Ratio disciplinae fratrum Nov-Anglorum. A faithful account of the discipline professed and practised; in…

In the Days of Cyprian, there were Martialis and Basilides, two Spanish Bishops, deposed by their Churches, for Apostasy and Idolatry; and Felix and Sabinus were chosen by their Churches in their Stead. After this Deposition, the two Bishops claimed the Exercise of their Authority; But the People denied it unto them: And when the Bishops of Africa hereupon A. C. 258. convened in a Synod, whereof Cyprian was the President, ⟨p. 163⟩the Action of the Churches was approved and commended, and this Doctrine asserted, That they had not acted irregularly since the People had the chief Power of choosing worthy Bishops, and of refusing those that are Unworthy.

In the Days of Cyprian, there were Martialis and Basilides, two Spanish Bishops, deposed by their Churches, for Apostacy and Idolatry; and Foelix and Sabinus were chosen by their Churches in their Stead. After this Deposition, the two Bishops claimed the Exercise of their Authority; But the People denied it unto them: And when the Bishops of Africa hereupon A. C. 258. convened in a Synod, whereof Cyprian was the President, ⟨p. 163⟩the Action of the Churches was approved and commended, and this Doctrine asserted, That they had not acted irregularly since the People had the chief Power of chusing worthy Bishops, and of refusing those that are Unworthy.

If the Reader will go somewhat higher into Antiquity, he may from the Archives thereof take down that famous Epistle of Clemens Romanus to the Brethren of the Church in Corinth, which in Eusebius is deservedly called, ΜΕΓΑΛΗ ΚΑΙ ΘΑΥΜΑΣΙΑ, and, ΙΚΑΝΩΤΑΤΗ ΓΡΑΦΗ, A great, a wonderful, a powerful Writing, and one which, he says, was publicly read in some of the Churches: And which Irenaeus also most justly calls, Potentissimas Literas. In all Antiquity, after the Writings of their Apostles (which indeed make an Honourable Mention of this our Clemens, Phil. IV. 3.) there is not so exact a Representation of the Order observed in the first Christian Churches, as there is in this Epistle. Now this Epistle being written to the Brethren of the Church at Corinth, from that at Rome, on the Occasion of a Sinful Excess which they had committed in the Deposition of their Elders, there is not one Word said, as if the Brethren had assumed a Liberty to themselves, which they had no claim unto; but they are severely reproved, because they had Abused their Liberty, in hearkening unto the Suggestions of Two or Three discontented Persons, against Elders who had presided Laudably among them, and who had never deserved thus to be dealt withal.