The Corinthians did not brust out into these factions & partes taking, in respect of any title or office cōmitted to any of their preachers: but it was a partiall affection that they had towardes theyr teachers in preferring them (for theyr supposed vertue & learning) before other of whom they had not conceyued so good an opinion. A more liuely example whereof can not be, than the dissentiō that is at this day, wherein some of your fautors forgetting all modestie, do so greatly 〈◊〉〈◊〉 you, and your compa∣nions, that nothing may be heard, that is spoken to the contrary: nay in comparison, all other men be flatterers, worldlinges, vnlearned, doltes, & asses. So do some sorte of men extoll you, and contemne other: so did the Corinthians extoll & magniffe their false Prophets, & depraue the true preachers. Wherefore to take away this partiall affection & iudgement, the Apostle sayeth, Sic nos aestimet homo, &c. Let a man so esteeme* 1.1 of vs, as of the ministers of Christ, &c. You will not (I am sure) acknowledge that at this time among the Corinthians there was any such difference of titles, or degrées of su∣perioritie. Wherfore you cannot (speaking as you thinke) say that the Apostle in this place meaneth any such matter. But wel you wotte that these affectiōs (which I haue spoken of) were rife among them, and therefore it is most certeyne that the Apostle laboreth for the suppression of them. So that the interpretation, that I haue giuen of this place in myne Answere, is true, neyther haue you refelled it.
The rule that a Bishop hath ouer other ministers in his diocesse is lawfull: neither is it such tyrannicall rule as the woorde 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 (vsed by S. Peter, and spoken of before) doth signifie, that is to rule with oppression: and therefore the place is vnapt∣ly alleaged.