LUCRECIA-ROMANA woodcut, Lucrece holding a dager to her chest ¶ Imprinted at London in Paul's Churchyard, at the sign of the Lucrece, by Thomas Purfoote. ¶ FOUR PARADOXES. 1 A Bishop and a Minister is all one. 2 A bishop or Deacon should not be called Grace, Lord, or exercise such authority. 3 A popish Priest is no law full Minister of the gospel 4 Canon Chancellors, & Officials are no meet Officers in the Church of God. Acts. 14. Quae doctrina nova haec? What new doctrine is this? 1 A Bishop and a Minister is all one. Let a man so think of us, as of 1. Cori. ● 2. Cor. 10. the Ministers of Christ, and Disposers of the secrets of God. A Bishop must be unreprovable, 1. Timo. 3▪ Titus. 1. apt to teach. etc. Likewise must Deacons. etc. Paul and Timothee the Servants Philip. ● Colos. 1. of jesus Christ, to all the Saints in Christ jesus, which are at Philippi, with the Bishops & Deacons. etc. The Elders which among you, I 1. Petee. ● beseech, which also am an Elder. Whereof I am made a Minister, by Ephe. 3 the gift of the grace of God given unto me. etc. Take heed therefore unto your Acts. 20. selves, and to all the flock, whereof the holy Ghost hath made you Overseers. etc. We are Gods Labourers, ye are 1. Cori. 3. God's husbandry. Who also hath made us able Ministers. 2. Cori. 3. etc. Thus in the place of the Ministers of the law, as Priests & Levites, Lamb. in suis para doxis. there be only two kind▪ of Ministers under the Gospel, Bishops & Deacons: and the Bishops have sundry names as Ministers, Disposers, Servants, Elders, overseers, Labourers, Prophets, Evangelists, Preachers, apostles, and yet all are one. Between a Bishop and a Minister, Chrys. in Timoth. cap. 5. there is almost no difference: for the charge of the Church is committed to the Minister, & the things which are spoken of the Bishop, do appertain to the Minister. The Minister differeth not from the Aerius. Bishop, the order is all one. None of us appointeth himself Augu. de bap. lib. 3 cap. 3. Cypri. in Concil. Carthag. Ambr. in Timo. 1. cap. 3. to be a Bishop of Bishops, neither driveth his Fellows into a necessity of obedience. The ordering of a Bishop and of a Minister is one, for they be both the Disposers of God's secrets. A Priest and a Bishop are but one Hiero. in Epist. ad Tit. ca 1. thing, and before that by the inflaming of the devil, parts were taken in religion. etc. The Churches were governed by the common consent of the Priests. The apostle teacheth playnelyt, Idem ad evagr. that the Bishops & Ministers are all one. The things spoken of the Bishops, Theoph in Titum. do belong unto the Ministers, neither is the one above the other. A Bishop rather by custom, then Panor. cap. 4. de consuet. by God's law, is above the Minister: yea, in times past one Minister did ordain an other. Hierome seemeth to match all Eras. in schol. in Epist. ad Euagrium Bishops together, as if they were all equally the apostles successors: and he thinketh not any Bishop to be less than an other, for that he is poorer: nor greater than an other, for that he is richer. etc. And further he thinketh that a Bishop is no better than any Priest. Muscul. in locis commu. There is but One only high Priest in the new Testament. Antichrist had his beginning, bulling serm. 58. in Apo. when the custom began, that Bishops should be preferred before Priests. Caluin. lib. 4. Institu. Pet Marinell in lib. Iu. The Pastors have all one charge with the apostles. For Bishops to have large Dioceses is a filthy disease. When the Church began to have Beza in cap. 1. ad Philip. one chief, as a Precedent, or Ouersear of the people, than the devil began to practise his peruer●itie, and to lay the foundation of his tyranny. There is no difference between a Herm●. Bod●s. Hameltonus Westmether. Spangel bergius. Bishop and a Minister. Bishops and Priests are equal. All Bishops are Ministers, and the rest are Deacons. A Pastor of the Church is a person which is called lawfully, by ●he authority and commandment of God, unto the cure of souls to teach the doctrine of the Gospel, and to minister the Sacraments. Is it so horrible an heresy to say, jewel contra Harding. R. T. in suo opu: in quo di lucide apparet Petrum non fuisse Romae. Radul: Gualther. Tigurin in Acta: apostol. cap. 1. that by the scriptures of God a Bishop and a Priest is all one? An Elder and a Bishop were both one at the beginning, Act. 20. ver. 17. 