gouernment shall be vpon his shoulders He shall smite the earth vvith the rod of of his mouth And so they are subordinate Shepheards and Bishops to feed the flock to keepe and reduce the sheepe vnto the obedience of the chiefe Shepheard Bishop of theire soules 1. Pet. 2.25 chap. 5.4 vvhich is Christ In regard vvhereof the vveapons of theire vvarfare are not carnall but mightie through God to the pulling downe of strong holds 2. Cor. 10.4 casting downe imaginations and euerie high thought that exalteth it selfe against the knowledge of God and bringing into captiuitie euery thought to the obedience of Christ The greatest question is aboute the dignitie iurisdiction povver and authoritie of these Officers and especially of the office of a Bishop vvhether by Gods Testament and ordinance it be to superintend ouer other Pastors and Elders in a diocesse or Prouince or as others affirme Pastoral ouer one flocke and congregation vvherein he is an Elder and vvith other Elders an ouerseer of the same In vvhich controuersie men that are not vvillingly ignorant or vvilfully obstinate and blind may receiue full satisfaction by the cleere testimonies of Scripture and consent of the Fathers shevving vs the old and good vvay that all should seeke follow VVhereas he that commeth vvith a scoffing or preuidicate censure speaking euill of the things he knowes not Iude 10. Pro. 3.22 Pro. 14.6 Psa 25.14 or in frowardnes will not know can not so easily discerne the Truth Ascorner seeketh vvisdome and findeth it not but knowledge is easy to him that vvill vnderstand The secret of the lord is vvith them that feare him and he vvill shew them his couenant VVhen Paul the Apostle of the Gentiles had first preached the Gospell in diuers of their cities he Barnabas retourned againe to Lystra to Iconium and Antioch Act. 13. chap. 14.21.22.23 to confirme the soules of the Disciples exhort them to continue in the faith then it is said expresly They ordained them Elders in euerie church by election The vvord in the Greeke is Presbuterois Presbyters or Elders Of it comes the Latin vvord Presbyter vvhich signifies an Elder and vvhich as all confesse in the primatiue ages of the church was giuen if not to som others yet at least to euerie ordinarie Pastor of euerie congregatioÌ„ in regard that he vvatched ouer the flock to keepe them sound in the saith and holy in life and manners In place of those that men call parsons or Curates of seuerall Parishes there vvere then presbiters of seuerall congregations Nicod Dictionar French and Latin Our vvord preist seemes to come from the French vvord Prestre a preist vvhich as Nicod obserueth properlie signifies an Elder or presbiter though after the masse vvas vnderstood to be a Sacrifice offered by the hand of presbiters the name prestre or preist remained but vvas also corruptly applied to a Sacrificer or Masse preist in time vvas only taken in that sense both in France and elsvvhere VVherein vve may ansvvere vvith our Sauiour from the beginning it vvas not so but a Preist that was a Presbiter or Elder therfore throughout the vvhole booke of God vvhere there is any speech of those orders of Aarons Sons that vvaited at the Altar the french Protestants do not in their Bibles translate it preist but Sacrificer blame vs that vvee do not the like to distinguish them all masse mongers from the presbiters or priests ordained in the nevv Testament Indeede Reuel 1. Christ is sâ—â—de to make vs kings Hiereis Sacrificers vvhere you haue the same vvord that in the Septuagint and in the Gospell is put for the Ievvish Sacricificers but this is by Iohn mysticallie applied to all true Christians and is not here Presbuterois Presbiters but a vvord far different and therefore can not be vnderstood of the office and ministrie of the Presbyters ordained by the Apostles In the nevv Testament mention is oft made of these Presbyters or Elders Act. 15.2.4.6 Paul Barnabas and others vvere sent to Ierusalem vnto the Apostles and Elders vvhen they came thither vers 22. They vvere receiued of the church and of the Apostles and Elders And the Apostles and Elders came together Act. 16.4 to consider of this matter Then it pleased the Apostles and Elders vvith the vvhole church And vvrote letters The Apostles chap. 10.17.18 c. and Elders and brethren send greeting They deliuered them the decrees that vvere ordained of the Apostles and Elders From Miletus he sent to Ephesus called the Elders of the church and said vnto them ye know from the first daie that I came into Asia c. vers 28. Take heede therefore vnto your selues and to all the flock ouer vvhich the holy Ghost hath made you Bishops to feede the church of God The new translation reads it Ouerseers but the vvord is