A confutation of the Popes bull which was published more then two years ago…A confutation of the Popes bull which was published more then two yeres agoe…

And upon the Epistle of S. Paul unto Titus: An Elder (saith he) and a Bishop are both one. And before such time as by the instinct of the devil there were sects in religion, and it was said among folk, I hold of Paul, I of Apollo, and I of Cephas: the Churches were governed by the common advise of the Elders. But after the time that every man imagined those whom he had baptised to be his own and not Christs: it was decreed through the whole world▪ that one (he speaketh not of the bishop of Rome only, but of all other Metropolitans through the whole world) should be chosen from among the Elders, and set over the rest, unto whom the charge of the whole Church should belong, and so the seeds of schisms and variances be taken away. Again when the same Jerome had proved and showed by many texts of Scripture, that Elders and Bishops are all one thing he addeth byanby: I have therefore mentioned these things, that I might show how Elders and Bishops were all one thing, and that for the plucking ⟨image 40⟩up of the plants of dissension, the charge of all things was by little put unto one. Therefore like as Priests know that by the custom of the Church they be subject to him that is set over them: so also let the Bishops understand that they be greater than the Priests rather by custom than by truth of Christs ordinance, and that they ought to govern the Church in common. And so forth.

And vpon the Epistle of S. Paul vnto Titus: An Elder (sayth he) and a Byshop are both one. And before such tyme as by the instinct of the deuill there were sectes in religion, and it was sayd among folke, I hold of Paule, I of Apollo, and I of Cephas: the Churches were gouerned by the common aduise of the Elders. But after the time that euery man imagined those whom he had baptised to be his owne and not Christes: it was decréed through the whole world▪ that one (he speaketh not of the bishop of Rome onely, but of all other Metropolitanes through the whole world) should be chosen from among the Elders, and set ouer the rest, vnto whom the charge of the whole Church should belong, and so the séedes of schismes and variances be taken away. Againe when the same Ierome had proued and shewed by many textes of Scripture, that Elders and Byshops are all one thing he addeth byanby: I haue therfore mencioned these thinges, that I might shew how Elders and Bishops were all one thing, and that for the plucking