A detection of sundrie foule errours, lies, sclaunders, corruptions, and other false dealinges, touching doctrine, and other matters vttered and practized by M.Iewel, in a booke lately by him set foorth entituled, a defence of the apologie. &c. By Thomas Harding doctor of diuinitie.

Iewel. Pag. 130.

Our Bishops are made by the admission of the prince: And in this sorte not long sithens the Pope him selfe vvas admitted,* 1.1 and as Platina saith, vvithout the Emperours letters patentes vvas no Pope, as hereafter it shalbe shevved more at large. Therefore vve neither haue Bishops vvithout Church, nor Churche vvithout Bishops.

Harding.

The admission of the Prince is not reproued of vs,* 1.2 when it is done in his place. For it is conuenient, that as in the old time, beside the Clergie, whiche of right did chose the bishop, the people were called to see, who was chosen, and to shew, whether they liked, or misliked him: so much more the Prince, who beareth the peoples per∣son, should haue his place of assent, and consent in na∣ming the Bishop, and in commending him, to the ende he may gouerne his shepe with the more loue, and quiet, when no man withstandeth his Election. And in that sorte it was in deede the custome, that euery Bishop of Rome should expect the Emperours consent, vntil the Emperours them selues partly being content to remitte that custome, did commit al to the Clergie, and partly leafte it by prescription.

Neither was it of late, that this custome ceased, but wel neare seuen hundred yeres ago,* 1.3 as it may be seene in Platina. But seing your Bishops were neither conse∣crated by those, who lineally succeded the Apostles, nor haue by your owne confession more power by Gods law then a Priest: you both haue false Bishops without the true Church, and a false Churche without true Bishops.

For the true Church hath Bishops,* 1.4 which by Gods lawe ought to be aboue Priestes, bicause S. Paule writing to Timothee a Bishop,* 1.5 biddeth him not to admit an accusatiō against Priestes without two witnesses, licencing him to admit such accusations, when there are two witnesses. It is his part only to admit accusations against Priestes, who is the iudge of Priestes: and euery Iudge is aboue him, ouer whom he sitteth in iudgement. Therefore a Bishop by Gods lawe is aboue a priest, whose iudge he is allowed to be.* 1.6 Which argument Epiphanius bringeth against Ae∣rius the heretike, who said (as now M. Iewel saith) that Priestes and Bishops were equal.

* 1.7Againe S. Hierome, who defended that the names of Bishops, and of Priestes were confounded in the begin∣ning, and that the order of priesthod in them was one (both which thinges are true): yet he made an euident difference betwen the power of them, graunting that a Priest could doo al that a Bishop can,* 1.8 excepta ordinatione, the ordering, or geuing of holy orders excepted. In that point then he beleued a Bishop to be aboue a Priest. Now say I, such a Bishop, as by Gods lawe is aboue a Priest, as who may only make Priestes, and geue them power to consecrate, and in Christes person to make, and offer vn∣to God his body and bloud: such a Bishop, or such a Priest you haue not in al your Church, vnlesse they be Aposta∣tes, and Renegates, who being once made priestes with vs, haue now denied the faith wherein they were Chri∣stened, and are runne out of the Church vnto your false Congregations, and scattered troupes.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Platina in Seuerino Papa.
• * 1.2

  The ad∣mission of a man by the Prince to a Bishop∣rike.
• * 1.3

  In Ha∣driano. 3.
• * 1.4

  That a Bishop is aboue a Priest.
• * 1.5

  1. Timo. 5.
• * 1.6

  Epiphani∣us har. 75.
• * 1.7

  Hieron. ad Euagriū.
• * 1.8

  Hierony∣mus ad∣uersus Lu∣ciferianos.