the_o bishop_n thereof_o to_o the_o number_n of_o twenty_o seven_o have_v be_v ordain_v in_o the_o city_n itself_o but_o that_o it_o seem_v prove_v a_o false_a allegation_n he_o have_v give_v we_o no_o reason_n to_o believe_v he_o in_o his_o tradition_n a_o inference_n much_o like_o this_o that_o suppose_v two_o person_n to_o contend_v for_o their_o right_n and_o the_o advocate_n of_o one_o of_o they_o shall_v in_o his_o plea_n allege_v a_o false_a prescription_n his_o adversary_n shall_v thence_o conclude_v upon_o he_o that_o he_o have_v no_o reason_n to_o believe_v that_o there_o be_v any_o such_o person_n in_o the_o world_n as_o his_o client_n for_o this_o be_v the_o case_n the_o matter_n of_o the_o dispute_n be_v where_o the_o bishop_n of_o ephesus_n ought_v to_o be_v ordain_v according_a to_o the_o canon_n at_o ephesus_n say_v leontius_n by_o constant_a prescription_n no_o say_v the_o council_n for_o many_o of_o they_o have_v be_v ordain_v at_o constantinople_n now_o be_v it_o not_o awkerd_a to_o infer_v from_o thence_o that_o the_o council_n deny_v the_o certainty_n of_o the_o succession_n itself_o when_o as_o the_o debate_n be_v ground_v upon_o the_o supposition_n of_o it_o it_o be_v grant_v on_o both_o sidesa_n a_o thing_n undoubted_a that_o there_o be_v a_o succession_n of_o bishop_n at_o ephesus_n and_o the_o controversy_n be_v only_o about_o the_o accustom_a place_n of_o their_o consecration_n now_o from_o the_o variety_n of_o that_o to_o conclude_v that_o it_o be_v uncertain_a whether_o there_o be_v any_o such_o thing_n as_o bishop_n at_o all_o be_v such_o a_o force_a argument_n as_o prove_v nothing_o but_o that_o we_o have_v a_o very_a great_a mind_n to_o our_o conclusion_n i_o may_v proceed_v to_o the_o succession_n in_o other_o church_n of_o which_o we_o have_v certain_a record_n but_o i_o will_v not_o engage_v myself_o in_o too_o many_o particular_a historical_a dispute_n where_o i_o know_v it_o be_v easy_a if_o man_n will_v not_o be_v ingenuous_a to_o perplex_v any_o matter_n with_o little_a critical_a scruple_n and_o difficulty_n and_o therefore_o i_o will_v cast_v the_o whole_a of_o this_o controversy_n upon_o this_o one_o principle_n that_o though_o the_o record_n of_o the_o church_n be_v as_o defective_a as_o be_v pretend_v yet_o see_v all_o that_o be_v preserve_v make_v only_o for_o episcopacy_n and_o that_o our_o adversary_n be_v notable_a to_o trace_v out_o one_o against_o it_o that_o be_v evidence_n more_o than_o enough_o of_o its_o universal_a practice_n and_o if_o that_o will_v not_o serve_v the_o turn_n it_o be_v to_o no_o purpose_n to_o trouble_v ourselves_o on_o either_o side_n with_o any_o proof_n that_o may_v be_v have_v from_o the_o testimony_n of_o antiquity_n for_o if_o upon_o that_o account_n we_o have_v not_o any_o it_o be_v not_o possible_a either_o for_o they_o or_o we_o to_o have_v it_o in_o this_o or_o any_o other_o controversy_n whatsoever_o three_o the_o succession_n so_o much_o plead_v for_o by_o the_o writer_n of_o the_o primitive_a church_n be_v not_o a_o succession_n of_o person_n in_o apostolical_a power_n but_o a_o succession_n in_o apostolical_a doctrine_n whether_o any_o person_n succeed_v in_o apostolical_a power_n have_v be_v already_o consider_v and_o therefore_o all_o that_o be_v here_o requisite_a to_o be_v inquire_v into_o be_v by_o what_o person_n the_o