A reply to an answer made of M. Doctor Whitgifte Against the admonition to…A replye to an ansvvere made of M. Doctor VVhitgifte Against the admonition to…

And least that M. doctor should say / that notwithstanding the bishops had but several churches / yet one of them might have either a title more excellent then the rest / or authority and government over the rest / that shall be likewise considered out of Cyprian. And first for the title and honour of archbishop / it appeareth how Cyprian held that as a proud name / for that he objecteth to Florentius as a ¹presumptuous thing / for that in believing certain evil reports of him / and misjudging of him / he did appoint him self bishop of a bishop / and judge over him / which was for the time / appointed of God to be judge. And herein also / I may use the same reasons which the godly writers of our times use against the pope / to prove that he had no superiority in those days over other bishops / for that the other bishops called him brother / and he them / called him fellow bishop / & he them. For so doth Cyprian call the bishops of that province in his epistle / his fellow bishops / and in divers places his brethren. And in the sentence which he spake in the coū cel of Carthage / he saith / none of us doth take him self to be bishop of bishops.

And least that M. doctor should say / that notwithstanding the bishops had but seuerall churches / yet one of them might haue either a title more excellēt then the rest / or authority and gouernment ouer the rest / that shall be likewise considered out of Cyprian. And first for the title and honor of archbishop / it appeareth how Cyprian held that as a proud name / for that he obiecteth to Florentius as a ¹presumptuous thing / for that in beleuing certaine euill reports of hym / and misiudging of him / he did appoynt him selfe bishop of a bishop / and iudge ouer hym / which was for the time / appoynted of God to be iudge. And heerein also / I may vse the same reasons which the godly writers of our times vse against ye pope / to proue yt he had no superiority in those dayes ouer other bishops / for that the other bishops called him brother / and he them / called him fellow bishop / & he them. For so doth Cyprian cal ye bishops of that prouince in his epistle / his fellow bishops / and in diuers places his brethren. And in the sentence which he spake in the coū cel of Carthage / he sayth / none of vs doth take him selfe to be bishop of bishops.

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