more did he permit these foure to be equals among themselves but appointed Ithamar Exod. 38.21 to command over Eliasaph with his Gershonits Num. 4.28 Zuriel with his Merarits Num. 4.33 Eleazar Num. 4.16 to have jurisdictio over His own Family Elizaphan with his Cohathites Yea he maketh not Eleazar and Ithamar to be absolute equals but giveth Eleazar preeminence over Ithamar and therefore termeth him Nasi Nesiim Princeps Principum or Praelatus Praelatorum Num. 3.32 And all these under Aaron the High Priest So that 1. Aaron was the High Priest 2. Under him Eleazar who as hee had his peculiar charge to look unto so was he generally to rule both Ithamars jurisdiction and his owne 3. Under him Ithamar over two families 4. Under him the three Prelats 5. Under each of them their severall chiefe Fathers 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as they are termed Exod. 6.25 under Elizaphan foure under Eliasaph two under Zuriel two Num. 3.18 c. 6. Under these the severall persons of their kindreds This is here worth the noting that albeit it bee granted that Aaron was the type of Christ and so we forbeare to take any argument from him yet Eleazar who was no type nor ever so deemed by any writer will serve sufficiently to shew such superiority as is pleaded for that is a personall jurisdiction in one man restant over the heads or rulers of diverse charges The forme of government under JOSHUA THe Common-wealth being changed from the ambulatory form into a setled estate in the Cities of Canaan as before the Levits were divided according to the severall Quarters of the Camp so now were they sorted into the severall territories of the Tribes So God commanded Num. 35.2 8. The lot fell so that the foure partitions of the XII Tribes were not the same as when they camped before together but after another sort For the Tribes of 1. Iuda Simeon and Benjamin made the first Quarter 2. Ephraim Dan and halfe of Manasses the second 3. Issachar Asher Napthali and the other halfe of Manasses the third 4. Zebulun Reuben and Gad the fourth Now in these foure 1. The charge or oversight of the first was committed to Aaron and his family and they had therein assigned to them XIII Cities in Iudah and Simeon IX and in Benjamin IV. Ios 21.9 10 c. 2. Of the second the care was committed to the family of the Cohathits and they had assigned to them X. Cities in Ephraim IV. in Dan IV. and in the halfe of Manasses II. Ios 21.20 3. The third was committed to the family of Gershon and they had therein assigned to them XIII Cities in Issachar IV. in Asher IV. in Naphtali III. in the other halfe of Manasses II. Ios 21.27 4. The oversight of the fourth partition was committed to the Merarits and they had therein assigned to them XII Cities in Zebulun IV. in Reuben IV. in Gad IV. Ios 21.34 These were in all XLVIII Cities whereof the chiefe as may appeare were Cities set on Hills and all so situate in such proportion and distance as that they most equally parted their Tribe among them to performe unto them their duties of attendance and instruction Further there were in Ioshuahs time added by the decree of the Princes the Nethinims of the people of Gibeon for the lowest ministeries and for the service of the Levits Ios 9.27 So that now the order was thus 1. Eleazar 2. Phineas 3. Abisua 4. The three Nesiims 5. The Rase Aboth or Heads of the Families 6. The Levits 7. The Nethinims If this power and superiority was necessary when all the People and Priests were within one Trench even within the view of Aarons eye much more in Canaan when they were scattered abroad in divers Cities farre distant was the retaining of it more then necessary The forme of Government under DAVID ALbeit in Sauls government small regard was had to the Church yet David found at his comming a superiority amongst them For besides the Priests hee found six Princes or Rulers over six families of the Levits 1. Chron. 15.5 6 c. Vriel over Cohath Asajah over Merari Ioel over Gershon Shemajah over Elizaphan Eliel over Hebron Amminadab over Vzziel Likewise between the two Priests an inequality one Abiathar attending the Ark at Ierusalem the higher function the other Zadok the Tabernacle at Gibeon 2. Sam. 20.25 1. Chron. 16.37 39. But after the Ark was brought back he set a most exquisite order among the Levits and that by Samuels direction 1. Chron. 