Apologies Defences and other writings which our great enemies have published under colour of seeking peace promising to bring nothing but reason and evident remonstrance of truth But who seeth not how full gorged they are with virulent slanderous and immodest speeches tending much to the disgrace to the disproofe nothing of that cause which they endeavour to overthrow Iob. 13.7 Will you speake wickedly for Gods defence saith Iob. Will you dipp your tongues in gall and your pennes in blood when yee write and speak in his cause Is the truth confirmed are men convicted of their errour when they are upbrayded with the miseries of their condition and estate When their understanding wit and knowledge is depressed When suspitions and rumours without respect how true or how false are objected to diminish their credit and estimation in the world Is it likely that Invectives Epigrammes Dialogues Epistles Libells loden with contumelies and criminations should bee the meanes to procure peace Surely they which doe take this course Rom 3.17 the way of peace they have not knowne If they did but once enter into a stayed consideration with themselves what they doe no doubt they would give over and resolve with Iob. Behold I am vile what shall I answer Iob. 40.4 5. I will lay my hand upon my mouth If I have spoken once amisse I will speak no more or if twice I will proceed no further But how sober and how sound soever our proceedings be in these causes all is in vaine which wee doe to abate the errours of men except their unruly affections be bridled Selfe-love vaine-glory impatience pride pertinacy these are the bane of our peace And these are not conquered or cast out but by prayer Pray for Ierusalem and your prayer shall cause the hills to bring forth peace Psal 72.3 6. peace shall distill and come downe like the raine upon the mowen grasse and as the showers that water the earth We have used all other meanes and behold wee are frustrate wee have laboured in vaine In disputations whether it be because men are ashamed to acknowledge their errours before many witnesses or because extemporality doth exclude mature and ripe advise without which the truth cannot soundly and throughly bee demonstrated or because the fervor of contention doth so disturbe mens understanding that they cannot sincerely and effectually judge in Books and Sermons whether it be because we doe speak and write with too little advise or because you doe heare and read with too much prejudice in all humane means which have hitherto been used to procure peace whether it be because our dealings have been too feeble or the minds of men with whom we have dealt too too implacable or whatsoever the cause or causes have been for as much as wee see that as yet wee faile in our desires yea the wayes which we take to be most likely to make peace doe but move strife O that we would now hold our tongues leave contending with men and have our talke and treaty of peace with God We have spoken and written enough of peace Psal 122.6 there is no way left but this one Pray for the peace of Ierusalem THE FORME OF GOVERNMENT IN THE OLD TESTAMENT And first under MOSES THE Common-wealth of ISRAEL was considered either as Personall containing all the whole people not a man left or Representative in the Estate Tribes Cities whose daughters the Townes adjacent are called I. The Estate had ever one Governour 1. Moses 2. Iosua 3. Iudges 4. Kings 5. Tirshathaes or Vice-royes Ezra 2.63 with whom were joyned the LXX Elders II. The Tribes had every one their Prince 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Phylarcha Num. 2. with whom were joyned the chiefe of the families 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Patriarchae Num. 1.4 III. The Cities had each likewise their Ruler Iud. 9.30 1. King 22.26 2. King 23.8 with whom were joyned the Elders or Ancients Ruth 4.2 Ezr. 10.14 These last not before they came into Canaan and were setled in their Cities It appeareth that Moses sometime consulted only with 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the heads of the Tribes and then one Trumpet only sounded Num. 10.4 in some other causes with the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Congregation and then both Trumpets called Num. 10.3 The highest BENCH or Iudgement for causes of greatest difficultie was that of the LXX who at the first were the Fathers of each familie that came down to Egypt Gen. 46. which number did after that remaine Exod. 24.1 9. and was at last by God himselfe so appointed Num. 11.16 See 2. Chron. 