An apology or answer in defence of the Church of England with a brief…An apologie or answere in defence of the Churche of Englande with a briefe…

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.