Five disputations of church-government and worship

Moreover all those Canons of several Councils that forbid the Presbyters to confirm by Chrism, and make it the Bishops work, do show that the Diocese were but small when the Bishop himself could do that besides all his other work.

Moreover all those Canons of several Councils that forbid the Presbyters to confirm by Chrysm, and make it the Bishops work, do shew that the Diocess were but small when the Bishop himself could do that besides all his other work.

In the Canons called the Apostles, cap. 5. it is ordained thus [Omnium ali•rum primitiae Episcopo & Presbyteris domum mittuntur, non super Altare. Manifestum est autem quod Episcopus & Presbyteri inter Diaconos & reliquos clericos eas dividunt.] By which it appeareth that there was but one Altar in a Church to which belonged the Bishop, Presbytery, and Deacons, who lived all as it were on that Altar.

In the Canons called the Apostles, cap. 5. it is ordained thus [Omnium ali•rum primitiae Episcopo & Presbyteris domum mittuntur, non super Altare. Manifestum est autem quod Episcopus & Presbyteri inter Diaconos & reliquos clericos eas dividunt.] By which it appeareth that there was but one Altar in a Church to which belonged the Bishop, Presbyterie, and Deacons, who lived all as it were on that Altar.

And Can. 32. runs thus [Si quis Presbyter contemnens Episcopum suum, seorsim collegerit, & Altar aliud erexerit, nihil habens quo rebrehendat Episcopum in causa pietatis & justitiae, deponatur quasi principatus amator existens— Haec autem post unam & secundam & tertiam Episcopi obsecrationem fieri conveniat.] Which shows that there was then but one Convention and one Altar to which one Bishop and Presbyters did belong: So that no other Assembly or Altar was to be set up apart from the Bishop by any Presbyter that had nothing against the Bishop in point of Godliness or Justice.