A briefe of the Bible drawne first into English poësy, and then illustrated by apte annotations: togither vvith some other necessary appendices. By Henoch Clapham.

(a) The churches by little and little growing secure and idle in their spirituall watch, they giue vp all their power vnto the Elders: the Elders afterwards they leaue all to the Pastor: The se••erall Church••pastors in one Cittie, they fi∣nally giue vp their keyes to so me one, and hee was called Metrapolitane: The Metrapolitanes finally gaue vp their power to some one in a Diocesse, and he afterwards was called the Diocesian Bishop. The Diocesian Bishops, they afterwards surrender the keyes to some One in a Province: then was hee cal∣led the Provinciall Bishop. The Provinciall Bishop after that, betakes the keies to some one in a king∣dome: and hee was called, Primate. The Primates of sundrie Kingdomes, do after appoint the Chur∣ches power to foure, which foure stoode for whole Christendome; and they were called Patriarchs, not vnlike the foure Angels, Revel. 7. 1.

The Patriarchs (to make vp the vpshot) they ap∣point One to be Christs Vicar over All: and Him they called a Pope. Thus the mystery of iniquitie wrought till it came to the height, and that by litle and litle: by litle and litle accordingly that Body shall come downe.