The Pastor and the Prelate, Part 5
THE FIFTH PART.
The Pastor & Prelate compared by the weale of the Kirk. and the peoples soules.
THE saeftie and good of the State vvas the maine ende of Roman policie,The good estate of the Kirk the end of Kirk policie. and the fundamentall lavv, by vvhichwhich that people squared all their other lavves, according to their ovvne Maxime:aSalus populi suprema lex. eversa domo, interdum rei publicae status manere potest: urbis ruina, penates omnes secum traha… necesse est. Valet. max. l. 5. c. 6. Let the safety of the people be the souveraigne lauv. The Kirk of Jesus Christ hath better reason to think, that the safety of the Kirk should be the rule and end of all Ecclesiasticall policie, although the forme of externall Worship and of the government of the house of God were not prescribed by the Lord himselfe in his Word, but left arbitrarie to men to be framed by their Canons and Constitutions, yet this must be holden as infallible. That it is the best forme of government vvhichwhich by reason and experience is found to be best for the vveale and safety of the Kirk. Unto this generall both Prelate and Pastor vvill vvithout question condescend: but they differ in the particular, what this is, vvherein the good and weale of the Kirk doeth consist: For the Prelate places the weale of the Kirk in her outvvard peace and prosperitie, & thinketh the Kirk vvell constituted, and in good case, vvhen she florisheth in wealth and vvorldly dignities. But herein he abuseth the christian World three wayes,The prelate abuseth the people three waies in determining what is the good estate of the Kirk. First, that he measures and determines the good estate of the Kirk by her outvvard face, and not by her invvard grace, by the health of her bodye rather then of her soule, by that which is accidentall to the Kirk, and which she may eyther hauehave or vvante, and yet continue a true Kirk, and not by that vvhi his essentiall and proper to the very nature and being of a Kirk. Secondly, that he judgeth that to be the vveale of the Kirk, vvhichwhich hath many times proved her vvrack, being abused, as commonly it hath happened: He taketh poyson for a preservatiue, and surfett of peace and prosperity, excesse of vvealth and vvorldly honours, vvhichwhich are her deadly disease, to be her health & best constitution. Too large bestovving of riches and preferments upon the ministers of the Kirk, bred that contagion vvithin her bovvels vvhichwhich turned almost to her death in the ende: for thereby defection grevv by degrees, till ar… st under the Man of … it came to the heigth. Thirdly, that he measures the good estate of the Kirk by himselfe, and the rest of the members of that Hierarchicall bodye, as though it vvent vvell vvith the vvhole Kirk, vvhen Bishops stand and reigne, like the Kings of the nations, and as though the ministery vve…e sufficiently vindicated from poverty and contempt, vvher…tvvelue or thirteene of the number are clymed up like … the highest places, that vvith their evill favoured mingeot… they m…y moue laughter to all that beholde them from belovv, or like foules flovven up to the highest roofes, shooting dovvne their filthy excrements upon the rest, that sitt in the lovver roomes. But the Pastor esteemes the good an weale of the Kirk by her spirituall estate, that is, by a sound fayth, a pure vvorship, and a holy conversation, as she stands or decayes in these, so is shee eyrher in a good constitution or languishing, and as she is furnished vvith all the meanes that may preserue and increase these, so she eyther prospers or decayes. This judgment of the Pastor is grounded upon verie good reasons. For upon this estate of the Kirk necessarily depends the glory of God, and salvation of soules, which are the tvvo things that make the difference betvvixt the Kirk of God, and all other so…ieties of men in the vvorld, and therefore the Pastor hath reason to thinke, that all the riches of the earth, & all the glorie of all the kingdomes of the vvorld are not to be put in ballance vvith the glory of God, and the salvation of soules, that vvhichwhich God vvith his ovvne bloud hath purchased and redeemed. Now vvhether the good of the Kirk in these things be better procured and preserved by the Prelate or by the Pastor, let them be typed by comparing them in the particulars follovving.
I. THE PASTOR his principall care is to preserue the puritie of doctrine in the Kirk,The pastor careful to preserue the puritie of doctrine, for the good of the Kirk: the prelate cares more for his own things. that Christs flock may be fedde with the wholesome word of life, and to oppose all contrarie and unprofitable doctrine, as poysonable and pernitious to the peoples soules, and for that purpose interteyneth in weekely meetings the exercise of the word, where the doctrine delivered by one, is judged by all the rest, whether it be sound and profitable, and taketh such order vvith the Papists, the greate corrupters of doctrine, and enemies to the peoples soules, that eyther he converteth them, or cutteth them off from the communion of the Kirk with the spirituall sword, and exhorteth the Magistrate, to execute the lawes made against them: whereby it came to passe that contrarie doctrine, and vayn and curious teaching either entred not into our Kirk, or was suddainly repressed and put to the doore, and Papistrie that had place before, was well nigh put out of the land.
The PRELATE hath neyther leasure nor liking to looke to such exercise, and accounts no heresie so worthy his animadversion, as the alleaged heresie of Aerius and his followers. It is manifest in historie from the beginning, that the heresies that hauehave most endangered the Kirk, hauehave either beene forged by the ingines,k As Christs reall descent into hell, many Lutherane, Arminian and popish errors. or favoured and borne out by the authoritie and credit of Prelates: b and this day, diverse false and dangerous doctrines are partly vented, and partly wincked at by them: neyther thinketh he papists greate enemies to the Kirk: but as the Iewish priests entertayned the Sadduces, albeit enemies to true religion, and hated Christians as their deadly foes, and as the Papist can agree with the formall Protestant, but thinks the unconformable Calvenist his irreconcileable enemie, so the Prelate could agree with the common Papist for all his blaspheamous doctrine and profession, because he is a friend to his Hierarchie. But the Reformed Christian, whom he calleth the Calvinist, and Puritane he can by no meanes beare, because he is professed unfriend to his Hierarchie. A Prelate as a Prelate is not opposite to the Papist, but to the Protestant.
2.The pastor in the matter of ceremonies lookes to the edification of the Kirk, which the prelate misregardeth. The PASTOR knowing that a litle leaven leaveneth the whole lumpe, thinketh it dangerous for the peoples soules to borrowe eyther substance or ceremonie of religion from Antichristian corruption, and therefore warneth the people to beware of the least beginnings and appearances of evill, and while he deliberates aboute ceremonies, fittest for ordor and decencie, he intends nothing of his owne, but the edification of the kirk, and in the practise of ceremonies & circumstances orderly appointed, he looketh to the peace of the Kirk that it be not broken, and to the consciences of the weake, that they be not offended.
The PRELATE liketh to simbolize with Antichrist his Ceremonies, putting the Papists in hope, that the bodie and substance of the… superstition may be resumed by time, where the shadowes and ceremonie… are so highly regarded. He intends nothing in appointing them, but the maintenance of his owne estate and dignitie, because he seeth and sayth, N… Ceremonie no Bishop, and in practise is more earnest in urging of Ceremonies, then of obedience to the greatest things of the Law, & by the Canons aboute matters, which they themselues call indifferent, doth viole… eyther to the bodies or consciences of the people, that thinke otherwayes, & maketh them to serue as roddes to scourge and whippe out of the Kirk, and ministerie, whom and when they thinke good.
3. The PASTOR considering,The past. in the whole course of his ministerie intends the feeding of the flock: the prel. to feede him selfe. that he is called to feede the f…ock of Christ, and to care for the peoples soules, in his entrie to the ministerie, will be loath to undertake a greater charg… then he can in some measure overtake, and the lesse his charg… is the greater is his contentment, not that he desireth to be … but to be faythfull, when he is entered he hath the work of the ministerie in singular regarde, as the most honourable and laborious worke that he can be employed aboute, whereof the best man is not worthy, and unto which the wole man is not sufficient, and therefore is resident among the people, serveth not by deputies and Suffraganes, but in his owne person, and is altogether taken up with the Pastors dueties, of preaching, praying, catechising, visiting, exhorting, rebuking, comforting, &c. but labours most diligently in the word and doctrine, because fayth commeth by the Word preached.
The PRELATE intending nothing, but to feede himselfe, at his entrie to his prelacie, he regards not so much the number of soules he should feede, as the number of chalders, the large revenues, and the great dignities he is to feede upon, and the larger his Diocie, the better for him: Hence is it, that he ascends from a Diocesan to an Archbishop, and a Primate. After he is entred he disdayneth the worke of the Ministerie, as base, and unworthy of bis grace and great Lordship, he serveth by his deputies and Suffraganes, and thinks it a more honourable and necessarie imployment to attend and reside at Court, or at the places of civill judgment, as Councell, Session, Exchequor, and howsoever he appropriates to himselfe the reward of double honour due to them who labour in the word & doctrine, yet he thinkes, that he is not bounde to take the paines of that worke, unto which the double honour is annexed. So the Pastor must labour in the worke, and the Prelate must reape the reward, and which is more prejudiciall to the peoples soules, he maintayneth that learned & qualified preachers are not so necessarie in congregations, as Curats and Readers, that there is too much preaching, and too litle reading and praying, meaning nothing els but their confused Leitourgie.
