CHAP. I. The Christian Church first founded by our Lord and Saviour , in an Jmparity of Ministers .

I. The severall Offices of Christ our Saviour in the administration of his Church .

II . The aggregation of Disciples to him .

III . The calling of the Apostles , and why twelve in number .

IV . Of the Name and Office of an Apostle .

V. What things were specially required unto the making of an Apostle .

VI . All the Apostles equall amongst themselves .

VII . The calling and appointing of the Seventy Disciples .

VIII . A reconciliation of some different opinions about the number .

IX . The twelve Apostles superiour to the seventy by our Saviours ordinance .

X. What kind of superiority it was that Christ prohibited his Apostles .

XI . The severall powers and preheminences , given to the Apostles by our Saviour Christ .

XII . That the Apostles were made Bishops by our Lord and Saviour , averred by the ancient Fathers .

XIII . And by the Text of holy Scripture .

OF all the Types in holy Scripture , I find not any that did so fully represent the nature of our Saviours Kingdome , as those of David , Moses , and Melchizedech . Psal . 78.71 , 72. David a Shepheard , and a King Moses a Legislator , and a Prince ; Gen. 14.18 . Melchizedech both King of Salem , and a Priest also of the living God , as that Text hath stiled him . Each of these was a type of our Saviour Christ , according to his Regall office ; hee being like Melchisedech , Heb . 7.2 . a King of Peace and Righteousnesse ; leading his people , as did Moses , out of the darknesse and Idolatries of Egypt , Exod . to the land of Canaan : and conquering like David 2 Sam . all those enemies which before held them in subjection . This office , as it is supreme , so it is perpetuall . That God who tels us in Psal . 2. the Psalmes , that he had set his King on Zion , on his holy mountaine : hath also told us by his Angell , Luk . 1.33 . that he should reigne over the housc of Jacob for ever , and of his Kingdome there should be no end . But if wee looke upon him in his Sacerdotall and Pastorall offices : if we behold him as a Lawgiver to his Church and people : we find him not fore-signified in any one of these , but in all together . Heb . 5.6 , 10. A Priest he was after the order of Melchisedech ; Heb . 3.2 . faithfull to him that did appoint him , as also Moses was faithfull in all his house ; ordering , and disposing of the same , according to his will and pleasure . And as for the discharge of his Pastorall or Propheticall office , God likeneth him to David , by his holy Prophet saying , Eze . 34.23 . I will set up one Shepheard over them , and he shall feed them , even my servant David , he shall feed them , and he shall be their shepheard . Which offices , although subordinate to the Regall power , are perpetuall also . He was not made a Priest for a time or season , but for ever . Tu es Sacerdos in aeternum : Heb . 5.6 . Thou art a Priest for ever , said the Lord unto him . A Priest , who as he once Heb . 9.26 . appeared to put away sinne by the sacrifice of himselfe ; so by that Heb . 10.14 . one offering hath he perfected for ever all them that are sanctified ; and sitting downe at the right hand of God , he Heb . 7.25 . ever liveth , and maketh intercession for them . Of the same perpetuity also are those other offices of Christ our Saviour , before remembred . Hee had not beene fidelis sicut Moses , faithfull as Moses was in all his house : Estius in Heb . 3. v. 2. i.e. as Estius well expounds it , in administratione populi sibi credita , in the well ordering of the charge committed to him , had he not constituted a set forme of government , and given the same unto his Church , as a rule for ever . Nor had he faithfully discharged the part of David , had he looked onely to his flock , whiles himselfe was present ; and tooke no care for the continuall feeding of the same , after he was returned to his heavenly glories . And therefore , Eph. 4.8 , 11 , 12 , 13. when he ascended up on high he gave gifts to men , and gave some Apostles , and some Prophets , and some Evangelists , and some Pastors and Teachers ; for the perfecting of the Saints , for the worke of the Ministry , for the edifying of the body of Christ ; till we all come in the unity of faith , and of the knowledge of the son of God unto a perfect man , unto the measure of the stature of the fulnesse of Christ .

