triple_a episcopacy_n or_o a_o threefold_a order_n of_o bishop_n one_o of_o god_n another_o of_o men_n and_o another_o of_o the_o devil_n the_o two_o late_a must_v be_v pluck_v up_o the_o former_a only_o must_v continue_v and_o the_o reason_n why_o with_o a_o declaration_n of_o certain_a other_o weighty_a point_n concern_v the_o discipline_n and_o government_n of_o the_o church_n matth._n 15._o 13._o every_o plant_n which_o my_o heavenly_a father_n have_v not_o plant_v shall_v be_v root_v up_o of_o god_n bible_n of_o man_n service_n book_n of_o the_o devil_n superstition_n loe_o here_o be_v three_o man_n stand_v in_o degree_n the_o least_o of_o these_o the_o great_a ought_v too_o be_v the_o other_o two_o of_o man_n and_o of_o the_o devil_n ought_v to_o be_v root_v out_o for_o ere_o as_o evil_n print_v and_o be_v to_o be_v sell_v by_o samvel_n satterthwait_v at_o his_o house_n 〈…〉_o a_o threefold_a episcopacy_n we_o must_v needs_o make_v three_o bishop_n 1._o of_o god_n 2._o of_o man._n 3._o of_o the_o devil_n bishop_n ordain_v of_o god_n or_o set_v up_o by_o the_o law_n of_o god_n do_v declare_v nothing_o else_o but_o their_o call_n which_o by_o another_o more_o special_a name_n be_v call_v pastor_n who_o say_v luke_n the_o holy_a ghost_n have_v appoint_v bishop_n to_o feed_v the_o church_n of_o god_n and_o either_o of_o these_o name_n of_o pastor_n or_o of_o bishop_n be_v proper_a to_o they_o in_o the_o new_a testament_n whereby_o the_o apostle_n do_v distinguish_v they_o from_o apostle_n prophet_n and_o evangelist_n which_o be_v calling_n to_o endure_v for_o a_o time_n ephes_n 4._o 11._o and_o from_o deacon_n 1_o tim._n 3._o &_o phil._n 1._o 1._o for_o otherwise_o they_o be_v every_o where_o call_v elder_n and_o paul_n do_v call_v his_o apostleship_n a_o deaconship_n rom._n 11._o 13._o but_o they_o be_v call_v bishop_n in_o regard_n of_o the_o sheep_n commit_v unto_o they_o as_o though_o a_o man_n shall_v call_v they_o watchman_n of_o overseer_n these_o now_o be_v one_o alone_o as_o where_o any_o church_n but_o one_o pastor_n or_o more_o if_o the_o church_n have_v more_o than_o one_o and_o the_o meeting_n of_o they_o together_o joint_o with_o their_o elder_n who_o paul_n call_v governor_n of_o the_o other_o common_a name_n call_v be_v the_o eldership_n their_o duty_n be_v to_o attend_v on_o the_o word_n and_o prayer_n both_o public_o and_o private_o and_o in_o common_a to_o govern_v the_o church_n as_o appear_v by_o many_o place_n of_o scripture_n that_o the_o same_o be_v subject_a to_o magistrate_n though_o profane_a appear_v not_o only_o by_o the_o example_n of_o christ_n the_o high_a priest_n and_o of_o the_o apostle_n but_o also_o by_o the_o express_a word_n of_o paul_n 1_o tim._n 2._o and_o luke_n 12._o 13._o of_o the_o bishop_n that_o be_v of_o men._n the_o bishop_n that_o be_v of_o man_n that_o be_v to_o say_v bring_v into_o the_o church_n by_o the_o alone_a wisdom_n of_o man_n beside_o the_o express_a word_n of_o god_n be_v a_o certain_a power_n give_v to_o one_o certain_a pastor_n above_o his_o other_o fellow_n yet_o limit_v with_o certain_a order_n or_o rule_v provide_v against_o tyranny_n they_o which_o do_v bear_v this_o office_n of_o bishop_n be_v call_v bishop_n in_o regard_n of_o their_o fellow_n elder_n and_o the_o whole_a clergy_n as_o watchman_n set_v over_o the_o clergy_n that_o this_o call_n be_v not_o