Episcopal government had not had an indubitable Institution from the authority of Christ and his Apostles or if any other forme of Church government could have pretended to such Instruction it had been the most impossible thing in the world when their neither was any outward certain power to enforce it nor could be any general Council to stablish it to have introduced such a forme of government so suddenly and quietly into all Christian Churches and not the spirit of one Presbyter for 〈◊〉 that appeareth for above 300. years to 〈◊〉 been provoke either through zeal ambition or other motive to stand up in the just defence of their own and the Churches libertie against such usurpation These are his Majesties words Thus doth Episcopacy derive from the first times and shews it self generally received and continued by a Succession of after ages in the Christian Church Which that by Elders without Bishops cannot shew By this Tertullian concludes for the Catholick Church against Heretiques Let them saith he shew the beginning of their Churches let them run over the Succession of their Bishops so as the first of them may have one of the Apostles or Apostolique men to be a founder or predecessor So Apostolique Churches derive themselves So doth the Church of Smyrna shew Policarpus placed there by John and Rome Clements ordained by Peter so have other Churches those who were by the Apostles appointed Bishops by whom the Apostolique seed or race is derived or continued so Tertullian de Praescript advers Haeretic c. 33. thus was it of old and from th beginning unto these later times when the change of that ancient forme of Church Government began that being occasionally brought in it troubles to say it with the Reformation Then I say was that occasioned rather than designed or approved by the first Reformers For the truth and puritie of the Gospel being then opposed and persecuted by Popish Bishops thereby were those Reformers enforced to act in that work of Reformation without those Bishops whom they could not gain and who were to them so contrary Yet did not those Reformers in that cast off Episcopacy with aversness to the Order but onely in respect of those individual persons of the Popish Bishops oppressing they the Reformers in the mean time professing for Episcopacy and greatly desiring it if it might be It is 〈◊〉 by us endeaâ—oured say they that Bishops be deprived of Government or Power but it is desired that they suffer the Gospel to be purely preached and we have oft protested That we do greatly approve the Ecclesiastial Politie and degrees in the Church and as much as in us lieth we desire to preserve them We do not dislike the authority of Bishops so that they would not compel us to do against Gods commandments and yet again We do here protest and we would have it to be recorded that we would willingly have the Ecclesiastical and Canonical Politie if the the Bishops cease to tyrannize over our Churches This our desire shall excuse us with all posterity both before God and all Nations All which we have in that famous Augustan confession of the Reformers who from the word protest so frequent there had then and thence the name of Protestants they being there first called Protestants as first Christians at Antioch This Augustan Confession or Profession or Protestation was signed by the more eminently Learned in that age and work of Reformation Among whom even Calvin was a Subscriber Yet did others of the chief Reformers adhere to their professions made concerning the right of Episcopacy both as to Order and Jurisdiction concluding that in Justice it ought not to be violated By what right or Law saith Melanâ—thon to Camerarius may we dissolve the Ecclesiastical Politie if the Bishops will grant us what in reason they ought to grant and though it were lawful yet surely it were not expedient And he writing to Luther You will not believe how they of Noricum and others hate me Propter restitutam Episcopis Jurisdictionem for restoring the Jurisdiction of Bishops And Camerarius in the life of Melancthon saith thus of him h Melancthon non modo adstipulatore sed etiam authore ipso Luthero c. Melancthon not onely by the consent but even by advice also of Luther perswaded that if Bishops would grant free use of the true doctrine the ordinary power and administration of their several Diocesses should be restored to them and even Beza who succeeded Calvin in Geneva for the space of ten years in like authority duering which time he was strict in his Judgment as to his discipline Yet after Danaeu's his comeing thither whereby that course of continueing long in that place was altered and Beza laid by Then could he find those inconveniences in that course which he could not now remedie onely wishing it were otherwise So speaking of the 34th Canon of those called the Apostles Canons concerning the power of Metropolitans over Bishops Quid aliud saith Beza hic statuitur quam ordo ille quem in omnibus Ecclesâ—is restitutum cupimus what is in this appointed but that order which we wish