The Unbishoping of Timothy and Titus, Dedication
To the Right Reverend Fathers in God William Lord Archbiſhop of Canterbury: And Richard Lord Archbiſhop of Yorkes, Primates and Metropolitanes of all England.
MY Lords, I have ſundry times heard both of you joyntly and ſeverally proteſting even in open Court, not onelyonly in the *In Maſter Thomas Brewers, Doctor Baſtweekes, and ſundry other caſes.High-Commiſsion, (but in Dr. Laytons and two other caſes ſince) Starchamber too, (whether ſeriouſly or vauntingly onelyonly let the event determine;) That if you could not proove your Epiſcopall Iuriſdiction and function which you now claime and exerciſe over other Miniſters, and your ſelves as you are Biſhops to be ſuperior in power, dignity and degree to other Miniſters Iure Divino (a doctrine which aAn. Melvini Patricij Adamſoni Palinodia, printed An. 1630.Patricke Adamſon Archbiſhop of S. Andrewes in Scotland, publikely recanted in the Synod of Fiffe Anno 1591. as directly repugnant to, and having no foundation at all in the word of God;) you would forthwith caſt away your Rochets of your backes, lay downe your Biſhoprickes at his Majesties feet, and not continue Biſhops on ehower longer. What your Lordſhips have ſo oft averred and publikely promiſed before many witneſſes, (I hope bonâ fide, becauſe judicially in full Court upon goodadviſe, not raſhly on ſome ſodaine fitt of choler,) I ſhall make bold, to challenge you to make good without more delay; either by giving a ſolid ſatisfactorie ſpeedy anſwere to this ſhort Treatiſe (conſiſting onelyonly of 2. Queſtions, which you may devide between you, and ſo ſpeedily reply to, if your great bSee Maſter Tyndals Obedience of a Chriſtian man. The holy Practiſe of Popiſh Prelates.ſecular occaſions, not your praying and c1. Tim. 3. 2. 3. 2, Tim. 4. 1. to. 5 Tit 1. & 2. 1 Pet. …. 2. 3.frequent preaching, which are onelyonly truly Epicopall, though you deeme them overmeane imployment for Arch-biſhops interrupt you not:) which manifeſts all that Jus Divinum which hitherto both or either your Lordſhips have pretended for your Epiſcopalities to be but a meere abſurd ridiculous faction, having not the leaſt ſhadow of Scripture to ſupport it; or in caſe you either cannot or faile to give ſuch an Anſwer to it in convenient time; by pulling off your Rochets and reſingning up your Archbishoprikes (which without all queſtion are but a meere humaine, and no divine Inſtitution, as I have evidenced:) into his Majeſties hands, d31. H S. c 9 37. H. 8 c. 17. 1. E 6. c. …. & all the Biſhops Patents for their conſecration and Cong.from whom you dare not deny you onelyonly and wholly received them, with all your Epiſcopall Juriſdiction and Authority thereunto annexed, whereby you difference your ſelves from, or advance your ſelves above your Fellow-Miniſters as their ſupreme Lords, unleſſe you will ſplit your ſelves againſt the hard rocke of a Praemunire, and the Statutes of: 26. H. 8. c. 1. 31. H. 8. c. 9. 10. 37. H. c. 17. 1. Ed. 6. c. 2. 1. Eliz. c. 1. 5. Eliz. c. 1. 8. Eliz. c. 1. which Acts as they will informe your Lordſhips, notwithſtanding all your former vaunts and brags of divine right, That the Archbiſhops, Biſhops, Arch-deacons and other Eccleſiaſticall perſons of this Realme, HAVE NO MANER OF IVRISDICTION ECCLESIASTICALL, BVT BY, VNDERUNDER AND FROM THE KINGS ROYALL MAJESTY; to whom by holy Scripture ALL AVTHORITY AND POWER IS WHOLY GIVEN, to heare and determine all maner cauſes Eccleſiaſticall, and to correct vice and ſinne whatſoever, and to all ſuch perſons as his †Not Arch-biſhops or Biſhops; who can make no Chancellours, Vicar generals Commiſſaries or Officials unleſſe the King by his ſpeciall Patent give them power ſo to doe in expreſſe words, as theſe Statutes evidence and the Biſhops Patents in Edward the 6. Raigne.Majeſty ſhall appoint thereunto: That all authority and Iuriſdiction