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 PRINCETON, N. J. 
 
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 Presented by Mr. Samuel Agnew of Philadelphia, Pa. 
 
 COLLECTION OF PURITAN AND 
 ENGLISH THEOLOGICAL LITERATURE 
 
 LIBRARY OF THE THEOLOGICAL SExMINARY 
 PRINCETON, NEW JERSEY 
 
 scB 
 
TWO 
 
 PETITIONS 
 
 TO 
 
 THE HOJ^ 1 OV%^'BLE 
 
 Cov%r OF 
 PARLIAMENT 
 
 I^i ZEHzJLFE OF 
 Episcopacy. 
 
 ONE DELIVERED BY S c Thomas 
 ^ A s t o n from the County Palatine 
 of CbeUtr. 
 
 THE OTHER FROM THE 
 Citties of L. and W. 
 
 Printed in the yeare 16*41, 
 
M1M111I1IIIIII11IM1 
 
 A PETITION 
 
 DELIVERED INTO 
 
 The Lords SpirituaO zndTemporaB y by 
 SirTHOMAS Ast oN,Baronetj 
 
 from the Cotmty Palatine of Ch ester 
 conccrningEp i sc op a e i e 9 
 
 To the High and Honorable Court of 
 Parliament. 
 
 The Nobility, Knights , Gentry, Minifiers,* 
 Free-Holders y and Inhabitants of the 
 County Palatine ofChcftcr,whofe 
 names ate fubferihed in the 
 feVerall Schedules here- 
 unto annexed. 
 
 Hum&ljfbew, 
 
 THat whereas divers Petitions 
 have lately been carried about 
 this County, againft the prefent 
 forme of Church-Government* 
 ( and the hands of many perfons of ordina- 
 ry quality folicitedto the Tame, with pre- 
 tence to be prefented to this Honorable 
 A 2 Aflembly, ) 
 
Affembly;) which we conceiving, not Co 
 much to ayme at reformation asabfolute 
 innovation ofGovernment, & fuch as muft 
 give a great advantage to the Adverfarics 
 of our Religion, We held it our duty to dis- 
 avow them all. 
 
 And humbly pray , that We incurre no 
 mifcenfure* if any fuch clamours have 
 (without our privity ) afTum'd the name 
 of the County* 
 
 We , as others 5 are fenfible of the cortir 
 mon Grievances of the Kingdome, & have 
 juft caufe to rejoyce at , and acknowledge 
 withthankfulnefle, the pious care which 
 is already taken for the fupprefsingofthe 
 growth of Popery, the better fupply of able 
 Minifters, and the removing of all lanova^ 
 tion i and We doubt not but in your great 
 Wifedomes, you will regulate the rigour of 
 Ecclefiafticall Courts 3 to fuit with the tem- 
 per of ourlawes, and the nature of Eree- 
 men. 
 
 Yet when We confider , that Bifliops 
 were inftituted in the time of the Apoftlesi 
 
 That 
 
That they were the great lights of the 
 Church in all thefirft generallCouncelU; 
 That fo many of them fowed the feeds of 
 Religion in their bloods, and refcued Chri- 
 stianity from utter extirpation in the Pri- 
 mitive Heathen perfecutions ; That to them 
 we owe the redemption of the purity of 
 the Gofpell We now profefle fromRomifli 
 corruption • That many of them for the 
 propagation of the truth,, became glorious 
 Martyrs • That divers of them (lately and 
 yet living with us) have been fo ftrong af- 
 fertors of our Religion againft its common 
 enemy of Rome j And that their Govern- 
 ment hath beene fo long approved, fo oft 
 eftabliflied by the Common and Statute- 
 Lawes of this Kingdome • And as yet no- 
 thing in their dodrine (generally taughr) 
 diffonant from the Word of God ,or the Ar- 
 ticles ratified by Law ; In this cafe to call 
 their Government a perpetuall vaflalage* 
 an intolerable bondage. And (prima facie 
 kfinaudha altera parte) to pray the prefent 
 removall of them y or ( as in fome of theirs 
 A. \ Petitions); 
 
Petitions ) to fccke the utter diflblution 
 and mine of their Offices (as Antichrifti- 
 an;)We cannot conceive to relifli of jufticc 
 or charity, nor can We joyne with them. 
 
 But on the contrary 3 when We confider 
 the tenor of fuch Writings , as in the name 
 of Petitions are fpread amongft the Com* 
 mon People ; the ^enents preached pub- 
 liquely in Pulpits , and the contents of ma- 
 ny printed Pamphlets, fw arming amongft 
 us jail of them dangcroufly exciting a dis- 
 obedience to the eftabliflied forme of Go- 
 vernment , and their feverall intimations 
 of the defire of the power of the Keyes,and 
 that their Congregations may execute Ec- 
 cleliafticall Cenfures within themfelves: 
 We cannot but exprefle our juft feares, that 
 their defire is to introduce an abfolute Inno- 
 vation of Presbyteri al Governmen^where- 
 by We, who are now governed by the Ca- 
 non and CivillLawcSjdifpenfed by twen- 
 ty-fix Ordinaries ( eafily refponfall to Par- 
 liaments, for any deviation from the rule of 
 Law?) conceive We fhould become expo- 
 fed 
 
