that See was 8 yeares vacant An 1225 after Richard Poore 4 years An 1ââ0 4 years aââer Walter de la Wiâe An 1588 3 yeares aâter Iohn âierce An 1596 2 yeares aâter Iohn Coldwell a 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 Buttân 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 aââer Thomas Godwin b An. 1103 the Bishoprick of Exeter after Osberâus 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 afteâ Pandulfus 3 yeaâes Anno 1236 after Rodulphus almost 3 years and as long after William de Releigh An 1240 after Henry Spencer An. 1406 âlmost 2 yeares c An 1095 after the death of Wolstan Bishop of Worâhester that See was vacant 2 yeares 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 yeares An â1212 ãâã 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 d An 1556 the Bishopricke of Hereford after Leoneyards death continued 4. yeares vacant An 1127 after Richaâd above 4 yeares Anâ 1167 after Roâert 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 yeaâes An 1235 the Bishopricke of e Rochester after âenry de Sandâords death was vaâânt 3 yeares An 1277 2 yeares aââer Walter de Merton 1316 after Thomas de Waldham 3 yeares An 1401 as long after Iohn Bolteshamâ 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 afâer 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 Anâ 1559 the new created Bishopricke of Oxford after Iames Brookes the third Bishops death was vacant three yearesâ An 1578 as long after Edmond Cheyney An 1558 the new created Bishopricke of Bristoll after Paul Bush the first Bishop was vacant 4â yearesâ 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 f 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 Landaââe 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 yearesâ An 1266 after ãâã 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 g 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 Riâ Baânâs 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 tâen 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 altogâther 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 h After which if the Patron present not in the interim an able and sufficient Clerke the ordânary 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 necesâary which the Bishops are notâ I shall close up this discouâse with a mâmorable I resident of the Dânes An Dom 1537 Christian the third King of Denmaââe 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 ârelates and seditious tâecherous Rebels to their ârinces and in stead of 7 Bishops of Deâmark he instituted 7 Superintendents to execute the office of Bishops to give orders to others and execute all Ecclesiasticall afâaiâes which 7 Superintendents Augâst 26 1537. âeceived âheir ordiâation from Iohn Bugenhagius â Pâotestant minisâer in the Cathedrall of Hâsina in the preseâce of the King and Seâate of the Kingdome Lo âeâe all Bishops cashiered as false rebellious Traytors to their Soveraigne as they have ever been in all States and ages theâe having been more notoâiâus Traitors Rebells and conspirâtors of Bishops then of all other ranks of men in the world as I âm able to maâe good as contrâry to divine institution and see not Iure divino as they now boâst and Superinteâdents ordained by a meere ââesâiter 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
c. 16 Tom. 5 p ââ ân âpist Paâââ 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 instituââons Clericorurâ l â â 4 5 6 Tom 6 p. 5 6 Haymo Halberstatensis in Phil. 1. â Tit. 1 An 560. The 12 Councell of Toledo Can 8 Aââlaâiâs Fortunatus d Ecclesiasticââ Ofsiââs l 2 c 13 Anno 1050 Pecumenâa in Aââa Apost 5 15 2 in Phil 1 1 Tim: 3 Tit 1 fol 79 586 655 683 Anno 1070 Theophylact. Com in Act 20 17â 28 in Phil 1 1 1 Tim: 3 Tit 1 p 517.576 600 801 Anno 1â00 Conradus Bruno in Phil 1 1 1 Tim: 3 Tit 1 Anno 1130 Barnard De Consideratione ad Eugenium l. 2 34 Epist. 42 Sermâ 23 25. 