986. Anno 1537. Thomas Arch-Bishop of Canterbury Edward Arch-Bishop of Yorke Iohn Bishop oâ— London Cutâ—bert Bishop of Durham Stephen Bishop of Winchester Robert Bishop of Carlile Iohn Bishop of Exeter Iohn Bishop of Lincolne Iohn Bishop of Bath Rowland Bishop of Covenâ—â—y and Lichfield Thomas Bishop of Ely Nicholaâ— Bishop of Salisburyâ—Iohn Bishop of Bangor Edward Bishop of Herefordâ—Hugh Bishop of Worcester Iohn Bishop of Roâ—hester Richard Bishop of Chichester VVilliam Bishop of Norwich Robert Bishop of Assaph Robert Bishop of Landaffe Richard VVolman Arch-Deacon of Sudbury VVilliam Knight Arch-Deacon of Richmond Iohn Bells Arch-Deacon of Glocester Edward Bonner Arch-Deacon of Leicester VVilliam Skippe Arch-Deacon of Dorcet Nicholas Heath Arch-Deacon of Stafford Cuthbâ—rt Marshall Arch-Deacon of Vottingham Richard Corren Arch-Deacon of Oxford VVilliam Cliffe Geoffry Dowes Robert Oking Ralph Bradford Richard Smithâ— Symon Matthew Iohn Pryn VVilliam Buokmaster VVilliam May Nichoâ—as VVottin Richard Cox Iohn Edmunds Thomas Robertson Iohn Baker Thomas Barrett Iohn Hase Iohn Tyson Doctors and Professors of Divinity and of the Civill and Canon Law with the whole convocation house and Clergie of England in their Booke intituled the institution of a Christian man dedicated by them to King Henry 8. Printed cum Privilegio subscribed with all their names and ratefied by the Statute of 32 H 8 c. 26. chap of the Sacrament of order fol. 48. c an excellent place Anno 1538. Robert Barnes Doctor of Divinity and Martyr in his workes p. 210. Anno 1540. VVilliam VVraghâ—on in his hâ—nting and finding out of the Romish Fox among the Bishops in England dedicated to King Henry the 8. and his rescue of the Romish Fox A Booke intituled The Image as well of a true Christian Bishop as of a counterfeit and Anti-christian Bishop printed about the same time Rodeâ—icke Mors his Supplication or complaint to the â—arleament of England c. 19.20 A supplication to King Henâ—y the 8. by a namelesse Author against Bishops their jurisdiction pride Lordlinesse and wealth Henry Stalbridge his exhortatory Epistle to his most deare Country of England against the Pompous Bishops of the same as yet the true members of the great Antichrist of Rome their most filthy Father Lincolne Ridley his Exposition on Ihil 1. Iohn Frith a Pious learned Martyr his answer to Sir Thomas Moore p. 116. Nayler his answer to the epistle of the great Turke printed Anno 1542. Iohn Bale afterward Bishop of Osgris in Ireland his image of both Churches on Apoc. c 6 f 42 9 f 56.65 c. 13. f. 105 116 118. c. 14 f. 126. c 15 f 150. c. 17. f 160. King Henry the 8 himselfe in his Book inscribedâ— A necessary erudition for any Christian man published with the advise and approbation of all the Prelates Clergy of England in their convocation and of the Lords Spirituall and temporall and nether house of Parliament with the Kings own Royall Epistle to all his loving Subjects before it Anno 1545. by vertue of the Statute of 32 H. 8. c. 26. chap. of the Sacrament of order Anno 1551. The Book of Ordination of Ministers and Bishops confiâ—med by act of Parliament 3 Ed. 6. c. 12.5 6. Ed. c. 1. 8. Elizab c. 1. which prescribed the 1 Tim. 3. Tit. 1. to be read at the Ordination of Ministers and consecration of Bishops and limits the selfe same forme of Ordination with the power of impesiâ—ion of hands both to Ministers and Bishopâ— Anno 1552. Iohn Hooper Bishop of Glocester a Martyr expition upon the 8. Commandements and in Psalm 23â— p. 40. Hugh Laâ—ymer once Bishop of VVorcesâ—er a Martyr in his Fourtâ— Sermon of the Plough and in his 2.3.4 and 6. Sermons before King Edward the 6. Anno 1â—â—5 Iâ—hn Poveâ— Bishop of VVinchester in his Apologie against Thomas Martyrâ— c 4.5 f. 43.44.52.53.59 Doctor Harpesfield Arch-Deacon of London and Iohn Bradford Martyr Fox Acts and Monuments p 1465 Anno 1558 Thomas Bombâ—edge Martyr Fox ibid p 1856. Iohn Elmer after Bishop of London in his Harborow for faithfull Subjects Master Bullingham after Bishop of Lincolne in his Letter to Master Bull Det 5 