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…

Ambrose himself was chosen Bishop, when he was only Catechumenus, before he was baptized; so that he was constrained to teach that which himself had not learned; yesterday catechised, to day a Bishop. The Election in all things not to be approved as consonant to the rule (for the Canons were strong against it, and Saint Paul seemeth not willing that a novice should be a Bishop) but never thought or esteemed to be none at all. Of the election of Nectarius, see Sozomene and Socrates. Justinian ordained, If any man build a Church, or house of prayer, and would have Clerks to be planted there, if he allow maintenance for them, and place such as be worthy, they shall be ordained upon his Nomination. And the Toletan Council decreed. That as long as the founders of Churches do live, they shall be suffered to have the chief and continual care of the said Churches, and shall offer fit Rectors to the Bishop to be ordained: And if the Bishop neglecting the founders shall presume to place any others, let him know, that his admission shall be void, and to his shame, but if such as they choose be prohibited by the Canons as unworthy, then let the Bishop take to promote some whom he thinketh more worthy. In these particulars, the consent of the people is too much abridged, as in some other particulars they took too much upon them, or they gave their right away, when yet the ⟨p. 29⟩calling of the Minister, or the office whereunto he was called in those cases, was not a nullity. In many things (saith the Council of Paris, which was the complaint of the Nicene Council long before) the old custom is neglected, and the decrees of the Canons are broken. But the Ministry of the Word, and Sacraments was not made void thereby.

Ambrose himselfe was chosen Bishop, when he was onely Catechumenus, before he was baptized; so that he was constrained to teach that which himselfe had not learned; yesterday catechised, to day a Bishop. The Election in all things not to be approved as consonant to the rule (for the Canons were strong against it, and Saint Paul seemeth not willing that a novice should be a Bishop) but never thought or esteemed to be none at all. Of the election of Nectarius, see Sozomene and Socrates. Iustinian ordained, If any man build a Church, or house of prayer, and would have Clerkes to be planted there, if hee allow maintenance for them, and place such as be worthy, they shall be ordained upon his Nomination. And the Toletan Councel decreed. That as long as the founders of Churches doe live, they shall be suffered to have the chiefe and continuall care of the said Churches, and shall offer fit Rectors to the Bishop to be ordained: And if the Bishop neglecting the founders shall presume to place any others, let him know, that his admission shall be voide, and to his shame, but if such as they chuse be prohibited by the Canons as unworthy, then let the Bishop take to promote some whom he thinketh more worthy. In these particulars, the cōsent of the people is too much abridged, as in some other particulars they tooke too much upon them, or they gave their right away, when yet the