77. Super âantiââ De laudibuâ Maria Homil 1 Concio in Concilio Rhemensi ad Pastâââs Sârââ THE THIRD SQVADRON THe third Squâdron is constituted of forraigne Cannonists and Popish Schoolemen wâiters and Councels from the Yeare of our Lord 1100 till this present as Iâo Carnaâânsis Dâ âalâluââ pa. â5 c â8 59.72 1ââ 143.144 Peter Lombard Sententiarum l 4. distinâ 24. I. K. L mâ Comenâaâiâm Phil. 1 1 Tit 1. 1 Tim: 3 Gratian the gâeaâ Canâonist distinctio 18 21 22 23 24 25 39 50 60 61 62 63 64 65 6â 67 68 80 93 95 Causa 2 qu. 7 Causa 24 qu 3 Hugo Caâdinalis in Phil â 1 Tit 1 1 Tim: 3 Aquinas secundâ secundae qu â4 Ar 6 ârg 1. Supplementum in tertiam pârtem qu 37 Art 7 Durandus in l 4 Sentent Distinct 24. qu 5 6 Rational Divinorum l 2 Iohannis Parisiensiâ de potestate Regia Papâli apud moâââum de Ecclesia c 11 Catalogum Testium veritatis p 525 Carthusiââ Caâetan and the Author of the Oâdinaây glosse in Acts 15 c 20 17 28 Phil 1 1 1 Tim: â Tit 1 5 7 cardinalis Arelatensiâ apud AEneam Sylvium de Gestis Concilij Basiliensis l. 1 p 27 28 29 Alvarus Pelagius de Plainetu Ecclesia â 1 Art 70. l 2 Art 1 to 17 Panormitam c 4 de Consuetudine Anselmus Lucensis Collectanea Can l. â c. 87 127 Gâegorius Tholosamus Polycarp l 2 Tit 19 39 Iohn Thiery Glosâa in Gâationum distinct 95 cap olim with all other Glosses and Canonists on that Text Heââiâus Gorichen in l 4 Sentent Distinct 24â Astensis Summa pars 2 l 6 Tit 2 Artic 2 Angelus de claucisio Summa Angelica Ordo 1 The e councell of Lingon Anno 1404 of Paris Anno 1557 Duarenus de sacr Eccle injust l 1 c 7 Onus Ecclâsia c 14 to 27 Nicholas Cusaâââ de concoâdiâ Catholicâ l. 2 c. 13. Alphonsus a Câstâo advers ãâã Sit âpiscopus Michael Medina de sacro hâm Oâig et continetia ãâã âspencaââ in 1 Tim. c 3 Digressioââm in Tim â 1 c 1 2 3â and in Tit 1 â â The Rhemist ânnotâtion on Acts ãâã sect 4 and in Tim 4. Phil 1. 1 âit 1 ââ Iââobus Fabor in 1 Tim â 4 â Tit 1. Sixtus Sevensi Bibl ãâã l â Anno 32â Azoâius Mâââlium pârâ 2 l 3 c 1ââ Buoniuâ Anâuâll Eccles âom 1. p 5ââ Iacobus de Grâssâs dâsââlionum Auââcarum parâ 2 l 1 c 9 11 5 â 9 1â 14 16 l 3 c. 12 11 3.4 Petââs Bââsseldin âuchyâidion Teâââgiae Pâstoralis pââs 1 c 15. with other Pontisâââans though sundry else of them are the greatest sâicklers for ââisâopâll Mââââne of Puâpose to advânce the ãâã Supremâcy with the Parity of Bishops and Pâesbiters Iuââ Dââmâ âsterly subverts and ruineââ I shall close up this Squâdrân with the ââe Authorities of some Semiâââ Priests in Enâland As namely of Niâcââlas Smiâh in his modest and bâiefe discussion of certaine Assertions which are taught by Mr. Doctor ââlâison in his Treatise of the âcclesiasticall ãâã where thus he determines * I judge is no rashnes to affirm that since England enjoyed a Bisââpâ to wit a Poââs âishopâ to confirme the Papists and controll the Pâiests namely Richââd bisâop of Châlcedââ created the generall âishop and superintendânt both of Englandâ and Scotland by Pope Vrbaus speciall Bull dated the 4th of August Anno 1625. The Coppy whereof you shall âind printed in Censura Propositionâm quaâundam c. per sacram facultatem Theologâa Parisiânsis factae Paâisiis 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 Conâirmation onely conferred on some few That all holy men have exceedingly eâdeavoured to sâun such an high digâity 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 âo desiâe a Bishopricke even for that which iâ best in it to wit for the good of soules according to St Thomâs sâcunda sââuâda que 185. Art 1 seemes to be presumptiân and there are some who stick not to say and that commonly it is a moâtall sinne That these âropositions following are strange idle and absurd That it is dâ iure divinâ 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 Vniveâsall Church could not be as Christ hath instituted it an Hierarchie composed of divers particular Churches That without a Bishop we cannot have conâirmation c. All which principles saith hee are worse then the concultion it selfe and demonstrated by us to âit 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 Protesâant 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 * 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 