Episcopacy by Divine Right Asserted, Part 2 · Section 16
§. 16.
Power of Juriſdiction appropriated to the Biſhops from the firſt.
THus for Ordination the caſe is plain; I ſpeak it confidently, it is more plaine (if more may be) for power of Juriſdiction; It is for a Timothy or Titus (Biſhops) to receive accuſations againſt Presbyters, or to reject them; not for one Presbyter againſt another; It is the charge laid upon Presbyters by more than one ancient Councell, or ſingle Father, to do nothing at all without the conſent (foreign ) of the Biſhop. We have heard it from holy Ignatius, and from the Apoſtolike Canons; we may hear it (when we pleaſe) from the holy Martyr St. Cyprian, Conc. Carthag. C…nc Gangr. Conc. Antioch.from the 2 Councell of Carthage, from the Councell of Gangra, from the Councel of Antioch: yea let me ſay, Thoſe ancient reſtrictions were ſuch, as if they ſhould be now urged upon our inferiour Clergie, they would be cried down for in tollerably Tyrannicall; It was in the Biſhops power to raiſe the Clergie from one degree to another, neither might they refuſe his deſignations: They might not remove from one Dioceſe to another, wi…hout his conſent (which is ſtill laudably continued in that the teſtimony of the Ordinary ſtill is required) or if they did, the Biſhop had power to recall them. They might not ſo much as travell from one Dioceſe to another, without his Reverendae, much leſſe might they fixe there, or if they did, the act was reverſible by the Dioceſan; for the particulars whereof I referre my Reader to our learned Doctor Downham, Defence. 2 part Ch. 5.who is very large in this ſubject. As for matter of cenſure, wherein the proof of Juriſidiction mainly conſiſteth, how particularly was this ever managed by Epiſcopall power; and that not only in caſe of Excommunication of Laicks (which hath wont of old to be therefore called Mucro Epiſcopi (for as for that giddy conceit of the whole Churches interpoſition and act,Vivald. C…. d…labr. in theſe Sentences which our Tileno-maſtix ſtands upon, it is long ſince cried down, not by Calvin only, but even by our late Separatiſts, amongſt whom this caſe hath been throughly Sifted) but even of Correction, Excommunication, depoſition of Clerks,Conc. Agath. c 1. de contumac. Clericis. Conc. Agath. c. 2. de Epiſcopis qui pro minimis cauſis excommunicant Conc. Sardi… c. 16. de clericorum. excommunicatione. Conc Epheſ 6.5 Conc. Chalc. c. 23. Conc. Antioch. c 4. Cypr. l. Ep. 9. Deacons and Presbyters; Correction, ſo the Councell of Agatha; Excommunication, ſo the Councell of Sardica, the Councell of Epheſus, the Councell of Chalcedon; Depoſition, ſo the Councell of Antioch; So Arrius was depoſed by Biſhop Alexander; Eutyches, by his Dioceſan: So the holy Martyr Cyprian in that famous Epiſtle to R gatianus, tells him, That he being a Biſhop, and abuſed by his Deacon, might by the vigour of Epiſcopacy, and Authority of his chair, proceed in cenſure of ſuch Contumacy; and adviſes (if the offender hold on) to exerciſe upon him poteſtatim honoris, the power of his honour, and either to depoſe, or excommunicate him: And yet who dares ſay that our bleſſed Martyr was proudly Tyrannicall, and not holily zealous in obſervation of lawfull diſcipline? And laſtly (for it were eaſie to be tedious in particularities) the ancient Canon of Apoſtles (32) to this purpoſe is recited and ratified by two Councels,Concil. Antioch. 1. c. 9. the one of Antioch, the other of Chalcedon; and there applauded by the acclamation of a juſt rule, and the rule of the Fathers. And now, ſay reader, what is Superiority and Juriſdiction over all Subordinates, if this be not? If any Biſhop of this Iſland have challenged and uſurped more than the written word of God, ſeconded by the ancient Canons of the Primitive Church, and holy Fathers thereof do allow, let him bear his own burden; but certainly, if the holy Synode of England ſhould at any time be required to publiſh any Canon for the determining the Latitude of Epiſcopall power, and the due exerciſe thereof: they could hardly deviſe to expreſſe it in more full tearms, than the ancient Councell of Antioch hath done.Concil. Antioch. ſub Iulio c. 9. Unuſquiſ que Epiſcopus habeat ſuae paroechiae poteſtatem, &c. Let every Biſhop, ſaith it, have authority of his own See, both to governe it according to the fear of God, which is before his eyes, and to have a provident care of the whole Countrey which is under his City; as alſo to ordain Presbyters and Deacons, and to governe all things with Judgement. Upon all this which hath been ſaid, I wonder how the Oppoſers of Epiſcopacy can read theſe ſo plain proofs of the Judgement and practiſe of the ancient Church of God, and not be aſhamed of their palpable innovation.
Hitherto we have clearly deduced the ſuperiority of Biſhops above the other Clergie, and the power of their Juriſdiction from Chriſt and his Apoſtles, and conveyed it through the conſtant practiſe of the Primitive Church, ſince which time no adverſary doubteth of it.