18. which two verses conferred, will show the same. Therefore they often times acknowledge, and confess an equality and condition among the apostles. For if that Mathias received a part of that ministery, which was as well committed to Peter, as others: then none of them obtained the whole, whereby he might be called the Head, or Lord of others, neither could Peter's authority in preaching the Gospel be greater than either johns or Mathias, because they all received but one, and the same commandment of the Lord jesus, as is plain. The seven stars are the Messengers Apoc. 1, Bulling. serm. 6. of the seven Congtegations. Stars be called Angels, Angels be Gods Messengers, & Pastors of Churches, so called in the second & third chapter of Malachi. The seven stars in signification Bale. are the Messengers of God's word, or the Apostolic Preachers, appointed to the seven Congregations in Alia, and in them, to all the world. Christ gave the like authority unto Cypr. de simplic. prelatorum. every one of the apostles. This is the mind of the English church at Geneva, in their Annotations before the Chapters, and upon the new Testament: This is the consent of the Church of Scotland: this the opinion of all the reformed Churches in Europe. And this is mind of S. Paul in the twenty of the Acts, and of Hierome and Theodorete upon the same place. objection. Mark the Evangelist was Bishop of Alexandria. james and Simon Cananeus were Bishops of Jerusalem. Peter was Bishop of Antioch. Ignatius succeeded Peter in that Bishopric. Policarpus was bishop of Smyrna, and so of others. Epiphanius also writeth in the defence of a Bishoplike distinction, and authority, & therefore to have Bishops is a thing allowed by the authority of the primitive Church. Answer. That there should be Bishops is a thing granted, but that they should be above the Ministers, as that is plainly denied, so cannot the contrary be lightly proved: For s. Mark was none otherwise Bishop at Alexandria, then S. Thomas preaching to the Medes, Parthians, and Persians. Saint james and Simon Cananeus were but as Simon Zelotes preaching in Mauritania and Aphricke. Peter was in no ampler sort Bishop of Antioch, the judas Thaddeus preaching in Mesopotamia. Ignacius was at Antioch, as Onesimus at Ephesus. Polycarpus was at Smyrna, but as Simon was at Bostrum. As for Epiphanius, fuit Episcopus, & voluit arroganter suam tueri dignitatem, he was a Bishop, and he would arrogantly maintain and uphold his dignity. Question. Hereunto we may add a question, whether it hath been, or may be profitable to the Church of God, that one Minister should be set on high and above the rest. Answer. First touching Rome, this political superiority hath set him on horseback, and a gog on all his pride, whereby the Church of God was, and is afflicted, Christian Princes injured, religion utterly subverted, and superstition mainly defended. Then concerning England, this pre-eminence in Priests was the cause why William Rufus, & Henry the first were troubled by Anselmus, Henry the second molested by Thomas Becket, King john by Steven Langthon, Henry the third by Edmund, Edward the first, by john Peckham, and Robert Winchelsey, king Richard with William Bishop of Ely, & so of other kings, who every one in his time had some what to do with bishops Archbishops and Cardinals: so that the end of this superiority is the dishonouriug of God, the troubling of Princes, the heaping together of great wealth, abusing of the goods of the Church, and molesting & wring of all christian people. Thus we see it manifestly proved, if self will and ambition reign not, that no primacy either in the Pope, or in any other Priest, may be maintained: And we have it proved by the holy Ghost in S. Paul, and in S. Peter. Chrysostome concludeth so, Aerius affirmeth it, Augustine alloweth it, Cyprian so saith, Ambrose agreeth thereunto, Theophilact confesseth it, Hierom avoucheth it, Panormitan so writeth, Erasinus so thinketh, it is the mind of Theodorete, of Musculus, of Bullinger, of Peter Martyr, of Caluin, of Beza, of Gualther, & of other the godly and learned, wherefore to conclude, we may well reason thus: All things disagreeing from the godly and learned-mens' judgement, & from the holy Ghost his teaching, are to be rejected: Therefore that one Minister should be above his fellow brethren, is to be rejected. Add hereunto the Minor, & then the argument holdeth in Darij. Seeing that the degree of a Bishop, Melanet: in opusc: de utraque part Sacramenti etc. and of a Pastor do not differ by the law of God, it is evident that if any Pastor or Curate make any godly ordinance in his Church, it is confirmed by the law of God. 2 A bishop or Deacon should not be called Grace, Lord, Honour, or exercise such authority. You know that the Lords of the Gentiles Math. 20 have dominion over them, and they that are great exercise