He gave them then indeed , after his Ascension , when he ascended up on high , because he then did furnish them with those gifts and graces , wherewith they were endued by the Holy Ghost , and thereby fitted for the execution of the trust committed to them by their Lord . For otherwise many of them had beene given already ; not onely in the way of choyce , and designation , but of commission and employment . Mat . 28.19 . Ite , & docete omnes Gentes , had beene said before . It was not long after our Saviours baptisme by John in Jordan , that some Disciples came unto him . That testimony which came downe from God the Father , when the Heavens were opened , Mat . 3.16 . and the Spirit of God descended on him like a Dove , was of it selfe sufficient to procure many followers . The evidence which was given by John the Baptist , added nought to this . And yet that evidence prevailed so farre , that two of his Disciples , when they heard him speake , Joh . 1.37 . forsooke their old Master , and went after Jesus . Nor did it satisfie them , that they had found the Christ , and had talked with him , but they impart the same unto others also . Thus Andrew brings in his owne Brother Joh . 1.42 , 46. Simon ; Philip invites his friend Nathaneel . One tels another the glad tidings , that they had found him of whom Joh . 1. ●5 . Moses in the Law , and all the Prophets did write : and all of them desire to be his Disciples . Afterward as his fame increased , so his followers multiplyed ; and every miracle that he wrought to confirme his doctrine , did adde unto the number of his Proselytes . So great his fame was , and so great the confluxe of all sorts of people , that Johns Disciples presently complained , I know not whether with more truth or envie , Joh . 3.26 . Omnes ad eum veniunt , that all men came unto him , both to heare his preaching , and receive his baptisme . And certainly it was no wonder that it should be so ; that all men should resort to him , who was the way ; or seeke for him , who was the truth ; or follow after him , who was the life . Lord , saith Saint Peter , Joh . 6.86 . to whom shall wee goe ? thou hast the words of life eternall .

The number of his followers being thus increased , he sends them not immediately to preach his Gospell . Two yeares he trayned them up in the schoole of piety , where he himselfe was both the Teacher and the lesson , before he ventured them abroad upon that employment ; And when hee ventured them abroad , he neither sent them all together , nor with like authority . Luk . 6.13 . Twelve he selected from the rest , whom he named Apostles . And he ordained them Mark . 3.14 . saith Saint Marke , that they should be with him , and that hee might send them forth to preach : first to be with him , as the constant witnesses of his words and workes , and afterwards to preach and publish what they saw and heard . In which regard , Tertullian cals them not unfitly , De Praescript . advers . haeret . Legatos à latere , sent from Christ to teach the nations . Ex quibus ( out of his Disciples ) duodecem praecipuos lateri suo adlegerat , destinatos nationibus Magistros : as his owne words are . The same Tertullian gives a reason , why Christ made choyse of twelve Apostles , neither more nor lesse : viz. C●ntra Marcian . l. 4. because there were twelve fountaines in Elim ; twelve gemmes or pretious stones in the brest-plate of Aaron ; and 12. stones taken out of Jordan by the hand of Joshua , and by him put into the Arke of the Testament . And then he addes , totidem enim Apostoli praetendebantur , that the like number of Apostles was prefigured . Other conceits there are of the Ancient Fathers about this number : In Joh . 6. Bede , and Sedulius . Sedulius , resemble them to the 12. signes of the Zodiack : Dialog . ●um Tryph●ne . Justin Martyr to the 12. bels in the high Priests garment : Tertullian before named , Loco supra citato . to the twelve oxen that did uphold the molten sea in the Temple of Solomon . Others have other fancies to the same effect ; but whether Christ related unto any of them in this designation , as it is no where to be found , so is it not materiall to the present purpose . More neere unto the point in my opinion , is that of Calvin , who thinkes our Saviour in the choise of his twelve Disciples related to the twelve Patriarchs of the Tribes of Israel : to shew that as the Patriarchs were the roote and seminarie of the Tribes of Israel , so the Apostles Calvin in Harm . Evang . were to be the Parents , or if you will , the Patriarchs of the Church of Christ , Non ergo frustra Dominus duodecem veluti Patriarchas constituens , Ecclesiae renunciationem testatus est . Which guesse of his , though it come neerer to the matter than the other did ; yet it falls short also of the true intention of our Lord and Saviour . For Christ , who was best able to assigne the reason of his mind herein , hath told us , that he fitted his Apostles according to the number of the Tribes of Israel ; that his Apostles in due time might become their Judges . For so himselfe declares it in his holy Gospell ; Mat . 19.28 . Verily ( saith he ) I say unto you , that yee which have followed mee in the regeneration , when the Sunne of man shall sit in the throne of his glory , yee also shall sit upon twelve thrones , judging the twelve tribes of Israel : Hieron . in locum . i.e. as Hierome doth expound it , Quia credentibus vobis , illi credere noluerunt ; by reason of their obstinacie and unbeliefe , not giving credit to that Gospell the Apostles preached . Twelve then our Saviour pleased to choose , whom he named Apostles , and they themselves conceived this number not to want its weight : and therefore made it their first care to fill up their number , and surrogate some other in the place of Judas . Saint Peter very well declared the necessity of it , when he came in with his Oportet ; Act. 1 21 , 22. Oportet ergo ex his viris , &c. Wherefore of these men that have companied with us all the time , that the Lord Jesus went in and out amongst us , must one be ordained to be a witnesse with us of his resurrection . So excellently true is that of Austin , August . in Psal . 103. Adeo numerus ille sacratus est , ut in locum unius qui exciderat , non posset nisi alter nominari .