9.22 So that he is there reckoned as a new Founder Of them he made six orders 1. Chron. 23. 1. Priests 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 24000. vers 4. 2. Ministers of Priests 24000. vers 4. 3. Iudges 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 6000. vers 4. 4. Officers 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 6000. vers 4. 5. Singers 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 4000. verse 5. 6. Porters 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 4000. verse 5. I. Of Priests Zadok was the chiefe of the family of Eleazar and Ahimelech the second of the family of Ithamar 1. Chron. 24.3 Under these were XXIIII other Courses Of the posteritie of Eleazar XVI 1. Chr. 24.4 Of the posteritie of Ithamar VIII 1. Chr. 24.4 Which XXIIII are called in the 5. verse Rulers of the Sanctuary and Rulers of the House of God and to whom the learned Interpreters thinke the XXIIII Elders Apocal. 4.4 have relation II. Of Levits that ministred to the Priests in their function likewise XXIIII Courses out of the * IX VIII families the Heads of whom are set downe in 1. Chron. 23.6 and 24.20 Over all which Jehdeiah was chiefe III. Of Iudges that sate for causes aswell of God as the King there were appointed 1. On this side Iordan upwards toward the River Ashhabiah the Hebronite 1. Chr. 26.30 2. On this side Iordan downwards towards the Sea Chenaniah the Isharite 1. Chr. 26.29 3. Beyond Iordan over the two Tribes and the halfe Ierijah the chiefe of the Hebronites 1. Chron. 26.31 IIII. Of Officers Scribes Shemaiah 1. Chron. 24.6 Scribes Seraiah 2. Sam. 8.17 Scribes Shevah 2. Sam. 20.25 Scribes of the Levits 1. Chron. 24.6 Scribes of the Temple 2. King 22.3 Ier. 36.10 Scribes of the People Mat. 2.4 Scribes of the King 2. King 12.10 V. Of the Singers likewise he set XXIV courses over which he placed three chiefe out of the three families 1. Chron. 15.17 25.2 3 4. Out of Cohath Heman Samuels nephew 1. Chr. 6.33 Out of Gershon Asaph 1. Chron. 6.39 Out of Merari Ethan or Ieduthun 1. Chron. 6.44 Of these Heman was the Chiefe 1. Ch. 25.5 Vnder these were diverse others 1. Chr. 15.18 VI. Of Porters who were divided into the Keepers of the watch of the Temple Mat. 27.65 Psal 134.1 who were placed on each quarter of the Tabernacle 1. Chr. 26.13 14 c. On the East side VI. over whom was Shelemiah South IIII. for the Tabernaele II. and II. for Asuppim over whō was Obed.
Isidorus de Patrib and Dorothei Synopsis To two of these Timothy and Titus the one at Ephesus the other at Crete Euseb lib. 3. cap. 4. the Apostles imparted their owne Commission while they yet lived even the chiefe authority they had To appoint Priests Tit. 1.5 Hieron in eum locū To ordaine them by imposition of hands 1. Tim. 5.22 2. Tim. 2.2 To keep safe and preserve the Depositum 1. Tim. 6.14 20.2 Tim. 1.14 To command not to teach other things 1. Tim. 1.3 Tit. 3.9 2. Tim. 2.16 To receive Accusations 1. Tim. 5.19 21. To redresse or correct things amisse Tit. 1.5 To reject young Widowes 1. Tim. 5.11 To censure Hereticks and disordered persons Tit. 1.11 and 3.10 1. Tim 6.5 2. Tim. 3.5 And these after the Apostles deceased succeeded them in their charge of Government which was ordinary successive and perpetuall their extraordinary guifts of miracles and tongues ceasing with them So Irenaeus lib. 3. cap. 3. Quos successores relinquebant suum ipsorum locum Magisterii tradentes Of the promiscuous use of their NAMES These were they whom posterity called Bishops But in the beginning regard was not had to distinction of Names The authority and power was ever distinct the name not restrained either in This or Other The Apostles were called Priests or Seniors 1. Pet. 5.1 Deacons or Ministers 1. Cor. 3.5 Teachers or Doctors 1. Tim. 2.7 Bishops or Overseers Acts 1.20 Prophets Acts 13.1 Revel 22.9 Evangelists 1. Cor. 9.16 The name of Apostle was enlarged and made common to more then the XII To Barnabas Act. 14.4 14. Andronicus Rom. 16.7 Epaphroditus Phil. 2.25 Titus and others 2. Cor. 8.23 Timothy Hieron in Cant. Chr. Euseb The Priests were called Prophets 1. Cor. 14.32 Bishops Philip. 1.1 Tit. 1.7 So Chrysostom in Philip. 