Catholic communion defended against both extremes, and unnecessary division confuted in five parts ...…Catholick communion defended against both extreams, and unnecessary division confuted in five parts ...…

[The whole Authority (saith he) of any Bishop or Council over other Bishops, is founded on the Laws of Catholic Communion—Therefore they have no proper Authority, but only in such matters as concern the Unity of the Episcopacy, or the Peace and Communion of the Catholic Church. If a Bishop be convicted of Heresy or Schism, or some great wickedness or impiety, they may depose him, and forbid his people to communicate with him, and ordain another in his stead, because he subverts the Unity of the Faith, or divides the Unity of the Church, or is himself unfit for Communion.

[The whole Authority (saith he) of any Bishop or Council over other Bishops, is founded on the Laws of Catholick Communion—Therefore they have no proper Authority, but only in such matters as concern the Unity of the Episcopacy, or the Peace and Communion of the Catholick Church. If a Bishop be convicted of Heresie or Schism, or some great wickedness or impiety, they may depose him, and forbid his people to communicate with him, and ordain another in his stead, because he subverts the Unity of the Faith, or divides the Unity of the Church, or is himself unfit for Communion.

Ans. 1. Either these are meant as acts of Government, or not: If yea, then why do you so oft disclaim it, and call it only Advice and Communion Then you place this governing Power in Foreigners, when they are no further off than with ease and convenience we may confederate with them: And whither this will lead, I'll not enquire. If nay, then it seems men may depose Bishops, and set up or ordain others in their stead, without any governing Power over them. If so, then by Authority you must mean Authoritatem Doctoris, vel Nimcii (and so, I confess, Pastors may in Christ's Name, require other Churches to do their duty), and not Authoritatem Regentis: And if so, it's as true, that when there is just cause, a few may depose many, as many depose a few. But men use not to call it deposing and ordaining in his place, when men do but charge others in Christ's Name to do their duty: I find not tha• St. Martin excommunicated the Bishops and Synods in Ithacius and Idacius time; but I find that he renounced Communion with them, and so may Equals do.