apostolical_a doctrine_n be_v convey_v and_o if_o it_o be_v plead_v by_o the_o writer_n of_o the_o church_n to_o have_v be_v do_v by_o bishop_n as_o the_o apostle_n successor_n that_o prove_v the_o succession_n of_o person_n as_o well_o as_o doctrine_n but_o see_v this_o be_v to_o be_v do_v as_o our_o adversary_n instruct_v we_o by_o a_o view_n of_o the_o place_n produce_v to_o that_o purpose_n let_v we_o view_v they_o too_o the_o first_o be_v that_o of_o irenaeus_n quoniam_fw-la valdè_fw-la longum_fw-la est_fw-la in_o hoc_fw-la tali_fw-la volumine_fw-la omnium_fw-la ecclesiarum_fw-la enumerare_fw-la successiones_fw-la maximae_fw-la &_o antiquissimae_fw-la &_o omnibus_fw-la cognitae_fw-la à _fw-la gloriosissimis_fw-la duobus_fw-la apostolis_n petro_n &_o paulo_n romae_fw-la fundatae_fw-la &_o constitutae_fw-la ecclesiae_fw-la eam_fw-la quam_fw-la habet_fw-la ab_fw-la apostolis_n traditionem_fw-la &_o annunciatam_fw-la hominibus_fw-la fidem_fw-la per_fw-la successiones_fw-la episcoporum_fw-la pervenientes_fw-la usque_fw-la ad_fw-la nos_fw-la indicantes_fw-la confundimus_fw-la omnes_fw-la eos_fw-la etc._n etc._n where_o we_o see_v that_o whatever_o the_o argument_n of_o irenaeus_n be_v his_o design_n be_v to_o prove_v that_o the_o succession_n of_o the_o apostle_n be_v convey_v down_o by_o the_o hand_n of_o the_o bishop_n that_o be_v successor_n to_o they_o in_o their_o several_a see_v so_o that_o it_o be_v evident_a that_o he_o design_v to_o prove_v the_o succession_n of_o the_o doctrine_n by_o the_o succession_n of_o the_o doctor_n and_o therefore_o if_o he_o do_v not_o prove_v it_o he_o do_v more_o he_o suppose_v it_o and_o by_o the_o undoubted_a evidence_n of_o it_o demonstrate_v the_o truth_n of_o the_o doctrine_n in_o that_o those_o person_n who_o be_v appoint_v by_o the_o apostle_n to_o oversee_v and_o govern_v the_o church_n have_v convey_v the_o apostle_n doctrine_n down_o to_o we_o by_o their_o successor_n and_o what_o full_a testimony_n can_v there_o be_v of_o a_o personal_a succession_n of_o bishop_n to_o the_o apostle_n and_o yet_o irenaeus_n do_v more_o than_o this_o he_o derive_v the_o personal_a succession_n from_o the_o apostle_n down_o to_o his_o own_o time_n and_o they_o all_o succeed_v the_o apostle_n as_o they_o succeed_v one_o another_o and_o as_o linus_n be_v their_o successor_n so_o be_v eleutherius_fw-la who_o sit_v at_o the_o same_o time_n that_o irenaeus_n write_v and_o therefore_o if_o linus_n be_v successor_n to_o the_o apostle_n so_o be_v eleutherius_fw-la and_o if_o eleutherius_fw-la be_v bishop_n of_o rome_n so_o be_v linus_n so_o that_o it_o be_v one_o and_o the_o same_o thing_n to_o succeed_v in_o the_o bishopric_n and_o the_o apostolical_a authority_n and_o to_o the_o same_o purpose_n be_v the_o passage_n of_o tertullian_n edant_fw-la origines_fw-la ecclesiarum_fw-la suarum_fw-la evolvant_fw-la ordinem_fw-la episcoporum_fw-la suorum_fw-la ita_fw-la per_fw-la successiones_fw-la ab_fw-la initio_fw-la decurrentem_fw-la ut_fw-la primus_fw-la ille_fw-la episcopus_fw-la aliquem_fw-la ex_fw-la apostolis_n aut_fw-la apostolicis_fw-la viris_fw-la habuerit_fw-la authorem_fw-la &_o antecessorem_fw-la hoc_fw-la modo_fw-la ecclesiae_fw-la apostolicae_fw-la census_fw-la suos_fw-la deferunt_fw-la sicut_fw-la smyrnaeorum_n ecclesia_fw-la habens_fw-la polycarpum_fw-la à _fw-la joanne_n conlocatum_fw-la refert_fw-la sicut_fw-la romanorum_fw-la clementem_fw-la à _fw-la petro_n ordinatum_fw-la edit_fw-la proinde_fw-la utique_fw-la &_o â—aeterae_fw-la exhibent_fw-la quos_fw-la ab_fw-la apostolis_n in_fw-la episcopatum_fw-la constitutos_fw-la apostolici_fw-la seminis_fw-la traduce_v habeant_fw-la the_o whole_a design_n of_o which_o passage_n be_v to_o prescribe_v against_o the_o heretic_n by_o the_o authority_n of_o the_o apostolical_a successor_n and_o that_o be_v express_o appropriate_v to_o single_a bishop_n i_o hope_v i_o need_v not_o now_o dispute_v whether_o they_o succeed_v they_o only_o in_o degree_n and_o not_o order_n or_o in_o order_n only_o and_o not_o jurisdiction_n all_o that_o i_o desire_v from_o this_o testimony_n be_v that_o they_o succeed_v they_o in_o their_o several_a church_n for_o though_o he_o instance_n only_o in_o the_o church_n of_o rome_n yet_o he_o declare_v himself_o able_a and_o ready_a to_o give_v the_o same_o account_n of_o all_o other_o church_n and_o by_o virtue_n of_o that_o warrant_v the_o truth_n of_o their_o doctrine_n than_o which_o i_o must_v confess_v i_o can_v understand_v what_o more_o can_v be_v desire_v to_o justify_v their_o succession_n in_o the_o apostolical_a authority_n especial_o from_o tertullian_n who_o be_v neither_o thomist_n nor_o scotist_n and_o so_o be_v utter_o unacquainted_a with_o those_o fine_a distinction_n of_o degree_n order_n and_o jurisdiction_n but_o speak_v like_o a_o plain_a and_o a_o blunt_a african_a when_o he_o call_v the_o bishop_n in_o their_o several_a diocese_n the_o apostle_n successor_n and_o so_o all_o the_o writer_n of_o the_o same_o age_n understand_v by_o a_o bishop_n one_o superior_a to_o subject_a presbyter_n for_o whatever_o be_v the_o signification_n of_o the_o word_n in_o the_o apostle_n time_n it_o be_v now_o determine_v to_o this_o order_n and_o so_o use_v in_o vulgar_a speech_n so_o that_o when_o we_o meet_v with_o it_o in_o their_o write_n we_o must_v understand_v it_o in_o the_o common_a sense_n and_o therefore_o by_o a_o bishop_n we_o must_v mean_v the_o same_o thing_n from_o the_o apostle_n downward_o and_o a_o bishop_n in_o their_o time_n be_v superior_a to_o presbyter_n and_o the_o apostle_n be_v grant_v to_o have_v be_v superior_a to_o the_o other_o pastor_n of_o the_o church_n so_o that_o the_o succession_n from_o first_o to_o last_o continue_v in_o superiority_n of_o jurisdiction_n and_o now_o when_o this_o succession_n be_v
so_o express_o derive_v down_o by_o single_a person_n and_o when_o the_o truth_n of_o the_o apostolical_a doctrine_n be_v vouch_v by_o the_o certainty_n of_o this_o succession_n it_o be_v a_o very_a cold_a answer_n to_o tell_v we_o that_o the_o father_n talk_v only_o of_o a_o succession_n of_o doctrine_n and_o not_o of_o person_n four_o this_o personal_a succession_n so_o much_o speak_v of_o be_v sometime_o attribute_v to_o presbyter_n even_o after_o the_o distinction_n come_v in_o use_n between_o bishop_n and_o they_o i_o pray_v by_o who_o why_o by_o irenaeus_n but_o do_v irenaeus_n when_o he_o speak_v of_o the_o bishop_n and_o presbyter_n of_o his_o own_o time_n confound_v their_o name_n and_o office_n or_o any_o other_o author_n of_o the_o same_o age_n nay_o do_v they_o not_o careful_o distinguish_v they_o from_o each_o other_o though_o when_o they_o speak_v of_o thing_n as_o do_v in_o