And I say againe, that they be most vnapt reasons: for the Deacons office was not so troublesome, but that the Deacons of one Citie, might serue all the Churches and congregations belonging vnto the same: neyther haue you read eyther in scrip∣ture, or any auncient wryter (except I be greatly deceyued) that Deacons were pla∣ced any where, but in Cities: and yet it is not to be thought, but that there were Churches also, in meaner Townes. And surely no man without blushing can de∣fend this argument: there were Deacons at Ierusalem, and at Philippos, Ergo there were in euerie congregation Deacons. It is like vnto this: there be Preachers in Cambridge and London: therefore in euerie parish in England, there be preachers.
This is also vntrue, that the Apostles ordeyned the same officers in all Churches. For in chiefe and principall Cities they ordeyned Bishops to guide and gouerns the rest of the ministers, which were in townes belonging to those cities, as it is manifest by the examples of Iames, Timothie, and Titus, but they did not ordeyne any such Bishops in euery congregation: for further proofe of this, I referre the reader to that* 1.1 which I haue spoken of Archbishops and Bishops.
The first to Timothie, the third, is as violently wrested to serue their purpose. For S. Paule doth not speake one worde there of Deacons, being in euery congregation, onely he telleth what maner of man they ought to be. And you are not able to shewe (as I haue sayde) by the practise of the Church, that there were Deacons in euerie congregation. These superscriptions and subscriptions that you talke of, were then vsed, when letters were sent to the Bishoppe, Ministers, and Deacons of chiefe Cities, where all these commonly remayned: and therefore cannot proue that euerie con∣gregation had their Deacons. The Deacons named in Councels were resident in Cities, not in euerie congregation.
But among all these slender defenses of yours, you leaue out the. 13. of S. Iohn:* 1.2 vers. 27. belike the Authors of the Admonition must answere that themselues, as they must do many other places, which you by silence passe ouer vnto them.