The Unbishoping of Timothy and Titus, Part 2 (3 of 3)

The Unbishoping of Timothy and Titus · Part 2 (3 of 3)

p. 106Firſt, That the power of ordination reſts principally and originally in Chriſt himſelfe Prince of Paſtors.

Secondly, That this power is ſecondarily and derivately in the whole Church, whoſe conſent is requiſite in the election and ordination of Miniſters.

Thirdly, That the actuall power of Ordination and impoſition of hands belongs as well to Preſbyters as to Biſhops, that they ought to joyne with the Biſhop in the laying on hands; and that Timothy was ordained by the Preſbyters.

p. 107Fourthly, That Biſhops and Miniſters have the power of impoſition of hands in them onelyonly inſtrumentally not originally as ſervants to the whole Congregation.

Fif…ly; That the examination and ordination of Miniſters ought to be made publikely in the Church where they are elected to be Miniſters, before all the Congregation, All which he prooves by ſundry Scriptures and Histories. Peter Martyr his coaetaman, (Regius profeſſor in the …niverſity of Oxford, in the dayes of King Edward the 6.) in his Commentary upon the 2. Kings. 2. 23. and in his Common places, printed at London, Cum Privilegio, An. 1576. Claſs. 4. Loc. 1. Sect. 23. p. 849. writes thus: The Papists cannot object grievous ſinnes againſt the Miniſters of the Gospell, but they oppoſe onelyonly ſome ſlight, that I ſay not ridiculous thinge: they ſay that our Paſtors have no impoſition of hands, and thence they indeavour to conclude, that they are not to be reputed juſt Governours of the Church; and that the Congregations which are taught and governed by them, are no true Churches, but Conven…cles of rev…lters. And this they ſay, as if the impoſition of hands were ſo neceſſary, that without it there can be no miniſtry in the Church; when notwithſtanding Moſes conſecrated Aaron his Brother and his Children, offering divers kindes of Sacrifices, on which no man formerly had layd on hands. Lik…w…ſe Iohn the Baptist brought in a new right of Baptiſme, and adminiſtred it to the Iewes, when as yet no hands had beene layd upon him, and hee himſelfe had beene baptiſed of no man. Paul alſo called by Chriſt in his journey, did not preſently goe to the Apoſtles that they might lay hands upon him, but hee taught in Arabia for 3. yeares space, and miniſtred to the Churches, before that hee went up to the Apoſtles his Anteceſsors, as himſelfe witneſseth in his Epistle to the Galathians. We reject not the impoſition of hands, but retaine it in many Churches; which if we receive not from their Biſhops, we are not to be blamed for it, for they would not conf…rre it on us, unleſse wee would depart from ſound Doctrine, and likewiſe bind our ſelves by O…th to the Roman Antichriſt. In which words hee reſolves:

p. 108Firſt, That the impoſition of hands is no ſuch eſſentiall part of a Miniſters ordination, but that it may be omitted; and that thoſe who are elected and lawfully called to the Miniſtery by the ſuffrage of the whole Church and people, are Miniſters lawfully called and ordained without this Ceremony.

Secondly, That the impoſition of hands belongs to Miniſters, as well as Biſhops; and that thoſe who are ordained Miniſters in the reformed Churches, where they have no Biſhops, onelyonly by the laying on of hands of other Miniſters, are lawfully ordained.

Thirdly, That this poſition, that the power of ordination belongs onelyonly to Biſhops, that thoſe are no true Miniſters who are ordained without a Biſhop, is but a vaine ridiculous Popiſh Cavill. Our Prelates therefore ſhould be aſhamed to ground both their owne, and Titus his Epiſcopall Hierarchie upon it: Learned **Controv. 2. qu. eſt. 5. c. 5.Doctor Whitaker, writing againſt Bellarmine, ſaith; that this text of the 1. Tim. 4. 14. makes very much against the adverſaries; For from this place wee understand, that Tim…thy, receiveth impoſition of hands from the Elders, who at that time governed the Church by a common Councell; and against ††Contra Duraeum l. 9. Sect. 55.Duraeus, hee argues thus; Luther, Zwinglius, Oecolampadius, Bucer and others were Preſbyters; and Preſbyters by Gods Law are the ſame with Biſhops; therefore they might lawfully ordaine other Preſ…yters; Doctor Fulke in his Confutation of the Rhem…ſh Teſtament: Annot. on Tit. 1. Sect. 2. and Doctor Willet in his Synopſis Papiſmi, the 5. generall Controverſie quaeſt. 3. part. 2. write thus, Although in the Scripture a Biſhop and an Elder is of one order and authority in preaching the word, &c. yet in government by ancient uſe of speech, hee is onelyonly called a Biſhop, which is in the Scripture called cheife in governement, to whom the ordination or conſecration by impoſition of hands was allwayes principally committed. Not that impoſition of hands belongeth onelyonly to him, for the reſt of the Elders that were preſent at ordination did lay on their hands, or elſe the Biſhop did lay on his p. 109hands in the name of the reſt. We differ from the Papiſts in this; They affirme; that not principally and cheifly, but ſolely and wholly the right of conſecrating and giving Orders appertaineth unto Biſhops. But concerning the power of giving Orders we ſay; that though it were cheifly in the Apostles, yet the Paſtors and Elders together with them layd on their hands, Acts. 13. 3. 4. and as S. Paul speaketh of his laying on of hands, 2. Tim. 1. 6. ſo hee maketh mention of impoſition of hands by the Elderſhip, 1. Tim. 4. 14. And the Rhemiſts on that place miſlike not the practiſe of their Church, that their Preists doe lay on their hands together with the Biſhop upon his head that is to be ordained. What elſe doth this ſignifie, but that they have ſome interest in ordaining together with the Biſhop? The 4. Councell of Carthage Can. 3. Decrees thus: Let all the Preiſts that are preſent, hold their hands next to the Biſhops hand, upon the head of him that is to be ordained. Againe Can. 14. of the ſame Councell: The Biſhop must not give orders, but in the preſence and aſſembly of the Clergy. By this then it is manifest, that impoſition of hands doth not wholly and ſoly belong to the Biſhops, ſeeing the reſt of the Elders were wont to lay on their hands likewiſe, or the Biſhop in the name of the reſt. So that the Elders were not excluded. Doctor Feild in his 5. Booke of the Church, c. 27. is of the ſame opinion; where hee prooves out of Durandus and other Papiſts, that the power of conſecration and order is not greater in Biſhops then in any other Ministers; that the power of ordination was reſerved to Biſhops, not by any divine, but humane Conſtitutions onelyonly, rather for to honor the Biſhops preistly place, then for that it might not be done by any other, and for the avoyding of confuſion and ſchiſme in the Church: Concluding, that in caſes of neceſſity; as when Biſhops are extinguiſhed by death; or fallen into haereſie, or obſtinately refuſe to ordaine men to preach the Word and Gospell of Chriſt ſincerely, and the like, then Miniſters onelyonly may ordaine other Miniſters, without any Biſhops aſſiſtance. And Maſter Cartwright in his Confutation of the Rhem…ſh Teſtament, on the 1. Tim. 1. 14. Sect. 18. and on Tit. 1. Sect. 2. pr…oves, both by the Rhemists owne p. 110practiſe and Confeſſion, by the 4. Councell of Carthage, cited by them, and the Hiſtory of Eradius his ordination, who ſucceeded Augustine, to which ſixe Elders, as well as two Biſhops were called, and by the text of Timothy itſelfe, that the impoſition of hands belongs to Elders as well as Biſhops, which hee manifeſts to be one and the ſame by divine inſtitution. Finally, acute and learned Doctor Ames in his Bellarminus Enervatus Tom. 2. l. 3. c. 2. of the vocation and ordination of Miniſters, Sect. 4. &c. De Ordinatione, Concludes thus againſt Bellarmine, who affirmes, that the ordination, vocation, and election of Biſhops and other Miniſters of the Church belongeth onelyonly to Biſhops.

Firſt, That it cannot belong Iure Divino to Popiſh Biſhops, ſuperior to Preſbyters in degree, becauſe they themſelves are onelyonly, vel juris, vel injuriae humanae, of humane right, or rather injurie, not of divine inſtitution.

Secondly, That the very act of ordination belongs to divine Biſhops, that is, to Preſbyters, in a Church well ordered.

Thirdly, That as to the right force and vertue which it hath in conſtituting the Miniſter of the Church, it alwayes appertaines to the whole Church; as the celebration of Matrimony receives all its force and vertue from the conſent of the parties married.

Fourthly, That in corrupted and collapſed State of the Church, the Miniſtery and Order failing; the very act of ordination, ſo farre forth as it is neceſſary to the conſtitution of a Miniſter, may in ſuch a caſe be lawfully executed by the people.

Fiftly, That the Act of ordination is attributed to Preſbyters, 1. Tim. 4. 14. And that the Apoſtles themſelves did not ordaine ordinary Miniſters▪ but by the concurrence and conſent of the people, Acts. 14. 23.

p. 111Sixtly, That in the primitive Church, which was governed by the common Counſell of the Preſbyters, before there were any Biſhops, the very firſt Biſhops were not ordained by Biſhops, which then were not, but by Miniſters.

Seaventhly, That all the Councels, Degrees and Teſtimonies of Fathers objected to the contrary; proove nothing elſe, but that the Act and Right of Ordination partly by Cuſtome, and partly by humane Decrees, was given to the cheife Preſbyter or Biſhop after the Apoſtles time, not belonging to them by any divine right.

