The apology of the Church of England, and an epistle to one Seignior Scipio…

Cyrillus a Bishop, appealed from the Council of the Patropassians; Paulinus Bishop of Treves, would not come to the Council of Milan, because he saw, by reason of the Favour and Power of Constantius the Emperor, every thing plied under, and was over-ruled by Auxentius an Arian Bishop. The Bishops who came to the Council at Constantinople, would not afterwards come to that which was holden at Rome, to which they were called also, which yet was no prejudice to them, tho they were commanded to attend there by Letters from the Emperor; it was then thought a sufficient Excuse, that they must attend the Reformation and Care of their own Churches, tho they saw that the Arians then prevailed every where, and that their Presence might have been of a mighty consequence for the abating their Rage.

Cyrillus a Bishop, appealed from the Council of the Patropassians; Paulinus Bishop of Treves, would not come to the Council of Millan, because he saw, by reason of the Favour and Power of Constantius the Emperor, every thing plied under, and was over-rul'd by Auxentius an Arrian Bishop. The Bishops who came to the Council at Constantinople, would not afterwards come to that which was holden at Rome, to which they were call'd also, which yet was no prejudice to them, tho they were commanded to attend there by Letters from the Emperor; it was then thought a sufficient Excuse, that they must attend the Reformation and Care of their own Churches, tho they saw that the Arrians then prevail'd every where, and that their Presence might have been of a mighty consequence for the abating their Rage.

11. WHAT if our Bishops should now make the same Answers, that they can spare no time from the sacred Ministry, that they are totally taken up in restoring and reforming their Churches, that they cannot be spared from home five, six, or seven ⟨p. 157⟩years, and especially in that place where they can do no good? for our Bishops have not the same leisure with those who luxuriously spend their time in Palaces at Rome, and depend upon the Cardinals, and lye at the catch for rich Preferments; for our Churches are so miserably ruined and perverted by the ill Management of these men, that it is neither a small time nor an ordinary Diligence that can reform them. And now we see plainly that they design a Diversion and mis-spending of our times, that when there is no need of it, we may be drawn from Home, and so may neither promote the Reformation at Home, nor be suffered by them to do it in the Council.