Chrysostom also witnesseth, upon the first to Timothy and the 3. chapter, That the Bishops differ from the Elders only in ordination; that is (as Theophilact speaketh more plainly) in the only ceremony of consecration. Theodoret writing upon the same place, saith, That ⟨image 8⟩in old time they called the same men Elders and Bishops, as though forsooth the thing it self had then been only called by another name, and goeth about to prove that, because Paul calleth Epaphroditus the Apostle of the Philippians. This is of no weight at all. The names which are given of fellow labourer, and fellow soldier, do declare that he was no bishop in this kind of bishop, but an Evangelist tied to no one city, much less to a diocese, of the number of those, whom the Apostles did keep, to send to and fro, at the motion of the spirit of God. The council of Nice also, disputing about the degrees of bishops, allegeth ancient customs, whereof we mind to speak anon. And where as Cyprian not in one place, calleth the bishops successors of the Apostles, whose authority is from God; and if we take it so, as though by the very commandment of God, these bishops are the same, that in time past the Apostles, the thing it self doth refute that, seeing there was always a certain portion assigned to every bishop. But the ⟨image 8⟩Apostles, by the direction of the spirit rite of God, though not confusedly, did exercise their ministry throughout the whole world. But if this be true, there should have been more bishops, in the Church of Rome it self: namely Peter and Paul, which yet afterwards was counted peculiar to one. And surely, there cannot be mo, the chief in one and the same company at one time. And whereas the name of Bishops, is said of the Apostleship. Act. 1. 20. It maketh nothing to the matter, except a man by a like reason would have the Deacons to have bin Apostles, because Paul calleth his Apostleship a Deaconship or ministry. But we are to look 1into that also, that Hierome might seem to be of the mind, that this kind of Bishop begun then, when as schisms arose up in the Church. That this is not so, we may gather out of Paul him self, who of purpose writing to the Corinthians about the same matter, doth not only pass over this remedy:
Chrysostome also witnesseth, vpon the first to Timothie and the 3. chapter, That the Bishops differ from the Elders onely in ordinatiō; that is (as Theophilact speaketh more plainly) in the onely ceremonie of consecration. Theodoret writing vpon the same place, saith, That ⟨image 8⟩in olde tyme they called the same men Elders and Bishops, as though forsooth the thing it selfe had then bene onely called by another name, and goeth about to prooue that, because Paule calleth Epaphroditus the Apostle of the Philippians. This is of no weight at all. The names which are giuen of fellow labourer, and fellow souldiour, do declare that he was no bishop in this kind of bishop, but an Euangelist tied to no one citie, much lesse to a diocesse, of the number of those, whome the Apostles did keepe, to send to and fro, at the motiō of the spirit of God. The councell of Nice also, disputing about the degrees of bishops, alleageth ancient customes, whereof we minde to speake anon. And where as Cyprian not in one place, calleth the bishops successors of the Apostles, whose authoritie is from God; and if we take it so, as though by the very commandement of God, these bishops are the same, that in tyme past the Apostles, the thing it selfe doth refute that, seeyng there was alwayes a certain portion assigned to euery bishop. But the ⟨image 8⟩Apostles, by the direction of the spirite rite of God, though not confusedlie, did exercise their ministery throughout the whole worlde. But if this be true, there should haue beene more bishops, in the Church of Rome it selfe: namely Peter and Paul, which yet afterwards was counted peculiar to one. And surely, ther cannot be mo, the cheefe in one and the same company at one time. And whereas the name of Byshops, is sayd of the Apostleship. Acte. 1. 20. It maketh nothing to the matter, except a man by a like reason woulde haue the Deacons to haue bin Apostles, because Paul calleth his Apostleship a Deaconship or ministery. But we are to looke 1into that also, that Hierome mighte seeme to be of the mind, that this kinde of Byshop begun thē, when as schismes arose vp in the Church. That this is not so, we may gather out of Paul him self, who of purpose writing to the Corinthians about the same matter, doth not onely passe ouer this remedy:
- 1Did••nian