the_o apostle_n time_n they_o may_v speak_v in_o the_o language_n of_o those_o time_n the_o name_n therefore_o of_o bishop_n and_o presbyter_n be_v not_o then_o distinguish_v it_o be_v but_o proper_a for_o they_o to_o express_v thing_n as_o they_o be_v then_o express_v so_o that_o though_o irenaeus_n never_o will_v style_v a_o bishop_n of_o his_o own_o time_n by_o the_o name_n of_o presbyter_n but_o ever_o careful_o distinguish_v the_o two_o order_n yet_o when_o he_o speak_v of_o the_o bishop_n of_o the_o first_o time_n it_o be_v neither_o wonder_n nor_o impropriety_n if_o he_o call_v they_o presbyter_n for_o i_o will_v yield_v so_o far_o to_o our_o adversary_n that_o they_o be_v so_o call_v till_o the_o death_n of_o the_o apostle_n and_o then_o succeed_v into_o their_o power_n it_o be_v but_o fit_a that_o they_o shall_v be_v distinguish_v by_o some_o proper_a name_n from_o the_o inferior_a clergy_n and_o there_o lie_v the_o root_n of_o all_o our_o adversary_n pretence_n that_o they_o will_v have_v the_o office_n of_o a_o bishop_n to_o have_v be_v bear_v at_o the_o same_o time_n with_o the_o distinction_n of_o the_o name_n which_o if_o we_o will_v not_o grant_v they_o as_o without_o a_o manifest_a affront_n to_o the_o apostle_n we_o can_v their_o whole_a cause_n sink_v to_o nothing_o for_o that_o be_v the_o only_a proof_n allege_v in_o behalf_n of_o the_o sententia_fw-la hieronymi_n that_o the_o office_n be_v not_o distinguish_v before_o the_o name_n but_o of_o that_o in_o its_o due_a place_n already_o at_o present_a i_o challenge_v they_o to_o produce_v any_o one_o author_n that_o treat_v of_o thing_n after_o the_o separation_n of_o the_o word_n be_v make_v ever_o call_v a_o bishop_n a_o presbyter_n or_o a_o presbyter_n a_o bishop_n and_o in_o that_o i_o be_o very_o much_o their_o friend_n for_o if_o they_o can_v it_o utter_o overthrow_v their_o main_a argument_n that_o bishop_n and_o presbyter_n be_v the_o same_o in_o the_o apostle_n time_n from_o the_o promiscuous_a use_n of_o their_o name_n in_o that_o we_o find_v they_o promiscuous_o use_v after_o the_o distinction_n but_o that_o by_o the_o word_n presbyteri_fw-la irenaeus_n do_v not_o mean_v a_o simple_a presbyter_n be_v plain_a from_o the_o word_n themselves_o in_o which_o he_o prescribe_v against_o the_o novelty_n of_o the_o heretic_n by_o the_o undoubted_a antiquity_n of_o the_o church_n tradition_n which_o he_o say_v be_v convey_v by_o the_o apostle_n themselves_o to_o the_o ancient_n who_o succeed_v they_o in_o their_o episcopacy_n so_o that_o by_o his_o presbyteri_fw-la he_o mean_v as_o he_o explain_v himself_o such_o of_o the_o ancient_n qui_fw-la episcopatus_fw-la successionem_fw-la habent_fw-la ab_fw-la apostolis_n i._n e._n the_o ancient_a bishop_n this_o be_v all_o that_o i_o meet_v with_o material_a upon_o this_o head_n for_o when_o they_o go_v about_o to_o prove_v by_o the_o authority_n of_o ignatius_n himself_o that_o episcopacy_n be_v not_o a_o divine_a but_o a_o ecclesiastical_a constitution_n they_o be_v to_o be_v give_v up_o for_o pleasant_a man_n that_o will_v attempt_v any_o paradox_n in_o pursuit_n of_o the_o cause_n and_o it_o exceed_v even_o the_o rashness_n of_o blondel_n himself_o who_o that_o as_o he_o speak_v his_o st._n jerom_n may_v not_o stand_v alone_o like_o a_o sparrow_n upon_o the_o house_n top_n have_v after_o his_o rate_n