fed to the meere arbitrary Government 
 of a numerous Presbytery , who together 
 with their ruling Elders will arife to neerc 
 forty thoufand Church-Governours , and 
 with their Adherents j muft needs hearefo 
 great a fway in the Common-wealth, that 
 if future inconvenience fhall be found in 
 that Government,We hiimbly offer to con- 
 federation, how thefefliali be reducible by 
 Parliamentsjhow confiftentwich a Monar- 
 chy>and how dangeroufly conducible to an 
 Anarchy, which We have iuft caufe to pray 
 againft,as fearing the confluences would 
 prove the utter lofle of Learning and 
 Lawes> which muft neceflarily produce an 
 extermination of Nobility* Gentry,and Or~ 
 den if no't of Religion. 
 
 With what vehemencyof fpirit* thefe 
 things are profecuted, and how plaufibly 
 fuch popular infufions fpread as incline to 
 a parities We held it our duty toreprefent 
 to this Honorable Aflembly i And humbly 
 pray,thatfomefuch prefent courle be taken, 
 as in your Wifedomes fhall be thought fit, 
 
 to 
 
to fupprefle the future difperfing of fuch 
 dangerous difcontents amongft the Com- 
 mon People. We having great caufe to 
 feare , that of all the diftempers that at pre- 
 fent threaten the wellfare of this State, 
 there is none more worthy the mature and 
 grave confideration of this Honorable Af* 
 fembly , then to flop the Torrent of fuch 
 Spirits before they fwell beyond the 
 bounds of Government : Then We doubt 
 not but his Maieftie perfevering in his gra- 
 cious inclination to heare the complaints* 
 and relieve the grievances of hisSubie&s 
 in frequent Parliaments y it will fo unite 
 the Head and the Body, fo indiflfolubly ce- 
 ment the affedtions of his peoplf to our 
 Royall Soveraigne, that without any other 
 change of GovernmentjHe can never want 
 xevenuc,nor We iuftice. 
 
 We 
 
We harpe frefumed to annex a Coppy of a 
 Petition (orLibeU) difperfed, andcertaine 
 pofitions preach in tbu County » 3 which We con- 
 ceh>e imply matter of dangerous confequence to 
 the peace both of Qhurch and State. AU which 
 We humbly fubmit u your great Iudgments 9 
 praying they maybe read. 
 
 And/ball eyerpray, &c. 
 
 
 Subfcribcd to this Petition, 
 
 FokreNobttifien. 
 
 Knight 'Baronets, Knights andEfquires $ 
 
 four ef core andodde. 
 Dft>inesjhreefcore andten. 
 Gentlemen, three hundred and odde. 
 Freeholders and other Inhabitants y above 
 
 fxthoufand. 
 
 All of the fame-County. 
 
 The Atiti-Petitionjr <Anfw*n to thu% u a bafe 
 Libell and a forgerie. 
 
 B TO 
 
TO THE 
 
 HONORABLE 
 
 THE 
 
 l\nights ? Gtti^ens, &c. 
 p The humble Petition of the Citties 
 
 Humbly jhewethi 
 
 TH a t whereas there hath of 
 late a Petition fubferibed hy 
 many ( who pretend to be In- 
 habitants of thefe Citties) been 
 delivered, received,, and read in this Ho- 
 noraele Houfe, againft the ancient, 
 prefenty and by Law eftablifhed Govern- 
 ment of the Church) and that not fo much 
 for the Reformation of Bifhops* as for the 
 utter fubverfion and extirpation *f Epifco- 
 
 pacy 
 
pacy it felfej Wee whofe names arc un- 
 derwritten, to fliew there be many, and 
 thofe of the better fort of the Inhabitants of 
 thefe Citties othervvife and better minded, 
 doe humbly reprelent untothis Honorable 
 Hou(e,theie confiderations following. 
 
 I. That Rpiicopacy is as ancient as 
 Chriftianity itfelfe in this Kingdome. 
 
 I I. That Bifhops were the chiefe in- 
 ftruments in the Reformation of this 
 Church againfl: Popery, and afterwards the 
 mofl: eminent Martyrs for the Proteftant * 
 Religion, and fince, the beft and ableft 
 Champions for the defence of it. 
 
 III. That fince the Reformation , the 
 times have been very peaceable,happy, and 
 glorious, notwithftandingEpilcopall Go- 
 vernment in the Church:and therefore that 
 this Government can be no caule of our 
 unhappinellc. 
 