ſpirituall and temporall is derived and deducted from the Kings Majeſty, as ſupreme head of the Church and Realme of England, and ſo juſtly acknowledged by the Cleargy thereof: That all Courts Eccleſiaſticall within the Realme were then (and now ought to be though they are not) kept by no other power or authority either forraigne or within the Realme, but by the authority of his moſt excellent Majeſty onelyonly; and that by vertue of ſome ſpeciall commiſsion or letters Patents under his Majeſties great Seale, and in his name and right alone: That all power of Viſitation of the Eccleſiaſticall State and Perſons (much more then of our Vniverſities exempt from Archiepiſcopall & Epiſcopall Iuriſdiction) is united and annexed as a royall prerogative to the Kings Imperiall Crowne, and to be executed by none but by Patent under him: And that all your Citations, proceſſe, Excommunications, Probates of Wils, Commiſſions of Adminiſtration &c. ought to be made onelyonly in his Majeſties name, and ſealed with his ſeale (as they were in King Henry the 8. and King Edwards dayes, witneſſe the Biſhops Regiſters, Proces and Probates of wils in their two raignes, and now are in your High-Commiſsion) that ſo both the Courts and proceſſe migth be ‡Matth. 22. 20. 21. Sir Iohn Davis his Iriſh Reports. p. 97. 98.knowen to be his Majeſties by leaving his Image, ſtile and ſuperſcription ingraven on them, and to be derived unto you, not by any divine right, but by his Princely grace alone, who hath as abſolute an Eccleſiaſticall Iuriſdiction, as any of his royall progenitors enjoyed, both by the Lawes of God and a26. H. 8. c. 1. 37. H. 8. c. 17. 1. E. 6. c. 2. 1. Eliz. c. 1. 5. Eliz. c. 1. 8. Eliz. c. 1.of the Realme: So they will inforce your Lordſhips to acknowledge, (unleſſe you will renounce your Alegiance to your moſt gracious Soveraigne, whoſe meere grace hath advanced you to what you now are,) that all your Epiſcopall Iuriſdiction, whereby you are diſtinguiſhed from, or elevated above any ordinary Preſbyters and Miniſters, is not from any divine Charter or Commiſſion from Chriſt, but *In caſe they have … Character or Commiſſion under his Majesties Seale which all of them now want, and ſo are meere uſurpers on his Majeſties Crowne and Eccleſiaſticall Prerogative in keeping Confiſtories, Viſitations, and Exerciſing Epiſcopall Iuriſdiction in their owne names, with Patent or Commiſsion from the King.onelyonly in, by, from, and under his Majeſty; and ſo not Jure Divino, as you have thus frequently craked and boaſted to the world; ſo as you muſt either now forthwith renounce your Biſhoprikes according to your Proteſtations, or elſe be guilty of breach of promiſe; unleſſe you can proove you enjoy them onelyonly by a divine right, and yet onelyonly in, by, from, and under his Majeſty, which is a contradiction.
If your Lords to maintaine your divine pretended Epiſcopall Iuriſdiction ſhall flie to bSunday no Sabath. p. … & 44.Doctor John Pocklington for ayd (who by †W. Bray.one of your Domeſticke Chaplaines approbation) hath verily publiſhed in print, That you by Gods mercy to our Church, are able lineally to ſet downe your Succeſsion in your Epiſcopall dignity, from S. Peters Chaire at Rome, to S. Gregory, and from him, from our firſt Archbiſhop S. Auguſtine (though we had many dSee Antiquit. Eccleſ. Brit. Bodwines Converſion. of Brittanie with others, who write of King …ucius and Speedes History. Booke. 6. c. 9. p. 73. to 82.Archbiſhops before his comming) our Engliſh Apoſtle (ſo the Papiſts would have him ſtiled; though *Defence of the Apolog. part. 5. c. 1. Diviſ. 1. Artic. 1. Diviſ. 24.Biſhop fActs and monum. f. 2. p. 9…. to 120.lewel, Fox, and gSped. Hist. l. 6. c. 9.others, renounce him) downeward to his Giver that now ſits in his chaire, Primate and Metropolitane of all England. I ſhall then deſire your Lordſhips and this Doctor to proove.