Episcopus Bishops the same that is vsed 1. Tim. 3. A Bishop must be blamelesse c. Indeede both there and here it may be translated a Bishop or an Ouerseer For in the original as a Presbiter is an Elder so a Bishop is an Ouerseer But marke he saith to the Presbyters Take heede to all the flock ouer vvhich the holy Ghost hath made you Bishops to feede c. VVhence it is infalliblie plaine 1. That the Presbiterall gouernment is the expresse ordinance of the holy Ghost Ioh. 16. vvho changeth not and of vvhome Christ saith He shall not speake of himselfe for he shall take of mine shew vnto you Heb. 13. Novv Christ is yesterdaie and to daie and the same also for euer This ordinance is therefore vnalterable 2. That Elders by Christs ordinance are or ought to be ouer euery congregation Take heede to all the flock ouer vvhich the holy Ghost hath made you Bishops Act 14 23 So Paul and Barnabas ordained them Elders in euerie church by election Paul saith to Titus I left thee in Creete to set in order the things that are vvanting Tit. 1.5 c. ordaine Elders in euerie citie as I had appointed thee For a vvhole prouince or diocesse is to greate a flock for one man he can not take heede to all the flock as the Elders of one church may 3. That their office is to feede the flock church of God vvhich one man can not doe in a vvhole Diocesse vvhen they haue occasion to binde or loose to reproue correct or comfort to excommunicate or restore that must also be by the vvord for it is he that in iust causes giues them authority themselues are not Lords of Gods heritage as S Peter saith 1. Pet. 5.3 to doe it at their ovvne pleasure by their ovvne rules and traditions but * 1. Cor. 5.4 vvith the power of Christ. For he smites the earth vvith the rod of his mouth 4. That the holy Ghost hath made the Presbiters Bishops ouer the flock For the vvords are
ought to be gouerned by Presbiters and that the gouernment by diocessan Bishops is of humaine authoritie and inuention and consequently the vvisdome of the flesh Rom. 8.7 vvhich is enâ—mitie vvith God for it is not subiect to the law of God neither indeede can be As vvee may see in those greate defendors of the Hierarchie in the church of Rome and in England that vvill not be conuinced in this point by the Testament of Christ So much are they blinded by the proffit and honour that follovves it but crie out that this is nothing but the madnes of the Brovvnists and some others that seeke innovation change that these are priuate spirits and that they giue a priuate interpretation of the scriptures and Fathers because it agrees not vvith theirs vvho are more in number and greater in povver VVhich yet is the priuate interpretation because not according to the expresse meaning of the holy Ghost The consent of many clocks and vvatches in a citie doth not proue them to goe true vnles they accord vvith the Sunne No more doth that of many Bishops and Councels vnles they agree vvith the vvord One Paphnutius hauing that on his side is not a priuate spirit but ought to be preferred before many of a contrarie concord as the Councell of Nice shevved in him Therefore it is but a shift and a mockerie to call this Tenet Brovvnisme vvhen they knovv this of the Eldership is the gouernmeÌ„t of the reformed churches in France Germanie c. and that to condemne this for an errour is to condemne them all yea the fathers before alledged and the verie Apostles themselues It vvill be obiected Diocessan Bishops came in soone after the death of the Apostles and if the church gouerned by Elders be the true church vvhere vvas the true church from the first comming in of diocessan Bishops till the Nicene Councell vvhen they vvere first confirmed by a generall councell and Imperiall authoritie and the vvoman fled into the vvildernes and vvas follovved by a flood of Gothes Reuel 12. and Vandals I ansvvere Bishops vvere then diocessan prouinciall rather nomine quam re in name then indeed excercising title povver and authoritie ouer them as ye haue seene out of the testimonie of Cyprian Hierom and Chrysostom VVhat doeth the bishop giuing of orders excepted vvhich the Presbyter may not doe He vvas not then come to his power â—nd strength but vvas then litle other then a Presbyter in â—atter of gouernment had a Pastorall charge ouer one conâ—regation yea gouerned like them and vvith them the Presâ—yters had their voices in Councels they neither vvere nor vvould be so soone thrust out So that for a time they had still the essentiall parts of a true church at least till such staines and blemishes grevv greater the Hierarchie excercised more authoritie ouer the Presbiters and became the mint defence authority of humaine inuentioÌ„ errour superflitioÌ„ to be made a marke of a