authority over them, but it shall not be so among you. They that bear rule over them, Luke. 22 are called gracious Lords, but ye shall not be so. Feed the flock of God, which dependeth 1. Pete. 5. upon you. etc. not as though ye were Lords over God's heritage. We preach not ourselves, but 2. Cor. 4. Christ jesus the Lord, and ourselves your Servants for jesus sake. He that is called to a Bishopric, Orig: in Esaiam homil: 7 Hieron: ad Nepo tianum. is not called to a Sovereignty, but unto the service of the whole Church. Let Bishops understand that they are Ministers, and not Lords. He that truly succeedeth Paul, will Bern. ad Eugenium say with him, not as though we were Lords over your faith, but helpers of your joy. We aught not to be lifted up on Chryso: sermo: Gregor: Nazian: ad Procopium. Barns in sua supplic. high, and to seem mighty. The lust of strife and desire and of Lordship reign there. They shall know openly by manifest scriptures our feigned hypocrisy, and that we aught not to be Lords of the Parliament, nor to have any place of worldly honour among the people. Here was an ensample how they Eras. in Mark. 12 aught to know nothing of princes affairs, whose duty it is to preach & teach heanenly matters. The king keeping his Parliament, Tempore Edovardi primi. with his Barons, the Archbishops and Bishops being shut forth, it was enacted. The Bishop of Rome aught to be Episco: Aragen: the Minister of the Church. If Christ the son of God, came Segoni- us in council: Basil not to be ministered unto, but to minister & serve, how then can his Vicar have any dominion, or be called Lord, as you Panormitan will affirm? They do evil that seek to be Bishops, Musc: i● locis common. to the intent they would be notable above the rest. The Bishop was not so above the Caluin. lib. 4. ca 4. ser. 2. Gardin: de vera obedient. rest in honour and dignity, that he had a dominion over his fellows. Dominions and high authorities be as it were stops and impediments to the attaining of eternal felicity, and they are to be cast away and contemned. etc. bishops may not be Princes, and Francisc. Lambert. Lords of any place, but of their own household: for it is contrary to be a Bishop and Prince, for to be a Bishop, is to be a Minister & faithful Servant. An: Gil: supper Michean. But because they did love the worldly kingdom, and lordship, more than the kingdom of heaven, as Christ here chargeth them, that they will be great, and be called Lords. etc. Where it is a ministery that is here Gualther: Tiguri: in Acta Apost. entreated of, it is foolishness, and great absurdity under colour thereof to seek reverence of the people, or to exercise tyrannical lordship over them Therefore the Pope's kingdom is of Guiliel. Tyndal. this world: For here one sort are your Grace, your Holiness, your Fatherhood: an other my Lord Bishop, my Lord Abbot, my Lord Prior: an other Master Doctor, Father Bachelor, master Parson, Master Vicar, and at the last cometh in simple Sir john, & every one reigneth over other with might, and have every Ruler his Prison, his jailer, his chains, his torments. Thou wilt say: thou canst not see Tyndal. how there should be any good order in that kingdom, where none were better than other, and where the Superior had not a law to compel the inferior with violence. It belongeth only unto the Prince Barnes. to have full power over all worldly courses: for the Bishops may not usurp any power that belongeth unto the sword: so that S. Paul taketh Roma. 13. Orig: in Roma. cap. 13. all men from their subjection, & Origene taketh away all crimes from their correction. Here it appeareth evidently by the Law of God, by the example of our saviour Christ, by the holy writings of the apostles, and by the exposition of the ancient fathers, and others, that neither the Bishop of Rome, nor any other Bishop or Deacon, aught to have & take the name of gracious Lords, nor yet that they should exercise any such authority, and therefore we may hence reason thus: All Successors of the apostles aught Barbara. Feri. to shun the titles of gracious Lords. All our Bishops are Successors of the apostles. Therefore all our Bishops aught to Thunne the titles of gracious Lords. Again: Nothing disagreeing from the scriptures is to be allowed: But that a Minister would be called Grace or Lord, is disagreeing from the scriptures: Therefore it is not to be allowed. 3 A popish Priest is no law full Minister of the gospel A Bishop must be unreprovable. etc. 1. Tim. 3. apt to teach. etc. but a papal Priest is no such man. The Ministers must be chosen by Actss. 14. Titus. 1. the Faithful, with prayers & fasting, and in the assembly of the faithful: but the popish Priest is chosen by an Idolater, without true prayers, or fasting, and in the company of irreligious Papists: therefore he is no true Minister. He which is lawfully ordained, & Cypr: lib Epist. 4. holdeth the Apostolical & evangelical tradition, is a Minister: but such a one is not the poipish Priest: the proof is plain. The synagogue of the Pope is more adversary to Christ, than the Francise Lamber ad princip: lan sand: Turk: therefore his Priests are no lawful Ministers of the Gospel. Consider the definition of a Pastor, and it must needs evidently appear, that a popish Priest is no lawful Minister. Question If a popish Priest refuse his papacy, & being converted unto the Gospel, may he not be a Minister, without any further calling, and so administer the Sacraments? Answer Not: for it was not lawful in the primitive Church, for the Conuertes, without further calling to be Ministers of the Sacraments. And if a mere Lay man is no lawful Minister, no more is the papal Priest. Again, if a turkish Priest being converted, may not yet administer the lords Supper, nor without further calling Baptize any, no more may the papistical Priest. It is heresy to affirm, that the Pope, Cardinals, Bishops, withal ●amberus in pa ●ad: his kingdom, be of the Church of God, which is meek, all pure & holy. Wherefore, considering the premises, weighing the practice of the apostles, and looking to the order of the primitive Church, we may reason thus, for it is effectual: None being ordained by the synagogue Celarent. of Antichrist, is a lawful Minister: All popish Priests are ordained by the synagogue of Antichrist: Therefore no popish Priest is a lawful Minister. 4 No Canon Chancellor, or popish Official, is a meet Officer in the Church of God. They are ignorant in the word of God, skilful in the Pope's law only, given not to reform things rightly, but to ●ake and reap their own commodity: they are friends to the Pope, they are foes to all good Protestants, and should such have any government in a reformed Church? If it was thought good at Basil, when reformation began, to dysplace xii popish Senators, shall it be necessary for us to retain popish Chancellors, and papal Proctors? For canonists to have authority to excommunicate, absolve, suspend, and interdict, what is it but to embrace the Pope's kingdom still? The Canon law is full of heresies, and shall the professors thereof be judges in Christ's Church? Examine the state of the Church, by the space of a thousand years, before the said laws were prescribed, and you shall find that the congregation of God did safely run rowardes' heaven, under the sweet yoke of our Lord The Officials of Archbishops, for Querimoni● hanc habuere principes German: in Concil. Norenberg: an: 1523. the most part are unlearned and unable men, besides that, men of evil conditions, taking thought for nothing but only for money, etc. besides this the Laity are miserably spoiled and rob of their goods by these light, and vile Officials. In whose conscience there is no spark of Christian pity and godliness, but only a wicked desire, and covetousness. Which thing the Archbishops & Bishops, if they were in deed such as they are called, that is to say, Pastors, and Shepherds of Christ, without doubt, they would no longer suffer, or commit Christ's flock to such wicked & offensive Pastors, to be fed and nourished. What? shall we account of those, in whose Court S. Paul is no doctor? Psalm. 2 Nay, let us break their bands, and cast their cords from us. Well, the primitue Church never knew such Crows, the Kite of Rome bred them, they be his brood, not ours, they live only upon his food, and where shall we have to feed them? It is manifest, that the Officials, Melanc: in suo opusc: de utraque part sacrament. Ibidem. and Commissaries as they call them, do use an ungodly liberty and power not to be suffered. And what helpeth it, to have many Counsels, Assemblies, and parliaments, if Bishops will suffer nothing to be reformed contrary to their mind. So long as this tyranny remaineth Idem. how can the Church be healed? Surely so many as allow the Pope's ordinances, and maintain his doctrine, traditions, and invented service, to honour God with, they infect and pollute themselves with idolatry, and blasphemous opinions, they are guilty also of all the blood of the faithful, which the Pope doth persecute, they minish also the glory ●● 〈◊〉, and 〈◊〉 the salvation of his people, for as much as they confirm errors, and abominable wickedness unto all their posterity for ever. FINIS. ROM. VIII. If God be with us, who can be against us?