somâ 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 Fâance Spaine or England Give me thereâoâe a mulâitude of Christians how great soever who want not a Bishop to ordaine Priests and I will boldly affirm that there is nâ need that the governour of that society should be a Biââop Yea let us suppose the Ordinaâion oâ Priests and the Ministry of the Chuâch 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 thoâe who of Bishops are made Religious persons may be said in some sort to fly âigher and not at all to descend That if the Catholickes of England should yeeld to this motion nameây to receive the Bishop of Chalcedon as their pâoper Pastor and Bishâp they could by no meanes excuse themselvesâ from being worthy of that reprehension which the Cârinthians 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 Patâence for which no crowne of Righteousnesse is prepared yea that they may by their blind receiving oâ 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 Iâ 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 Divineâ 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 censuâe 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 regardââ 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 Auââites 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. PatruÌ Tom. 13 p. 383 by Thomas Waldensesâ operum Tom. 1 l 3 Arti câ 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 599â 600 601. Marsilius Patavimus Anno 1320 seconds them in his Defensoris Paris pars 2 c. 15 16 17 18 19 20 and who Annâ 1330 is backed by Michall Cezenas Henricus de Iota Nicholaus orem Ioannes de Ianduno Petrus de Corbaria Ioannes de Polaco Iohn of Castele ârancis de Archatara and divers others of thaâage 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 454â 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 Iohâ Hus and Hierome of Prague two learned Godly Martyrs tread in their footsteps witnes AEneas Sylvius Historâ Bohem c 35 Fox Acts and Monuments p 55â 559 Gerson Bucerus de Gubernatiânâ Ecclesiae p. 602 603 After these successively ensued Ioannis Luâatwitz in Confessione âaâoratrum contr. Rokeâzanum c 13 apud Lidij Waldeâ siam p 53 Erasmus of Rotâârdam Annotaâ paââpht in Act 1â in 1 Tim: 3 4 Phil. 1 Tit 1 1 âet 5 Scholia in âpist âieronym ãâ¦ã adversus aâââertâm ãâã Martin Luther in âsalm 2 ââ 134 in Epist. ad Galââes ãâ¦ã 1 Artâ 15 The Synod of âeâicon Artic 6â The Synod of Modisâaâia Arââc 8 11 12 Gârsâm Bucârââd ãâã Eââââsiae p 370 373 374 4ââ 49â 500 51â 518.575 616 61â 618 Câristian the 3 King of Denmarke Anno 1537â and the whole State of Denmaââe together with âGusâ ãâã Cricus âing of Sweden about the same âime who sâppressed banished and hanged up the Lordly Bishops of their Reâlms aâ false Traitors and Rebels contrary to Chists insâitution and having no foundation in the word of God Clââtraeâs Clârân Saxon l 6. p. 49. lâ 7 p 219 2ââ lâ 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 pâ 433 434. Philip Melanââhon Aâgam Responsâ Pezel paââ 7âComâ in 1 Cor 4 Et disâutatio dâ Politia Ecclesiasâica dâ coniâgâo Sacerdotum Oecolampaâius in Rom 12 âaldâiâus ââânglius in Amica sâa Parenaesi aâ Communâm Helveâiorum âmitatem operum Tom. 1. p 115 117 in Pââl 1.1 Tom. 3 pâ 504. Opus Articulorâm Artic. 34â 36 Francis Lambert his Summa Châiââianiâatis Anno 1536. Prâsat Mr. Balliâger in Act. 20 v 28 decad. 5. Ser 3 4 Brentius Apol. ãâã wettemb c 21. Pellicanâs in Mat. c. 16 18 in Act 16 20. Mustulus locârum Com. locut de Ministris verbi Dâi p. 596.597 598. Mr. Iohn Calvin Instijâ l 4 c 3 sect. 8 c 4 sect 2 in Phil 1 1 1 Tim. 3 8 Tiââ 1 5.7 Antidotum Concilij Tridentinâ Ses. 7 de Conformationâ Martin Bâcer de vt usu Ministerij in Maâth 16 Araetius Problem Loâus de Oâsiâijs Eccles. ââ Piâl 1 1 in 1 Timâ 3 4â Tit. 1 5 7. Mr. Ralph Gââlâher on Acts. 20. verse â8 Phil. 1 1 1 Tim. 3. Tit 1.5.7 Mârtin Chemââtius Examen âonâilij Tridâât pars 2 de Sacâamento ãâã 223 224 Innocentius Gentiletus examâââonâilij Tridânt Ibid Ioaânis Maâoâ Kinâsius Maâlorat on Phil. 1 1 1 Tim. â Tiâ 1 5 7 Acts 20 28. 1 Pet 5 1 2 ãâ¦ã 2 â 8 in ãâ¦ã c 53 ãâ¦ã 5 â 14 Coâââ 3 câ 3 ãâ¦ã ligâ in 4 Pâaecept Defide c 25 sâct 9 in Pââl 1 1 âyperius in Tit 1 17 dâ Mâthâdo Tââologiâ l 3 Matthiâs Illârieus Clavis Sâripturae Tit Presbiter Catalogus Testiâm Veâitaââs p 426 433 445 512 524 525 529 553 554 488 528 c. ãâ¦ã Basilius
tâe manner of Ordination without any Bishops assistance which power of Ordination and imposition of hands hath ever since been prâctised by Ministers in all reformed Chuâches which have abandoned Bishops such as ours are and maâe themselves as contrary to Gods word âatrick Adamsoâ Arâh-Bishop of St. Andrews in Scotland in his recantation publickly made in the Synod of Fiââe Aprill 8 1591 conâesâeth that this office of a Diocesan Bishop Omne âuthoritate verbi dei destituituâ solo politico hâminum cânâmento âuâdatur is destitute of of all authority from Gods word and is onely âounded in the politicke figment of men out of which the primacy of the âope or Antichrist âath sprung and is worthily to be condemned becâuse the asâembly of the ââesbytery penes quâm est jârisdictio inspectioââm 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 caâe is for tâe most part intent not upon âod or his âââction but tâe world which he especially serves A ãâã blâw to our prelates Hieâachie For iâ Bishops be not Iure divino and have no âoundation in the word of âod theâ the power of OrdinatioÌ beloÌgs not âto them Iure divino as they aâe Bishops neither can do or âught they to conâeââe Orders as Bishops but ârely as they are Ministers And if so as is most certaine Then this power of Ordination belongs not at all to Bishops as Bisâops but only as Ministers and every Minister as he is a Minister âath as much right and authority to give oâders 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 ââuth I shal hence from the Bishops owne principles prove Presbyters Superior and greater then Bishops in jurisdiction dignity and degâee These say they to whom the power of Ordination belongs of Right are ââeater in jurisdiction dignity ââd 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 âresbyters 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 âarre greater in all theseâ as they aâe Presbyters an office of divine âânction 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 puriââne principles whereas their Episcopall are farre more feeble and absurâ wounded to death with their own weapons and all their Domiâeering 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 âânsilij ââpârs âolâ ruit sââ I shall close âp this with the words of acute Aâtââius Sâdââl who after a large proof of Biââops and presbyterâ to be both âne and the same by divine institution winds up all in this mânner We couclude therefore seeing that Superior Episcopall dignity is to be avouched onely humane institution Tantum essâ hâmâni iuris that it is only of humâne right On the contrary since it is evident by the expressâ testimonies of Scripture that in the Apostles times Bishops were the same with Presbyters jurâ diuinâ pâtâstâtââ ordinandi noâ minus presbytâriâ quâm Episcâpis convenirâ that by Godâ law and divine right the power of Ordination belongs as much to preâbiters as to Bishops I have now I hopâ sufficiently maâifested our Lordly prelates Arch-âishops Diocesân Bishops distinct from presbyters to be none of Gods institution being therefore none of Gods Bishopâ as they vainly pretend whose then must they be not the kingsâ for thân they are onely Iurâ humanâ which they have publikely ââsâlâimed iâ Courtâ therefore certainly eitheâ the Popes or the âevils or both as many of the recited writers stile theÌ for I know no other that can claime or own them wherfore being neither Gods nor the Kings but the Popeâ or Devillsâ or bothâ what remaines but that now at last they should be spâred out of our Churchâ as no members at all of Christs Church or bodyâ but of the Devill Pope or Antichrist of Rome whose limbs and creatures in tâuth they are as Mauritius dâ i Alââdâ Henry k Stâlbridââ and