4. The PASTOR dare not do harme to the peoples soules,The past. subject to the sdiscipline of the Kirk himselfe, & … it for the good of the … the prelate neither subject to the discipline him self nor exerciseth it for the good of others, nor suffreth the pastors to exercise it. because he is subject both in calling and conversation to the discipline of the Kirk, which stryketh upon the Pastor, as well as upon the people, and to bring the transgressers to repentance, he sitteth with his brethren in session, presbyterie & assembly, administring the holy discipline holily, that is, in sinceritie & faythfulnesse, without prejudice or partiality, and never ceasing, till the scandall be removed, the Kirk be purged, and the offender (if it be possible) be wonne unto God, and all this, as being Christs owne worke, he doeth with Christs owne weapons, that is with the spirituall sword of the word, which is mightie through God to subdue every thing exalting it selfe against God, and to bring sinners to repentance.
The PRELATE may doe what harme he will for his owne tyrannicall custome and prastise, but not by any law eyther of Kirk or state, he exempteth himselfe in respect of his Episcopall administration, and as he is a Prelate from all censure, and scorneth to submitte himselfe to any Ecclesiasticall judicature, albeit the chiefe Apostles submitted themselues unto the Kirk, and albeit there be no subject in a Kingdome of whatsoever qualitie or condition, but in every respect he is under the controulement of some judicature in the Land where he liveth. And as he is thus singularly lawlesse of himselfe, so pretending the sole power of proceeding to belong to him by vertue of his place and office, he sweyeth the course of discipline, as best pleaseth his Lordship, processes begu…ne for trying of slanders, if the partie never so wicked hauehave Argument of weight for my Lord or his Receaver, are incontinently by the Word of his Monarchicall authoritie stricken dead. Hereby it commeth to passe, that where prelates rule, sinne reigneth, and the nearer the Bishops wings, the greater libertie for sinne, as is seene in their owne houses and traynes. And for this reason is it, that both Atheists and Papists like the Episcopall discipline, better then the pastorall, which they call straytelaced, because it troubleth their corruption, whereas the other layeth the reynes upon their neck. And if the Prelate happen to proceede against offenders, his discipline consists not so much in spirituall censure, as in worldly power and civill punishment, as fining, confining, imprisoning &c. which hauehave no power to worke upon the consciences of sinners to bring them to repentance, which is most proper for the preachers of the Gospell, and the chiefe ende of Kirk discipline.
5. The PASTOR for the good of the Kirk,The pastor would hauehave all things be done for the good of the Kirk, by the free assemblies of the Kirk: the prel. will rule all by him selfe, whether in assembly, or out of assembly. is desirous, that the assemblies of the Kirk, provinciall and nationall, be often holden and well kept, knowing how necessarie they are for redressing things amisse, for fulfilling things omitted, and for preventing evils that are like to ensue: and when the assemblie is convened he carrieth himselfe toward his brethren, as toward the servants of Christ, and collegues of equall authoritie, none presuming to any place or preheminence, though of order onelyonly, and not of power, without the calling and consent of his fellow brethren. There every one hath libertie to utter his minde, & every one is ready with the gift that God hath giuen him, as the diverse members of one body, for the good of the whole Kirk: meeke Moses and burning Elias, Esay with his trumpet, and Aaron with his belles, Bonaerges and Barionah, the sonne of thunder, and the sonne of the doue, all moved by one spirit, with mutuall respect, reverence, and brotherly louelove, joyne together in one conclusion, and if at any time they be of different judgements, they are not suddaine and summar in concluding things of importance, that concerne the whole, but that all may be done with uniforme consent, after the example of the Apostles Acts 15, the conclusion is delayed, till all objections be satisfyed, and God giuegive greater light to such as are otherwise minded, and so to the greate good of the Kirk, both peace and trueth are preserved.