of_o infer_v fetch_v in_o all_o the_o father_n to_o bear_v he_o company_n except_o only_a ignatius_n who_o it_o seem_v he_o despair_v of_o make_v ever_o to_o chirp_v pro_fw-la sententiâ_fw-la hieronymi_n but_o now_o it_o seem_v at_o last_o that_o the_o holy_a martyr_n himself_o may_v not_o be_v make_v the_o solitary_a sparrow_n by_o be_v desert_v by_o all_o the_o father_n he_o be_v bring_v over_o to_o the_o party_n but_o with_o such_o manifest_a force_n to_o himself_o as_o plain_o show_v he_o to_o be_v no_o volunteer_n in_o the_o cause_n thus_o when_o he_o commend_v the_o deacon_n sotion_n for_o be_v subject_a to_o the_o bishop_n ut_fw-la gratiae_fw-la dei_fw-la and_o to_o the_o presbytery_n ut_fw-la legi_fw-la jesus_n christi_fw-la by_o the_o law_n of_o jesus_n christ_n we_o be_v teach_v to_o understand_v divine_a institution_n but_o by_o the_o grace_n of_o god_n only_o humane_a prudence_n though_o that_o too_o be_v direct_v to_o it_o by_o the_o special_a favour_n or_o providence_n of_o god_n as_o the_o only_a mean_n of_o preserve_a peace_n and_o unity_n in_o the_o church_n be_v it_o so_o the_o grace_n of_o god_n no_o doubt_n be_v as_o firm_a a_o ground_n of_o divine_a institution_n as_o the_o law_n of_o christ_n so_o that_o if_o episcopacy_n be_v establish_v by_o god_n special_a favour_n we_o be_v as_o well_o content_a with_o it_o as_o if_o it_o have_v come_v by_o the_o grace_n of_o christ._n neither_o do_v this_o interpretation_n derogate_v any_o thing_n from_o the_o episcopal_a order_n but_o very_o much_o from_o our_o bless_a saviour_n wisdom_n viz._n that_o when_o he_o have_v establish_v presbytery_n in_o his_o church_n for_o the_o government_n of_o it_o that_o establishment_n be_v find_v so_o ineffectual_a for_o its_o end_n that_o almighty_a god_n be_v afterward_o constrain_v for_o prevent_v of_o schism_n and_o preserve_v of_o unity_n in_o the_o church_n in_o a_o special_a manner_n to_o inspire_v the_o governor_n of_o it_o in_o after-age_n to_o set_v up_o the_o form_n of_o episcopal_a government_n and_o yet_o that_o be_v no_o less_o disparagement_n to_o himself_o than_o his_o son_n for_o see_v what_o our_o saviour_n do_v in_o the_o establishment_n of_o his_o church_n he_o do_v by_o the_o counsel_n of_o his_o father_n if_o its_o institution_n prove_v defective_a for_o its_o end_n it_o be_v a_o equal_a oversight_n of_o both_o and_o the_o aftergame_n of_o episcopacy_n be_v only_o to_o supply_v a_o defect_n that_o they_o do_v not_o foresee_v but_o be_v teach_v by_o experience_n a_o very_a honourable_a representation_n this_o of_o the_o wisdom_n of_o the_o divine_a providence_n however_o take_v it_o which_o way_n we_o will_v we_o can_v desire_v a_o plain_a acknowledgement_n of_o divine_a institution_n for_o so_o it_o come_v from_o god_n it_o matter_n not_o which_o way_n he_o be_v please_v to_o convey_v it_o to_o we_o and_o now_o have_v we_o not_o reason_n to_o wonder_v when_o we_o see_v man_n attempt_v to_o bring_v this_o holy_a martyr_n off_o with_o such_o slight_n so_o express_o against_o his_o own_o declare_a opinion_n who_o every_o where_o ground_n his_o exhortation_n of_o obedience_n to_o the_o bishop_n upon_o the_o command_n of_o god_n and_o add_v even_o in_o the_o word_n follow_v the_o forecited_a passage_n 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d and_o yet_o not_o to_o he_o but_o to_o the_o