Episcopacie by divine right. Asserted, by Jos. Hall, B. of Exon

[ 10] §. 12.

The testimony of the Ancient Canons, called the Apostles.

YEt perhaps if Ignatius went alone, he might herein incurre some suspicion; now all an∣tiquity is with him, never any ancient Author said otherwise: We will begin with those Ca∣nons which are instyled (〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉) [ 20] of the holy and most venerable Apostles; Surely if not theirs, yet of some Apostolicall men, near to their times, worthy even for their age and authority to be reverenced of all Chri∣stians, as the most credible witnesses of the state of those Primitive times. In them (besides the note of professed distance) betwixt the Bi∣shops

and Presbyters proclaimed in every Chapter) there are those which do imply a power and Iurisdiction, as Can: 15. If any Presbyter or Deacon, or any of the number of Clerks, leaving his division (or Parish) shall go to another, and without the leave or allow∣ance of his own Bishop abide in another Pa∣rish (or charge) we forbid him further to Mi∣nister, especially if when his own Bishop calls him back, he refuses to return, continuing still [ 10] perverse. And again in the next; If any Bishop with whom such a Clerk shall stay, shall there keep him against this decreed Cessation, Let him, as a master of disorder, be barred from Communion. And Can: 32. If any Pres∣byter contemning his own Bishop, shall hold Conventicles apart, and shall erect an other Altar, when he hath no just exception against his Bishop, in matter of Religion or Justice, Let him be deposed (〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉) as a man that [ 20] affects to rule, for he is a Tyran. And Can: 33. If any Presbyter or Deacon shall, by his own Bishop be put from his place, it is not lawfull that he be received by any other, but only of him that formerly discharged him, except per∣haps, the Bishop that put him out be deceased. And because it was so early perceived, that even

amongst the Bishops themselves, an equality might breed confusion; It is enacted in the 35 Canon, That the Bishops of all nations should know him that was (〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉) the prime amongst them, and esteem him as their head, and do nothing without him. Shortly Can: 39: it is ordained, That the Bishop should take the charge and care of all the affairs belonging to the Church, and dispence them as in the pre∣sence and view of God Almighty; and in the [ 10] 40 Canon, Let the Presbyters and Deacons do nothing besides the liking, and allowance of their Bishop: for the people of God are com∣mitted to him, and an account must be requi∣red of him for their souls.

Hear this now, ye that pretend there is so much difference betwixt the state of our Bi∣shops, and the Primitive; What do we chal∣lenge more than the Apostolike Canons in∣joyn, what do they prescribe lesse than we [ 20] challenge? There is a power over the Clergie; a power of disposing them to generall stations, a power of deposing, or sequestring them (up∣on just demerits) from those charges; a power not to over-see only, but to regulate their Cler∣gie; a power to manage all Ecclesiasticall af∣fairs;

and if this be no rule no Jurisdiction, we claim none.

Certainly, no wit of man can devise any E∣vasion here, but by exception at the credit of the Evidence; Loud clamours are raised of their Counterfaysance; Rather than fail, Pope Gela∣sius himself is brought in to disprove these Ca∣nons, as Apocryphall; And they that do most eagarly cry the Pope down, for the Antichrist, [ 10] are readiest to plead his authority against their brethren: Not considering the Pope herein (Vafer Afer) as Fregevill justly calls him, drave his own Plough; for nothing could more cut him in the affectation of his Supremacy, than those Canons, which therefore it is no marvell if he disparage. The truth is, whereas there are 85 of those Canons, in more than one Edition, 50 of them are most ancient and legitimate, the other 35 later and Superious. With this distin∣ction [ 20] Binius answers the censure of his Pope; The 50 first, saith he, are received as authenti∣call, by the ancient Popes, Councels, Fathers, as containing Orthodox doctrine; The other later are condemned by Gelasius. Indeed such age and worth plead for the first ranke, that as Isidorus truly; The holy Fathers confirmed their

acts by Synodall authority, and placed them amongst Canonicall Constitutions. If any man desire full information concerning the antiqui∣ty, and authentiquenesse of these Canons, I re∣mit him to Fregivillaeus, where he shall finde how many of these Canons were transferred into, and approved, and cited by the Councels of Nice, Gangra and Antioch, not without the [ 10] very Appellation of Apostolicall; The like af∣terwards done by the Councels of Constantino∣ple, Ephesus, Chalcedon, Orleans, Cabilon; There he shall finde them cited (for such) with ap∣probation of Eusebius, Socrates, Theodoret, Sozo∣men; There he shall finde that Aurelius, Bishop of Carthage made use of these Canons as the Test whereby to examine the Roman Popes decrees; that by these the African Fathers repel∣led the Popes Tyrannicall Usurpation; but [ 20] what shall I need to urge these Attestations, when Calvin himself, and Chamier, and every ingenuous Writer, confesse them to be of very great, and (therefore very reverend) Anti∣quity.

Notes

• Can. 15.
• 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.
• 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.
• Isidor. praefat. ad Collect. Canonn.
• Fregivil. palma Christiana.
• Calvin. Valde antiqui testes moris Ecclesiae. Instit. l. 4. c. 4.