He is only Archbishop and Bishop in respecte of his spirituall gouernment which he kéepeth only vnto himselfe, and in the respect that all other be vnder him, & haue their authoritie from him. But this name may also aptly be giuen vnto 〈◊〉〈◊〉 that haue the ouersight of other bishops in the externall gouernment of the Churche in the which as I haue sayd, Magistrates be called Gods.
Christ is the only head of the Church, if by the head you vnderstande that which gi∣ueth* 1.1 the bodie lyfe, sense, and motion: For Christ only by his spirite doth giue life and nutriment to his bodie: He only doth poure spirituall blessings into it, and doth inwardly direct and gouerne it. Likewise he is only the head of the whole Church, for that title can not agree to any other: But if by the head you vnderstande an 〈1 line〉〈1 line〉x∣ternall ruler or gouernour of any particular nation, or Church, (in which significa∣tion head is vsually taken) then I doe not perceiue why the Magistrate maye not* 1.2 as well be called the head of the Churche, that is the chiefe gouernour of it in the externall policie, as he is called the head of the people, and of the common weal〈1 line〉〈1 line〉h. And as it is no absurditie to say, that the ciuill magistrate is heade of the common wealth, next and immediatly vnder God (for it is moste true) so is it none to say, that vnder God also he is head of the Churche, that is chiefe gouernour as I haue before sayde. Constantine in an Epistle that he writeth to the people of Alexan∣dria,* 1.3 as it is reported by Athanasius Apol. 2. calleth Bishoppes Ecclesiarum capita, the heades of their Churches. And yet is the Popes Supremacie vsurp〈1 line〉〈1 line〉d, bothe bicause it taketh from Magistrates that whiche is due vnto them, and also vsurpeth the authoritie of Chryste in remittyng and retaynyng synnes, in making La∣wes contrarye to Gods Lawes, whyche he sayeth be necessarie to Saluation, in makyng hys Supremacie a matter of Saluation, and in chalengyng authoritie