1. Quid hoc an unius civitatis multi erant episcopi Nequaquà m sed Presbyteros isto nomine appellavit Tunc enim nomina adhuc erant communia Hierome Hîc episcopos Presbyteros intelligimus non enim in unâ urbe plures Episcopi esse potuissent Theodoret Non fieri quidem poterat ut multi Episcopi essent unius civitat is pastores quo sit ut essent soli Presbyteri quos vocavit Episcopos in 1. Tim. 3. Eosdem olim vocabant Episcopos Presbyteros eos autem qui nunc vocantur Episcopi nominabant Apostolos Oecumenius Non quòd in unâ civitate multi essent Episcopi c. For in the Apostles absence in Churches new planted the oversight was in them till the Apostles ordained and sent them a Bishop either by reason of some schisme or for other causes The Bishops as the Ecclesiasticall History recounteth them were called Apostles Philip. 2.25 Evangelists 2. Tim. 4.5 Diaconi 1. Tim. 4.6 Priests 1. Tim. 5.17 For it is plaine by the epistle of Irenaeus to Victor in Eusebius lib. 5. cap. 26. that they at the beginning were called Priests that in very truth and propriety of speech were Bishops And by Theodoret in 1. Tim. 3. that they which were Bishops were at the first called Apostles The name 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 saith Suidas was given by the Athenians to them which were sent to oversee the Cities that were under their jurisdiction 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The name Episcopus was given among the Romans to him qui praeerat pani vaenalibus ad victum quotidianum ff de munerib honorib Cicere ad Atticum lib. 7. epist 10. Vult me Pompeius esse quem tota haec Campania maritima ora habeat Episcopum The name in Hebrew 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Gen. 41.34 seemeth to have relation to the second use for they were such as had charge of the graine laying up and selling under Ioseph The necessary use of the BISHOPS office and the charge committed to him The party who in the New Testament is called Episcopus is in the Old called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Psal 109.8 with Act. 1.20 In a house or familie it is first affirmed of Ioseph Gen. 39.4 who had the oversight and government of the rest of the servants In a house there may be many servants which have places of charge but there is one that hath the charge of all that is Oeconomus the Steward So doe the Apostles terme thēselves 1. Cor. 4.1 and their office 1. Cor. 9.17 and their successours the Bishops Tit. 1.7 Vid. Hilar. in Matth. 24.45 In a flock Vid. Hierenym epist 4. ad Ruslicum cap. 6. epist 85. ad Evagrium the Pastour Ioh. 21.15 Act. 20.28 Mat. 25.32 1. Pet. 5.2 Ephes 4.11 In a Camp the Captaine Matth. 2.6 Hebr. 13.7 17 24. In a ship the Governour 1. Cor. 12.28 under whom others Act. 13.5 In the Common-wealth they be such as are set over Officers to hasten them forward and see they doe their duties as in 2. Chron. 34.12 and 31.13 Nehem. 11.22 and 12.42 So that what a Steward is in a house a Pastour in a flock a Captaine in a Camp a Master in a ship a Surveiour in an office That is a Bishop in the Ministerie Upon him lieth to take care of the Churches under him 2. Cor. 11.28 Philip. 2.20 1. Pet. 5.2 Concil Antiochen can 9. and for that end to visit them Act. 9.32 and 15.36 and to be observant Of that which is Well and orderly to confirme it Act. 15.41 Revel 3.2 Otherwise to redresse it Tit. 1.5 To him was committed I. Authority of ordeyning Tit. 1.5 and so of begetting Fathers Epiph. haeres 75. See Ambrose Theodoret and Oecumenius in 1. Timoth. 3. Damasus epist 3. Hierome epist 85. ad Evagr. Leo epist 88. Concil Ancyran can 12. al. 13. For though S. Paul should mention a Companie with him at the ordeyning of Timothie 1. Tim. 4.14 yet it followeth not but that he onely was the Ordeyner No more then that Christ is the onely Iudge although the XII shall sit with him on Thrones Luc. 22.30 II. Authority of enjoyning or forbidding 1. Tim. 1.3 Ignat. ad Magnesian Cyprian epist 39. III. Authority of holding Courts and receiving accusations 1. Tim. 5.19 1. Cor. 5.12 Revel 2.2 Augustin de opere monachor cap. 29. IV. Authority of correcting 1. Tim. 1.3 Tit. 1.5 Hieron contra Lucifer cap. 4. epist 53. ad Riparium Cyprian ep 38. ad Rogatianum V. Authority of appointing Fasts Tertullian advers Psychicos FINIS THE ORIGINALL OF BISHOPS AND METROPOLITANS briefely laid downe BY MARTIN BUCER sometimes Professor of Divinity in the Vniversity of Cambridge IOHN RAINOLDES late Professor of Divinity in the Vniversity of Oxford IAMES VSSHER sometime Professor of Divinity in the Vniversity of Dublin afterward Arch-Bishop of Armagh and Primate of all IRELAND Whereunto is annexed A Geographicall and Historicall Disquisition touching the Lydian or Proconsular Asia and the seven Metropoliticall Churches contained in it by the said Arch-bishop of Armagh Together with A Declaration of the Patriarchicall Government of the ancient Church by Edward
