Five disputations of church-government and worship

§. 6. But yet it is certain that the Original of this custom, of setting up one as President or chief Presbyter in a particular Church, cannot be found out, so as to say, by whom and when it was first brought in. But if it began upon the death of Mark at Alexandria ▪ it must needs be long before the death of John the Apostle, (in that Church, what ever other Churches did.) But it seems that there was then a difference and indifferency in this point, and that other Churches did not presently imitate the Churches of Alexandria and Rome herein. He that reads Clemens Epistle to the Corinthians without partiality, I think will be of Grotius mind (before cited, Epist. ad Gal. ad Bignon.) that Clemens knew not any such Prelacy among the Corinthians, when he wrote that Epistle: And so we may say of some other Witnesses and Churches in those times, and afterwards in many places.

§. 6. But yet it is certain that the Original of this custom, of setting up one as President or chief Presbyter in a particular Chur•h, cannot be found out, so as to say, by whom and when it was first brought in. But if it began upon the death of Mark at Alexandria ▪ it must needs be long before the death of Iohn the Apostle, (in that Church, what ever other Churces did.) But it seems that there was then a difference and indifferency in this point, and that other Churces did not presently imitate the Churches of Alexandria and Rome herein. He that reads Clemens Epistle to the Corinthians without partiality, I think will be of Grotius mind (before cited, Epist. ad Gal. ad Bignon.) that Clemens knew not any such Prelacy among the Corinthians, when he wrote that Epistle: And so we may say of some other Witnesses and Churches in those times, and afterwards in many places.

§. 7. It is not another Order of Ministers, or Office, that was in such Churches distinct from the Presbyters that assisted them. Their Presidents or Eminent Bishops were not made then Episcopi Episcoporum, vel Pastores Pastorum, as having an Office of Teaching and Governing the other Pastors, as Pastors have of teaching and Governing the flock. But they were only the chief Presbyters, or chief Bishops or Pastors of that Church, as an Archdeacon is to the Deacons when he is made such by their choice, as Hieroms comparison is (ad Evagr.)