The interest of England in the matter of religion the first and second parts : unfolded in the solution of three questions / written by John Corbet.

Section XXXVII.

Moreover, this dissatisfaction in the old frame of the Ecclesiastical Govern∣ment is not a novelty of these times, as appears by those prudent considerations touching the better pacification and edi∣fication of the Church, presented to King James by that most learned Lord Verulam, sometimes Lord Chancellour of England, who was no Presbyterian, nor enemy to Episcopacy, in which are these passages.

There be two circumstances in the administration of Bishops, wherein I confess I could never be satisfied. The one, the sole Exercise of their Authority, the other, the Deputation of their Autho∣rity. For the first, the Bishop giveth orders alone, excommunicateth alone, judgeth alone. This seems to be a thing almost without example in Go∣vernment, and therefore not unlikely to have crept in in the degenerate and cor∣rupt

times. We see the greatest Kings and Monarchs have their Councels. There is no Temporal Councel in Eng∣land, of the higher sort, where the Au∣thority doth rest in one person. Again he saith, Bishops have their infirmities, and have no exception from that gene∣ral malediction which is pronounced a∣gainst all men living, Vaesoli, &c. Nay, we see the first warrant in spiritual causes is directed to a number, Dic Ecclesiae, which is not so in temporal matters. A∣gain, we see that the Bishop of Rome (fas est & ab hoste doceri, and no question in that Church the first Institutions are ex∣cellent) performeth all Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction as in Consistory; and where∣of consisteth this Consistory, but of the Parish Priests of Rome, which term them∣selves Cardinals, à Cardinibus Mundi, be∣cause the Bishop thereof pretendeth to be universal over the whole world. Touching the second point, the deputa∣tion of their Authority, he saith, the Bi∣shop exerciseth his Jurisdiction by his Chancellor and Commissary official

&c. We see in all Laws in the world, offices of confidence and skill cannot be put over, nor exercised by Deputy, ex∣cept it be especially contained in the Original Grant, and then it becomes dutiful. There was never any Judge that made a Deputy. The Bishop is a Judge, and of an high nature: whence cometh it that he should depute, consi∣dering all trust and confidence is per∣sonal and inherent, and cannot, or ought not to be transposed? Surely in this a∣gain, ab initio non fuit ita. But it is pro∣bable that Bishops when they gave them∣selves too much to the glory of the world, and became Grandees in King∣domes, and great Councellors to Prin∣ces, then did they deleague their proper Jurisdiction, as things of too inferiour a nature for their greatness; and then after the similitude of Kings and Count Pala∣tines, they would have their Chancel∣lours and Judges.

This and much more hath that great Scholar, Lawyer, and States-man obser∣ved in that excellent discourse.

Yea, our late Soveraign in his dis∣course, touching the differences between himself and the two Houses, in point of Church-Government, declares in these words, that he is not against the mana∣ging of the Episcopal presidency in one man, by the joynt counsel and consent of many Presbyters, but that he had of∣fered to restore it, as a fit means to avoid those errours, and corruptions, and par∣tialities, which are incident to any one man; also to avoid Tyranny, which be∣comes no Christians, least of all Church-men: besides, it will be a means to take away that odium and burden of affairs which may lye too heavy on one mans shoulders, as he thought it did formerly on the Bishops here.