention made at the same time t Concil V. Collat. 8. of Iohn Bishop of the Metropolis of the Laodiceans and Auxanon Bishop of the Metropolis of the Hierapolitans and in the sixth of Tiberius Bishop of the Laodiceans and Sisinnius of the Hierapolitans either of them giving unto his seat the title u 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Concil VI. Constantinop Act. 18. of the Metropolis of the Pacatian Phrygians And although by a Canon of the said Councell of Chalcedon it was provided that any Bishop which afterward x 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Concil Chalced. can 12. would attempt to make such divisions to the derogation of the rights of his owne Metropolitan should be deprived of his dignity and that y 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Ibid. the new Metropoles formerly constitured by the Imperiall Charters should so content themselves with this honour that the proper rights should still be preserved unto that which was the Metropolis indeed yet we see for all this that z Notit Graec. in Appendic Geograph sacr pag. 16. 18. item 48. 52. Iur. Graeco Roman tom 1. pag. 94. 98. in the lists of the Bishopricks of the East made in the succeeding times there are still distinct suffragans reckoned under these two Metropolitans of Laodicea and Hierapolis and that diverse other private Bishops were not hereby restrained from aspiring unto a Metropoliticall dignity among whom to speak only of those who are within our compasse was the Bishop of Smyrna who found the means to be made first a Notir Graec. in Append Geograph sacr pag. 8. 40. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or independent and then b Iur. Graeco-Roman tom 1. pag. 88. 45. a Metropolitan with c Ibid. pag. 100. seven suffragans depending upon him d Georg. Codin Curopalat de Offic. Constantinop pag. 221. 237. edit Fr. Iunii the Bishop of Pergamus who was exempted likewise from his subordination to Ephesus and made a Metropolitan by himselfe and the Bishop of Philadelphia e Ibid. pag. 219. 231. who by Andronicus Palaeologus the elder was substituted into the place of the Bishop of Sardis and made Metropolitan of all Lydia So as of the Bishops of the seven Churches mentioned in the book of the Revelation he of Thyatira only excepted all at the last became Metropolitans as they were at the first But among all these the See of Ephesus had evermore the preeminence And as it was the mother city of the Proconsular Asia so was that Asia likewise the prime Province of all the Asian Diocese and had in such esteem that the Proconsul thereof was exempted from the jurisdiction of the Praefectus Praetorio Orientis as before we have heard out of Eunapius unto which the Vicarius or Lievtenant of the rest of the Asian diocese was subject Gonformably whereunto in the Ecclesiasticall government the Bishop of Ephesus was not only held to bee the Metropolitan of the Proconsular Asia but also the Primate of all the provinces that were contained within the compasse
of Maerspurge very often professed and promised And againe this inconvenience that Presbyters should ordaine might be prevented if the parties to be ordained were not compelled to promise the upholding of evident abuses for unlesse that were required at their hands they would willingly receave ordination from Bishops which now they are constrained by a certaine necessity both to seeke and receave from other Ministers And as they could not obtaine ordination from your Popish Churches so neither by the same reason from the Greeke Church For b Bellarm. lib. de notis Ecclesiae cap. 8. §. 22. Bellarmine denyeth it to be a Church because they were lawfully convicted in three full Councells at Lateran Lions and Florence of heresy and especially of the heresy about the proceeding of the Holy Ghost which to be a manifest heresy saith he both the Lutherans and the Calvinists doe confesse Wherefore seeing no Church will give orders but only to such persons as approve and embrace their doctrine therefore they could not with a safe conscience seeke to the Greeke Church whose doctrine they justly misliked Being thus excluded from the Greeke and the Latin from the East and the West what should be done It was the duty of Magistrates whose hearts the Lord had touched not to suffer false Prophets but to drive them away like wolves and to plant godly Preachers in their places But whence should they have them The Popish Priestes converted were like a few clusters in a great vintage or a few mariners in a great ship wherefore either there must be a new supply or the ship of Christ must be endangered And there was but one way for this supply to wit by Ordination Now the Bishops were so farre from yeelding it in any tolerable manner that they persecuted such as sought the reformation and branded them with schisme and heresy Wherefore it must either be devolved unto Presbyters or the Church of God must suffer most lamentable ruine and desolation And was not this a case of necessity I will conclude this point with a memorable saying of Waldensis worthy to be written in letters of gold c Vbi ista duo concurrunt in communitate Ecclesia scilicèt extrema non ulteriùs differendo necessitas ordinarii pastoris aut praesidis ad succurrendum desperata facultas quaerendus est extraordinarius pater priusquà m Christi Domini fabrica dissolvatur Thom. Waldens Doctrinal fidei tom 1. lib. 2. cap. 80. §. 2. When these two things doe meet in the state of the Church to wit extream necessity admitting no delay the hopelesse want of ability to yeeld releefe in the ordinary Pastor or guide we must seeke an extraordinary Father before the fabrick of the Lord Iesus be dissolved PHILOD SVppose that ordination might be devolved to Presbyters in case of necessity yet the necessity ceasing such extraordinary courses should likewise cease Why then doe they continue their former practise why doe they not now seeke to receave their orders from Protestant Bishops ORTHOD. The Churches of Germany need not to seek to forraine Bishops because they have Superintendents or Bishops among themselves And as for other places which embrace the discipline of Geneva they also have Bishops in effect for two things of all other are most proper to Bishops 1. Singularity in succeeding because though there be many Presbyters in a Church yet above the rest there is one Starre one Angell of whose unity depends the unity of the Church and therefore when he dieth another must succeed in the like singularity 2. Superiority in ordaining because ever since the Apostles times these Starres and Angells have been invested with the power of ordination which they might performe without Presbyters but Presbyters might not regularly performe without them Now in these reformed Churches the President of each Presbytery is their Starre or Angell indued with both properties Concerning the first Beza saith d Bez. de divers gradib mmistr contr Sarav cap. 23. §. 25. Essentiale fuit in eo de quo hîc agimus quòd ex Dei ordinatione perpetuâ necesse fuit est erit ut in Presbyterio quispiam loco dignitate primus actioni gubernandae praesit cum eo quod ipsi divinitùs attributum est jure This was essentiall in the matter we have in hand that by Gods perpetuall ordinance it hath been is and shall bee needfull that some one in the Presbytery which is first both in place and dignity should have the preheminence in ruling of every action with that right which is given him from God Therefore concerning the second whereas the Presbytery consisteth partly of Ministers partly of Lay-men their Lay-presbyters are wholly excluded from Ordination for e Non liquidò constat an quum aliquis consecrandas erat minister omnes soliti fuerunt manum imponere ejas capiti an unus duntaxat loco nomine omnium Imò huc magis inclinat conjectura unum tantùm fuisse qui manut imponeret Calvin in 2. Tim. 1.6 Hoe postremò habendum est non universam multitudinem manus imposuisse suis ministris sed solos Pastores Id. in Institut l. b. 4. cap. 3. §. 16. Calvin teacheth that in the Apostolick times only Pastors imposed hands neither is it lawfull for every Pastor in the Presbytery to execute this office but it is reserved to him who is first both in place and dignity having preheminence in every action and consequently in Ordination Wherefore though that he doe it not by his sole authority but with common consent neither hath the name of a Bishop or such ample titles annexed as godly Princes have thought fit for the honour of the place because these things are not sutable with popular estates delighting in equality yet he hath the substance of the office it selfe which he exerciseth not in one only particular parish but in the City Suburbs and the territories thereof containing sundry Parishes as for example at Geneva XXIIII or there about Wherefore seeing a Bishop and a Presbyter doe not differ in order but only in preheminence and jurisdiction as your selves acknowledge and seeing Calvin and Beza had the order of Priesthood which is the highest order in the Church of God and were lawfully chosen the one after the other to a place of eminency and indued with jurisdiction derived unto them from the whole Church wherein they lived you cannot with reason deny them the substance of the Episcopall office And wherein soever their Discipline is defective we wish them even in the bowels of Christ Iesus by all possible meanes to redresse and reforme it and to conforme themselves to the ancient custome of the Church of Christ which hath continued from