father_n of_o our_o lord_n jesus_n christ_n christ_n who_o be_v the_o bishop_n of_o we_o all_o and_o therefore_o for_o the_o honour_n of_o he_o that_o require_v it_o it_o be_v our_o bind_a duty_n to_o be_v obedient_a without_o hypocrisy_n what_o can_v be_v plain_a than_o that_o the_o power_n of_o the_o bishop_n stand_v whole_o upon_o the_o command_n of_o god_n so_o again_o in_o the_o epistle_n to_o the_o ephesian_n 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d let_v we_o take_v care_n not_o to_o oppose_v the_o bishop_n as_o we_o will_v be_v obedient_a to_o god_n and_o if_o any_o man_n observe_v the_o silence_n of_o his_o bishop_n let_v he_o reverence_v he_o so_o much_o the_o more_o for_o every_o one_o that_o the_o master_n of_o the_o family_n put_v into_o the_o stewardship_n we_o ought_v to_o receive_v he_o as_o the_o master_n himself_o and_o therefore_o it_o be_v manifest_a that_o we_o ought_v to_o reverence_v the_o bishop_n as_o we_o will_v our_o lord_n and_o therefore_o it_o be_v a_o great_a oversight_n to_o affirm_v that_o there_o be_v not_o one_o testimony_n in_o all_o ignatius_n epistle_n that_o prove_v the_o least_o semblance_n of_o a_o institution_n of_o christ_n for_o episcopacy_n when_o
in_o every_o epistle_n he_o so_o plain_o enforce_v his_o exhortation_n of_o obedience_n to_o the_o bishop_n pure_o by_o virtue_n of_o the_o command_n of_o christ._n and_o thus_o have_v i_o clear_v the_o record_n of_o the_o church_n from_o the_o defect_n of_o ambiguity_n ground_v upon_o those_o four_o pretence_n that_o the_o succession_n may_v be_v only_o of_o a_o different_a degree_n that_o it_o be_v not_o clear_a and_o convince_a in_o all_o place_n that_o where_o it_o be_v clear_a it_o it_o mean_v of_o a_o succession_n of_o doctrine_n and_o not_o of_o person_n and_o last_o that_o if_o it_o be_v of_o person_n yet_o presbyter_n be_v say_v to_o succeed_v the_o apostle_n as_o well_o as_o bishop_n by_o which_o last_o we_o have_v already_o clear_v the_o next_o thing_n object_v to_o show_v the_o ambiguity_n of_o the_o testimony_n of_o antiquity_n which_o be_v the_o promiscuous_a use_n of_o the_o name_n bishop_n and_o presbyter_n after_o the_o distinction_n between_o their_o office_n be_v bring_v in_o by_o the_o church_n which_o i_o have_v already_o show_v to_o be_v false_a and_o that_o if_o it_o be_v true_a it_o utter_o destroy_v their_o argument_n of_o the_o identity_n of_o a_o bishop_n and_o a_o presbyter_n in_o the_o apostle_n time_n from_o the_o promiscuous_a use_n of_o the_o name_n but_o because_o new_a instance_n be_v here_o bring_v to_o prove_v the_o same_o thing_n we_o must_v follow_v and_o first_o as_o for_o the_o passage_n cite_v out_o of_o clemens_n romanus_n he_o be_v confess_v to_o have_v write_v before_o the_o distinction_n of_o the_o name_n and_o therefore_o be_v here_o cite_v to_o no_o purpose_n but_o the_o great_a and_o only_a testimony_n be_v that_o of_o the_o gallican_n church_n who_o in_o their_o epistle_n to_o eleutherius_fw-la bishop_n of_o rome_n give_v irenaeus_n the_o title_n of_o presbyter_n though_o he_o have_v be_v nine_o year_n bishop_n of_o lion_n and_o this_o look_n very_o big_a if_o it_o be_v true_a but_o it_o be_v a_o mere_a chronological_a blunder_n of_o blondel_n against_o the_o clear_a 23._o testimony_n of_o all_o antiquity_n for_o first_o the_o martyr_n of_o lion_n in_o their_o