Firſt, that S. Peter was a Biſhop by divine Inſtitution.
Secondly, that he was Biſhop of Rome? of which this Doctor is ſo impatient, that he breakes out unto hPage. 43.theſe paſſionate words well worthy your Epiſcopall Cenſure: Whereby †See Quest. 1. Object. 6. Anſwer 2. and most of our learned writers, who have affirmed, that Peter was never at Rome much leſse Biſhop there, upon ſuch grounds as this Doctor cannot anſweretheir vanity may appeare, that upon idle gheſſes againſt all antiquity, makes fooles beleeve, that S. Peter w as kEpiphanius Contr. Haereſes. l. 1. Haer. 27. col. 88. 89. Euſebius Eccleſ. Hist. l. 3. c. 21. Irenaeus. l. 3. c. 3. 4. 5. write that both of them were Biſhops of Rome at once, and not Peter the ſole Biſhop, and Euſebius writes Paul in the first place before Peter.never at Rome; mking the Succeſsion of Biſhops and truth of the Latine Churches, as queſtionable as the Centuriſts orders.
Thirdly, Wheter Peter was ſole Biſhop of Rome, or rather Paul alſo Biſhop as well as hee at the ſame time, and that by divine inſtitution? whence it will follow, that there ought to be ‡See Euſeb. ſ: 3. c. 10. 11. or So…r. Schol. Eccl. Hist. l. 7. c. 3how Biſhops of Rome and ſo of Canterbury, at the ſame time, not one alone, as two ſeverall perſons at leaſt to conſtitute one Biſhop?
Fourthly, Whether it will follow from Peters being Biſhop of Rome Iure Divino, that the Arch-biſhops of Canterbury and Yorke moſt neceſſarily be Archbiſhops Iure divino?
Fifthly, Whether if this Doctrine be true, this Propoſition can be denied; that your Lordſhips being lineally deſcended from the Church and Popes of Rome, are both the true and genuine ſonnes and members of theſe two ghoſtly Parents? If you deny this inference, then you muſt renounce this divine Title to your Prelacies; if you ſubſcribe unto it (as I preſume you dare not, then all his Majeſties loyall ſubjects (who have in their m28. H. 8. c. 10. 1. Eliz. c. 1.oath of allegiance and ſupremacy, renounced all forraigne Iuriſdiction with the Biſhops and Church of Rome, abandoned by *See Raſtall Tit. Rome.ſeverall Acts of Parliament,) muſt renounce both you, and this your Epiſcopall Iuriſdiction to, thus claimed: which ſince you can no wayes ſubſtantially proove to be Iure Divino, I hope you will now lay downe your Biſhopriches, according to proviſe, or elſe be though…never worthy faith or credit more in future time.
Neither may the ſeeming ſtrangnes of the thing it ſelfe, deterre you from it, this being no new thing for Biſhops to reſigne and give over their Biſhoprikes. For not to mention, that famous *Oratio ad … 50. Epiſcopus, in his life before his workes. Socrates Eccleſ Hiſt. l. 5. c 7. p Iſidor. Pe'uſiotae Epiſt l. 3. Epiſt. 223.Gregory Nazianzen, that great Patriarke of Constantinople, or p Hi…rax, †Nicephorus Eccleſ. Hist. l. 10. c 11.Iohn of Antioch, with ſundry others in the primitive Church, who either out of conſcience or for quietnes ſake, voluntarily renounced or repudiated their Biſhoprikes betaking themſelves to a more retired private life, wherein they might ſerve God better. Nor yet to recite the Hiſtory of *Socr. Scholaſt l. 4. c. 18. in the Greeke 23. Niceph. Eccleſ. Hist. l. 11. c. 37. Petrus Bleſenſis Epiſt. 