Eightly, That the impoſition of hands is not abſolutely neceſſary to the eſſence of a Paſtor, no more then a Coronation to the eſſence of a King, or the celebration of a mariage, to the eſſence of a mariage.

Ninthly, That the power of Ordination, according to the Schoolemen and Canoniſts, is not an Act of Iuriſdiction, but of ſimple office, which Preſbyters may performe without any Commaund or Iuriſdiction.

Tenthly, That the Papiſts themſelves teach, that baptiſme conferred by any Chriſtian, though a lay man or woman; is good by reaſon of the neceſſity of it, that a ſimple Preſbyter by the common conſent of the Popiſh Doctors, may adminiſter the Sacrament of Confirmation, or conferre any of the greater Orders, and that all the Pontificians teach with unanimous conſent, that a Biſhop once conſecrated, although hee be a Simoniack, Heretick, excommunicate perſon or the like, may yet firmely ordaine others. Therefore a fortiori Godly Preſbyters, or the people and Church of Chriſt, may lawfully conferre orders without the helpe or concurrence of a Biſhop. Which authority of his ought not to be ſlighted as Schiſmaticall or Erronious, it being conſonant to the Doctrine both of our owne and other Proteſtant writers, Churches; and this booke of his printed p. 112by Authority, in the univerſity of Oxford, no longer ſince, then Anno 1629. It is evident then by this whole cloud of witneſſes (to omit others) that the power and right of ordination and impoſition of hands, (which ſayth **Manus impoſitio quid est aliud quàm oratio ſuper▪ hominem? Cauſ. 1. qu. 1. c. Manus. Ambr. in 1. Tim. 4.1 Tim 4Gratian, is nothing elſe but a prayer over a man; and as ‡‡In 1. Tim. 4. Lect. 3. See Gerſonius Bucerus De Gubern. Eccl. p. 337.1 Tim 4Aquinas writes, ſignifieth onelyonly the conferring of grace, which is given by Chriſt; and not that Miniſters, (not Biſhops, who are here but Miniſters) give this grace,; and ſo as proper for Ministers as Biſhops both by divine and humane right and practiſe) belongs to Preſbyters and ordinary Miniſters as well as Biſhops; therefore Biſhops cannot be paramount Preſbyters and ordinary Miniſters in order and Iuriſdiction, in this regard; neither will this power of ordination proove Timothy or Titus Biſhops, as they now vainely ſurmiſe. Hence therefore I retort the objection in this maner againſt the oppoſites.

That power or authority which is common by divine right and inſtitution to Miniſters and Preſbyters as well as Biſhops, can neither proove Timothy or Titus to be Biſhops, or Biſhops to be ſuperior to Preſbyters or Miniſters in Juriſdiction, order, dignity or degree, Iure divino or humano.

But the power of authority of ordaining Preſbyters, Miniſters, and Deacons, is ſuch; as the premiſes undeniably evidence.

Therefore it can neither proove Timothy or Titus to be Biſhops, nor Biſhops to be ſuperior to Preſbyters, or Miniſters in Iuriſdiction, order, dignity or degree, Iure divino or humano.

Sixtly, S. Paul, in the 1. Tim. 3. and Titus 1. 6. &c. p. 113makes a particular enumeration and recitall both of the qualifications, and offices of a Biſhop; But among all theſe, hee ſpeakes not a word concerning the power of act of ordination; neither doth hee make it a part of a Biſhops qualification or duty to be apt and able diſcreetly to conferre orders, as hee doth particularly require, hee **1. Tim. 3. 2.1 Tim 3:2ſhould be apt to teach: How therefore this ſhould be a cheife property, or principall quality of a Biſhop, I cannot yet conjecture, ſince the Scripture makes it none, but rather a property, an act of the Preſbytery, 1. Tim. 4. 14. Acts. 13. 3. 4. I ſhall deſire Biſhops therefore, to produce ſome divine Charter or other for this pretended Monopoli…e of ordination, which they would ingroſſe unto themſelves alone (perchance to make the more advantage by it, it ‡‡Lindewoods Constit. Provinc. l. 3. de Cenſibus. cap. Sena f. 160. 161.being a ſweet and pleaſant gaine as ſome handle it now,) before they lay any further Title thereunto, even as they are Diocaeſan Biſhops.

Seaventhly, I muſt informe our Biſhops for their learning, that An. 31. H. 8. in the Patent Rolls part. 4. King Henry the 8. granted a Patent to all the Archbiſhops, and Biſhops of England, to endble them to conſecrate Churches, Chapples, and Churchyards, by vertue of his speciall Patents and Commiſſions under his great Seale first obtained; without which they could not doe it, and that all the Biſhops in King Edward the 6. time, had speciall clauſes in their Letters Patents, authorizing them to ordaine and conſtitute Ministers and Deacons, as Biſhop Ponets, Biſhop Scoryes, Biſhop Coverdales, Patents 5. Edw. 6. pars 1. & 2. with others in his Raigne, teſtifie at large. Neither doe or can our Archbiſhops or Bps▪ at this day conſecrate any Biſhop or Arch-biſhop, unleſſe they have the Kings owne **See Wests Preſidents: Warranti Sect. 574.Letters Patents, authorizing and commaunding them to doe it, as the Patents directed to them uponevery Biſhops conſecration and experience witneſſe. It ſeemes therefore that their power to conſecrate Churches, Chapples, Churchyards, Miniſters, and Biſhops, belongs not to them as they are Biſhops, and that it is meerly humane not divine, ſince they claime and execute it onelyonly by p. 114vertue of the Kings Letters Patents; therefore it cannot advance them above Preſ byters, by any divine right.

Eightly, All accord, that in caſes of neceſſity, when or where Biſhops are wanting, or when there are none but Simontacall or Hereticall Biſhops, who refuſe to ordaine ſuch as are Orthodoxe, or will not ſubſcribe to their hereſies, there Preſbyters and ordinary Ministers may lawfully conferre orders, confirme, and doe other Acts, which Biſhops uſually ingroſse to themſelves; ſo Ambroſe, Auguſtine, Richardus Armachanus, Wicliffe, Thomas Waldenſis, Feild, Ames, with others in their forequoted places, and generally all divines reſolve without diſpute. Yea that learned Morney Lord of Pleſſis, in his Booke De Eccleſia. c. 11. **Bellarminus Ener. Tom. 2. l. 3. c. 2.Ameſius, with ſundry others affirme, that the people alone in caſe of neceſſity where there are no Biſhops nor Miniſters, may lawfully elect and ordaine Ministers, as well as baptiſe and preach (both which ‡‡Summa Angelica, Baptiſmus 5. Sect. 12. Concil. Carthag 4. Can. 39. 99. Gratian. Diſtinct. 23. cap. Mulier.Papists, and **Fox Acts & Monuments 1610. p. 465. 485. 501. 599. 1015. 1016. 1795. 1796.Proteſtants affirme, that Laymen may lawfully doe in caſes of neceſſity) the right of ordination and election of Miniſters being originally in the whole Church and people, Miniſterially onelyonly in Biſhops and Miniſters as ſervants to the Congregation, and the impoſition of hands no eſsentiall, but a ceremoniall part of ordination, which may be ſufficiently made without it, as Angelus de Clavaſio, Peter Martyr, and others, both Papiſts and Proteſtants, affirme. But when Paul left Titus in Crete, ‡‡Tit. 1. 5.Titus 1:5to ſet in order the things that were wanting, and to ordaine Elders in every City, there where preſent no other Biſhops or Elders to ordaine Miniſters, (as is likely) but Titus onelyonly; for we read of none elſe but Titus then in Cree…e, (which was then but newly converted to the faith;) and hee is enjoyned, to ordaine Elders in every City; which prooves there were none there before, for what need then of any, yea of many others to be newly ordained, and that in every City? Titus his example of ordination therefore in this exigent and neceſſity in a Church then newly planted, is no argument to proove him a Diocaeſan Biſhop; ſince other ordinary Miniſters might ordaine in ſuch a caſe, as all acknowledge, yea and the people too, without either Miniſter or Biſhop to aſſiſt them.

p. 115Ninthly, I anſwer, that it is moſt evident, that Titus did not ordaine Elders in every City, by vertue of any Epiſcopall inherent Iuriſdiction of his owne, but as Paules Subſtitute, who appointed him to doe it, and preſcribed him what maner of perſons hee ſhould ordaine: Tit. 1. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. This therefore cannot proove Titus to be a Biſhop; or that the ſole right of ordination is appropriated unto Biſhops, as Biſhops, but rather the contrary.