epistle_n to_o the_o church_n of_o asia_n and_o phrygia_n speak_v of_o their_o bishop_n pothinus_n they_o give_v give_v he_o that_o title_n but_o in_o this_o epistle_n to_o eleutherius_fw-la they_o or_o as_o blondel_n will_v have_v it_o the_o church_n of_o lion_n give_v irenaeus_n only_o the_o title_n of_o presbyter_n and_o both_o eusebius_n and_o st._n jerom_n affirm_v that_o he_o be_v no_o more_o at_o the_o write_n of_o it_o to_o all_o which_o blondel_n object_n that_o they_o both_o place_v the_o martyrdom_n of_o pothinus_n and_o his_o frenchmen_n immediate_o after_o that_o of_o polycarp_n and_o the_o asiatic_n which_o be_v in_o the_o seven_o year_n of_o marcus_n aurelius_n and_o therefore_o the_o other_o be_v about_o the_o same_o time_n so_o that_o when_o irenaeus_n go_v to_o rome_n with_o the_o letter_n to_o eleutherius_fw-la which_o be_v in_o the_o seventeen_o year_n of_o that_o emperor_n he_o have_v be_v so_o long_a bishop_n but_o to_o this_o it_o be_v easy_o answer_v that_o though_o the_o relation_n of_o these_o two_o martyrdom_n immediate_o follow_v one_o another_o in_o eusebius_n his_o cronicon_n and_o st._n jeroms_n translation_n yet_o it_o do_v not_o at_o all_o follow_v that_o they_o immediate_o follow_v in_o time_n because_o these_o two_o martyrdom_n be_v all_o that_o they_o mention_v concern_v the_o four_o persecution_n which_o last_v the_o great_a part_n of_o the_o reign_n of_o marcus_n aurelius_n so_o that_o though_o one_o be_v in_o the_o seven_o the_o other_o may_v be_v in_o the_o seventeen_o of_o that_o emperor_n and_o therefore_o we_o ought_v to_o follow_v eusebius_n his_o more_o accurate_a account_n in_o his_o history_n who_o there_o express_o place_n it_o in_o the_o seventeen_o year_n and_o withal_o affirm_v that_o irenaeus_n be_v then_o only_a presbyter_n rather_o than_o from_o so_o weak_a a_o surmise_n from_o the_o 4._o nearness_n of_o the_o story_n in_o his_o chronicon_fw-la to_o bring_v confusion_n upon_o the_o whole_a history_n especial_o when_o it_o so_o fair_o clear_v itself_o in_o that_o this_o letter_n be_v direct_v to_o eleutherius_fw-la who_o succeed_v in_o the_o church_n of_o rome_n in_o the_o sixteen_o year_n of_o marcus_n aurelius_n and_o in_o the_o same_o year_n that_o he_o come_v to_o that_o see_v the_o gallican_n persecution_n begin_v and_o therefore_o it_o be_v impossible_a that_o irenaeus_n can_v be_v advance_v to_o the_o bishopric_n before_o that_o time_n so_o that_o it_o be_v like_o the_o rest_n of_o blondel_n stretch_v to_o infer_v from_o a_o remote_a guess_n that_o the_o persecution_n be_v in_o the_o seven_o year_n when_o it_o be_v evident_a from_o the_o clear_a story_n that_o it_o be_v not_o till_o the_o sixteen_o or_o seventeeth_n and_o now_o this_o chronological_a mistake_n be_v remove_v this_o testimony_n be_v clear_o evacuate_v and_o so_o this_o business_n be_v whole_o end_v the_o last_o thing_n allege_v to_o prove_v the_o ambiguity_n of_o the_o testimony_n of_o the_o ancient_n be_v that_o the_o church_n do_v not_o own_o episcopacy_n as_o a_o divine_a institution_n but_o ecclesiastical_a but_o of_o this_o argument_n i_o shall_v choose_v to_o discourse_v in_o the_o last_o place_n in_o answer_n to_o the_o sententiae_fw-la hieronymi_n because_o it_o be_v the_o only_a positive_a argument_n that_o they_o produce_v in_o their_o own_o behalf_n and_o for_o that_o reason_n