true church Then the mistery of iniquitie that had long before vvrought in that inuentioÌ„ began to shevv the fruits thereof then that vvas true vvhich one saith of episcopacie It vvas inuented against an euill but the remedy proued worse then the disease For out of these smal beginnings issued 1. The insupportable povver impietie of the Pope and church of Rome vvhich haue brought so many and so vnspeakeable euills on the church For though perhaps those ancients meant to doe noe hurt but rather much good in ordaining diocessan Bishops and giuing them but litle power yet hereby the misterie of iniquity wroughâ— for they thus presuming to set one ouer others in a diocesse this povver increased vvith like reason authoritie Archbishops and Patriarcks vvere set ouer Bishops in the end a Pope ouer all For grant they may ordaine diocessan Bishops and that their ordinance is by a diuine instinct and of good authoritie and it vvill fellovv that others after them may as vvell ordaine the rest and that their ordinance also is by diuine instinct and of good authoritie so indeed to ordaine Cardinals and as manie vpstart orders of Priests and friers as are among the Papists I might add setting vp of Images to be vvorshipped and all other popish Tenets and customes vvhich haue bene authorised by councels and kings if that vvere sufficient as some thinke it is Hence therefore as from a spring haue issued all the errours of the Romish church established by Bishops in councels for sound and good doctrines and all the vast authoritie and povver of Bishops and the multitude of those traditions and ceremonies vvherevvith they as Rulers haue burdened the church and by vvhich the vvord of God hath bene made of none effect So that novv neither the Romish nor English Bishops vvill endure that the scriptures should be alledged in these points of their Hierarchie traditions and many as vvell of the Princes and Clergie as of the common people seeing the name and office of a Bishop in the Scriptures are contented vvith the Bishops to take it for graunted that it is meant of diocessan Bishops that the gouernment of the church vvas in the nevv Testament giuen to them not to Elders or at least as others inferre As the church vvas enlarged vnder the old title of bishops a nevv order of gouernment might be ordained by counsailes of men and authoritie of Emperours and kings for the better gouernment of the church As if any thing could be better deuised or bring forth better fruite then the ordinance of God vvho hath punished that presumption vvith so ill fruites of it to make vs see the contrarie or as if the Testament of God vvere insufficient and he had not as sufficientlie prouided for his church in this point as in others He vvill teach vs at length to knovv the tree by the fruit and that these great places in the Hierarchie are but meere baites to corrupt men and make them to please such bishops and courtiers as can aduance them ofters bribes vvrest the Scriptures for the Hierarchie Arminiaisme and such popish points traditions and ceremonies as make the vvord of God of none effect Neither is it any reasoning from the time of Augustin and those fathers that savv Diocessan Bishops and said not much against them but rather seemed to thinke their vse tollerable and proffitable and them to be hereticks that denied it beeing established by councels 1. Because the povver of Bishops as vve proued in those daies vvas nothing like that they novv haue but as one saith as vnlike as the povver of the Duke of Venice in the Senate is to that vvhich some Monarch hath in his dominions and ouer his subiects 2. Those Fathers had not seene such fruits of it in Antichrist and Antichristian povver as vve haue and so vvhat it is to take such a custome or an ordinance of a Concell for a good vvarrant So many traditions and superstitious rites
peremptorie Take heede to your selues to all the flock ouer vvhich the holy Ghost hath made you Bishops there vvere diuers Elders of the church of phesus the places that bordered neer it as of that of Philippi or Ierusalem act 21.18 to them all Paul saith The holy Ghost hath made you bishops to feede the church So Phil. 1. To all the saints vvhich are at Philippi vvith the Bishops Deacons that is vvith the Elders presbiters Phil. 1.1 and deacons for ye see the presbiters are bishops or othervvise you must graunt that there vvere more bishops then one in 〈◊〉 citie therefore Theodore vvell vnderstands it of the presbiters vvhich Bellarmine obseruing can not denie Bellar. de Clericis l 4 c. 14. Tit. 1.5.6.7 but that here also presbiters are called Bishops VVhich is yet more cleere by that to Titus I left thee in Creete that thou shouldest â—â—daine presbiters in euerie citie if any be blamelesse the husband of one vvife haueing faithfull children not accused of riot â—r vnrulie for a bishop that is the Presbiter before mentioned must be blamelesse c. Vbi supra All vvhich places are so cleare that Bellarmine confesseth that in them all the presbiters are called Bishops consequently that the Trent fathers cried vvho vvould proue that Diocessan Bishops are instituted by Christ and superiour to Presbyters iure diuino Histor of the councel of Trent pag. 597. 