maybe restored in all the Ghurches I shall but add that of Zanchius one of the most learned of that side He in a confession or profession of Faith by him composed speaking of Church Orders and saying that Arch bishops and Patriarchs may be defended And sending that his confession to others for their approbation and consent in it he found exceptions taken at that said by him concerning those Church Orders his words are A certain eminent person did write to me thus what you write of your confession hath been by me and by N. and others received with great delight it being learnedly written and in an accurate method with which I was greatly pleased if you except what in the end you add of Archbishops and that Hierarchy On which Zanchius maketh for himself this Apologie when saith he I wrote this confession of Faith I did write all things out of a good conscience and as I believed so did I freely speak Now my faith is grounded chiefly and simply on the word of God something also in the next place on the common consent of the whole Ancient Catholique Church if that be not repugnant to the Scriptures I do also beleive that what things were defined in Councils and received by the godly Fathers gathered together in the name of the Lord by common consent of all without any gainsaying of the holy Scriptures that those things also though they be not of the same authority with the holy Scriptures proceeded from the holy Ghost Hence it is that those things that â—e of this kind I neither will nor dare with a good conscience dislike But what is more certain out of History Councils and writings of all the Fathers then that those Orders of Ministers whereof I speake were established and received by the
or kinsman was it may be on such respectâ— appointed by the Apostles Bishop of Jerusalem He was there therefore resident while other the Apostles were other where on their work And on that account might he be probably pointed 〈…〉 as principal among the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 faith he show these things unto James and to the brethren speaking of his miraculous deliverance from Herod and from his prison And after in the great Council 〈◊〉 Hierusalem the greatest that ever was in the Christian world all the Apostles being present St. James appears there as Principal and President by whom as 〈◊〉 by such usual the Resolve of the Council is last and definitively declared Also to St. James is by St. Paul at Hierusalem expresly addressed And again and again is he honourably mentioned among and above others in which he was considered as Bishop of Hierusalem which I need not prove it being by the other 〈◊〉 〈…〉 â—ledged proved also although with some tenderness as to be willingly passed over It seemeth say the Authors of the Annot. on the Bible Printed an 1651. that he was assigned to stay at Jerusalem But on what account was that They test us Antiquity say they took him James to be superintendent or Bishop of the Church of Jerusalem Chrys. hom 33. in Act. Jerom. to 1 Catal. ser. Eccles. These are their words and proof for it of that therefore I need not I hope say more After St. James who governed that Church thirty years his brother Simon or Simeon succeeded in that Bishoprick He living until he was 120 years old suffered under 〈◊〉 2. By appointment of St. Peter St. Mark was appointed Bishop of Alexandria and the first there He died five or six years before S. Peter or S. Paul and almost 40 years before S. John Him succeeded Anianus then Abilius and after Cerdo all in the Apostles time 3. By S. Paul was Timothy made Bishop of Ephesus and Titus Bishop of Crete The Postscripts to those Epistles stile them Bishops which beside the Antiquity of that testimony is otherwise averred for the Authors of the Centuries say That it is evident that Paul appointed Timothy Pastor and that he was 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or President which is with Beza a Bishop Timothy had first the Bishoprick of the Church of Ephesus and Titus of the Churches in Crete so Eusebius also Jerome Timothy was ordained of S. Paul the Bishop of the Ephesians and Titus Bishop of Crete And Oecumenius on these words 1 Tim. 1. 3. I be sought thee to abide still at Ephesus 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Here faith he he appointed him Bishop And of Titus That Paul left him to ordain Bishops 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 having first made him Bishop As for Timothies Successors In the Apostles times you have the Angel of that Church mentioned by S. John Reâ— 2. 1. Also Polycrates Bishop of Ephesus Contemporary to Polycarpus Bishop of Smyrna ordained by S. John And of others his successors after we read in the Council of Chalcedon where Stephanus Bishop of Ephesus being deposed and it being debated by whom the new Bishop should be appointed whether by the Council or by the Provincial Synod of Asia thereupon Leontius Bishop of Magnesia of the Province of Asia said Thatfrom S. Timothy to that time there had been 27 Bishops of Ephesus all ordained in the Province As to Crete and of Bishops succeeding Titus we read that Basil Bishop of Gortyna the Metropolis of Crete was present at the Council of Trullo 4. The Apostles S. Peter and S. Paul about the year 45. appointed Evodius Bishop of Antioch who continued there Bishop 20 years Him Ignatius succeeded and sate there 30 years both of them in the times of the Apostles 5. In the year 56. the same Apostles ordered Linus Bishop of Rome who is mentioned 2 Tim. 4. 