19.8 The inferiour BENCHES for matters of lesse importance were erected by Iethroes advice of Rulers of Thousands Hundreds Fifties Tithings Exod. 18.21 26 and after established by Gods approbation Deut. 16.18 In every City as * Antiquit. l. 4. c. 8. Iosephus saith were seven Iudges and for each Iudge two Levites which made together the Bench of each City The forme of the Ecclesiastical government under MOSES THe Priesthood was setled in the Tribe of Levi by God Levi had three sons Cohath Gershon and Merari Of these the line of Cohath was preferred before the rest From him descended four Families Amram Izhar Hebron and Vzziel Of these the stock of Amram was made chiefe He had two sons Aaron and Moses Aaron was by God appointed High Priest So that there came to be foure distinctions of Levitst 1. Aaron as chiefe 2. Cohath 3. Gershon 4. Merari The Commonwealth of Israel was at the beginning in the desert a Camp In the midst whereof the Arke and Tabernacle were pitched and according to the four Coasts whereof they guartered themselves on every side three Tribes On the East side Iudah Issachar Zabulon Num. 2. v. 3. On the South side Reuben Simeon Gad. Num. 2. v. 10. On the West side Ephraim Manasses Benjamin Num. 2. v. 18. On the North side Dan. Aser Napthali Num. 2. v. 25. These foure Quarters were committed to those foure Divisions of Levits The East quarter to Aaron and his family Num. 3. vers 38. The South quarter to The Cohathites Num. 3. vers 29. The West quarter to The Gershonits Num. 3. vers 23. The North quarter to The Merarits Num. 3. vers 35. Who lodged among them and took charge of them as of their severall Wards But there was not a parity in these foure for 1. Aarons family which bare the Ark it selfe was chiefe 2. Cohaths which bare the Tabernacle and vessels next 3. Gershons which bare the veile and hangings of the Court third 4. Meraries which bare the Pillars and Posts last Neither were all the Levits of each of these severall houses equall but God ordeined a superiority among them Over the Priests Eleazar Num. 3. v. 30.24.35 Over the Cohathits Elizaphan Num. 3. v. 30.24.35 Over the Gershenits Eliasaph Num. 3. v. 30.24.35 Over the Merarits Zuriel Num. 3. v. 30.24.35 Whom he termeth Nesiim that is Prelats or Superiors No
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.
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
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-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
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
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
the old Canon of Sardica for liberty of Appeales to the Romane Bishops no Provinces being by the Canon excepted or think that the Bishop of Iustiniana prima was subject to him because at the first erection of that primacy by Iustinian he was perhaps consecrated by Vigilius Bishop of Rome But as this act was performed by the appointment of the Emperour so that Canon of Sardica so much stood on seemeth by the later and greater Councell of Chalcedon againe to be revoked and the order of Appealing otherwise restrained as you may read in the ninth Canon of that Councell And thus confessing my ignorance of the reasons of other mens irregular actions I end having wearied my selfe and dulled my pen perhaps to trouble you more then to satisfy you Yet this latter was my purpose and to take the trouble my selfe for your satisfaction Howsoever it fall out I doubt not but you will accept what is well written for my good wils sake to pleasure you who am not wont to write discourses of this kind to many men and pardon the imperfections and errors which may perhaps escape me because it was my intention to write the truth whereof I have no where wittingly failed and because my little leasure and little learning would not allow me on the suddaine to doe better FINIS THE VALIDITY OF THE ORDINATION Of the MINISERS of the REFORMED CHVRCHES BEYOND THE SEAS MAINtained against the Romanists BY FRANCIS MASON With A briefe Declaration premised thereunto of the severall Formes of Government received in those CHURCHES By IOHN DUREE OXFORD Printed by LEONARD LICHFIELD Anno Dom. 1641. The severall formes of Gouernment received in the Reformed Churches beyond the Seas IN the Church of Sweden the Government is committed to one Arch-Bishop and seven Bishops whom formerly the King now the Regents of the kingdome doe appoint Yet some kind and forme of Election used by the Clergy doth goe along with that appointment The Bishops as Bishops have voyce in Parliament and with them so many of the inferiour Clergy as are from every Socken that is the name of a certaine number of Parishes deputed to appeare in Parliament together with such husbandmen as are usually sent thither in the name of a Socken The Bishops authority over the rest of the Clergy is to direct and order aswell in as out of publick meetings all Ecclesiasticall assayres according to the received constitutions of the Church And as they use not without counsell and knowledge of their Consistorialls to doe any thing of moment so if they think it expedient they may call a Synode of their Diocese and therein make such particular Constitutions as they shall think fit for their owne edification Their meanes and maintenance is answerable in some proportion to the place wherein they are set above others and so are by all respected and honoured as Fathers of the Church In Denmarck their authority is not so great yet they keep the name and place of Bishops and have maintenance somewhat answerable to their place They are appointed by the King for the ordering of Ecclesiasticall affayres with the consent of their Brethren in Confistory as Directours of Meetings and out of Meetings as peculiar Inspectors over the Church to receive complaints and provide that scandals may be taken out of the