598. english because Paul saith Take heede to all the flock ouer vvhich the holy Ghost hath made you Bishops vvhich by his ovvne confession is spoken to Presbyters therefore he ansvvers to all the three places verrie poorely that in those daies these names Bishop Presbyter vvere common to all preists as if Phil. 1. vvith the Bishops and deacons the sense must be thus VVith the Preists theire ministers the deacons vvhich is a vveake shift of a Iesuit and so learned a Cardinal For did the Apostle call the presbyters Bishops in all these three places say the holy Ghost had made them Bishops ouer the flocke yet are they not so And if it vvere then a name so common to all preists why should it novv be thus restrained to one in a countie or prouince and he accounted an heretick that vvith the holy Ghost affirmeth the presbiters to be Bishops as in these three places And therefore out of all doubt 1. Tim. 3. vvhen Paul saith If any man desire the office of a Bishop he desireth a good vvorke c. That is the office of a presbiter or Elder vvho is a Bishop that so he addeth These things vvrite I unto thee that thou mightest know how thou a Bishop or presbiter oughtest to behaue thy selfe Othervvise he vvould not haue passed as he doth from the duty of a Bishop to the duty of a deacon but rather first from the duty of a Bishop to the duty of a presbiter or pastor that is if it had not beene one and the fame office somtime set forth vnder the name of an Elder or presbiter Tit. 1.5.6.7 somtime of a Bishop as in that to Titus before alleadged vvhich shevves vs that vvhen it is said of Titus that he vvas ordained the first Bishop of the Cretians that must needes be the first presbiter Chrisost in 1. Tim. 3. so Timothie 2. Tim. in fin vvhich in effect is acknovvledged by Chrysos in his Comentarie on that chapter to Timothie vvho though he liued in a time vvhen canons custom and cloaked ambition had made a litle difference saith There is almost no difference betweene a Bishop and a presbyter seeing the care of the church is also graunted to the presbyters surely by giuing of orders only they are their superiours herein they only seeme to be more then the presbiters Bellarmin acknovvledgeth that Primasius Bellar. de clerìcis l. 4. c. 14. Theophilact and Oecumenius in their Comentaries vpon the same place do teach the same thing almost in the same vvords VVherin they come but litle short of that vvhich is more plainly affirmed by Hierom on the first of Titus Hieron in Tit. 1. A presbiter and a Bishop is one and the same thing and before by the instinct of the deuil factions vvere made in religion and it vvas said among the people I am of Paul I of Apollo I of Cephas the churches vvere gouerned by the common consent of the presbiters but after euery one thought those which he had baptised to be his not Christs it vvas ordained in all the vvorld that one chosen from among the presbiters should be set ouer the rest unto vvhome all the care of the church should pertaine and the seedes of Sbhismes should be taken away And a litle lovver As therfore presbiters know themselues to be subiect by the custome of the church to him that is set ouer them so let the Bishops know it is rather by the custom of the church then by any disposition of the diuine truth that they are greater then the presbiters and that the church ought to be gouerned in commune Vbi supra Bellarmin doth not only cite these places thus but confesseth farther that HieroÌ„ hath the like things in his 85. Epistle to Euagrius Yet he vvould faine haue it thought that HieroÌ„ held a Bishop to be greater then a presbiter iure diuino contenting himselfe for lack of a better to take that for a sufficient proofe vvhere he saith to Euagrius vvhat doth the Bishop giueing of orders excepted vvhich the presbiter may not also doe vvhereas indeede this doth rather proue the contrarie namely that presbiters had decisiue voices in councels might excommunicate or doe any thing else in their flocks belonging to gouernment saue the giuing of orders this beeing all the difference of povver and authority the Bishops had them gained VVherein you must needes vnderstand him as before that it is rather by the custome of the church then any disposition