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A Brief, Necessary INTRODUCTION to An Exact Chronological Vindication, &c. wherein the Antient Soveraign Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction claimed and exercised by our Christian British, Roman, Saxon, Danish, Norman, and English Kings within their Dominions, is particularly stated; The Ʋsurped pretended Ʋniversal Monarchy and Supream Authority of St. Peter, and Popes his imaginary Successors in his Chair at Rome, as well in Ecclesiasticals as Temporals; with their Claims, Titles to, and Grounds thereof, are concisely related, and fully refuted, subverted, even by the contradictory Practises, Devo∣tions, Resolutions, Principles, Assertions of their Roman Church, Popes, Do∣ctors, Votaries, concerning the Virgin Mary, and Christ; in opposition to our Reformed Protestant Churches and Religion.
THis Second Tome being brought forth to the Worlds View before the First, I repute it not only convenient, but ne∣cessary, by way of Introduction to the Chronological and Historical part thereof, to present you with a Brief Ac∣count of these 4. particulars.
First, What Soveraign Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction it is, that our Christian Kings and Monarchs, as Gods Vi∣cars, have claimed, exercised over all Prelates, Spiritual or other persons, causes within their Kingdomes and Do∣minions by an antient undoubted Right in all ages, from their first Conversion to Christianity, as Supream Heads or Governors of them next under God, upon all emergent Occasions, unlesse when forcibly or fraudulently inter∣rupted therein by Popes and Popish Prelates: and in what particular branches it prin∣cipally consists.
Secondly, What pretended claimes, the Popes or Bishops of Rome of later ages have made, and still make to the Supream, Ʋniversal Ecclesiastical, and likewise to the Soveraign, absolute Temporal Jurisdiction or Monarchy over all Patriarchs, Bishops, Clergymen, Emperors, Kings, Princes, Nobles, Laicks, Churches, Empires, Kingdoms, Nations throughout the World, whether Christian or Pagan; and particularly over our Kings, kingdomes, Istes of Great Britain and Ireland.
Thirdly, By what fictitious Titles, Deeds or Conveyances, they derive and ap∣propriate this Ʋniversal Ecclesiastical and Temporal Monarchy, wholly and solely to themselves and their successors in the See of Rome.
Fourthly, That the very Practises, Resolutions, and established Doctrines of their own Popes, Doctors, concerning the Virgin Mary, Christ, and Transubstantion, refute, yea totally subvert this their pretended Title, Right, unto this their Soveraign Universal Monarchy.
For the first of these: The Soveraign Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction claimed, exerci∣sed by our Kings, Monarchs, as Gods Vicats, over all Prelates, Persons, Causes within their Kingdoms, and Dominions in all ages, from their first conversion to Christianity, as Supream Heads or Governors of them next under God, upon all emer∣gent occasions▪ is a 1.1 not (as our Romish Antagonists would perswade their seduced Pro∣selytes) an actual absolute authority to Administer the Word, Sacraments of Baptism & the Lords Supper, or confer holy Orders by their own actual imposition of hands, or exer∣cise the Priests or Bishops peculiar ministerial Offices; nor yet by their Laws, Edicts, or Royal commands to abrogate, repeal, contradict, or dispense with any divine Lawes, Precepts, Ordinances, Institutions, Duties, enjoyned or prescribed by GOD himself to