As for the name , quos & Apostolos nominavit , as Saint Luk 6.13 . Luke informes us : Baronius thinkes it was not of our Saviours owne divising , but by him borrowed of the high Priests of the Jewish nation , who had a speciall kind of Ministers , whom they called Apostles , Quos etiam ipse legare consueverat ad componendos optimos Sacerdotum mores , ipsas Synogogas inspiciendas , pravos mores corrigendos , &c. Annal . A. 32. ss . 5. imployed by them for the instruction of the Priests , the visiting of the severall Synagogues , the rectifying of ill manners , and the reforming of those publike Ministers , who did not live according to the prescript of the Law . Whether that it were so or not , or that the Cardinall be not mistaken in the meaning of the Author whom he citeth ; I will not meddle for the present : though I conceive by looking on the place in Epiphan . hares : 30. n . 5. Epiphanius , that the succeeding Patriarchs of the Jewish nation , did rather take this name from Christs Apostles , than he from theirs . But for the word as now we use it , it is meerly Greeke , signifying in its naturall and originall sense a Quos haec appellatio miss●s interpretatur . Tert . de praescript . Messenger , a Legate , an Embassadour ; from whom , to whomsoever sent : after appropriated and applyed by the Evangelists to signifie those twelve , whom our Saviour chose , and called his Apostles , as by way of excellence : yet so that many of those men who saw our Saviour in the flesh , and did preach the Gospell , are sometimes honoured with that name . In Epist. ad Gal. c . 2. Quod autem exceptis duodecem quidam vocantur Apostoli , illud in causa est , omnes qui Dominum viderunt , & eum postea praedicarunt , fuisse Apostolos nominatos : as Saint Hierome notes it . By which wee see , that those two things did principally concurre unto the making of an Apostle , viz. to have beene conversant with our Saviour Christ , and to preach his word : which being most exactly verified in those twelve Disciples , whom he selected for that purpose ; it was most fit that they should chiefly have the honour of so high a title . But these , although they were two speciall markes of an Apostle ; yet they were not all . Others had seene our Saviour in the flesh , and preached his Gospell , which notwithstanding never durst assume that title : Ignat . Epist ad Smymens . Ignatius , who affirms it of himselfe , that he had seene the Lord JESUS , doth yet disclaime the power and priviledge of an Apostle . {αβγδ} , saith he in his Epistle to the Romans . So that besides their seeing of our Saviour in the flesh , and preaching of those things which themselves had seene ; the Twelve had a preheminence above the rest of the Disciples , in those three particulars : first , in their neernesse of accesse unto him when he was alive : Secondly , in the latitude of their commission , when he was to leave them : And thirdly , in the height of their authority after his departure .

For first , the twelve Apostles , and no others were the continuall , constant , and domesticall Auditors of all his Sermons ; the diligent beholders and observers of all his miracles . With them did he discourse familiarly , propounding questions , answering their demands , and satisfying all their scruples . The Twelve , and none but they , were present with him , when he did institute his holy Supper : and they alone participated of those prayers and promises which he made to them from himselfe , or for them to his heavenly Father . Many there were of his retinue , of his Court not few : the Twelve were onely of his Counsell ; and of those too , some more especially admitted to his privacies , and of his cabinet counsell , ( as it were ) then others ; whereof see Mat . 17.1 . Mark . 14.33 . Luk . 8.51 . And on this ground doth Clemens Alex . ap . Euseb . l. 2. c . 1. Clemens tell us , that Christ imparted many things unto these three , after his ascension , which they communicated {αβγδ} , unto the rest of the Apostles : the rest of the Apostles to the 70. As they were neerer in accesse , so were they furnished with a more liberall Commission , when he was to leave them . Mark . 16. Ite in universum mundum . He said unto them , Goe into all the world , and preach the Gospell to every creature . No such commission granted to any others , who had their severall precincts and bounds , a limited commission when it was at best . To the eleven ( for unto them alone did hee give that charge ) the whole world went but for a Diocesse . For this cause Chrys . Tom . 8. p. 110. edit. Savill . Chrysostome doth honour them with the stile of Princes , and Princes of a great command over all the universe . {αβγδ} . The Apostles were ordained Princes by the hand of God : Princes which have not onely under them some Townes , and Nations , {αβγδ} , but such unto whose care the whole world was trusted . So farre that Father . And if wee doubt that their authority fell short in any thing of their commission : the same good Father in the same place , will informe us otherwise . For making a comparison betweene Spirituall and Civill dignities , hee calleth the office of an Apostle Chrys . ibid . {αβγδ} , a spirituall Consulship , {αβγδ} , the most spirituall of all powers or governments ; and finally , {αβγδ} : the head , the roote , nay the foundation of all spirituall dignities of what sort soever . Doubtlesse the Father had good reason for so high an Eulogie . When Christ affirmed , Sicut misit me Pater , Joh . 20.21 . that as his Father sent him , so sent hee them : He said enough to intimate that supreme authority which he had given them in the Church whether it were in preaching of the Gospell , in founding Churches , Constituting , and ordaining Pastors , or whatsoever else was necessary for the advancement of his Kingdome . For by these words , as Cyrill hath right well observed , Cyril . in Ioh . Evang . l. 12. {αβγδ} , he did ordaine them for to be guides , and teachers unto all the world , & the dispensers of his holy mysteries , commanding them not onely to enlighten the land of Jewrie , but all the people of the universe : as also giving them to understand that it was their duty , {αβγδ} , to call the sinners to repentance , to heale all those that were afflicted , either in body or in soule , in the dispensing of Gods blessings ; not to follow their owne will , but his that sent them : and in a word , as much as in them was , {αβγδ} , to save the world by wholsome doctrines , for to that purpose was he sent by his Heavenly Father . And so we are to understand Saint Chrysostome , when he tels us this , that Christ invested his Apostles with the like authority as he received from his Father . {αβγδ} . Hom. in Joh . c . 20.21 . Calv . in Ioh . Calvin affirmes as much or more upon those words of our Redeemer . Quare non abs re Christus cum Apostolis suis communicat , quam à Patre autoritatem acceperat , &c. But this authority of theirs will be seen more cleerly , when we behold it in the practice , and execution .