21. after whom followed Anacletus and Clemens in the Apostles times also Clemens did see the Apostles and conversed with them saith Irenaeus l. 3. c. 3. 6. S. John ordained Polycarp Bishop of Smyrna And after his return from exile he appointed several Bishops in divers places And as we finde it thus in those Apostolical Churches by themselves ordered so in others also hath it been in like manner as to Apostolical Ordination and succession Of which Tertullian As the Church of Smyrna had Polycarpus placed there by S. John and the Church of Rome Clement ordained by S. Peter so the rest of the Churches also did shew what Bishops they had received by the appointment of the Apostles to traduce the Apostolical seed to them In all which are seen Bishops ordained by the Apostles with their succession and that even in the times of the Apostles together with their times and places ascertaining the truth of it Adde the universal practice after of all Churches both Orthodox and Heretical for even the Novatians Arians and Donatists c. retained the true Government of the Church by Bishops But on the contrary No instances out of Councils Fathers or Histories can be given in all that time of Churches ordered without Bishops by Elders of which kind soever allowing the time when Churches were first constituted they being then under the immediate tuition and care of the Apostles themselves respectively until by their removal or otherwise they found it necessary to appoint others in their places in which case the Apostles being themselâ—es Bishops they then stood in that capacity which Bishops after supplied That general consent therefore of all Churches from the beginning evidenceth the Truth in this undeniably if it be not supposed that all those holy Fathers and Councils should joyn in one throughout all those ages no one contradicting in setting up a Government in the Church Episcopal contrary to what was by the Apostles appointed and utterly silencing without the least memory what the Apostles had ordered if so it were of a Government by Elders without Bishops But that were to suppose a conspiracy and combination as to those holy men uncharitable and in it self irrational and impossible This I rather chuse to give in the very words of his late Majestie Charles I. the Royal Martyr for this Church truth as for the essential priviledges of His Crown and Kingdoms that being by him delivered in answer to certain Papers of the Divines attending the Commissioners of Parliament at the Treatie of Newpors in the Isle of Wight anno 1648. He that shall find by all the best records extant that the distinction of Bishops from and the superiority over Presbyters was so universally and speedily spread over the face of the whole world and their government submitted to so 〈◊〉 by the Presbyters that there never was any considerable opposition made there against before Aerius and that cried down as an Hereste nor since till this last age And shall duely consider withall that if
had been so ordered by the Apostles see it by the Church received and after continued throughout all ages from the beginning whereby what might seem doubtful in the first Institution may be cleared by observing what was of that understood and after practised by the Church accordingly The Church is the pillar and ground of truth and what grounding on the Scripture the Church in all ages hath held from the beginning that we may rely upon for truth And how did the Church understand the Apostles appointing Bishops and Elders in the Church for its Government Did they not understand it of Bishops distinct from Elders and Superior to them Did they ever understand it of Elders without Bishops or of Elders ruling in chief much less of Lay-Elders of which is nothing to be found any where in Scripture or Antiquity Let the constant practise of the Church throushhout all ages be Judge in that how the Apostles were therein understood In which I shall use the words of Judicious Mr. Hooker Very strange it is saith he that such a Discipline as ye Elders speak of should be taught by Christ and his Apostles in the word of God and no Church have found it out nor received it till this present time contrariwise the Government against which ye bend your selves be observed every where throughout all generations and ages of the Christian world no Church ever perceiving the word of God to be against it adding We require you to finde out but one Church upon the face of the whole earth that hath been ordered by your discipline or hath not been ordered by ours that is to say by Episcopal Regiment Sithence the time that the blessed Apostles were 〈◊〉 conversant This was Mr. Hookers challenge to that side in this case and that many years since which hath never been to this day answered onely by the sword and so was it indeed put home to us perilously Antiquity is not to be despised but that to be advised with and submitted to in such cases Enquire of the former Age and prepare thy self to the search of their fathers for we are but of yesterday and know nothing shall not they teach thee and tell thee and utter words out of their hearts said Bildad to Job 8. 