 I V. We conceive that not only many 
 Learned, but diverfe other Godly perfons 
 would be much fcandalled and troubled in 
 Confcienee, if the Government of Epifco- 
 
 B % p ac y* 
 
pacy 5 conceived by them to be an Apoftoli- 
 call Inftkution, were altered: & fince there 
 is Co much care taken , that no man fhould 
 be offended in the leail Ceremony,we hope 
 there will befome , that fuch mens Confer- 
 ences may not be prefled upon, in a master 
 of an higher nature and confequence, efpe- 
 cially confidering that this Government by 
 Epilcopacy, is not only lawfulland conve- 
 nient for edification , but likewife filtable 
 and agreeable to the Civill policie and Go* 
 vernment of this State* 
 
 V. That this Government is lawful! 
 it appeares by the immediate , univerfall 8c 
 conftat pradtife of all the Ghriftian World, 
 grounded upon Scripture, from the Apo- 
 ftles time to this laft Age, for above 1 500 
 yeares togethenlt being utterly incredible, 
 ifnot impofsible 5 that the whole Church 
 for lb longatime, fliould not difcoverby 
 Gods word this Government to be unlaw- 
 full,ifit had been fo. To which may be ad- 
 ded, that the ffioft learned Proteftants,even 
 inthofe very Churches whichnow are not 
 
 governed- 
 
governed by Bifhops,doe not only hold the- 
 Government by Epifcopacy to be lawfully 
 but wifh that they themfelves might in joy 
 it. 
 
 Againe,that the Government by Epifco- 
 pacy is not only lawfull,but convenient for 
 edification 5 & as much,or more conducing 
 to Piety and devotion tken any other, itap- 
 peares 5 becaufe no modeft man denies,that 
 the Primitive times were raoft famous for 
 Piety T Constancy, & Perfeveranceinthe 
 Faithjtiotwithftanding more frequent and 
 more cruell perfections then ever have 
 been fin cej andyetitisconfefled, that the 
 Church in thofe times was govern'd by 
 Bifliops- 
 
 Laftly y That the Government of the 
 Church by Epifcopacy > is moft futable to 
 the frame and forme of the Civill Govern- 
 ment here in this Kingdome 5 it appeares 
 by the happy & flouriiliing Union of them 
 both* for io long a time together j Whereas 
 no man can give us an affurance 5 how any 
 Church Government befides this ( whereof 
 
 B i W& 
 
We have had fo long an experience) will 
 fiiit and agree with the Civill policie of 
 this State, And We conceive it may be of 
 dangerous confequence 3 for men or fetled 
 fortunes to hazzard their eftates^y making 
 fo great an alteration^nd venturing upon a 
 new forme of Government y whereof nei- 
 ther We , nor our Anceftors have had any 
 tryall, or experience ; elpecially considering 
 that thofe, who would have Epifcopacy to 
 be abolifhed, have notyet agreed, nor (as 
 We are verily perfwaded ) ever will or can 
 agree upon any other common forme of 
 Government to fucceed in the roome of it> 
 as appeares by the many different and con- 
 trary draughts , and platformes they have 
 made & publiflied,according to the feveral 
 humors and k&s of thofe that made them. 
 Whereas y feeing every great alteration in a 
 Church or State, rauft needs be dangerous, 
 it is juft and reafonable that whofoever 
 would introduce a newfirme in fteadof an 
 old one j fiiould be obliged to demonftratc 
 and make it evidently appeare aforehand, 
 
 that 
 
that the Government he would introduce 
 is proportionally fo muchbetter ? then that; 
 he would abolifli > as may recompence the 
 loffe we may luftaine , and may be worthy 
 of the hazzard we muft run r in abolishing 
 the one, and in introducing andfetlingof 
 the other.But this We are confident can ne- 
 ver be done r in regard of this particular. 
 
 And therefore our humble and earneft 
 requeft to this Honorable Houfe is, that as 
 well in this confideration,as all the other a- 
 forefaid, Wemayftill injoy thatGovern- 
 ment, which moll probably holds its 1 nfti- 
 tution from the Apoflles^nd moll certainly 
 its plantation with our Chriflian Faith it 
 felfe in this Kingdome , where it hath ever 
 fince flourished , and continued for many 
 Ages without any interruption or alterati- 
 on/whereby it plainly appeares, that as it is 
 the moft excellent Government in it felfe; 
 fb it is the moft futable, moft agreeable 5 and; 
 every way moft proportionable to the Ci~ 
 vill conftitutions and temper of this State.. 
 And therefore We pray and hope will al- 
 
 wayes*> 
 
wayes be continued, and preferved in It& 
 by it, notwithftandingthe abufes and cor- 
 ruptions which in lb long trail of time 
 through the errors or negligences of men 
 may have crept into it: Which abufes and 
 corruptions being all of them ( what and 
 how many foever tjiey may be) but meere- 
 ly accidentall to Ep : r copacy j We conceive 
 and hope, there nu) be a Reformation of 
 of the one, without deftru&ion of the o- 
 ther. 
 
 Which is the humble fuit 
 
 of 
 
 Ten thoufand thmfan£ 
 
 
 *r^l> «^t> S^S ^$3 £$* €&5 S2L15 *r$7> jffi *#» £ra &£> 2 p ££ £& 
 
 <r^t. /^W r^v .**V W, Jg* *y% tf^T jyb J^, (&* cftSV fjfc fljttT- «W£P 
 
THE 
 
 IUDGEMENT 
 
 OF 
 
 Do6tor Rainoldes 
 
 touching ^rie Origfnall of 
 ETISCOTJCY. 
 
 More largely confirmed 
 
 out of Antiquity 
 By fJMES^Archhtihov of 
 
 LONDON, 
 
 Printed by (j.-M. for T h o m a s Dovvne j., and are to be fold 
 by William Lee attheTurkes head in Fleetftreet, i6^i % 
 
T PF 
 
 IVDGEMENT 
 
 O F 
 
 Doctor %Al ^(0 LT)BS 
 
 touching the Originall 
 of Epifcopacics. 
 
 HEN 9 Elders Werc^ a aa. 4i % h 
 ordain* d by the Apofiles 
 in enpery Church? through b tiut.\: 
 eyery City, e to * feed ' a 
 
 ffe /(tffetf flf Chritt, c6doechc^' 
 
 to It. 
 
 whereof the Holy Ghott™ 01 
 had made them oT>er-feers : they to the in- 
 tent they might the better doe it by 
 common counfell and confent, did 
 ufe to aflcmble thcmfelves and meete 
 
 A 2 together, 
 
 at js, 
 of a 
 
d Aft. 20.17* 
 
 The OriginaUof Epifcopacie. 
 
 together. In the which meetings, for 
 the more orderly handling and conclu- 
 ding of things pertaining to their 
 chargei they ehofe one amongft them 
 to be the Prefident of their company 
 and Moderator of their a&ions. As in 
 the Church oiEphejm^ though it had 
 d fundry Elders ipd Paflors toguideit; 
 yet amongft thofe fundry was thereone 
 
 e Rev. 1.1. chiefe, whom our Saviour calleth « the 
 
 AngeU of the Churchy and writeth that 
 to him, which by him the reft fhould 
 know. 
 
 And this is he whom afterward in 
 the Primitive Church the Fathers caU 
 
 f i. cor, 4 . 1. led Bijhop. For as the name of f Mini- 
 
 fters-, common to all them who fervc 
 
 * Luke 12.41. chrift in * the flewardfhip of the mytte- 
 
 ries of God, that is in preaching of the 
 
 Gofpelljisnowby the cuftome of our 
 
 Englifti fpeechreftrainedto Elders who 
 
 ate under a Bifbop : fo the name of 
 
 g ; i.Tim M . g Bifbop common to all Elders and Pa* 
 
 lit. 1.7. y •*■ 
 
 Aa.io.i8. Jiors of the Church } was then by the 
 
 ufuall language, of the Fathers appro- 
 priated 
 
Ihe Origin all of Ept/ccpacie. 3 
 
 priated to him who had the Prefident- 
 (hip over Elders. 
 
 Thus are certaine Elders reproved . 
 
 by Cyprian ±101 raerowgto tee commit- ■^•bwmh, 
 »/<?» them who bad fallen (in timcofper- 
 fecurion) fe/ir* ^ B$op ^ adyifed 
 of it mth them and others* And * torfltf- j Eufekfi^. £*/«/: 
 //m writeth that thefCatholick Church 
 committed to his charge bad fixe and forty 
 Elders^ and ought to have but one Bifhop. 
 And both of them being 'Bifiops, the 
 one of Eome % the other of Carthage, ^ { . 
 
 # ' t . « k Cornelius Cypnano 
 
 doe wuneffe of themlelves that f/;^ ^. 4 *. c>p ,mus 
 dealt in matters of thm uurcbes goyerne- con j? Et6 . 
 ment by the confent and counfell of thc^ 
 company of Elders* or the Elderjbipy as ' Cornelius Ep. 4 s. 
 they both (after S. m P^w/) doe call it, »x.tim. 4 .i4. 
 
 Thus 
 
Thi Origin id of Epifcopacie. 
 
 a V.KainotJ. Confe- 
 rence with Hart } 
 chap. S. divif.^. 
 
 Hus farre, that Re- 
 verend a Do&or : 
 whofe obfervatioa 
 touching the AngeOof 
 the Church of Epbefus 
 (in the fecondofthe 
 Revelation) that he was the fame with 
 him whom afterwards in the Primitive 
 Church the Fathers called Bifbop^ is 
 clearely confirmed, both bythefucceffi- 
 on of the fixft Biftiops of that Church, 
 and by the teftimony of Ignatius^ who 
 (within no greater compafle of time 
 then twehe yeares afterwards) diftin- 
 guifheth the fingular and conftant Pres- 
 ident thereof, from the reft cf the num- 
 ber of the Presbyters, by appropriating 
 the name of Bi/hop unto him, 
 
 As for the former: we finde it open- 
 ly declared in the generall Councellof 
 Cbzlcedonty Leorttius Bilhop ofMagneJia; 
 
 that 
 
The Originau of BpifccpMie. 5 
 
 that b from Timotbie (and fo from the ^^^faS 
 daies e>f the Apoftles) there had beenc »7* *^7 M *#*■ 
 a continued iucceUion oijeyenanatwen- i^efiovtir.mv. cr«- 
 rjB//%M all of them crdained in **M^«* 
 Epbeftts. Of which number the AngeUoi 
 the Church of Epbefns, mentioned in 
 the R evelation, muft needs be one : whe- 
 ther it were Timotbie K?infelfe,as fc fome c viivm\oii.H*> 
 
 ,-». lT tar. i»l;iM olycrrpi 
 
 conceive j or one oinisnextbucceilorsj ««/>. 7 . 
 as others rather do imagine. 
 
 Fcrthat timotbie had been fometime d Nt/ w^ ^ « 
 - the *** (which is the appellation ^Jftgj 
 which /#/?/» Alatyr giveth unto him, »«*>(^ j^* 
 whom other of the rainers do pecun- w* jummw. id. 
 arly tcarme zFjjbop) or Jnt/Jtes^or Pre- Ir . ^ipm****- 
 fdent of the £/>/;^ Presbytery, is con- ^^^Jlj 
 feffed by £££d himfelfe: and that he ivfii>*t*i9*c*£** 
 was ordained tte fitjt Eijhop ci the a rpi/topus i*piu u 
 Church of the Epbefians> we dee rot ? * F 
 onely read in the fubfcription of the 
 ieconc^Epiftle xoTimtbie, and the Ec- 
 clefiafticall Hifiory of c Eufcbius^ but •*&*.*#•&* 
 alfo in two ancient Treatifes concer- 
 ning the Martyrdcme of tmoibie i 
 the one namekfiein the Library of 
 
 i Pbotim % 
 
6 The Original! ofEpifcopacie. 
 
 * *on v?Ztov vi- Photi^ the other bearing the name 
 y^^r^Z of" s Potycrates, even of that Pvljcra- 
 
 :c5S&Ji8£ w » who was not oneI y hJmfdfe Buhop 
 
 0i* Cm fi /*>*'*« of this Church of Ebbefus* but borne 
 p«7»i a *'&*** alio within fix or (even and thirty 
 £!rSr%tfS~ y earcs a fer s - ^* wro ^ the fore- 
 
 Y**Miblwhec.mm. nSLme & Epift | e untQ thc Mgdi of ^ 
 
 g i j oiycrat j>Many- Church : as it Lopeareth bythcyeares 
 
 no Timothci: inter , r i i 1 m 
 
 x;r/4» sanaorum.edit. he was of 3 when he wrote that Epiftle 
 
 m% ^ s - unto Victor Bifhop of Rome^ wherein 
 
 b E'/tt&Zcmysvy- \\q maketh mention of *» Ceyenkinfmen of 
 
 iy»^ oy**. Poiv- ## ^0 feirf ^^ Btjbopss he himielfe 
 
 rem.-apudEutebMbs being Ate «JW. 
 
 H^.»f.» j come now to t h e teftimony of 
 
 « Thcodoret m ©** Ignatius: whom i Theodoret and k iv//# 
 kTeiini. J f £p|* Bilhop of jRcwtf, and ■ Mb the Chro* 
 iSSS^Z nographer of ^wrwrA report to have 
 
 j~iwqiuAa.i.(t+ bcene ordained Bifhop of Jjtf/<?^ by 
 izo.ejtt. Binij, .4 «, & Peter 5 and without all controverfie 
 ^ohan-Maicia ^*. did fit in that See, the very fame time 
 u^s Chr6Gtc ' wherein that Epiftle unto the fygeU of 
 the Church of Ephefus was commanded 
 ■ ™?« ~~^« ™ 10 he written. In the Ifle of Patmoshzd 
 
 ■ ApaWw? «??*• s, John his Revelation manifefted unto 
 
 lreQMverf.9<ere/ r . ttb. . . f . r 
 
 yM*goEuteb.//*.j. himj m toward the end of the Empire of 
 H ' fi ' "* * Domitian, 
 
The Origin all o/Epifcopacie. 7 
 
 Domitian as IreriAns teftifieth j or the 
 foureteemh yeare of his governement, 
 as a Eufebws and Hterom fpecifie it. 2SSS2SS 
 From thence there are but w*h>* MftM^J**""* 
 yeares reckoned unto the tenth of 7><*- 
 jV«! wherein Ignatius , in that laft jour- 
 ney which he made for the confum- 
 manonof hi* glorious Martyrdome at 
 Kome^ wrote another Epiftie unto the 
 felfe-fame Church of Epbefus. In 
 which he maketh mention of their 
 then Bilhop Onefimtts : as it appeares 
 both b/ ° E'ifebitis citing this out of * *4&Mb.iMfi. ;<*?. 
 it, and by the Epiftie it fdfe yet ex- 
 tant. 
 
 In this Epi;lle to the Fphefians, 
 Ignatius hav ng acknou ledaed that . w v a 
 their p numerous multitude was recei- «&A frjKpaM-fcs? 
 ved by him in the perfon or their 1 ^x^mm^v. 
 Biftop Oncfimus, and * biefled God ^£g^ 
 for granting unto them fuch zBifbob V? **-p**w 
 as he was ; doth afrcrwards put them ?°ofc» ^ v^fe* 
 in mind ot their duty in concurring m^Uov yttyubn 
 *uh him, as he (he* eth their worthy \S££fe% 
 Presbytery did, being ' fo conjoped (is T ^>J^™^ 
 
 B he *f %?feuMQef<j..sbU, 
 
8 The Originall of Efifcopacie] 
 
 he (aith)witb their Bifbop^s the firings are 
 
 with tbeHarpe-, and toward the end ex- 
 
 t D Wom< r<$ i- horteththemto c obey both the bifhopand 
 
 TS^jt^SS^ the Presfotery, with an mdevided minde. 
 
 Mvfa'Wd. j n x fa c f ame j ournC y vvrote tgnatitts 
 
 alfo an Epiftle unto the Church of 
 
 Smyrna ; another of thofe feven unto 
 
 n avw.^.«*it3v*|- whom thofe Ichnts are dire&ed in S. 
 
 n^ju^rer] «oi 7 a M»J Revelation, wherein he alio u Ja- 
 
 I^WgS^ luteth their Bj/%> and Presbytery : ex- 
 
 f&VlMr. h ° rtin g a]I thC P CO P ,C t0 X f° BW tbdr 
 
 •Vft^«Ti,£o£f/5-2t Bifbop, as thrift lefm did his F other y 
 ra *in0m$u % and the Presbytery^ as the JpoUles j 
 Sft^& and telling them that ' no man ought 
 7m£Z'&t- either to adminifter the Sacraments, or 
 jkiifajxsim'frfyf* doe any thing appertaining to the 
 jr*fetiw «>**,« » Church, without the content of the 
 ovk^Wv uTxti* Rffiop- And that Polycarptts was then 
 
 ^i^t.ftid.^ Bilbop* when s - Iohn wrote unto '*' An ~ 
 zoiwxe tV yv&a.&- gel] of the Church in Smyrna-, who can 
 
 xwefcre 9^. iren. better inrorme us then Irenaws ? who 
 
 aherf kercf lib z, j.j , T 1 r ! 
 
 ^.{,Eqf c b./a 4 ^. .did not onely know thole worthy men, 
 TiKf.)nepi/?aJrio. % *® ho faceeded Poly carpus in his See; 
 
 Ttnum : (apif Eufcb. ^ a Jf Q * was pre f ent W } )en he 
 lib.?.**.*.) <& a.l ,. r r > 
 
 rt£iorem(MiwK<r.) nimtelre did dilcourle or his converfa* 
 
 tion 
 
The Orivinauof Epifcopdrie. 9 
 
 tbn with S. lobn, and of thofe things 
 which he heard from thole who ha-d 
 feene our Lord lefus. 
 
 Polycarpis b faith he, yeas not onely 
 taught by the Jpofitet and confer fed -»ab JJ&^RS&J 
 many of thofe that had Jeene Cbrifl, but j-b-J^j^ 
 alfo 'Was by the Apoftles constituted in A fit ™> yjsiv i^iw, 
 Bifljop of the Church *fcmcb is in Smyrna: ^vK^-^Uh^ 
 ^hom Tve our fefres alfo did [ee in our $™JS££«J& 
 younger age. for he continued long, and be. wpS! 
 in? yen aped* he mo ft plorioufly and no- i™*** fiimyMm, 
 hly fuffering Martyr dome aepar tea this life. hJtigw&hwvisnr 
 
 Now being ordained BiQiop of^^nSV^;! 
 Symrna by the Jpotties $ who had fini- *>*&*-. 
 {hed their courfe, and departed out of 
 this life before SJohn (chelaft furviver 
 of them) did write his Revelation : who 
 but he could there be meant by theAngell 
 oj the Church in Smyrna? in which that he 
 ftiil held his Epifcopall office unto the 
 time of his Marty rdome (which fell out 
 LXXllU eares afterward,) may Effi- 
 ciently appeare by this teftimony, 
 which the brethren of ihe Church 
 of Smyrna, who were ptefent at hfs 
 
 B i fuffering 
 
to The Original! of Eptfcopacie. 
 
 cotroifowifau; fuffering, gave unto him, c He yeas 
 w.Vnu*< ;pftraifcJ>- the moU aamirable man in our tintes^ an 
 vir^T^ $0- Apofiolicall and ProjbeticaU Dottor 9 and 
 Wt^TX^ Bifbopoftbe Catbohck Church Tobkhtiin 
 l ^%1^Ti Symrna. Whereunto we may add the 
 maiyrio pdycarpi ]j]<e of Polycrates Biihop of Epbefitfm 
 
 Eukb. lib A .kifi,uv. , ,. / u . ,. r i. i- 
 
 /r who lived alio m his time and in his 
 
 ^TSa^ neighbourhood, Affirming d Poljcurpus 
 
 %&z^i to have beene bath Eijhop and Martyr 
 
 rMb.ub.yhifLuv. in Smyrna, o faith he in his Sy< odi- 
 
 call Epiftlc, directed unto Vi&ur Bi- 
 
 ihop oi Rome, about 27 yeares af er 
 
 the Martyrdome of Polycirpm • he 
 
 himfelfe being at that time 65 yeares 
 
 of age. 
 
 About the very fame time wherein 
 Polycrates wrote this Epiftle unto Vi£lor 9 
 
 L!£ SKI did r ^ ffi « P ubIl(h his book of Pre - 
 
 t^tfmfimZ- fcriptions againft Hereticks: wherein 
 mamrum cicmcntcm he avoucheth againft them, that c as 
 
 edit.- prompt ,perix- the Church of Smyrna hadP o\y carpus f la- 
 tl^Z^Apt ced there by John, and the Church of Rome 
 i^^Sff Clement ordained by Peter ; Jotbcrcfl of 
 /Minis traduces ba- the Churches alio did (hew. what ti/hops 
 
 bent. Tcrtuliian de . , , . j i • . - , 
 
 FT*(cript.cap.ii>rid> thej had received by the appointment of the 
 
 & € M li lib + eQntT * A nflhc 
 
 Maraon.cd£. J. ^ ^J w,) 7 
 
The OriginallofEpifcopacie* 1 1 
 
 Apo files ->to traduce tbe ApofiolicaB feed un- **»«*&•»** Ep'fap** 
 to them. Pfid 10 before him did Iren<evs~<™ <?«* in moquo% 
 urge againlt them tbe Juccefsions of didemnt. uLub,^ 
 Bt(hop^ unto whom tbe ApoWes com- #23^ 
 w/tftrf flk a!ww o/'f/te C/;arc/? in eyen p^rwesfimt, qua* 
 phce* 6 For all the Heretuks (iaith fi* traduvmnt *<?. 
 he) rfr? *iW* W^r rfe* jAo/* Bi(fwps y un- b h^^S2«^ 
 to whom tbe Apoftles committed tbeChur- ij^^'jjjj 
 cfoj. And, h *B>£ ^r^ ^^ jo numb&r i nEccle fiJ*>& factf- 
 tbofe "who by tbe Apojtles Were ordained quimbutMdmmmt 
 Biihops in the Churches, and their Succef- I^Z^Sm. 
 fours unto our daies i who neither taurht \ mt £. i% , 
 nor Knew any fuch thing as tbefe men **' wx*<fytW?5* ot 
 areame of, t&z lax**^ Mw 
 
 For proofe whereof he bringeth in j^S^gi 
 the fucceflion of the Biihops of Rome, ^t^aI^u^cs 
 from ' .L/Mtf (unto whom the bklied ww^A fama^ 
 Apojtles committed that Epilcopacie) Att^***jj«*t & 
 and ^0*/*/* (by others called Cletm) ZfjffiS* 
 and Clement (who did bo*h (ee th* Apo- ^*™™**te*fiwv- 
 fr/^5 <*«« conferred with them) unto e»^*T*?^*aeu* 
 k Eleutbtrius . who, when he wrote ^^-wjoU.u.ibiu 
 bad tbe charge of that Bi/boprick in th^ w'*iT b - Uh *- 
 twelfth place after tbe Apoftlesi concer- k N ^ *£*** 7 ! 
 
 T&» Tov 7 vi ^Tl 7 07T,S 
 
 ning whom, and the integrity which ^wmv^f^ 
 
 B 3 then. e ^w. 
 
n The OrigmaU of Epifcopacie. 
 
 then continued in each other fueceffion 
 
 ¥rom the Apoftles daies, Bsgefippus % 
 
 who at the fame time publiflied his 
 
 Hiftory of the Church, faith thuk 
 
 in*fi A'fujflT^/*- l Soter fucceeded Anicetus, and after 
 ^K^^rvtA him was Eleucherius# Now> in eyery 
 SSS^S^mtf^ and in every City, all things fi 
 inu*< w^hw 01 a an d^ as the Law and the Prophets, and 
 Hegefp. apui Euicb, our Lord doe preachy 
 m t^' y £kuchcriu3 When this m EleMberius (as our Bede 
 
 t^SSSSt relatcth ) »* B fi°P °f the Chmh °f 
 
 pr*ejTet 3 mijk ad tun R 0me Lucius King of the Brittaines Cent 
 
 Lucius Bi'itannorwn ' 1 r - t t ) 
 
 Hex epi/ioiam ; obf* an Epijtle to mm j aenring that by his 
 € Z!^clrifil^^ 1 meanes he might be made Chriftian. scho 
 i$H%^tMW Stained the effetl of bis pious 
 ficuw ejt : jufcep- Te q U2 a * an J the Brittaines kept the faith 
 
 tamq. fan Bntannt * J m . * . J m 
 
 ufcmtemporaDioch-tben received found and unaejiled tn quiet 
 
 Zf^^l^HW* mM the times of Diockfan tb<L, 
 
 ^&4^ E ^ erm * B y whofc^bloudy perfect 
 
 iib.Lcap.*. tion the faith and difciplincot ourBrit- 
 
 ti(h Churches was noc yet io quite ex- 
 
 tinguifhed • but that within ten yeares 
 
 after (and eleven before the firft gene- 
 
 rall Councell of Nice) three of our Bi-. 
 
 fhopswereprefent and fubferibed unto 
 
 the 
 
The Originau of Epifcepacie. 13 
 
 the Counccll of Aries*. ■ Ehrw of i%\<££> 
 Yorke, Rtftituttts of London, and AdeU edit.p*g. 9 . 
 fius of ColchtUer, called there Colonia 
 Londtnenfium. the fir ft root of whofe 
 fucceflion we tnuftfetch beyond Eleuthe- 
 rim, and as high as S. Peter himfclfc : if 
 it be true, that he ° conflicted Churches P*>^« «*?»!*; 
 here. and ordained Btjbops^ Presbyters ana ^aW^t?^??®. 
 Deacons in them > as Sywww Metaphra- SSI« 2S£J£ 
 Jfo relateth out of fomepart of p £«> ^#S3fc 
 J///* (as it fecmeth) that is not come ff^^y^f] 
 unto our hands, p!'Tf a ^ l > ** 
 
 But, to returne unto the Angels of the M%hafi & cm™n- 
 fevenChurches>mcm\oucd intheRevela- %^£Z£ 
 tion of S. Join : by what hath beenefaid, r^on.,^, 
 itis apparent, thatieven lingular Bijbops, v^ti^w^u 
 who were the conftant Prelidents over ^ ^v^WmkW 
 thofc Churches, are pointed. at under j*j£R£&j* 
 that name. For other fure they could ** 
 not be, if all of thtm were caft into 
 one mould, and were of the fame qua- 
 lity with Pol)carpus t the then Angell of 
 the Church in Smyrna : who without all 
 qu-eftion was fuch, if any credit may 
 be given herein unto thofe that faw 
 
 him 
 
14. *Tbe Originatt ofEpi ropacie. 
 
 him and were well acquainted with 
 
 him. 
 And as TertuHian in expreffe fermes 
 
 affirmeth him to have beenc placed there 
 
 by S. lobn himfelfe fin the teftimony be- 
 
 <! Tcrtdi. Prtfirift. f ore alledged outof his q Prefer iptio*s\) 
 
 htrUyiBus^cafa/' fodoth he elfe-where> from tbe order 
 
 ^igSS C t of the fucceeding Bifliops, not obfeurc- 
 
 T^Sifs$t l y imitn * tc > * hat the reft of that number 
 Epijcotusordinaiu:. were to be referred unto the fame de- 
 
 tH&musar J°ai>- fcent. " W* &fW, faith he, tbe Churches 
 t£%"^& tb * *»«* bred b * J ohn - For althou i h 
 
 e/wMarjion reftuit , MarClOIl <& IVirfJ £tf ReVclatlOn j Jmib* 
 orrfo teme» Epitope- - J> * t 
 
 turn ad eriginem re- OtdCT^J the Bl/hOpS reckoned Up HYltO their 
 
 *0£u * auaolm^c originally fpiU (land for Sohn to be their 
 ^r::^:. Fodder. Neither doth the ancient 
 adw/. Writer of the Martyrdome of TL 
 wtf/y (mentioned by Photim) mrane 
 any other by thofe feyen Bi/bops> 
 whole afliftance he faith S. lobn did 
 ufe> after his returne from Patmos^ in 
 the governement of tbe M tropolk if 
 the Ephefiam, that is, of the Chur- 
 ches of Afia moft properly fo called, 
 which in his tiaie acknowledged the 
 
 Bifhop 
 
 Tertuili in 
 
 Marcion. lib 
 
The Originallof Efifcopacie* 15 
 
 Bifliop of Epbefus for their Primate 
 £ Being revoked from his exile by the fen- f ^V*tt Ni f 0* 
 fence o/Ncrva,te betook bimfelfe to tb^ |lS 
 Metropolis of Epbefits; and being afiited T^t^w 
 With the bre fence of the SEVEN Bithops* ^©jw, *y&**i* 
 be took upon him tbe government of the ^ T ^ ^us^. 
 Metropolis of tbe Epbefians : and continued, w^S^ 
 preaching the word of piety, untill tbe ^-^%t^t 
 Empire of Trajan* liQthc < w* * 5 4- 
 
 That he remained with the Ephefans 
 and the reft of the brethren of ^,untill 
 the daics of Trajan ♦ and that during the 
 time of his abode with them, he publL 
 flied his Gofiell} is fufficiently witnefled 
 by l lren<etts. That upon his rcturnc ' irena^wprr*/: 
 from the ifland, after the death of Do- f^Pg itm ^ 
 rriitian % he applied himfelfe to the 
 government of the Churches of Afia > 
 is confirmed likewiie both by u Eufebius* u Eufeb - *** ^ 
 and by x Hierom : who further addeth, ^^^onym.mcatai. 
 
 • ' 1 rt . r i ... fcript.ecckfiafi.cap.^. 
 
 that y at the earned intreaty of the fl/- y kmjf& pr*f*t. 
 (hops of Alia he wrote there his GofceD. *! «•*****■*" 
 And that he himfelfe alfo, being free 
 from his banifhmenr, did ordaine Bifbops 
 in divers Churches, is clearely testified 
 
 C by 
 
1 6 The Originall o/Epi/copacie. 
 
 by Clement of Alexandria ; who lived in 
 the next age after, and delivereth ft as 
 a certainc truth, which he had received 
 from thofe who went before him and 
 
 zEV./=r» ™ TjecM* could not be farre from the time wherein 
 u^jTvtt the thing it felfe was aded. * WhenS. 
 fttote^fy?* John (faith he) Domitian the tyrant be- 
 ^JWi^^y^ \ n g deadyremoveafrom thelfland of Pat- 
 «***&*<* j^tw^t^ mos «fw Epbe/us^bytbe intreatyof forne 
 %Lt&^ he ventalfo unto the neighbouring nations; 
 n$^£% w forne places confiituting Bi/bops.in others 
 
 Origents nomine ha* founding Tohok Churches; 
 
 umtomii' commtn- And thus much may fuffice fot 
 ^ j} ^^. the deduction oi Epifcopaeie horn tkc 
 p* «* .**. Apoftolicall times. 
 
 FINIS. 
 
vr r 
 
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