Kings reduced them into the forme of a province which they called a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Strabo Geograph lib. 13. pag. 624. edit Graecolatin ann 1620. by the name of the great continent Asia This is by Cicero b Namque ut opinor Asia vestra constat ex Phrygiâ Mysiâ Cariâ Lydiâ Cicer. orat pro L. Flacco distinguished into foure regions Phrygia Mysia Caria Lydia although the southerne part of the greater Phrygia was in his time a member of the province of Cilicia namely that which in after ages was knowne by the name of Phrygia Pacatiana as the northerne part thereof by the name of Phrygia Salutaris The inland Mysia bordered on the north upon the mountaine Olympus from whence c Herodot lib. 7. § 74. Strab. lib. 12. pag. 571. 574. 576. Mysia Olympena took the name which by the interposition of the river Rhyndacus was separated from the province that in the division of the Empire made by Constantine the great was called d C. l. 1. de offic com sacr patrim cum Notitiâ utriusque Imperii Graecâ alterâ Orientalis Imperii in Appendice Geographiae sacrae Caroli à Sancto Paulo edit Paris ann 1641. pag. 27. Hellespontus Consularis The northerne part of this Hellespont named Epictetus was heretofore called the lesser or the Hellespontian Phrygia e Strab. lib. 2. pag. 29. lib. 12. pag. 563. 571. as Strabo informeth us the southerne called Troas is by f Galen de sunitat tuend lib. 5. Galen named the Helle. spontian Mysia although g Ptolem. Geograph lib. 5. cap. 2. Ptolemy doth give unto Troas the title of the lesser Phrygia and to the other the name of the lesser Mysia So hard it is to distinguish the bounds of the Mysians and the Phrygians as by h Strab. lib. 12. pag. 571. 572. Strabo also is here observed Caria was parted from Lydia by the winding currents of Maeander from the receiving of the river Lycus into it unto the emptying of it selfe into the Myrtoan sea For howsoever Ptolemy taketh all that lyeth betwixt this and the river Cayster from Lydia and addeth it unto Caria yet i 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Strab. lib. 12 pag. 577. Strabo maketh Maeander to be the limit betwixt those provinces and aswell by Scylax Caryandensis in his Periplus as by k Lydia perfusa flexuosi amnis Maeandri recursibus super Ioniam procedit Plin. lib. 5 cap. 29. Pliny and l 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Maxim Tyr. dissert 38. Maximus Tyrius it is expressely reckoned among the rivers of Lydia Lydia contained beside the inland region commonly knowne by that name the adjoyning countries also aswell of Ionia lying on the sea side between the mouthes of the river Hermus and Maeander as of AEolis m 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Strab. lib. 13. pag. 586. reaching up from Hermus unto Lecton n Promontorium Lecton disterminās Aeolida Treada Plinius l. 5. cap. 30. Damasses apud Strabon lib. 13. pag. 583. which did disterminate it from Troas For here we doe not with Ptolemy take AEolis in the stricter sense for the maritime coast only which lyeth by south of the river Caîcus but also for the land situated north-ward thereof unto which o Herodet lib. 6. § 28. lib. 7 § 42. Herodotus giveth the name of Mysia and is by Strabo described to be that Mysia which is p 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Strab. lib. 12. pag. 571. Ipsam quoque urbem Pergamenam dictam fuisse olim Teuthraniam testis est Pausanias in Atticis pag. 4. 10. about Caicus and Pergamena untill Teuthrania and the mouth of the river Galen indeed writeth that q 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Galen de sanit tuend lib. 5. the Hellespontian Mysia was conterminous to Pergamus by which Mysia as we must conceive Troas to have been meant which lay upon the Hellespont so upon the like ground we may not take Pergamus for the bare city it selfe so farr distant from thence but for the whole Pergamen territory or Mysia Pergamena reaching up frō Caîcus unto Troas And that all this also was reckoned for a parcell appendant unto Lydia may easily be gathered out of Xenophon r 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Xenoph. de exped Cyri lib. 7. who counteth that a part of the Lydian sea which runneth by Antandrus and Adramyttium from whencence he saith he and his company took their journey through the plaine that lay by the river Caîcus unto Pergamus a city of Lydia Yea and in Adramyttium it selfe s 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Strab. lib. 13 pag. 613. Strabe doth testify that in his time the name of the Lydian gates was still preserved as a memoriall of the building of that city by the Lydians Neither is there any reason to be given why Cicero in the catalogue of the countries of Asia properly so called should wholy pretermit the mention of AEolis and Ionia but that he comprehended the one under the name of t AEolis proxima est quondam Mysia appellata quae Hellesponto adjacet Troas Plin. lib. 5. cap. 30. Mysia and the other of Lydia in both which we see Adramyttium and all the other cities downward unto Ephesus to be placed by Scylax in his Periplus That heretofore Lydia was called Meonia wee read in u Herodot lib. 1. § 7. lib 7. §. 74. Herodotus x Plin. lib. 5. cap. 29. Pliny and others and that y 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Strabo lib. 13. pag. 627. Meonia was in the dayes of Homer named Asia and the inhabitants thereof by Callinus another Poët z Id. lib. 14 pag. 648. elder then Archilochus in the Ionian dialect termed 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or Asians we find to have been the opinion of Demetrius Scepsius a Id. lib. 13. pag. 609. who was equall in time unto Crates and Aristarchus the Grammarian Whereunto we may also adde that of Euripides in his Bacchae 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 together with that which is related by b 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Stephan de Vibib in 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Stephanus Byzantinus c 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Studan 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Erymologic in 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Suidas and the great Etymologist that upon this Tmolus there was a city of Lydia seated which had the name of Asia and by Strabo d 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 leg 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Strabo lib. 13. pag. 629. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Id. lib 14. pag. 650. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Vet. Scholiast Aristophanis in Acharnens that betwixt the two Lydian mountaines of Tmolus and Messógis lay the great Caystrian plaine which Homer calleth the Asian field in that verse of the second of the Iliads 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to which Virgil also hath relation in that of the first of his Georgicks quae Asia circum
Dulcibus in stagnis rimantur prata Caystri and in the seventh of the Aeneids mdash sonat amnis Asia longè Pulsa palus It is further also reported by Strabo that e 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Strab. lib. 14. pag. 650. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Eustath in Iliad ss pag. 254. edit Roman in this field neere unto the banks of the river Cayster the inhabitants used to shew the Chappels dedicated to the honour of Caystrius and of one Asias whom the Etymologist f 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Etymologic magn in 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 noteth to have been sometime King of Lydia and to have given the name unto this Asian field or g 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Herodet lib. 4. §. 