A vindication of the Animadversions on Fiat lux

And what is it that you would prove hereby? is it that Bishops are above Ministers, which in the words immediately foregoing you asserted, and in those next ensuing confirm from the Law of the Land? is there any tendency in your Discourse towards any such purpose? Nay do not your self know that what you seek to insinuate, namely the institution of one supreme Pastor of the whole Catholic Church, one of the Apostles to be above and ruler over all the rest of the Apostles, and the whole Church besides, is perfectly destructive of the Hierarchy of Bishops in England as established by Law; and also at once casting down the main if not only foundation that they plead for their station and order from the Gospel. For all Prelate Protestants as you call them, assert an equality in all the Apostles, and a superiority in them, to the 70. Disciples, whence by a parity of reason, they conclude unto he superiority of Bishops over Ministers to be continued in the Church. And are you not a fair Advocate for your Cause, and well meet for the reproving of others for not consenting unto them? But waving that which you little c•re for, and are not at all concerned ⟨p. 393⟩in, let us see how you prove that which we know you greatly desire to give some countenance unto; that is, an universal visible Pastor over the whole Catholic Church in the place and room of Christ himself. First, You tell us, that the Apostles expected one to be chosen to succeed Christ in his care. But to have one succeed another in his care, infers, that that other •••s•• o take and exercise the Care which formerly he ha• and exercised; which in this case is highly blasphemous once to imagine. I wish you would •ake more Care of what you say in things of this nature▪ a•d not suffer the impetuous […] your interest to cast you upon expressions so […] to th• honour o• Christ, and safety of his Chur•• And how do you prove that the Apostles had any such expectations as that which you mention? Our Saviour gave them equal commission to teach all Nations, told them that as his father had sent him, so he sent them; that he had chosen them twelve, but that one of them was a Devil: never that one of them should be Pope. Their Institution, Instruction, Privileges, Charge, Calling, were all equal.