Five things then of necessity were to concurre in the making or constituting of an Apostle , truly and properly so called : first an immediate call from Christ himselfe : secondly , an Autopsie , or eye-witnessing of those things which they were afterwards to preach or publish of him : thirdly , their neernesse of accesse : fourthly , the latitude of their Commission : fifthly , and finally , the eminence of their authority . Of these the first were common with them unto the rest of the Disciples ; save that the calling of the Apostles to that charge , and function doth seeme to be more solemne , and immediate . But in the rest , which are indeed the speciall or specificall differences , they had no co-partners . This made them every way superiour unto the rest of the Disciples , although all equall in themselves . Though in the calling of those blessed spirits to that great imployment , there was a prius and posterius ; yet in regard of power & authority , there was neither Summum , nor Subalternum : And howsoever Peter be first named in that sacred Catalogue ; yet this entitleth him to no more authority , above the rest of the Apostles , then Stephen might challenge in that regard above the residue of the Seaven . Saint Cyprian did resolve this cause many hundreds since ; assigning unto all the 12. a parity of power and honour . Cyprian lib . de unitate Eccles . Hoc erant utique & caeteri Apostoli quod fuit Petrus , pari consort●o praediti , & honoris & potestatis ; sed exordium ab unitate proficiscitur . Where cleerly there is nothing given to Peter , but a priority of order ; a primacie if you will , but no supremacie . Neither doth Barlaam give him more , though he inscribe his booke , de Papae Principatu . Barlaam de Papae principatu . {αβγδ} , &c. The Apostles , all of them saith hee , in matters which concerned the Church , were of equall honour . If Peter had preheminence in any thing , it was that in their sacred meetings he first brake the businesse , {αβγδ} , and peradventure also had the upper place in the assemblies of that goodly fellowship . But what need Cyprian , or Barlaam come in for evidence , when as wee find this parity so cleerly evidenced in holy Scripture ? In the immediatenesse of their calling , and their accesse unto our Lord and Saviour , they were all alike . Hee that called Peter from his nets , called also Matthew from the receit of custome . If onely Peter , and the sonnes of Zebedee were taken with him to mount Tabor Mat . 17.1 . there to behold the glory of his Transfiguration ; or chosen from amongst the rest to attend his person Mark . 14.33 . when he went out into the Garden of Gethsemane : this makes as much for the supremacie of the sonnes of Zebedee , as the sonne of Jona . Their mission , and commission were alike to all . He that said Ite & docete , Goe into all the world and preach the Gospell to every creature , spake it indefinitely to every one ; not unto Peter only , as the supreme Pastor ; from whom the rest were to receive a delegated and confined autoritie . Neither had hee so often beene molested with that needlesse question , which of them should be greatest in their Masters Kingdome : had he before determined of it , and setled the supremacie in Saint Peters person . And as for those prerogatives , of Tibi dabo claves , Pasce oves meas : which being spoken unto Peter , may seeme peculiarly to belong to him : the Fathers say , that nothing did hereby accrew to Peter , but what was common to the rest . August . lib . de Agon . Christian . c . 30. Ecclesiae enim claves regni coelorum datae sunt . Et cum ei dicitur , ad omnes dicitur , Amas me ? Pasce oves meas : as Saint Austin states it . But what need more be said to affirme this point , then that of our most blessed Saviour , when he encouraged them to perseverance with this heavenly cordeall , that they should sit upon Mat . 19.28 . twelve Thrones , judgeing the twelve Tribes of Israel ? In which most gracious words of his , as the sitting of the Apostles shewes authority ; their sitting upon thrones , an eminence of power ; their sitting to judge , a power and exercise of jurisdiction ; and their sitting thus to judge the twelve Tribes of Israel , the universality and extent of their jurisdiction : so doth their sitting on twelve thrones , singuli in sua sede , Iansen . harm . Evang . in locum . as Jansenius hath it , intimate an equality of jurisdiction , a parity in point of power .