Laſtly, Admit, that the power of ordaining Preſ byters belonged only to Biſhops Iure Divino; yet is no good conſequent; Ergo, they are ſuperior to Preſbyters in order and degree Iure Divino; ſince the conferring of orders, (an **Ameſuis, Bellarminus Enervatus Tom. 2. l. 3. c. 2. & others forequoted.act of ſervice, of Miniſtry onelyonly, not of Authority, and no more then an externall complement or Ceremony) is farre ‡‡See Gerſonius Bucerus de Gubernat. Eccleſ. p. 33. 158. to 162. 261. 262. 499. 500. 517.inferior to the authority of preaching, baptiſing, conſecrating, and adminiſtring the Sacrament, which every Miniſter may doe as well as a Biſhop. The Biſhops and Miniſters in the primitive Church had **1. Cor. 12. 9. 10. Acts 10. 46.1 Cor 12:91 Cor 12:10Acts 10:46many of them the gift of tongues, of prophecy, of healing and working miracles, which ſome Biſhops, then and all now want; yet theſe extraordinary endowments made them not ſuperior in Iuriſdiction, order, or degree to thoſe Biſhops who then wanted thoſe gifts, or to ours now, who take farre more ſtate upon them, then thoſe Biſhops did. ddMarſilius Patavinus Defene. Pacis pars 2. c. 20. 24. Fox Acts and Monum. p. 1153. Biſhop Latymers Serm. of the plough. Nicolaus de Clemangiis de corrupto Eccleſ. ſtatu. c. 14. 15. 16. Avent. Annal. Bojorum. l. 6. Proaemio.Many Biſhops there are and have beene that could not, at leaſt would not preach, though Bellarmine himſelfe, yea the **De Cleric. c. 4.Councell of Trent, and ffThomas Bec ons Catechiſme. f. 499. 500 The Inſtitution of a Christian man: Ch. of orders; Gerſonius Bucerus De Gub. Eccleſ. p. 33. 158. uſque 162. 261. 162. 499. 500. 517. 518. 540. 622. 623.all men acknowledge, that it is the cheifest, and moſt honourable part of their Epiſcopall function, as making them Chriſts Ambaſsadors: Are they then inferior in order, dignity, power, and degree to Biſhops, yea to Miniſters, Vicars, and poore Curates who are both able and willing to preach? That which makes any man ſuperior in order Iuriſdiction, or dignity to his equall, muſt be an authority ſuperior to that which his equall hath, not the acceſſion of any inferior dignity or power. The making of an Earle, a Knight, or Country-Iuſtice, addes nothing to his former honour in point of p. 116ſuperiority or precedency. If a Biſhop be preſented to an ordinary benefice, prebendary or Deanery, (as **See Godwins catalogue of Biſhops. p. 70. 72. 1114. 123. 143. 164. 185. 214. 220. 247. 249. 275. 345. 382. 422. 436. 448. 484. 501. 502. 568. 569. 570. 571. 572. 620. 621. 622. 630.ſome are and have beene by way of Commendam.) it accumulates nought to his Epiſcopall authority being inferior to the power of the Keyes, preaching and adminiſtring the Sacraments, which every enjoyes Iure divino, as abſolutely as any Archbiſhop or Biſhop, can no wayes advaunce Biſhops in Iuriſdiction or degree above Preſ byters and ordinary Miniſters, no more then the Biſhop of Durham his being a ††Godwins Catalogue of Biſhops. p. 644. 657 660 Brooke County Palatine 14. 15. 16. 18. 19. 24.Count Palatine, with his large temporall juriſdiction, farre exceeding that of all our Archbiſhops and Biſhops, advaunceth him in order or degree above them all. So that this grand objection to proove Titus a Biſhop; yea a Biſhop ſuperior in Juriſdiction, order, and degree to Miniſters; is both falſe and idle.

Obj. 4. If any object, that it is a received maxime in the Schooles, ‡‡Bellarmin. De Clericis l. 3. queſt. 2.that hee which ordaines is greater then hee who is ordained; and that the Apoſtle ſaith, that the leſſer is bleſſed of the greater: Therefore Titus, and ſo likewiſe Biſhops, who ordaine Miniſters in point of Juriſdiction, order, dignity and degree.

Anſw. 1. I anſwer; Firſt, that this objection takes that for granted which I formerly refuted and evidenced to be a falſehood; to wit, that the power of ordination belongs onelyonly to Biſhops, not to Preſbyters; and ſo is build on a falſe ſandy foundation.

Secondly, I anſwer; that this propoſition, hee that ordaineth or conſecrateth Miniſters is greater in Iuriſdiction, power, order, or degree, then the parties conſecrated and ordained; is a notorious dotage and untruth, broached at firſt by **Contra haereſes l. 3. Tom. 1. Haer. 75. Col. 759. 760.Epiphanius, to confute Aërius his orthodox opinion, of the parity of Biſhops and Preſbyters; and ſince that taken up at ſecond hand by ‡‡De Clericis. l. 3. Quaeſt. 2.Bellarmine, and other Ieſuites, the **Seſſio 23. De Sacramento Ordinis cap. 3. & Canon. 7.Councell of p. 117Trent, ‡‡His Sermon Aprill 17. An. 1608. in this defence of the honorable Function of Biſhops; and his defence of that Sermon ſince.Biſhop Downham, with other Patriots of the Popes and Prelates Monarchy; and laſt of all (like Coleworts twice ſodde) uſurped by all our Prelates in their high Commiſſion at Lambeth in their Cenſure of Doctor Bastwicke, who laid the whole weight and burthen of their Epiſcopall ſuperiority and precedency over other Miniſters, upon this rotten counterfeit Pillar, unable any wayes to ſupport it, as theſe enſuing demonſtrations will evidence at large bejond all contradiction.

For firſt of all we know, ooGratian Diſtinct. 79. 63.that Cardinals and Bishops at this day, (as the people and Clergy, yea the Emperor heretofore) doe elect and conſecrate the Pope; yet they are not greater in order, dignity, power or Iuriſdiction then the Pope, but inferior, and hee farre ſuperior to them in all theſe. We ppGratian Diſtinct. 79. 63.read, that Metropolitanes, Patriarkes, Primates and Archbiſhops are created, conſecrated and inſtalled by ordinary Biſhops, as the **See Antiquitates Eccleſiae Brit. Godwins Catalogue of the Archbiſhops of Canterbury and Yorke, Malmeſbury De Gestis Pontificum Angliae, with Maſon his Conſecration of Biſhops; and the booke of conſecration of Bps.Arch-biſhops of Canterburry and Yorke, have oftentimes beene by the Biſhops of London, Rocheſter, Wincheſter, Saliſbury, and the like: yet are they not greater in dignity, power, authority, place, or order then they, but ſubordinate and ſubject to them whom they thus ordaine, in every of theſe. We know by dayly experience that one Biſhop conſecrates and ordaines another, and hee a ſecond, and that ſecond a third; yet all of them are of equall power, and Iuriſdiction, not different or diſtinct in order or degree; and ſometimes the laſt of the three in reſpect of his Biſhopricke, takes precedency of the rest, that ordained him, as the ‡‡31. H. 8. c. 10.Biſhops of London, Durham, and Wincheſter doe here with us, and other Biſhops the like in forraigne parts. So ſome **The booke of Ordination of Miniſters: & Can. 35.Miniſters joyne with the Biſhop in the ordination and laying of hands on others, yet one of them is not ſuperior in Iuriſdiction, order, or degree to the other; Now were this our Prelates objected Paradoxe true; the Cardinals ſhould be greater in order, power, and degree, then the Popes, the Biſhops, then Patriarkes, Metropolitanes, Primates, and Archbiſhops; one Biſhop, one Miniſter then another; yea there ſhould be ſo many different degrees, among Biſhops and Miniſters, as there are p. 118ſucceſſive ſubordinate ordinations; which is both falſe and abſurd. S. Hierom in his Epistle to Evagrius and on Titus, 1. with Alcuvinus, De Divinis Officiis c. 37. affirme, that in the primitive Church Biſhops were both Elected and conſecrated by Preſbyters; and the Scripture is expreſſe, that both Paul and Timothy were ordained by the Preſbytery: Acts 13. 3. 4. 1. Tim. 4. 14. If the Biſhops reaſon then be orthodoxe; it followes inevitably, that in the Apoſtles times, and the primitive Church Preſ byters were ſuperior in Iuriſdiction, order and Degree to Biſhops, yea to Paul and Timothy, the one an Apoſtle, the other an Euangeliſt; and not Biſhops, Lords paramount over them, as they now pretend; and then farewell their Hierarchy which they ſo much contend for. The Archbiſhop of Canterbury (who ſtood much upon this argument at Doctor Bastwicks Cenſure) both crowned our Soveraigne Lord King Charles, and baptiſed his ſonne Prince Charles; will hee therefore conclude, that hee is greater in power, authority, place, and Iuriſdiction then they? The **See Antiquitates Eccleſ. Brit, & Godwins …atalogue of Biſhops.Archbiſhops of Canterbury, have uſually crowned and baptized the Kings of England, and the Archbiſhops of Rheemes the Kings of France; will they therefore inferre, Ergo they are greater in power, dignity, and authority then they; as the ††Marſilius Patavinus Def…nſoris Pac…: pars. 2. c. 25.Popes argue, that they are greater then the Emperors, becauſe the Biſhops of Rome have uſually crowned the Emperors? Are the Princes Electors in Germany greater then the Emperors; or of Poland, Bohemia, and Sweden greater then their Kings; becauſe they elect and create them Emperors and Kings? Are the Lord Major of London and Yorke, or the Major of other Citties inferior to the Commons; or the Lord Chauncellors of our Vniverſities of Oxford and Cambridge, leſſe honorable, potent, and inferior to the Doctors, Procters, and Maſters of Arts; or the heades or Maſters of the Colleadges and Halls in them, ſubordinate, or leſſe worſhipfull or eminent then the fellowes, becauſe they are elected, conſtituted and created by them, to be ſuch? Are the Knights, Citizens and Burgeſſes of the Parliament, not ſo good as thoſe freeholders, Cittizens and Burgeſſes who elect them? or the p. 119Maſters of Companies inferior to thoſe that chooſe them. If not, as all muſt grant, how is this maxime true; that hee who constitutes, ordaines, or conſecrates another, is greater then the parties conſtituted, ordained, or conſecrated, and that in Iuriſdiction, place, order, and degree? Our Popiſh Preiſts are not afraid to proclaime **Diſcip. Sermo. 111. Biſhop …ewels Reply to Harding. Artic. 22. Div. 10. p. 452. 453that in their conſecration of the Sacrament, they create their very Creator, and make no leſſe then Christ himſelfe: are they therefore greater and higher in order and degree then Chriſt, the ††Hebr▪ 4. 14▪ 15. c. 8. 1. c. 9. 11. c. 10. 21.Heb 4:14Heb 4:15great and onelyonly High Preist, the * Cheife Shepheard, and Biſhop of our Soules, whoſe ‡‡Hebr. 13. 20. 1. Pet. 2. 25 c. 5. 4. Iohn. 10. 1. &c.Heb 13:201 Pet 2:25John 10:1Vicar and Subſtitute the Pope himſelfe doth but claime to be? Certainly if this their Popiſh propoſition be true, they muſt needs be one order and degree Higher, in point of Preiſthood, then Chriſt himſelfe; who muſt then loſe his titles of High Preiſt and cheife Shepheard, becauſe every Maſſe-Preiſt will be paramount him; in that hee not onelyonly conſecrates, but creates him too. We read in **Concil. Constantien. Seſſio 24. Bellarm. De Pontifice R… mano.Scripture, that Kings, Preiſts and Prophets were uſually annointed and conſecrated to be ſuch with oyle; was therefore the oyle that conſecrated them, greater or better then they? Are the font and water, better then the children ‡ Exod. 29. & 35. L…. 4. 3. 16. 1. Sam. 10. 1. c. 26 6. 11. Pſ. 92. 10. 1. Kings 1. 39. c. 19. 15. 16.Exod 291 Sam 10:1Ps 92:101 Kgs 1:39baptized in or with them? The Diadems better then Kings, becauſe they crowne them? or the very hands of Biſhops and Miniſters, worthier then Miniſters ordained by them? If not, then are not Biſhops greater then the Miniſters which they ordaine or conſecrate, ſince both are but inſtruments, Servants not prime originall agents, Lords, or Supreme abſolute actors in theſe ſeverall conſecrations and actions. If we caſt our eyes either upon nature or policy, we finde this propoſition of our Prelates a meere …alſehood. In nature we …ee, that a man begets a man; an horſe an horſe; an aſſe an aſſe; a dogge a dogge &c. equall one to the other in nature, quality, ſpecies, and degree; the ſonne being as much a man as the Father, the colt as much an horſe as the ſteed that begott him. In Civill or Politique Conſtitutions, wee ſee the like; In our Vniverſities, p. 120Doctors and Profeſſors of Divinity, Phiſicke, Law, Muſicke, create other Doctors of the ſame Profeſſions, equall to themſelves, and as much Doctors in theſe arts as they; one Doctor in each of theſe, being as much and no more a Doctor then another, ſave onelyonly in point of time or antiquity, but not in reſpect of the profeſſion or degree of Doctorſhip it ſelfe; yea **Biſhop Iewell▪ Reply to Harding. Article 4. Diviſ. 5. 6. 18. Richa…dus Armachanu… De Quaeſt. Armenorum l. 11. c. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7.every Miniſter made by any Biſhop, is as much as truly and fully a Minister as the Biſhop, as all Proteſtants and Papists doe acknowledge; therefore the ſame in ſpecie with, and equall to a Biſhop: Our Biſhops pretend themſelves Spirituall Fathers, and they call the Miniſters ordained by them, Sonnes; So ‡‡Contr. haer. l. 3. haer. 75.Epiphanius long ſince argues againſt Aërius: As therefore in naturall generations, a man begets a man, a beaſt a beaſt; and in Civill reſpects; a Gentleman begets a Gentleman; a peaſant a peaſant &c. but not a man a beaſt; a beaſt a man, a Gentleman a peaſant, nor a peaſant a Gentleman; So Biſhops when they engender naturall children, beget them as men, not Biſhops, and their children are as much men as themſelves; when they ſpiritually ordaine or engender Miniſters, they doe it onelyonly as they are Miniſters not Biſhops, and thoſe they thus beget and ordaine, are as much Miniſters as themſelves; when they beget and conſecrate Biſhops, they doe it as they are Biſhops, and thoſe thus begot and conſecrated are as much Biſhops as themſelves. Since therefore they ordaine Miniſters onelyonly as they are Miniſters, not as Biſhops; as is cleare (elſe it were an unnaturall an incongruous, yea a monſtrous generation, to beget one of a different kinde, order, quality and degree from themſelves, and as much as if a man ſhould beget a beaſt, an horſe, or an Aſſe,) and ſince every Miniſter is as much as compleatly a Miniſter every way as the Biſhop, and Miniſters who ordaine him; how this propoſition can be true; that the ordainer is higher in Juriſdiction, or different Iure divino in order or degree from the ordained, I cannot yet perceive, neither can our Prelates ever make it good. We know there are now divers Miniſters living, who not only baptized, but likewiſe ordained ſome of our Biſhops to be Miniſters, p. 121and layd hands upon them with the Biſhop at the time of their ordination; yea every of our Biſhops, and Archbiſhops were firſt ordained Miniſters by Miniſters before they were made Biſhops or Arcbiſhops. And the first Biſhops that were ordained in the Church paramount Miniſters, were ordained Biſhops by Miniſters, as Hierom writes in his Epistle to Evagrius, and all ſince acknowlege out of him. Are theſe Miniſters therefore in point of order, honor, juriſdiction, dignity and degree, greater then our Archbiſhops or Biſhops? If ſo, then the controverſie is at end; and the truth moſt apparant; that our Miniſters are greater and higher in degree then our Biſhops and Arch-biſhops, not our Biſhops and Archbiſhops higher greater then they, as they vainely contend. If not, then the Prelates maxime, on which they ground their Hierarchie, is moſt falſe, in that ſence in which they urge it; and ſo will yeild no ſupportation to their Hierarchie.

Thirdly, I anſwer, that this Propoſition of theirs is warranted by no Scripture, nor backed with any convincing reaſon drawen from Scripture; therefore it prooves nothing either for Titus his Epiſcopall authority; or for Biſhops ſuperiority above other Miniſters, by any divine right, or inſtitution: As for that text of Hebr. 7. 7. (And without all contradiction the leſſer is bleſſed of the greater;) it is nothing to the putpoſe.

First, Becauſe it it not ſpoken concerning ordination, or of one Miniſters ordaining or bleſſing another, but onelyonly of Melchizedechs bleſſing of Abraham, and Miniſters bleſſing of the people, as the words and ‡‡Anſelmu…, Haymo, Rabanus, Primaſius, Calvin, Deering, and David Dickſon on this text.all Commentators joyntly testifie.

Secondly, Becauſe it is not meant of Miniſters, who bleſſe others onelyonly Miniſterially, instrumentally, by way of duty and ſervice, as Biſhops ordaine Miniſters; not inherent originall authority, for then Miniſters ſhould be better and greater then God, whom they bleſſe and praiſe, but of Chriſt himſelfe; who by p. 122Melchiſedech, his type, bleſſed Abraham by his owne inherent authority and power; as the onelyonly **Heb. 4. 14. 15. c 8. 1. c. 9. 11. c. 10. 21.Heb 4:14Heb 4:15true High-Preist, and ‡‡Heb. 13. 20. 1. Pet. 5. 4.Heb 13:201 Pet 5:4ch…ife Shepheard of our ſoules. If therefore our Prelates take their maxime in this ſence, hee that ordaines Miniſters, to wit, originally by his owne inherent primitive authority and power, is greater then thoſe who are ordained in Juriſdiction, power, and degree; then the propoſition thus interpreted, is true and warranted by this text; but yet they gaine no advantage by it, becauſe no Biſhops, do or can ordaine Miniſters thus, but **Epheſ. 4. 10. 11. 1. Cor. 12. 28. Math. 9. 37. 38.Eph 4:10Eph 4:111 Cor 12:28Matt 9:37Matt 9:38onelyonly God and Christ alone, whoſe Miniſters and Servants both the ordainers and ordained are. But if th…meane, that they who ordaine Miniſters onelyonly inſtrumentally and Miniſterially as ſervants to Chriſt, his Church and the whole Congregation, (in whom the originall and primitive right of ordination is onelyonly veſted) are greater in Iuriſdiction, order and degree, then thoſe who are ordained, as they doe and muſt doe; then the propoſition is moſt falſe and not juſtified by this Scripture, as the premiſed inſtances manifeſt.

Fourthly, Admit this propoſition true; that thoſe who are to ordaine others are greater in power and authority then the parties to be ordained, before their ordination fully executed, becauſe they have an office, a calling of Miniſtery which the others want; in which ſenſe the propoſition may be true, yet it is not true; that the ordainers are greater in power, office and authority then the parties actually ordained after the ordination paſt and finiſhed; becauſe the very end of ordination, is to conferre the ſelfefame office of Miniſtery on the parties ordained; which the ordainers themſelves have in as large and ample manner as they enjoye it; and the parties once ordained, are thereby made as compleate, … abſolute Miniſters every way, in reſpect of their orders and office, as any of thoſe who ordained them: though they were not ſo when they came to be ordained. This appeares by the examples of ‡‡Acts. 1. 25 26. Gal. 2. 8. 9, 11. 14 1. Cor. 12. 28. 29. 2. Cor. 11. 5Acts 1:25Gal 2:8Gal 2:9Gal 2:11Gal 2:141 Cor 12:281 Cor 12:292 Cor 11:5Mathias and Paul; before they were called and ordained to be Apoſtles, they were inferior to the other Apoſtles; but being once called and ordained Apoſtles, they became equall with the other Apoſtles in Apoſtolicall power, dignity, and p. 123degree. So that from all theſe premiſes I may conclude, that this maxime of our Prelates, whereon they build their Epiſcopall Hierarchie, in that ſence they take it, is moſt falſe; and neither prooves Titus to be a Diocaeſan Biſhop, nor yet Biſhops to be ſuperior to other Miniſters in dignity, power, order, or degree, by divine right and inſtitution as they pretend they are.

Finally, Admit the propoſition true, yet it prooves but this; that Biſhops are ſuperior to thoſe Miniſters onelyonly which themſelves ordaine, (ſo that if they ordaine none they are ſuperior to none; not to thoſe ordained by others, which may be their equals notwithſtanding this allegation, ſeing they were not ordained by them; this propoſition extending onelyonly to the act, not to the power of ordination. If any extend it further, in this ſort; that they who have power to ordaine Miniſters are greater in order, Iuriſdiction, degree and dignity, then thoſe who want this power; then it will follow, that Biſhops ſuſpended from ordaining others (either for advauncing unworthy Ministers, without due examination, or making Ministers without a title, as many now doe, for which the **Canon. 33. 35. An. 1603.Canons preſcribe, they ſhall be ſuspended from giving Orders for two yeares space) are inferior in order and degree to Biſhops, who may execute this power and ordaine; and ſo one Biſhop ſhall be ſuperior in order and degree to another Biſhop; which none ever yet affirmed; yea all our Biſhops being prohibited and diſabled by their owne ‡‡Canon. 31.Canons to ordaine Miniſters or Deacons at any time, but onelyonly at the 4. ſolemne times appointed, and that in the preſence of the Deane, Archdea…on or two Prebends at the least, or of 4. other grave Perſons, being Masters of Art at leaſt, and allowed for publike Preachers: it will hereupon follow, that Biſhops onelyonly at theſe 4. times of the yeare, are greater in dignity and degree then Miniſters, becauſe they may then ordaine, but not at other ſeaſons, when they have no power or authority to conferre orders upon any being reſtrained by the Canon. All which being layd together, diſcovers the weakennes, the abſurdity of this our Prelates Theory, on which they build both their owne, & Titus his hierarchy, which now fall quite to ruine with this their ſandy foundation, which I have here … ever diſſipated & ſubverted, if I miſtake not.

p. 124Obj. 5. If any finally object; that the Fathers ſtile Titus, the firſt Biſhop of Crete, and Timothy of Epheſus, therefore they were Diocaeſan Biſhops, and ſuperior in Juriſdiction and degree to other Miniſters, and ſo by conſequence are other Diocaeſan Biſhops as well as they.

Anſw. 1. I anſwer: First, that neither S. Paul nor S. Luke, who lived in their times, and knew them farre better then any Fathers or writers ſince, ever ſo much as once terme or ſtile them Biſhops; much leſſe, the firſt or ſole Diocaeſan Biſhops of Crete, or Epheſus; which no doubt they would have done, had they beene in truth Diocaeſan Biſhops there; and the name, the office of a Biſhop ſo honorable and ſublime, above that of Miniſters, even Iure Divino, as our Prelates and their flatterers now pretend. Their teſtimonies therefore (who ſtile them onelyonly ‡‡1. Tim. 4. 6. 2. Tim. 4. 5. 1. Theſ. 3. 2.1 Tim 4:62 Tim 4:51 Thess 3:2Ministers or Euangelists, never Biſhops) is to be preferred before all Fathers and writers, (who ſtile them Biſhops) being neither acquainted with their perſons or functions, nor living in their age.

Secondly, No Father ever ſtiles them, or either of them a Diocaeſan or ſole Biſhop of Crete or Epheſus, (the thing which ought to be prooved,) but Biſhops onelyonly, as they ſtiled other Miniſters, the name, the office of Biſhops and Preſbyters being but one and the ſame, and promiſcuouſly uſed in the Apoſtles times; all Preſbyters being then called Biſhops, and all Biſhops Preſbyters; as is evident by Acts. 14. 23. c. 20. 17. 28. Phil. 1. 1. 1. Pet. 5. 1. 2. 3. Tit. 1. 5. 7. 1. Tim. 3. 1. 2. 3. 2. Iohn. 1. 3. Iohn. 1. Philemon. 9. with all ancient, all moderne Commentators on theſe texts. Whence the Tranſlators of our last authorized Engliſh Bible, affixe theſe Contents to Titus, 1. 6. to 10. (which treates of the quality of Biſhops) How they that are to be choſen MINISTERS ought to be qualified▪ And the Booke of ordination of Ministers (confirmed by two **3. Ed. 6. c. 12. 8. Eliz. c. 1.ſeverall Acts of Parliament) preſcribes the 1. Tim. c. 3. p. 125Acts 20. and Titus …. to be read both at the ordination of Miniſters, and Conſecration of Biſhops: and ſo intimates, yea interpretes, that Biſhops and Miniſters in the Scriptures language, are both one, in name, and office, and were ſo reputed in the Primitive Church.

Thirdly, The Fathers uſe the word, Elders and Biſhops, promiſcuouſly; calling Elders Biſhops, and Biſhops Elders; Hence Papias the Auditor of S. John, and companion of Polycarpus, writes thus in the Preface of his bookes; **Euſebius Eccleſ Hiſt. l. 3. c. 39. p. 55.It ſhall not ſeeme grievous untome, if that I compile in writing, and commit to memory, the things which I learned of the Elders. If any came in place which was a follower of the Apostles, forthwith demaunded the words of the Elders: what Andrew, what Peter, what Philip, what Thomas, or Iames, or John, or Mathew, or any other of the Lords Diſciples; what Ariſton, and the Elder John, Diſciples of the Lord, had ſayd. Here hee ſtiles, not onelyonly Biſhops, but even Apoſtles Elders. Polycarpus, his companion and Coaetanian, writes thus in his Epiſtle to the Philippians, ‡‡Bibliotheca. Patrum. Tom. 1. p. 96.Be ye ſubject to Preſbyters and Deacons as to God: let the Preſbyters be ſimple and mercifull in all things. Now thoſe whom hee here ſtiles Preſby…ers, S. Paul expreſly termes Biſhops, Philip. 1. 1. Juſtine Martyr in his ſecond Apology, uſed neither the name Biſhop nor Elder, but termes the Miniſter onelyonly, Hee who is ſett over the Brithren, Hee who holds the firſt place, in reference to the Deacon, who held the ſecond place, not to any Elders of an inferior order to him. And leaſt any one ſhould dreame that Iuſtine Martyr here ſpeakes of a Biſhop, Tertullian, who lived neere about that time, or within few yeares, in his **Apolog. c. 39. Tom. 1. p. 692. 693. 694.Apology writes thus; Praeſident nobis probati quique Seniores, &c. Approoved Elders (not Biſhops) are ſett over us, having obtained this honor, not with any price, but by a good teſtimony. Whence it is evident, that in his age, every Chriſtian Congregation had divers Elders, (not one Diocaeſan Biſhop) over it to feede and rule it, according to the practiſe of the Apoſtles times, p. 126Acts. 14. 23. c. 20. 17. 28 c. 21. 18. Philip. 1. 1. 1. Tim. 5. 17. Tit. 1. 5. Iames, 5. 14. 1. Pet. 5. 1. 2. Hence learned **Euſebius Eccleſ. Hiſt. l. 5. c. 16.Apollinarius, cals the Biſhops and Elders of the Church of Ancyra in Galatia, Preſbyters. And ‡‡Euſebius Eccleſ Hiſt. l. 5. c. 23.Clemens Alexandrinus, relating the Story of the young man delivered by S. Iohn to a Biſhop, to traine up in the feare of God, twice together cals him, interchaingably, both a Biſhop and an Elder; as Meridith Hamner (a Biſhop) Engliſheth it. So **Euſebius Eccleſ. Hiſt. l. 5. c. 20.Ireneus, one of the ancienteſt of all the Fathers, ſtiles Polycarpus Biſhop of Smyrna. That holy and Apostolike Elder, yea hee termes the Biſhops of Rome themſelves Elders, ooIbid. e. 26.They (ſaith hee) that were Elders before Soter, of the Church which now thou governeſt, I meane Anacletus, Pius, Hyginus, Thelesphorus, and Xyſtus, neither did ſo obſerve it themſelves, neither left they any ſuch commaundement unto poſterity. And the ſame Father Adverſus Haereſes. l. 3. c. 2. & l. 4. c. 43. 44. oftentimes **Euſebius Eccleſ Hiſt. l. 7. c. 8.ſtiles Biſhops Elders; and Elders Biſhops; making Preſbyters equall to Biſhops in all respects, and Succeſſors to the Apoſtles as well, as much as they. So Dionyſius Alexandrinus, in his Epiſtle to Xyſtus, Biſhop of Rome, about the yeare of Chriſt, 240. writes thus: There was a certaine Brother, reputed to be of our Church, and Faith, very aged, & priuſquam ego etiam creatus Epiſcopus, and created a BISHOP before, I was, and as I thinke, before bleſſed Heraclas was made a Biſhop. Where hee expreſly termes this party, who was but a Miniſter or Preſbyter onelyonly in that Church, A BISHOP, and ſaith, hee was created a Biſhop: when hee was but ordained a Miniſter. And that famous Gregory Nazianzen (three hundred and ſeventy yeares after Chriſt,) in his 9. 13. 15. 21. and 28. Orations, p. 262. 357. 368. 479. as Elias Cretenſis, in his Commentary on thoſe places teſtifieth, uſeth the words Biſhops and Preſbyter, reciprocally; ſtiling Biſhops Preſbyters, and Preſbyters Biſhops; making them all one by divine institution, and different onelyonly by humane invention, which difference hee heartily wiſheth, were aboliſhed; himſelfe ppSee his life before his workes.voluntarily reſigning his Biſhopricke of Conſtantinople, to be take himſelfe to a more private p. 127and retired life. The Fathers therefore thus promiſcuouſly uſing the name Biſhop and Preſbyter, ſtiling Biſhops Preſbyters; and Preſbyters Biſhops, and making both of them one and the ſame by divine inſtitution, their ſtiling of Timothy and Titus, Biſhops of Epheſus and Crete, is no argument or proofe at all, that they were Diocaeſan, or ſole Biſhops of thoſe places; or that they had, or any Biſhops now have, by divine inſtitution, any Epiſcopall Iuriſdiction and preeminence over other Preſbyters or Miniſters, or were ſuperior to them, in order, dignity or degree.

Fourthly, The Greeke word foreign, which we Engliſh, a Biſhop, ſignifies properly nothing elſe, but an Overſeer, Survayor, Superintendent, or Administrator, and is oft times applyed both by Greeke Authors, and the Septuagint Greeke Tranſlators to ſecular offices **Aretius. Theolog Problemata. Locus 62. De Officiis Eccl. Sex. 9. p. 184. 186 Chenmitius Examen Concilij Tridentini pars, 2. De Sacramento Ordinis. c. 4. p. 223. 224.Hence. † Homer, ſtiles Hector; the Biſhop of the City: In the Verſes of Solon in Demostenes, Pallas is called the Biſhop of Athens: Plutarch in the life of Numa, ſtiles Venus the Biſhop over the dead, and hee there makes mention of a Biſhop of the Veſtall Virgins. Suidas records, that in the Athenian Republike; thoſe who are ſent to the Cityes under their Juriſdiction, to overſee the affaires of their Companions; were called Biſhops. Cicero in his ſeaventh Booke to Atticus, writes thus, Pompey will have mee to be the Biſhop of all Compagnia and the Maritine Coaſtes, to whom the choiſe and ſumme of the buſineſse may be referred. And in the Pandects, the Clerkes of the Markets are called Biſhops. The Septuagint Numb. 13. read the Biſhops of the Army; ‡‡Iliad. 1. 104. Kings 11. they read; the Biſhops who are over the Army, and the Biſhops over the howſe of the Lord. Where Watchmen, Guardians, and Overſeers, are called Biſhops, 2. Chron. 34. The Overlookers of the Workemen, are ſtiled Biſhops; Iudges 9. Zebul is called Abimeleches Biſhop, in the Greeke; which we now Engliſh, his Officer: So Num. 4. 16. The office of Eliazar, in the Tabernacle of the Lord, and the function of Judas, Pſalm. 109. 8. p. 128is tormed foreign, a Biſhopricke, by the Septuagint; and ſo expreſly ſtiled by the Holy Ghoſt himſelfe, and Engliſhed by us, Acts. 1. 20. His Biſhopricke let another take, yea, Conſtantine the greate (as ‡ Euſebius records in his life) inviting ſome Biſhops * De Vita Constantini. l. 4. c. 24.to a Feast, called himſelfe a Biſhop in their preſence, uttering theſe words, You ſayth hee, are Biſhops within the Church, but I am conſtituted of God a Biſhop without the Church. Our New Tranſlators, Acts. 20. 28. render the Greeke word foreign (the title which hee gives to the Elders of the Church of Epheſus) Overſeers: Luke. 19. 44. The time of Gods viſitation and overthrow of Ieruſalem, is termed foreign &c. Luke. 1. 6. 7. 8. c. 7. 16. Heb. 2. 6. The Greeke word which we tranſlate, hath viſited us, is foreign. Whence the day of Gods gracious viſitation of his people to convert them to him in mercy, is called by the Holy Ghoſt, 1. Pet. 2. 12. foreign The day of viſitation; yea our very viſiting of ſick perſons, priſoners, Orphanes and Widdowes, is termed by Chriſt and the holy Ghoſt himſelfe (though a meere act of charity, humility, and Chriſtian duty, **So is the Word foreign uſed by Baſil. Epiſt. 52. not to ride in viſitation like a Lordly Prelate, but to conſider of the miſerable ſtate of the Church & to be carefull for it, as Biſhop Iewell witneſſeth in his Defence of the Apology of the Church of England, part. 2. c. 3. Diviſ 5. p. 107.not of Juriſdiction and Lordly Prelacy,) foreign. Math. 25. 36. 43. and foreign: Iam. 1. 27. to viſit or to play the Biſhops part and duty; which the meaneſt Chriſtian, yea women (though uncapeable, of ſacred orders) may doe and ought to performe, as well as any others. So intermedling with other mens affaires or couetting of any other mens offices of what condition ſoever, is termed by the Apoſtle, 1. Pet. 4. 15. foreign the playing as it were the Biſhop in another mans Dioces. Yea every Miniſters feeding and taking the overſight of his proper flock, is ſtiled, the doing of a Biſhops office: and thoſe Preſbyters who doe thus, are not onelyonly ſaid to be foreign. 1. Pet. 5. 21. that is, men executing the office and duty of a Biſhop; but likewiſe ſtiled, foreign; that is, true and proper Biſhops: a name given onelyonly to Preſbyters (and none but they in holy Scripture: Acts. 20. 28. Phil. 1. 1. Titus. 1. 7. and to Christ himſelfe, who is ſtiled, foreign, the Biſhop of our Soules, 1. Pet. 2. 25. but not to any Apoſtle, Euangeliſt, Diocaeſan, p. 129or other Prelate; none ſuch being particularly termed, a Biſhop, …hroughout the whole New Teſtament: The Fathers make Biſhops and Overſeers all one, deriving the very name of a Biſhop, from a Greeke verbe, which ſignifieth to overlooke, watch, ward, or take care off. Hence ‡‡Enarratio: in Pſal. 126. Tom. 8. pars. 2. p. 726. 727.Ps 126Augustine writes thus; Hee did keepe, hee was carefull, hee did watch, as much as hee could, over thoſe, over whom hee was ſet. And Biſhops doe thus. For therefore an higher place is ſet for Biſhops, that they may ſuperintend, and as it were keepe the people. For that which in Greeke is called a Biſhop, that in Latine is interpreted a Superintendent, becauſe hee overſeeth, becauſe hee ſeeth from above. For like as an higher place is made for the vineyard keeper, to keepe the vineyard, ſo an higher place alſo is made for the Biſhops. And a perilous account is to be rendred of this high place, unleſſe we ſtand therein with ſuch an heart, that we may be under your feete in humility, and pray for you, that hee who knowes your mindes, hee may keepe you; becauſe wee can ſee you entring and going out, but yet we are ſo farre from ſeeing what you thinke in your heartes, that we cannot ſo much as ſee what you doe in your howſes. How therefore doe we keepe you like men, as much as we can, as much as we have received. We keepe you out of the office of diſpenſation, but we will be kept together with you: we are as Paſtours to you, but under that Paſtor (Chriſt,) we are ſheep together with you: we are as teachers to you out of this place, but under that one Maſter wee are Schollers with you in this Schoole. If we will be kept by him who was humbled for us, and is exalted to keepe us, let us be humble. **Let our great Prelates marke this well.Thoſe ſet themſelves before Chriſt, who will be high here, where hee was humble; Let them therefore be humble p. 130here, if they will be exalted there, where hee is exalted. In another place hee writes thus; **De Civitate Dei. l. 19. c. 19. Tom. pars 2. p. 516.For this cauſe the Apoſtle ſaith, Hee that deſires a Biſhopricke, deſires a good worke. Hee would expound what a Biſhopricke is: it is a name of labour not of honor. For it is a Greeke word, and derived from hence, that hee who is made an Overſeer, overſeeth thoſe, over whom hee is ſet, namely by taking care of them. For foreign is over, but foreign is intention, overſeeing or care: therefore if we will render foreign in Latine, we may ſay it is to play the Superintendent; that hee may understand, that hee is not a Biſhop, who delights to be over others, but not to profit them. On which words Ludovicus Vives thus Comments; The name of a Biſhop is derived either from foreign, which ſignifieth to conſider, or from foreign, which ſignifieth the ſame and to viſit. Whence S…idas ſaith, there were ſome ſent from the Athenians to the Cities under them, who ſhould looke into their affaires: and theſe were called Biſhops, that is, as it were Overſeers, or Viſitors, and Obſervers. In Holy Scriptures, a Biſhop is commonly called, a Watchman, as in Ezekiel. 3. 17. c. 33. 2. 6. 7. and in Hoſea. 5. 1. The Lord complaineth that the Biſhops were made a ſnare on Mizpah (or in the watch tower,) and a net ſpread upon Tabor; as if hee had ſpoken of the ††Note this.Biſhops of this age, who lay ſnares in their Biſhoprickes and large nets to catch many, but not with thinne holes or threades, least the gift ſhould ſwim thorough: yea now it is ſo provided by the diligence and wits of certaine men, that without evaſion of this Law, a Biſhopricke may not onelyonly be lawfully deſired, but likewiſe bought and ſold. S. Chryſostome in his 10. Hom. upon the 1. Tim. S. Hierom in his Epiſtle to Evagrius, Beda p. 131on the 1. Pet. 2. 25. Anſelme on Phil. 1. 1. Aquinas ſecunda ſecundae: Qu. 184. Art. 6. Petrus de Palude. de Poteſt. Coll. Apoſtol. Art. 1. (all cited by Biſhop Iewell in the Defenſe of the Apologie of the Church of England, part. 6. c. 2. Diviſ. 1. p. 523.) and S. Bernard alſo, de Conſideratione ad Eugenium, l. 2. & 3. joyntly reſolve; that a Biſhop is nothing elſe, but a Superintendent, Watchman, or Overſeer, and that hee is called a Biſhop from hence, that hee overſeeth, ſurvaieth, or watcheth over others, with which all other ancient and moderne writers, whether forraigne or domeſtique, Papiſts or Proteſtants accord. Heare onelyonly Doctor Iohn Ponet Biſhop of Wincheſter, in his Apology againſt Doctor Martin, in defence of Preiſts mariage, c. 4. 5. p. 44. 52. 53. 54. who as hee there expreſly reckons up Popes, Cardinals, BISHOPS, Preiſts, Monkes, Canons, Friers, &c. to be the Orders of Antichriſt; **fol. 116.taxing them likewiſe ſeverely and comparing them with the Euſtathian heretickes for refuſing to weare uſuall garments, and putting upon them garments of ſtrange faſhions, to vary from the common ſort of people in apparell: So hee thus determines of the name Biſhop and Superintendent: And further whereas it pleaſeth Martin not onelyonly in this place, but alſo hereafter to est at the name of Superintendent, hee ſheweth himſelfe bent to condemne all things that be good, though in ſo doing …ee cannot avoyd his open ſhame. Who knoweth not that the name Biſhop hath ſo beene abuſed, that when it was ſpoken, the people underſtood nothing elſe, but a great Lord, that went in a white Rochet, with a wide ſhaven Crowne, and that carrieth an oyle boxe with him, where hee uſed once in 7. yeare riding about to confirme children, &c. p. 132Now to bring the people f…m this abuſe, what better meanes can be d…v…ſ…d then to teach the people their error by another word out of the Scriptures of the ſame ſignification: which thing by the terme ſuperintendent would in time have beene well brought to poſse. For the ordinary paines of ſuch as were called ſuperintendents, ſhould have taught the people to understand the duty of their Biſhop, which you Papiſts would faine have hidden from them. And the word Superintendent being a very Latine word made Engliſh by uſe, ſhould in time have taught the people by the very Etymology and proper ſignification, what things was meant, when they heard that name which by this terme Biſhop, could not ſo well be done, by reaſon that Biſhops in the time of Popery were Overſeers in name, but not indeed. So that their doings could not teach the people their names, neither what they ſhould looke for at their Biſhops hands. For the name Biſhop, ſpoken amongst the unlearned, ſignified to them nothing leſſe then a preacher of Gods word, becauſe there was not, nor is any thing more rare in any order of Eccleſiaſticall perſons, then to ſee a Biſhop preach, whereof the doings of the Popiſh Biſhops of England can this day witneſſe; but the name ſuperintendent ſhould make him aſhamed of his negligence, and afraid of his idlenes, knowing Act. 20.Acts 20that S. Paul doth call upon him to attend to himſelfe and to his whole flock, of the which ſentence our Biſhops marke the firſt pecce right well, (that is, to take heed to themſelves, but they be ſo deafe, they cannot hearken to the ſecond) that is, to looke to their flock. I deny not, but that the name Biſhop may be well taken, but becauſe the evilnes of the abuſe hath marrid the goodneſse of the word, it cannot be denied, but that it was not amiſſe to joyne for a time another p. 133word with it in his place, wherby to reſtore that abuſed word to his right ſignification, And the name ſuperintendent is ſuch a name, that the Papiſts themſelves (ſaving ſuch as lack both learning and wit,) cannot finde fault withall. For Pereſius the Spaniard and an Archpapist, (out of whom Martin hath ſtolen a great part of his Booke) ſpeaking of a Biſhop, ſaith: Primum Epiſcopi munus nomen ipſum prae ſe fert, quod eſt ſpperintendere, Epiſcopus enim Superintendens interpreta… viſitans aut ſupervidens, &c. That is to ſay: The cheife office of a Biſhop by interpretation, ſignifieth a Superintendent, a Viſitor, or an Overſeer. Why did not Martin as well ſteale this peece out of Pereſius, as hee did ſteale all the common places that hee hath for the proofe of the Canons, of the Apostles, and of Traditions in his ſecond and third Chapters? Martin in the 88. leafe is not aſhamed in his Booke to divide the ſignifications of the termes, (Biſhop and Superintendent,) as though the one were not ſignified by the other. But it may be that Martin as the reſt of the Popiſh Sect would not have the name of (Superintendent) or Miniſter uſed, leaſt that name which did put the people in remembrance of ſacrificing and bludſapping, ſhould be forgotten. Since therefore this Title B…ſhop, is thus promiſcuouſly uſed, both in prophane and Chriſtian writers, and in the Scripture it ſelfe, for any Officer, Overſeer, Survayer, Superintendent, Watchman, Guardian, Paſtor, or Keeper, as well temporall and civill, as Eccleſiaſticall, and all theſe their offices ſtiled in Greeke, a Biſhopricke: ſince every Paſtor, Watchman, Preſbyter, Miniſter, Rector, and Curate, who takes care of, watcheth, feedeth, overlooketh, inſtructeth, or keepeth the flock and people committed to his charge, is even in the Scriptures Language called a Biſhop, and ſaid, to act, to doe the office p. 134of a Biſhop: ſince thoſe who out of charity, love, or freindſhip goe to viſit others, who are either ſicke, poore, Fatherleſſe, or otherwiſe diſtreſſed, and God himſelfe when hee comes, to puniſh or ſhew mercy unto others, are in the Greeke and Scripture phraſe, ſaid, to viſit and play the Biſhops; as appeareth by the forecited Scriptures, and by Acts. 15. 36. Where Paul ſaid to Barnabas foreign, which we tranſlate, Let us goe againe and viſit our Brethren, in every City, where we have preached the word of the Lord, and ſee how they doe. From which text the **See Fulke and Cartwright. Ibid. m.Rhemists would make Biſhops, ordinary viſitation, to be Jure Divino; but this was no Lordly Epiſcopall viſitation ſuch as our Biſhops now keepe, for we read of no viſitation Articles, oathes, fees or preſentmens in it; neither were Paul and Barnabas Biſhops, but it was a meere viſitation of love, as one freind viſits another, not of Juriſdiction, as the laſt words: And ſee how they doe, together with the Councell of Laodicea, Can. 57. expound it, and verſe 14. Symon hath declared how God … at the first foreign did viſit the Gentiles, to take out of them a people for his name. And Acts. 7. 23. When Moſes was full 40. yeares old, it came into his heart foreign, to viſit his brethren, the children of Iſraell; and ſince theſe words foreign and foreign, (that is) to viſit, overſee, or play the Biſhop, ‡‡Biſhop Iewel. Defence of the Apology. part 2. c. 3. Diviſ. 5. p. 107.imply no Lordſhip; Soveraingty, Dominion, Juriſdiction, or Lordly Epiſcopall authority in them, (at leaſt no ſuch as our Biſhops now claime and exerciſe:) but rather an Act of humility, charity, Service, and inferiority to the perſons viſited, as is evident by Mathew 25. 3. 6. 43. Acts. 7. 23. c. 15. 36. Iam. 1. 27. Heb. 2. 6. 1. Pet. 5. 2. 3. 5. It hence unanſwerably followes, that Biſhops Epiſcopall Lordly viſitations, are not Iure Divino, and that other Miniſters are as much Viſitors, and may viſit as well as they, that every Preſbyter, Miniſter, Curate who doth faithfully diſcharge his duty, **Marſilius Patavinus Defenſ. Pacis pars. 2. c. 15. 16. Richardus Armachanus. Reſp. ad Quaeſt. Armenorum l. 11. c. 1. to 8. Fox Acts and Monum. p. 1009. 1116. 1465.is as much, as truly, as properly a Biſhop, both in the Scriptures language and in Gods account, as any Diocaeſan Biſhop or Prelate whatſoever; That thoſe Biſhops who merge themſelves p. 135in pleaſures, idleneſſe, or ſecular affaires, and doe not diligently, faithfully, intirely give themſelves to preach Gods word, inſtruct and teach the people, viſit the Fatherleſſe, impriſoned, ſicke, poore, widdowes, and flockes committed to them; (which few of our Prelates now deine to doe) are **Biſhop Iewell. Defence of the Apol. part. 2. c. 3. Diviſ. 7. part. 111. Thomas Beacon his Catechiſm. Vol. 1. f. 499. 500. Chryſost. Opus Imperf. in Matth. Hom. 3. & 43. Ambroſ. de Dign. Sacerd. c. 4.in truth, in Gods, in Chriſts account, and in the Scriptures language, no Biſhops at all, what ever they pretend; that the word Biſhop, is ‡‡Auguſt. De Civ. Dei l. 19. c. 19. Hier. Ambr. Sedul. Primaſ. Haymo, Rab. Maur. Chryſoſtom. Theodoret. Theophylact. Oecumenius, Anſelmus, Beda, in 1. Tim. 3. 1. 2. Bernard. De Conſid. ad Eugen. 2. & 3.1 Tim 3:11 Tim 3:2not a title of Dominion, Soveraingty, Juriſdiction, Glory, Power, Preheminency, Pompe, State, Authority, and Commaund, (as our Biſhops, who now preſume to monopolize it to themſelves alone, though common… Gods word and ancient writers to every Miniſter, pretend,) but of humility, office, ſervice, labor, care, circumspection, watchfulneſſe, meekneſse, tender-heartedneſſe, charity, familiarity, and brotherly kindnes, (which moſt Prelates have now quite ſhaken off.) The Fathers ſtiling therefore of Timothy, Biſhop of Epheſus, or Titus Biſhop of Crete, or Biſhops, will neither proove them to be Diocaeſan; or ſole Biſhops of thoſe Churches, or that they had a ſuperiority or Iuriſdiction as they were Biſhops over all other Miniſters or Preſbyters in thoſe Churches; or that Archbiſhops or Biſhops are Iure Divino ſuperior to, or different in order or degree from Preſbyters, who have the ſelfeſame Commiſſion or authority, given them by Christ, as they; and ſo have equall authority with them, and are as much Biſhops every way by Gods Law, as they; even as every High Commiſſioner of the Quorum, is as much an High Commiſſioner as the Archbiſhop of Canterbury or Yorke, and hath as much authority as an High Commiſſioner, as they; ſince they have all the ſelfeſame Commiſſion, which gives no greater power to one of them then the other, but the ſame to both. Indeed had Chriſt given a different Commiſſion to his Apoſtles and the ſeaventy Diſciples, or to Timothy and Titus, then to other Elders and Biſhops of the Churches of Epheſus and Crete, or to Biſhops, then hee hath given to Preſbyters and Miniſters, there might have beene ſome ground to have prooved the 12. Apoſtles, Timothy, Tytus, p. 136and Biſhops, greater in Iuriſdiction, power, authority, and degree then the 70. Diſciples, Preſbyters, and other Miniſters, by divine inſtitution. But ſince it is apparant by **Math. 10. 1. to 16. Marke. 6. 7. to 12. Luke. 9. 1. to 6. compared with Luke. 10. 1. to 21.Matt 10:1–16Mark 6:7–12Luke 9:1–6Luke 10:1–21the Scriptures, that the 12. Apostles and 70. Diſciples (what ever ‡‡Clemens. Epiſt. apud Surium. Tom. 1. p. 141. and others, who have ſince followed this forgery of his.ſome men have raſhly determined to the contrary) had but one and the ſelfeſame commiſſion given unto them by Chriſt; that Timothy, Titus, Archbiſhops, Biſhops, and other Prelates have no other, no larger Patent, Commiſſion or authority granted unto them by Christ, then Preſbyters and ordinary Miniſters, (as the booke of Ordination manifests: where the ſame words are uſed, the ſame commiſſion given from God, to Ministers at the ordination of every Miniſter, as there is to Biſhops at the conſecration of any Archbiſhop or Biſhop) ſince they are all joyned together in one and the ſelfeſame divine Charter, and all claime by one and the ſelfeſame grant, (as is evident: by Math. 28. 19. 20. Marke. 6. 15, 16. Iohn. 20. 22. 23. Acts. 1. 8. c. 10. 47. c. 20. 17. 28. Col. 4. 17. 1. Tim. 3. 1. to 7. c. 4. 12. 13. c. 5. 17. 18. 20. 21. 22. c. 6. 11. 12. 17. 18. 19. 20. 2. Tim. 2. 14. 15. 16. c. 4. 1. to 16. Tit. 1. 5. to 14. c. 2. 1. to. 15. c. 3. 1. 2. 8. 9. 10. 1. Pet. 5. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 2. Pet. 1. 12. 13. 1. Cor. 1. 12. 13. 17. c. 3. 4. 5. to 11. 21. 22. c. 4. 1. 6. 7. 17. c. 9. 16. 17. c. 13. 29. 30. 31. 32. Epheſ. 4. 11. 12. with other Scriptures) it is moſt apparant, and undeniable, that by Gods word and inſtitution, they are all equall, both in point of office, power, Iuriſdiction, and authority, not one of them greater, higher or ſuperior then the other, having the ſelfeſame divine ordination, commiſſion, office, and charge.