the Apostles time that so they may remove all opinion of singularity and stop the mouth of malice it selfe Thus much concerning the Ministers of other reformed Churches wherein if you will not believe us disputing for the lawfulnesse of their calling yet you must give us leave to believe God himselfe from heaven approving their ministery by powring downe a blessing upon their labours Blesse them still O Lord and blesse us and make all our Ministery faithfull fruitfull and effectuall to the comfort of our own Consciences the advancing of thy Kingdome the joy of thy little flock and to the recalling of those lost sheepe which as yet wander in the wildernesse of the Church of Rome or elsewhere that so it may be powerfull by thy Spirit to the salvation of many thousand soules AMEN FINIS
Synod of seventy Bishops held by Chrysostom in the foure hundreth yeare of our Lord doth expressely distinguish the Bishops of Lydia from the Bishops of Asia for as for the subscriptions of the first Councell of Nice which are to be found in some Latin copies they are of latter times and deserve little or no regard Yet in this distraction of Lydia from the Proconsular Asia it is to bee observed that the Southerne part thereof lying betwixt the rivers of Maeander and Cayster which we noted to have been attributed by Ptolemy unto Caria and wherein were the cities of Priene Magnesia Trallis and Nysa was still reserved unto Asia together with all that lay upon the sea-coast from Ephesus up unto Assos mentioned in Acts 20.13 as doth appeare aswell x Append. Geograph sacr edit Paris ann 1641. pag. 27. 43. cum tomo 1. Iuris Graeco-Romani pag. 90. by the Civill and Ecclesiasticall lists of the Provinces of the Easterne Empire recorded by the Grecians as by the y Subscript Concil Chalced Act. 6. Concil Constantinop sub Mennâ Act. 5. Concil Constantinop VI. Act. 18. c. subscriptions of the Councell of Chalcedon and other of the Easterne Synods And so z Sub dispositione viri Spectabilis Proconsulis Asiae Provinciae infra-scriptae Asia Insulae Hellespontus Notitia Provinciar dignitat urriusque Imperii Asia thus restrained and disjoynted from Lydia together with the two other Provinces of the Ilands called Cyclades and Hellespontus continued under the government of the Proconsul of Asia as these eight were a Sub dispositione viri Spectabilis Vicarii Dioeceseos Asianae Provinciae infra-scriptae Pamphylia c. Ibid. under the disposall of the Vicarius of the Asian diocese Pamphylia Lycia Lycaonia Pisidia which foure were not contained within the Asia propriè dicta of the ancient Romans Lydia Caria Phrygia Pacatiana and Phrygia Salutaris This distribution is to be seen in the Latin list of the Provinces and Dignities of both the Empires calby b Alciat Parerg lib. 5. cap. 13. Alciat the Breviary of Theodosius the yonger c 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Io. Malel Antiochen Chronic MS. lib. 14. by whom Lycia was first divided from Lycaonia and made a Province by it selfe Myra being appointed the Metropolis and place of the residence of the President thereof as Iohannes Malela setteth downe in his Chronicle Which report of his if we admit for authentique we must withall say that Theodoret had relation to the state of his owne time when speaking of the care which Chrysostom had d 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Theodoret. histor Ecclesiastic lib. 5. cap 28. of the whole diocese of Asia he saith that it was governed by eleven Presidents counting the three Provinces which were under the Proconsul of Asia with the other eighth that were under the Vicarius of the Asian diocese which otherwise if Lycia and Lycaonia had been conjoyned would have been but seven Provinces Indeed c Asianae X. Pamphylia Hellespontus Lydia c. Notit utriusque Imperii in the generall enumeration of the Provinces of the Easterne Empire which we meet withall toward the beginning of the foresaid Theodosian Breviary there are but ten Provinces numbred of the whole Asian diocese the first and principall of them all to wit Asia it selfe by some errour wherewith f Onuph Panuin Reipubl Roman lib. 3. pag. 424. edit Francofurt ann 1597. Onuphrius also was misledd being omitted Which was nothing amended by Isidorus Mercator but increased rather when he reckoneth up g Asiae Provinciae XII Asia ipsa in quâ est Ilium id est Troia Lydia Galatia Lycia Caria Hellespontus c. Provinciar Romanar libell ab Ant. Sconhovio Andr. Schotto edit ex Isidori Collect. Epistolar Decretal MS. twelve Provinces in this Asia the first where of is Asia it selfe saith he in which is Ilium or Troy the second Lydia the third Galatia Whereas Ilium was situated not in this but in the province of Hellespont and Galatia appertained to the Pontican and not to