And that this was the first institution off Metropolitans which I have alleged / and that I have herein not strayed from the meaning of the Councels / may appear by the testimonies 1off others / which have spoken off this matter. Calvin saith: they were instituted, for preservation only of the policy: and what that was / he showeth by the bishop / the same in his own church / which the Metropolitan in the Province. That it was as the office off a President in a Council, to propound matters, together 2the voices, &c and to put that in execution, which was decreed by the rest: denying flatly that he had any dominion over the Elders off the same church, and affirming that he him ⟨p. DLXVII⟩self was subject to the company of the elders The same therefore by his judgement / must be the state off the Metropolitan / 3towards other Bishops. Bucer saith / there were certe in bishops assigned to the chief seats, whereof they had a singular care: which did not be have themselves as bishops over the bishops off those dioceses, but if any of them faulted: admonished him as one brother doth an other, as one fellow, and companion in office doth an other. And if the bishop admonished, ether did not, or could not amend the fault: he made relation of the whole matter unto the Synod. After he showeth that at the first the excellency, and preeminence off the bishop off Rome, Constantinople, and Alexandria, &c. was not off power and jurisdiction, but of knowledge, zeal, care, and help of others: which those chief bishops did so yield unto the churches, that they left the whole right off the bishops office, equal with that they them selves executed, unto every bishop. Bullinger / after he had proved all dominion / primacy / and majority 4/ forbidden by our Saviour Christ unto the minister / saith: From the beginning the Apostles, and ministers off the churches which followed the rule off the Apostles, governed their churches equally, without that one was preferred before an other (which he offereth to prove by many testimonies): and about the council off Nice, and a little before, Metropolitans by mans ordinance not to be contemned, were received: which should as it were be presidents unto the rest, or rather serve all the rest in calling Synods.
And that this was the first institution off Metropolitanes which I haue alledged / and that I haue herin not straied from the meaning of the Councels / may appeare by the testimonies 1off others / which haue spoken off this matter. Caluin saith: they vvere instituted, for preseruatiō onely of the policie: and what that was / he sheweth by the bishop / the same in his owne churche / which the Metropolitane in the Prouince. That yt was as the office off a President in a Councell, to propound matters, togather 2the voices, &c and to put that in execution, vvhich vvas decreed by the rest: denying flatly that he had any dominion ouer the Elders off the same churche, and affirming that he him ⟨p. DLXVII⟩self vvas subiect to the companie of the elders The same therfore by his iudgement / must be the state off the Metropolitane / 3towardes other Bishops. Bucer saith / there vvere certe in bishops assigned to the cheif seates, vvheroff they had a singular care: vvhich did not be haue themselues as bishops ouer the bishops off those dioceses, but if any of them faulted: admonished him as one brother doth an other, as one fellovv, and companion in office doth an other. And if the bishop admonished, ether did not, or could not amend the fault: he made relation of the vvhole matter vnto the Synode. After he sheweth that at the first the excellencie, and preeminence off the bishop off Rome, Constantinople, and Alexandria, &c. vvas not off povver and iurisdiction, but of knovvledge, zeale, care, and help of others: vvhich those cheif bishops did so yeald vnto the churches, that they left the vvhole right off the bishops office, equall vvith that they thē selues executed, vnto euery bishop. Bullinger / after he had proued all dominion / primacie / and maioritie 4/ forbidden by our Sauiour Christ vnto the minister / saith: From the beginning the Apostels, and ministers off the churches vvhich folovved the rule off the Apostels, gouerned their churches equally, vvithovvte that one vvas preferred before an other (which he offereth to proue by manie testimonies): and aboute the councell off Nice, and a litle before, Metropolitanes by mans ordinance not to be contemned, vvere receiued: vvhich should as it vvere be presidentes vnto the reste, or rather serue all the reste in calling Synodes.
- 1Institut. 4. li. 4 ca. sect. 4.
- 24. li. 4. c. sect 2.
- 3In his aswer to Choclaeus and Groperus: of their accusat. to the Emp.In his asvver to Choclaeus and Groperus: of their accusat. to the Emp.
- 4Serm. 57. upon the Apocal.Serm. 57. vpon the Apocal.
