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A47044
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A sermon preached at the consecration of the Right Reverend Father in God Ambrose Lord Bishop of Kildare in Christ-Church, Dublin, June 29, 1667 / by the right reverend father in God, Henry, Lord Bishop of Meath.
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Jones, Henry, 1605-1682.
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1667
(1667)
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Wing J948; ESTC R5267
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35,856
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90
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place of Presbyters But this Text also Pit 1. 5. 7. is pressed in favour of Elders against Bishops for Elders so named v. 5. are v. 7. termed Bishops adding that there being Elders in every City therefore is that intended of Elders properly and not of Bishops who are not for every City thus they 1. It is true that in every City are to be Elders wheresoever is a meeting of people to be provided for so are Elders properly to be understood and the word City to be in that case strictly taken 2. But as referring to Bishops Seats the word City is to be understood more enlargedly not for every city but such onely as are fit for it as places of note and such as are extended in jurisdiction We use to say traditionally that a Bishops Seat should be a city i. e. a place of note so doth Leo expound this very Text writing to the Bishops of Africa To appoint Bishops in every City or Town is saith he in the greater citres to place Bishops in the less to place Priests He in that speaking according to the Council of Sardis It is not allowed saith that Council that a Bishop be appointed in every village or smaller city where one Presbyter may suffice for there a Bishop needs not be that the name and authority of a Bishop be not vilified Con. Eard c. 6. In every city therefore are to be Elders and in every city fitting for it aâ—e be to Bishops So hath this been understood in the practice of the Church accordingly And well might Crete be capable of many Bishops being an Island of great extent and populous And Titus his enlarged Jurisdiction there over many Bishops ordaining and appointing them where necessary sheweth his power to have been Archiepiscopal a though he be stiled onely Bishop of Crete as Timothy Bishop of Ephesus so in the poscript to those Epistles and usual it is in the Councils and elsewhere to finde Archbishops and Patriarchs under the name of Bishops And that Creâ—e had its Archbishop and Suffragans we also find The Archbishop of Crete was nominated from Gortyna its Metropolis Dionysius of Corinih who lived in the next age to the Apostles writing to the Church of Gortyna together with the rest of the Churches of Crete commendeth Philip 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 their Bishop for his singular piety and virtues The City of Gnossus in Crete had Pintus its Bishop And saith Theodorus Balsamo I have perused the ancient code of Councils and defind by the subscriptions that Basiil Bishop of Gortyna was present at the Council of Truâ—lo On the whole therefore from the community of the names between Bishops and Elders is no ground for what is thence inferred That therefore Bishops and Elders are the same without dictinction of Persons Offices or Degrees for Bishops are Elders and some Elders are Bishops and both distinct in Degree and Dignity But the the strength of the Objection is it what concerns the work common to Bishops and Elders For if the same work be common to both so as what a Bishop doth that an Elder doth also then what needs a distinction of Persons and and Offices These are not to be multiplied without necessity And that the work is common and the same both to Bishops and Elders is by that side instanced in 1. Ordination 2. In Overseeing under this of Overseeing all the other paâ—ts of the work are comprehended as Preaching Baptizing c. Let these two be therefore distinctly considered and examined Whether in the work common to both Bishops and Eâ—ders there be not sufficient to differente each from other 1. As to Ordination To this Elders or Presbyters pretend grounding on that 1 Tim. 4. 14. where the Apostle exhorts Timothy Not to neglect the gift which was given him by prophesie with the laying on of the hands of the Presbyterie Here say they Presbyters Ordain 1. But â—et them take all together for doth not the same Apostle say also to Timothy I put thee in remembrance that thou stir up the gift of God which is in thee by the putting on of my hands 2 Tim. 1. 6. here we finde another hand the Apostles beside those hands of Presbyters imposed on Timothy therefore not the hands of Presbyters alone where therefore their hand onely is in the work there is another yet wanting and the work short without it the case of necessity excepted 2. Ordination must be granted to have been in the Apostles primarily and principally and not in Elders or Presbyters principally they but acting with the Apostles and that but subordinately By my hand saith the Apostle 2 Tim. 1. 6. with the hands of the Presbytery 1 Tim. 4. 14. It is by the Apostles hand principally and but with the other in way of approbation Therefore is the charge of Oedination given principally to Timothy that he lay not hands suddenly on any so not to be partaker of other mens sins there Presbyters are not named not as not assisting but as onely assisting and not as principals It is be not thou partaker of other mens sins not be not ye speaking of Presbyters So you finde it here also as to Titus to him is that work committed principally and in chief I left thee Titus in Crete that thou shouldest set in order the things that are wanting and that thou shouldest orvain Elders in every City as I have appointed thee So is it to be understood as to others in like place with Timothy and Titus Bishops ordain others joyning with them Bishops will not do it without others and others must not do it without Bishops concur Elders may but act in it alone they must not the contrary where necessity is not is an unwarranted usurpation Yet in giving but an hand in the work they will have All. Such notwithstanding are to know that there is another hand in that work as beside theirs so before theirs and above them theirs is onely with not without Bishops and Bishops in that principally So for Ordination in which work common both to Bishops and Elders is you see sufficient notwithstanding to difference both in Degree and Office II. See it also in the other part of the work in which Bishops and Elders act also in common as Preaching Baptizing and ordering the flock committed to them so are both Overseers This is granted in common to both Bishops and Elders yet so as that this is in both differently and so in Bishops as not in others 1. It is true that Preaching Baptizing Ordering and Overseeing the flock are incumbent on all but in inferior Elders more restrainly with respect to place and persons they acting within Precincts and Parishes among their own people and within their own districts onely To these and there are they Overseers and not otherwise so as for any such to take on him to Oversee and see what others without do or do not is to be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉
a Bishop in anothers Dâ—ccess or a busie body in other mens matters so is that in our English rendred whereas the same work is in the hands of Bishops far otherwise who as they do it themselves so is it in them in way of Superintendency to see it done by others also So the chief Priests under the Law whom the Apostles and afther them Bishops represent they were Overseers to others that the work be done in manner and order as did become Thus are Bishops overseers to those other Overseers the care of many Churches being on them as was the cure of all Churches on the Apostles whereas the care of particular Churches this or that is onely on others 2. Although Presbyters have power to preach and do what belongs to their Function yet are they in acting that power limited and ordered by the Bishop Wherein we are to distinguish as in the Schools between Power of Order and of Jurisdiction Power of Order Presbyters receive in their Ordination to do what belongs to their function to which they are thereby qualified but the Power of Jurisdiction to act that their power of Order as â—astors that a Presbyter hath in his Institution from the Bishop being thereby appointed to a charge and place and licensed to discharge the duty of his calling to which he was before qualified and now enabled Tertullian saith That the chief Priest which is the Bishop hath the right of giving Baptism and then the Presbyters and Deacons but yet not without the Authority of the Bishops So also S. Hierome Without power from the Bishop neither Presbyter nor Deacon hath right to baptize Every Presbyter therefore hath power in common with a Bishop to preach and administer the Sacraments in fulness which an inferior Order a Deacon cannot do yet the exercise of that power is subjected to and regulated by the Bishops authority to be permitted directed restrained or suspended as should be necessary In which the Bishops priviledge of Jurisdiction over Elders is he from them eminently differenced It was said of Elders that they have a power of Jurisdiction understand it of a power of spiritual and inward Jurisdiction in foro conscienciae in the Court of Conscience so as Pastors of the flock is committed to them the seeding ruling teaching reproving binding sinners notoriously scandalous by denouncing Gods judgements in the Word and while unreformed excluding from the Sacrament and again loosing and releasing penitents by applying the gracious promises of the Gospel and readmiting them to the use of the Ordinances But that Jurisdiction which is in Bishops is more extended and that even over Elders themselves For as Presbyters are in their Ordination qualified and by their Institution authorized to their work so are they after to behave themselves in that as becometh It is in Bishops who are overseers of those Overseers to expect and exact that from them authoritatively and on failing in duty or manners as to life and conversation to reprove and punish also In this is Episcopal Jurisdiction given them Apostolically and over inferior Elders particalarlarly to which they are subjected Such was Timothies power in Ephesus Rebuke not an Elder and against an Elder receive not an accusation but before two or three witnesses them that sin rebuke before all that others may fear Which words Rebuke not an Elder is not a restraining but an ordering that rebuke that it be not lightly or on slight grounds as in 1 Tim. 5. 19 20. by which appears a Jurisdiction in Bishops above Elders directive coercive and corective which is Epiphanius his interence on these words against a Presbyter c. Therefore saith he Presbyters are subject to the Bishop as to their Judge He is their Judge as to Doctrine that thou mayest charge some that they teach no other Doctrine saith the Apostle to Timothy 1 Tim. 1. 3. and to Titus Tit. 3. 10. A man that is an Heretick ofter the first and second admonition reject judge also as of their Doctrine what they teach so of their Conversation how they live as you have heard in that of 1 Tim. 1. 5 17 20 21. Therefore is the Angel of the Church of Ephesus Timothies Successor commended that he could not bear with them that are evil and had tryed them which say they are Apostles and are not and had found them lyars Rev. 2. 2. On the contrary the Angel of the Church of Thyratira is reproved for suffering such Rev. 2. 20. So as although there be a Community of names in some cases between Bishops and Elders Bishops are called Elders and Elders Bishops and notwithstanding that the worke also be in a kind common yet is that community so differenced in both that all pretences of Elders in that for casting of Bishops as to their Office or divesting them of Jurisdiction and Dignity is apparently inconsequent and evil For although the names of Bishops and Presbyters were confounded and the work in a sort common to both yet were not the Offices of Bishops and Presbyters ever confounded until now 1. And now to sum up alâ— you see the Church under the New Testamen ordered as before in way of Superiority and Subordination and that Apostolically appointed So Timothy in Ephesus and Titus in Crete and others elsewhere in like manner they ordering persons and things appertaining to that sacred work within their respective Jurisdictions 2. See those Apostolically ordered to that care and charge in the Church above others to be by the Apostles dignified with their own name that standing name of Bishops they standing also in their place and stead and acting in their work Ordaining Overseeing Ordering and Correcting as is necessary 3. What hath been by the Apostles so ordered in the Church whose words Christ would have to be observed as his own If they have kept my saying they will keep yours also John 15. 20. that in this particularly hath been by Christ himself the High Priest approved For as the High Priest did Christ appeare habited being cloathed with a garment down to the feet and girt vbout the paps with a golden girdle and also visiting his Church Ecclesiatim each of the seven Churches particularly being by him inspected In that reproving what was amiss in any and allowing what was right particularly See that Government which was ordered in each of those eminent Churches in Ephesus and the other six under their respective Angels or Chiefs or Bishops see that order I say in the Church approved of Christ for the Seven Stars the seven Angels Angels of those Churches their Bishops were in Christs right hand Rev. 1. 16. 20. that is under his care and protection And to those Angels of the Churches doth our Lord direct himself principally in behalf of all under their charge expecting from them an accompt of the Churches within their respective Jurisdictions each of them being responsible for all that was there well or otherwise 4. Lastly What