Furthermore that there be diverse degrees of ministers in the church, where of some be deacons, some priests, some Bishops, to whom is committed the office to instruct the people, and the whole charge and setting forth of Religion: yet not withstanding we say that there neither is nor can be any one man, which may have the whole superiority in this universal state, for that Christ is ever present to assist his Church, and needeth not any man to supply his room, as his ⟨image 22⟩only heir to all his substance: and y• there can be no one mortal creature, which is able to comprehend or conceive in his mind the universal Church, y• is to wit, all the parts of the world, much less able to put them in order and to govern them rightly and duly. For all the Apostles, as Cyprian sayeth,1 were of like power among themselves, and y• rest were the same that Peter was, and that it was said indifferently to them all, Feed ye•indifferentlye to them all, Go into the whole world: indifferently to them all, Teach ye the gospel:2 And as Hierom saith, all Bishops wheresoever they be, be they at Rome, be they at Eugubium, be they at Constantinople, be they at Rhegium, be all of like preeminence, and of like priesthood.3 And as Cyprian saith, there is but one Bishopric, and that a piece thereof is perfectly & wholly holden of every particular Bishop: & according to the judgement of the Nicene Counsel we say that the Bishop of Rome-hath ⟨image 23⟩no more jurisdiction over the church o• God, then the rest of the Patriarchs either of Alexandria or Antiochia have. And as for the Bishop of Rome, who now calleth all matters before him self alone, except he do his duty as he ought to do, except he administer the sacraments, except he instruct the people, except he waxue them and teach them, we say that he ought not of right once to be called a Bishop, or so much as an elder. For a Bishop, as saith Augustine, is a name of labour and not of honour: because he would have that man to understand him self to be no Bishop, which will seek to have preeminence, and not to profit others: And that neither the Pope nor any other worldly creature, can no more be head of the whole Church or a Bishop over all, then he can be the bridegroom, the light, the salvation, and life of the Church. For these privileges and names belong only to Christ, and be properly & only fit for him alone.
Furthermore that there be dyuerse degrees of ministers in the church, wher of some be deacons, some preestes, some Byshops, to whom is committed the office to instruct the people, and the whole charge and settinge furth of Religion: yet not withstanding we say that there neither is nor can be any one mā, which may haue the whole superioritie in this vniuersall state, for that Christe is euer present to assist his Church, and nedeth not any man to supply his roome, as his ⟨image 22⟩onely heyre to all his substaunce: and y• there can bee noe one mortall creature, which is able to comprehēd or conceaue in his minde the vniuersall Churche, y• is to witte, all the partes of the worlde, muche les able to put them in ordre and to gouerne them rightly and duely. For all the Apostles, as Cyprian sayeth,1 were of lyke power among themselues, and y• rest were the same that Peter was, and that it was sayed indifferently to them al, Feed ye•indifferentlye to them all, Goe into the whole world: indifferently to thē al, Teache ye the gospell:2 And as Hierom saithe, all Byshoppes wheresoeuer they be, be they at Rome, be they at Eugubium, be they at Constantinople, be they at Rhegium, be all of lyke preeminence, and of like preesthood.3 And as Cyprian saith, there is but one Byshoprike, and yt a peece therof is perfitely & wholy holdē of euery particular Byshop: & according to the iudgement of the Nicene Counsel wee say that the Byshop of Rome-hath ⟨image 23⟩nomore iurisdiction ouer the churche o• God, then the rest of ye Patriarkes either of Alexandria or Antiochia haue. And as for the Byshop of Rome, who nowe calleth all matters before him selfe alone, except he do his deuty as he ought to do, except he administer the sacraments, excepte he instructe the people, excepte he waxue them and teache them, wee say yt he ought not of right once to bee called a Bysshop, or so much as an elder. For a Byshop, as saith Augustine, is a name of labour and not of honour: bycause he would haue that mā to vnderstand him selfe to be no Byshop, which will seke to haue preeminence, and not to profyt others: And that neither the Pope nor any other worldly creature, can nomore be head of the whole Church or a Byshop ouer all, then he can be the brydegrome, the lighte, the saluation, and lyfe of the Church. For these priuileges and names belong onely to Christe, and be proprely & onely fyt for hym alone.
- 1De Simpli, praelat.
- 2Ad Evagri•Ad Euagri•
- 3De Simpli. praelatorum.