the Asian Diocese Whence by the way wee may correct an errour that hath crept into the Greek edition of the subscriptions of the 6. Action of the Councell of Chalcedon wherein though Theosebius Bishop of Ilium had put to his name yet Stephen the Metropolitan of the Ephesians among those absent Bishops that were under his jurisdiction doth nominate Rufinus Bishop not Timi as the Latin books have it but Ilij And here it is further to be observed that howsoever in former times the Proconsular Asia had divers metropoliticall cities in it as by that which hath been already said and specially by the Rescript of the Emperour Antoninus vouched by Vlpian is manifestly proved yet in the disposition of the Empire made by Constantine it was ordered that aswell there as in all other provinces respectively there should be but one chiefe city held for the Metropolis wherein the Roman Deputy was to make his principall residence and to which the provincialls might have recourse for the administration of publick justice Now Ephesus being held to be h 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Aristid orat de concordiâ ad civitates Asiaticas the common treasury of Asia as Aristides calleth it was appointed to be the Metropolis thereof as may appeare by the testimonies aswell of i 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Chrysost in argument epist ad Ephes Chrysostom and others of the ancient who wrote upon the Epistle of S. Paul to the Ephesians as by the Emperour k 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Theodos jun. epist ad Dioscor Alexandrin insert Actioni 1. Concil Chalcedon Theodosius in the letters whereby he summoneth Dioscorus and other Bishops to appeare at the second Councell of Ephesus assembled by him in the yeare of our Lord CCCCXLIX And he that wrote the book of the places mentioned in the Acts of the Apostles falsely fathered upon S. Hierom saying that l Specialiter ubi Ephesus civit as est Asia vocatur Lib. de locis Act. Apostol inter Hieronymi Bedae opera where the city of Ephesus is there is the Asia specially so called could meane no other thing thereby but that the province which hath Ephesus for it's Metropolis is that which hath the name of Asia in a singular manner appropriated unto it if therein hee looked any further then to the bare words of the text wherein it is said that Paul m Act. 19.10 continuing at Ephesus by the space of two yeares all they which dwelt in Asia heard the word of the Lord. and that afterward n Act. 20.16 18. he determined to sayle by Ephesus because he would not spend the time in Asia and thereupon sending for the Elders of the Church of Ephesus he said unto them Ye know from the first day that I came into Asia after what manner I have been with you at all seasons Out of all which it was no hard matter for him
and contrary to the Scriptures which plentifully proves the preheminence of Bishops For though there were many Presbyters in Ephesus and Crete yet f 1 Tim. 1.3 lb. 5.19 Tit. 1.5 Saint Paul left Timothie at Ephesus and Titus at Crete to ordaine Presbyters to command them not to teach any other doctrine or if they did to put them to silence as also to examine witnesses and receive accusations And forasmuch as the end and use of their office was perpetuall therefore the function and office it selfe must likewise be perpetuall Which proveth that it was given to them as they were Bishops not as they were Evangelists Moreover the calling of Bishops is approved by the mouth of Christ himselfe when he adorned the seven Prelates of the seven Churches with the honourable title of Starres and Angells If they be Angells then are they Messengers of the Lord of Hosts If they be his Messengers then are they sent from him and their vocation by him authorised But what is their charge g Revel 2.9.14 15 20. to try false Apostles and not to suffer the doctrine of Balaam nor the doctrine of the Nicolaitans nor to permit the woman Iesabell to teach and seduce the people or to make them commit fornication and eat meate sacrificed to Idolls That is both to oversee the doctrine and discipline of the Church If this be their charge then in this God hath given them authority to amend what is amisse which authority is not given to many but to one Angell in every one Church of the seven Churches Why should that one be charged above the rest if he had not pastorall power besides the rest And he is called the Angell of the Church not of the people nor of the Presbyters but of the whole Church If he be the Angell of the whole Church then he hath pastorall authority over the whole Church and is armed with spirituall power to governe the same and to reforme abuses both in the Ministers and in the people Wherefore the opinion of Aërius concerning