A treatise of episcopacy confuting by Scripture, reason, and the churches testimony that sort…

49. But it was not the people only, but the Pastors, both Prelates and Presbyters, that grew licentious, wicked, proud, contentious, turbulent, and the shame of their Order and Profession, and the great disturbers and dividers of the Churches: except here and there an Ambrose, an Augustine, a Chrysostom, a Basil, a Gregory, an Atticus, a Proclus, and a few such that so shined among a darkened degenerate Clergy, as to be singled out for Saints. Abundance got these great and tempting Prelacies by Simony, and more by making friends to Courtiers: And not a few by Carnal compliances with the people: what abundance of most sharp Epistles did Isidore Pelusiota write to Eusebius the Bishop, and to Sosimus, Martianus, Eustathius, &c. of all their horrible wicked lives, and yet could never procure their Reformation? What abundance of Epistles did he write against them to other Bishops, and yet could not procure their correction or removal? What a sad character doth Sulpitius Severus give of the Bishops that prosecuted the Priscilianists, and in particular of their Leader Ithacius, of his own knowledge? What abundance of Prelates are shamefully stigmatized, by Socrates, Sozomen, Theodoret, Evagrius, &c? When a Rebel rose up against his Prince, and got but the stronger party, and possession, how quickly did they flatter him and own him. I find but one Bishop besides St. Martin in all France and that part of Germany, that disowned Maximus that murdered Gratian: The rest applauded him for their own ends: Nor in that part of Italy I find not any besides Ambrose and one Hyginus that disowned him: (Not that I think it my part to condemn all the holy Bishops who professed subjection to Usurpers in possession: ⟨p. 24⟩Even holy Ambrose could write to the odious Tyrant Eugenius, [Clementissimo Imperatori Eugenio] concluding [Nam cum privato detulerim cord intimo, quomodo non deferrem Imperatori.] When I honoured thee a private man from the bottom of my heart, how can I but honour thee being Emperor?] And how far have the Roman Bishops gone in this, even to Phocas, and such as he?)

49. But it was not the people only, but the Pastors, both Prelates and Presbyters, that grew licentious, wicked, proud, contentious, turbulent, and the shame of their Order and Profession, and the great disturbers and dividers of the Churches: except here and there an Ambrose, an Augustine, a Chrysostome, a Basil, a Gregory, an Atticus, a Proclus, and a few such that so shined among a darkened degenerate Clergy, as to be singled out for Saints. Abundance got these great and tempting Prelacies by Simony, and more by making friends to Courtiers: And not a few by Carnal compliances with the people: what abundance of most sharp Epistles did Isidore Pelusiota write to Eusebius the Bishop, and to Sosimus, Martianus, Eustathius, &c. of all their horrible wicked lives, and yet could never procure their Reformation? What abundance of Epistles did he write against them to other Bishops, and yet could not procure their correction or removal? What a sad character doth Sulpitius Severus give of the Bishops that prosecuted the Priscilianists, and in particular of their Leader Ithacius, of his own knowledge? What abundance of Prelates are shamefully stigmatized, by Socrates, Sozomen, Theodoret, Euagrius, &c? When a Rebel rose up against his Prince, and got but the stronger party, and possession, how quickly did they flatter him and own him. I find but one Bishop besides St. Martin in all France and that part of Germany, that disowned Maximus that murdered Gratian: The rest applauded him for their own ends: Nor in that part of Italy I find not any besides Ambrose and one Hyginus that disowned him: (Not that I think it my part to condemn all the holy Bishops who professed subjection to Usurpers in possession: