The proofe from Gods word.
ALbeit the tearmes, and titles of Archbishops wee finde not: yet the superioritie which they enioy, and authoritie which Bishops and Archbishops doe exercise, in ordering, and consecrating of Bishops, and ecclesiasticall ministers, is groun∣ded vpon the word of God. For we finde, that.
In the Apostles daies, howe themselues both were in dignitie aboue the euangelists, and the 70. disciples, and for authoritie both in and ouer the Church, as twelue Patriarches, saith Beza, and also established an ecclesiasticall Hierarchie. Hence came it, that Bishop was of Ierusalem, Iames .
Of Antioch, Peter , of the Asian Churches, Iohn , of A∣lexandria, Marke , of Ephesus , yea and all Asia , Timothie; Of all Creete, Titus , of Philippos, Epaphroditus , of Corinth and Achaia, Apollos: of Athens, Dionisius; of France, Cres∣cens , of Brittane, Aristobulus .
In the purer times succeeding the Apostles, so approoued was the administration of the Church affaires by these kinde of men, as
They ordained Patriarches, and Corepiscopie .
They ratified the degrees of ecclesiasticall supereminencie, at the first, and most famous Councell at Nice .
They gloried much, and greatly, that they had receiued the apostles doctrine by a succession of Bishops , that they were the successors in the Apostles doctrine, of the godly Bishops , and that Bishops succeeded in the roome of Apostles .
Their godly monuments, and worthy labours, and bookes yet extant, doe shewe that Bishop was of Lions, Irenaeus; of of Antioch, Ignatius; of Carthage, Cyprian: of Hierusalem, Cy∣rill, of Alexandria, Athanasius; Basil, of Cesarea, of all Thracia, Asia, and Pontus; Chrisostome, Hilarie of Potiers; Augustine of Hippo, Ambrose of Millane: all of these most notable instru∣ments for the aduancement of Gods honour, and glory in their daies.
Finally, from the Apostles daies hitherto there neuer wan∣ted