In times paste about a thousand years agone, it was an usual kind of speech amongst the Fathers, to say: The Apostolic seat, the Sea of Antioch, of Alexandria, of Rome. But by the name of sea or seat, they did not understand only the seat or place, out of the which the Bishops •f those Cities ⟨p. 12⟩did teach, but rather the Doctrine which the Apostles and their Disciples preached first in those cities. Wherefore the ancient Bishops, which by lawful election obtained any of those seats, did preach, defend, publish, and preserve in the church, the Apostolical doctrine, and that out of the writings▪ of the blessed Apostles. But where is now I pray you the Apostolic seat? Where are the books and preachings of the Apostles? Where is their holy life? What Doctrine teach they, and in what sort live they now, which boast of the Apostolic seat? Teach they and govern they not contrarily to the Apostles Doctrine? There is no need to speak much of it here, for all men see it, and know it, yea they find by experience, that they are so shamefully wandered from the Apostles, that if now the said Apostles and holy Bishops of the primitive church, should come amongst them, and behold the pride and pomp which these Prelates use in their government, they would not only disallow them ⟨image 24⟩for their successors, but also accuse them for their enemies. And Paul truly speaketh very well, of this kind of succession of Prelates in the. 20. of the Acts of the Apostles: For I know 1(saith he) that after my departure, there vvil come amongst you greedy wolves not sparing the flock: Moreover of your own selves shall men arise speaking perverse things, to draw disciples after them. But when Paul spake these things where (I pray you) was there a more holy congregation than his disciples? And yet notwithstanding he saith: Out of you, yea even out of your own selves, there shall come evil and wicked men which shall scatter and destroy the flock of Christ. Wherefore it is no wonder to hear that at Rome, & other places, there were in times past holy Bishops, in whose places now, succeedeth most wicked men, corrupt, both of doctrine and life.
In times paste aboute a thousande yeares agone, it was an vsuall kinde of speache amongste the Fathers, to say: The Apostolike seate, the Sea of Antioche, of Alexandria, of Rome. But by the name of sea or seat, they did not vnderstande only the seate or place, oute of the which the Bishoppes •f those Cities ⟨p. 12⟩did teache, but rather the Doctrine which the Apostles and their Disciples preached first in those cities. Wherfore the ancient Bishops, which by lawfull election obtained any of those seats, did preache, defend, publishe, and preserue in the church, the Apostolicall doctrine, and that oute of the wrytings▪ of the blessed Apostles. But where is nowe I pray you the Apostolike seate? Where are the bookes and preachings of the Apostles? Where is theyr holy life? What Doctrine teache they, and in what sorte liue they now, which boast of the Apostolike seate? Teache they and gouerne they not contrarily to the Apostles Doctrine? There is no néede to speake muche of it heere, for all men sée it, and knowe it, yea they finde by experience, that they are so shamefully wandered from the Apostles, that if nowe the sayde Apostles and holy Bishoppes of the primitiue churche, shoulde come amongste them, and beholde the pride and pompe which these Prelates vse in their gouernemente, they woulde not onely disalowe them ⟨image 24⟩for theyr successoures, but also accuse them for their ennimies. And Paule truely speaketh very well, of this kinde of succession of Prelates in the. 20. of the Actes of the Apostles: For I knovve 1(sayth he) that after my departure, ther vvil come amongste you gredy vvolues not sparing the flocke: Moreouer of your ovvne selues shall men arise speaking peruerse things, to dravv disciples after them. But when Paule spake these things where (I pray you) was there a more holye congregation than his disciples? And yet notwithstanding he sayth: Oute of you, yea euen oute of your ovvne selues, there shall come euill and wicked men which shall scatter and destroy the flocke of Christe. Wherfore it is no wonder to hear that at Rome, & other places, there were in times past holy Bishops, in whose places now, succéedeth most wicked men, corrupte, bothe of doctrine and lyfe.
- 1What Paul teacheth touching the succession of Bishops.What Paul teacheth touching the succession of Byshoppes.