45. as the Lydians themselves would have it to the whole land of Asia alledging further that from this Asias the sonne of Cotys the sonne of Maneus they had a tribe in their head-city Sardis which they called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as is recorded by Herodotus Whether h 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Stephan de Vrbib in 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 from this Asias the continent of Asia did take his denomination or from the forementioned city of Lydia or from Asia the wife of Prometheus or from some other originall Stephanus Byzantinus leaveth us to enquire But beside that the first vowell in Homers Asia is long and in the greater Asia which i 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Id. ibid. Stephanus acknowledgeth him to have been ignorant of is of a short quantity no man can doubt but the derivation of the name of Asia from a Lydian city or from a Lydian King and Heros is farre more properly applyable to Lydia it selfe then to the whole continent either of the greater or the lesser Asia For that Lydia comprised within the bounds before described had in a peculiar acception the name of Asia ascribed unto it may further be made cleare both out of the New Testament and the distinction made by the Romane Emperours betwixt the Proconsular Asia which we will shew was the same with this and the rest of the Asian Diocese In the 16. chapter of the Acts of the Apostles the journy of S. Paul and his company is by S. Luke thus described When they had gone throughout Phrygia and the region of Galatia and were forbidden of the holy Ghost to preach the word in ASIA After they were come to Mysia they assayed to goe into Bithynia but the Spirit suffered them not And they passing by Mysia came downe to Troas Where it may be observed that the greater Phrygia through which they passed into Galatia and Mysia Olympena which was next adjoyning unto Bithynia and Hellespont wherein Troas was situated being all of them parcells of that Asia which at first was by the Romans properly so called and afterwards of the Asian Diocese also are yet expressely distinguished from Asia in a more strict sense so denominated as Caria likewise wherein Miletus stood seemeth to be by what we read in Acts 20.16 17. And as these are thus exempted by S. Luke so the rest that remaine of the proper Asia together with the seven Churches of Asia mentioned in the Revelation of S. Iohn are all of them comprehended within the limits of that Lydian Asia whereof we have spoken For that Pergamus was accounted a city of Lydia we have heard before confirmed out of Xenophon to whom Aristotle also may be added in his booke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 where he speaketh of a warre sometime raised 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Sardis Philadelphia and Thyatira are by Ptolemy Smyrna and Epheus by Scylax Caryandensis and k 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Steph. de Vrbib in 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Laodicea by Stephanus Byzantinus placed therein Yet is Laodicea by Ptolemy referred unto Caria and by others unto Phrygia The reason of which difference we may learne from Strabo l 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Strab. lib. 13. pag. 628. who sheweth that the confines of Phrygia Lydia and Caria were so coincident that they were hardly to be discerned the one from the other which is the cause that though he himselfe m Id. lib. 12. pag. 576. lib. 14. pag. 663. doth reckon Laodicea among the cities of Phrygia yet Hierapolis which was n 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Id. lib. 13. pag 629. opposit to it toward the East is by Stephanus p 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Stephan de Vrbib said to be seated betwixt Phrygia and Lydia it by that meanes being placed in and Laodicea without the borders of Phrygia This also doth Strabo assigne for another reason q 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Strab. lib. 13. pag. 629. why the bounds of the Provinces hereabout were confounded because that the Romans did not divide these places by the nations but ordered them after another manner according to the circuits wherein they kept their Courts and exercised judicature Five of these tribunals were seated in the cities of r Plin lib. 5. cap. 29. 