23.Ammonius, who when the Cleargy and people elected him for their Biſhop, and urged him to take a Biſhopricke upon him, fled away ſecretly, and cut off his right eare, that the deformity of his body might be a Canonicall impediment, to his election, and, being yet deemed meet▪ to be a Biſhop by Timothius the Patriarke, though his Noſe and eares had beene both cut off by reaſon of his learning and vertues; and the people drawning him against his will to accept that office, hee replyed that hee would likewiſe cut off his tounge to, which pleaſed them unleſſe they would ſpecdily let him goe. Nor yet to remember †Socrates Eccl. Hiſt. l. 4. c. 18. Niceph. l. 11. c. 37.Euagrius the Philoſopher, who when he was conſtrained to accept a Biſhopricke by Theophilus Alexandrinus, renounced his Ministery rather then hee would accept it, ſuch a dangerous and ill office did hee then repute it, and many good men elſe, who as Nicephorus records, refuſed aunciently to accept thereof, though nothing ſo dangerous and pernicious an office, then as now. Or Nicephorus *Nicephori Gregorae Hiſt. Rom. l. 3. c. 1. 2. f. 9. Cent. Magd. 13. Col. 982.Blemmides, who being elected Patriarch of Conſtantinople abſolutely refuſed to accept it upon any termes▪ Or uCent. Magd. 10. Col. 599.Werinbaldus unanimouſly elected Biſhop of Spier who could by no meanes be induced to embrace it: Or *Cent. Magd. 6. Col. 644.Theophil…us Archdeacon of Adaina, who being choſen Biſhop of that See, refuſed to receive it, and being forced both by the Ministers and people to take it againſt his will, relinquiſhed it ſhortly after though in an idle manner. I find it recorded of ‡Niceph. Greg. Hiſt. Rom. l. 4. 2. 1. f. 11. 13▪ 14. l. 5. fol. 16. l. 6. f. 20. 21. 22. 24. l. 7. f. 29. l. 8 f. 31. Cent. Magd. 8. Col. 669. 672. Cent. 11. Col. 516. 518. Cent. 12. Col. 1384. Cent. 13. Col. 932. 983.Arſenius, Germanus, Paulus Cyprius, Ioſephus, Becus, Gregorius Cyprius, Athanaſius, Iohn, Ioannes Glicis, Antonius Studites, Coſmas, and Theodoſius, all Patriarkes of Conſtantinople▪ as likewiſe of *Vincentius Spec. Hist. l. 24. c. 25. Cent. Magd. 7. Col. 502. 507. 508. Cent. 8. Col. 763. 786. Cent. 10. Col. 586. Cent. 11. Col. 515. 576. Cent. 12. Col. 1387. 1458. 1468. 1484. 1486. 1491. 1519. 1530. 1544. Cent. 13. Col. 1042. 1052. 1057. 1062. 1078. 1092. 1093. 1094. 1102. 1146.Gildenutus Biſhop of Malden, Vlfranius Biſhop of Shetne, Arnulphus, Biſhop of Mets, Addo-Biſhop of Lyons, Victerbus Biſhop of Ratisbon, Herigerus Biſhop of Meniz, Michael Biſhop of Epheſus, Adelberus Biſhop of Wirtenburg. Michael Opites, Patriarch of Athens, Deſiderius, Biſhop of Flaunders, Bruno the third, Biſhop of Colen; Vlrious the ſecond Biſhop of Conſtance, Walther Biſhop of Augusta, Gerhardus Biſhof Herbipolis, Vlricus Biſhop of Rheſia, Brincingus Biſhop of Hildeſhem, Conrade the ſecond Biſhop of Lubecke. Adam Biſhop of Morini in Flaunders, Chriſtianus the ſecond Biſhop of Marcte, Sebotho Biſhop of Augusta, Everhardus Biſhop of Reformes, Vlricus Biſhop of Saltſburg, Conradus Biſhop of Hildesheim, Conradus Biſhop of Halberſtat, Ludolphus Biſhop of the ſame See, Gunterus Biſhop of Magdeburge? Ioſia Odolpleus, Archbiſhop of Vpſal… in S…hland, with ſundry other Patriarkes, Archbiſhops and Biſhops, many of them by reaſon of age or ſickneſſe, others out of diſcontent, others out of a deſire of peace, quietneſſe, and caſe from unneceſſary cares, and troubles, others of them meerly out of conſcience of the unlawfulneſſe, danger, hurt, and ſinnes accompanying the very office of Biſhops as then it is, and yet is uſed▪) have voluntarily renounced, revived, relinquiſhed, their Patriarkſhips, Archbiſhoprikes, and Biſhoprikes, and betooke themſelves to a more retired, religious, quiet, private, godly life, wherein they might ſerve God better and ſhowe thoſe manifold occaſions of evill and temptations unto which their Epiſcopall function would expreſſe them both a hazard of their Soules.