of the diuine truth that they vvere herein greater then the Elders the same or the like humain ordinance custom vvhich restrained the title of a Bishop to one in a Diocesse vvhich before vvas common to all presbiters gaue him also the sole povver of giuing of orders vvhich before belonged to presbiters in common 1. Tim. 4.14 as is cleere by that Neglect not the gift that is in thee vvhich vvas giuen thee by prophesie vvith the laying on of the hands of the presbiterie Kemnitius therefore doth vvell obserue here Vbi supra that a Bishop may be ordained by Presbiters therefore there is no difference betweene a Bishop and a presbiter Bellarmin hereat offended ansvvers vvith the Greekes verie vveakely By the presbiterall name they vnderstood the quire or companie of the presbiters that iâ— of the Bishops vvhich laide their hands on the new bishop They that laied their hands on him vvere presbiters but that is say Bellarmin and others Bishops So saith
S. Paul and so say vvee presbiters are bishops Indeed Bellarmin and the Greekes do rather meane the bishops vvere presbiters but it is as true the presbiters are bishops and that the loue of proffit or preeminence or mens care to saue the honour of their church and customs haue blinded many that they can not see a thing so cleere that by imposition of hands of the presbiterie he was made a presbiter that is a bishop VVhere vvee must vnderstand that they only laide their hands on those that vvere chosen by voices or hands For it is said They ordained them Elders by suffrages Act. 14.23 Beza annot as Beza obserueth out of the Greeke vvord VVhich commeth from a custome of the Greeks vvho gaue their suffrages by holding vp their hands And saith he the force of this vvord Keirotonesantes is to be obserued that vvee may know that Paul and Barnabas did nothing of a priuate vvill neither excercised any tirannie in the church like that vvhich is vsed by the Romish harlot Idem Annota in 1. Tim. 4.14 or her pages vvhich they call ordinaries So as he shevveth vvas the gift of prophesie giuen to Timothie vvith the laying on of the hands of the Presbiters And thus is that to be vnderstood lay hands sodainlie on noe man c. that is doe not vvhat in thee lieth sodainlie to admit any man to any Eclesiasticall fūction Idem in cap. 5.22 for neither did all authoritie reside in the power of Timothie alone but the Election vvas made by the suffrages of the vvhole church as vvee said on Act. 14.23 and as is cleere by the election of Mathias and of the deacons lastlie by this that vvith the laying on of the hands of the Presbiterie the man chosen vvas consecrated to the Lord as 1. Tim. 4.14 Idem in Tit. 1. By these places as he shevveth is that of Titus to be expounded That thou shouldest ordaine them Elders that is by suffrages as Act. 14.23 by which place you may vnderstand vvhy he addeth as had appointed thee see also 1. Tim. 5.22 For in the choice of Mathias nothing is carried by Peter Idem in Act. 1. as by one endued with more excellent dignitie but by the suffrages of the vvhole church there assembled It is said They appointed tvvo So for deacons the Apostles said Looke ye out among you seauen men c. then it is added And the saying pleased the vvhole multitude And they chose Steuen Act. 6.3 c. And set them before the Apostles vvhen they had praied they laid their hands on them Therefore lay hands sodainly on no man that is till he be vvell aduisedly chosen praiers be made vvith fasting VVhich is spoken to all presbiters in his person especially to himselfe as beeing both a presbiter an Euangelist which is greater And thus indeede Paul left Titus to ordaine them presbiters in euerie citie Tit. 1.5.7 that is by suffrages as he had done Act. 14.25 Othervvise Titus should seeme to haue had an office like that Histor of the counc of Trent pag. 611. vvhich the papalins in Trent chalenged for the Pope to be a bishop of bishops that other bishops should receiue institutiō iurisdictiō frō him For these presbiters are called Bishops vers 7. but this makes not Titus a presbiter of presbiters that is a Bishop of Bishops much lesse doth it giue it to any other or infer that he must haue one to succeede him in such office It is obiected that Paul saith 1. Tim. 5.19 against a presbiter receiue not an accusation but before two or three vvitnesses * Vbi supra VVhere saith Bellarmin vve see a Bishop in the time of the Apostles the Iudge of the presbiters therefore their true prince superiour I ansvver this can not be 1. Mat. 20.25 Because Christ saith to his Disciples ye know that the Prince of the Gentiles exercises dominion oner them and they that are greate exercise authoritie upon them But it shall not be so among you And S. Peter saith