there at least (though little could thence be inferred a 25. yeeres Episcopality, and lesse, Aposto∣like succession, and least of all an approbation of later nouelties successiuely hatched in the last and worst ages) yea the current of the Iesuites argue (not say onely) that Rome is the mysticall and A∣pocalypticall Babylon, and cry out vpon vs for vnhonest partiality, that there acknowledge it, here in Peter disclaime it, not considering what a hooke they swallow with this baite: yet be∣cause that Epistle of Saint Peter is deliuered in litterall and not mysticall forme, like the Apo∣calyps, and because that opinion of Peters fiue and twenty yeeres Bishopricke deliuered by Euse∣bius, is manifestly repugnant to the Scriptures; and because that some of the Romanists them∣selues differ from the receiued opinion as incredible, as Onuphrius and Genebrand, and Maria∣nus Scotus also alleadgeth out of Methodius that Peter preached at Babylon, to which hee also ad∣deth Corinth and almost all Italie, and because the Ancients receiued that conceit of Papias, a [ 10] man of no great iudgement, as appeared by the Millenary fancie deriued from his tradition: though I will not meddle with that controuersie, whether Peter were euer at Rome, or no, the negatiue whereof in whole bookes Velenus and Bernard haue written, yet I cannot beleeue but that he wrote that of and in the Chaldea Babylonia. The rather because that was the Metropolis of the Asian dispersion (as is said) & that it wel agrees with the prime Apostle to execute his Apo∣stolicall mission to remote and many Nations, especially to the Circumcision (whose peculiar A∣postle he was) in all Countries where they were scattered, as appeares by his care of the Helle∣nists and Alexandria their Mother Citie, where he placed, as Authors affirme, Saint Marke the first Bishop; and because Ecclesiasticall writers affirme that he preached vbique fere terrarum, al∣most all the world ouer (so Nicephorus) breuiter in totius Asiae & Europae oris, omnibusque adeo qui [ 20] in dispersione erant Indaeis & Graecis &c. Metaphrastes affirmeth that after the Church of Rome and many others set in order, Saint Peter went to Carthage in Africa. Onuphrius acknowledg∣ing his Roman See, yet will haue him a Non resident (if not an Apostle rather) not to abide there, but findes him in that fiue and twenty yeeres space at Ierusalem, after that at Antioch, seuen yeers together, whence he came to Rome and reformed that Church, constituted Linus and Cletus his Suffragans or Coadiutors; and trauelling thence thorow the most part of Europe, at his returne to Rome, was there crucified.
Thus in a larger sense of the word Bishop, might Peter bee stiled Bishop of Rome, as hauing care to ouersee that as a principall Church, not neglecting meane while his Apostleship, to which properly belonged the care of all Churches. And hence is that different reckoning of the Roman [ 30] Bishops, Hierom reckoning Peter the first, Linus second, Cletus the third, Clemens the fourth. But Irenaeus nameth Linus the first Bishop, Cletus the second, &c. The like difference is in the See of Antioche twixt Hierom and Eusebius, the one beginning with Euodius, the other with Peter, which sheweth their opinion that Peter preached in both places as an Apostle, not as Bi∣shop in proper sense. So Irenaeus , the two Apostles (Peter and Paul) hauing founded the Ro∣man Church, committed the Bishoply charge thereof to Linus: and Rufinus , that Linus and Cletus were Bishops while Peter liued, that they might haue the care of the Bishoply charges E∣piscopatus curam) and he might doe Apostolatus Officium, the dutie of the Apostleship: & Epi∣phanius, in Roma fuerunt primi Petrus & Paulus Apostoli ijdem ac Episcopi, deinde Linus, &c. Peter and Paul were both Apostles and Bishops in Rome; and after other wordes of doubt touching [ 40] Clemens his being Bishop in the times of Linus and Cletus, all of them liuing in the same times while Peter and Paul were Bishops, saith, proptera quod Apostoli saepè ad alias terras ablegabantur propter Christi praedicationem, non potuit autem vrbs Romae esse sine Episcopo, That the Apostles went often into other Countries to preach Christ, in which meane while Rome could not bee without a Bishop. For the Apostolicall function enioyned an vniuersall; the Episcopall, a particular charge. And as the greater Office includes the lesse, as the Office of the Lord Chancellour, or Lord Cheefe Iustice, or any Councellor of State, containeth the authority of a Iustice of peace in each shire, with larger extension and intension of power, and a diocesan Bishop the Ministeriall function in any pastorall charge in his Diocesse, which the Parson or Curate must yeelde to him being pre∣sent, and pleased to supply and execute: so, and more then so, the Apostolicall comprehends the [ 50] Episcopall commission, as lesse: and the Apostles were in this respect Bishops wheresoeuer they came, not by ordinary constitution, but by a higher and extraordinary function: to whom other Bishops are successours not in the Apostleship strictly taken, but as Bishop to Apo∣stles, as Iustices of peace in their limits to the higher Commissions either ordinary as of Itine∣rant Iustices, or extraordinarie by speciall commission on speciall occasions constituted, in part, not in all their authoritie.
We shall launch into a Whirle-poole if we proceede to declare Peters Successors (as some call the Bishops of Rome) the Fathers themselues disagreeing in their Catalogues. So farre off were they from making Papall succession an essentiall either Note of the Church, or ground and rule of Faith. But for their preaching the Gospell thorow the World, all Bishops are all Apostles suc∣cessours, [ 60] these in their limited, those in an vniuersall Commission; which either they performed, or not: if they did not, it was disobedience, as in Sauls expedition against Amalek: if they could not, it was impotence, and the command of preaching to all Nations, impleadeth defect