If theſe many forraigne examples, will no wayes moove your Lordſhips as ſeeming over ſtrange, we have many pregnant Domestique preſidents of like nature, which may perſwade you, to make good your promiſe and induce you to an imitation of them. For I find that *Godwine Catalogue of Biſhops London. 1615. p. 70. 113. 118. 120. 188. 192. 219. 305. 306. 313. 318. 323. 336. 353. 397. 413. 414. 437. 438 446. 447. 456. 477. 487. 504. 508. 532. 536. 543. 559. 565. 567. 581. 596. 629. 631. 632. 635. 636. 654. 655. 675. 676.Robert Gemetienſis, S. Edmund, Boniface, and Robert Kalwarby Archbiſhops of Canterbury; Richard Beaueyes, and William de ſancta Maria Biſhops of London, Iohn Bokingham, and Philip Ripingdon, Biſhops of Lincolne, Richard Peche, and Roger de Weſeham Biſhops of Coventre, and Lichfeild, Herman Biſhop of Sherborne, Shaxton Biſhop of Sabiſbury, William Warmeſt, Iohn Voyſy, and Miles Coverdale (who being deprived in Queene Maries time, cared not to returne to his Biſhoprike in Queene Elizabeths, ſetling himſelfe in London and there leading a private life as an ordinary Miniſter) Biſhops of Exeter, Iohn Carpenter and Maſter Hugh Latimer, Biſhops of Worceſter (the later of whom ‡Fox Acts and Monuments p. 1578. His 2. 3. and 4. Sermons before King Edward.ſkipped for joy when hee had caſt off his Rochet, for that hee was eaſed of ſo heavy a burthen, and bleſſed God that he had given him grace to make himſelfe a Quondam Biſhop;) Ralfe de Maydeſtan Biſhop of Hereford. Putta, Quickhelmus, and Haymo Biſhops of Rocheſter, (the firſt of them becoming a Schoolemaſter, ſpent the reſidue of his dayes in that kinde of life, and could never abide to heare of returning to his Biſhoprike;) Dubricius Biſhop of Carleon, Sulghein Biſhop of S. Davids, Iohn Hunden, Biſhop of Landaffe, Caducanus Biſhop of Bangor, Elguenſis Biſhop of S. Aſſaph, Colman, S. Cuthbert, Egelrit and Nicholas de Farnham Biſhops of Lindesfarne and Durham, (the later of whom firſt of all twiſe refuſed and then at laſt reſigned his Biſhoprike out of conſcience) Paulinus de Leedes (who peremptorily refuſed out of conſcience to accept the Biſhoprike of Carlile though thereunto elected, and earneſtly intreated by King Henry the ſecond to accept the place, who offer… him 300. Markes yearly revenue for the increaſe of his living there, as did Sylveſter de Everdon for a time to,) Walter Malclerke Biſhop of Carlile; Cedda, Coena aliàs Albert Athelwold, Thurſtan, William Wickwane Archbiſhops of Yorke, who all voluntarily, (moſt out of conſcience, ſome out of choller, others for their eaſe, ſome for their age, others for other cauſes, beſt knowen to themſelves) reſigned both theſe their Archbiſhops and Biſhoprikes, being ſo many domeſticke preſidents to your Lordſhips (who have long ſince given over the maine part of your Epiſcopall function preaching,) now to doe the like, according to your joint and ſeverall Promiſes, in caſe you cannot proove your Archiepiſcopall and Epiſcopall luriſdictions lure divino, and give a ſatisfactory Anſwer to theſe few papers, which I preſume you can never doe; ſince not onelyonly tEpist. 2. 83. 85. in Tit. 1. Phil. 1. & 1. Tim. 3.Hieron, uIn Eph. 4. & 1. Tim. 3.Ambroſe, xRom. 1. in Phil. Hom. 11. in 1. Tim 3. Hom. 2. in Tit. 1.Chryſoſtom, yEp. 19. 