1We do believe that there is only one Church of God, and that the same is not shut up as in time past among the Jews into any one corner of kingdom, butte is Catholic and universal, & dispersed into all the world, so that now there is no nation that may truly complain that they be excluded, and can have no part with the Church and people of God. He do believe that the same Church is the kingdom, is the body, is the spouse of Christ, and of this kingdom that Christ is the only Prince, of this body that Christ is the only head, of this spouse that Christ is the only bridegroom: and that there be in the Church divers orders of ministers, some be Deacons, some Elders, some Bishops, unto whom the instruction of the people and the charge and provision for things appertaining to religion is committed, and yet that there is no one man, nor that any one can be superior and ruler over all: for we believe both that Christ is always present with his Church,2 and that he needeth no Vicar that should supply his room in all points: and that it is unpossible for any mortal man so much as to comprehend in his mind, much more to set in order and rightly and profitably to govern the whole universal Church, that is to say, all parts of the world: that the Apostles as Cyprian saith,3 were all of like authority, and that the rest were in the very same degree that Peter was. That it was spoken indifferently to them all, Feed. to them all, Go in to the whole world. to them all, Teach the Gospel: And as S. Jerome saith,4 that all Bishops in what place so ever they be, other at Rome, or at Eugubin, or ⟨p. 11⟩at Constantinople, or at Rhegium, be all of like desert & of like Priesthood.5 And as Cyprian saith, that there is but one Bishopric, and every one holding a part thereof, doth administer the whole: and according to the sentence of the Council of Nice, that the Romaine Bishop hath no more right over the Church of God, then the other Patriarchs of Alexandria & of Antioch: as for the bishop of Rome, who at this day challengeth all things to himself alone, unless he do his office, unless he administer the Sacraments, unless he instruct the people, unless he admonish, unless he teach, ought not of right to be accounted a Bishop, or so much as an Elder in the Church:
1We do beleue that ther is onely one Churche of God, and that the same is not shut vp as in time past among the Iewes into any one corner of kingedome, butte is Catholike and vniuersall, & dispersed into al the world, so that nowe there is no nacion that maye truely complaine that thei be excluded, and can haue no parte with the Churche and people of God. He doe beleue that the same Church is the kingdome, is the body, is the spouse of Christe, and of this kingdome that Christe is the only Prince, of this body that Christe is the onely heade, of this spouse that Christe is the onely bridgrome: and that there be in the Churche diuers ordres of ministers, some be Deacons, some Elders, some Byshoppes, vnto whom the instruction of the people and the charge and prouision for thinges appertaininge to religion is committed, and yet that there is noe one man, nor that any one can be superioure and ruler ouer all: for wee beleue bothe that Christe is alwaies present with his Church,2 and that he needeth no Uicare that shoulde supplie hys roume in all pointes: and that it is vnpossible for anye mortall man so muche as to comprehende in his minde, muche more to set in ordre and rightly and profytablye to gouern the whole vniuersall Churche, that is to say, all partes of the worlde: that the Apostles as Cypriane saithe,3 were all of lyke authoritie, and that the rest were in the very same degree that Peter was. That it was spoken indifferently to them al, Feede. to them all, Go in to the whole worlde. to them all, Teache the Gospell: And as S. Ierome saithe,4 that all Byshops in what place so euer thei be, other at Rome, or at Eugubin, or ⟨p. 11⟩at Constantinople, or at Rhegium, be al of like desert & of like Preesthoode.5 And as Cyprian saith, that ther is but one Bishoperike, and euery one holdyng a part therof, dothe administer the whole: and accordinge to the sentence of the Councel of Nice, that the Romaine Byshoppe hathe no more right ouer the Churche of God, then the other Patriarks of Alexandria & of Antioche: as for the byshop of Rome, who at this day chalengeth all thinges to himselfe alone, vnlesse he do his office, vnlesse he administer the Sacraments, vnlesse he instructe the people, vnlesse he admonishe, vnles he teache, ought not of right to be accompted a Byshoppe, or so much as an Elder in the Churche:
- 1Of the Church.Of the Churhe.
- 2Christ hath no universal depute.Christ hath no vniuersall depute.
- 3De simplicitate Praelatorum.
- 4Ad Evagriū.Ad Euagriū.
- 5De simplicitate Praelatorū.De simplicitate Praelatorū.
