The nonconformists plea for peace, or, An account of their judgment in certain things…

LVII. We do with sorrow confess that the discords of the people about choosing their Bishops, hath been a great scandal to Infidels, and a great dishonour to the Church, and hath caused many lamentable Schisms, not only under Christian Emperors, but Heathen. But it hath ⟨p. 94⟩been greatest about the greatest Prelates, especially the Bishops of Rome, Alexandria, Constantinople, Antioch, &c. since D•masus got that seat by Conquest in the Church, a multitude of Schisms have fallen out even when Princes challenged the choice. A long time two at once, sometimes three, and once five or six Popes living that were and had been Popes. The Schism of the Donatists was so caused by Bishop set up against Bishop; so was that of the I•anites at Constantinople, and of Dioscorus at Alexandria, and many more. But it must be noted, 1. That the Electing Bishops-Priests and Magistrates, have occasioned these Schisms as much, if not far more than the Electing people have done 2. That yet Princes for many hundred years after Constantine's time, did not think it meet to prevent such Schisms by depriving the People or Presbyters of their Electing-power (much less of Consent.) 3. That the Cure must not be by altering Christ's institution, and the Churches practice continued 600, if not 800 years, and with most or many to this day; nor by overthrowing the very Constitution of Churches, and the Law of Nature it self; nor by introducing a greater evil; as it would be to teach all people to receive all and only such Pastors as Princes every where shall set over them, and all Ministers of Christ to cease their Office when men forbid it them.

LVII. We do with sorrow confess that the discords of the people about chusing their Bishops, hath been a great scandal to Infidels, and a great dishonour to the Church, and hath caused many lamentable Schisms, not only under Christian Emperours, but Heathen. But it hath ⟨p. 94⟩been greatest about the greatest Prelates, especially the Bishops of Rome, Alexandria, Constantinople, A••ioch, &c. since D•masus got that seat by Conquest in the Church, a multitude of Schisms have fallen out even when Princes challenged the choice. A long time two at once, sometimes three, and once five or six Popes living that were and had been Popes. The Schism of the Donatists was so caused by Bishop set up against Bishop; so was that of the Ianites at Constantinople, and of Dioscorus at Alexandria, and many more. But it must be noted, 1. That the Electing Bishops-Priests and Magistrates, have occasioned these Schisms as much, if not far more than the Electing people have done 2. That yet Princes for many hundred years after Constantines time, did not think it meet to prevent such Schisms by depriving the People or Presbyters of their Electing-power (much less of Consent.) 3. That the Cure must not be by altering Christ's institution, and the Churches practice continued 600, if not 800 years, and with most or many to this day; nor by overthrowing the very Constitution of Churches, and the Law of Nature it self; nor by introducing a greater evil; as it would be to teach all people to receive all and only such Pastors as Princes every where shall set over them, and all Ministers of Christ to cease their Office when men forbid it them.