way In other Lutherane Churches as in Holstein Pomeren Mekelenburgh Brunswick Luneburgh Bremen Oldenburg East Friesland Hessen Saxony and all the upper part of Germany where Lutheranes beare rule as also in most of the great Imperiall Cities the Government of the Church belongeth to Superintendents who are called and put in place by the Princes in their owne Dominions and by the Magistrates in the great Cities They have a Priority over the rest of the Ministery and commonly in the Dominions of Princes there is an Ecclesiasticall Consistory made up of Clergy men and Counsellours of the state to oversee and direct the Superintendents in things which may be expedient To which Consistory also the Decision of hard matters incident when strife ariseth doth belong In the Diocese of Bremen the Arch-Bishop his Chancellour Court doth direct order all things in the name of his Highnesse But in Brunswick and Luneburgh besides the Generall Consistory and the particular Superintendents which are ordinarily amongst all the rest of the Lutheranes there bee others who are named Generales and Generalissimi Superintendentes whereof the former is subordinate unto the latter and both unto the Supreme Ecclesiasticall Consistory whereof the Generalissimus Superintendens and such others as the Prince doth appoint are members All these Superintendents are in place during life and are allowed maintenance in some proportion answerable to their priority of place above others In the Reformed Churches heretofore in the Palatinate the Government was administred by those whom they called Inspectores and Praepositi whose power was the same with that of the particular Superintendents amongst the Lutherans And above these Inspectores was the Ecclesiasticall Consistory made up of three Clergy men and three Counsellours of state with their President These the Prince named and to them in his name the ordering of all matters did belong In like manner in the Wetteraw in Hessen and in Anhalt they have still their Praepositos and Superintendentes with the same power and forme of Government which is already mentioned Now in Holland although their Presbyteriall or as they call it their Classicall Meetings are very frequent videlicèt every month and their Classicall Synodes every yeare yet they have of late found a necessity of erecting some officers to whom a more universall charge is committed then others have These they call Deputatos Synodi and are only temporary for some few yeares with a limited power These Deputies of the Synode have their peculiar Meetings by themselves upon severall incident occasions but chiefly at the time of every Provinciall Synode wherein they consult before hand how matters ought to be laid and proposed unto the Assemblies and then in the Meeting they have a peculiar place by themselves where they sit and concerning every thing which is to bee determined the Praeses of the Synode doth require of them first that they should open the matter unto the Assembly and declare their judgements of it before it be put to the Votes of the Multitude In Geneva and Helvetia the Eldest Ministers have the place before others and for the most part that authority and respect which in other Churches the Superintendents receive by speciall order and constitution these have by custome and tacite consent of their Brethren although at particular occasions of Meetings they chuse severall Presidents of the action The like is also in France where the Ministery of Paris party by reason of the Eminency of the place partly by reason of the guifts and endowments of the men ordinarily appointed to that place doth beare a great sway before all others But in Transylvania Polonia and Bohemia
Episcopall consecration is not presupposed to the Priestly ordination but rather the contrary And that it is not a superiour order is plaine because it hath no superiour act as it is distinguished against Priesthood which is apparent because the act of a Bishop as he differeth from Priesthood is to ordaine and the act of a Priest as he differeth from a Bishop is to make the body of Christ which is a better and more worthy act then to ordaine Peradventure it will be said that the Episcopall degree is worthier because it includes the Priestly order and besides this addeth somewhat else which is proper to it selfe and both these together are more worthy then the one by it selfe But it is otherwise because the Bishoply function is not here compared to the Priesthood in respect of that which they both include but precisely in respect of that whereby one differeth from another Therefore though the Episcopall function may be called an Order yet not distinct from the Priesthood because it is not referred to any act superiour to the act of Priesthood nor inferiour nor equall Hitherto Aureolus I need produce no more Shcoolemen upon the Master of the Sentences because m Navar. in Manuali c. 22. num 18. Navarrus saith there are only seven Orders according to the common opinion of Divines affirming that the first tonsure and the Bishoply function are not Orders but Offices Neither is this only a common but the more common opinion as witnesseth n In scrutinio Sacerdotali Tract 2. de Ordine