The. 4. Diuision.
T. C. Pag. 164. Sect. 2.
But for so much as those auncient Collegiate churches were no more like vnto those whiche we haue now, than things most vnlike, our Cathedrall churches haue not so muche as this olde worne cloke of Antiquitie, to hide their nakednesse, & to keepe out the shower. For the Collegiate churches in times past were a Senate ecclesiastical, stāding of godly learned ministers and elders, which gouerned and watched ouer that flocke which was in ye citie or towne where such churches were, & for that in such great cities & townes commonly there were the most learned pastors & aun∣cients, therfore the townes & villages rounde about in harde & difficuite causes, came and had their resolutions of their doubtes at their handes, euen as also the Lord commaunded in Deuteron〈1 line〉〈1 line〉e,* 1.1 that when there was any great matter in the countrie, which the Le〈1 line〉〈1 line〉tes in matters perteyning to God, and the iudges in matters perteyning to the common wealth, could not discusse, that then they should come to Hierusalem, where there was a great number of Priests, Le〈1 line〉〈1 line〉tes, and lear∣ned iudges, of whom they should haue their questions dissolued, and this was the first vse of Col∣legiate churches.
True it is, that in times past there was in euery citie, Collegium presbyterorum cui* 1.2 praeerat Episcopus, a Colledge of ministers ouer whom the Bishop bare rule, the which le∣rome calleth Senatum Ecclesiae, the Senate of the churche: and the same is now called a collegiate or Cathedrall churche. It is also euident that these Presbyteri, were all Priests, & that they with the Bishop had the deciding of al cōtrouersies in doctrine or ceremonies, & the directiō of diuers other matters in al those places that were vnder that citie, that is in all that shyre or Diocesse: & therfore sayeth M. Caluine (speaking* 1.3 of the primitiue church) Euery citie had a colledge of Seniors which were Pastors & Do∣ctors, for they all had the office of preaching to the people, of exhorting, and of correcting, the which office S. Paule doth commit to Bishops: and this is that Seigniorie, wherof the auncient writers speake so much, & which you vntruly & without consideration say to haue bene in euery parish, and to consist as well of other as of Priests, & Mi∣nisters of the worde, and although that kinde of gouernment, which these churches had, is transferred to the Ciuill Magistrate, to whom it is due, and to such as by him are appointed, yet is it not so cleane blotted out, as you would make vs beleeue. For* 1.4 the Bishop who was then, and is now the chiefe of that colledge or Church, keepeth his authoritie still, & may if he please call to gither those ministers or Priestes of the Cathedrall Church to consult of such things as are expedient, & in diuers p〈1 line〉〈1 line〉tes he can do nothing without them. Moreouer diuerse of the same churches, some 〈◊〉〈◊〉 office, and some appointed by election, are bounde to attende vpon prouinciall 〈◊〉〈◊〉, so oft as the Archbishop at the cōmaundement of the Prince doth call the 〈1 line〉〈1 line〉ame. 〈1 line〉〈1 line〉∣wise they be places wherein are nourished for the most parte, the best, the wise〈1 line〉〈1 line〉, the learnedst men of the Clergie in the lande, whiche not onely, in the respect of their soundnesse in religiō, profoundnesse in learning, diligēce in preaching, but wisedome also, experience, & dexteritie in gouerning, are not onely an ornament to the realme, profitable to the Churche, honour to the Prince: but also a stay from barbarisme, a bridle to sectes & heresies, & a bulwarke agaynst confusion. Wherefore as the vse of* 1.5 them then, for those times & states was good and godly: so is the vse of them now in this age and state no lesse conuenient, godly, and necessarie, whiche you nor all your fautors shall euer be able to disproue.