An enquiry into the original, nature, institution, power, order and communion of evangelical churches.…

(1.) The great, and perhaps in some things, excessive Veneration which they had of their Bishops or Pastors, did probably occasion in them some neglect of their own Duty. For they were easily induced hereon, not only implicitly to leave the Management of all Church Affairs unto them, but also Zealously to comply with their Mistakes. The Church of Smyrna giving an Account of the Martyrdom of holy Polycarpus, tells us, that when he ascended the Pile wherein he was to be burned, that he pulled off his own cloths, and endeavoured to pull off his shoes, which he had not done before, because the Faithful strove among themselves who should soonest touch his Body; Euseb. lib. 4. cap. 15. I think there can be no Veneration due to a Man, which was not so unto that great and holy Person. But those who did so express it, might easily be induced to place too much of their Religion, in an implicit compliance with them unto whom they are so devoted. Hence a Negligence in themselves as unto their particular Duties did ensue. They were quickly far from esteeming it their Duty to say unto their Pastor or Bishop, that he should take heed unto the Ministry which he had received in the Lord to fulfil it, as the Apostle enjoins the Colossians to say to Archippus their Pastor; chap. 4.17. but begun to think that the Glory of obsequious Obedience, was all that ⟨p. 20⟩was left unto them. And hence did some of the Clergy begin to assume to themselves, and to ascribe unto one another, great swelling Titles of Honour, and names of Dignity, (amongst which the Blasphemous Title of His Holiness was at length appropriated unto the Bishop of Rome) wherein they openly departed from Apostolical Simplicity and Gravity. But these things fell out after the writing of the Epistle of Clemens, of those of the Church of Vienna, and Smyrna, wherein no such Titles do appear.

(1.) The great, and perhaps in some things, excessive Veneration which they had of their Bishops or Pastors, did probably occasion in them some neglect of their own Duty. For they were easily induced hereon, not only implicitely to leave the Mannagement of all Church Affairs unto them, but also Zealously to comply with their Mistakes. The Church of Smyrna giving an Account of the Martyrdom of holy Polycarpus, tells us, that when he ascended the Pile wherein he was to be burned, that he pulled off his own cloths, and endeavoured to pull off his shooes, which he had not done before, because the Faithful strove among themselves who should soonest touch his Body; Euseb. lib. 4. cap. 15. I think there can be no Veneration due to a Man, which was not so unto that great and holy Person. But those who did so express it, might easily be induced to place too much of their Religion, in an implicite compliance with them unto whom they are so devoted. Hence a Negligence in themselves as unto their particular Duties did ensue. They were quickly far from esteeming it their Duty to say unto their Pastor or Bishop, that he should take heed unto the Ministry which he had received in the Lord to fulfill it, as the Apostle enjoyns the Colossians to say to Archippus their Pastor; chap. 4.17. but begun to think that the Glory of obsequious Obedience, was all that