30. Laodicea Sardis Smyrna Ephesus and Pergamus Philadelphia was subject to the Sardian and Thyatira to the Pergamen jurisdiction Thus was it when Pliny wrote toward the beginning of the empire of Vespasian although afterward s 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Ptolem lib. 5. c. 2. Thyatira was a Metropolis of it selfe as Ptolemy declareth in his Geography and in all likelyhood Philadelphia also the only city remaining of those seven famous ones singled out as the seats of the most eminent Churches of all Asia in the book of the Revelation For that Philadelphia was herein no whit inferiour unto Thyatira may easily be gathered by the respect which it still retained after that Lydia as we shall heare was separated from the Proconsular Asia and each Province ordinarily permitted to have but one Metropolis For Sardis being then the prime city of Lydia the next in account after it was Philadelphia another also being placed betwixt it and Thyatira as appeareth by the order of them constantly observed aswell in the t Hieroclis Notit Orientalis Imperii in Append. Geograph sacr edit Paris an 1641. pag. 29. Civill as in the u Ordo Metiopolit ibid. pag. 13. 45. in tomo 1. Iuris Graeco-Romani pag. 90. Ecclesiasticall Catalogues of the cities belonging to that Province Whereupon in the Acts of the Constantinopolitan Councell held under Menna we see that Eustathius subscribeth himselfe in expresse termes x 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Concil Constantinop sub Mennâ Act. 5. Bishop of the METROPOLIS of the Philadelphians of the province of the Lydians The addition of these two mother-cities seemeth to have been then made when Vespasian added those many new Provinces to the old government which y Sueton. in Vespasian cap. 8. Suetonius speaketh off at what time as it is most probable he separated this Proconsular Asia from the rest of that Asia which together with this was z Strabo
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
Residence were the Metropoles Concil Constantinop 1. can 2. which also the second Canon of the second generall Councell afore mentioned doth clearely import But I shall not thus satisfy you perhaps except the second point also be declared namely to whose Government the Churches of all other Provinces did belong Touching which I will tell you briefly what searching the best I could into the ancient Ordination and government both Civill and Ecclesiasticall of the Empire of Rome I have observed The whole Empire of Rome was divided into XIII Dioceses whereof VII belonged to the East Empire and VI. beside the Prefecture of the city of Rome before mentioned to the West Those XIII Dioceses together with that Prefecture contained among them CXX Provinces or thereabout so that to e-every Diocese belonged the administration of sundry Provinces Lastly every Province contained many Cities within their territories The Cities had for their Rulers those inferiour Iudges which in the Law are tearmed Defensores civitatum and their seats were the cities themselves to which all the Townes and Villages in their severall territories were to resort for justice The Provinces had for theirs either Proconsules or Consulares or Praesides or Correctores foure sundry appellations but almost all of equall authority and their seats were the chiefest cities or Metropoles of the Provinces of which in every Province there was one to which all the inferiour cities for judgement in matters of importance did resort Lastly the Dioceses had for theirs the Lievtenants called Vicarij and their seats were the Metropoles or principall cities of the Diocese whence the edicts of the Emperour or other Lawes were published and sent abroad into all the Provinces of the Diocese and where the Praetorium and chiefe Tribunall for judgement was placed to determine the Appeales and minister justice as might be occasion to all the Provinces belonging to that jurisdiction And this was the disposition of the Roman Governours for to speake of the severall properties of these subordinate Rulers government were tedious and for our purpose needlesse And truly it is wonderfull how neerely and exactly the Church in her Government did imitate this civill Ordination of the Roman Magistrates For first in every city as there was a Defensor civitatis for secular government so was there placed a Bishop for spirituall regiment in every city of the East and in every city of the West almost a severall Bishop whose jurisdiction extended but to the city and the places within the Territory of it for which cause the jurisdiction of a Bishop was