A CATALOGVE OF SVCH TESTI­MONIES IN ALL AGES AS PLAINLY EVIDENCE BISHOPS AND PRESBYTERS TO BE BOTH ONE, EQUALL AND THE SAME IN IURISDICTION, Office, Dignity, Order, and degree, by divine Law and instituti­on, and their disparity to be a meere humane ordinance long after the Apostles times; And that the name of a Bishop is onely a Title of Ministration, not Dominion, of La­bour not of Honour, of Humility, not of Prelacy, of painfullnesse not of Lordlinesse, with a Briefe Answer to the Objections out of Antiquity, that seeme to the contrary.

Printed in the Yeere. 1641.

The EPISTLE to the READER.

Christian Reader,

THere is nothing more fr [...]quent in the mouthes of our Lording Prelates and their Flatterers, then to vaunt, That their Hierarchie and Episco­pall S [...]periority over other Ministers is by divine Right and Institution; and that all Antiquity from Christs till Calvins dayes, and all learned men, ex­cept a despicable small number of Factious Puri­tans ( as they term them) suffragate to this Conclusion. This was the more then thrasonicall b [...]ast of Dr. La [...]d, Arch-prelate of Canterbury, and some others, not onely at the Censure of Dr. Layton in the Star-chamber, and Dr. Bastwicke in the High-Commission some few yeares past; but likewise at the late Censure of Dr. Bastwicke, Mr. Burton, and Mr. Prynne in the Star-chamber, Iune 14. 1637. where, in his learned Speech (since Printed by speciall command, through his own underhand procure­ment) he thus magisterially determines, pag. 6, 7. This I will say ( he might have done well to have proved it first, but that his Ipse dixit only is now an O [...]acle) and abide by it, That the calling of Bishops ( to wit Archbishops and D [...]ocaesans, superiour to, and distinct from Pres [...]y­ters, else his Speech is not onely idle but impertinent) is Iure divino: though not all adjuncts to their cal­lings: ( he should have done well to have specifie [...] what adjuncts in particular [...]) And I say further, that from the Apostles times in all ages, in all places the Church of Christ was governed by Bishops ( to wit [Page] Diocaesan Bishops like to our Prelates now, which he will prove at Graecas Calendas.) And Lay-Elders never heard of, till Calvins new-fangled devise at Ge­neva. To disprove which fabulous assertion, I have not only particularly encountred it, in the Unbishoping of Timothy and Titus, to which no Answere yet hath been returned by this Over-confident Boaster, or his Champi­ons, though specially challenged to Answer it) but likewise by way ef Supplement to that Trea [...]ise, drawn up this ensu­ing Catalogue ( which I challenge his Arch-grace, with his brother Prelates, Doctors, Proctors, Parasites to encounter with as many contrary Authorities if they can;) [...] wherby both learned and illiterate may with ease discern, that both by divine Institution, the suffrages of Fathers, Councels, forraigne and domestick writers of all sorts aswell Papists as Protestants, and the resolution of the Church and State of England in Convocation and Par­liament, Bishops and Presbyters are but one and the sam [...] in point of Office and Iurisdiction; and that the Superiority of Bishops over other Ministers is a meer humane Institution long after the Apostles dayes, introduced, partly by custome, partly by the Bishops owne insensible incroachme [...]ts upon their fellow brethren; but principally by the grants, con­nivances, or indowments of Christian Princes, destitute of any divine foundation to support it.

I confesse, in the Histo [...]y of the Councel of Trent: Edit, 3. p. 589, 590, 591. to [...]16. Councel of Trent, it was much de­bated among the Popish Prelates and Divines there pre­sent; Whether Bishops were by divine Ordination, Superiour to Priests? But the Councel being divided in opinion, left the Controversie undetermined. Those Bishops and Divines who held the affirmative, pro­duced nothing out of Scripture, or solid Antiquity to justifie their opinions, worthy answere, but that Aerius [Page] was deemed an Heretick for affirming the contrary ( which I have [...]ere disproved:) ye [...] Idid. p. 59 [...] See M [...]i [...] de Sacra. Horm. Origine et Cont. l. 1. c. 5. Michael of Medina who alleageth this of Aerius, was so ingenious to conf [...]sse, that Hierome, Austin, and some others of the Fathers ( as Ambrose, Sedulius, Primasius, Chry­sostomus, Theodoret, Oecumenius) did fall into Aërius heresie in this point, it being no wonder that they did so, because the matter was not cleare in all points. This his boldnesse, to say that Hierome and Austin did savour of Haeresie, gave great scan­dall: but h [...] insisted the more upon it: The Doctors saith the History) were equally divided into two opinions in this point. And when this Ibid. p. 589. Article was propounded in this Romish Councel; That the Bi­shops are instituted by Christ, and are Superiour to Priests de Iure divino; The Legates with others answered, that the Lutherans and Heretiques hav­ing affirmed, that a Bishop and a Priest is the sam [...] thing ( Ib. 591.60 [...].606. putting no difference between a Bishop & a Priest, but by humane constitution; and affirming, that the Superiority of Bishops was first by custom, and afterwards by Ecclesiasticall constitution, for which they ci [...]e the Augustane Confession made by the German Churches;) it was fit to declare, that a Bishop is Superiour, but that it was not necessary to say qu [...] jure, nor by whom a Bishop is instituted From whence it appeares clearly; That halfe or more of these Trent Fathers, with all the Lutherans and Protestant Churches at that time were cleare of opinion; That Prelates Epis­copacy is not Iure divino: and those who peruse that History and De Clericis. l. 1. c. 14. B [...]llarmine may at [...]irst discerne, that all our Prelates arguments and Authorities now produced to maintaine their Episcopall Iurisdiction to be divine, are taken verbatim from these Popish Fathers of Trent [Page] who maintain their assertion, and Bellarmine de Cleri­cis the stoutest Champion for their cause. Alas! to what miserable Shifts are our Prelates driven, when they must thus fly to Trent, to Bellarmine for ayd to support their tottering Thrones! And yet these will stand them in no stead, all the Trent Prelates confessing with S. Hierom. History of the Councel of Trent: p. 220. That in the first beginnings of Christianity, the Churches were governed by a kind of Aristocracy, by the common Councel of the Presbytery, and that the Monarchicall government and Superiori­ty of Bishops and Archbishops crept in by custome, as the Pag. 220.330. to 335. an excellent consi­derable place. History of the Councel of Trent relates at large; where you may read the originall of their Courts and Iurisdictions, with the steps and meanes of their ex­orbitant growth and encroachments upon the temporall Iurisdiction and Prerogative of Princes, well worthy the greatest Statesmens consideration. Besides, Dionysius Cathusianus, and Cardinal Contarenus in their Com­mentaries on Phil. 1.1. confesse, that in Pauls time, Bishops and Presbyters were both one, and that ei­ther Order was conferred on the Presbyter. That Presbyters are there meant by Bishops, whence it is usually said, That in the Primitive times Bishops were not distinguished from Priests. Azorisus the Iesuite Moral. part. 2. l. 3. c. 16. confesseth, that in the Apostles times, every where, those who were or­dained Elders in Cities were Bishops: Cardinal Cusanus. De Concordia Cathol. l. 2. c. 13. writes the same in eff [...]ct: All Bishops; and perchance also Presbyters are of equall power, as to Jurisdiction, although not of execution; which executive exercise is restrai­ned by certaine positive Laws ( not Divine but Cano­nicall) whence the cause of these Laws ceasing, Glossa, De­cret. Distinct. 93 c. Legimu [...]. the Laws themselvs determine. And Johannes Seme­ca [Page] a Popish Canonist, avers; That in the first primitive Church the Office of Priests and Bishops was the same: but in the second primitive Church, ( to wit, some space after the Apostles times) both their names and Offices began to be distinguished.

The same Doctrine, together with the Identity and Pa­rity of Bishops and Presbyters is professedly averred, not only by those hereafter cited in the Catalogue; but also by In Iohn Cres­pin. L'estate de Leglise f. 254. Huldrick Bishop of Ausburg, about the year of Christ 860. in his Epistle to Pope Nicholas, in defence of Priests Marriage: by John Crespin. L'estate de L'eglise: prin­ted 15 [...]2. fol. 14.97. by Phippe de Mornax, Tablea [...] des Differens. par. 2. c. 6. p. 67, 68, 69. &c. and by Mornay Lord Plessie in his Mystery of Iniquity in the French Edition, p. 7.9, 10.72.80. to 87, 9 [...].92.95. to 123.125.128.152. to 155.159.160.172.179.197.210. to 218.234.2 [...]4 266, 267.281.293.304.307.319, 320.366 [...] 389.395.397.404.410.412 [...] 418.424. to 427.452 [...] 464.467, 468.469.503.518.519.520.524. to 528 533.535.545, 546, 547.567.568, 569.603. Yea, Both cite [...] [...]y Bishop Vs [...]er, d [...] B [...]ittanicarum Eccles. primo [...] diis, p. 800. Iohn Ma [...]jor de Gestis Scotorum: l. 2. c. 3. w [...]ites, that in anci­ent times the Scots were instructed in the Christian faith, by Priests and Monks, and were then without Bishops. And Iohn Fordon Scotichronicon. l. 3. c. 8. before him, records, That before the coming of Pal­ladius, the Scots had only Presbyters or Monks to instruct them in the Faith and administer the Sa­craments, following the custome of the primitive Church. And Henric [...] [...] man, [...] Tom. 1 p. 31 [...] from Palladius dayes till the reigne of Malcolm the 3d; the Bishops of Scotland had no Diocesse at all ( and so were no Diocesan Prelates) but every Bishop whom holinesse had made reverend in that age, exercised his Episcopall function without distinction in every place he came. If then Bishops [Page] and Presbyters were all one and the same in the first Pri­mitive Church, which Chur [...]h, [...]ogether with that of Scot­land, was anciently governed only by Presbyters, not by any Lordly Prela [...]es, or Diocesan Bishops ( which Dr. William Fulke in his Answer of a true Christi­an, &c. p. 20.50. professeth [...]o be Antichristian, Pa [...]all and no divine institution,) why the Churches of Scot­land, and England may not now be governed by Presby­ters only without Bishops, aswell as at first, I canno [...] con­ceive [...] their regiment of late having been so tyrannicall, unchristian, antichristian and exorbitant, that they have almost wholly ruined our Religion, Church, State, and lef [...] them in a most perplexed, if not desperate condition; which proves their Hierarchy to be rather Antichristian and Diabolicall, then Divine.

And how can it be otherwise, if we rightly consider the Persons or Condition of our Hierarchy [...] and their Anti­christian Attendants? I remember a merry S [...]ory in Itinear, l. 2. c 13. Giraldus Cambrensis, and out of him related by Mr. Camden in his Britannia: p. 604. It hapned that a cer­taine Iew travelling towards Shrewsbury with the Archdeacon of Malpas ( in Ches-shire) whose sur­name was Peche, that is, Sinne, and a Deane named Devill; when he heard by chance the Archdeacon telling, that his Archdeaconry began at a place called Ill-street, and reached as farre as to Malpas towards Chester; he considering a [...]d understanding withall aswell the Arch-deacons Surname as the Deans, came out with this merry and pleasant con­ceit; Would it not be a wonder ( quoth he) and my fortune very good, if ever I get safe againe out of this Countrey, where Sinne is the Arch-deacon, and the Devill is the Dean; where the entry into the Archdeaconry is Illstreet, and the going forth [Page] of it Malpas? It was Fratres sic fa­cit Iesus h [...]di [...], multos si [...]i eli­ge [...] Dia [...]olos Episc [...]po [...]. In Gone [...]. Rhe­mensi S [...]imo. St. Bernards complaint in his age, that Iesus Christ elected many Devils to be Bi­shops, as he chose Iudas to be an Apostle. Since then there be so many Archbishops, Deanes, and Bishops, De­vills, so many Archdeacons Sinners, if not Sinne; and the entrance into these Offices (by reason of Symony, Am­bition, and th [...] like) a meer Illstreet, and their going forth of them ( by reason of their wicked lives, and exorbitant actions occ [...]sioned by their very Office) Malpas, it is al­most a wonder, and very good fortune, if any [...]onest godly Minister or Professor ever get safe againe out of their Courts and Diocesse, or escape drowning in their Seas.

Hence is it, that the devoutest men in all ages since Prelates became Lords paramount to Ministers, have either utterly refused to accept of Bish [...]pricks, or resigned them after acceptance; as I have In the Epistl [...] Dedica [...]o [...]y be­fo [...]e the Vnbi­shoping of Ti­mothy and Titus. elswhere manifested by sundry examples, and shall here fur [...]her exemplifie by [...]ther evidences. Les Fl [...]wrs de [...] vies des So [...]cts: part 1. Parisiis: 1637. p. 500. Ribadenerra a Iesuite, records it to the great praise of Bernardine of Sennes, canonized at Rome for a Saint; that out of his humility he re­fused the 3. Bishopricks of Sennes, Ferrara, and Vr­ban, which severall Popes offred to him: and though one Pope put a Bishops Mi [...]er on his head with his own hands, yet he put it off againe, humbly beseech­ing him not to impose the charge of any Bishoprick upon him, and to change that estate of Poverty to which God had called him; because he should bring more advantage to the Church by preaching the Word of God, and ayding the Soules of many Bi­shopricks, then by being a Bishop in one Church: The Pope hearing his reasons confessed them true, and left him to his own liberty. Ribadener­ra Ibid. p. 3 [...]8. Vincent Ferrier another Popish Saint, is highly magnified, for that' being urged by the Pope to accept the Bishopricke [Page] of Leride, the Archbishopricke of Valence, and a Cardinalship; it was impossible to move him to ac­cept of any of these charges; deeming it a greater advantage to free one Soule from the chaines of Sinne, then to gain all the great preferments of the world. For he perceived that these honourable dignities seemed like so many golden chaines, whereby he should be detained at the Court, and deprived of liberty to goe and preach the Gospell with poverty, as God had commanded him. So Tho­mas of Idem Ibidem, p. 313. Aquin, canonised for a Saint, is highly ap­plauded for refusing the Archbishopricke of Na­ples, with other great dignities offered unto him by the Pope. In like sort Idem Ibidem, p. 303 [...] 304. Raimond of Roche [...]ort, ano­ther Roman Saint, is extolled, for refusing to accept the Archbishopricke of Arragon, which the Pope himselfe conferred upon him, and commanded him to accept within few dayes; at which news he was very sad, and most humbly and instantly intreated his Holinesse, not to lay such a burthen upon him, which he knew not how to beare: and seeing that the Pope was resolved to enforce him to accept it, he fell sicke with indignation, a [...]ieuere continuing upon him till he died of regret, and so discharged him of this care. Idem Ibidem, p 358. Antoninus another [...]ate Ro­mish Saint, being elected Archbishop o [...] Florence by Pope Eugenius the 4 th, refused to accept thereof, because being retired out of the tempests of the world, he should therby return into [...]hem to the great perill of his Salvation. The Pope hereupon commanded him by his Bull to accept it, threat­ning else to excommunicate him: whereupon by the advise of his Covent and the Magistrates of Florence, who informed him, that he ought to obey [Page] the Pope herein, he unwillingly accepted it; and kneeling down before them, he lift up his eyes and hands to heaven, saying; O my Lord thou knowest full well that it is much against my will to accept this charge; which I have undertaken for feare to resist thine and thy Vicars will: and since thou knowest it, I beseech thee direct me to doe what I ought. Then entring into his See, he had only 8. persons in his house; He had no Cupboord, Tapistry or hangings of Say in his Chamber; no vessels of Silver; no Horses nor Coaches, riding upo [...] a Mule that was given him; saying, that the goods of the poore ought not to be spent in nourishing beasts, and providing Superfluities. He had the Scripture alwayes read at his Table: and ever said, they should doe him a speciall favour to thrust him from his Archbishopricke, wherein he continued with as great regret as he received it. Adde to these, that Iohn Crespin Lestate de [...]eg­lig [...], f, 29, with Platina, Anas [...]a [...]ius, and Balz­ [...] i [...] h [...]s life. Linus the first Bishop of Rome, after Paul and Peter resigned up his Bishoprick te Anacle [...]us; that Pope Cyriacus ( as Fasciculus Temporum, Henry of Erford, Nauclerus, Crispin [...] and others write) quitted his Bi­shopricke in a short space against the will of the Clergy; whence some have excluded him out of the number of the Roman Ponti [...]s; that Iohn Crespin [...]. p. 59. Brit. Eccles. A [...]tiqu [...] p. 620, 621, 625, 633. Pope Stephen t [...]e 6. renounced his Episcopacy, and became a Monke, repenting of the cruelty shewed by him to his predecessor Formosu [...]: that Pope Celestine the 5 th ( as Platina, Luitprandius, Anasta [...]ius, and all Crespin [...]b. p. 266. o [...]hers in his life accord) voluntarily renoun­ced the Papacy, as a charge exceeding his forces, and hindering his Devotion: and th [...]s Crespin p. 405, 40 [...] Anno 1448. C [...]espin p. [...] 404. Pope Felix the 5 th, renounced and deser [...]ed the Papacy, which he formerly swa [...]ed. Lo here five [Page] C [...]e [...]pin. p. 587. Popes re [...]ouncing and resigning their Bishopricks. Herman a Weda Archbishop of Colen, who decea­sed An. 1552. desired often to dye a simple Chri­stian without any charge or dignity, rather then to die a Priest or a Bishop: To come nearer hom [...], Gal [...]u [...] Monumetensis. l 9. c. 15. [...]ral­d [...] Cambr. li 2. c. 4. Ia [...]bus Vsse­ [...] de Ecclesia­rum Britt [...]a. Pri­mordin, p. 81.532.538. Dubritius B [...]shop of Landaffe voluntarily re [...]oun­ced his Archbishopricke; so Sampson, Paulus, Leo­norius and Amon made Bishops volens nolens, volun­tarily gave over their Episcopacies. Idem. p. 876.1012.1140. St. Patrick the first Archbishop or primate of all Ireland, and Benignus his third Successor in that See, willingly resigned their Prelacies, retiring themselves to Glastenbury Abby: And Anno 1366. The Annals of I [...]eland i [...] Camdens Bri­ [...]nia, p. 169. Richard Havering, Archbishop of Dublin, voluntarily re­nounced his Archbishopricke upon this occasion [...] One night he dreamed that a certaine Monster heavier then the whole world stood eminently a­loft upon his brest, from the weight whereof he chose rather to be delivered, then alone to have all the goods of the world. When he wakened, he thought thus with himselfe, that this was nothing [...]ls but the Church of Dublin, the fruits whereof he received, but took no paines for the same: ( the case of most Prelates now:) as soon as he could therfore he came to the Pope, of whom he was much beloved, and there renounced and gave over the Archbi­shopricke; for he had fatter and better livings then the Archbishopricke came unto. Why should not our Archbishops and Bishops now follow these many vertu­ous examples, in resigning and abandoning all their Bi­shopricks, for the setting of a sweet peace and blessed Har­mony in our distracted Church and State, which their am­bition, pride, tyranny, Exorbitances and Innovations have almost brought to ruine? Had they but their humi­lity [Page] and piety, they would speedily renounce their most pernicious Hierarchy, to imbrace a fraternall unity and parity with their fellow-brethren, whom Christ hath made their equals, as these and other Prelats have done; and as our present Relation of [...] Con [...]erenc [...], p. 169 in the margin. Archbishop of Canterbury confesseth that famous Nazianzen, rather th [...]n the peace should be broken, freely resigneth the great Patriarchate Constantinople, and retired: whose steps he should doe well to follow.

But if he or they refuse to do it for our Churches peace, and Kingdomes safety, let them know that it is no new thing to abolish Bishopricks by Act of Parliam [...] by which 31. H. 8. c 9.33 H. [...]. c. 31.34. H. 8. [...]. most Bishopricks were first created, and so not Jure Divino. How many Bishopricks have been supprest in Ireland and Wales in Later ages, In his Brita­nia p. 160.161. and Ireland, p. 73, 74. Mr. Camden can at large informe us, almost halfe the Ancient Bishopricks there, being not now extant. The Bishopricke of West­minster was no sooner erected almost, but instantly sup­pressed; And 7. Ed. 6. The Rastall Du [...] ­ham: f. 149. Camdens Brit. pag. 736, and God­wins Catalogu [...] of Bishops, p. 533. Bishopricke of Durham by Act of Parliament was dissolved, and the Lands and hereditaments thereof given to the King: but 1. Mariae Pa [...]l. 2. c. 3. Popery [...]lowing in againe, that Bishopricke was revived and reerected; yet not so fi [...]mly, but that it and all others are still subject, both to a temporall and finall dissolu [...]ion, when eve [...] his Majesty, or the state in Parliament shall thinke meet; ( as all the Prelates and the whole Convocation expre [...]ly ac­knowledge in their Chapter of the Sacrament of O [...]de [...]s. Institution of a Christian man dedicated to King Henry the 8. and ratified by Par­liament) as the Abbies, Priories and such like Nests of Anti [...]hristianisme in this Real [...], though se [...]led by La [...]s and long Prescription, were all suppressed by p [...]blick 27. H. 8. c [...] 3 [...]. H, 8, c. 1 [...]. [...] [...], [...]. [...]. 14. Acts of Parliament in a moment.

If any de [...]m the continuance of our Lorly Prelates [Page] necessary in regard of their presence in Parlia­ments, which some conceive cannot be held with­out the presence of these [...]ord [...] Spirituall.

I Answer, first, that Abbots and Priors before the dissolution of Mona [...]teries were Spirituall Lords in Par­liament aswell as Bishops: since then Parliaments both may, have been, and are now held without Lord Abbots a [...]d [...]riors, they may by the same reason be held without Lo [...]d Bishops. Second [...], B [...]shops sit n [...]t in Parliament of right as they are B [...]shops ( for as Bishops, they are not Cromptous Iu­risdiction, [...], 12, b, Stamford Plee. d [...]l Corone l, 3, c, 1, [...], 153, [...], 3, [...], 3, p, 161, 33, 1 [...]. [...]. Br, Trial, 142, prope [...]ly Peers, and shalbe tryed in case of Trea­son by a common Iury, as Scr [...]ope, Fisher, and Cran­mer were) bu [...] as they hold of the King per (a) Baro­ [...]iam, in right of their Churches, which few of them at this day doe: Therfore their si [...]ting in Parliament is not of right, but of meere grace of the King, who may Sommon or not Sommon [...]hem at [...]is pleasure: sinc [...] they are no Lords, nor yet so stiled by the King, in any of their Paten [...]s; though they so in [...]itle themselves in some of their Cromptons Iurisdiction of Courts, f, 12, b, late Prin [...]ed Books. Thirdly, In Bishop White Bishop Morton, Arcshbishop Laud, and Bishop Hall, in the T [...] ­tles of [...]heir late Books, matters of Treason, Felo­ny, blood and Capitall Crimes debated in Parlia­ment, the Bishops both by Common and Canon Law o [...]ght not to give their votes, nor yet to be present in the house, but to depart, which no other Peeres doe [...]ut they: io, E, 4, f, 6, Br, Crown 153, Stamford Plee [...], l. [...] Pet [...]us [...]l [...] ­sonsis de Institat. Episc [...]pi [...]bl, Part, Tom, 12, p, 941, 943. If then the Parliament in these cases of highest na [...]ure may passe a compleat Iudgement without them, their presence is not necessary in it, nor they any needfull members of it. Four [...]hly, Bishops in former ages e [...]en under Popish Kings, when they had most sway, have been excluded Parliaments, much more then may they be so now: Fox Acts and Monument [...] in the old Edition, p. 748. 901 905, 9 [...]7 b 1706, b, i, 17, b, Gardner and Bonner in King Ed­wards dayes; and all Bishops that were married ( as most then were) in the first Parliament in Queen Ma­ries reigne were excluded the Parliament; and in [Page] King Edward the 1. his time at the Parliament held at S. Edmonds Bury, Anno 1296. all the Bishops were put out of the Parliament and Kings protection, and that Parliament held good and made Laws without them. And Anno 1273. in the 20. yeare of Henry the 3. the Statute of Merton cap. 9. to [...]ching Bastardy, was made by the Lords temporall and Commons without and against the consent of the Bishops. [...]h [...]se two Presiden [...]s are cited by Bishop Iewell in his Apology against So Cr [...]mt [...]n quotes it. But it [...]s in his defence of hi. Apology, at pa [...]t 6 c. 2 p. 5, i 522 Harding; f. 620. who there affirmes, that a Parliament may be held without any Bishops; to wh [...]ch Crompto [...]s Iu­ri [...]diction of Cou [...]s f [...]9 b. Mr. Crompton, and Bishop Bil­son likewise assent: therfore I shall no l [...]nger debate it, as being pas [...] all doubt; concluding this point in Bishop Bilsons words (a great Champion for Episcopa [...]y) which are full and notable. Of the true dif­ [...]e [...]ence between Chri [...]ian [...]ubje­ction [...] and Anti­christian [...]ebel­lion, pa [...]t 3, p, 541, 542, 543, Claime you ( Bishops) that in­terest and prerogative, that without you nothing shalbe done in matters of Religion, by the Laws of God, or by the liberties of this Realm. By the Laws of the Land, have no such priviledge. Parliaments have been kept by the King and his Barons, THE CLERGIE WHOLLY EXCLVDED. And when the Bishops were present, their voyces from the Conquest to this day were never negative. [...]y Gods [...]aw you have nothing to doe with making Laws for Kingdome [...], & Common-wealths: o [...] may teach, you may not command: P [...]rswasion is your part, compulsion is the Princes. I [...] Princes imbrace the Truth, you must obey them; If they pursue Truth, you must abide them. By what Authority then claime you this dominion over Princes; that their Laws for Religion shalbe voyd, unlesse you consent? After which he proves at larg [...], that the Kings of Iudah and Israel of old, with many godly Christian [Page] Kings and Emperours since, have made not only Civil, but [...]cclesiasticall Laws without a Council, or any suf­frage of Bishops: Much more then may they hold a Par­liament without their presence; as Bishop Jewel proves at lange. It was a no [...]able Speech and true of Ludovi­cus Cardinall Arelatensis in the Councel of Basill; For Acts & Monu [...]ent [...] Lond. 1 [...]10 [...] p [...] 624 [...] 625 [...] where he maintained the parity of Bishops and Pres­byters: That rich and Lordly Bishops feare the power of the Prince, and to be spoyled of their temporalities, neither have they free liberty to speak as is required in Councels. Albeit if they were true Bishops and true Pastors of Soules, they would not doubt to put their lives in venture for their Sheep, nor be afraid to sh [...]d their blood for their Mother the Church. But at this present (the more is the pitty) it is too rare to find a Prelate in this world, which doth not prefer his temporalities be­fore his Spiritualities, with the love whereof they are so withdrawn, that they study rather to please Princes then God; and confesse God in corners, but Princes they will openly confesse. Concluding [...]hat the poor are more apt to give judgement then the rich, because their riches bringeth feare, and their poverty causeth liberty. For the poore feare not tyranny as rich men do, who being given over to all kind of vanities, idlenesse and sloth, will rather deny Christ then lacke their accustomed pleasures; Such are they whom not their flock but their reve­nues make Bishops. Have ye not heard how they said, they would consent to the Kings will and plea­sure? But the Inferiors are they which have had truth, righteousnesse and God himselfe before their eyes, and they are greatly to be commended for shewing themselves such men unto the Church of [Page] God. If [...]hen any desire the continuance of Lord Bishops in Church or Parliament, yet it wilbe necessary to strip them of their Temporalities and Lordships, and to con­fine them to one living with Cure, where they may reside and preach like other Ministers, because their Tempora­lities will make them Temporizers, and to vote amisse ag [...]nst God and the Republike both in Parliament and Convocation, as this Cardinall truly informs us from experience.

To close up all in a few words. I shall desire [...] [...]ordly Prelates and others to observe; that Rev. 4.4.10.11. c. 5, 6.11, 12.14. c. 7.11, 12, 13, 14 [...] 15. c. 11.15, 19, 17, 18. c. 19.4, 5, 6. The 24 Elders are placed next in rank to the very throne of Christ, as being next to him in Au­thority and Iurisdiction, no Archb [...]shops or Bishops [...] ing there named, much lesse interposed between them. That the Angels ( whom our Prelates will needs interpret [...]o be Diocesan Bishops in the 2d and 3d of the Revelation, though the Contents of our last [...]ranslated Bibles expresly define them, to be the Ministers, not Bishops, of the 7 Churches) stand round about the Elders, and are re­moters from Christs throne then they [...] therfore not so honourable. That Christ standeth in the midst of the Elders; to signi [...]ie, that [...]hey are subject to no Diocesan Bishop, but Christ alone, and [...]hat no Lord Bishops, but Elders only belong to the Kingdome and Government of Christ, who is never said to be in the midst of Archbishop [...] and Bishops (none of his institution) but of the 24. Elder [...] only: That these Elders alone worship and prostrate themselves, give thanks, and resolve doubts upo [...] all occasions [...] not Bishops: And that when the King­domes of this world, become the Kingdome of o [...] Lord and his Christ, and when the Lord God om­nipotent is said to raigne, the Elders are still said to be about Christs throne, and to adore and praise [Page] him, there being no mention at all of Bishops. Therfore our Prelates must needs confesse themselves to be but Elders only & properly; or else acknowldge, that Elders by divine [...]nstitution are Superiour to them in dignity [...] and that Archbishops and Bishops have no place at all appoin­ted them by Christ about his throne, or with [...]n his Church and Kingdome, and therfore must needs be Antichristian and in [...]o [...]erable in our reformed Church; out of which I doubt not [...]re long to see them quite ejected, and Ma [...]. [...].13. Luk. 14.35. cast unto the Dunghill as most unsavoury Salt; toward which d [...]sired good worke I presume this little Catalogue may con [...]ribute some assistance; especially if thou correct these ensuing Errors of the Printer, ere thou begin to read it, occasioned by the Authors absence, and the Printers un­acquaintednesse with the Authors names the [...]ein recited: which slips of course find easie pardon.

ERRATA.

PAg. 1. C [...]lum 2. line 19 read Papias [...] p. 2. col. 1. l. 101. and 15. [...]. Al [...]xandrinus, l. 25. Nazianz [...]num, l. 30. Aerius, col. 2. l. 11. Primasius 22. Nazianze [...] l. 25, 26. Rhabanus Maurus. l. 35. O [...]umeniu [...]. l. 43. for 34.1, 3, 4. p. 3. col. r. l. 5. [...]vo. l. 6. Decretalium. l. 2 [...]. Pla [...]ctu. l. 29. [...]anormitan. l. 31. Thol [...]sanus. l. 32. Gratianum. l. 37. for Cla [...]isio [...]. Clavasi [...] col. 2. Sit, Tit. l. 9. Faber. l. 11. Senensis. l. 13. Annal. l. 22 with, which [...] l. [...]7. intendent p. 4 col. 1. l. 41. conclusion. p. 5. col. 1. l. 21. Ausittes Hussit [...] 24. Sylvius. l. 25 [...]. Illiricus, l. 34. Monuments. col. 2 l [...] p. 6. col. 1. l. 2. Tabaratrum, Tabaritarum. l. 9. Pig [...]tum. l. 10. Galata [...]. l. 14. Epis [...]opo [...]. l. 18. W [...]tenberge. l. 20. [...]al. l. 21, 22. P [...]tricow, Madestania, Wratis [...]avia. l. 27. [...]ricus. l 41. Con [...]ugio. l. 42. Zuinglius. l. 44. imitatem, civitatem. l. 51. Musculus. col. 2. l. 14. Responsio. l. 28. Class. l. 38. Casper. l. 34. debe [...]sis, diversis. l. 40. Saraviam. l. 4 [...]. T [...]egedinu [...]. l. 49. Con [...]r [...]v [...]rs. l. 42. Polanus. l. 53. Sy [...]tagma. l. 53. bibl [...]ander in chro­nog [...]. p. 7. col [...] [...] l. 1. Arinis, Aretius. l. 3. lubinu [...]. l. 2. Wedfulne [...]s, Melsure [...]us. l. 9. edictum. l. 37. Alcuvinus. col. 2 l. 13. Pal [...]ody. l. 14. M [...]li [...]m, Melu [...]i. l. 15. Pali­nodia. l. 36. Nug [...]. l. 38. Institutione. p. 8. col. 1. l. 12. England, I [...]eland. l. 26. Chaucer. l. 28. Swinderby. l. 39. vi [...]iarum vitiorum. col. 2. l. 2. Stokesly. l. 3 [...]. Notingham. p, 9. col. 2. l. [...]. [...]ancol [...]e, lanrelot. l. 24. Osyru. l. 49. exposition. col. 2. l. 6. Ma [...]tyr [...] Martyn. l. 10. Benb [...]ge. l. 20. vol. 2. f. l. 30.12.10. r. 1610. p. 10. c. 1. l. 47 Whecen [...]al. c. 2. l. 45. coverdale. l. 46. Pon [...]t. l. 47. Scory. l. 52. resolve. l. 54. exstinguished, distin­guished. p. 11. c. 1. l. 9. the, thu. c. 2. l. 8. t [...]rasonicall. l. 2 [...]. [...]o [...]her. l. 41. Aeriu [...]. p. 12. c 1. l 1. a, a [...]. l. 17. Ae [...]ius, make. l. 18. at. l. 3 [...] as, [...]. l. 46. this, the. c 2. l. 4. est; [...]oe witnesse. l. 16. refutation (in the Margin, l 4. v [...]ritatu. l. 16. Armat, Anual.) p. 14. l. 9.10. Evag [...]um. l. 16. [...]etus. p. 13. c. 1. l. 38. inconsequences. l. 50. A [...]gu [...]inum l. 54. Gersomus. 2. l. 32. as, [...]. p. 14. c. 1. l 20. make. l. 29. but, [...]oth. l. 41. Tialliano [...]. l. 46. Maguesiano [...]. l. 47. Sc [...]atu [...] Apost [...]lorum. l. 49. Lymenses, Smyrnense [...]. [...]. 2. l. 13. Presbytero [...]um. p. [...]5. c. [...]l. 16. for 7 18. l. 1 [...] extravagant l 20 geri [...] l 23. quod, quoad. l. 28. favour, savour. c. 2. l. 30 largnesse, largesse. p. 16. c. 1. Margin l. 12. Antiquitates, 16 Crantziu [...] 2 [...]. Annal. c. 2 l. 13. Adcodatus l. 22. W [...]fred. l. 25. Lanfrankes: l 27. Ca [...]kel, Corbel p. 18. r. 1. l. [...]9, Aasina, Haf [...]ia. l. 34 see, so. r. 2. l. 48. these. Thesa. p. 20. c. 1. l. 33. only by: c. 2. l. 15. resolve: l. 17. vag [...]: l. 25.435 p. 22. l. 20. with, which: c. 2. l. 6. expending, expecting: l. 15. blot out [...]: l. 38. disguises: (Margin l 1. Chy [...]rae [...]) p. 22. c. 1. l. 47. was shattered.