othersâ 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 neithâr Pastors nor members of any particular Church or congregation as all other Christians are besideâ themselves I read in the l great Dutch Chronicle written by an Augustinâ Frier that in the year of our Lord 1033 beyond Poland there was a strange Fisâ taken of the quantity length and breadth and shape of a living man adorned with a Bishopâ Miterâ a pastorall Staff a Cassock a white Surplesse a Chessible Sandalsâ Glovesâ and all othes Robesâ and ornaments requisite to the Dignity of â Prelate like a Bishop solemnly attired and prepared to say divine Serviceâ his Cassocke might be well lifted up before and behind from the feet to the knees but not higherâ and he permitted himselfe to bee sufficiently âandled and touched by manyâ but especiâlly of the Bishops of that Countryâ which Fish being presented to the King and demanded in the Language of that Countryâ and of divers otherâ nations who hee was and answering âothing albeit he had opened hiâ mouth giving reverence and honoâr to the Bishopâ that were there in the Kings presence one Monster and dumbe unpreaching beastâ saluting and respecting another the King being aâgry when hee had determined to commit him to prisoÌâ or shut him up iâ soÌe stroÌg towâr the Fisâ being very sorrowfull at this newes thereupon closed his eyes and would by no meanes open them untill the Bishops of that Kingdome m kneeling downe before the king in the fishâs preseâce had with many prayers intreated and obtained of the King that he should be sent backe againe alive to the Seashoreâ where hee had been takenâ 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 âoresaid 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
cleer by Acts 10 2âPhil 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 Church not any sole âishop paramount the Presbiters over one or many Churches and that Diocâsan 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 speâk of one Bishop in a âhurch distinct ârom and superior to Presbyters must needs be âorged Thiâdly Ignatius in these Epistles makes Bishops successors to Christ and to sâand in his stead and Presbyters to succeed the Apostles whereas all others maâes them successors to the Apostles only not to Christ who z leât no successor or Vicar generall behind him bât a remains himselfe for ever the High-Priest chiefe Shepheard and Bishop of our Sâules and hath promised b to âe with us alwaies even to the end of the world This therefore maâes his Authority but suspiciâus and coâteâptible Fourthly Ignatius hath not oâe word in him that Bishops are superior to ââeâbiters ây any divine lâw or iâstitutionâ the thing in question therefore his Authority if geâuine proves nothing for the oposites Fifthly Ignaâius equals Bishops and Presbyters both in jurisdiction rule and Authority for âpist â ad âralââanus he writes thus âut be ye subject to the Presbyters as to the Apostles of Christ for the Presbyters are a certaine conjoyned Sessions and âssembly of Apostles Epist. 6. ad Magnesianes ârebyteri president âoco Sinatus Apostolis The âresbyters rule in the place of the Senate of the Apostles Epist. 10. ad Symenses Do ye al âollow the Colledge of the presbiters as Apostles Now if Presbyters succeed the Apostles in the government oâ the Church al are to be Subject to them to follow them as Christs Apostles then certainely âhey 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 preâerred before them if equalized with them as the proudest Prelate of them must acknowledge and and the c Fathers witnesse Sixthly d 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 Praesbytâoum concilio as Hierome e 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 râle and govern the Church in common with them therefore the Bishops were not then Lords Paramount as now they maâe themselves but equall and one with them yea their Colleagues companions as Ignatius and the g âourâh counsel oâ Caââhâge stile theÌ Seventhly his words h that they shâuld âe sâbject to the Bishop as to God and Christ if rightly understood maâe nothing for the Prelates Hieraâchieââor Saint Paul Ephes. 