And to have them highly in honour, for their works sake, 1 Thessa. 5.13. but yet the Pastors of the Church should govern by Light and Love, not by pomp and force, and not be known by such pomp and Authority as begets fear. Well now, let us ⟨p. 84⟩see the opposite state. If humility and meekness be in the very Essence of Christianity, and woven throughout the whole frame of it, then it is Antichristian to be Lordly, and proud, especially in them who pretend to be Successors of Christ, and his Apostles. Now in the Pope and his Adherents, you will see the •ost odious pride set forth, that ever the World was conscious unto, without any Cloak and shame. And all their business is to get power: what designs they have for preferment in the World, how studiously they have, and do prosecute it, they blush not to own openly, before Angels or Men. This worldly Ambition to rise higher and higher, is their design and Trade of Life. As the Bishop of Rome, at first from the chief Pastor of that City, affected to be an Archbishop over the Suburbian Towns and Cities: then a Patriarch over many Cities, and because two opposed him in Italy a long time, Ravenna and Milan, he gets power over them, and then he must be Oecumenial Bishop over all the World. But Constantinople resisteth for a long time, yea, arrogateth within the Empire the same Titles. Who more earnest against it, than Gregory whom they call the Great, and more forward to charge the assuming of this Title as Antichristian? But then, when once they began by powerful means, and many indirect courses, to be owned as universal Bishop: then enlarging their bo•nds, not ⟨p. 85⟩only over the Ecclesiastical Power, but Civil, and all Kings and Princes must stoop to them, as well as Bishops. So that here was the progress and gradation, first from the Chief Presbyter, a Bishop over many Presbyters in the same City; then a Metropolitan over many Bishops, in one Province; then a Patriarch over many Provinces, in one Diocese (for i• the Roman Division there were seven Provinces in one Diocese) then Universal Bishop in the whole World, then the only Shepherd and Bishop, and others but his Substitutes; pretty steps of ambitious encroaching! But yet exalting himself further, challenging all power in Heaven and Earth.
And to have them highly in honour, for their works sake, 1 Thessa. 5.13. but yet the Pastors of the Church should govern by Light and Love, not by pomp and force, and not be known by such pomp and Authority as begets fear. Well now, let us ⟨p. 84⟩see the opposite state. If humility and meekness be in the very Essence of Christianity, and woven throughout the whole frame of it, then it is Antichristian to be Lordly, and proud, especially in them who pretend to be Successors of Christ, and his Apostles. Now in the Pope and his Adherents, you will see the •ost odious pride set forth, that ever the World was conscious unto, without any Cloak and shame. And all their business is to get power: what designs they have for preferment in the World, how studiously they have, and do prosecute it, they blush not to own openly, before Angels or Men. This worldly Ambition to rise higher and higher, is their design and Trade of Life. As the Bishop of Rome, at first from the chief Pastor of that City, affected to be an Archbishop over the Suburbian Towns and Cities: then a Patriarch over many Cities, and because two opposed him in Italy a long time, Ravenna and Milane, he gets power over them, and then he must be Oecumenial Bishop over all the World. But Constantinople resisteth for a long time, yea, arrogate•h within the Empire the same Titles. Who more earnest against it, than Gregory whom they call the Great, and more forward to charge the assuming of this Title as Antichristian? But then, when once they began by powerful means, and many indirect courses, to be owned as universal Bishop: then inlarging their bo•nds, not ⟨p. 85⟩only over the Ecclesiastical Power, but Civil, and all Kings and Princes must stoop to them, as well as Bishops. So that here was the progress and gradation, first from the Chief Presbyter, a Bishop over many Presbyters in the same City; then a Metropolitan over many Bishops, in one Province; then a Patriarch over many Provinces, in one Diocess (for i• the Roman Division there were seven Provinces in one Diocess) then Universal Bishop in the whole World, then the only Shepherd and Bishop, and others but his Substitutes; pretty steps of ambitious incroaching! But yet exalting himself further, challenging all power in Heaven and Earth.