1â—64 Master Thomas Becon in his catâ—chisme in his workes dedicated to all the Bishops of England by name approved applauded by them and Printed Cum Privilegio London 1562. vol. 499.500 The Doctrine of Christ and Anti-christ vol. 3 f 409 4010. sect. 18.19 Iames Pilkington Bishop of Durham Exposition on Agge c 1. verse 1 2 3.4 9.12.13 c. 2. v. 1 2 3.4.9.10.11 on Obidias v. 7.8 and in his Treatise of buâ—ning Paules Church Incomparable Iohn Iuell Bishop of Salisbury defence of the Apologie of the Church of England Edit 16.10 part 2 cap 3 divis 5. c 4 divis 2 cap 5 divis 1 cap 7 divis 5 cap 9. divis 1 p 99.100 101.196 202 c VVilliam Alley Bishop of Exeter in his poore-mans Library part 1 Miscellanea Prâ—lect 3. f. 95 96. Printed cum Privilegio Edit. 2.1571 Alexander Nowell Deane of Paules his Reproofe of Doâ—mans Proofe LONDON 1565. cum privilegio f. 43.44.45 Doctor Lawrence Humfryes Regiuâ— Professor of Divinitie in the Vniversity of Oxford Puritano papismi Confuâ—atio ad Rat 3. p. 262.263 Iohn Keâ—ridge his Sermon on 1 â—im 3 1 2 3 London 1578 Iohn VVhitgiâ—t Arch-Bishop of Canterbury against Cart-wright p 353 Master Cart-wright in his second Replie against Whit-gist Anno 1585. â— Tract 8 of Arch-Bishops and Bishops p 404 to 616. CONFVTATION of the Remish Testament on Acts. 20. sect. 4 â—hil 1 sect. 1 1. Tim. 3. sect. 2. Tit. 1 sect. 2 Doctor VVilliam Fulk against Brislow motive 40 against Gregory Martin London 1583 p 172. Confutation of the Rhemiâ—â— Testament on Tit. 1 sect 2 phil. 1 sect 1. Master Iohn Foxe in his Acts and Monuments prescribed to be had in every Arch-Bishop Bishops Archdeacons Deanes and Prebend residentiaries house in every Cathedrall and Collegiate Church by the Canonâ— made in the Synod of London Anno 1571 Edit 1610 p 216 358 359. 360 414 430 432 434 439 517 518 599 625 961 972 1009 1016 1465 1856 both in the text and marginall Notes Doctor VVilliam VVhittaker Regius Professor of Divinity in the Vniversity of Cambâ—idâ—â— Contra Duraum l 6 sect 19 Responsio ad 6 Rationes campâ—ani Rat 10. p 122 141 Contr 2 qâ— 5. c 7 contr 4 qu 1 c 1 Master Pâ—ilip Stuâ—t his display of corruptions neare the end The â—ee hive of the Romish Church oft printed and lately reprinted Anno 1635. passing onâ— most learned Doctor Iohn Raynâ—lds in his conference with Hart Anno 1584 London 1609 c 3 divis 1. p 100 101.105 c 4 divis 2 p 122 123 c 6. divis p 185. divis 3 p 218 c. 8. divis 3 p 4â—1 divis 5 p 540 541 and his Letter to Sir Francis Knolles in refutation of Doctor Bancrofâ—s Sermon at Pauls-Crosse 9. Feb. 1588 dated sâ—pt 19. 1598 Doctor Aâ—drâ—â—willes Synopsis Papisini The 5 generall Controversie Qu
as to Jurisdiction although not of execution which executive exercise is restrained by certaine positive Laws not Divine but Canonicall whence the cause of these Laws ceasing (b) the Laws themselvs determine And Johannes Semeca a Popish Canonist avers That in the first primitive Church the Office of Priests and Bishops was the same but in the second primitive Church to wit some space after the Apostles times both their names and Offices began to be distinguished The same Doctrine together with the Identity and Parity of Bishops and Presbyters is professedly averred not only by those hereafter cited in the Catalogue but also by * Huldrick Bishop of Ausburg about the year of Christ 860. in his Epistle to Pope Nicholas in defence of Priests Marriage by John Crespin L'estate de L'eglise printed 15â—2 fol. 14.97 by Phippe de Mornax Tableaâ— des Differens par 2. c. 6. p. 67 68 69. c. and by Mornay Lord Plessie in his Mystery of Iniquity in the French Edition p. 7.9 10.72.80 to 87 9â— 92.95 to 123.125.128.152 to 155.159.160.172.179.197.210 to 218 234.2â—4 266 267.281.293.304.307.319 320 366â— 389 395.397.404.410.412â— 418.424 to 427 452â— 464.467 468.469.503.518.519.520.524 to 528 533.535.545 546 547.567.568 569.603 Yea * Iohn Maâ—jor de Gestis Scotorum l. 2. c. 3. wâ—ites that in ancient times the Scots were instructed in the Christian faith by Priests and Monks and were then without Bishops And Iohn Fordon