An answer to two treatises of Mr. John Can, the leader of the English…An answer to two treatises of Mr. Iohn Can, the leader of the English…

Pinianus was ordained of the people, Elder of the Church, against Augustine's mind and will. Athanasius made Frumentius Bishop, and sent him to the Indies, he created Presbyters in other Churches, and when he came into Egypt, as many as he knew addicted to the Arian heresy, he put them out of their place, and whose Faith he tried and approved, to them he committed the Churches. The Church of Cyzicena gave this honour to Atticus, that without his consent, it could not choose a Bishop. You will not deny but the Ministry of the Church for the first, second, and third, and fourth hundred years after Christ, was true, and might be joined withal. For thus writeth a friend of yours (and as it is supposed by your aide.) It is affirmed by the Centuries of Magdeburg, that from Christs ascension, unto Trajans time, which is about an hundred years, every particular Church was governed by the Bishops, Elders and Deacons, and describing the state of Christian Churches, from Trajans reign unto Severus (that is, from the year of Christ 100 to 195) thus they write, The order of Government was popular, for all Churches had equal power of teaching purely the ⟨p. 28⟩Word of God, administration of the Sacraments, excommunication of heretics and wicked persons, loosing the penitent, the election and ordination of Ministers, and the deposition of them again for just cause. And even unto Constantine's time, The Primitive purity of Church Government was not yet deflowered, with the dregs of mans invention. ¹Neither had Satan brought in Prelatical pride into the sheepfold of the Lord; but Pastors looked every one to the health of his own flock. And a little after he citeth Epiphanius, ²Hierome, Ambrose, Cyril, Hilary, and Gregory Nazianzene, as making for him in the matter of choosing Ministers. But most certain it is, within this space of time, many things were done, in the election and ordination of Ministers, which are directly cross to that which you require as essential in his calling, ³if at any time you can prove that all things were observed; which I do not believe.

Pinianus was ordained of the people, Elder of the Church, against Augustines minde and will. Athanasius made Frumentius Bishop, and sent him to the Indies, he created Presbyters in other Churches, and when he came into Egypt, as many as he knew addicted to the Arian haeresie, hee put them out of their place, and whose Faith he tryed and approved, to them he committed the Churches. The Church of Cyzicena gave this honor to Atticus, that without his consent, it could not chuse a Bishop. You will not denie but the Ministerie of the Church for the first, second, and third, and fourth hundred yeeres after Christ, was true, and might be joyned withall. For thus writeth a friend of yours (and as it is supposed by your aide.) It is affirmed by the Centuries of Magdenburg, that from Christs ascension, unto Trajans time, which is about an hundred yeers, every particular Church was governed by the Bishops, Elders and Deacons, and describing the state of Christian Churches, from Trajans reigne unto Severus (that is, from the yeere of Christ 100 to 195) thus they write, The order of Government was popular, for all Churches had equall power of teaching purely the