to the presbiters take the ouersight of the flock not as beeing Lords ouer Gods heritage much lesse as Lords ouer other presbiters for that vvere to make one a Bishops of Bishops or the Pope of a prouince 2. That Timothie vvas the first presbiter or Bishop in that church and not only an Euangelist vvhich is greater but a man of exterordinarie gifts therfore S. Paul vvrites to him an Elder vvhat course he and all Elders are to take if any of their number be accused before them as he saith that thou mightest knovv hovv to behaue thy selfe 5. tim 3.15 c For all the Elders vsed to meete in such greate cases and oft times other brethren also of the congregation Act. 15.6.20.23 Paul saith to the Corinthians vvhen ye are gathered together 3. cor 5.4 and my spirit vvith the power of our Lord Iesus Christ Mat. 18.17 deliuer such a one unto Satan In vvhich sense Christ saith If he shall neglect to heare tvvo or three tell it to the church but if he neglect to heare the church let him be unto thee as a heathen And Paul bids the presbyters to take heede to themselues Act. 20. and to all the flocke ouer vvhich the holy Ghost had made them Bishops for of your owne selues shall men arise speaking Peruerse things somtime the deuill may bring an Elder to that vvickednesse and then ye see the other Elders are the Bishops that are to looke to it and reforme it 1. Cor. 14.31 that office is not giuen to one in a diocesse For as the Spirits of the Prophets are subiect to the Prophets So the Spirits of the Elders must in such cases be subiect to the Elders VVheras if a Bishop fall into such faults like the Appealer he vvill be subiect to none vvho dare aske him you vvill say the Archbishop but if the Archbishop be corrupt and mightie in court vvho dare once taxe him The Pope Adde he can not erre or all is nothing Such an endles labarinth follovves this humaine inuention of diocessan and prouinciall Bishops vvhich hath and doth make vvickednes abound because it hath not so good meanes to stay and represse it as the Eldership hath 1. Cor. 12.28 vvhich v◠as ordained for that end not by man but by God himselfe God hath set some in the church first Apostles secondarily Prophets thirdly Teachers then miracles the gifts of healing helpers Gouernors c. these last are tvvo distinct offices as Ar. Montan. Beza and others reade them * Beza Annot. in hoc lec vnderstanding the helpers to be deacons that helped the poore sick And Gouernours to declare the order of the presbyters vvho vvere keepers of the discipline of the church as vvee said elsvvhere To vvhom then belongeth the Gouernment but to those that God hath set in the church Novv vvee can reade of
of their plea are plainly a bused made meere shifts mights as vvâ—ll haue serued the Papists against VValdo Luther Caluin as them against the Eldership If they vvould speake truth they might rather say as by Constantines so by Queen Flizabeths comming to the crovvne vvith peace entred plentie honour and vvith them anibition coueteosnes corruption So in short time and by degrees it fared vvith those ancient Bishops their feare tovvard God in matters of their Hierarchie traditions and ceremonies began to be taught by the precepts of men vvith these ambition and coueteousnes entred into the church therefore first in these then in other things their vvisdome began to be hid and perishing so that they could not see the mischiefes follovving diocessan and prouinciall Bishops 4 The church of Rome at that time the Bulvvark and authoritie of diocessan Episcopacie vvas not then knovvne to be the VVhore ef Babylon and mother of fornications but for her integritie in other matters as against Arrians and other hereticks vvas thought the pillar of truth and for the greatnes of her Bishop not opposed by many but rather applauded 〈◊〉 the most therefore fevv or none vvould then speake against her custome and tenets vvhich indeede made their ovvne Episcopall authoritie to be held the more lavvfull and necessarie the rather because of the honour profit that accompanied it So prone is all mankinde to encline to those vanities and be blinded by them 5. Though it vvere vvithout all true authoritie of Scripture yet custome and consent of Synods had established and increased it as they also did the primacie and povver of the Pope in the Nicence Sardean and other councels therefore it vvas thought an heresie in Aerius to dissent from them vvhereas the heresie vvas rather in them that dissented from the institution and practise of the church in the time of the Apostles but indeed the misterie of iniquitie could not other vvise haue vvrought that the church of Rome should become the great vvhore and her Bishop the Antichrist For these ordinances that set vp