Testimonies in All Ages, Part 5

Testimonies in All Ages · Part 5

p. 7THE 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 (n)(n)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 p. 818, 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 p. 9the 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 p. 10of 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 p. 11from, 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 (o)(o)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…Phil 1:1Papists or (p)(p)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 p. 12or 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, (q)(q)Origi…um l, …, c, 5Isiodor 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.

2Secondly, 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.

3Thirdly, 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 4Aerius 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 5conde…ne A…rius his opinion in this particular for an Hereticko but onelyonly 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 6Sedulius 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 7of 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 2no voice in the Election of Bishops and Ministers, which is (s)(s)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 p. 13not only their Lordships, but their …ioces…e and Episcopalities

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

5Fifthly, 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….

6Sixthly, 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 7in the 1 Tim. 5.1, to be a Presbiter which most Fathers else expound only to be an ancient man.

8Eightly, 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 wwAd 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. ….xxEpist. 5, 6, 7 8, 9, 10. Espenc…us digresi. in Tim. l 3, c, 1, 2, 3Ignatius 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 yyC…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 p. 14Church, 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 zzHeb, 7, 24.le…t no successor or Vicar generall behind him, b…t aaHeb. 7:17, …1 24, 28, 1 P…t, 2, …9.Heb 7:17Heb 7:1remains hi…selfe for ever the High-Priest, chiefe Shepheard and Bishop of our S…ules, and hath promised bbMatth. 28, 20.Matt 28:20to …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 ccIsiodor …isp: de Eccles. O… cii… l, 2, c, 17, Amalarius …or…unatus de Eccles… Officij… l … 2, c, 13.6Fathers witnesse.

Sixthly, ddEpist, 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 eeEpist. ad Enagrilem & in Tit. 1.Titus 1and 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 ggCan, 35, collegam se Presbyterorum ess… cognos…at ……our…h counsel o… Ca…h…ge stile thē.

Seventhly, his words hhEpist 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 iiSubjecti 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 kkSee Espen…us Digress. in Ti… l, 1, c, 12, 3.ambitious Prelates fansie) but only that we must obey Bishops p. 15in 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 llEpis…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 mmSee Coci censura p. 61.62.63like) on nnEsp…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 ooRom. ….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 onelyonly 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, ppInstitution 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 qqSee 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. p. 1617.28, 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 rrSee 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 sssee 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 onelyonly 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 ttChytraeus …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 uuGod… 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… … vvGod…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… p. 17without any prejudice to Church or State ww…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, wwGod…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 xx…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, yyGodwin 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 zzGod…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 aaGodwin 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, bbGod…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, ccGodwin 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, ddGodwin p, 453 454, 455, 460… 561, 473, 478,An 1556 the Bishopricke of Hereford, after Leoneyards death continued 4. yeares vacant, An, 1127, after p. 18Richa…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 ee…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, ffGodwin 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,ggGodwin 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 hhRostall 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 p. 19which 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 onelyonly …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 onelyonly jure divino to …resbyters p. 20as presbyters, not to Bishops, as to Bishops themselves, not, as Bishops, but Presbyters and Bishops when they ordaine in a lawfull manner, do it onelyonly 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 onelyonly 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 onelyonly 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… iiD… Pra…ll…nti… Episcopal… dignitatis l, …. …, 1, sect, 21, & …. 8, sect, 29…Al…d…, Henry kkHenry 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 llMagnum 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 p. 21sorrowfull at this newes, thereupon closed his eyes and would by no meanes open them untill the Bishops, of that Kingdome (mmOne 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 nnChri…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 p. 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 ooPeter 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, hauehave 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 ppRev, 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 hauehave 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 (qqPsal. 137.….9.Ps 137, 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… p. 23in 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.) rrPsal. 10…, 4…,…Ps 10:4Good Lord deliver us And le… all the people say Amen.

FINIS.

End of the text · William Prynne, Testimonies in All Ages (1641)