THE FIRST SQVADRON.

THese Tes [...]imonies I shall Marshal into 5 distinct Squadron [...], for o [...]der sake. The first Sq [...]on consists of Divine Au­thorities; Whereof our Lord and Saviour Christ himselfe ( the 1 [...]. 2, [...], [...] 4, 4. Iohn 10, 1.2, 3. chi [...]fe Shep [...]ea [...]d and Bishop of ou [...] Soules) is the Sup [...]eame gene [...]all, whose testimony of this nature we have upon record. Matth. 10.1 [...]. c. 11.1 [...]. c. 1 [...]. [...].4. [...].20. [...]0. to 29. c. 23.8. to 13. c. 18.19. 20. Ma [...]k. 9.34.35. c. 10.35. to 46. [...] 16.15. Luke 9.46.47.4 [...]. c. 22.2 [...].24.2 [...].26.2 [...]. Io [...]. 6.1 [...]. c. 1 [...].36. c. 20.2 [...] 23. Ne [...]t to him we have his Apostl [...] St. Pete [...]: 1 Pet. 5.1, 2, 3, 4. together with the Apostle St. Iohn, 1 Iohn 2.15.16 [...] 2 Iohn 1 3. I [...]hn 1.9. The Apostle St. Iam [...]s Iam. 5.14. A [...]t [...]. 15.3. to 30. Pa [...]l the Apostle. Acts. 20.1 [...].2 [...]. Phil. 1, 1 [...]1. Timo. 3.1. to 6. c. 4.14. c. 5.1 [...]. [...] C [...]r. 1. [...]4. Tit. 1.5. to 14. 1 Co [...]. 1.14. [...]3. to 34. [...]phes. 4.11.12. [...]nd Luke the [...]an­g [...]list: Act [...] 1 [...].23. c. 15.2, to 30. c. 2 [...].17.28. to which all other [...]ore alle [...]ged [...]exts in Tim [...]t [...]y and Titus may bee added.

THE SECOND SQVADRON.

THe second Squadron is made up of Fathers and Councels ranked ac­cording to their severall antiqui­ties, Ann [...] Christi 1 [...]. We have Ignatius the Ma [...]tyr ( if the Epistles be his and [...]ightly unde [...]stood) [...]istle 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 1 [...], 11, 12, 13.14. [...] apa [...] Lusebiu [...] Eccles. Hist. l. 3. c. 33. Po [...]rp [...]he Mar­ [...], [Page 2] Epist. ad Ph [...]lip. Bibl. Patrum. Tom. 1 p [...]. B. Anno 102. Pope Anacle [...]us, apud [...] Decre [...], pars 5. c. 5 [...]. & Laurentium [...] concil: Tom. 1. p. 165. Anno 150. Iustin Martyr. Apologia 2 Anno 160. A­ [...]ollinarius apud Eusebium Eccles. Hist. l. 5. c. 16. An. 1 [...]0 Iren [...]us Contra har [...]ses. l. 3. [...]. [...]. l. 4 c. 43.44. & apud Eusobium, Ec­cles. [...]. l. 3. c. 23. l. 5. c. 20.26. Anno 2 [...]. [...]men [...] Al [...]xandrius: Apud Eus [...]bium [...]. l. 3. c. 20. T [...]ullian Apolo­gia ad [...]s [...] Gen [...]e [...] c. 39. Anno 220. O [...]ig [...]n in Mattha [...] Homily 1.13 [...] & 31. in [...] Hom. [...]. Anno 240. Di [...]nysius [...]. a [...]ud [...]us [...]ium [...]ccl [...]s. [...]. l. [...] Ambrose in [...]phes. 4. Tom. 3. p, 239 in 1 Tim. 3, p, 272, Adrius apud [...] [...]ontra [...] l. 3. [...]. [...], p, 7 [...]. 7 [...]. Pope Damasus. the 1 [...]pis [...]le apud [...] Tom. 1 p. 466, 467, Anno 3 [...], Sa [...]di [...]nse Concil [...]um Can. [...]. [...], ibid p, 414, [...]nno [...]90, St. Ierome Epist. 2, 83, and [...], ad [...]vagi [...]um. Com, in [...]hil. 1 Tit. 1, & 1 Tim. 3 [...] Epist. 3. ad heliodorum c. 7. C [...]m in [...]zek. l. 10 c, 33, in Soph. c. 2. C [...]m l. 2, in Epist. ad Galatas c, 4, Com. l. 2, in Ep [...]es, [...], 6, De 7, Ordinabus [...]cclesia, T [...]m. 9, p, 58, 59. Anno 400. S [...], Ch [...]iso­stome [...] Hom. 1. in Philip. Tom [...] 4. Col. 1039, [...]om. 11, in 1 Tim. Col. 135 9. [...]om. 2. in Tit. 1, Col. 1463: Hom [...] 35, in o [...]ere imperfecto in Matth. Homil. 11, in Ephes. & de Sacerdotio l, [...]. Anno 410. St. Augus [...]ine Epist. 19. 38. [...]5. Tom. 2. [...], [...]2, 3 [...], 310, 311, questio­nes ex utro (que) [...]ixtim, Qu [...]st. 101. D [...] [...]aptism [...] Contr Donatum Tom. 7. pa [...]s [...] p, 471 472, de Civ [...]ate Dei l. 1 [...], c, 1 [...], En [...] tio in Psal. 126, & adv [...]rsus har [...]s [...]s; [...] 53, A [...] 430, T [...]eodorer Interpretatio in Phil. 1 [...] 1, 1 Tim. 3. and T [...]t, 1. [...], Tom. 2, p, 8 [...], 129.1 [...]9, An 436, The 4. Councell of C [...]rthage Can. 14, to 26, An 450, Pope Leo the 1. Epist Docret: 8 [...]. c, 2. Pri [...]as [...]u [...] in P [...]il. 1, 1. 1 Tim. 3. & Tit. 1 & Apoc. 2, Anno 500 Rem [...]giu [...] in P [...]il 1, 1, & 1 Tim. 3, An: 550. Isidor P [...] ­l [...]siota Epist. l, 2: Epist. 125, l, 3, Ep. 223 An 600 Gregory first: Pa [...]o [...]alis cu [...]a lib pa [...] 2, [...]6, Epist. l, 7, Epist. 117, Moral [...]um l, [...]4, c, 29, 30, l, 20. c 28, l. [...]. c 23. & [...] 1 [...] in Evang [...]l [...]a. 4 [...] [...] 30, Isi [...]d [...] [...]palensis O [...]iginum l, 7, c 12, l, [...], [...] 5, & de Ecclesi­asticis [...] l, 2, c 71 An. 657. The Suriu [...] cō ­cil Tom. 2. p. 719. coun­cell o [...] [...]ispalis 2 Can. 6, 7, An: 790, Eli [...]s [...]retensis Coment: in Nazianzen Orationes fo [...]e repeated, An [...]16. The Surius [...] Tom. 3, p [...] 299.302 309 Counsell of A [...]en under Lewes the podly, c [...], 8 10, 11, Anno 840 Rh [...]ba­ [...]us M [...]uru [...] de universo l, 45 [...], [...] Matth. l, 5, c. 16, Tom. 5, p, [...], [...]n [...]pist. Pa [...] l, 19. in Phil. 1, 1, l, 23, in 1 Tim. 3, l, 25, in Tit. 1, Tom. 5, p, 455, 456, 498, 499, 521, 522, 523, De institu [...]ons Clericorur [...] l, [...], [...], 4, 5, 6, Tom: 6, p. 5, 6, Haymo Halbersta­tensis, in Phil. 1. [...], & Tit. 1, An 560. ( ) The 12 Councell of Toledo, Can: 8, A [...] ­la [...]i [...]s Fortunatus Suriu [...] Tom. 3, p. 4, 5. Ecclesiastic [...] Ofsi [...]s l, 2, c, 13, Anno 1050, Pecumen [...]a in A [...]a Apost: 5 15, & 2, in Phil: 1, 1 Tim: 3, & Tit: 1, fol, 79, 586, 655, 683, Anno 1070, Theophylact. Com: in Act: 20, 17 [...] 28, in Phil: 1, 1, 1, Tim: 3, & Tit: 1, p, 517.576, 600, 801, Anno 1 [...]00, Con­radus Bruno, in Phil: 1, 1, 1 Tim: 3, Tit: 1, Anno 1130, Barnard De Con­sideratione ad Eugenium l. 2, 34, Epist. 42, Serm [...] 23, 25. & 77. Super [...]anti [...] De laudibu [...] Maria, Homil 1 & Concio in Concilio Rhemensi, & ad Past [...]s S [...]r [...].

THE THIRD SQVADRON.

THe third Squ [...]dron is constituted of forraigne Cannonists, and Popish Schoolemen, w [...]iters and Councels from th [...] Yeare of our Lord 1100 till this present: as I [...]o Car­na [...]nsis D [...]. [...]al [...]lu [...] pa. [...]5. c, [...]8, 59.72, 1 [...].143.144. Peter Lombard Senten­tiarum l, 4. distin [...]. 24. I. K. L, m [...] & Comen [...]a [...]i [...]m Phil. 1, 1, Tit: 1. & 1, Tim: 3 Gratian the g [...]ea [...] Can [...]onist distinctio 18, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 39, 50, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 6 [...], 67, 68, 80, 93, 95, Causa 2, qu. 7, Causa 24, qu, 3, Hugo Ca [...]dinalis in Phil: [...], 1, Tit: 1, & 1: Tim: 3, Aqui­nas secund [...] secundae, qu: [...]4, Ar: 6 [...]rg: 1. Supplementum in tertiam p [...]rtem qu: 37, Art 7 Durandus in l, 4, Sentent: Distinct: 24. qu: 5, 6, & Rational Di­vinorum l, 2, Iohannis Parisiensi [...], de potestate Regia & Pap [...]li apud mo [...]um de Ecclesia c, 11, & Catalogum Testium veritatis p, 525) Carthusi [...] Ca [...]etan and the Author of the O [...]dina [...]y glosse in Acts 15, & c, 20, 17, 28, Phil: 1, 1, 1, Tim: [...] Tit, 1, 5, 7, cardinalis Arelatensi [...] apud AEneam Sylvium de Gestis Concilij Ba­siliensis l. 1, p, 27, 28, 29, Alvarus Pelagius de Plainetu Ecclesia [...], 1, Art: 70. l, 2, Art 1 to 17, Panormitam c, 4, de Consuetudine, Anselmus Lucensis Col­lectanea Can: l. [...], c. 87 & 127: G [...]egori­us Tholosamus, Polycarp l, 2, Tit: 19, & 39, Iohn Thiery Glos [...]a in G [...]ationum distinct: 95, cap olim, with all other Glosses and Canonists on that Text He [...]i [...]us Gorichen. in l, 4, Sentent: Distinct: 24 [...] Astensis Summa pars 2 l, 6, Tit: 2, Ar­tic: 2, Angelus de claucisio Summa Angelica Ordo 1, The Apud Bo­chellum de­creta Eccles Gal l 3. Tit. 2. de Ordi­nie c: 4 5. councell of Lingon, Anno 1404, & of Paris Anno 1557 Dua­renus de sacr: Eccle: injust l, 1, c, 7, Onus Eccl [...]sia c, 14, to 27, Nicholas Cusa­ [...] de conco [...]di [...] Catholic [...], l. 2, c. 13. Alphonsus a C [...]st [...]o advers, [...] Sit [...]pis­copus, Michael Medina de sacro h [...]m O [...]ig, et continetia, [...] [...]spenca [...] in 1 Tim. c 3, Digressio [...]m in Tim, [...] 1 c: 1, 2, 3 [...] and in Tit, 1 [...], [...] The Rhemist; [...]nnot [...]tion; on Acts [...] sect 4 and in Tim 4. Phil, 1. 1, [...]it. 1 [...] [...], I [...]obus Fabor in 1, Tim, [...] &, 4 [...] & Tit 1. Sixtus

Sevensi, Bibl [...], l [...], Anno 32 [...], Azo [...]ius M [...]lium: p [...]r [...], 2 l, 3 c, 1 [...] Buoniu [...] An [...]u [...]ll Eccles, [...]om 1. p, 5 [...] Iacobus de Gr [...]ss [...]s d [...]s [...]lionum Au [...]carum par [...], 2 l, 1 c 9: 11, 5, [...], 9, 1 [...], 14 16, l, 3, c. 12, 11, 3.4. Pet [...]s B [...]sseldin, [...]uchy [...]idion, Te [...]giae P [...]storalis p [...]s, 1 c, 15. with other Pontis [...]ans though sundry else of them are the greatest s [...]icklers for [...]is [...]op [...]ll M [...]ne of Pu [...] ­pose to adv [...]nce the [...] Suprem [...]cy with the Parity of Bishops and P [...]esbiters Iu [...] D [...]m [...], [...]sterly subverts and ruine [...] I shall close up this Squ [...]dr [...]n with the [...]e Authorities of some Semi [...] Priests in En [...]land. As namely of Ni [...]c [...]las Smi [...]h, in his modest and b [...]iefe discussion of certaine Assertions which are taught by Mr. Doctor [...]l [...]ison in his Treatise of the [...]cclesiasticall [...]. where thus he determines, See C [...] ­su [...] [...]a u [...]ta [...]tis Pa [...]ien­ [...]is [...] 16.31. p. 16 21 24.2 [...], 37 I judge is no rashnes to affirm that since England enjoyed a Bis [...]p [...] (to wit a Po [...]s [...]ishop [...] to confirme the Papists, and controll the P [...]iests, namely Rich [...]d bis [...]op of Ch [...]lce­d [...] created the generall [...]ishop and super­intend [...]nt, both of England [...] and Scotland, by Pope Vrbaus speciall Bull, dated the 4 th. of August, Anno 1625. The Coppy whereof you shall [...]ind printed, in Cen­sura Proposition [...]m qua [...]undam &c. per sa­cram facultatem Theolog [...]a Parisi [...]nsis factae [Page 4] Pa [...]isiis, 1631, p, 63, 64, 65: that more damage hath happened to the Catho­likes in generall by reason of discord, and frequent losse of charity, then they have received benefit, by the Sacra­ment of Con [...]irmation onely conferred on some few.

That all holy men have exceedingly e [...]deavoured to s [...]un such an high dig­ [...]ity.

That a Bishop is in a State which pre­supposeth but yet gives not perfection: which the State of Religion, not onely presupposeth but giveth.

That a vow not to receive a Bishop­ricke is valid and sacred.

That [...]o desi [...]e a Bishopricke even for that which i [...] best in it, to wit for the good of soules according to St: Thom [...]s s [...]cunda s [...]u [...]da, que 185. Art, 1, seemes to be presumpti [...]n, and there are some who stick not to say (and that common­ly) it is a mo [...]tall sinne.

That these [...]ropositions following are strange, idle, and absurd.

That it is d [...] iure divin [...], and that the law of God is, that every particular Church (as England is) ought to have a Bishop.

That without a Bishop England were not a particular Church.

That unlesse every particular Church hath its Bishop or Bishops, the whole and Vnive [...]sall Church could not be) as Christ hath instituted it) an Hierarchie composed of divers particular Church­es.

That without a Bishop we cannot have con [...]irmation &c.

All which principles (saith hee) are worse then the concultion it selfe and demonstrated by us (to [...]it in that Trea­tise) to have no foundation at all.

Thus this Popish Priest who proving that the Church of England may well sub­sist without a Popish Bishop to sway and order it; grants that it may doe the like without our Protes [...]ant Prelates, and that plainly resolves that it is not from any divine law or institution, that the Church of England should have any Bishop at all to govern it. Daniell a Iesu another Priest, and a Reader of Divinity thus seconds him, in his Apologie for the proceeding of the holy see Apostolike, as to the government of the ca­tholickes in England during the time of Persecution Cens [...]rae Pa [...]isi [...]nsis p, 40, 48, 49, 60 That it is most false and of dangerous consequence, that a parti­cular Church cannot be without a Bi­shop: That Gods law requires no more, but that there be som [...] Bishops in the Church to wit so many, that there bee no danger, that the whole Order should suddainly be taken away by their deaths and so dispersed through the world, that all Christians may bee sufficiently provided of learned and vertuous Priests.

If this be done the law of God is sa­tisfied although there be no Bishops in F [...]ance, Spaine, or, England.

Give me there [...]o [...]e a mul [...]itude of Christians how great soever who want not a Bishop to ordaine Priests, and I will boldly affirm that there is n [...] need that the governour of that society should be a Bi [...]op.

Yea let us suppose the Ordina [...]ion o [...] Priests and the Ministry of the Chu [...]ch, not to be necessary in the Church, and presently it followes, that there is no need the universall Church should bee governed by Bishops who are superior to Priests.

That in the time of Persecution it is neither good, nor convenient, nor any solace or comfort to the Church to have a Bishop.