But to proceed . Our Saviour finding that the harvest was great , and the labourers as yet but few , and that his houre was now at hand , Luk . 10.1 . appointed other seventy also , and sent them two , and two before his face , into every City and place , Vers . 9. whither he himselfe would come . To them he gave authority to proclaime , and publish to the people , that the Kingdome of God was come nigh unto them : Vers . 17. giving them also power to heale the sicke , and to cast out Devils , as hee had formerly to his Apostles . So that there is no question to be made , but that they were intrusted with a part of this sacred Ministery , but whether in an equall ranke we shall see anon . In the meane time if any question should be asked who these Seventy were , and by what names called ; we answer , nondum constat , that we cannot tell . Hist . Eccles . lib . 1. c . 12. α . Eusebius as great a searcher into the monuments of antiquity , as the Church ever bred , professeth plainly , {αβγδ} , that he could never meete with any list or catalogue of them . Some he had taken up on heare-say , as Barnabas , Sosthenes , Cephas , Matthias , after chose into the place of Judas , and Thaddeus . Ap. Euseb . hist . l. 1. c . 33 . {αβγδ} . Papias mentioneth Aristion , as another of that number also . And Epiphanius In Panar . l. 1. haeres . 20. n . 4. addes to these , Stephen , and the residue of the Seven , Marke and Luke , two of the Evangelists , Justus , who stood in competition with Matthias , together with Apelles , Rufus , and Niger , whose names accurre in holy Scripture . These are the most that there is any ground for , in antiquity . As for the Catalogue of their names and actions fathered on Dorotheus Bishop of Tyre : there is not any thing more false & fabulous : that Rhapsodist thrusting into that Catalogue , many who were converted by the Apostles , after Christs ascension . Insomuch as Estius in Rom. c . 16. Estius worthily complaineth , eos fere omnes qui à Paulo in hoc capite nominantur , aut salutantes , aut salutandi , that all the men whose names occurre in the 16. chapter to the Romans , are by him thrust into the Catalogue of the Seventy Disciples : not to say any thing of those many other absurdities , which hee hath noted in that Bedroll .

As for the number of Seventy , why our Redeemer pitched on that , there is not much dispute amongst the learned . Tertul . contr . Marcion . l. 4. Tertullian , who had fitted ( as before wee saw ) the number of the Apostles , to the twelve fountaines in Elim ; doth also proportion the number of these Disciples , ad arbusta Palmarum , unto the number of the Palm-trees , that grew thereby . But this being onely in the way of Allegorie , we shall passe it over : onely reserving the Application made by Hierome for a little longer . That which commeth neerest the matter , and is agreed upon almost by all sorts of writers , is that our Saviour in this choyse , related to the Seventy Elders interessed in the government of the tribes of Israel : mention of whom is made , Num . 11.16 . Ezek . 8 11. Calv . in harmon . Evan . Calvin amongst the rest gives this reason of it , In numero septuaginta videtur eum ordinem secutus esse , cui jam olim assueverat populus : and addes withall another note , which may well serve to reconcile the difference about this number , which is betweene the Greeke , & the Latine copies . For the Greeke copies have it generally , {αβγδ} , that hee appointed other seventy also , as our English reads it . The Latine no lesse generally : Designavit & alios septuaginta duos , that he sent out other seventy two : which reading doth occurre in Hieron . in canone Lucae . Hierome , In Evan . l. 2. cap . 14. Austin , and some others . I know indeed , Beza in Annot . in Luc . 10. Beza doth put an handsome slurre on the Latine Copies , and thinkes that some poore ignorant scribes ( Librarii indocti , as he cals them ) abbreviating the word discipulos into dlos : others as ignorant as they , out of dlos read duos , and so found seventy two Disciples instead of seventy . But surely those renowned Fathers Hierome , and Austine , were no such Babies : not to say any thing of Beda , and the rest that followed . And therefore since it is agreed on , that these Disciples were proportioned to the number of the Elders of the Tribes of Israel : wee must first find what was the number of those Elders , before wee can agree upon the other . Now for the number of those Elders , the Scripture saith expressely , they were seventy two , as may appeare by comparing the 25. verse of the 11. of Numbers , with the 26. in which wee find that there were seventy Elders gathered about the Tabernacle , besides Eldad , and Medad in the Camp . For making up this number , as afterwards in the translation of the Bible , there were sixe chosen out of every Tribe , {αβγδ} , as Ioseph . Ant Iudaic . l. 12. Josephus hath it , which commeth to seventy two in all . But both the seventy two Elders , are generally called the Seventy ; as the Translators of the Bible are called the Septuagint ; both of them ad rotundationem numeri : even as the Magistrates in Rome were called Centumviri , though being three for every tribe , they came unto an hundred and five in all . And this is that which Calvin . in harm . Evang . ut s●pra . Calvin hath observed in the present businesse : viz. that the Consistorie of the Jewish Judges , to which the number of the Disciples is by him proportioned , consisted of no lesse than 72. though for the most part , ut fieri solet in talibus numerus , they are called the 70. So then to reconcile the Latin with the Greek Originall , there were in all 72. Disciples , according to the truth of the calculation : and yet but seventy in account , according to the estimation which was then in use . And therefore possible the Church of England , the better to comply with both computations ; though it have seventy in the new Translations , yet still retaines the number of seventy two , in the Gospell appointed for Saint Lukes day in the booke of Common-Prayer confirmed by Parliament .

This being the number of the Disciples , it will then fall out , that as there were six Elders , for every Tribe ; so here will be sixe Presbyters or Elders , for every one of the Apostles . For those which have compared the Church of Christ which was first planted by the Apostles , with that which was first founded by the Lord himself : resemble the Bishops in the Church to the twelve Apostles ; the Presbyters , or Priests , unto the Seventy . Which parallell how well it holdeth , and whether it will hold or not , we shall see hereafter . Meane while it cannot be denyed , but that the Apostles were superiour to these Seventy , both in place and power . The Fathers have so generally affirmed the same , that he must needs runne crosse unto all antiquity that makes question of it . The Councell of Neocaesarea , which was convened some yeares before that of Nice , declareth that the Chorepiscopi , which were but Leo Ep. 88. Presbyters in fact , ( though in title Bishops ) {αβγδ} , were instituted according to the patterne of the Seventy . Concil . Neocaesar . 1. Can . 13. Saint Hierome , in his tractate ad Fabiolam , speaking of the twelve fountaines of Elim , and the seventy Palmes that grew thereby , doth resolve it thus , Nec dubium quin de duodecem Apostolis sermo sit , &c. It is not to be doubted , but that the Scripture speaketh here of the twelve Apostles , the waters issuing from whose fountaines have moistned the barren drinesse of the whole world ; and that the seventy Palmes that grew thereby , are the teachers of the second ranke or order : Luca testante duodecem fuisse Apostolos , & septuaginta Discipulos minoris gradus : Saint Luke affirming that there were twelve Apostles , and seventy Disciples of a lower order , whom the Lord sent two and two before him . In this conceit , Saint Ambrose led the way before him , likening unto those Palmes the Seventy , qui Secundo ab Apostolis gradu , who in a second ranke from the Apostles , were by the Lord sent forth for the salvation of mankind . Serm . 24. Epist. 5. Damasus their co-temporarie doth affirme as much , viz : non amplius quam duos ordines , that there were but two orders amongst the Disciples of Christ , viz. that of the twelve Apostles , and the Seventy . Theoph . in Luc . 10. Theophylact concurres with Hierome in his conceit about the twelve fountaines , and the seventie Palme trees : and then concludes , that howsoever they were chosen by Christ , {αβγδ} , yet were they inferiour to the twelve , and afterwards their followers and schollers . Adde hereunto the testimony and consent of Calvin . in Institut . l 4 c . 3. ss . 4. Calvin , who giving the preheminence unto the Apostles , as the chief builders of the Church ; addes in the next place the Evangelists , such as were Timothy and Titus , & fortassis etiam septuaginta Discipuli , quos secundo ab Apostolis loco Dominus designavit : and peradventure also the seventy Disciples , whom Christ appointed in the second place after his Apostles . Besides , Ep. ad Oceanum . S. Hierome giveth it for a Maxime , Qui provehitur , de minore ad majus provehitur , that he which is promoted , is promoted from a lower ranke unto an higher . Matthias therefore , having beene formerly of the Seventy , and afterwards advanced into the ranke and number of the Twelve , in the place of Judas : it must needs follow that the twelve Apostles shined in an higher sphere than these lesser luminaries . Now that Matthias had before bin one of the seventy , appeareth by the concurrent testimonies of Euseb . lib . 1. Eccles . Hist . c . 12. & l. 2. cap . 1. and of Epiphanius contr . haeres . 20. n . 4. to whom , for brevity sake , I referre the Reader . And this the rather , because the Scripture is so full & pregnant in it ; it being a condition , or qualification , if you will , required by Act. 1. v. 21. S. Peter , in those that were the Candidates for so high a dignity , that they accompanied the Apostles all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out amongst them . And that we know none did , but the Seventy onely . So then it is most cleare , and manifest , both by authority of Scripture , and consent of Fathers , that our Saviour instituted in his Church two rankes of Ministers , the one subordinate unto the other : and consequently , laid the first foundations of it , in such a Fatherly , and moderate imparity , as bound all following times and ages , that would not willingly oppose so Divine an ordinance , to observe the like .

And yet it is not to be thought , that this superiority thus by him established , doth contradict those other passages of holy Scripture , wherein he doth prohibit all dominion over one another . They much mistake the businesse who conceive it so . The Jewes in generall , and all the followers of Christ particularly , expected that the promised Messiah should come with power , restore againe the lustre of the Jewish Kingdome , and free them from that yoke and bondage , which by the Romans had beene laid upon them . We thought , 24.21 . said Cleophas , that this had beene hee that should have delivered Israel . And what hee thought , was solemnely expected by all the rest . Act. 1.6 . Domine , si in tempore hoc restitues regnum Israel , Lord , say they , even in the very moment of his Ascension , wilt thou at this time restore againe the Kingdome unto Israel ? Upon which fancie and imagination , no marvell if they harboured some ambitious thought ; every one hoping for the neerest places , both of power and trust about his person . This was the greatnesse which they aimed at : and this our Saviour laboured to divert them from : by interdicting all such power and Empire , as Princes , and the favorites of Princes have upon their vassals . Mat . 20.25 . Luk . 22.25 . Yee know ( saith hee ) that the Princes of the Gentiles exercise Dominion over them , and they that are great exercise authority upon them : Vobis autem non sic , But so it shall not be amongst you . Where plainly it appeares , both by the text and context : first , that this strife and contestation was onely amongst the twelve Apostles ; and therefore howsoever it may prove that there was to be a parity or equality amongst themselves , yet it will never prove , but that they were , and might be still superiour unto the Seventy . And secondly , that Christ our Saviour doth not prohibit them the use and exercise of all authority , on those who were inferiour and subordinate to them ; but onle such authority as the Princes of the Gentiles , and the great Lords and Ministers about them did exercise upon their subjects . The power and government of the Apostles in the Church of Christ was meerly {αβγδ} , such as a Father beareth unto his children : but not {αβγδ} , a Lordly , and imperious rule , such as a Master exerciseth on his slaves and servants : 1 Pet . 5.3 . Not as Lords over Gods inheritance , 2 Cor . 2.24 . but as the helpers of their joy , say the two Apostles . And herein stands the difference , according unto that of Chrysost . in oper . imper . in Mat . hom . 35. Chrysostome , Principes mundi ideo fiunt , ut dominentur minoribus suis , The Princes of the earth were made to this end and purpose , that they might Lord it over their inferiours , and make them slaves , and spoyle them , and devour them , abasing them unto the death , for their owne profit and glory : Principes autem Ecclesiae fiunt , &c. But the Governours or Princes of the Church were instituted to another end . viz. To serve their inferiours , and to minister unto them all such things , as they have received from the Lord .

This eminence and superiority over all the Church , which was thus settled in the Apostles by our Lord and Saviour , will appeare more fully , if we consult the severall ministrations committed unto them , and to them alone . For unto them alone it was , that Christ committed the whole power of preaching of his holy Word , administring his blessed Sacraments , retaining and forgiving sinnes , ruling and ordering of his flocke : giving them also further power of instituting , and ordaining such , by whom these severall offices were to be performed till his second comming . None but the Twelve were present with him , when hee ordained the blessed Sacrament of his body and blood : and unto them alone was said Luk . 22.19 . Hoc facite , do this : i.e. take bread , and breake , and blesse it , and distribute it , in remembrance of mee . To the eleven alone it was that he gave commission to Mat . 28.19 . go into all the world and preach the Gospell to all creatures , baptizing them in the name of the Father , Sonne , and Holy Ghost . They onely had that powerfull & immediate mission , Joh . 20.21 . Sicut misit me Pater , As my Father sent mee , so send I you ; and upon them alone he breathed , saying , Joh . 20.22.23 . Receive the Holy Ghost : whose sinnes you do remit , they are remitted unto them ; and whose sinnes you do retaine , they are retained . Finally , they , and none but they were trusted with the feeding , and the governance of the Flocke of Christ , ( the word {αβγδ} in the Greeke doth imply them both ) for howsoever Joh . 21.15.16 . Pasce oves meas , was in particular spoken to S. Peter ; yet was that charge incumbent on them all , as before wee noted from Saint Austin . By all which passages and texts of Scripture it is cleere and manifest that the Apostles were by Christ ordained to be the sole and ordinary Teachers , Bishops , and Pastors of the Church , next and immediately under his most blessed selfe , who still continueth Heb . 13 20. {αβγδ} , the great Shepheard of the Sheepe , as Paul ; 1 Pet . 2.25 . the Shepheard and Bishop of our soules , as Saint Peter cals him . The Seventy had no part in this new Commission , the dispensation of the word , and Sacraments , but at second hand ; as they were afterwards intrusted with it , by the holy Apostles , either as Prophets , Presbyters , or Evangelists , according to the measure of the Grace which was given unto them : or specially designed to some part therein , after the Ascension of our Lord and Saviour , by the immediate designation of the Holy Ghost . And when they were entrusted with a part thereof , yet were they still secundi Ordinis , Ministers of a second ranke , inferiour unto the Apostles , both in place and power , to whom all latitude of power was given . Nay , the Apostles tooke an hint from this different mission , to institute two severall sorts of Ministers in the Church of Christ : the one subordinate unto the other , as were the Seventy unto them . And this by vertue of these words in their Commission , Ita mitto vos ; i.e. as the Arch-Bishop of Spalato very well applyeth it , Sicut ego à Patre habui potestatem eligendi Ministros , De Repub . Eccl. l. 2 c . 3. n . 7. etiam diversi ordinis , ita & vos pariter habeatis . As I received power from my heavenly Father , of instituting Ministers , even of divers Orders , so I give it you . And therefore whatsoever the Apostles did therein , they did it after Christs example , and by his authority : and consequently , the imparity of Ministers by them ordained , was founded on the Law of God , and the originall institution of our Saviour Christ , by whom the power of Ordination was to them committed , and by them unto their Successours in the Church for ever .