these Angells as contrary to the word of God is it selfe contrary unto it and in this sense justly censured for an Heresy Now let us see whether it can be imputed to Luther and Calvin It is confessed by h Tom. 4. Disp 9. q. 1. p. 2. sect 9. Gregory de Valentiâ that except the Anabaptists all the sectaries so it pleaseth him to stile the Protestants admit three degrees of Ministers to wit Bishops whom they call Superintendents Presbyters and Deacons Therefore by the testimony of your owne Iesuit they cannot be Aërïans And surely it is famously knowne to the world to be so in the reformed Churches of Denmarke Suevia and high Germany as also in Saxonie even at Wittenberge where Luther florished Concerning which thus writeth Iacobus Heerbrandus sometimes Divinity Reader at Tubinge i Heerbrand Loc. Com. de ministerio Ecclesiae pag. 699. Truly there ought to be degrees amongst the Ministers as with us in the Dutchey of Wittenberge there are Subdeacons Deacons Pastors speciall Superintendents and over them generall Superintendents How can they disallow the preheminence of Bishops seeing their Superintendents are nothing else but Bishops For when the name Bishop was growne odious by reason of abuses in the Popish Prelates they retaining the dignity it selfe changed the word Bishop into Superintendent which is equivalent in signification PHILOD If they allow the state of Bishops why then did they banish their Catholick Bishops ORTHOD. They banished the Popish Bishops not because they were Bishops but because they were Popish For first such as sought reformation intreated them to redresse abuses which they utterly refused Then the Magistrates were told that it was their duty to reforme the Church by the example of the godly Kings of Iudah which sundry of them did yet so that the Bishops might have kept their places if they would have favoured the Gospell of Christ as may appeare by the authors of the Augustane Confession k De Eccles Potestat The Bishops say they might easily retaine the obedience due unto them if they urged us not to keep those traditions which wee cannot keep with a good conscience And againe l Apolog. Confessionis Augustanae ad artic 14. de ordine Ecclesiastico We have often protested that wee doe heartily approve the Ecclesiasticall policy and degrees in the Church and so much as lieth in us doe desire to preserve them We doe not mislike the authority of Bishops so they would not compell us to doe against Gods commandements And againe m Ibid. Furthermore we doe protest and we would have it recorded that we would willingly preserve the Ecclesiasticall and Canonicall policy if the Bishops would cease to tyrannize over our Churches This our mind or desire shall excuse us with all posterity both before God and all Nations that it may not be imputed unto us that the authority of Bishops is overthrowne by us To the same effect speaketh George Prince Anhalt n Princeps Anhalt in Cōcion super Matth. 7. de falsis prophetis in Praefatione tit de Ordinations Would to God that as they carry the name and titles of Bishops so they would shew themselves to be Bishops of the Church would to God that as the book of Gospells is delivered them and laid upon their shoulders in their Ordination so they would teach doctrine according thereunto and would faithfully governe their Churches thereby O how willingly and with what joy of heart would we receive them for our Bishops and reverence them obey them and yeeld unto them their due jurisdiction and ordination I passe by other Colloquies at o Colloquium Wormaciense tit de personis Ecclesiasticis tit de abusibus Ecclesiarum emendandis Wormes and p Acta Colloq Ratisbon à Buceto edita tit de Ecclesiae hierarchico ordine paragr 7. Ratisbone wherein the degrees of Bishops Archbishops and Patriarchs are commended as profitable to preserve the unity of the Church Concerning which Melancthon writeth thus to Camerarius q Melancth ep ad Camerarium an 1530. By what right or Law may we dissolve the Ecclesiasticall policy if the Bishops will grant us that which in reason they ought to grant and though it were lawfull for us so to doe yet surely it were not expedient Luther was ever of this opinion And that they meane unfainedly as they speake may appeare by their dealing with Michael Sidonius r Historia Confess Augustanae per Chytraeum Whom they thrust out of his Bishoprick because of his Popery yet afterwards when he imbraced the Gospell advanced him againe to that Ecclesiasticall office So farre were those whom you call Lutherans from being Aërians PHILOD BVt what say you to Geneva those Cities that imbrace the Genevian Discipline ORTHOD. Their opinions are apparent by Calvine and Beza The judgement of Calvine is the same with the Augustane Confession to which he