That tho [...]e who of Bishops are made Religious persons may be said in some sort to fly [...]igher, and not at all to de­scend.

That if the Catholickes of England should yeeld to this motion (name [...]y to receive the Bishop of Chalcedon as their p [...]oper Pastor and Bish [...]p they could by no meanes excuse themselves [...] from being worthy of that reprehension which the C [...]rinthians received from Saint Paul, namely, that they rashly, and indiscreetly, put themselves into subjection that they should bestow their temporall goods, so as they could exspect no reward from God, as exer­cising humility, Obedience, Pat [...]ence, for which no crowne of Righteousnesse is prepared: yea that they may by their [Page 5] blind receiving o [...] him (though by the Popes owne Bull and authority) expose themselves to manifest perill by falling into mortall sinne &c.

These Positions of theirs were pub­likely taught and maintained by many other Priests both in England, and Ireland as appeares by the censure of the facul­ty of Paris, and Nicholas I [...] Maistre his Instauratio antiqui Principatus Episcoporum Parisijs 1633. Written upon this occa­sion in answer of these Treatises and some others. Some of which Proposi­tions though they were censured as E­ronious, by the faculty of the Divine [...] of Paris. Anno 1631. through the power of the Bishop of Chalcedon, as striking at the Popes Supremacy and the Bishops Hierarchie, yet in all that censu [...]e, I finde not one passage of Scripture produced to prove them contrary to the word of God, and therfore that censure of theirs not much to be regard [...].

THE FOVRTH SQVADRON.

THe 4th Squadron consists of For­raigne Protestant Churches and writers, which I shall muster & ranke in order according to their an­tiquities as neare as I may.

I shal begin with the VValdenses Tabo­rites Albigenses & Au [...]ites, (whose opi­nions and resolutions touching these particulars are registred at large, by AEneas Sylvias: histor, Bohemiae c, 35, by Renaerus contr: Waldenses lib, c, 6. by Refutatio: Waldensuim, Bibl. Patrū. Tom. 13, p. 383, by Thomas Walden­ses [...] operum. Tom. 1, l, 3, Arti, c [...] 29, 30, 31, 32, Tom, 2. de Sa­cramento ordinis c. 117, 118, & Tom, ;, c, 60, 61, 62, by Alphonsus de castro adversus hereses, Tit, Episcopus, & de Sacramento ordinis, by Illiritus Catalo­gus Testium veritatis, p, 426, 433, 445, by Mr. Iohn Fox Acts and Monnments p, 210, Albertus Pighius Hierarch. Ec­cles. l, 2, c, 10, Gersomus Bucerus de Gubernatione Ecclesiae p, 599 [...] 600, 601. Marsilius Patavimus, (Anno 1320) seconds them in his Defensoris Paris pars 2, c. 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, and who Ann [...] 1330) is backed by Michall Cezenas, Hen­ricus de Iota, Nicholaus orem, Ioan­nes, de Ianduno Petrus de Corbaria, Ioan­nes de Polaco, Iohn of Castele, [...]rancis de Archatara, and divers others of tha [...]age Witnesse, Extravagant, Ioannis 23 An­toninus quarta pars, Summe, Catalogus, Testium veritatis p, 512, 524, 525, 529, Fox Acts, and Monuments, p, 358, 359 360. with others AEtates Ecelesiae written about that time, c. 2 Registred in Catalogo Testium veritatis p, 453, 454 [...] & Laurentius Valla, The restorer of the Elegance of the Latine tongue, suc­ceed next in order. Annotationes in Act. c. 15, & c, 20, in 1 Tim: 3, & Tit. 1, Ioh [...] Hus, and Hierome of Prague, two lear­ned Godly Martyrs, tread in their foot­steps witnes AEneas Sylvius Histor [...] Bo­hem c, 35, Fox Acts and Monuments, p 55 [...], 559, & Gerson Bucerus de Guber­nati [...]n [...] Ecclesiae p. 602, 603, After [Page] [...] [Page] [...] [Page 6] these successively ensued Ioannis Lu­ [...]atwitz in Confessione [...]a [...]oratrum contr. Roke [...]zanum c, 13, apud Lidij Walde [...]. siam p, 53, Erasmus of Rot [...]r­dam, Annota [...], & pa [...]pht. in Act 1 [...], in 1 Tim: 3, & 4, Phil. 1, Tit 1, 1, [...]et. 5, Scholia in [...]pist: [...]ieronym: [...], & adversus a [...]ert [...]m [...]: Martin Luther, in [...]salm. 2, [...], & 134, in Epist. ad Gal [...]es [...] 1, Art [...] 15, The Synod of [...]e [...]icon, Artic: 6 [...] The Synod of Modi­s [...]a [...]ia. Ar [...]c: 8, 11, 12, & G [...]rs [...]m Buc [...] ­r [...]d [...]: E [...]siae, p, 370, 373, 374, 4 [...], 49 [...], 500, 51 [...], 518.575, 616.61 [...], 618, C [...]ristian the 3, King of Denmarke, Anno 1537 [...] and the whole State of Den­ma [...]e together with [...]Gus [...] [...] Cricus [...]ing of Sweden, about the same [...]ime who s [...]ppressed, banished, and hanged, up the Lordly Bishops, of their Re [...]lms, a [...] false Traitors, and Rebels contrary to Chists ins [...]itution, and having no foundation in the word of God. Cl [...]trae [...]s Cl [...]r [...]n: Saxon l, 6. p. 49. l [...] 7, p, 219.2 [...]. l [...] 9. p, 259, 261, 262, 263, 270, 279, l, 10, p, 297, 309, 311, 340, 341, 342, l, 12, p. 358, 359, l, 13, p, 388, l, 14, p, 407, 421, l, 15, p [...] 433, 434. Philip Melan [...]hon, A [...]gam & Respons [...] Pezel pa [...] 7 [...] Com [...] in 1 Cor: 4, Et dis [...]utatio d [...] Politia Ecclesias [...]i­ca & d [...] coni [...]g [...]o Sacerdotum Oecolampa [...]ius in Rom: 12, [...]ald [...]i [...]us [...]nglius in Amica s [...]a Parenaesi a [...] Commun [...]m Helve [...]iorum [...]mitatem operum. Tom. 1. p, 115, 117, in P [...]l. 1.1, Tom. 3, p [...] 504. Opus Arti­culor [...]m Artic. 34 [...] 36: Francis Lambert, his Summa Ch [...]i [...]iani [...]atis. Anno 1536. Pr [...]sat Mr. Balli [...]ger in Act. 20, v, 28, & decad. 5. Ser: 3, 4, Brentius Apol. [...] wettemb: c, 21. Pellican [...]s in Mat. c. 16, & 18, in Act: 16, & 20. Mustulus loc [...]rum Com. locut de Ministris verbi D [...]i. p. 596.597, 598. Mr. Iohn Calviu Instij [...] l, 4, c, 3, sect. 8, c, 4, sect, 2, in Phil, 1, 1, 1, Tim. 3, 8, Ti [...] 1, 5.7, Antidotum Con­cilij Tridentin [...] Ses. 7 de Conformation [...] Martin B [...]cer, de vt & usu Ministerij, & in Ma [...]th. 16, Araetius Problem: Lo [...]us de O [...]si [...]ijs Eccles. [...] Pi [...]l, 1, 1, in 1 Tim [...] 3, & 4 [...] & Tit. 1, 5, 7. Mr. Ralph G [...]l [...]her, on Acts. 20. verse [...]8. Phil. 1, 1, 1, Tim. 3. Tit, 1.5.7. M [...]rtin Chem [...]tius Ex­amen [...]on [...]ilij Trid [...]t pars. 2, de Sac [...]amento [...], 223, 224: Innocentius Gentiletus, exam [...] [...]on [...]ilij Trid [...]nt: Ibid Ioa [...]nis Ma­ [...]o [...], Kin [...]sius & Ma [...]lorat on Phil. 1, 1, 1, Tim. [...], Ti [...]. 1, 5, 7, Acts 20, 28. 1 Pet, 5, 1, 2, [...] 2, [...], 8, & in [...]; c, 53, [...] 5, [...], 14, & Co [...] 3, c [...] 3, [...] & lig [...] in 4 P [...]ae­cept: Defide c, 25, s [...]ct. 9, & in P [...]l. 1, 1, [...]yperius in Tit, 1, 17, & d [...] M [...]th [...]do T [...] ­ologi [...] l, 3, Matthi [...]s Ill [...]rieus Clavis S [...]rip­turae. Tit Presbiter, Catalogus Testi [...]m Ve [...]i­ta [...]s p, 426, 433, 445, 512, 524, 525, 529, 553, 554, 488, 528, &c. [...] & Basilius Faber, Centur: Eccles: Magd [...] 1, l, 2, c, 7, Col, 530, 531, 507, 508, Cent. 1. c, [...], Col, 125, 126, Centu [...] 4, c. 5, de ha­resibus, &c, 10, Peter Martyr Loca [...]m com [...] Tom, 1. Glass, 4, [...]ocus 6: Tom, 2, d [...] Eu­charistia locu [...] 1. Obiect, 50, Virellas Reli­gioni [...] Christi co [...]pendium l, 3, c, 11, [...]os­ [...]annus in Tit, 1, 5. 7, Heming [...]us, and Iohn May [...], in Phil, 1, 1, 1, Tim: 3, Tit. 1, 5, 7. Antonis Sad [...]el ad Repetita Tarriani Responsio p, 50, 51, 61, De Legitim [...] vo­ca [...]ione Pas [...]oram p, 66, to 88, ad Repeti [...] Tu [...]riani locus, 12, p, 406, to 500, Pezelius. A [...] ­gum & Respons. pars 7, de Ordin Ministr. in Argument 1 Cos [...]r [...]levian in Pi [...]l: 1, 1, & Theodoret Beza de dibes [...]s ministrorum gra­d [...]as cont [...]a Sarabiam & Annotat. in Phil: 1, 1, & Tit: 1. 5, 7, Viret [...]s de Minis [...]is Verbi Dei, & Sacram: l, 11, c, 19, & de Adulterinis Sa [...]ram Stephanus Ezegedim [...]s locorum Com de Ministr: Sab 4, p. 202: Lavather in Ezech com 10, George So [...]i­ [...] Methodo Theologia, P [...]scator Theses Theologi [...] locus 23: Thes: 50, in Act: 20, 28, P [...]il, 1. 1, 1 Tim. 3. & 4: Tit. 1.5, 7 Iunius Controa [...]ares 5 lib. 1. c, 14. n 2.15 [...] 23, c, 25. n. 4.14. Contr. 3. l. 1. c. 8. n 24 [...] Contr [...] [...]. l 1. c. 5. n. 24. Morney Lord of P [...]essa Tractatus de Ecclesia c 11 Holan [...] Syn­tagin [...] Theologiae l. 7, [...]. 11, Bucanus loc. 42.44. Theodorus Biblainder in Chromagr. [Page 7] Arinis Scult [...]tus Paraus, Selneccorus, Tos­sian [...] An [...]onius Fayus, Io [...]nnis M [...]d [...]lne [...]s Eilhard [...]s Lubmus, George VVeinrichus, [...]d [...] ­ous willichus, Cosma [...] Megalianus Th [...]m [...]s Ven [...]torius Fredericus Baldwenus, & G [...]o [...]ge De [...]vadius on Phil. 1, 1.1. Tim. 3. & 4, 5, Tit. 1.5.7. De o [...]ficio & jus [...]i [...] Mi [...]i­storum. & speculum S [...]rdot [...] Carolus M [...] ­linaeus Comment in Edict [...]. 2, Cont [...] pa [...] ­nas datus & abus [...] Papa [...]m p. 148, to 1 [...]6 Petrus Molmeus de vo [...]a [...]ion [...] Mini [...]tror [...]m l, 1, c, 7, l, 2, c, 8, 9, 10, l, 3, c. 6, 3, 8, Daniell Chamierus Pa [...]stratiae, Catholica. Tom, 2 De O [...]um: Pon [...]if l, 10, c, 6, l, 9, c, 14, 15, Gersom Bucerus de Guberna­tione E [...]clesiae [...] M [...]l [...], 1618, (in answer to Bishop Downhams Sermon, [...]nd his de­fence thereof, never yet replied to, the best and learnedest Treatise ext [...]nt of this Subject) with infinite others In his Letter to Sir Fran [...]is K [...]ol [...] Doctor Reynolds (the greatest booke­man of his age or since) confessing that all learned men in forraigne Nations [...] that he had read, and m [...]ny more (no doubt) which he had not re [...]d, treating of this Subject did all co [...]sent in this particular of the Parity of Bishops and Presbyters, by Gods law, and divine in­stitution

To these I might add many s [...]ottish writers a [...] Mr. Iohn Knox in the trou­bles of Frank [...]ord in his History of the Church of Scotland & in his godly Let­ter to the faithfull Mr. Robert Ro [...]: Comment in Ephes: 4, the whol [...] Synod of F [...]se An 1591, & Patricke Ad [...]mso [...] Arch-Bishop of St An [...]rewes his Polinody there­in [...] Andrew M [...]lium, in his M [...]s [...], Patri­cij: Adamsoni Palniodia, & Cels [...] Com­mis [...]ionis A [...]omia, printed Anno 1620. Altare Damascenum. A protestation. and Tre [...]tise from Scotl [...]d Print­ed 1608. VVilliam Cooper Bishop of Gall [...]a [...] in his Sermon before th [...] States Anno 1606. The review of the Synod of Perth, with sundry others concurring in the selfe same jud [...] ­ment with all eage [...]nesse that may be.

THE FIFTH SQVADRON.

THe 5. Squadron is compacted and made up of our owne do­mesticke writers, Martyrs, Au­thors, aswell ancient as Modern, which I shall here digest i [...]to a Chronologicall order. Anno 390, we have Sedulius Sco­tus in 1 Tim, 3, & Tit [...] 1, Bibl. Patr. Tom. 5, pars 3, p, 516. b. 519. g [...] h. An. 5 [...]0 Gilda [...] in his Acris co [...]eptio Cleri Angli [...] 720: Venerable [...]eda in acta Apost [...], 20, Tom: 5, Col: 657, Anno 790, Alcumi­nus de Divinis officijs c, 35: 16. Col, 1082, 108 [...], Epistola 108, ad sparatu [...] Comment in 5 Ioan l, 5 [...] Cap: 25, Col. 547, 548, 549, Anno 1080: Anselme Arch-Bishop of Canterbury Antiqu [...] ­ [...]ates E [...]ol [...]sia Brit. & God­win in thi [...] life, Speeds History p. 463. stiled the Pope of the other world by Pope Vrb [...]n himselfe) Comme [...]t in Ephes. 4, Tom: 2, p, 280, in Phil: 1, in 1 Tim. 3.4. & Titus 1 ibid p. 295, 356, 357 Anno 1140 Iohn Saresbury com. in Phil. 1. Tit [...] 1 [...] & 1. 4, 1 Tim. [...].3 & de Nuges Curialium l, 8, c, 17, & 23, Anno 1160, Petrus Blesensis de I [...]stitutione Episcop, Tractatus & Epi­stola [Page 8] 18, 22, 25, 43, 64, Anno 12 40, Alexander Alensis Summa Theologia pars 4. qu. 26, n. 8, 9. Artic. 1. & in 1 Tim. 8. & Tit. 1, An: 1280. Richadus de media Villa. in l, 4. Sent: Distinct. 24. Anno 1320. William Occham in Catalogo Testium veritaris p, 524, 525, 589. & Foxe, Acts, and Monuments, p, 358. 359, 360. Nicholas Lyra, in Act: 20: Phil. 1, 1. Tim. [...], Tit. 1, & 1. Pet: 5, Anno 1350, Richard Fitz-ralph Arch-Bishop of Ardmagh, and Primate of all England, Responsio ad quest. Armenorum l: [...]1, c. 1, to 7. & apud Thomam Waldensem Tom. 3. c. 60.61, 62, 63. & Catalogum Testium Veritatis p, 52 S. Robert Hol­cot in l, Sapienti [...] Sect. 77 & 163. An. 1380. our Famous English Apostle Iohn Wickliff Dialogorum l, 4, c. 15.16, 17, 18.26, apud Thomam Waldensem Tom, 1, l, 3, Ar­tic. 3, c [...] 29, 30, 31, 32. Tom. 2 de Sa [...]cramento ordinis c, 117, 118. Tom. 3, c, 60, 61, 62, 63. Thomam Walsingha­mum: hist. Angliae p. 299 [...] 303, 304, & Fox Acts and Monuments, p, 414 Geo­fry Chancer the P [...]oughmans tale patt 1, 2, Pierce Plowman passus 23, Anno 1390 William Swinderbg Martyr. Fox Acts, and Monuments, p, 430. 431, 434. See the Epistle of Lucifer to the Prelates &c, written about that age (thought to bee his) Anno 1391, Walter Brute Martyr, Ibid p. 439. Anno [...] 2425. Sir Iohn Old-Castle, the Lord C [...]bham Martyr. Fox Ibid p, 517, 518, 522, All the Disciples of Wicklif [...]e in that age, Walsingham hist. Anglia p, 372. & Antiqu, Ecclesia, Brit, p, 302, Anno 1430, Alexander Fa­britius destructorium viviarum pars 4, c, 8 B, 5, 14. C, c. 21, B. C. I, c. 22. D, pars 5, c, 2, E, I, l, c, 14: A pars 5. c, 2, L. pars, 6.3, Iohn de B [...]rgo, Pupilla Oculi pars, 6 7, c. [...], C, D, William Lyndewood Provinc. Constit, l, 3, Tit. de vita & ho­nestate Clerìcorum f, 86, cap, Ordinis, Iohn de Aton Constit. Othonis de offi­cio Archiepisc. f. 44. c, Archiepiscopum Reginald Peacocke Bishop of Chichester, Anno 1457. de AEqualitate Ministrorum lib. apud Balaum Cent, 8, Scriptorum Brit, c, [...]19. Anno 1536, Iohn Lambert Martyr, Fox, Acts, and Monuments p, 1009, 1016, Cuthbert Tonstall Bishop of Duresme, and Iohn Stokes by Bishop of London, in their Epistle to Cardinall Poole, Fox p. 972, 9 [...]3. & in Thomas B [...]con his reports of certain men vol, 3, fol. 267, VVilliam Tyndall Martyr. Obedience of a Christian man in his workes p, 114, 124. 133, 192, 185. The practise of Po­pish Prelates p. 342. 343.354. & in Fox p. 986. Anno 1537. Thomas Arch-Bishop of Canterbury, Edward Arch-Bishop of Yorke, Iohn Bishop o [...] London, Cut [...]bert Bishop of Durham, Stephen Bishop of Winchester, Robert Bishop of Carlile, Iohn Bishop of Exeter, Iohn Bishop of Lin­colne, Iohn Bishop of Bath, Rowland Bi­shop of Coven [...]y and Lichfield, Thomas Bishop of Ely, Nichola [...] Bishop of Salis­bury [...] Iohn Bishop of Bangor, Edward Bishop of Hereford [...] Hugh Bishop of Worcester, Iohn Bishop of Ro [...]hester, Rich­ard Bishop of Chichester, VVilliam Bishop of Norwich, Robert Bishop of Assaph. Robert Bishop of Landaffe, Richard VVol­man Arch-Deacon of Sudbury, VVilliam Knight Arch-Deacon of Richmond, Iohn Bells Arch-Deacon of Glocester, Edward Bonner Arch-Deacon of Leicester, VVilli­am Skippe Arch-Deacon of Dorcet, Nicho­las Heath Arch-Deacon of Stafford, Cuth­b [...]rt Marshall Arch-Deacon of Vottingham Richard Corren Arch-Deacon of Oxford, VVilliam Cliffe, Geoffry Dowes, Robert Oking, Ralph Bradford, Richard Smith [...] Sy­mon Matthew, Iohn Pryn, VVilliam Buok­master, VVilliam May, Nicho [...]as VVottin, Richard Cox, Iohn Edmunds, Thomas Ro­bertson, Iohn Baker, Thomas Barrett, Iohn Hase, Iohn Tyson Doctors, and Professors of Divinity and of the Civill and Canon Law, with the whole convocation house and Clergie of England in their Booke intituled the institution of a Christian man dedicated by them to King Henry 8. Printed cum Privilegio subscribed with all their names, and ratefied by the Statute of 32 H, 8, c. 26. chap, of the Sa­crament of order fol. 48. &c, an excellent place Anno 1538. Robert Barnes Doctor of Divinity, and Martyr in his workes, p. 210. Anno 1540. VVilliam VVragh­ [...]on in his h [...]nting and finding out of [Page 9] the Romish Fox among the Bishops in England, dedicated to King Henry the 8. and his reseue of the Romish Fox A Booke intituled The Image as well of a true Christian Bishop as of a counter­feit and Anti-christian Bishop, printed about the same time, Rode [...]icke Mors his Supplication or complaint to the [...]arle­ament of England, c. 19.20.

