The third estate of ecclesiastical offices lieth in the spiritual jurisdiction, the which was committed to those, who were called in the writings of the Apostles & ancient Doctors both counsels, and canons, particularly presbyter, that is to say, Senior or Elder, which also sometimes be called governors by saint Paula, and were chosen not only by the clergy, but by all the body of the Church, as it appeareth evidently by the complaint which saint Ambrose bmade, that even in his time certain persons took upon themselves this office. And by that which S. Cyprian c hath written, wherein it is easy to gather, that the Bishop presided and was chief in this company, ⟨image 130⟩not for to rule and reign over them, but to do nothing without the advise of the Church. Now this jurisdiction lieth not in worldly & temporal things, but altogether in those things which concerneth the conscience. So that it is fully distinct from the office of a civil magistrate, according as the lord Christ not only said to his Apostles, but practisedd, and S. Paul after hime. True it is that in the time when there were no magistrates, which made profession or vowed openly to be Christians, s. Paul would that for to eschew slanders and offences, the faithful should decide and end all controversies among themselves when need required, but this was but for a certain time. And surely as5 I think such persons were but as arbiters, chosen by the parties, or at the least was an office distinct from those which we spake of. Also it is certain that even under Christian Emperors the good Bishops have been marvellously letted and troubled, about the ending ⟨p. 113⟩of controversies, but it was more for to appoint and agree the parties by amiable and friendly arbitrement, then to meddle the spiritual Jurisdiction with the temporal. And Saint Augustine showeth plainly in many places, how it grieved him for that he was constrained to employ, and bestow so much time for the importunity of the people. All Bishops have not so done, but rather have desired nothing more, then to serve their ambition under the shadow of holiness, whereof it came to pass that the Emperors have granted to them more in this case then was needful or appertained to them, or the profit of the Church required.
THe thyrde estate of ecclesiasticall offices lieth in the spiritual iurisdiction, ye which was committed to those, who were called in the wryttinges of the Apostles & auncient Doctours both counsels, and canons, partycullarly presbiter, that is to say, Senior or Elder, which also somtimes be called gouernours by saint Paulea, and were chosen not onelye by the clargye, but by all the body of the Churche, as it appeareth euidently by the complaynt whiche saint Ambrose bmade, that euen in his tyme certayne persons tooke vpon themselues this offyce. And by that which S. Cyprian c hath wrytten, wherein it is easye to gather, that the Byshoppe proseded and was chiefe in this companye, ⟨image 130⟩not for to rule and raygne ouer them, but to doo nothyng without the aduyse of the Church. Now this iurisdiction lyeth not in worldlie & temporal thinges, but altogether in those thinges whiche concerneth the conscience. So that it is fully distinde from the offyce of a cyuill magistrate, according as the lord Christ not only said to his Apostles, but practisedd, and S. Paule after hime. True it is that in the tyme when there were no magistrates, which made profession or vowed openly to be Christians, s. Paule would that for to eschew slaunders and offences, the faythfull should decyde and ende all controuersies among themselues when neede required, but this was but for a certaine tyme. And surely as5 I thinke such persons were but as arbitrers, chosen by the parties, or at the least was an offyce distincte from those which we spake of. Also it is certayne that euen vnder Christian Emperours the good Byshoppes haue beene maruelouslie letted and troubled, about the ending ⟨p. 113⟩of controuersies, but it was more for to appoynt and agree the partyes by amiable and friendlye abytrement, then to meddell the spyrituall Iurisdiction with the temporall. And Saint Augustine sheweth plainely in many places, how it gréeued him for that he was constrayned to employe, and bestowe so much tyme for the importunitie of the people. All Byshoppes haue not so done, but rather haue desyred nothing more, then to serue theyr ambition vnder the shadowe of holynes, whereof it came to passe that the Emperours haue graunted to them more in this case then was needefull or appertayned to them, or the profyte of the Churche required.
- a1. Cor. 12. Roma. 12.
- bS. Ambro•e in the first Epist. 5. c. to Timothy. 5. Epistle. 2 book. epistle, item 10. 14. 15. & other following the. 3. book.S. Ambro•e in the fyrst Epist. 5. c. to Timothe. 5. Epistle. 2 booke. epistle, item 10. 14. 15. & other following the. 3. booke.
- dLuke. 12. John. 18. Acts. 6.Luke. 12. Iohn. 18. Acts. 6.
- e1. Cor. 10.
- 5f▪ 1. Cor. 6.