8. 9. 10. So the Lord directs by the Prophet thus saith the Lord stand ye in the way and see and ask for the old paths where is the good way and walk therein and ye shall find rest for your Soules but they said we will not walke therein which is even what these say in this refusing any such tryall in this dispute well knowing themselves cast in it But in matters of antiquitie to denye the credit of Antiquitie in what is not contradicted by Scripture discovers One addicted to Noveltie and singularity rather then to truth Let therefore our Church Levellers se to this who in such their Schisme teare and rend the seamless garments of the Church and as a generation of Vipers eat out and through the bowels of their Mother disturbing Church unity and peace drawing into factions and filling all with confusions Herein let them see themselves in their forefathers for such there were of old under both Testaments Se some under the old Testament setting themselves even against what God himself had expresly ordered concerning the high Priest-hood in Aron There Corah of the tribe of Levy raised a partie and faction of 250 Princes of the Assembly against Moses and Aron having the confidence thus to tell them yee take too much upon you seing all the congregation are holy every one of them and the Lord is among them wherefore then lift you your selves above the congregation of the Lord but Moses returns it to them again yee take too much upon you yee Sons of Levy seemeth it but a small thing unto you that the Lord God of Israel hath separated you from the congregation of Israel to bring you near unto himself to do the service of the Tabernacle of the Lord to stand before the congregation to Minister unto them And he hath brought thee neer unto him and all thy brethren the Sons of Levi with thee and seek ye the Priest-hood also so was it then 2. And such Corahs we find under the new Testament also of whom the Apostle S. Jude speaks with a woe woe to them for they have gone in the way of Cain and ran greedily after the error of Balaam and perished in the gainsaying of Core Where se them ranked with three notoriously wicked Cain and Balaam and Corab with Cain for blood with Balaam for Covetousness and with Corah for faction Cain the accursed murderer of his brother righteous Abel so was he the first persecuter of the Church Balaam called on to curss the people of God and Corah a factious schismatique to Corahs schisme are they moved by Balaams Covetousnesss and ambition and to that going on in the way of Cain in blood and cruelty And for that see woe and destruction begining with woe Judgment denounced and ending with destruction Judgment executed perishing in the gainsaying of Core Core or Corah of all that faction is alone mentioned others being but his followers in that wicked cause his destruction being also more remarkable whether as to those with him in that rebellion or as to those other two notoriously wicked Balaam and Cain whose ends were not as of others Corah and his followers perishing not by an ordinary Judgment like other men the earth opening its mouth and swallowing up them and theirs alive in sight of all the people By the dreadfulness of the Judgment let the hainousness of the sin be estimated 3. And such have been our Corah◠also authors of our late confusions and evills in Church and State By whom hath been in the Church and Inlet and overflowing of blasphemies and of monstrous and pernicious doctrines horrible to be mentioned and not in very confutations to be remembred as if hell it self had broken loose The title of a book in which many of those abhominations are Collected And no wonder it should be so Church order and Government having been as it was cast off and trampled on While that stood all was well withus the face of our Church was comely and truth and peace secured and the enemies to both error and schisme not daring to shew themselves among us The Church is here Militant So is it described terrible as an army with banners with banner i. e. in order So it is by the LXX rendred 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 An army under its banners is in order and in that order is both beauty and terror and in that security Church security and Church beauty is in order thou art beautifull O my love as Tirza comely as Ierusalem terrible as an army with banners Cant. 6. 4. how pleasant is an army ranged under its banners so the Church under its colours leaders and officers