A supplication to King Hen [...]y the 8. by a namelesse Author, against Bishops their jurisdiction, pride, Lordlinesse, and wealth, Henry Stalbridge his exhor­tatory Epistle to his most deare Country of England, against the Pompous Bi­shops of the same, as yet the true mem­bers of the great Antichrist of Rome, their most filthy Father Lincolne Ridley, his Exposition on Ihil. 1. Iohn Frith a Pious learned Martyr, his answer to Sir Thomas Moore, p. 116. Nayler his answer to the epistle of the great Turke, printed Anno 1542. Iohn Bale afterward Bishop of Osgris, in Ireland, his image of both Churches, on Apoc. c, 6, f, 42, 9, f, 56.65. c. 13. f. 105, 116, 118. c. 14, f. 126. c, 15, f, 150. c. 17. f, 160. King Henry the 8 himselfe in his Book inscribed [...] A ne­cessary erudition for any Christian man published with the advise and approba­tion of all the Prelates, Clergy of En­gland in their convocation and of the Lords Spirituall and temporall; and ne­ther house of Parliament with the Kings own Royall Epistle to all his loving Sub­jects before it Anno 1545. by vertue of the Statute of 32 H. 8. c. 26. chap. of the Sacrament of order Anno 1551. The Book of Ordination of Ministers and Bishops confi [...]med by act of Parliament 3 Ed. 6. c. 12.5. & 6. Ed. c. 1. & 8. Eli­zab. c. 1. (which prescribed the 1 Tim. 3. & Tit. 1. to be read at the Ordination of Ministers, and consecration of Bi­shops, and limits the selfe same forme of Ordination, with the power of impe­si [...]ion of hands both to Ministers and Bi­shop [...]) Anno 1552. Iohn Hooper Bishop of Glocester, a Martyr expition upon the 8. Commandements, and in Psalm 23 [...] p. 40. Hugh La [...]ymer once Bishop of VVor­ces [...]er, a Martyr in his Fourt [...] Sermon of the Plough, and in his 2.3.4. and 6. Sermons before King Edward the 6. Anno 1 [...]5. I [...]hn Po­ve [...] Bishop of VVinchester, in his Apo­logie against Thomas Martyr [...] c, 4.5. f. 43.44.52.53.59 Doctor Harpes­field Arch-Deacon of London, and Iohn Bradford Martyr, Fox Acts, and Monu­ments, p, 1465, Anno 1558, Thomas Bom­b [...]edge Martyr, Fox ibid p, 1856. Iohn Elmer (after Bishop of London,) in his Harborow for faithfull Subjects, Master Bullingham, (after Bishop of Lincolne.) in his Letter to Master Bull Det 5.1 [...]64. Master Thomas Becon, in his cat [...]chisme, in his workes dedicated to all, the Bi­shops of England by name approved, ap­plauded by them, and Printed Cum Pri­vilegio London 1562. vol. 499.500. The Doctrine of Christ and Anti-christ. vol. 3, f, 409, 4010. sect. 18.19, Iames Pilking­ton Bishop of Durham, Exposition on Agge c, 1. verse 1, 2, 3.4, 9.12.13. c. 2. v. 1, 2, 3.4.9.10.11. on Obidias v. 7.8. and in his Treatise of bu [...]ning Paules Church.

Incomparable Iohn Iuell Bishop of Salis­bury, defence of the Apologie of the Church of England, Edit, 16.10. part 2, cap: 3, divis: 5. c: 4: divis, 2, cap, 5, divis: 1, cap: 7, divis, 5, cap, 9. divis: 1, p 99.100, 101.196: 202, &c, VVilliam Alley Bishop of Exeter, in his poore-mans Library, part 1, Miscellanea Pr [...]lect, 3. f. 95, 96. Printed cum Privi­legio Edit. 2.1571. Alexander Nowell Deane of Paules, his Reproofe of Do [...]mans Proofe LONDON 1565. cum privilegio f. 43.44.45. Doctor Lawrence Humfryes Regiu [...] Professor of Divinitie in the Vniversity of Oxford, Puritano papismi Confu [...]atio: ad Rat. 3. p. 262.263 Iohn Ke [...]ridge his Sermon on 1 [...]im. 3: 1, 2, 3, London 1578, Iohn VVhitgi [...]t Arch-Bishop of Canterbury against Cart-wright, p, 353, Master Cart-wright in his second Replie against Whit-gist, Anno 1585. [...] Tract,. 8, of Arch-Bishops, and Bishops p, 404, to 616. CONFVTATION [Page 10] of the Remish Testament on Acts. 20. sect. 4, [...]hil. 1, sect. 1, 1. Tim. 3. sect. 2. Tit. 1, sect. 2, Doctor VVilliam Fulk against Brislow motive 40 against Gregory Martin, London, 1583, p, 172. Confuta­tion of the Rhemi [...] Testament, on Tit. 1, sect 2, phil. 1, sect 1. Master Iohn Foxe in his Acts and Monuments, (pre­scribed to be had in every Arch-Bishop, Bishops, Archdeacons, Deanes, and Prebend residentiaries house & in every Cathedrall and Collegiate Church by the Canon [...] made in the Synod of London, Anno 1571) Edit 1610, p, 216, 358, 359. 360, 414, 430, 432, 434, 439, 517, 518: 599, 625, 961, 972, 1009, 1016, 1465, 1856 both in the text and marginall Notes. Doctor VVilliam VVhittaker Regius Pro­fessor of Divinity in the Vniversity of Camb [...]id [...]: Contra Duraum l, 6, sect: 19, Responsio ad 6, Rationes camp [...]ani Rat: 10. p, 122, 141, Contr, 2, q [...]. 5. c, 7, contr, 4, qu, 1, c, 1, Master P [...]ilip Stu [...]t, his display of corruptions neare the end.

The [...]ee hive of the Romish Church oft printed and lately reprinted Anno 1635. passing on [...] most learned Doctor Iohn Rayn [...]lds in his conference with Hart Anno 1584, London 1609 c, 3, divis: 1. p, 100, 101.105. c, 4, divis: 2, p, 122, 123, c, 6. divis: p, 185. divis: 3, p, 218, c. 8. di­vis 3 p, 4 [...]1, divis: 5, p, 540, 541, and his Letter to Sir Francis Knolles, in refu­tation of Doctor Bancrof [...]s Sermon at Pauls-Crosse 9. Feb. 1588, dated s [...]pt. 19. 1598 Doctor A [...]dr [...]willes Synopsis Papisini, The 5 generall Controversie. Qu: 3, Doctor Thomas Bilson, after Bishop of VVinchester in his true difference betweene Christi­an Subjection and unchristian Rebelli­on Oxon 159 [...], p, 125, 126. Iohn Bridges Bishop of Oxford, his defence of the Prin­ces Supremacy p. 359.

The Petition to Queen Elizabeth, p, 7 20, 21: Discursus de Gubernatione Ecclesi­astica. Anno 1584: Thoma [...] VVhete [...]sall, his discourse of the corruptions now in question: London 1607 Doctor Richa [...]d Field, of the Church. l. 5, c, 27, Master Richard Hooker, his Ecclesiasticall Polity [...] 5, sect, 7. [...], Tho: Wilson his Christi­an Dictionary, Title Bishop, Doctor Henry Airay Sermon 2. on Phil, 1, 1, Doctor Thomas Tailor in his Commenta­ry upon Titus 1 v: 5, 7: p, 121, 122, Mr: Robert Parker De Politia Ecclesiastica Christi & Hiorarchia, apposita 1614, a learned discourse Paul Bayne his answer to Bishop Down [...]ham his consecration Sermon, Doctor William Ames, in his Bellarminus enervatus. Printed by Li­cense at Oxford Anno 1629. Tom, 2, l, 3, c, 3, 4 [...] Iamss Peregrin his Letters Patents of the Presbitery Anno 1632. Doctor Iohn Bastwicke his Flagollum Pontificis & Episcoporum La [...]ialum & his Apologeticus with above 40, Anonymous T [...]eatises that I have seene; All these unamiously te­stifie; that Bishops and Presbiters by Gods law and divine institution are all one equall and the same; That the su­periority of Bishops over other Mini­sters is only of humane and canonicall institution long afte [...] the Apostles most of them cōdemning it as Anti-christian, unlawfull. Diabolical, pernicious, to Re­ligion, & the Church of God, & the cause of all the tyranny, schismes, corruptions, disorders, errors, abuses that now infest the Church or hinder the power, the purity of Religion and progresse of the Gospell.

To these I might accumulate the Sta­tute of 25, H. 8 c, 19, 20, 21, 26, H, 8. c, 1, 27, H [...] 8, c, 15, 31, H. 8, c, 9.10, 37, H 8, c, 17, 1, Ed. 6, c, 21, & 2: Phil & Marie c, 8, 1 Eliz c. 1, 5, Eliz. c, 1, 8, Eliz. c. 1. The Patents of 31 H, 8, pars 4. to enable Bishops to consecrate Church­es, Chappels, and Church-yards with the Kings License first obtained of 36 H. 8 pars 13. to Robert Holga [...]e Arch-Bishop of Yorke, to enable and authorize him to keep a Metropolicall visitation, the Pa­tents for the creation of the Bisho [...]rick [...] of Oxford, Glocester, Bristol, Peter [...]roug [...], and VVestminster, An. 34, & 35, H, [...], the Patents of Miles Goverdake, Bishop of Exeter, Iohn Povet once Bishop of VVinche­ster, and Iohn Story Bishop of Rochester, 5, E. 6, pars Prima, and of all the other Bi­shops made in his Raigne, by vertue of the Statute, of 1 E. 6, c, 2. wiih all the High-Commission Patents grounded on 1 Eliz, c. 1. all which expresly resolves, That all manner of Ecclesiasticall Iuris­diction, wherby Bishops are extinguished [Page 11] from, and elivated above ordinary Mini­sters, is wholy vested in, and for ever, in­seperably united and annexed to the im­periall Crowne of this Realme: that our Arch-Bishops, Bishops, Arch-Deacons [...] and other [...]cclesi [...]sticall Persons have no manner of jurisdiction Ecclesiasticall, but only by, under, and from the Kings Majesty, that they ought to have the ju­risdiction delegated and devided to thē by speciall Letters Patents and Com­missions under the Kings great Seale to execute the same, not in their owne names and right, but only Nomin [...] vice, Authoritate nostris Regijs (as King Edwards, Patents run) in the Kings owne name right and Authority, as his Officers and subs [...]itutes, making out all their Proces, Citations, Excommunications, Com­missions o [...] Administration, Probate of wills, and writs of Iur [...] Patron [...]us &c: in the Kings name only, and under his Seale of Armes, not their owne under paine of imprisonment and a premuni­re; for the neglect and wilfull contempt whereof all our Bishops and their Offi­cers have encurred severall Premunires to the forfiture of all their temporali­ties, goods, estates, and liberties to his Majesty, who may much enrich his Ex­chequer thereby.

All which Acts and Patents judici­ally condemne and overturn our Bishops pretended superiority, over their fellow Brethren by a divine right, the very claime whereof alone makes them all liable to a Premunire and meer perjur'd persons both to God and the King, bee­ing directly contrary to the very oath of Supremacy, prescribed by 1 Eliz, c, 1, which every Bishop oft times takes, and every graduate and Clergie man whatsoever who must either abjure this pretended Ius Divinum with which they would support the Hierarchie, or prove: perjur'd disloyall Subjects to their So­veraigne.

Having thus presented you with this large Catalogue of Authorities proving the parity [...]quality, and identity of Bi­shops, and Presbiters by divine right and institution.

I shall now challenge all our great swelling [...]relates, and their s [...]attere [...]s joyntly and severally ( [...]s [...]ecially the two Arch-Bishops who have made so many throsonicall bragg [...]s of the proofe of their divine Title in open Court befo [...]e thousands of people) to produce a con­trary Catalogue of Auth [...]rities of thes [...] severall kinds eviden [...]ing thei [...] divine pretended right, supe [...]io [...]ity and juris­diction over other Minis [...]e [...]s, [...]f they are able to do it and to give a satisfactory, answer to this Treatise, I shall su [...]s [...]ib [...] to their opinion, and recant what I have written.

But if they cannot performe [...]t, (as I am certaine they are altogether unable) then let them retract their former vaine glorious vaunts [...] and abjure their pre­tended Ius Divinum by subscribing to that truth, (which they are unable to contradict) and laying downe their Bi­shoprickes at (least their Rochests [...]) as they have oft-times solemnly protested they would doe.

If they can or will doe neither, they must give all the world leave to passe this censure on them.

That they have neither that learning truth or honesty in them as hitherto they would make the world beleeve they had [...]

And that they may have no starting hole to evade: I shall in as few words as may be, answer what ever they can Ob­ject for themselves out of any undoubt­ed A [...]tiquity which is but this [...]

That Acce [...]s was bran [...]ed for an He­reticke by Epipha [...]i [...]s and Augu [...]tine, Obiect 1. for affirming Bishops and Presbiters to bee equall one to the other: by divine insti­ [...]ution:

This is all that either the Thomas VValdensis Tom: 3, c. 60, 61, 62. Rhe­mists Notes [...]n Phil. 1.1: Alphonsus de Castrò advers. h [...]r. tit. Episcopus. Harding in Bishop Iewel, p. 196.202. with others [...] Papists or Sacramia Contra Bezam Bi [...]hop Bancroft in his Se [...]mon at Paules Crosse, Bishop Downeham in his Con­secration Sermon, Bishop VVhit [...] and others in t [...]e censure of Doctor Bastwick [...], Bishop Bridges Defence of Governeme [...]. p. 26 [...], 373, 44 [...]. our Prelates do or can alleage for their Hierarchie out of the Fathers [Page 12] or Antiquity; and this in truth is a good as nothing.

