Page 171
Sect. VI.
Saint Jerom's Testimony of Bishops, &c. by Apostolicall Tra∣dition. Consuetudo opposed to Dominica dispositio. Saint Jerom's meaning evidenced by many other Testimonies to be, that Bishops were instituted by the Apostles. So by Panormi∣tan also. The Testimonies of Isidore, &c. the Councel of A∣quen, and of Leo vindicated. Of Ischyras's Ordination. The testimony of the Synod ad Zurrium, and of the 4th Councel of Carthage.
IN the next place I am to proceed to that of Saint Hierome in his 85. [ Num. 1.] Epistle ad Euagrium, the unanswerablenesse of which I am affirmed to make matter of Triumph over D. Blondel and Walo Massalinus, seeming to say, that it never can be answered, whereas say they, if I had been pleased to cast an eye upon the vindication—written by Smectymnuus, I should have found this answer—
What this answer is, [ 2] we shall see anon, In the meane it will be necessary to give a briefe account, what it was, which is called a triumphing over these two learned men.
And first it is sufficiently knowne, [ 3] what advantages the defenders of Presbyter•• conceive themselves to have from that one Antient writer, the Presbyter Saint Hierome: From him they have the interpretation of those Scriptures, which they thinke to be for their use, as that the word Bishop and Pres∣byter are all one in several texts of Scripture, and both signifie Presbyters, and that the Apostles at first designed, ut communi Presbyterorū concilio Ecclesiae gubernarentur, that the Churches should be governed by the common Councel of Presbyters, and that it so continued till upon the dissentions, which by this meanes arose in the Church, it was judged more prudent and usefull to the preserving of unity, ut unus superponeretur reli∣quis, that one should be set over the rest, and all the care of the Church belong to him, And this, saith Hierome, in toto Orbe de∣cretum, decreed and executed over the whole world.
By whom this was conceived, [ 4] by him to be thus decreed, he gives us not to understand in that place, nor in what point