Chap. 3. the. 61. Diuision.
But as for Ignatius place, it is sufficiently answered before, in that which was answered to Cyprian his place, for when he sayeth the Bishop hath rule ouer all, he meaneth no more all in the prouince, than in all the world, but meaneth that flocke and congregation, whereof he is Bishop or minister. And when be calleth him Prince of the priests, although the title be to excessiue and big, condemned by Cyprian and the councel of Carthage, yet he meaneth no more the prince of all in the diocesse as we take it, or of the prouince, than he meaneth the Prince of all the priestes in the world, but he meaneth those fellow ministers and elders, that had the rule and gouernment of that particu∣lar Church and congregation, whereof he is a Bishop, as the great churches haue for the most part, both Elders which gouerne only, and ministers also to ayde one an other, and the principalitie that he which they called the Byshop had ouer the rest, hath bene before at large declared.
You very lightly shake of Ignatius wordes, but they haue more pyth in them, if it please you better to consider of them. For he maketh degrées of ministers, and the Bishop to be the chiefe: he placeth Deacons vnder Priests, and Priests vnder Bi∣shops, so that he giueth to the Bishop superioritie and gouernment ouer both Priests and Deacons, which is the grounde of this cause: and it being graunted (as it muste néedes, neyther can this authoritie of Ignatius be auoyded) Aerius Heresie falleth, and so doth your whole assertion.
What is ment by Prince of Priests, Ignatius himselfe declareth, saying: Obtinens principatum & potestatem supra omnes: hauing chieftie and power ouer all.
How this name may be wel vsed, I haue shewed before, where I haue also decla∣red the meaning of Cyprians woordes, vttered in the hereticall Councell of Carthage, and therefore not coumpted in the number of those Councels.