Finally, **L. 3. c. 4. Eccl. Hist.Euſebius records onelyonly, that Timothy IS REPORTED to be the Firſt Biſhop of Epheſus, and Titus of the Churches in Crete: So that all the Fathers Authorities, (who follow Euſebius,) are grounded onelyonly upon this bare report, not upon any certainty; therfore not to be granted or relyed on. The rather, ‡‡See Mercator Atlas Minor. p. 812.becauſe there have beene anciently in Crete no leſſe then 4. Archbiſhops, and 21. Biſhops, Suff…aganes: now it is very improbable that Paul would inſtitute Titus Archbiſhop or p. 137Superintendent generall of all Crete, it being ſo large a circuit, having ſo many Archbiſhops and Biſhops Sees within it, and hee ſo little reſident in, ſo often abſent from it, as I have manifeſted in the premiſes. From all which I preſume, I may ſafely conclude this ſecond queſtion againſt the common received Errour, that Titus was never Biſhop or Archbiſhop of Crete, what ever our Prelates and their favourites have written to the contrary: And ſo Timothy being neither a Diocaeſan Biſhop of Epheſus, nor Titus of Creet, the pretended Hierarchy of our Prelates Iure divino, built onelyonly upon the **Math. 7. 26. 27.Matt 7:26Matt 7:27ſandy foundation of theſe two ſuppoſed Biſhops Biſhoprickes, muſt needs now fall to ruine; and they being now lifted up ſo High aboue their fellow Brethren, their fall muſt certainly proove very great. They have long ſince, (many of them) forſaken God, the teaching of his word, the chiefe part ‡‡The Inſtit. of a Chriſtian man. Ch. oſ Orders, and Thomas Beacons Catech. f. 499. 500of their ſpirituall functions, banded themſelues againſt his truth, Miniſters, people, and the preaching of his Goſpel, which they ſuppreſſe and put downe in all places; yea ſuch is their deſperate impiety, that whereas in all former times of Plages and Peſtilence, (yea in **See the Faſtbookes then printed.1. Iacobi and Caroli) there hath beene by publike authority a ſpeciall day of faſting, prayer, preaching, and humiliation appointed every weeke (eſpecially in infected places) to divert Gods heavy judgements, as the chiefe antidote against all Plages and judgements, preſcribed by God himſelfe, ‡ Ioel. 2. 14 to 20. 4. 2. 1. to 28. Iſay. 22. 12. 13. 14. 2 Chron. 6. to 24. to 40. c. 7. 13. 14. 15 Zeph. 2. 1. 2. 3. Ionah. 3. 5: to 10. Ezech. 9. 4. Mal. 3. 16. 17. Ezra. 9. & 10.Joel 2:14–20Joel 2:4Joel 2:2Joel 2:1–28Isa 22:12Isa 22:13Isa 22:142 Chr 6Zeph 2:1Zeph 2:2Zeph 2:3Jonah 3:5–10Ezek 9:4Mal 3:16Mal 3:17Ezra 9yet now they are growen ſuch open fighters against God, Religion, the ſpirituall, the temporall good and ſafety of the people, that to prevent the plague, (as they pretend, but in truth to increaſe it more, and to ſuppreſſe preaching, piety and religion) they begin to put downe all weekeday Lectures, and Lords day ſermons in the afternoone, (as if Gods publike ordinances and ſervice, the beſt remedie againſt, were a meanes to increaſe and ſpread, not ſtay the plague) yea they debarre ††See Biſhop Wrens Injunctions for Norwich, and his Viſition Artiles, and yet this Can. bindes them not ſtrictly to any forme as the Words, Or to this Effect; declare,Miniſters from uſing any prayers at all after their ſermons, or any other prayer before them, then what the 55. Canon preſcribes, in which there is not a word of prayer againſt the plague, drought, famine, ſword or peſtilence. By meanes whereof, inhibiting Miniſters thus to reproove the people p. 138for their ſinnes, which provoke Gods wrath and judgements at this preſent, & ſo to bring them to repentance for them ffIer. 7. 16. c. 11. 14. c. 14. 11. c. 29. 7. c. 37 3. 4. c. 42. 2. 4. 20. Ioel. 2. 17.Jer 7:16Joel 2:17by their preaching; or to pray againſt the plague and other judgements of God, which now lie hard upon the Kingdome, which theſe ſinnes have occaſioned; and hindring that publike weekely faſting, preaching & prayer, which God by his judgements **Iſay. 22. 12. 13.Isa 22:12Isa 22:13now calls for at our hands; they have made not onelyonly the Kingdome, but themſelves eſpecially, ripe for ruine. And being now for theſe their atheiſticall godles practiſes, their enmity to God, his truth, his faithfull Miniſters and people, their Lordlines, tyranny, pride, oppreſſion, wordlines, prophanes, and irreligion fallen under the very ggPſ. 119. 21. Iudg. 5. 23. Mal. 2. 2. c. 3. 9. 1. Cor. 16. 22.Ps 119:21Judg 5:23Mal 2:21 Cor 16:22execration of God himſelfe, and hhLuke. 18. to 3. Rev. 6. 9. 10. Pſal. 28. 4. 5.Luke 18Rev 6:9Rev 6:10Ps 28:4Ps 28:5the curſes of his people, who day and night crie for vengeance againſt them, as Gods ſworne and moſt profeſſed open enemies; and having no divine foundation, prop, or pillar now left, where with to ſupport their tottering thrones and Miters, needs mu… they ſhortly, like that ‡‡1. Sam. 4. 18.1 Sam 4:18High Preist Ely, fall from their high-towring ſeates backward, and ſo breake their neckes, to the ioy of all Gods people, whom they now by their perſecutions and innovations ſo much oppreſſe; Even ſo let all thine enemies periſh, O Lord; but let them that love thee, be as the ſunne, when it goeth forth in his might.