Scotichronicon l. 3. c. 8. before him records That before the coming of Palladius the Scots had only Presbyters or Monks to instruct them in the Faith and administer the Sacraments following the custome of the primitive Church And * from Palladius dayes till the reigne of Malcolm the 3d the Bishops of Scotland had no Diocesse at all and so were no Diocesan Prelates but every Bishop whom holinesse had made reverend in that age exercised his Episcopall function without distinction in every place he came If then Bishops and Presbyters were all one and the same in the first Primitive Church which church â—ogether with that of Scotland was anciently governed only by Presbyters not by any Lordly Prelaâ—es or Diocesan Bishops which Dr. William Fulke in his Answer of a true Christian c. p. 20.50 professeth â—o be Antichristian Paâ—all and no divine institution why the Churches of Scotland and England may not now be governed by Presbyters only without Bishops aswell as at first I cannoâ— conceiveâ— their regiment of late having been so tyrannicall unchristian antichristian and exorbitant that they have almost wholly ruined our Religion Church State and lefâ— them in a most perplexed if not desperate condition which proves their Hierarchy to be rather Antichristian and Diabolicall then Divine And how can it be otherwise if we rightly consider the Persons or Condition of our Hierarchyâ— and their Antichristian Attendants I remember a merry Sâ—ory in * Giraldus Cambrensis and out of him related by Mr. Camden in his Britannia p. 604. It hapned that a certaine Iew travelling towards Shrewsbury with the Archdeacon of Malpas in Ches-shire whose surname was Peche that is Sinne and a Deane named Devill when he heard by chance the Archdeacon telling that his Archdeaconry began at a place called Ill-street and reached as farre as to Malpas towards Chester he considering and understanding withall aswell the Arch-deacons Surname as the Deans came out with this merry and pleasant conceit Would it not be a wonder quoth he and my fortune very good if ever I get safe againe out of this Countrey where Sinne is the Arch-deacon and the Devill is the Dean where the entry into the Archdeaconry is Illstreet and the going forth of it Malpas It was * St. Bernards complaint in his age that Iesus Christ elected many Devils to be Bishops as he chose Iudas to be an Apostle Since then there be so many Archbishops Deanes and Bishops Devills so many Archdeacons Sinners if not Sinne and the entrance into these Offices by reason of Symony Ambition and the like a meer Illstreet and their going forth of them by reason of their wicked lives and exorbitant actions occâ—sioned by their very Office Malpas it is almost a wonder and very good fortune if any â—onest godly Minister or Professor ever get safe againe out of their Courts and Diocesse or escape drowning in their Seas Hence is it that the devoutest men in all ages since Prelates became Lords paramount to Ministers have either utterly refused to accept of Bishâ—pricks or resigned them after acceptance as I have * elswhere manifested by sundry examples and shall here furâ—her exemplifie by â—ther evidences (a) Ribadenerra a Iesuite records it to the great praise of Bernardine of Sennes canonized at Rome for a Saint that out of his humility he refused the 3. Bishopricks of Sennes Ferrara and Vrban which severall Popes offred to him and though one Pope put a Bishops Miâ—er on his head with his own hands yet he put it off againe humbly beseeching him not to impose the charge of any Bishoprick upon him and to change that estate of Poverty to which God had called him because he should bring more advantage to the Church by preaching the Word of God and ayding the Soules of many Bishopricks then by being a Bishop in one Church The Pope hearing his reasons confessed them true and left him to his own liberty (b) Vincent Ferrier another Popish Saint is highly magnified for that ' being urged by the Pope to accept the Bishopricke of Leride the Archbishopricke of Valence and a Cardinalship it was impossible to move him to accept of any of these charges deeming it a greater advantage to free one Soule from the chaines of Sinne then to gain all the great preferments of the world For he perceived that these honourable dignities seemed like so many golden chaines whereby he should be detained at the Court and deprived of liberty to goe and preach the Gospell with poverty as God had commanded him So Thomas of * Aquin canonised for a Saint is highly applauded for refusing the Archbishopricke of Naples with other great dignities offered unto him by the Pope In like sort * Raimond of Rocheâ—ort another Roman Saint is extolled for refusing to accept the Archbishopricke of Arragon which the Pope himselfe conferred upon him and commanded him to accept within few dayes at which news he was very sad and most humbly and instantly intreated his Holinesse not to lay such a burthen upon him which he knew not how to beare and seeing that the Pope was resolved to enforce him to accept it he fell sicke with indignation a â—ieuere continuing upon him till he died of regret and so discharged him of this care * Antoninus another â—ate Romish Saint being elected Archbishop oâ—Florence by Pope Eugenius the 4th refused to accept thereof because being retired out of the tempests of the world he should therby return into â—hem to the
in him passing it over in silence and expresly averrâ—ing it theÌ„selves as a truth Wherefore no ancient Counsell or Author whatsoever but Epiphanius branding it either for an heresie or Error I see not well how it should be so esteemed Secondly this hath been the constant received Doctrine both of Christ and his Apostles of all the Fathers and learned Orthodoxe writers in all ages as the precedent Catalogue witnesseth therefore no Heresie or Error as Epiphanius and some few of late out of him alone have rashly deemed it Thirdly it cannot properly be called an Heresie because the superiority of Bishops over other Ministers by a dâ—vine institution as no fundamentall point of faith neither hath it any foundation at all in Scripture as I have elsewhere manifested Therefoâ—e it is most absurd to call it an heresie Fourthly Epiphaâ—ius there condemnes Aerius as much for reprehending and censuring Prayer for the dead as for affirming Bishops and Presbiters to bee equall But this our Prelates must confesse unlesse they renounce this Doctrine of our Church was no Error or Heresie in Aerius but rather in Epiphanius why not therefore the other Fifthly Epiphanius himselfe doth not condeâ—ne Aâ—rius his opinion in this particular for an Hereticko but onely as a fond opinion as his words Eâ— quod tota res stuâ—titiae plena est apud prudentes manifestum est Sixthly St. Hieromâ— Naziaâ—zen Basill Sedulius Ambrose Chrisostome and Augustine taught the same Doctrine that Aerius did at or about the same time but they were never taxed of Heresie or Error for it either then or since why then should Aâ—rius only be blamed who argues just as Hierome doth producing the same Scâ—ipture to prove his assertion as Hieromâ— hath done in his Epistle to Evagrius on Tit. 1. Seventhly Epiphanius his refutations of Aerius his Arguments and opinion is very ridiculous false and absurd For first he saith that Presbiters then had not the power of ordination neither did they use to lay on hands in the election and Ordination of Ministers which is a meere falshood as Hierom in Soph. c. â— with the â—th Counsell of Carthage witnes and I have elsewhere manifested at large Secondly he saith that Presbiters had no voice in the Election of Bishops and Ministers which is (s) contrary to all Antiquities extant and a most palpable untruth Thirdly he saith that there were then more Bishops then Presbiters and men sufficient worthy enough to be made Bishops but noâ— Presbyters and therfore the Apostle writing to the Philippians and others makes mention only of Bishops not of Presbyters because they had then Bishops but not Presbyters A miserable ridiculous answer which subverts that he contends for and constitutes Bishops without any Ministers under