Fabius Incarnatus Communior opinio est quod prima tonsura Ordo Episcopalis non sunt ordines i.e. It is the more common opinion that the first tonsure and Episcopall order are not Orders Where note by the way that phrase of speech The Episcopall Order is not an Order an Order and not an Order signifying that though men speaking vulgarly doe improperly call it an Order yet in his judgement to speake exactly it is not an Order PHILOD Surely the Canonists doe hold it an Order ORTHOD. First not all the Canonists for whereas o Dist 93. cap. Legimus Gratian brought in Saint Ierom word for word affirming that a Bishop and a Priest are the same the author of the Glosse hath these words Some say that in the first primitive Church the office of Bishops and Presbyters was common and the names were common but in the second primitive Church both names and offices began to be distinguished And againe A third sort say this advancing was made in respect of name and in respect of administration and in respect of certaine ministeries which belong only to the Episcopall office And the same author himselfe is of this opinion saying Before this advancing these names Bishops and Presbyters were altogether of the same signification and the administration was common because Churches were governed by the common advise of Presbyters And againe This advancing was made for a remedy against schisme as it is here said by Saint Ierom. That one should have the preheminence in regard of the name the administration and certaine sacraments which now are appropriated unto Bishops We must understand that when they distinguish the primitive Church into first and second they begin the first at the Ascension of Christ extending it to the time when the Apostles began to single out one Presbyter in every city and gave him preheminence above the rest In which time the office of Bishops and Presbyters is said to be common because those offices which are now appropriated unto Bishops were then in their judgement performed by Presbyters And those which hold that the office and administration were altogether common must needs hold them to be one order for an absolute identity of offices doth argue an absolute identity of order Secondly those Canonists which make nine orders doe not differ from the Schoolemen as witnesseth Bellarmine p Bellar. l. de Clericis cap. 11. sect ult In re non est dissensio There is no difference in the thing it selfe For the Divines doe only consider orders in relation to sacrifice in which respect a Bishop and a Presbyter are not distinguished but the Canonists consider them as they make an Hierarchy and therefore they rightly distinguish a Bishop from a Presbyter Wherefore howsoever they call it an order in respect of regiment yet they neither think it to be a Sacrament of Order nor to imprint a Character TO these we may adde a cloud of witnesses q Apud Binium Concil Tom. 4. Henry Kalteisen in his answere to the second article of the Bohemians in the Councell of Basill saith It is apparent that from the beginning of the legall Priesthood untill now there was alwaies a distinction of a Bishop from a Priest although they were after reckoned by the same name for their affinity which they have in authority because a Bishop excelleth a Priest only in jurisdiction or in the dignity of jurisdiction If only in the dignity of jurisdiction then not in order according to the judgement of Kalteisen who was a Dominican Frier and Professor of Divinity in the University of Collen and one of the Inquisitors against Heretiques whose Oration was lately set out by Henricus Canisius Professor of the sacred Canons at Ingolstad and inserted into the body of the Councells by Binius Tostatus r Tostat in Exod. 29. q. 18. p. 144. Sic est in consecrationibus c. So is it in the consecration of Bishops or of the Pope in which there is not imprinted a character seeing they are not orders but dignities or degrees of Ecclesiasticall preeminence And againe Non dicitur potestas Episcopalis character neque vocamus propriè Episcopatum Ordinem neque etiam sacramentum The Episcopall power is not called a character neither doe we call the Episcopall function properly an Order nor a Sacrament Armachanus ſ Armachan Summ. ad quaestion Armenorum l. 11. cap. 2.3 4 5 6. Episcopus in hujusmodi c. A Bishop in such things hath no more in respect of his order then every simple Priest although the Church hath appointed that such things should be executed only by those men whom we call Bishops And againe Est etiam alia ratio c. There is also an other manifest reason because from the time of distinction of Churches and Parishes no 〈◊〉 man can law fully execute such things but only in those places in which he hath power of government which because simple Priests have not they cannot exercise the acts of it lawfully nor other sacramentall acts unlesse this be specially committed unto them by them which have authority in those places Which restraint of Priestly power was not in the Primitive Church This seemeth to me to be according to the holy Scripture Gerson t Gers de septem Sacramentis Supra Sacerdotium non est ordo superior imò nec Episcopatus nec Archie-piscopatus i. Above Priesthood