For first this opinion of Aerius was never condemned as Hereticall, by any Counsell or Father whatsoever, but only by Epiphanius, who alone is unsufficient to brand or make any man an Hereticke. Saint Augustine indeed (if the Booke be his cites this opinion of his, out of Epi­phanius in his Book de haeresibus, c, 53, yet he brands it not as an Heresie, but stiles it Proprium Dogma in expresse termes to wit, his proper assertion (and his owne too) taxing him only of Heresie for [...]si­ding with the Arrians in their branded heresie, Origi­ [...]um l, [...], c, 5 Isiodor Hispalensis & Causa [...]. qu, 3, Gra­tian reciting the Heresie of Arrius makes no mention a all either of this as an Heresie or error in him, passing it over in silence and expresly averr [...]ing it thē ­selves as a truth.

Wherefore no ancient Counsell or Author whatsoever but Epiphanius brand­ing it either for an heresie or Error. I see not well how it should be so estee­med.

2 Secondly, this hath been the constant received Doctrine both of Christ and his Apostles, of all the Fathers and lear­ned Orthodoxe writers, in all ages as the precedent Catalogue witnesseth, therefore no Heresie or Error, as Epi­phanius and some few of late (out of him alone) have rashly deemed it.

3 Thirdly, it cannot properly be called an Heresie, because the superiority of Bi­shops over other Ministers, by a d [...]vine institution, as no fundamentall point of faith, neither hath it any foundation at all in Scripture, as I have elsewhere ma­nifested. Therefo [...]e it is most absurd to call it an heresie.

Fourthly, Epipha [...]ius there condemnes 4 Aerius as much for reprehending and censuring Prayer for the dead, as for affirming Bishops and Presbiters to bee equall.

But this our Prelates must confesse (unlesse they renounce this Doctrine of our Church) was no Error or Heresie in Aerius but rather in Epiphanius, why not therefore the other.

Fifthly, Epiphanius himselfe doth not 5 conde [...]ne A [...]rius his opinion in this particular for an Hereticko but onely as a fond opinion (as his words) E [...] quod tota res stu [...]titiae plena est apud prudentes ma­nifestum est.

Sixthly, St. Hierom [...] Nazia [...]zen, Basill 6 Sedulius Ambrose, Chrisostome, and August­ine taught the same Doctrine that Aerius did, at or about the same time, but they were never taxed of Heresie or Error for it either then or since: why then should A [...]rius only be blamed who argues just as Hierome doth, producing the same Sc [...]ip­ture to prove his assertion as Hierom [...] hath done in his Epistle to Evagrius & on Tit. 1.

Seventhly, Epiphanius his refutations 7 of Aerius his Arguments and opinion is very ridiculous, false, and absurd.

For first he saith, that Presbiters then had not the power of ordination, nei­ther did they use to lay on hands, in the election and Ordination of Ministers, which is a meere falshood, as Hierom in Soph. c. [...]. with the [...]th. Counsell of Carthage, witnes, and I have elsewhere manifested at large.

Secondly, he saith that Presbiters had 2 no voice in the Election of Bishops and Ministers, which is See Ap­pendix cata­logo testium veritis End­merus hist. novorum l, 2 3, p, 34, 36, 50, 71, 97, 109, 110, 112, 131, 132, God­wi [...] cata­logue of Bi­shops, p, 74. [...]1, 84.106, 437, 516.525, Aventinus Armak, Boi­corum, l, 3, p. 214, 219, and hereto­fore p: 9 [...].93, 103. contrary to all Antiquities, extant, and a most palpa­ble untruth.

Thirdly, he saith that there were then more Bishops then Presbiters and men sufficient & worthy enough to be made Bishops but no [...] Presbyters, and therfore the Apostle writing to the Philippians and others makes mention only of Bishops, not of Presbyters, because they had then Bishops but not Presbyters.

A miserable ridiculous, answer, which subverts that he contends for, and consti­tutes Bishops without any Ministers un­der their command or jurisdiction [...] whence it will necessarily follow. That seeing the Apostles instituted Bishops without Ministers under them, a [...]d more Bishops then Presbiters, there ought now to bee no Presbiters subject to Bishops, but Bishops to be pl [...]ced in e­very church [...] without any Mini­sters under [...]hem, but Deacons only and more Bi [...]hops then Mini­sters, which I presume the Lordly Pre­lates will not grant, for this would over-turne [Page 13] not only their Lordships, but their [...]ioces [...]e and Episcopalities

Fourthly, he saith that the Apo­ [...]les first constituted Bishops onely in the Church, with [...]ut Elders and then they afterwards elected Elders as they f [...]und them worthy, which is contrary to St [...] [...]i [...]. ad Ev [...] ­ [...]r [...] & [...], in Ti [...] 1. Ierome and [...]ll an­tiquity averring that Elders were first ordained in euery Church, [...] 14 [...] 23, Tit. 1, 5, and that they after­ward elected a Bishop out of them­selves.

5 Fifthly, he saith that the Apostles used to write to the Bishops of one Church in the plurall number, when there was but one Bishop there, which is very improb [...]ble yea con­trary of all other expositors, on [...]hil. [...]. 1. Tit. 1, 5, 7, Act. 20, 17, 2 [...].

6 Sixthly, he peremptorily deter­mines Timothy to be a Bishop which I have elsewhere proved false, and f [...]om this false ground would prove Bishops and Presbiters distinct.

Seventhly, he interprets an Elder 7 in the 1 Tim. 5.1, to be a Presbiter which most Fathers else expound on­ly to be an ancient man.

8 Eightly, he would prove Timothy a Bishop and Bishops to be Superior too, and distinct from Presbiters, because Paul exhorts him not to re­buke an Elder, but to exhort him as a Father, and not to receive an accu­sation against an Elder, but under two or three witnesses, which are grosse inconsequence (as I have else where manifested) so that Epiphanius whilst he goes about to prove Aerius his assertion still of folly steps into ma­ny Errors, follies, and absurdities himselfe, as Tom. 1 C [...]ntr. 5, l, 1 [...] [...], 15. [...]. Bellarmine is infor­ced to confesse, though desirous to make the best of it.

In a word then as all the forecited Authors in generall, [...]o in speciall, Chemnitius examen Concilij Tridentini part 4. de Ordinis [...]acramento, Danaus in Augustium de haresibus c. 53, Theodo­rus Bibliander, in Chronagr. Bucanus l [...] ­corum com. c, 32, Magdeburgenses cent. [...], c. 5. de haresibus Beza de diversis mi­nistorum gradibus c, 22. Bersomus Buce­rus de Gubernation [...] Ecclesia p, 2 [...], to 29 [...]. Bishop Io [...]ll defence of the A­pologie part 2, c. 9. divis, 1. p: 196 202. Doctor Humphry conf [...]tat Puritan [...], Papismi ad Rat. 3, p, 261.262. Doctor VV [...]itake [...] c [...]ntr. Duraum l, 6. sect, [...] ad ratio 10 Campiani Resp. Contr. lib. [...]. qu. 5. c. 7. Doctor Fulke, and Mr. Cartwright confutation of the Re­mish Testament Phil. 1.1. Bishop Bridges in his defence of the Princes Supremacy, p. 359. Doctor VVill [...]t Synopsis Papismi contr. 8. qu. 3. part 2. Dr. Reynolds in his Letter to Sir Fran­cis Knolls and to Michael Medina a Pa­pist [...] de Sacr. hom. Orig. l. 1 [...] c. 5. & Doctor Armes in his Bellarminnus enar­vatus Tom. 2. l 3 c, 4. (to omit others) do all joyntly acquit A [...]ius both [...]rō the guilt of Heresie or Error, in thi [...] very point, and taxe Epiphanius for censuring him without the judge­ment of a Synod or of the Church, condemning his answers to Aerius his reasons as notoriously absurd & impertinent yea as foolish & Child­is [...] worthy to be hissed and derided I shall therfore conclude as doth our learned Ad ra [...]ione [...] 10 Camp [...]ani Respons [...] p. 51, Whittaker, in this case; ve­rily if to condemne prayers for the dead and to equ [...]ll Presbiters [...] with Bishops be hereticall. Nihil Catholi­cum esse potest, Nothing can be Catho­licke, so farre as it from being either an Heresie or Error as o [...]r absurd Prelates and their Sycophants Pre­tend.

If they object the Authority of Obiect. [...]. Epist. 5, 6, 7 8, 9, 10. Espen­c [...]us digresi. in Tim. l 3, c, 1, 2, 3 Ignatius that he advanceth Bishops a­bove Presbyters commanding them to obey the Bishops as the Apostles obeyed Christ, and willing the peo­ple to be subject to their Bishops as to God and Christ, and to their El­ders as to Christs Apostl [...]s: therfore in his daies Bishops were Superior to Presbiters.

To this I answer, A [...]s [...]er. that these Epi­stles of Ignatius are false and spurious as many C [...]ci censu [...] p, 5 [...], &c. of our learned men have proved at large, therefore of no Au­thority.

Secondly, it is cleer by Acts 10.2 [...] Phil. 1. 1. Tit. 1, 5, 7. that in Ignatius his daies Bishops & Presbiters were all one both in Title, office, and ju­risdiction: that there were many Bishops in every chiefe City and [Page 14] Church, not any sole [...]ishop para­mount the Presbiters, over one or many Churches: and that Dioc [...]san Bishops were instituted long after the Apostles and therefore after Ig­natius his dayes (who lived in the A­postles age) as all Authors forecited accord and the whole Clergie of En­gland, in their Institution of a Chri­stian man dedicated to King Henry the 8 resolue in direct termes, These Epistles therefore of Ignatius which spe [...]k of one Bishop in a [...]hurch, di­stinct [...]rom and superior to Presby­ters must needs be [...]orged.

Thi [...]dly, Ignatius in these Epistles makes Bishops successors to Christ and to s [...]and in his stead, and Presbyters to succeed the Apostles, where­as all others ma [...]es them successors to the Apostles only, not to Christ, who Heb, 7, 24. le [...]t no successor or Vicar generall behind him, b [...]t Heb. 7:17, [...]1 24, 28, 1 P [...]t, 2, [...]9. remains hi [...]selfe for ever the High-Priest, chiefe Shepheard and Bishop of our S [...]ules, and hath promised Matth. 28, 20. to [...]e with us alwaies even to the end of the world: This therefore ma [...]es his Authority but suspici [...]us and co [...]te [...]ptible.

Fourthly, Ignatius hath not o [...]e word in him that Bishops are supe­rior to [...]e [...]biters [...]y any divine l [...]w or i [...]stitution [...] (the thing in questi­on) therefore his Authority (if ge­ [...]uine) proves nothing for the opo­sites.

Fifthly, Igna [...]ius equals Bishops and Presbyters both in jurisdiction, rule, and Authority, for [...]pist. [...]. ad [...]ral­ [...]anus he writes thus: [...]ut be ye sub­ject to the Presbyters as to the Apo­stles of Christ: for the Presbyters are a certaine conjoyned Sessions and [...]ssembly of Apostles Epist. 6. ad Magnesianes [...]rebyteri president [...]o­co Sinatus Apostolis The [...]resbyters rule in the place of the Senate of the Apostles. Epist. 10. ad Symenses. Do ye al [...]ollow the Colledge of the pres­biters as Apostles: Now if Presby­ters succeed the Apostles in the go­vernment o [...] the Church, & al are to be Subject to them, to follow them as Christs Apostles, then certainely [...]hey are equall at least to Bishops, who at the highest are by Gods in­stitution only to be obeyed and fol­lowed but as Christs Apostles not to be pre [...]erred before them, if equa­lized with them, as the proudest Pre­late of them must acknowledge and and the Isiodor [...]isp: de Eccles. O [...] cii [...] l, 2, c, 17, Amalarius [...]or­ [...]unatus de Ec­cles [...] Officij [...] l [...] 2, c, 13.6 Fathers witnesse.

Sixthly, Epist, 5, 6, 10. Ignatius confesseth that the Churches in those dayes were not ruled by the Bishops as they are now but by the Colledge Senate and Sy­nod of the Elders, & communi Praes­byt [...]oum concilio as Hierome Epist. ad Ena­grilem & in Tit. 1. and all other after him affirme the Presbiters therefore had then equall and joynt authority with the Bishops even in point of Iurisdiction & go­vernments and did r [...]le and govern, the Church in common with them, therefore the Bishops were not then Lords Paramount, as now they ma [...]e themselves, but equall and one with them, yea their Colleagues & companions as Quid ve [...] S [...] ­c [...]do [...]ium aliud estquam sacerc [...] ­ [...]as consiliary & assessorores E [...]is­copo Epist: 5. Ignatius and the Can, 35, col­legam se Presby­terorum ess [...] cog­nos [...]at [...] [...]our [...]h counsel o [...] Ca [...]h [...]ge stile thē.

Seventhly, his words Epist 5 6 7. that they sh [...]uld [...]e s [...]bject to the Bishop as to God and Christ, if rightly understood ma [...]e nothing for the Prelates Hier­a [...]chie [...] [...]or Saint Paul Ephes. 6, 5.6, 7. co [...]mands servants to be obedi­ent unto them that are their Masters according to the flesh, with [...]eare and [...]embling in singlenes [...]e of heart as unto Christ, not with eye-service as [...]en pleasers but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from his heart, with good will, doing ser­vice unto the Lord, and not to men, &c. Is therefore every Master a Bi­shop, equall unto Christ, and superior in inrisdiction and degree to Presbyters No, So Polycarpus in his Epistle to the [...]hilippians char­geth them Subjecti esto [...]e Presbyteris & Diacon [...]s sicut Deo et Christo I­bid [...] to be subiect to their Elders as unto God and Christ using the same words of Elders as Ignatius doth of Bishops. Are Pre [...]byters therefore Paramount Bishops, and succes [...]o [...]s to Christ himselfe? I trow not Ignatius his meaning therefore is not, that Bishops are as high above Presbyters and the people as God and Christ are above the Apostles (as some See Espen [...]us Digress. in Ti [...] l, 1, c, 12, 3. ambitious Prelates fansie) but only that we must obey Bishops [Page 15] in all things that they command and prescribe us out of Gods word, as farre [...]orth as we would obey God or Christ himselfe, for he that heareth them, heareth Christ himselfe, and hee that despiseth them, despiseth God and Ch [...]ist himselfe. Luke 10.16. 1 Thes. 4 [...] 8. In this manner like­wise are we to be subject to every Minister whatsoever [...] Heb. 13.17.7.1 Thes. 2.13. This therefore proves nothing for the Prelates superiority over other Bishops, especially since this Igna [...]us himselfe Epist. 5 charg­eth the Trallians to reverence De [...] ­cons (in [...]e [...]or to [...]resbyters) as Christ himselfe, whose Vicars they are. As for those extravagail expres­sions of Ignatius Epis [...]l. 5. Episcopus typum Dei Patris [...]mnium ge [...]ut, quid enim aliud est Episcopus quam is qui [...]m­ni [...]incipatu & protestate Superior est & quod homini licet pro viribus imitator Christi Dei factus, (and the See Coci cen­sura p. 61.62.63 like) on Esp [...]encaeus di­gres, in Ti [...]l, 1 [...] 1.2 [...] which same ground both the Popes and Prelates Monar­chie, they are so ridi [...]ulous, [...]alse, ambitious, and hyperbolical, as favor neither of Ignatius or any Christian, but rather of a meere papall and An­ti-christian spirit [...] discovering these Epistles to be none of his, and those [...]rela [...]ts who ass [...]me these speeches to themselues to be Rom. [...].9. none of Christs Mat. 11.29. All which considered [...] this forged A [...]tiquity will stand thē in no stead at all, to prove them supe­rior or distinct from Presbyters by any diuine institution, and other Antiquity, making for them I find not extant.

That Presbyters and Bishops by Gods law and Ordination are both one and the same & of equall autho­rity and jurisdiction as all these au­thorities resolve, I shall undeniable manifest by this one Argument.

Presqyters by the expresse resolu­tion of the Scripture have the very name, and not so onely but the very office of Bishops Act. 20.17, 28. P [...]l. 1, 1, 1. Tim. 3.1 [...] to 5. Tit. 1, 5. to 1 [...]. the same mission, and commission, the same function, charge, Ordina­tion, and quallification. Matth. 28.19.20. 1 Tim. 3, 1. to 7. c. 4.14. c. 5 17. 2 Tim. 4.1, 2, 1, Pet. 5, 1, 2, 3. Tit. 1, 5. to 12. neither doth the Scrip­ture in any place make any differēce distinction, or superiority between them, or attribute any power to the one, that it doth not to the other, [...]s the premises evidence, and Matth. 20 25.26, 27, 28. Mar. 10, 42, 43: 44 Luk. 22.25.26.

Therefore by Gods law and insti­tution they are one and the same, and of equall authority power and juris­diction in all things.

