The Pope confuted The holy and apostolic Church confuting the Pope. The first action.…The Pope confuted The holy and apostolique Church confuting the Pope. The first action.…

So Ministers of the Church also, such as being endued with heavenly gifts of spiritual blessing, and the mighty power of Christ Jesus, though they grope not greedily for promotion, shall never yet be destitute of their due honour and reverence, which of it own nature doth always attend upon and accompany godly and famous personages: I mean not any such dignity notwithstanding, as should raise them to the state of princes, nor make them Lords of the earth, ne yet advance them to Monarchies, nor so much as privilege them from due obedience to the state, nor to the Laws and Statutes of the higher powers.

So Ministers of the Church also, such as being endued with heauenly giftes of spiritual blessing, and the mightie power of Christ Iesus, though they groape not greedily for promotion, shall neuer yet bee destitute of their due honour and reuerence, which of it owne nature doth alwayes attend vpon and accompanie godly and famous personages: I meane not any such dignity notwtstanding, as should raise thē to the state of princes, nor make them Lordes of the earth, ne yet aduaunce them to Monarchies, nor so much as priuiledge them frō due obedience to the state, nor to the Lawes and Statutes of the higher powers.

Therefore as concerning the prerogative of Princes, sithens there is so great a number of Regions. Nations, and people, such a variety of Laws and tongues, nothing can be more seemly, nor more consonant for the ordinance of God, then that in all societies and estates of Nations, a special preeminence, and singular superiority should be yielded to some one personage, as to a certain ⟨p. 8⟩chief governor and head, by whose authority and sovereignty, all others may be trained under whom also several offices, and charges may be severally distributed, as shall seem necessary and commodious, for the well ordering of every weal public. Hereof is it,¹ That the higher powers do of right bear a necessary preeminence directly under God, as the Apostle witnesseth. And yet even the self same powers are empale, & compassed in within their prescripts, lists, limits, & bounds according to Gods ordinance. But as to that universality, and Hierarchy over the whole Church of Christ: