A46876:380
The apology of the Church of England, and an epistle to one Seignior Scipio…
The apology of the Church of England, and an epistle to one Seignior Scipio a Venetian gentleman, concerning the Council of Trent written both in Latin / by ... John Jewel ... ; made English by a person of quality ; to which is added, The life of the said bishop ; collected and written by the same hand.
London: printed by T. H. for Richard Chiswell, 1685
Letter: AN EPISTLE Written by the Reverend Father in God JOHN JEWEL, Lord Bishop of SARUM, TO S…
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
and therefore the Church cannot depend upon any man, by reason of his Dignity and Ecclesiastical Power, for many Popes have proved Apostates.
28. IN what then is this Papal Authority placed? In Teaching, but they teach nothing; in administering the Sacraments, but they do not administer them; in feeding, but they feed none. Now this is all the Power which Christ bestowed upon the Apostles; Go ye (said he) into all the World and preach the Gospel, &c. hence forward ye shall be Fishers of Men; and as the living Father sent me, so I send you. But as to these, whither go they? what do they teach? what do they preach? what do they fish for? from whence go they? or by whom are they sent? their's is nor Apostolic Authority, but Pride, and an intolerable Lordship usurped by Force and Tyranny. None of us (saith Cyprian) calls himself Bishop of Bishops, or compels his Partners to a necessitated Obedience by a Tyrannical Terror. Seeing every Bishop may use his Liberty and Power according to his own Discretion, as he cannot be judged ⟨p. 184⟩by another, so neither can he judge another. And as the other Apostles (saith he) were the same which Peter was; 1so all Bishops are endowed with this equal Partnership both of Honour and Power. And St. Jerome (saith, greater is the Authority of the World, than that of any City. Why then do you produce to me the Custom of one City? Why do you vindicate that Paucity, from which this Pride arose against the Laws of the Church? Where-ever a Bishop is settled, whether at Rome, or Eugubium, whether at Constantinople or Rhegium, he is of the same Worth, and of the self same Priesthood; the greatness of Riches, and the Humility of Poverty makes not one Bishop superior or inferior to another. And St. Gregory (saith, Peter was a principal Member in the Body; John, Andrew, and James were the Heads of particular People, and yet all of them are Members of the Church in one Head; yea, the Saints before the Law, those under the Law, and those under Grace, and all those who make up the Body of our Lord (the Church) are to be accounted Members, and no man ever yet desired to be called an UNIVERSAL.