The PRELATE is as averse from a free assembly, as the Pope is from a free Generall councall, and therefore will eyther hauehave none at all, or will hauehave them so slavish, as if they were but his ecclesiasticall courts convened under him, and in his name. When this Assemblie is convened, at his owne hand, without calling or election, he taketh upon him to preside & moderate. There no man hath libertie to utter his mynd before him, who hath power to raise up and cast downe, to inlarge and restreyne, to preferre and postpone, or put in and put out at his pleasure, and therefore no mans gift in such meetings doeth good to the Kirk. And if it happen that his courses be crossed, and the best sort oppose, then he rageth, and by his proude boastings, and unreasonable raylings, he playeth the Prelate indeede, using Christs ministers & the Kirks Cōmissioners no better, then if they were his slaues or lackeys, convened to say Amen to all his intentions, and to waite upon Oracles falling from his mouth. In ende the pluralitie of voyces of the weaker sorte, and for the most part either emendicate or extorted, carryeth away the sentence which must oblige all, and therefore besides the tyrannies and unjust proceedings, proveth afterward to the greate hurte of the Kirk, to be the cause of many evils and great divisions.
6. The PASTOR in planting of Kirks,The Pastor planteth the Kirk with the best men, with consent of the people, and without hurting the conscience of the intrant: the prelate with such as please him, without consent of the people or presbyterie, and with hurting of the conscience of the intrant. and placing of ministers without respect to any mans private judgment or affection with common consent, maketh choyse of the best qualified for graces and manners, and most fitte for the people he is to be set over, and that with theire owne speciall advise and desire, so that he giveth not the Kirk to the Minister, but the Minister to the Kirk, and in the act of ordination at the place where he shall serue, and in presence of the whole Congregation, he requireth of the Intrant neither oath nor promise, but what is appointed by the assemblies of the whole Kirk, as constancie in the fayth, obedience to the King, and fidelitie in his calling, and after he is admitted, he respecteth him as the conjunct Embassadour of Christ, equall in power and authoritie with himselfe, with no difference but of age and gifts.
The PRELATE excluding both the flock, whom the Pastor is to feede, and the fellow-ministers with whom he is to labour in the worke, except it be superficially and for the fashion, when now the Prelate and his domesticks (who hauehave greater hand in the planting of Kirks then both presbyterie and people) hauehave brought the matter to the point of ordination, cDignitatibus viros dandos, non dignitates hominibus dicere solitus Aeneas Syl. Platina. Magistratus alios mereri, & non habere: alios habere, & non mereri. ib.he giveth the Kirk to the Minister, rather thē the Minister to the Kirk, whereof there flowe so innumerable evils, that the Kirk hath as just cause to complaine now of the placing of Ministers by bishops, as the Kirk had of old of the planting of bishops through the corruption of Archbishops and Metropolitaneo.dPraesidentia non ex virtute sed malitia astimatur, nō dignorum sed potē tiorum sunt throni, cathedra sine ullo acquiritur labore, & prelati sunt qui nihil ad grad… praeterquam velle, adferunt. Nazianz▪ Si percūctari velles quis eos praefecerit, Sacerdotes respondent m…x, & dicunt, ab Archiepiscopo nuper sum Episcopus ordinatus, centum que … solidos dedi, ut Episcopalem gradum assequi meruissem, quoi si minimè dedissem, hodie episcopus non essem. Ambros. citante Bulling. decad. 5. serm 4. Curritur ad curas ecclesiasticas, a doctis pariter & indoctis, quasi quis que sine curis victurus sit, cum ad curas pervenerit. Bern. epist. 42. The ordination must be at the place of the Prelates residencie, and not at the Kirk, where he shall serue nor in presence of the congregation; then is the intrant forced without any pretext of warrant from the kirk, to giuegive his oath and Subscription to Articles of the Prelates devising, for maintenance of his Episcopall authoritie, euen as the Pope doeth in consecrating Bishops and Archbishops, for establishing of his universall Supremacie. When he is admitted, albeit for gifts and all other rsspects he be worthy of double honour farre aboue the Prelate himselfe, yet the prelate contemneth him and his brethren, as poore presbyters, with double contempt. Whereupon we see that the Prelates and others by their example & doing esteeme not of Ministers for their worth & their works sake, but as they are in places of preferment, and as they are clothed with offices and titles of dignitie aboue their fellowes: and this againe makes worldly mynded Ministers to seeke estimation by greatnesse rather then by goodnesse.