diocessan Bishops Archbishops and Patriarchs vvith many many nevv rites and ceremonies furthered the greatnes and authoritie of the Bishop and church of Rome and such vvas then the custome and doctrine of that church implying that they vvere necessarie therefore it vvas counted Schisme and heresie to hold any thing to the coÌ„trarie though taught in scriptures the name of the church did carrie it against all proofes vvhatsoeuer If any opposed and saide these things vvere Ievvish heathenish or Antichristian or tended that vvay they could not vvant instrumentall daubers to quiet or confound them vvith abusing such places as that Gal. 5.15 Ephes 4.3 If ye bite deuoure one another take heede ye be not deuoured one of another Keepe the vnitie of the Spirit in the bond of peace Dispute not about things indisterent but rather obserue vnitie and vniformitie vvith due obedience to the church to Bishops to Synods and their ordinances and neuer say they are ill carried be not so seditious schismaticall or peruerse they are your guides and you should be guided and ruled by them By these and the like meanes and deuises they passed from errour to errour Euen as at this day in England the Supporters of the Hierarchie and Arminianisme preuaile by the same reasons by abusing the same and the like places and by saying the ancient Synods ordained Archbishops and Bishops and the custome and doctrine of the church of England doe implie and teach that they and their traditions and gouernment are necessarie therefore it is schisme and heresie to dissent from them that is though you hold vvith the scriptures the name of the church of England must carrie it against all proofes vvhatsoeuer and therefore though they vvill not be accounted Papists as those are vvho stand for the Pope yet are they Pontificians such as maintaine diocessan and prouinciall Bishops the opposers thereof to be schismaticks and hereticks For they knovv that as it vvas of old so at this day the calling of them hereticks is next to povver custome and humaine constitution the best argument to defend their Hierarchie and the traditions thereof For vvhile they scoffe at them and their Tenets and call them hereticks Puriâ—ains peruerse Spirits that labour to proue that the Hierarchie ought to be abolished the Eldership restored this makes Princes nobles ministers and people to stop their eares and eyes against all the best reasons and proofes of Scripture in these cases and in like manner to scoffe at them * Luk. 16.14 Iohn 9.29 So the Pharises derided Christ like as at this day the greatest defence of Romish religion is scoffing at the Protestant faith calling it heresie them hereticks that professe it this makes Princes Priests and people to looke no further but to stop their eares against all proofes as against the Sophistrie of hereticks VVith this deuise also hath the church of Rome preuailed from time to time and by it ran from one errour to another till she became full of abhominations and to haue such povver that no man durst vndertake to conuince her And so may the church of England vvho hath begun such a progresse in some popish ceremonies Arminian errours vvhich are maintained by practises as beeing such as they vvill suffer no man to dispute against but vvith povver and cunning pretences prohibit all from gainsaying her Prelates in any thing * 2. Cor. 1.24 as the church of Rome did This is to haue dominion ouer mens faith vvhich the Apostles abhorred seeing the truth of God is in these points reuealed and things reuealed belong to vs to vvhome it is giuen to contend for the faith VVhence it must needes follovv that they also vvill get a povver to doe teach vvhat they list and yet no man shall dare to conuince them For Christ saith He that is vniust is the least Luk. 16.10 is vniust also in much Let no man therefore say these are small differences that the authoritie of Bishops should be receiued in them or that they are matters too high for the people seeing they are not higher then the mysteries of the Trinitie vvhich being also taught in Scriptures should be held of all and not forbidden as these are to open a gap for * Which is the drift of the proâ—ectors and Abettors poperie to enter For such euer haue bene such are and such must needes be the fruit of greatnes in the clergie And therefore vvhereas some say as the church grevv larger and larger so there might be nevv offices officers ordained hauing greater honour and more ample iurisdiction and command ouer vvhole countries and Prouinces they see here the fruits of it in Rome and in England It is not the putting of religious men into the papacie or into English Bishopvvricks that vvill helpe these things if the callings be of men and not of