83. 85. Quaest. ex utro que impert. 100. 101.Auguſtine, zIn Phil. 1. 1. Tit. 1. 5. 7. 1. Tim. c. 3. & 4. Acts. 15. & 20. 17. 28.Sedulius, Remigius, Primaſius, Theodoret, Haymo, Beda, Rabanus Maurus, Theophilact, aOri. l. 7. c. 12. l. 8. c. 5. De Eccleſiaſt. Officiis. l. 2. c. 7.Iſidor Hiſpalenſis, bDe divinis officiis l. 2. c 35. 36.Alcuminus, cIn Acts. 15. & 20. 1. Tim 3. Phil. 1. 1. Tit. 1. 5. 7Oecumenius, dDiſtinct. 80. 93. Cauſa. 2. Qu. 7.Gratian, the Councells of Carthag… 4. Con…. 22. to 26. of Aquiſgran c. 8. 10. 11. eDecretal. pars 5. c. 58. 59. 72. 107. 143. 144.Iuo Camotenſis, fSent. l. 4. Distinct. 24.Peter Lombard, gIn Phil. 1. Tit. 1. & 1. Tim. 3.Bruno and hAmalarius Fortunatus de Eccleſ. officiis, l. 2. c. 13. Baſilius Magnus, in c. 3. Iſayae. Nizianzen. Orat. 9. 13. 15. 21. 28.other ancient, but even Anſelme Archbiſhop of Canterbury, Richard Archbiſhop of Ardmagh, all the Archbiſhops, Biſhops and Cleargy of England in 37. H. 8. in their Inſtitution of a Chriſten man chapter of Orders ſubſcribed with all their names, Stokeſly Biſhop of London, Tonſtall Biſhop of Durham, Reginald Peacocke Biſhop of Chicheſter, Biſhop Hooper, Biſhop Latimer, Biſhop Iewel, Biſhop Alley, but even. Arch-biſhop Whitgift himſelfe and Biſhop Bridges, to omit Wickliffe, Swinderby, Walter Brute, S. Iohn Oldcaſtle, Maſter Iohn Lambert, Maſter Iohn Bradford, and other our Martyrs, Maſter Thomas Beacon, Maſter Iohn Fox, Maſter Alexander Novell, Doctor Whitaker, Doctor Humfry, Doctor Willet, Doctor Agray, Doctor Taylor, Doctor Ames, Doctor Raynolds, Doctor Fulke, and others in *Quoted by Gerſonius Bucerus, the Petition to Queen Elizabeth, Maſter Parker, & Doctor Baſtweeks Bookes.their authorized writings printed here in England cum privilegio, and publike allowance, with the forecited ſtatutes of our Realme, and all the Biſhops Patents in the Raigne of King Edward the 6. in expreſse termes, conclude your Archiepiſcopall, and Epiſcopall Iurisdiction to, over other Miniſters, to be a meere humaine invention long after the Apoſtles time, to prevent, (or rather as the event hath ever ſince prooved, to engender, foment, & occaſion) all ſchiſmes factions, errors and diſorders in the Church; when as kMatth. 20, 20, to 29, Marc. 10, 35, to 48, Lu. 22. 23, to 28.Chriſt himſelfe and l1. Pet. 5, 1, to 6, Acts. 14, 23, c. 20, 17, 28, Phil. l, 1, Tit. 1, 5, 7. 1. Tim. 3, &c. c. 5, 17, c. 4. 14, Iam. 5, 14▪his Apoſtles ſince, ordained a Parity, an equality both among his Apoſtles and Miniſters, and ever inſtituted many Biſhops, elders over every particular Church, but never any one Biſhop or Miniſter over many, as the beſt meanes to preſerve unity and roote out ſinnes, occaſioned onelyonly by the pride, ambitious couvetouſneſſe, power, and Tyranny of domineering Prelates. Thus craving pardon for my boldneſſe in preſſing your Lordſhips, like two honest plaine dealing men, to make good your words, that ſo we may once againe become fellow-brethren, and walke hand in hand together like equals m See Bp. Iewels Defence of the Apologie. part. 2, c. 3, Diviſ. 5, an excellent place for this purpoſe.without that infinite Lordly distance, which is now between us. I take my leave and reſt
Your Lordſhips faithfull Monitor A. B. C.