7. The PASTOR procureth the peace of the Kirk,The pastor by all means seeketh the peace of the Kirk. the prelate seeketh his owne peace & prosperitie. by following after things which make for peace, Rom. 14. for by the discipline and assemblies of the Kirk he preserveth veritie, without which there is eyther no unitie, or such unitie, as is but a conspiracie, and resisteth heresie the mother of the greatest divisions: so long as our assemblies had their libertie, there could arise no heresie among us, if it had broken up in a parish, a consistorie or presbyterie would hauehave borne it downe: or if it had proceeded further, thē the Synodall, or if it had not been able, the nationall assembly would hauehave suppressed it: for the same reason the Kirk of France, which was nearest to ours, hath ben free of heresie: In the Low Countreysif the Kirks had enjoyed the libertie of theyr assemblies, which they wanted for a long time, Arminianisme had neyther troubled them, nor their neighbours. He never can find in his heart to urge or inforce unprofitable and untimely Ceremonies upon the Kirk, if it were for no other cause, but that they hauehave beene the apples of contention, and the cause of many Schismes, and will choose rather with Ionah to redeeme the quietnes and safetie of the Kirk with the losse of himself, then for his owne particular to raise the smallest tempest, that may perill her peace. He carryeth himselfe no otherwayes in his ministerie, then becommeth the humble servant of the Kirk, & feareth to be affected with Diotrephes his ambitious humour, of aspyring aboue his brethren, which is a speciall preservatiue of peace. He studieth to preserue holynes, without which there can be no sounde nor wholesome peace, he is ever at warre with that which is contrarie to holynes, and sendeth away all scandalous livers with the workers of iniquitie, that peace may be upon the Israell of God Psal. 25.
The PRELATE is accounted a peaceeble man, and pretends alwaies the peace of the Kirk, but indeede seeketh his owne peace and prosperitie, and opposeth the things that make for peace: for if it serue for his owne particular, he can oversee Papists and Hereticks, and suffer heresie to rise and spreade it selfe, that the Kirk may hauehave some other thing to think upon, then his Episcopacie, and may hauehave himselfe to runne unto in steade of assemblies, he careth not to make Schisme, and will fight with tooth and nayle for unlawfull and unprofitable ceremonies, which hauehave ever proved the cause of Schisme, and ere he redeeme the Kirks peace, by casting out these cumbersome wares, he will rather cast over boorde many worthy ministers, suffer numbers of soules, for whom Christ hath dyed, to perish, and the Kirk of Christ tossed with troubles, by occasion of that noysome baggage, to sinke at last under the burden. Contention also commeth by his pride and ambition: for first, great places make great emulation, & hoate competition, as may be seene in Christs owne Apostles,eSicut olim pestiferam illam vestiā, quae per Ari…s… primo de infernis extulerat caput, cupiditus episcopatus induxit: sic hodiernam haeresin (nimirum pontificis Romani primatum) pracipuè nutriunt, quos jam men…care suppudet, Aeneas Syl. and historie maketh knowen in many others, what debate and contention, what war and bloodshed prelacie hath brought forth in the Christian world, between Kirk and Kirk contending for primacie, prelate and prelate for presidencie, Pope and Pope for papacie betweene Kings and Bishops for Souveraignitie: as betweene the Roman Emperours, and Roman Bishoppes: the Kings of England and the Primates of England.
8. The PASTOR contents himselfe with such a competent stipend,The Pastor contents himself with his competent stipend, the prelate is a master of the Kirks patrimonio. as is assigned to him for his service, whereby he hath neyther meanes to swell in pride and wealth, nor matter of excesse and superfluitie. And he hath but one body, so he undertaketh but one Cure, where he must be resident, and one Kirk living, which for feare of the censures of the Kirk, albeit he would, he dares not delapidate, but must leaue the Kirk patrimonie in as good or better case, then he found it at his entry.
The PRELATE hath a Lords rent out of the revenewes of the Kirk, which at the first was destinate, and should be employed for better uses, and this he hath not for the service of the Kirk, but partly for his unlawfull attending civill affaires, and partly, for bearing out a Lordly porte in himselfe, his Ladie, their children and followers. He uniteth Kirks farre distant, to maki the morsell the greater for his wide gorge: he alloweth and defendeth pluralities, and Nonresidencies, by setting long taks without knowledge or consent of the Kirk, and by setting of fewe formes and taxwardes he raketh up all, and stinteth the Minister to a poore stipendiarie portion of fiue hundreth marks. So that the most Sacrilegious persons in the Land are the Bishops themselues, eating the meate out of the mouthes of many worthy pastors, that labour painfully in the Lords worke.
