Selected quad for the lemma: opinion_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
opinion_n	bishop_n	call_v	presbyter_n	718	5	10.7016	5	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A64335	The reason of episcopall inspection asserted in a sermon at a visitation in Cambridge by John Templer ...	Templer, John, d. 1693.	1676 (1676)	Wing T665; ESTC R18565	44,463	68

to be too harmonious and uniform in every punctilio They were collected by a skilfull hand Euseb who had great advantages to possess himself with the true sense of the Monuments of Antiquity His acknowledgement 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that it was not easie to make some of them L. 3. c. 4. is no discredit to their Authority The difficulty in demonstrating some propositions in Euclide is no just exception against their certainty The Infallible Oracles are not without their 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 L. 3. c. 3. They were so clear in Irenaeus's time that he asserts he was able to number the very Persons which did lineally descend from the Apostles and in Tertullians that he challengeth the Hereticks to shew the like successions If they had been of a dubious Authority it had not been agreeable to the prudence of those learned Fathers to value the cause which they undertook to maintain so much upon their account as it is plain they did to all who peruse their writings It might be added as no prejudice to their Reputation that they were begun by the Apostles themselves as is evident by Clemens Romanus in his Epistle to the Corinthians P. 57. Pat. jun. In order to the quieting those tumults which did occasion his writing he tells them that the Apostles did understand by our Lord Jesus that there would be a contention 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 concerning the name or dignity of Episcopacy and therefore having a perfect foresight did constitute Bishops and gave 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a roll or catalogue of some approved Persons to succeed and execute their Office after their decease This testimony as it assures us that the Catalogues we treat of were begun by the Apostles so likewise that Bishops in Clemens's time who lived within the intervall under debate were such as are properly so stiled to wit Persons vested in a Superiority over Elders We never read of rolls or catalogues of meer Presbyters as lineally deduced from the Apostles considered in that state in which they died L. 3. c. 2. Indeed Irenaeus mentions the successions of Presbyters L. 4. c. 44. but he who will give himself leasure to ponder the Context will easily discern that he means no others then Bishops the promiscuous use of those words being not totally laid aside in his time If it should be granted that he understands such as are now usually known by that Name no prejudice would redound to our assertion The Apostles may be considered in a twofold capacity either as they were before the Resurrection when they were ordained to Preach but not to Rule or after when they were invested with their Episcopall Power If Presbyters be represented as Successours to the Apostles in any ancient Record the Apostles are considered in the first capacity and not in the last which Clemens speaks of Epist ad Mag. This is fully expressed by Ignatius who asserts that the Bishop succeeds 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in the place of Christ who is God the Presbyters 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in the place of the Bench of the Apostles namely as they were when Christ was their Bishop upon earth and they as Presbyters subject to his appointments as their proper directory It is an ungrounded presumption that Clemens by 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 understands nothing but an Elder P. 54 55. because when he mentions the custom of the Apostles which was to set apart 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 their first fruits he names onely 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as the product of their Ordination These two words comprehend all who were concerned in the Primitive Government The Apostles and Elders were Bishops the Elders over the Laity the Apostles over the Laity and Elders too The Evangelists and those who did minister to the Elders were 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the first to the primary Apostles and are in the modern stile called suffragan Bishops Stat. 26 Hen. 8.14 the second to the Presbyters they upon all occasions helping them as the Evangelists did the Apostles If the Canons of the Apostles or Ignatius might be permitted to speak in this case a sudden period would be put to this Controverisie And truely why a liberty of Speech should be denied to the first seeing they say nothing in this particular but what is incorporated into the Canons of Oecumenicall Synods and was the practice of all subsequent Ages or to the Second after so perspicuous and learned a vindication Vindic. Epist S. Igna. as hath been lately made of his Authority I see no reason at all S. Jerom In Epist ad Tit. whom Blondell professeth to follow if throughly considered will be found to have no favourable aspect upon his opinion All that he speaks amounts to no more then this The Apostles and their Delegates during their abode in the world did hold the Government of the Church in their own hands These in every City constituted Elders which were promiscuously called by the name of Presbyters and Bishops to rule in a Subordination to themselves As the primary Apostles and those who were ordained by their Hands to succeed them began to wear off there sprang up a Schism among the People not much unlike unto that which disquieted the Church when S. Paul wrote to the Corinthians every one adhering to him as his Apostle or primary Bishop by whom he had been baptized Unusquisque eos quos baptizaverat suos esse putabat The controversie was not whether one should have the Power over them the practice of the Apostles in ordaining single Persons to succeed them was so evidentiall and fresh in their memories that there could be no hesitancy in that particular but who was to be the Person In order to the healing this Schism toto orbe decretum est it was universally decreed whereas before Presbyters did communi consilio in a subordination to the Apostles govern the Church that now One should be chosen out of their own number and have a Superintendency over the rest as the Apostles and their Delegates use to have This is the sum of what Jerome doth design The Person thus set over had not onely the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 but a Primacy of Jurisdiction For before this change in the College of the Presbyters there must necessarily be One who in the absence of the Apostles had jus primae Cathedrae This is essentiall to all regular Conventions no Order can be maintained without it therefore by this new Decree something being conferred which none of the Presbyters did enjoy before it can be nothing but primatus jurisdictionis This Constitution was made long before the fortieth year of the second Century Epist 85. Evagrio S. Jerome calls it an Apostolicall tradition which cannot be true in any proper sense except it began in the age in which the Apostles lived and as an evidence of his mind that he did not speak improperly