A09952:21
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 judgement of a most reverend and learned man from beyond the seas concerning a threefold order of bishops, with a declaration of certain other weighty points, concerning the discipline and government of the Church.The iudgement of a most reuerend and learned man from beyond the seas concerning a threefold order of bishops, with a declaration of certaine other waightie points, concerning the discipline and gouernement of the Church.
London: printed by Robert Waldegrave, 1585
Title page typeset from the transcription.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
THE BISHOP OF THE Devil.
THE BISHOP OF THE Deuill.
Thus also we describe the bishop of the devil: that even as that kind of bishop ordained of God, degenerated by little and little, into an humane ordinance, whereof we entreated in the second place: so this of the devil, against which we now labour, is sprouted forth of the corruption of the bishop brought in by man. Of this intolerable corruption there are foul, most manifest, and undoubted marks. Some of this kind ⟨image 10⟩of bishops have wholly singled themselves from the Elderships, so that they have nothing to do with them: Some have wholly abolished them. And that they have challenged unto themselves, and I know not to what Officials the whole guidance of the church, & chiefly the authority to elect, to depose, and to excommunicate: so as they not only are above others, but as it were alone do exercise Lordship over Gods heritage, contrary to the express inhibition of Peter.
THus also we describe the bishop of the deuill: that euen as that kind of bishop ordained of God, degenerated by litle and litle, into an humane ordinance, whereof we intreated in the second place: so this of the deuill, against which we now labour, is sprouted forth of the corruptiō of the bishop brought in by man. Of this intollerable corruption there are foule, most manifest, and vndoubted markes. Some of this kinde ⟨image 10⟩of bishops haue wholy singled themselues from the Elderships, so that they haue nothyng to do with them: Some haue wholy abolished them. And that they haue chalenged vnto themselues, and I knowe not to what Officials the whole guidance of the church, & chiefly the authoritie to elect, to depose, and to excommunicate: so as they not onely are aboue others, but as it were alone do exercise Lordship ouer Gods heritage, contrary to the expresse inhibition of Peter.