The Prelates objection.
THE PRELATE will object, that there shall never be any forme of Kirk government or discipline,Object. Paritie is Anarchie and confusion. which bringeth not with it some dangers and discommodities, and that must be the best, which hath the fewest. It cannot be denyed, but the Episcopall gouvernment hath also the owne inconvenients, whether we consider the Salvation of Soules, or the outward constitution of the Kirk, and worship of God, or the patrimonie of the Kirk.
But the Anarchie and confusion, which ever attendeth the paritie maynteyned by the Pastor is an inconvenience greater then all, & sheweth plainly, that the paritie of Pastors is neyther of God, nor can serve for the good of the Kirk: for God is not the God of confusion but of peace, and most of all in the Kirks of the Saincts.
The Pastors answer.
THE gouvernment and order appoynted by Christ can hauehave no danger, discommoditie nor inconvenience, but such as men bring upon it, and which through the neglect or contempte thereof they bring upon themselues. That therefore must be the best, which is best warranted by Christ, and approacheth nearest to the simplicitie of the Apostles and the discipline of their times. Malignant wits hauehave ever beene readie to lay imputations upon Gods ordinances, as that his inward worship according to the Gospell of Christ hath no wisedome, that the outward hath no majestie, that his order of the Kirk is but Anarchie, because it is not a monarchie: but as the naturall philosopher sayth, the order of nature to be full of beautie, and the wise Statesman seeth the beautie of the order of a wise policie: so the Christian, when he seeth the order of the house of God, shall with the Apostle Col. 2. rejoyce to see it, and will preferre the beautie thereof to the wise government of the house & Court of Salomon, as being appointed by a wiser then hee: euen Balaam, albeit disposed to curse, when his eyes are opened to behold this wise order and marvelous beautie, shall be forced to open his lips, and to say, How goodly are thy tents o Iacob, and thy tabernacles to Israell: for a house full of silver and gold I would not curse, for how shall I curse whom the Lord hath not cursed? or how shall I defye, Ans. Shewing by many particulars, that the order of the ministerie appointed by Christ is far from confusion.whom the Lord hath not defyed? Numb. 23. and 24. And that there is no confusion in the paritie mainteyned by the Pastor, it is manifest to him that desireth to see, for:
1. Confusion hath no subordination for disposing of things, and setting every thing in it owne place. The paritie mainteyned by the Pastor hath a lawfull subordination of Elders to Pastors, of Deacons to Elders, of a Kirk Session to a presbyterie, of a presbyterie to a Synode, and of a Synode to a Nationall Assembly.
2. Confusion hath no prioritie of respect of precedencie nor of order. Paritie of pastors so shunneth ambitiō, that it mainteyneth a prioritie of precedenciefDistinguendum inter autoritatem meriti, & potestatis. and respect, for age, for zeale, for gifts &c. and a prioritie of order, whereby one is moderator of others in all their Synods, and meetings, such as was amongst the Apostles themselues, but without prioritie of power or jurisdiction aboue the rest.
3. Confusion admitteth no commandement nor subjection: Paritie of Pastor, admitteth both: for every Pastor conducteth his owne flock, & every pastor is subject to a joynt fellowship of pastors in Presbyteries and Synods.
4. Confusion is abhorred, both by nature and all Societies, as their greatest enemie, which overturneth all, where it hath place. Paritie of Pastors hath the like paritie both in nature, and all sorts of societie: for in nature one eye hath not power over another, nor one hand over another, nor one foote over another, onelyonly the head hath power over all. In the commonwealth and kingdome there is a paritie without a prioritie of power of jurisdiction betwixt one Baron and another, & betwixt one Nobleman and another, and in all the Collegiall jurisdictions in the Land under the King himselfe. In the worlde paritie betwixt one King and another, In the Roman Kirk equalitie betwixt one Lord Bishop and another, and betwixt two Archbishops, Patriarks &c. and in the Kirk of Christ betwixt Apostle and Apostle, &c. why then shall the divine paritie of Pastors be accounted a confusion.