H. Zanchius his confession of Christian religion Which now at length being 70. years…H. Zanchius his confession of Christian religion Which novve at length being 70. yeares…

Now further when the world began to be full of churches, & that the Metropolitans had also need of their peculiar care: (for not all, there beginning now to grow very many, had other skill enough or watchfulness enough for their place: for ever and in all orders of men there be few that do excel) the care of some provinces was committed to certain bishops of the chief churches, as to the bishop of ⟨p. 345⟩Rome, of Constantinople, of Antioch and Alexandria, and afterwards of Caesarea, & Cappadocia, and certain others, as by reason of the great increase of churches of the faithful, necessity did require. But notwithstanding, these primate bishops, (whom afterward they called Patriarchs) had no authority over the other bishops or churches, more then (as I said before) the Metropolitans had over the bishops and churches of their provinces. Every one did owe a special care and diligence to that portion of the churches that belonged to him: it was his duty also to admonish the bishops in time if any had offended, or neglected his duty: and if admonition prevailed not, then to add the authority of a council. Among these the first place was given to him of Rome: both for the reverence of S. Peter, and also for the majesty of the city. Which reason the fathers afterward following, gave the second place to him of Constantinople, as being a second Rome, and the bishop of the imperial sea: whereas Antioch before, had obtained the second place among these patriarchs.

Nowe further when the world beganne to be full of churches, & that the Metropolitanes had also neede of their peculiar care: (for not all, there beginning now to grow very many, had other skil inough or watchfulnes inough for their place: for euer and in all orders of mē there be few that doe excell) the care of some prouinces was committed to certen bishops of the chiefe churches, as to the bishop of ⟨p. 345⟩Rome, of Constantinople, of Antioch and Alexandria, and afterwards of Caesarea, & Cappadocia, and certaine others, as by reason of the great encrease of churches of the faithful, necessitie did require. But notwithstanding, these primate bishops, (whom afterward they called Patriarches) had no authoritie ouer the other bishops or churches, more then (as I said before) the Metropolitaines had ouer the bishops and churches of their prouinces. Euerie one did owe a speciall care and diligence to that portion of the churches that belonged to him: it was his duetie also to admonish the bishops in time if any had offended, or neglected his duetie: and if admonition preuailed not, then to add the authoritie of a counsell. Among these the first place was giuen to him of Rome: both for the reuerence of S. Peter, and also for the maiestie of the cittie. Which reason the fathers afterward following, gaue the second place to him of Constantinople, as being a second Rome, and the bishop of the emperiall sea: whereas Antioch before, had obtained the second place among these patriarches.