their command or jurisdictionâ— whence it will necessarily follow That seeing the Apostles instituted Bishops without Ministers under them aâ—d more Bishops then Presbiters there ought now to bee no Presbiters subject to Bishops but Bishops to be plâ—ced in every churchâ— without any Ministers under â—hem but Deacons only and more Biâ—hops then Ministers which I presume the Lordly Prelates will not grant for this would over-turne not only their Lordships but their â—iocesâ—e and Episcopalities Fourthly he saith that the Apoâ—â—les first constituted Bishops onely in the Church withâ—ut Elders and then they afterwards elected Elders as they fâ—und them worthy which is contrary to Stâ— t Ierome and â—ll antiquity averring that Elders were first ordained in euery Church 〈◊〉 14â— 23 Tit. 1 5 and that they afterward elected a Bishop out of themselves Fifthly he saith that the Apostles used to write to the Bishops of one Church in the plurall number when there was but one Bishop there which is very improbâ—ble yea contrary of all other expositors on â—hil â— 1. Tit. 1 5 7 Act. 20 17 2â— Sixthly he peremptorily determines Timothy to be a Bishop which I have elsewhere proved false and fâ—om this false ground would prove Bishops and Presbiters distinct Seventhly he interprets an Elder in the 1 Tim. 5.1 to be a Presbiter which most Fathers else expound only to be an ancient man Eightly he would prove Timothy a Bishop and Bishops to be Superior too and distinct from Presbiters because Paul exhorts him not to rebuke an Elder but to exhort him as a Father and not to receive an accusation against an Elder but under two or three witnesses which are grosse inconsequence as I have else where manifested so that Epiphanius whilst he goes about to prove Aerius his assertion still of folly steps into many Errors follies and absurdities himselfe as Bellarmine is inforced to confesse though desirous to make the best of it In a word then as all the forecited Authors in generall â—o in speciall Chemnitius examen Concilij Tridentini part 4. de Ordinis â—acramento Danaus in Augustium de haresibus c. 53 Theodorus Bibliander in Chronagr Bucanus lâ—corum com c 32 Magdeburgenses cent â— c. 5. de haresibus Beza de diversis ministorum gradibus c 22. Bersomus Bucerus de Gubernationâ— Ecclesia p 2â—â— to 29â— Bishop Ioâ—â—ll defence of the Apologie part 2 c. 9. divis 1. p 196 202. Doctor Humphry confâ—tat Puritanâ— Papismi ad Rat 3 p 261.262 Doctor VVâ—itakeâ— câ—ntr Duraum l 6. sect â—â— ad ratio 10 Campiani Resp. Contr. lib. â— qu. 5. c. 7. Doctor Fulke and Mr. Cartwright confutation of the Remish Testament Phil. 1.1 Bishop Bridges in his defence of the Princes Supremacy p. 359. Doctor VVillâ—t Synopsis Papismi contr. 8. qu. 3. part 2. Dr. Reynolds in his Letter to Sir Francis Knolls and to Michael Medina a Papistâ—de Sacr. hom Orig. l. 1â— c. 5. Doctor Armes in his Bellarminnus enarvatus Tom. 2. l 3 c 4. to omit others do all joyntly acquit Aâ—â—ius both â—roÌ„ the guilt of Heresie or Error in thiâ— very point and taxe Epiphanius for censuring him without the judgement of a Synod or of the Church condemning his answers to Aerius his reasons as notoriously absurd impertinent yea as foolish Childisâ— worthy to be hissed and derided I shall therfore conclude as doth our learned w Whittaker in this case verily if to condemne prayers for the dead and to equâ—ll Presbitersâ— with Bishops be hereticall Nihil Catholicum esse potest Nothing can be Catholicke so farre as it from being either an Heresie or Error as oâ—r absurd Prelates and their Sycophants Pretend If they object the Authority of x Ignatius that he advanceth Bishops above Presbyters commanding them to obey the Bishops as the Apostles obeyed Christ and willing the people to be subject to their Bishops as to God and Christ and to their Elders as to Christs Apostlâ—s therfore in his daies Bishops were Superior to Presbiters To this I answer that these Epistles of Ignatius are false and spurious as many y of our learned men have proved at large therefore of no Authority Secondly it is