anciently knowne by no other name but 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifying not as many ignorant Novelists think a parish as now the word is taken that is the places or habitations neere a Church but the Townes and Villages neere a city all which together with the City the Bishop had in charge Secondly in every Province as there was a President so was there an Arch-Bishop and because his Seat was the principall City of the Province he was commonly knowne by the name of Metropolitan Lastly in every Diocese as there was a Lievetenant-Generall so was there a Primate seated also in the principall city of the Diocese as the Lievtenant was to whom the last determining of Appeales from all the Provinces in differences of the Clergy and the soveraigne care of all the Diocese for sundry points of spirituall government did belong So that by this discourse it appeareth that 1. a Bishop in the ancient acception was the chiefe spirituall governour of a City 2. A Metropolitan chiefe of a Province 3. a Primate chiefe of a whole Diocese which was anciently a farre greater matter then a Province as containing the joynt administration of many Provinces although now it import a farre lesse jurisdiction even that Precinct which anciently 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 did Now of what Cities these Primates of the Dioceses were Bishops and what Provinces belonged to the jurisdiction of every one I could set downe but I should be long which I am loth to be loving a great deale better sparingnesse then prolixity of discourse and specially at this present when I have no leasure to spare But by this that I have already said of the number of the Dioceses you may see that there were XI Primates besides the III. Patriarchs for of the XIII Dioceses besides the Praefecture of the city of Rome which as before I said was administred by the Patriarch of Rome that of Egypt was governed by the Patriarch of Alexandria and that of the Orient by the Patriarch of Antiochia and all the rest by the Primates Yet I must confesse that in Africa as it is to be seen in sundry of the African Councells the name of Primates and Metropolitans was promiscuously used for the superintendents of single Provinces although the just power and dignity of Primate belonged but to one among them all Now touching the power and jurisdiction of these Primates although it was no lesse then that of the Patriarchs the office being the same as you may see in Anacletus his epistles Anaclet epistol ad Episcop Ital. Gratian. Dist 99. and in Gratian and the name also of Patriarchs of the Dioceses being commonly given unto them by Iustinian yet the honour was somewhat lesse the Patriarchs ever having precedence and priority of place in Councells and that in a certaine order first Rome then Alexandria and then Antiochia But if you should aske me the reason why all these soveraigne Bishops being equall in power only three of them till the ambition of the Bishops of Constantinople and Ierusalem had obtained that title had the name of Patriarchs Gelas in Concil 1. Romano Gregor lib. 6. Ep. 37. ad Eulog I can yeild no better although I know some Bishops of Rome have pretended other then either because from these three cities above all others the Christian Religion was dispersed abroad among many nations in acknowledgement whereof Christians reverenced them as mother-Churches above all the rest or else for the great dignity of the cities themselves exceeding all other of the Roman Empire For first of Rome the Lady of the world there is no question Dio Chrysost in orat 32. ad Alexandrinos Aristid in orat de Romae laudib but she surpassed all the rest and of Alexandria Dion Chrysostomus and Aristides have recorded it to be the second as Iosephus also hath registred Antiochia for the third city of all the Empire And as for the Vnity of the Church the preservation whereof you suppose might be the finall cause of reducing all Christian countries under the Regiment of those three Patriarchs it was otherwise singularly provided for partly by the excellent subordination before touched of inferiour Clerks to Bishops in every City of Bishops to Metropolitans in every Province and of Metropolitans to Patriarchs or Primates in every Diocese and partly if the wounds and rents of the Church by