A treatise of civil policy

4. He hath no higher privilege (saith he) then other Bishops, except in extent, by Divine right. Now other Bishops, as officers in nature different from Presbyters, (for of such the P. Prelate must speak in his own dialect) have their office by Divine right: and this the Prelates words must include, else he saith non-sense to the matter in hand. And in extent the Pope hath by Divine right more then other Bishops have. Now what is the Pope of Rome his extent? All knows it is the whole Catholic visible Church on earth. If then all Bishops be particular Ambassadors in Christs stead, 2 Cor. 5. 20. and so Legates and Deputies of Christ; He who by Divine right is a Bishop in extent over the whole world, is as like one that calleth himself the universal Vicar of Christ, as one egg is like another. 2. The doctrine taught by this Prelate, so Popish, & hints, yea are more then evidences of gross Popery in this book, and his other Pamphlet against Presbyteries; And his desire that the Controversy concerning the Popes supremacy, and others, were determined with submission to the judgement of the Fathers: do cry, that he is but a rotten Papist. For why will he submit all other controversies to the judgement of the Fathers? Why not to the Prophets and Apostles? Can Fathers decide Controversies better then the Word of God? A reason cannot be dreamed of, why the Fathers should be Judges, and not the Scriptures, except that Scriptures are obscure. 2. Their authority and light cannot determine and judge controversies, except in so far as they have authority from Fathers and the Church: and we know this to be proprium 4to modo, proper to Jesuits and Papists, to cry Fathers, Fathers, in all controversies, though the Fathers be more for us, then for them, except two things; 1. What Fathers speak for us, are corrupted by them: 2. What were but errors in Fathers, when children add contumacy to error, becomes the heresies of the sons.

4. He hath no higher priviledge (saith he) then other Bishops, except in extent, by Divine right. Now other Bishops, as officers in nature different from Presbyters, (for of such the P. Prelate must speak in his own dialect) have their office by Divine right: and this the Prelates words must include, else he saith non-sense to the matter in hand. And in extent the Pope hath by Divine right more then other Bishops have. Now what is the Pope of Rome his extent? All knowes it is the whole Catholike visible Church on earth. If then all Bishops be particular Ambassadours in Christs stead,