A55307:115
The Samaritan showing that many and unnecessary impositions are not the oil that must…The Samaritan shewing that many and unnecessary impositions are not the oyl that must…
The Samaritan showing that many and unnecessary impositions are not the oil that must heal the church together with the way or means to do it / by a country gentleman who goes to common-prayer and not to meetings.The Samaritan shewing that many and unnecessary impositions are not the oyl that must heal the church together with the way or means to do it / by a country gentleman who goes to common-prayer and not to meetings.
London: printed for Tho. Simmons, 1682
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.
16. Personal Inspection into the Lives and Doctrines of the Inferior Clergy, is indeed a thing unpracticable in the Church of England, whilst Dioceses are of the present Latitude and Extensions. Is a Bishop like to oversee the Life, and take knowledge of the Doctrine of such Presbyters ⟨p. 74⟩as he never sees, nor knows no more of than he doth of such as Live under the Empire of the Grand Seignior, or the great Duke of Muscovy? To do these things by Delegates and Proxies, is to change the Nature of Ecclesiastical Government into a worldly and secular Method of Rule and Empire, of which I see no footsteps in the primo Primitive Church, for the first two hundred years, but those that were Bishops, did the work of Bishops; and Delegation of Episcopal Power and Duty without the Office, I find none, nor I believe never shall, though Bishops of After-Ages I do acknowledge, did find a way of devolving the most troublesome and laborious part of their Office to others, they themselves retaining what was most easy and honourable, and it is well if they could have gone to Heaven too by the Labour and Duties of their Proxies. Qui Episcopatum desiderat, opus bonum desiderat, opus, non honorem, saies Hierom on Tit. c. 1. [Greek or Hebrew]. Then Prefecture was not Honour, but Care of the Governed. This did not make those that were chosen to it, to lift up themselves (for they were called to danger:) nor those that were not chosen, to be troubled as neglected. But the matter is not so now, but quite contrary. Chrysost. in Act. c. 1.
16. Personal Inspection into the Lives and Doctrines of the Inferiour Clergy, is indeed a thing unpracticable in the Church of England, whilst Diocesses are of the present Latitude and Extensions. Is a Bishop like to oversee the Life, and take knowledge of the Doctrine of such Presbyters ⟨p. 74⟩as he never sees, nor knows no more of than he doth of such as Live under the Empire of the Grand Seignior, or the great Duke of Moscovy? To do these things by Delegates and Proxies, is to change the Nature of Ecclesiastical Government into a worldly and secular Method of Rule and Empire, of which I see no footsteps in the primo Primitive Church, for the first two hundred years, but those that were Bishops, did the work of Bishops; and Delegation of Episcopal Power and Duty without the Office, I find none, nor I believe never shall, though Bishops of After-Ages I do acknowledge, did find a way of devolving the most troublesome and laborious part of their Office to others, they themselves reretaining what was most easie and honourable, and it is well if they could have gone to Heaven too by the Labour and Duties of their Proxies. Qui Episcopatum desiderat, opus bonum desiderat, opus, non honorem, saies Hierom on