6 5.6 7. coâmands servants to be obedient unto them that are their Masters according to the flesh with âeare and ââembling in singlenesâe of heart as unto Christ not with eye-service as âen 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 âhilippians chargeth them i to be subiect to their Elders as unto God and Christ using the same words of Elders as Ignatius doth of Bishops Are Preâbyters therefore Paramount Bishops and succesâoâs 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 k ambitious Prelates fansie but only that we must obey Bishops in all things that they command and prescribe us out of Gods word as farre âorth as we would obey God or Christ himselfe for he that heareth them heareth Christ himselfe and hee that despiseth them despiseth God and Châist himselfe Luke 10.16 1 Thes. 4â 8. In this manner likewise are we to be subject to every Minister whatsoeverâHeb 13.17.7.1 Thes. 2.13 This therefore proves nothing for the Prelates superiority over other Bishops especially since this Ignaââus himselfe Epist. 5 chargeth the Trallians to reverence Deâcons inâeââor to âresbyters as Christ himselfe whose Vicars they are As for those extravagail expressions of Ignatius l Episcopus typum Dei Patris âmnium geâut quid enim aliud est Episcopus quam is qui âmni ââincipatu protestate Superior est quod homini licet pro viribus imitator Christi Dei factus and the m like on n which same ground both the Popes and Prelates Monarchie they are so ridiâulous âalse ambitious and hyperbolical as favor neither of Ignatius or any Christian but rather of a meere papall and Anti-christian spiritâ discovering these Epistles to be none of his and those ârelaâts who assâme these speeches to themselues to be o none of Christs Mat. 11.29 All which consideredâ this forged Aâtiquity will stand theÌ 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. Pââl 1 1 1. Tim. 3 1â to 5. Tit. 1 5. to 1â 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 differeÌce distinction or superiority between them or attribute any power to the one that it doth not to the other âs 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 whiââ hath since been made between them it hath proceeded partly from Canons and constitutions made by Bishops themselves p 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 q 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 hâmane 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. 17.28 1 Tim. 5.17 Pâil 1 1 Tit. 1â 5 7. 1 Pet. 5 1 2 3. Now that Episcopal jurisdiction which distinguishetâ Bishops ârom Presbyters was r created with and annexed to their Bishâpricks yea it is delegated botâ by the âing to Lay Commiââioneâs and visitors and by Bishops themselves to Officials commiââaâies and meere Lay men 26. H. 8. c. 1.31 H. 8 c 9 37. H. 8 c 17.1 â 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 juâisdiction incident to them have been s usually granted hereâoâore by our Kings of England to their Chancellours Treaâuâers Secretaries Kinsmen and temporall Oâhcers 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 inâants only as a temporall digâity and revenue Thereâoâe they are ânly tempârall âffices and revenues and meere huâane inâtitutions which may well be spareâ in the Church not divine oâ Gods and Christs institution Moreover most of the t reâormed ââotesâant churches beâond the ãâ¦ã the Reâââmaâân ãâ¦ã Bishopricks and Dioceâan Bishops as Anti-christian and humane inâââtutions pernicious to the Church of Christ and to the power puâity and progresâe of the Gospell making Biââops proud Lordly idle Luxuâious covetous Tyrannicall Symoniâcall Seditious Schâsmaticaâ âppâessive vindictive prophane impious lascivious unchasâ perâideous rebellious ârecherous to their Soveraigns Therefore certainly they are no divine instiâution useâull or necessary for Gods Church and people oâ 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 perseââtions in our Church and of al our Martyrs Buchery bloodâ shed And in truth our Kings in all former ages have âeemeâ Bishops not alâogeâher so usefull or necessary in our Church as some now make them which may appeare by the long vacancies oâââveâs Bishoprickes in sundry ages of which I shall give you a âhoââ taââ and so conciââe u Anââ 653 After the death of Honorius Arch-Bishop or Canâerbury that See continuââ void 18 moneths Annâ 669. After Adeotaâusâis death it remained voâd almost 4 yeares An 690. AfâeâThâodorus his death it was void almoât âuââ two yeâresâ and as long aâter âaââyusâecease An 734 After âuâhberâs death An 758. ât was vacant above one yeare Anno 762 two years aâter âregwins death An 790 3 years aââer Lambârâs death An 830 aâove one Yeare after VVââreds decease An 958 almost 3 yeares after Odo his expiâation An 1089. 4 yeâres after Laâââakes departure An 1109 5 yeares after Anâelmes death Anâ 36. 2 years after VViâliam Carkeâ Aâ 11 â â3 yeaâs aâter Riâhard VVeââerâneâ An 1242 2 yeares aââeâ St. âdmânâ An 1270 âs long aââer âoniâacâ An 1502 2 yeares after ãâã Deane Aâ 15â8 oâe âear aââeâ ãâ¦ã v Aâ 644 aââer Pauâânus the ãâã Aââh-Biâhâp ãâã âoâkeâ that âee wâs vacant 20 ââme say 3ââ yeeâes An 1114 sââur yeares afâer âââmas the second An 1140 âlmost 2 âeares aâter Tâââstan An ãâã 10 Years after Rogers deâthâAn 1213. 4 Yeaâes after ãâã An 1255 13 âloneths after VVâââeâ Gâay Anâ 13â3 after âhomas de caâbridge above 2 yeares An 315 â Years after âilliamââGreenfielâ Aââ 1240â 2 yeâres afâer VViâliam de Melâââ An 1405 2 years and an haââe aâteâ ãâã Sââope that Arch-traitor beneaâeâ for his Treâson Anâ 1423 2 Yeares after Henry Boweââ An 14â9 almost 4 Yeares after Iohn Kâmp An 1464 2 Yeares after VVilliam Bââth almost a âull yeaââ both after Cardinall VVolpe and âââard Lee Anâ 1559 âââer ââcâolas Heath 2 yeares Anâ 1568 after Thomas âoung above one yeare Thus long have both our Arch-Bishoprickes been void in severall ageâ without any prejudice to Church or State w Anno 619 after Mellitus his translation from London to Canterbury that see continued void 31 Yeâres together An â64 2 Yeares An 1133. 7 Yeares aâter Guilbert An. 1187 alter Gilbert Folâoâ above 2 yeares An 1279 above one yeare aââer Iohn de Chishul An 1303 almost 2 yeares after Richard de Granefârd Anno 1501 after Thomas Saâage above two yeares An 1171 after the death of Henry de Bloyes the Bishopricke of Winchesteâ was void above 3 yeares An 1238 after Peter de la Roch 5â yearsâ An 1243. after William de Rawley 16 Yeâres 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 aâter Richard Fox 2 Yeares An 1530. after Cardinalâ Woolsey almost 4 yeaâes w An 1131 after the death of Hârnaus first Bishop oâEly that See was void above 2 yeares An 1169 after Negellus the Second Bishop 5 yeares An 1197 afteâ William Longchamp above one Yeare An 1214 after Eustachius above 5 yeares An 1256 after William de Kilâenny above one yeare An 1297 after William de Luda 2 Yeares An 1373 after Iohn Barnet 2 yeares An 1434 after âhillip Morgan 3 yearesâAn 1486 after Iâân âoorion 3 yeares An 1500 aââer Iâhn Alcocke one whole yeare An 1533 as long after Nicholas West An 158â after Richard Coxe almost 20 yeares together x ân 11â7 after the death of Roâert de Chisney the 4 Bishâp oâ Lincoln that See continued vâcant almost 17 yeares Ceââry âenây the 2 his base Sânne taâing the ârofits thereof without any consecration An 1184 afâer Walteâ de Cââstârtiis 2 âeares An 1200 after St. âugh almost â years ân 1206 after William de Blâyes 3 yeâres An 1490 after Iohn Rusâel 2 yeares An 1513 after William Smith one yeare y An 1086 the Bishoprick of Coventry and Lichfâeld was vacant 2 yeares after the death of âeter and as long An 1â27 after Robert âeach as long An 118 after Giâacdus Puella as long An 1208 âfter Geofâry de Muschamp An 1238 almost 3 yeares after Alexanderâe Saâensby An 1243 after Hugh Pateshul 2 yeâes An 1386 as long after âichard Scroope An 1490 as long after Iohn Huââe z An 1099 after Osâond his death the second Bishop of Salisbury