The Doctrine of the Saints' Perseverance

Although I have spent some time in the consideration of mens conjectures of those suburbicarian Churches, that (as is pretended) are here pointed to, and the rise of the Bishop of Rom's jurisdiction over those Churches, in a correspondency to the civil government of the Prefect of the City, yet so great a Critic in the Greek tongue as Casaubon. Exerc: 16. ad An: 150: having professed that expression: [Greek or Hebrew], to be barbarous and unintelligible, I shall not contend about it. For the presidency mentioned of the Church in, or at Rome, that it was a presidency of Jurisdiction, and not only an eminency of faith and holiness that is intended, the Doctor thinks it not incumbent on him to prove: those with whom he hath to do, are of another mind: although by this time some Alteration might be attempted, yea there was, as else where shall be showed: and so much for Ignatius his Archi-Episcopacy.

Although I have spent some time in the consideration of mens conjectures of those suburbicarian Churches, that (as is pretended) are here pointed to, and the rise of the Bishop of Rom's jurisdiction over those Churches, in a correspondency to the civil goverment of the Prefect of the City, yet so great a Critick in the Greek tongue as Casaubon. Exerc: 16. ad An: 150: having professed that expression: 〈non-Latin alphabet〉, to be barbarous and unintelligible, I shall not contend about it. For the presidency mentioned of the Church in, or at Rome, that it was a presidency of Jurisdiction, and not only an eminency of faith and holinesse that is intended, the Doctour thinks it not incumbent on him to prove: those with whom he hath to do, are of another mind: although by this time some Alteration might be attempted, yea there was, as else where shall be shewed: and so much for Ignatius his Archi-Episcopacy.

The example of Alexandria is urged in the next place in these words: idem de Alexandriâ, de quâ Eusebius. Marcum [Greek or Hebrew], Ecclesias (in plurali) primum in Alexandriâ instituisse. Has omnes ab eo sub nomine [Greek or Hebrew], administrandas suscepisse Annianum, Neronis anno octavo idem Eusebius affirmat: quibus patet primariam Alexandriae & Patriarchalem cathedram fixam esse, ad quam reliquae provinciae illius ecclesiae à Marco plantatae, ut ad metropoliticam suam pertinebant; doubtless. for 1 There is not any passage in any ancient Author, more clearly discovering the uncertainty of many things in Antiquity, then this pointed to by the Doctor in Eusebius. For first, the sending of Mark the Evangelist into Egypt, and his preaching there at Alexandria what he had written in the Gospel, is but a report. Men said so, but what ground they had for their saying so, he relates not. And yet we know what a foundation of many Assertions by following Writers, this Rumour or report is made to be. 2 In the very next words the Author affirms and insists long upon it in the next Chapter that Philo's book, [Greek or Hebrew], was written concerning the Christians converted by Mark's preaching at Alexandria, when it is notoriously known that it treateth of the Essenes, a Sect among the Jews, amongst whole observances many things were vain, superstitious, and foolish; unworthy to be once applauded as the practise of any Christian in those days: that same Philo, as far as can be gathered living and dying in the Jewish Religion, having been employed by them with an Apology to Rome in the days of Caligula. But 3. Suppose that Mark were at Alexandria, and preached the Gospel there, which is not improbable, and planted sundry Churches in that great and populous City of Jews and Gentiles, and that as an Evangelist the care of those Churches was upon him, in a peculiar manner, nay, and add farther that after his death, as Hierome assures us, the Elders and Presbyters of those Churches, chose out one among themselves to Praeside in their convocations & meetings; If I say all this be supposed, what will ensue? why then it is manifest that there was fixed at Alexandria a Patriarchal Chair, & a Metro-political Church, according to the Appointment of Jesus Christ by his Apostles, Si hoc non sit probationum satis, nescio quid sit satis.