i_o refer_v it_o to_o the_o last_o place_n that_o when_o i_o have_v make_v it_o appear_v that_o they_o have_v nothing_o material_a to_o except_v against_o what_o they_o oppose_v i_o may_v then_o show_v that_o they_o have_v as_o little_a to_o confirm_v what_o they_o assert_v and_o both_o together_o will_v prove_v more_o than_o enough_o to_o put_v a_o end_n to_o this_o controversy_n as_o for_o the_o other_o two_o thing_n that_o remain_v to_o show_v the_o incompetency_n of_o the_o testimony_n of_o antiquity_n viz._n its_o partiality_n and_o repugnancy_n little_a or_o no_o answer_n will_v serve_v their_o turn_n for_o as_o for_o the_o partiality_n all_o the_o proof_n that_o be_v material_a to_o our_o argument_n be_v that_o the_o father_n judge_v the_o practice_n of_o the_o apostle_n by_o that_o of_o their_o own_o time_n and_o very_o good_a reason_n too_o because_o they_o conform_v the_o practice_n of_o their_o own_o time_n to_o that_o of_o the_o apostle_n but_o if_o our_o adversary_n will_v infer_v that_o the_o father_n have_v no_o other_o ground_n of_o judge_v of_o the_o practice_n of_o the_o apostle_n but_o mere_o by_o the_o prejudice_n of_o their_o own_o custom_n it_o be_v only_o a_o precarious_a assertion_n and_o a_o direct_a impeach_v they_o of_o a_o more_o than_o vulgar_a folly_n and_o ignorance_n but_o the_o father_n here_o glance_v at_o be_v st._n chrysostom_n and_o the_o greek_a commentator_n that_o follow_v he_o thus_o who_o can_v imagine_v any_o force_n in_o chrysostoms_n argument_n that_o the_o presbyter_n who_o lay_v hand_n on_o timothy_n must_v needs_o be_v bishop_n because_o none_o do_v ordain_v in_o the_o church_n but_o bishop_n unless_o he_o make_v this_o the_o medium_n of_o his_o argument_n that_o whatever_o be_v the_o practice_n of_o the_o church_n in_o his_o day_n be_v so_o in_o apostolical_a time_n but_o there_o be_v no_o need_n of_o that_o poor_a medium_n to_o enforce_v his_o argument_n the_o force_n of_o it_o lie_v in_o the_o universal_a practice_n of_o the_o church_n for_o it_o be_v never_o hear_v of_o that_o mere_a presbyter_n take_v upon_o they_o the_o power_n of_o ordination_n and_o therefore_o the_o mere_a exercise_n of_o that_o power_n be_v a_o manifest_a proof_n that_o those_o that_o have_v it_o be_v somewhat_o more_o than_o presbyter_n and_o even_o st._n hierom_n himself_o who_o will_v have_v they_o sometime_o though_o when_o he_o know_v not_o to_o have_v share_v with_o the_o bishop_n in_o all_o other_o part_n and_o branch_n of_o jurisdiction_n except_v the_o power_n of_o ordination_n as_o peculiar_a to_o the_o episcopal_a order_n and_o there_o lie_v the_o force_n of_o st._n chrysostoms_n argument_n in_o the_o practice_n of_o the_o church_n in_o all_o age_n not_o in_o in_o the_o custom_n of_o his_o own_o and_o when_o he_o be_v vindicate_v it_o be_v not_o to_o much_o purpose_n to_o add_v any_o thing_n of_o the_o greek_a commentator_n because_o they_o all_o follow_v he_o and_o though_o they_o may_v sometime_o fall_v short_a in_o their_o reason_n yet_o it_o be_v manifest_a that_o they_o believe_v episcopacy_n to_o have_v be_v receive_v by_o the_o catholic_n tradition_n of_o the_o church_n and_o that_o be_v all_o the_o deposition_n they_o be_v capable_a to_o give_v in_o this_o cause_n the_o last_o thing_n object_v be_v the_o repugnancy_n of_o the_o testimony_n and_o this_o be_v prove_v from_o