As for that distinction in power, precedency, and jurisdiction, whi [...] hath since been made between them it hath proceeded, partly from Ca­nons and constitutions made by Bi­shops themselves, Institution of a Christian man ch. o [...] Orders, partly by meer usurpation, and encrochment, but principally from the grant and large­nesse of Christian Princes, who as they erected Bishoprickes and Dio­cesse and multiplyed them or divided them as they saw occasion, so they limitted See G [...]d [...]in [...] Co [...]aloge [...] of Bi­shops Chytr [...] [...] an S [...]xoni [...], p. 23.31.226, 615.616, 617. Cent. [...]agd. 8. col. 786, 794, S. [...]. Eccles. tu [...] l, 5, c. 8, Evag [...] ec [...]l [...]s [...] [...] l, 2. c 4 1 [...] Eadiner [...] [...]nst Novorum l, 4 [...] 95.96, et Seld [...] ni spicelagium ibid p. 209.210, 211, 21 [...] and granted them all that Episcopall power, and jurisdiction whereby they were distinguished from, or advanced above Ordinary Ministers, as appeares by the Origi­nall Charters of the foundations and erections of our own English Bishop-rickes, the forecited Statutes, and by our owne and forraigne Histories, Now that jurisdiction and superlori­ty thus acquired, is but meere and humane not divine. Againe Bishop-ricks are meer h [...]mane institutions directly contrary to the Holy Ghost, who ordained many Bishops in every Church and City, not one Bishop o­ver many (which he can never well instruct, rule, and oversee) Acts 20. [Page 16] 17.28, 1 Tim. 5.17. P [...]il. 1, 1, Tit. 1 [...] 5, 7. 1 Pet. 5, 1, 2, 3. Now that Epis­copal jurisdiction which distinguish­et [...] Bishops [...]rom Presbyters. was See 31, H 8. c. 9.33. H, 8, c 31, 34, & 35, H, [...] c, 17, & the [...]atents of the creation of the Bishopricks of Ox [...]ord, Bri­stol [...] Glocest er and Chester. created with and annexed to their Bish [...]pricks, yea it is delegated bot [...] by the [...]ing to Lay Commi [...]ione [...]s and visitors, and by Bishops them­selves to Officials commi [...]a [...]ies and meere Lay men 26. H. 8. c. 1.31. H. 8, c, 9, 37. H. 8, c, 17.1 [...], 6, c. 2.1 Eliz, c, 1. Therefore it is meerely humane, and belongs not to Bishops by any divine right, neither is it pe­culiar unto them alone, Moreover Bishoprickes with all Episcopall ju­ [...]isdiction; incident to them have been see Anti­qui [...]atae Eccle­sia Brit. God­wins catalogue of Bishops Cranthius Me­tr [...]p. Chytraeus [...]hron. Saxoniae & [...]entinus Anuall l 5 6, 7. pass [...]. usually granted here [...]o [...]ore by our Kings of England to their Chan­cellours, Trea [...]u [...]ers, Secretaries, Kinsmen, and temporall O [...]hcers, being meere Lay-men, as an advance­ment and augmentation onely of their temporall revenues, and civill temporall things. And in Germany at this day they are given to Dukes, Earles, and Nobles, yea to Children and in [...]ants only as a temporall dig­ [...]ity and revenue. There [...]o [...]e they are [...]nly temp [...]rall [...]ffices and reve­nues, and meere hu [...]ane in [...]tituti­ons which may well be spare [...] in the Church, not divine o [...] Gods and Christs institution, Moreover most of the Chytraeus [...]on Saxoniae [...] p 339 340, l 11 l 14 15, p. 241 43 [...].434 435. re [...]ormed [...]otes [...]ant church­es be [...]ond the [...] the Re [...] ­ma [...]n [...] Bishopricks and Dioce [...]an Bishops as Anti-christian, and humane in [...] ­tutions pernicious to the Church of Christ, and to the power pu [...]ity, and progres [...]e of the Gospell, making Bi­ [...]ops proud, Lordly, idle, Luxu [...]i­ous, covetous, Tyrannicall, Symo­ni [...]call, Seditious, Sch [...]smatica [...], [...]p­p [...]essive, vindictive, prophane, im­pious, lascivious unchas [...], per [...]ideous, rebellious & [...]recherous to their So­veraigns, Therefore certainly they are no divine insti [...]ution, use [...]ull or necessary for Gods Church, and people, o [...] which they have been the bane and ruine in all ages as our Acts and Monuments of Martyrs testifie, they being the Authors of all perse­ [...]tions in our Church, and of al our Martyrs Buchery & blood [...] shed. And in truth our Kings in all former a­ges have [...]eeme [...] Bishops not al [...]oge­ [...]her so usefull or necessary in our Church, as some now make them, which may appeare by the long va­cancies, o [...] [...]ve [...]s Bishoprickes in sundry ages, of which I shall give you a [...]ho [...] ta [...], and so conci [...]e God [...] 1 Ca­log [...] of Bis [...]op. [...] p, 52, 53, 55. [...] 57, 58, 59, 76, [...]1 83, 84, 111, 11 [...] 114.119, See Malmesbury d [...] G [...]stis Pon [...]i­cum Anglia an­tiquitates Eccle­sia Br [...]t [...]an [...] [...] Mat [...]hew wo [...] ­mins [...]er, Mat­thew Paris, Ha­v [...]d [...]n [...]alsing­ham and others accordingly. An [...] 653 After the death of Honorius Arch-Bishop or Can [...]erbury, that See continu [...] void 18 moneths Ann [...] 669. After Adeota [...]us [...]is death it remained vo [...]d almost 4 yeares, An 690. Af [...]e [...] Th [...]odorus his death it was void almo [...]t [...]u [...] two ye [...]res [...] and as long a [...]ter [...]a [...]yus [...]ecease An 734: After [...]u [...]h­ber [...]s death An 758. [...]t was vacant a­bove one yeare. Anno 762 two years a [...]ter [...]regwins death An 790, 3 years a [...]er Lamb [...]r [...]s death An 830, a [...]ove one Yeare after VV [...]reds decease An 958: almost 3 yeares after Odo his expi [...]ation An 1089. 4 ye [...]res after La [...]akes departure An 1109 5 yeares after An [...]elmes death An [...]. 36. 2 years after VVi [...]liam Carke [...] A [...]. 11, [...], [...]3, yea [...]s a [...]ter Ri [...]hard VVe [...]er [...]ne [...], An 1242, 2 yeares a [...]e [...] St. [...]dm [...]n [...] An 1270 [...]s long a [...]er [...]oni [...]ac [...] An 1502, 2 yeares after [...] Deane, A [...] 15 [...]8, o [...]e [...]ear a [...]e [...] [...] God [...]in p 559 579 587 5 [...]8 599, 607, 608, 623. A [...] 644, a [...]er Pau [...]nus the [...] A [...]h-Bi [...]h [...]p [...] [...]o [...]ke [...] that [...]ee w [...]s vacant 20, ( [...]me say 3 [...] yee [...]es An 1114 s [...]ur, yeares af [...]er [...]mas the second An 1140 [...]l­most 2 [...]eares a [...]ter T [...]stan An [...] 10 Years after Rogers de [...]th [...] An. 1213. 4 Yea [...]es after [...], An 1255, 13, [...]loneths after VV [...]e [...] G [...]ay, An [...] 13 [...]3, after [...]homas de ca [...]bridge, above 2, yeares. An 315, [...] Years after [...]illiam [...] Greenfiel [...] A [...] 1240 [...] 2 ye [...]res af [...]er VVi [...]liam de Mel [...], An, 1405, 2 years and an ha [...]e a [...]te [...] [...] S [...]ope, that Arch-traitor benea [...]e [...] for his Tre [...] ­son. An [...] 1423, 2 Yeares, after Henry Bowe [...] [...] An 14 [...]9. almost 4 Yeares after Iohn K [...]mp, An 1464, 2 Yeares after VVilliam B [...]th, almost a [...]ull yea [...] both after Cardinall VVolpe, and [...] ­ [...]ard Lee, An [...] 1559, [...]er [...]c [...]olas Heath. 2 yeares An [...] 1568 after Tho­mas [...]oung, above one yeare. Thus long have both our Arch-Bishop­rickes been, void in severall age [...] [Page 17] without any prejudice to Church or State [...]odwin p, 183 184, 189, 190, 191, 196, 202, 224, 227, 229.230 244 245, 247, Anno 619 after Mellitus his translation from London to Canterbury, that see continued void 31 Ye [...]res together, An [...]64 2 Yeares An: 1133. 7 Yeares a [...]ter Guilbert An. 1187 alter Gilbert Fol [...]o [...] above 2 yeares An: 1279 above one yeare a [...]er Iohn de Chishul. An: 1303, almost 2 yeares after Richard de Granef [...]rd. Anno 1501 after Thomas Sa [...]age above two yeares An 1171 after the death of Henry de Bloyes, the Bishopricke of Wincheste [...] was void above 3 yeares An 1238, after Peter de la Roch 5 [...] years [...] An 1243. after William de Rawley 16 Ye [...]res, Ethelmanus holding it 9, yeares without consideration Anno 1259 after Henry de Wengham 6, yeares, An 1492, after Peter Coventry aboue one Yeare An 1500 after Tho­mas Langton 2 yeares An: 1528 a [...]ter Richard Fox 2 Yeares An 1530. after Cardinal [...] Woolsey, almost 4 yea [...]es, God [...]in p, 255, 256, 261, 262, 2 [...]4, 265, 266, 275, 277, 279, 181. An 1131 after the death of H [...]rnaus first Bishop o [...] Ely, that See was void above 2 yeares, An: 1169 after Ne­gellus the Second Bishop 5 yeares An 1197, afte [...] William Longchamp, a­bove one Yeare. An 1214, after Eu­stachius above 5 yeares, An 1256, af­ter William de Kil [...]enny above one yeare, An 1297, after William de Luda 2 Yeares. An 1373 after Iohn Barnet 2 yeares An 1434 after [...]hillip Morgan 3 yeares [...] An: 1486 after I [...]n [...]oorion 3 yeares An 1500 a [...]er I [...]hn Alcocke one whole yeare, An: 1533: as long after Nicholas West; An: 158 [...] after Richard Coxe almost 20 yeares together [...]dwin p 1294 29 [...], 297, 308, 309. [...]n 11 [...]7, after the death of Ro [...]ert de Chisney the 4 Bish [...]p o [...] Lincoln, that See continu­ed v [...]cant almost 17 yeares, Ce [...]ry [...]en [...]y the 2, his base S [...]nne ta [...]ing the [...]rofits thereof without any con­secration An 1184, af [...]er Walte [...] de C [...]st [...]rtiis 2 [...]eares, An, 1200 after St. [...]ugh almost [...] years, [...]n 1206, after William de Bl [...]yes 3 ye [...]res, An, 1490, after Iohn Rus [...]el 2 yea [...]es An 1513, after William Smith one yeare, Godwin p, 317, 31 [...], 319, 321, 3 [...]2, 343, 3 [...], [...]2 [...]. An 1086 the Bishoprick of Coventry and Lichf [...]eld was vacant 2 yeares, after the death of [...]eter, and as long An 1 [...]27 after Robert [...]each, as long An 118 after Gi [...]ac­dus Puella, as long, An 1208, [...]fter Geof [...]ry de Muschamp, An 1238, al­most 3 yeares after Alexander [...]e Sa­ [...]ensby An 1243, after Hugh Pateshul 2 ye [...]es, An 1386 as long after [...]ich­ard Scroope An 1490: as l [...]ng after Iohn Hu [...]e God [...]in p. 337 33 [...], 344, 345, 3 [...]5.356. An 1099 after Os­ [...]ond his death the second Bishop of Salisbury that See was 8 yeares vacant An 1225, after Richard Poore 4 years, An 1 [...]0, 4 years a [...]er Walter de la Wi [...]e, An 1588 3 yeares a [...]ter Iohn [...]ierce, An 1596 2 yeares a [...]ter Iohn Coldwell Godwin p 364 365, 368, 360, 383, 385, 386. An 1166, the Bi­shopricke of Bath and Wels upon the death of Robert continued void 8, yeares, 8 moneths, and 15 dayes An 1242 after Ioceline, 2 yeares, Anno 1262 as long after William Butt [...]n Anno 1503 as long after Oliver King, An 1547. as long after William Knight, An 1381 3 yeares after Gil­bert Barkely An 1590, 2 yeares a [...]er Thomas Godwin, God [...]in p, 396 398, 420, 421 429, An. 1103 the Bishoprick of Exeter after Osber [...]us decease was vacant 4 yeares, Anno 1182 after Bartholmeus Iscartus 2, yeares An 1119 after William Herbert the last Bishop of Thelfords, death that See (now Norwich) was vacant 2 Yeares, An 1214, after Iohn de Grey it was vacant 7 yeares, Anno 1222 afte [...] Pandulfus 3 yea [...]es, Anno 1236 after Rodulphus almost 3 years, and as long after William de Re­leigh, An 1240, after Henry Spen­cer An. 1406, [...]lmost 2 yeares, Godwin p, 439 440, 444, 44 [...], 446, 449. An 1095 after the death of Wolstan Bishop of Wor [...]hester, that See was vacant 2 yea [...]es An 1113, as long after Sampsons, An 1123 almost as long af­ter Theulphus, & An, 1179. after Ro­ger An 1184, after William de Nor­thale 5 yeares An 1198, after Iohn de Constantijs 2 yea [...]es An [...]1212, [...] long after Mangere, Anno 1373, as long after VVilliam de Lyn, An 1417 as long after Thomas Pondrell An 1427 7 yeares after Thomas Polton Anno 1590, 3 yeares after Ednica Freat, Godwin p, 453 454, 455, 460 [...] 561, 473, 478, An 1556 the Bishopricke of He­reford, after Leoneyards death con­tinued 4. yeares vacant, An, 1127, after [Page 18] Richa [...]d above 4 yeares An [...] 1167, after Ro [...]ert de Melim, above 6 yeares, An 1539 after Iohn Skip above 13 yeeres An, 1585 after Herbert West failing 17 yeares, An 1526 the Bishop­ricke of Chichester was void almost 4 yeares, after Iohn Reempale his death, An 1006, after Richard Fitz-Iames 2 yea [...]es, An 1235, the Bi­shopricke of [...]odwin p, 484 485.4 [...]6, 48 [...] 488.452, 496.501, 502, Rochester, after [...]en­ry de Sand [...]ords death, was va [...]nt 3 yeares, An: 1277, 2 yeares a [...]er Walter de Merton 1316 after Tho­mas de Waldham 3 yeares, An 1401, as long after Iohn Boltesham [...] Anno 1535, after Iohn Fisher 2, yeares, An: 1557, the new created Bishopricke of Oxford, after the decease of Iohn King first Bishop, there, was vacant 10 yeares, An 1568, af [...]er Hugh Car­row the 2. Bishop it was voyd 21. yeares together. An 1592, after Iohn Vnderhill the third Bishop it conti­nued void 11. yeares, so little want was there of a Bishop in that See, An [...] 1559, the new created Bishopricke of Oxford, after Iames Brookes the third Bishops death was vacant three yeares [...] An 1578, as long after Ed­mond Cheyney. An 1558, the new created Bishopricke of Bristoll, after Paul Bush the first Bishop was vacant 4 [...] yeares [...] An: 1578, 3, yeares after Richard Cheyney which See conti­nued void otherwise then by Com­mendani 31 yeares together. Anno 1593, it continued vacant 10 yeares together. So little need was there of a Bishop in this See, Godwin p. 512 514, 530, 536, 558, 547, 549, 531. An 1397, the Bishopricke of St. Davids after Iohn Gilberts death, was vacant 4. yeares, An: 1592 after Marmaduke Middle­ton almost 2 yeares: An: 1133, the Bi­shoprick of Landa [...]e upon Vrbans de­cease was void 6, yeares An: 1183, af­ter Nicholas ap Georgant, 5, yeares An: 1240, after Elias de Radnor, a­bove 4, yeares, An 1287, after Wil­liam de Brews 9 yeares: An 1213, the Bishopricke of Bangor after Robert of Shrewsbury was vacant 2 yeares, An. 1374, as long after Iohn Gilbert, An: 1378, after Iohn Swaffham 22, yeares [...] An, 1266, after [...] the 1 of Bangor, that See was vacant two yeares, An: 1313, after Lewelin 6, yeares, Anno: 1406, after Iohn Trevane 5, yeares, An 1439, af­ter Robert 5. yeares, Godwin p, 634 644, 647, 651, 652, 653, 656, 667, 671, 685, 6 [...]6. An 1017, after Aldhunus of Durham, that See con­tinued void above 3 yeares, An 1097, as long after William Carlaypho An 1140. after Geoffry Rufus above five yeares, An 1207, after Philip of Poi­tiers, above 10 yeares, An 1226. above 2 yeares the King threatning the Co­vent that they should have no Bishop in 7. yeares, An, 1237, after Richard Poore 2 yeares. An: 1249, the King threatned to keep it vacant 8, or 9, yeares, till (Ethelmare his halfe Brother (whom he commended to the Monkes election) should be of age. An 1505, after William Seve­rus 2 yeares, An 1587. after Ri [...] Ba [...]n [...]s, almost 2 years An: 1577, the Bishop­rick of Chester was vacant two years.

If then all our Bishoprickes in se­verall ages have been void thus, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 10, 15, 17, 20, and 30, yeares or more together at divers times (to omit all annuall vacancies) without any prejudice to the Church or State, and with great benefit to the Kings of England, who enjoyed the temporalities in the meane time, t [...]en certainly Bishops are no such necessary creatures of divine institu­tion, but that we may spare them all together, For if we may want them 2, 3, 5, 9, 10, 15, 20, 30, yeares with­out prejudice, Why not an Hundred? why not 500. yeares? yea why not altog [...]ther, as they doe in all refor­med Churches, who have quite ca­cashierd them long agoe? when as no Church can spare or want their Pastors and Ministers that are of Gods institution above 6 moneths, at most Rostall Ad­vi [...]son 1, 2, con­cil [...] Lat [...]ran [...]nsis 2 Can. 29, S [...] ­ma Angelicae be­n [...]ficium sect, 31 Summa Rosella Beneficium 1, After which if the Patron present not in the interim an able and sufficient Clerke the ord [...]nary by the common Law may collate, and may seqnester, the profits in the meane time for the officiating of the cure, which must be at no time in­termitted or neglected because of di­vine institution, and so absolutely ne­ces [...]ary [Page 19] which the Bishops are not [...] I shall close up this discou [...]se with a m [...]morable I resident of the D [...]nes, An Dom, 1537 Christian the third King of Denma [...]e, removed and suppressed by publike Edict, all the Bishops of his Kingdome, for their intolerable Treasons & Rebellions, abolishing their Bishopricks as con­trary to our Saviours institutions, (the meanes that made them, Idle, proud, ambitious, unpreaching [...]relates, and seditious t [...]echerous Rebels to their [...]rinces, and in stead of 7, Bishops of De [...]mark, he insti­tuted 7, Superintendents to execute the office of Bishops, to give orders to others, and execute all Ec­clesiasticall af [...]ai [...]es, which 7, Super­intendents, (Aug [...]st 26, 1537.) [...]e­ceived [...]heir ordi [...]ation from Iohn Bugenhagius ( [...] P [...]otestant minis [...]er) in the Cathedrall of H [...]sina, in the prese [...]ce of the King, and Se [...]ate of the Kingdome, Lo [...]e [...]e all Bishops cashiered as false rebellious Traytors to their Soveraigne, (as they have ever been in all States and ages, the [...]e having been more noto [...]i [...]us Traitors Rebells, and conspir [...]tors, of Bishops then of all other ranks of men in the world (as I [...]m able to ma [...]e good) as contr [...]ry to divine institution, and see not Iure divino, as they now bo [...]st, and Superinte [...]dents ordained by a meere [...]es [...]iter in their stead, to conferre orders unto others in all the Danish Churches. In the begin­ning of reformation in Germany and other places, Luther and other Mini­sters usually ordained Deacons and Ministers, and set out Bookes of t [...]e manner of Ordination without any Bishops assistance, which power of Ordination and imposition of hands hath, ever since been pr [...]ctised by Ministers in all reformed Chu [...]ches which have abandoned Bishops (such as ours are and ma [...]e themselves as contrary to Gods word,) [...]atrick A­damso [...] (Ar [...]h-Bishop of St. Andrews in Scotland,) in his recantation pub­lickly made in the Synod of Fi [...]e, (Aprill 8, 1591,) con [...]es [...]eth, that this office of a Diocesan Bishop Omne [...]uthoritate verbi dei destituitu [...] & solo politico h [...]minum c [...]n [...]mento [...]u [...]datur is destitute of of all autho­rity from Gods word, and is onely [...]ounded in the politicke figment of men, out of which the primacy of the [...]ope or Antichrist [...]ath sprung, and is worthily to be condemned, be­c [...]use the as [...]embly of the [...]esbytery penes qu [...]m est j [...]risdictio & inspe­ctio [...]m in visitationibus tum in or­dinationibus, which having the ju­risdiction and inspection, both in vi­sitations and in Ordinations, will performe all these things, with grea­ter authority, piety, and zeale, then any Bishop whatsoever, whose ca [...]e is for t [...]e most part, intent not upon [...]od or his [...]ction, but t [...]e world which he especially serves, A [...] bl [...]w to our prelates Hie [...]achie. For i [...] Bishops be not Iure divino and have no [...]oundation in the word of [...]od, the [...] the power of Ordinatiō belōgs not [...]to them Iure divino as they a [...]e Bishops neither can do or [...]ught, they to con [...]e [...]e Orders as Bishops but [...]rely as they are Ministers: And if so (as is most certaine,) Then this power of Ordination belongs not at all to Bishops as Bis [...]ops, but only as Ministers, and every Minister as he is a Minister, [...]ath as much right and authority to give o [...]ders as any Bishop whatsoever, the true reason why even among us at this day, Mi­nisters ought to joyn with the Bishop in the imposition of hands, neither can our Bishops ordaine any one a Minister, unlesse 3, or 4, Ministers at least, joyne with him in the Ordi­nation and laying on of hands. This being an apparent [...]uth, I shal hence from the Bishops owne principles prove Presbyters Superior and grea­ter then Bishops, in jurisdiction dig­nity and deg [...]ee.

These, say they, to whom the pow­er of Ordination belongs of Right are [...]eater in jurisdiction, dignity, [...]d degree then those who have not this power, and the Ordainer higher in all these then the ordained,

But the power of Ordination be­longs onely jure divino to [...]resbyters [Page 20] as presbyters, not to Bishops, as to Bi­shops themselves, not, as Bishops, but Presbyters and Bishops when they or­daine in a lawfull manner, do it onely as Presbyters not as Bishops.

Therefore Presbyters are Superi­or to Bishops in jurisdiction, Order, and degree, and Bishops themselves [...]arre greater in all these [...] as they a [...]e Presbyters, an office of divine [...]nction, then as they are Lordly Prelates or Diocesan Bishops, a meer humane institution.

Thus are our great Lord Bishops who vaunt of the weaknesse of puri­ [...]ne principles, whereas th [...]ir Epis­copall are farre more feeble and ab­sur [...], wounded to death with their own weapons, and all their Domi­ [...]eering, swelling authority over­throwne by that very principle, and foundation on which they have pre­sumed to erect it, the ancient pro­verbe being here truly verified, vis [...]nsilij [...]p [...]rs [...]ol [...] ruit s [...]. I shall close [...]p this with the words of acute A [...] ­t [...]ius S [...]d [...]l, who after a large proof of Bi [...]ops and presbyter [...] to be both [...]ne and the same by divine institu­tion, winds up all in this m [...]nner. We couclude therefore, seeing that Superior Episcopall dignity is to be avouched onely humane institution, Tantum ess [...] h [...]m [...]ni iuris, that it is on­ly of hum [...]ne right: On the contra­ry, since it is evident by the express [...] testimonies of Scripture, that in the Apostles times Bishops were the same with Presbyters jur [...] diuin [...] p [...]t [...]st [...]t [...] ordinandi no [...] minus presbyt [...]ri [...] qu [...]m Episc [...]pis convenir [...], that by God [...] law and divine right, the power of Ordination belongs as much to pre [...]biters as to Bishops.

I have now, I hop [...] sufficiently ma­ [...]ifested our Lordly prelates, Arch- [...]ishops, Dioces [...]n Bishops, distinct from presbyters to be none of Gods institution being therefore: none of Gods Bishop [...], as they vainly pretend whose then must they be, not the kings [...] for th [...]n they are onely Iur [...] human [...] which they have publikely [...]s [...]l [...]imed i [...] Court [...] therefore certainly eithe [...] the Popes or the [...]e­vils or both, as many of the recited writers stile thē, for I know no other that can claime or own them: wher­fore being neither Gods nor th [...] Kings, but th [...] Pope [...] or Devills [...] or both [...] what remaines but that now at last they should be sp [...]red out of our Church [...] as no members at all of Christs Church, or body [...] but of the Devill, Pope, or Antichrist of Rome (whose limbs and creatures in t [...]uth they are as Mauritius d [...] D [...] Pra [...]ll [...]n­ti [...] Episcopal [...] dignitatis l, [...]. [...], 1, sect, 21, & [...]. 8, sect, 29 [...] Al [...]d [...], Henry Henry S [...]al­bridge his Ex­ [...]ortatoris Ep [...]stle Iohn Ball n [...] I­mage of both Churches. St [...]lbrid [...] and others [...] expre­sly resolves, and their actions past all dispute, discover many of them to be) yea as meere Individuum vaginus and meere unnaturall monsters, they being neith [...]r Pastors nor members of any particular Church or congre­gation, as all other Christians are be­side [...] themselves. I read in the Magnum chro [...] B [...]lgicum A [...] 1433, p. 374. great Dutch Chronicle written by an Au­gustin [...] Frier, that in the year of our Lord 1033, beyond Poland there was a strange Fis [...] taken, of the quantity, length, and breadth, and shape of a living man, adorned with a Bishop [...] Miter [...] a pastorall Staff, a Cassock, a white Surplesse, a Chessible Sandals [...] Gloves [...] and all othes Robes [...] and or­naments requisite to the Dignity of [...] Prelate, like a Bishop solemnly at­tired and prepared to say divine Ser­vice [...] his Cassocke might be well lift­ed up before, and behind, from the feet, to the knees, but not higher [...] and he permitted himselfe to bee sufficiently [...]andled, and touched by many [...] but especi [...]lly of the Bishops of that Country [...] which Fish being pre­sented to the King, and demanded in the Language of that Country [...] and of divers other [...] nations who hee was, and answering [...]othing, albeit he had opened hi [...] mouth, giving re­verence and hono [...]r to the Bishop [...] that were there in the Kings pre­sence, one Monster and dumbe un­preaching beast [...] saluting and respe­cting another, the King being a [...]gry when hee had determined to com­mit him to prisō [...] or shut him up i [...] sōe strōg tow [...]r, the Fis [...] being very [Page 21] sorrowfull at this newes, thereupon closed his eyes and would by no meanes open them untill the Bishops, of that Kingdome ( One Monster in­interceeds for anothers safety, but [...]id they e­ver so for a good pious christians life or liber­ty?kneeling downe before the king in the fish [...]s prese [...]ce, had with many prayers intreated and ob­tained of the King that he should be sent backe againe alive to the Sea­shore [...] where hee had been taken [...] that God whose workes are incom­prehensible might shew his nature and Acts, least otherwise a plague should there ensue, both to the King and his Subjects, which their suit the King had no sooner granted, but pre­sently the [...]oresaid Monster opened his eyes, giving great thankes as it were to the King, and especially to those Bishops.

After with a Chariot being prepa­red to carry the Fish backe againe, the Fish in presence of an infinite multi­tude (of both sexes) ascending into it in a decent manner with the said Bi­shops, [...]ate down between them like [...] Domestical tame creature endued with reason.

The Bishops whiles they were yet f [...]rre off from the Sea, descended out of the Chariot, and the Fish like [...]se [...]omming downe from the chariot by himselfe, stood upon his feet and be­gan to walke between two Bishops, putting one of his hands upon one Bi­shops shoulder [...] & the other upon the other Bishops [...]houlder, (so lovingly [...]id these Monsters embrace on the other) as if he had been [...] a reasonable creature, neither wondred he or was he moved with the tumult of the people [...] who flocked round about thē, but walked modestly.

When he was come to the Sea­shore hee courteously beheld the Bi [...]hops and rout of people there pre­sent and craving leave to depart of the Bishops with all humility, by the gesture of hi [...] body, and obtaining it he thereupon went into the Sea­water.

And going into the Water, on his feet as high as his belly (the Se [...] being hard [...]y to deep for him to wade in [...] turning himsel [...]e towards the Bishops, and people expending the end of this matter he bowed downe his head in a most humble manner [...] bestowing a blessing on them with his right hand in forme of [...] crosse [...] and fo [...]thwith descended into the depth of the Sea after which he was no more seene of any man.

Thus the Historian ve [...]batim.

Now what should I make this strange dumbe Devill or Monster, in the shape, the habit and attire of a Lordly Bishop, so courteous loving, and [...] ­miliar towards these Lordly Bis [...]ops [...] and they re [...]iprocally thus to him, or what doth or could all this pretend But that Lordly Prelates with their pontificiall Masse-array, and muming disguises are meere monsters in Gods Church, and for the most part as mute as thi [...] dumbe or other fishes in the Pulpit opening their mouthes wide oft-times, to bite, yea devoure their fellow Brethren, and God [...] faith [...]ull people with their teeth like so many ravening wol [...]es or Sea Monsters, but seldome or never piously to instruct thē w th their diligent, pious, gracious prea­ching tongues, and that therefore they shal one day and I hope that day is now at hand,) with all their Anti-Christian Pompe, Pride, Vestments, Trinkets, and masking massing disguised, be eternally cast out of the Church of God, sent backe againe to (the Sea of Rome) from whence they came, and there so utterly drowned, that they shall never be seen nor heard of more in our or any other true Christian Church.

This hath beene already ful­filled, not long after the appa [...]ition of this Monster in Chri [...]au [...] chron, Saxo­ [...]i [...] l. 11, p 33 [...], [...]40, [...]41, l, 14, & 15, p, 412, 43 [...], 4 [...]4, 4 [...]5, Denmarke, and most of the reformed Churches beyond [Page 22] [...]he Seas, which cast out their Lordly Prelates, as meere Anti-christian, dumbe, mishappen, ravenous Mon­ster,, devouring Christs deare flocke, and likewise in Biscaie among the Pa­pists Peter Hey­l [...]ns Geogra­phy. Edit. 3, p. 55. where Bi [...]hops a [...]e so execra­ble, to the people, that they will ad­mit no Bishop so much as to come a­mong, them or enter into their Terri­tories, (such terrible mons [...]ers are they) insomuch that when Ferdinand the catholicie came in Progresse thi­ther accompanied among others [...] with the Bishop of Pamp [...]line, the people ar [...]se in Armes, draue back the Bishop and gathering all the dust which they thought he had troden on [...] and [...]lung it [...]nto the Sea.

And certainly their late intollerable ty [...]anny, pride, amb [...]tion, cruelty, op­pression, cove [...]uous [...]es, Poperie, secu­larity (for now they are altogether secula [...], not spirituall Lords, iniustice malice, persecutions, impieties, and monstrous prophannes, haue deservedly made our Bishops as detestable as execrable to all sorts of English men (who now groane and languish under these outragious dumbe silencing and silent Monsters,) as ever [...]hey were, or are to Bis [...]ane [...]s, so as we shall doubt­lesse shortly see their fatall finall ruine who now seeke nothing but the utter overthrow both of our Church, our State, and our Religion, as I will make good, at my uttermost perill, to all their faces, and proue it to their shame.

We know, that two of their Cathe­drals, Ely & Chichester, where Bishop White and Mountague, two late Inno­vaters and Champions of the Prelates, Lord it, were lately s [...]attered & much of them blown downe, and that the Bishop of Lincolnes chaire with the fall of his study of Bugden shattered all to peices, with a poore despicable in­strument a suddaine unexspected blast [...] of wind, all in one day on Novemb. 4 1636.

What is this and their present great wrath, and malice against Gods peo­ple: but a certaine prognosticke, that Rev, 12, 12. their time and Lording tyranny is short, and their totall finall ruine neer at hand, though to carnall reason it seemes impossible: and that a suddain unexpected puffe of wind, (even the prayers, c [...]ie [...], and teares, of those ma­ny Godly Ministers, and poor christi­ans they haue lately si [...]enced, persecu­ted, oppressed, and still proceed to vexe and greiue with all despite and cruelty, not withstanding all God [...] plagues, all late discoveries of [...]heir vilenes, tyranny and injus [...]ice, shall shortly and suddainly overturn their Lordly Chaires, throw downe their Epicureous Sees, Dismount their mushrom Lordships, unexspectedly sprung out of the earth, the dunghill, and swoln so great with pride and am­bition, that they will bee all head, yea heads and Lords over all in Church and State affaires, and dash ( Psal. 137. [...].9., these Babilonish brats of Rome in peices so as they shall never recover or get head againe.

In the mea [...]e time I shall pray and conclude all in the words of our En­glish Letany [...]

From all our Lordly Prelates evill and mischiefe, from the crafts and assaults of the Devill, (who rules and workes both in and by them) from their wrath and unjust damnations, in any of their courts and High [...]com­missions, meere Spanish inquisitions,) from all their blindnes of heart, their pride vaine glory [...] and Hypocrisie, their envy hatred, malice, and all their uncha­ritablenesse, from all their sedition & priuy conspiracy (with Rome Priests Iesuites and betweene themselves [...] to ruine, & root out our faithfull preach­ing Ministers and Religion, and set up popery) from al their false doctrine and Heresie [...] (both in Presse and Pulpit,) from their hardnesse of heart, against their poore persecuted and oppressed Brethren, against all Gods mercies, threatnings, Iudgements, a [...]d Plague [...] of late inflicted) and from all their contempt of Gods word and com­mandements [...] [Page 23] in suppressing the fre­quent Preachers, and preaching of the one, and most insolent violation of the other, especially the 2, 4, 6th Com­mand [...]men [...]s, by setting up Altars, ima­ges, crucifixes, crosses &c, & bowing downe unto them, by idolizing their owne canons [...] ceremonies, an [...] Ro­mish Fopperies, by maintaining the open prophanation of Gods holy Sab­bath, with all Heathenish sports and pastimes [...] and spurring men on head­long to this sinne, and starving, mur­thering the very soules of thousands of Gods people, by robbing them of their [...]pirituall [...]ood, and encouraging them to al sin and dissolutenes.) Psal. 10 [...], 4 [...], [...] Good Lord deliver us And le [...] all the people say Amen.

FINIS.

This keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the Text Creation Partnership. This Phase I text is available for reuse, according to the terms of Creative Commons 0 1.0 Universal. The text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission.