The judgement of a most reverend and learned man from beyond the seas concerning…The iudgement of a most reuerend and learned man from beyond the seas concerning…

The Apostle (sayeth he) doeth teach plainly, that Elders and Bishops are all one, &c. And where as one after was chosen to be set over the rest, that (saith he) was a remedy found out for remedy of schism, that every one drawing Christ unto himself, might not rend the Church in sunder. For at Alexandria also from the time of Mark the Evangelist, to the time of Heraclea and Dionysius the Bishop, the Elders placed one in a high degree or place, chosen by themselves, whom they called a bishop. Moreover, upon the first to Titus. An Elder and a Bishop (saith he) is all one, and before by the instigation of the devil, there was partaking in religion, it was said amongest the people: I am of Paul, of Apollos, and of Caephas: the Churches were governed by the common advise of the Elders. But after that every one ⟨image 7⟩imagined, that those whom he baptised were his own, and not Christs: it was decreed throughout the whole world, that one chosen of the Elders, should be set above the rest; unto whom all the care of the church might appertain, to the taking away of the seeds of contentions. And a little after, As the Elders know that they ate subject by the custom of the Church to the Bishop that is set over them: so let the Bishops know, that they are greater then the Elders, rather by custom, then by any virtue of the Lords appointment. Yea and Augustine also in his 19. epistle sayeth, that according to the titles of honour, which the use of the Church hath gotten, the office of a bishop is greater then the office of an Elder.

The Apostle (saieth hee) doeth teach plainely, that Elders and Bishops are all one, &c. And where as one after was chosen to bee set ouer the rest, that (saith he) was a remedy found out for remedy of schisme, that euery one drawyng Christ vnto himselfe, myght not rend the Church in sunder. For at Alexandria also from the tyme of Marke the Euangelist, to the tyme of Heraclea and Dionysius the Bishop, the Elders placed one in a high degree or place, chosen by themselues, whom they called a bishop. Moreouer, vppon the first to Titus. An Elder and a Bishop (saith hee) is all one, and before by the instigation of the deuill, there was pertakyng in religion, it was sayd amongest the people: I am of Paule, of Apollos, and of Caephas: the Churches were gouerned by the common aduise of the Elders. But after that euery one ⟨image 7⟩imagined, that those whome he baptised were his owne, and not Christes: it was decreed throughout the whole world, that one chosen of the Elders, shoulde bee set aboue the rest; vnto whome all the care of the church might appertayne, to the takyng away of the seedes of contentions. And a little after, As the Elders knowe that they ate subiect by the custome of the Churche to the Bishop that is set ouer them: so let the Bishops knowe, that they are greater then the Elders, rather by custome, then by any vertue of the Lordes appoyntment. Yea and Augustine also in his 19. epistle saieth, that according to the titles of honor, which the vse of the Church hath gotten, the office of a bishop is greater then the office of an Elder.