bring_v in_o by_o the_o word_n it_o be_v manifest_a by_o that_o that_o there_o be_v not_o to_o be_v find_v in_o the_o new_a testament_n so_o much_o as_o one_o syllable_n whereby_o there_o may_v be_v the_o least_o surmise_n of_o any_o such_o thing_n for_o although_o we_o doubt_v not_o but_o all_o thing_n ought_v to_o be_v do_v orderly_o in_o the_o lord_n house_n and_o therefore_o that_o some_o one_o shall_v be_v precedent_n in_o every_o assembly_n who_o john_n in_o the_o revelation_n seem_v to_o call_v the_o angel_n of_o the_o church_n and_o austin_n call_v the_o moderator_n proestota_n yet_o this_o moderator_n of_o action_n of_o the_o church_n save_v this_o one_o thing_n that_o he_o be_v the_o first_o in_o order_n in_o the_o company_n have_v no_o authority_n over_o his_o fellow_n neither_o do_v he_o exercise_v any_o high_a office_n therefore_o the_o author_n of_o the_o epistle_n to_o the_o hebrew_n as_o hierome_n note_v do_v call_v the_o whole_a company_n of_o the_o elder_n governor_n not_o any_o one_o certain_a man_n such_o a_o one_o be_v peter_n many_o time_n in_o the_o very_a assembly_n of_o the_o apostle_n of_o a_o great_a authority_n sure_o among_o the_o apostle_n who_o be_v all_o otherwise_o equal_a and_o yet_o he_o himself_o one_o of_o the_o company_n of_o the_o apostle_n send_v by_o his_o companion_n to_o samaria_n with_o john_n acts._n 8._o 14._o and_o in_o the_o assembly_n give_v a_o account_n of_o his_o ministry_n to_o those_o that_o be_v of_o the_o circumcision_n act_v 11._o 2._o but_o if_o any_o such_o bishop_n like_o authority_n of_o any_o one_o above_o the_o rest_n as_o there_o be_v afterward_o have_v be_v then_o sure_o the_o apostle_n will_v have_v set_v down_o their_o name_n even_o at_o that_o time_n in_o their_o letter_n which_o they_o send_v from_o one_o to_o another_o especial_o see_v paul_n in_o his_o epist_n to_o the_o philippian_n do_v name_v bishop_n in_o the_o plural_a number_n and_o deacon_n or_o there_o shall_v have_v be_v at_o least_o some_o peculiar_a mention_n make_v of_o they_o which_o see_v it_o be_v not_o do_v it_o appear_v that_o among_o these_o governor_n there_o be_v none_o in_o degree_n above_o their_o companion_n and_o fellow_n bishop_n but_o as_o occasion_v serve_v the_o church_n be_v govern_v by_o a_o fellowlike_o and_o equal_a authority_n among_o the_o fellow_n elder_n in_o their_o eldership_n he_o only_o go_v before_o the_o rest_n who_o godliness_n and_o authority_n the_o company_n do_v most_o allow_v of_o epiphanius_n against_o the_o arrian_n defend_v the_o contrary_a opinion_n namely_o the_o bishop_n ordain_v by_o man_n as_o ordain_v by_o god_n do_v bring_v forth_o three_o reason_n to_o the_o contrary_n two_o as_o it_o be_v out_o of_o the_o word_n of_o god_n the_o three_o out_o of_o the_o history_n of_o those_o time_n the_o first_o place_n be_v 1_o tim._n 5._o 1._o rebuke_v not_o a_o elder_a etc._n etc._n whereby_o he_o gather_v that_o timothy_n have_v some_o authority_n over_o the_o elder_n that_o be_v the_o pastor_n of_o the_o church_n of_o ephesus_n but_o be_v it_o speak_v with_o the_o favour_n of_o so_o worthy_a a_o man_n he_o shall_v have_v mark_v that_o here_o a_o elder_n be_v call_v he_o that_o be_v such_o by_o age_n not_o he_o that_o be_v a_o pastor_n which_o be_v declare_v by_o the_o opposition_n next_o follow_v of_o young_a man_n another_o place_n be_v out_o of_o the_o same_o epistle_n receive_v not_o a_o occusation_n against_o a_o elder_a 1_o tim._n 5._o 19_o whereby_o he_o gather_v that_o the_o elder_n be_v subject_a to_o the_o bishop_n and_o tribunal_n seat_n but_o who_o will_v grant_v he_o that_o timothy_n be_v bishop_n of_o ephesus_n for_o the_o history_n will_v easy_o refel_v that_o which_o the_o father_n do_v report_n as_o certain_a for_o no_o man_n can_v deny_v that_o timothy_n be_v one_o that_o accompany_v paul_n and_o therefore_o no_o bishop_n assign_v to_o any_o one_o certain_a place_n who_o be_v send_v one_o while_n to_o this_o place_n another_o while_n to_o that_o for_o the_o establish_n of_o the_o church_n and_o final_o that_o he_o be_v a_o evangelist_n and_o not_o a_o bishop_n of_o any_o one_o certain_a flock_n i_o have_v desire_v thou_o say_v he_o to_o abide_v at_o ephesus_n while_o i_o go_v into_o macedonia_n and_o why_o so_o namely_o to_o look_v to_o the_o church_n which_o he_o have_v begin_v to_o establish_v until_o he_o be_v call_v for_o again_o which_o he_o do_v in_o the_o other_o epistle_n what_o and_o do_v the_o apostle_n rob_v the_o ephesian_n of_o their_o bishop_n without_o ask_v their_o church_n at_o the_o least_o sure_o when_o he_o go_v last_o to_o jerusalem_n never_o mind_v to_o return_v to_o ephesian_n either_o he_o will_v have_v restore_v timothy_n unto_o they_o or_o the_o ephesian_n will_v have_v require_v he_o again_o of_o the_o apostle_n when_o he_o put_v they_o in_o mind_n of_o so_o great_a danger_n at_o hand_n or_o if_o any_o other_o be_v to_o be_v put_v into_o his_o room_n he_o will_v have_v make_v express_a mention_n in_o that_o his_o divine_a sermon_n but_o he_o be_v say_v to_o have_v send_v for_o the_o elder_n only_o and_o to_o have_v warn_v they_o of_o the_o duty_n belong_v to_o they_o all_o yet_o it_o need_v not_o seem_v strange_a to_o any_o that_o the_o evangelist_n timothy_n a_o man_n endue_v with_o so_o many_o and_o so_o great_a
gift_n remain_v at_o ephesus_n do_v govern_v all_o thing_n by_o his_o direction_n as_o one_o in_o degree_n above_o the_o elder_n and_o by_o the_o apostle_n authority_n appoint_v there_o for_o a_o time_n but_o let_v we_o grant_v epiphanius_n more_o than_o this_o that_o timothy_n have_v the_o authority_n of_o the_o lay_n on_o of_o hand_n out_o of_o these_o word_n of_o the_o apostle_n lay_v not_o hand_n sudden_o upon_o any_o let_v we_o grant_v this_o too_o that_o these_o duty_n belong_v to_o the_o governor_n yet_o we_o deny_v that_o timothy_n can_v have_v have_v any_o authority_n therefore_o over_o the_o elder_n of_o ephesus_n except_o he_o have_v be_v a_o evangelist_n for_o paul_n himself_o tim._n 4._o 14._o do_v show_v sufficient_o that_o the_o lay_v on_o of_o the_o hand_n be_v do_v in_o the_o name_n of_o the_o eldership_n itself_o not_o by_o the_o authority_n of_o any_o superior_a now_o the_o reason_n of_o the_o same_o epiphanius_n be_v these_o bishop_n say_v he_o beget_v the_o father_n of_o the_o church_n but_o elder_n the_o son_n in_o as_o much_o as_o bishop_n and_o not_o elder_n ordain_v bishop_n but_o what_o be_v this_o else_o than_o to_o ask_v to_o have_v that_o which_o be_v in_o question_n for_o it_o may_v be_v and_o aught_o to_o be_v answer_v that_o the_o bishop_n take_v that_o authority_n upon_o they_o without_o warrant_n of_o the_o word_n of_o god_n and_o that_o the_o rule_n be_v false_a which_o concern_v this_o matter_n do_v attribute_v it_o to_o the_o apostle_n which_o may_v be_v show_v by_o the_o ordain_v of_o timothy_n by_o the_o eldership_n again_o for_o as_o much_o as_o election_n be_v the_o chief_a ground_n of_o church-office_n which_o depend_v of_o the_o voice_n of_o the_o whole_a company_n and_o not_o of_o the_o lay_n on_o of_o hand_n which_o make_v not_o bishop_n but_o send_v they_o into_o their_o possession_n after_o they_o have_v make_v they_o we_o may_v more_o true_o affirm_v with_o the_o apostle_n that_o the_o holy_a ghost_n by_o the_o voice_n of_o the_o childrem_fw-la themselves_o make_v the_o father_n and_o not_o the_o bishop_n another_o of_o his_o reason_n be_v a_o deprave_a of_o place_n allege_v out_o of_o paul_n that_o the_o church_n be_v new_o bear_v bishop_n can_v not_o be_v so_o establish_v every_o where_n at_o the_o first_o as_o be_v to_o be_v see_v in_o the_o election_n of_o deacon_n who_o yet_o can_v epiphanius_n persuade_v that_o it_o be_v for_o want_v of_o fit_a man_n only_o that_o there_o be_v many_o bishop_n in_o every_o church_n for_o that_o which_o not_o only_o hierome_n but_o epiphanius_n against_o the_o miletian_o also_o report_v concern_v they_o of_o alexandria_n that_o be_v alexandria_n never_o have_v two_o bishop_n as_o the_o other_o city_n upon_o what_o ground_n the_o man_n of_o alexandria_n do_v it_o and_o follow_v not_o the_o example_n of_o other_o church_n let_v they_o see_v to_o it_o final_o that_o this_o kind_n of_o bishop_n which_o who_o so_o bear_v it_o be_v not_o the_o first_o in_o order_n among_o his_o fellow-elders_a but_o in_o degree_n above_o they_o be_v the_o only_a man_n in_o his_o diocese_n be_v not_o ordain_v by_o the_o word_n of_o god_n but_o by_o custom_n among_o the_o father_n hierome_n witness_v as_o very_o many_o other_o long_o since_o have_v observe_v for_o these_o be_v his_o word_n in_o his_o epistle_n to_o euagrius_n the_o apostle_n say_v he_o do_v teach_v plain_o that_o elder_n and_o bishop_n be_v all_o one_o etc._n etc._n and_o whereas_o one_o after_o be_v choose_v to_o be_v set_v over_o the_o rest_n that_o say_v he_o be_v a_o remedy_n find_v out_o for_o a_o remedy_n of_o schism_n that_o every_o one_o draw_v christ_n unto_o himself_o may_v not_o rend_v the_o church_n in_o sunder_o for_o at_o alexandria_n also_o from_o the_o time_n of_o mark_n the_o evangelist_n to_o the_o time_n of_o heraclea_n and_o dionyfius_n the_o bishop_n the_o elder_n place_v one_o in_o a_o high_a degree_n or_o place_n choose_v by_o themselves_o who_o they_o call_v a_o bishop_n moreover_o upon_o the_o first_o to_o titus_n a_o elder_a and_o a_o bishop_n say_v he_o be_v all_o one_o and_o before_o by_o the_o instigation_n of_o the_o devil_n there_o be_v partake_v in_o religion_n it_o be_v say_v among_o the_o people_n i_o be_o of_o paul_n of_o apollo_n and_o of_o cephas_n the_o church_n be_v govern_v by_o the_o common_a advice_n of_o the_o elder_n but_o after_o that_o every_o one_o imagine_v that_o those_o who_o he_o baptise_a be_v his_o own_o and_o not_o christ_n it_o be_v decree_v throughout_o the_o whole_a world_n that_o one_o choose_v of_o the_o elder_n shall_v be_v set_v above_o the_o rest_n unto_o who_o all_o the_o care_n of_o the_o church_n may_v appertain_v to_o the_o take_v away_o of_o the_o seed_n of_o contention_n and_o a_o little_a after_o as_o the_o elder_n know_v that_o they_o be_v subject_a by_o the_o custom_n of_o the_o church_n to_o the_o bishop_n that_o be_v set_v over_o they_o so_o let_v the_o bishop_n know_v that_o they_o be_v great_a than_o the_o elder_n rather_o by_o custom_n then_o by_o any_o virtue_n of_o the_o lord_n appointment_n yea_o and_o augustine_n also_o in_o his_o 19_o epistle_n say_v that_o according_a to_o the_o title_n of_o honour_n which_o the_o use_n of_o the_o church_n have_v get_v the_o office_n of_o a_o bishop_n be_v great_a than_o the_o office_n of_o a_o elder_a chrysostome_n also_o witness_v upon_o 1_o tim._n cap._n 3._o that_o the_o bishop_n differ_v from_o the_o elder_n only_o in_o ordination_n that_o be_v as_o theophylact_v speak_v more_o plain_o in_o the_o only_a ceremony_n of_o consecration_n theodoret_n write_v upon_o the_o same_o place_n say_v that_o in_o the_o old_a time_n they_o call_v the_o same_o man_n elder_n &_o bishop_n as_o though_o for_o sooth_n the_o thing_n itself_o have_v then_o be_v only_o call_v by_o another_o name_n and_o go_v about_o to_o prove_v that_o because_o paul_n call_v epaphroditus_n the_o apostle_n of_o the_o philippian_n this_o be_v of_o no_o weight_n at_o all_o the_o name_n which_o be_v give_v of_o fellow-labourer_n and_o fellow-soldier_n do_v declare_v that_o he_o be_v no_o bishop_n in_o this_o kind_n of_o bishop_n but_o a_o evangelist_n tie_v to_o no_o one_o city_n much_o less_o to_o a_o diocese_n of_o the_o number_n of_o those_o who_o the_o apostle_n do_v keep_v to_o send_v to_o and_o fro_o at_o the_o motion_n of_o the_o spirit_n of_o god_n the_o council_n of_o nice_a also_o dispute_v about_o the_o degree_n of_o bishop_n allege_v ancient_a custom_n whereof_o we_o mind_n to_o speak_v anon_o and_o whereas_o cyprian_n not_o in_o one_o place_n call_v the_o bishop_n successor_n of_o the_o apostle_n who_o authority_n be_v from_o god_n and_o if_o we_o take_v it_o so_o as_o though_o by_o the_o very_a commandment_n of_o god_n these_o bishop_n be_v the_o same_o that_o in_o time_n past_o the_o apostle_n the_o thing_n itself_o do_v refute_v that_o see_v there_o be_v always_o a_o certain_a portion_n assign_v to_o every_o bishop_n but_o the_o apostle_n by_o direction_n of_o the_o spirit_n of_o god_n though_o not_o confuse_o do_v exercise_v their_o ministry_n throughout_o the_o whole_a world_n but_o if_o this_o be_v true_a there_o shall_v have_v be_v more_o bishop_n in_o the_o church_n of_o rome_n itself_o namely_o peter_n and_o paul_n which_o yet_o afterward_o be_v account_v peculiar_a to_o one_o and_o sure_o there_o can_v be_v more_o the_o chief_a in_o one_o and_o the_o same_o company_n at_o one_o time_n and_o whereas_o the_o name_n of_o bishop_n be_v say_v of_o the_o apostleship_n act_v 1._o 20._o it_o make_v nothing_o to_o the_o matter_n except_o a_o man_n by_o a_o like_a reason_n will_v have_v the_o deacon_n to_o have_v be_v apostle_n because_o paul_n call_v his_o apostleship_n a_o deaconship_n or_o ministry_n but_o we_o be_v to_o look_v into_o that_o also_o that_o hierome_n may_v seem_v to_o be_v of_o the_o mind_n that_o this_o kind_n of_o bishop_n begin_v then_o when_o as_o schism_n arise_v up_o in_o the_o church_n that_o this_o be_v not_o so_o we_o may_v gather_v out_o of_o paul_n himself_o who_o of_o purpose_n write_v to_o the_o corinthian_n about_o the_o same_o matter_n do_v not_o only_o pass_v over_o this_o remedy_n but_o also_o as_o foresee_v such_o a_o matter_n do_v in_o the_o title_n of_o the_o epistle_n join_v unto_o himself_o sosthenes_n to_o teach_v by_o his_o example_n how_o careful_o this_o primacy_n be_v to_o be_v avoid_v in_o assembly_n of_o the_o church_n who_o it_o be_v evident_a be_v not_o only_o the_o first_o in_o order_n next_o unto_o chest_n but_o also_o high_a in_o degree_n do_v execute_v their_o ministry_n in_o common_a wherefore_o no_o not_o the_o same_o paul_n alone_o will_v excommunicate_v the_o incestuous_a person_n
govern_n by_o some_o few_o have_v be_v in_o their_o former_a force_n again_o but_o beside_o that_o the_o state_n of_o the_o world_n be_v quite_o change_v experience_n of_o so_o many_o age_n do_v teach_v we_o too_o well_o that_o unless_o this_o root_n also_o be_v pluck_v up_o it_o will_v come_v to_o pass_v that_o the_o same_o fruit_n will_v sprout_v and_o bud_v forth_o again_o final_o see_v the_o lord_n have_v so_o often_o decide_v this_o controversy_n of_o superiority_n among_o his_o own_o disciple_n that_o he_o shut_v it_o clean_o out_o see_v the_o rule_n both_o for_o doctrine_n &_o good_a order_n of_o the_o church_n be_v to_o be_v seek_v for_o out_o of_o the_o very_a writing_n of_o the_o apostle_n and_o it_o be_v manifest_v the_o church_n then_o prosper_v when_o all_o this_o authority_n of_o one_o man_n over_o the_o rest_n yet_o be_v not_o but_o as_o that_o grow_v up_o so_o all_o thing_n fall_v to_o decay_v final_o see_v where_o the_o rem_fw-la nant_n of_o this_o government_n by_o 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among_o the_o pastor_n or_o elder_n one_o who_o shall_v be_v think_v to_o be_v wise_a and_o experience_a in_o thing_n he_o may_v admt_v he_o though_o not_o as_o a_o pastor_n or_o elder_n yet_o as_o a_o citizen_n and_o it_o be_v injurious_a to_o remove_v from_o their_o office_n in_o the_o church_n the_o pastor_n and_o much_o less_o the_o elder_n and_o deacon_n otherwise_o layman_n from_o that_o degree_n which_o they_o hold_v as_o citizen_n either_o in_o the_o common_a wealth_n or_o in_o the_o assembly_n but_o the_o king_n majesty_n and_o all_o the_o prince_n and_o lord_n be_v to_o be_v exceed_o wary_a that_o they_o make_v not_o courtlike_a governor_n of_o their_o pastor_n to_o the_o great_a indamage_v of_o the_o church_n as_o we_o have_v a_o fair_a example_n in_o eusebius_n of_o nicomedia_n in_o the_o court_n of_o constantine_n as_o for_o the_o right_n of_o the_o patronage_n lest_o some_o man_n shall_v say_v that_o it_o be_v get_v for_o himself_o our_o judgement_n be_v that_o it_o may_v be_v conceal_v but_o not_o without_o some_o condition_n namely_o that_o he_o which_o shall_v be_v choose_v by_o the_o free_a voice_n of_o the_o eldership_n shall_v be_v offer_v by_o the_o patron_n to_o the_o king_n majesty_n be_v also_o to_o set_v upon_o his_o charge_n after_o the_o consent_n of_o his_o flock_n the_o second_o question_n after_o that_o religion_n be_v reform_v it_o have_v be_v a_o receive_a custom_n that_o the_o bishop_n and_o of_o the_o minister_n pastor_n and_o elder_n so_o many_o as_o shall_v be_v send_v of_o the_o bishop_n shall_v assemble_v themselves_o that_o they_o together_o with_o the_o chief_a baron_n and_o noble_n which_o profess_v the_o true_a religion_n may_v make_v enquiry_n after_o the_o doctrine_n and_o manner_n of_o every_o one_o but_o see_v the_o prince_n himself_o be_v a_o lover_n of_o