To bring this Chapter to an end , our Saviour Christ having thus furnished his Apostles with those severall powers , faculties , and preheminences which before wee spake of ; he thought it best to recommend them to the blessings of Almighty God , whose worke they were to goe about . And therefore being to take his fare-well of them , did in a very solemne manner bestow his benediction on them . Luk . 24.50 . Elevatis manibus suis benedixit eis , He lifted up his hands , and blessed them , as Saint Luke hath it . Which benediction Saint Austin takes to be a consecrating of those holy men unto the power and dignity of Bishops . Aug. quaest. N. Test . qu . 14. Ipse enim priusquam in coelos ascenderet , imponens manum Apostolis , ordinavit eos Episcopos : as the Father hath it . Which whether it were so or not , I meane so done with such an outward forme and ceremony , and in that very point of time , is perhaps uncertaine : But sure I am , that for the thing it selfe , which is here delivered , the Fathers , many of them do agree with Austin ; affirming , passim , in their writings , that the Apostles were made Bishops by our blessed Lord . Saint Cyp . lib . 3. Ep 9. Cyprian voucheth it expressely . The Deacons ought to understand , quoniam Apostolos , i.e. Episcopos , & Praepositos Dominus elegit , that the Lord Christ himselfe did choose the Apostles , that is , the Bishops and Rulers of the Church : and that the Apostles after his ascension did ordaine the Deacons to be the Ministers of their Episcopall function , and the necessities of the Church . Ambros . in 1. ad Cor : c . 12 Saint Ambrose doth affirme the same , Caput itaque in Ecclesia Apostolos posuit , &c. Christ , saith he , made the Apostles the head ( or supreme Governours ) of his Church , they being the Legats or Ambassadours of Christ , according unto that of the Apostle , 2 Cor . 5.20 . And then he addes , Ipsi sunt Episcopi , that they were Bishops . In Comment . in Ephes . 4. More plainly in his Comment on the Ephesians , Apostoli Episcopi sunt , Prophetae , explanatores Scripturarum . The Apostles , saith he , are Bishops , and Prophets , the expositors of Scripture . But because question hath beene made , whether indeed those Commentaries are the workes of Ambrose , or of some other ancient writer ; he tels us in his notes on the 43. Ps. that in those words of Christ , Pasce oves meas , De Repub . Eccles . l. 2. c . 2. n . 4. Peter was made a Bishop by our Lord and Saviour . Significat Ambrosius Petrum Sacerdotem , hoc est , Episcopum electum , illis verbis , Pasce oves meas : as the place is cited by the Arch-Bishop of Spalato . And thus Saint Chrysostome speaking of the election of the Seven , Chrys . hom . 14. in Act 6. saith plainly , {αβγδ} , that then there were no Bishops in the Church , but onely the Apostles .

But what need more be said in the present businesse , than that which is delivered in the holy Scripture , about the surrogation of some other in the place of Judas : Act. 1.20 . wherein the place or function of an Apostle is plainly called Episcopatus ; Episcopatum ejus accipiat alter , let another take his Bishopricke , as the English reads it . His Bishopricke , Chrys . hom . 3. in Act. 1. i.e. saith Chrysostome , {αβγδ} , his principality , his Priesthood , the place of government that belonged unto him , had he kept his station . A text most plain and pregnant as the Fathers thought , to prove that the Episcopall dignity was vested in the persons of the Lords Apostles . The Comment under the name of Ambrose , Ambros . in 1 ad Cor . c . 12. which before we spake of , having said , Ipsi sunt Episcopi , that the Apostles were Bishops , addes for the proofe thereof these words of Peter , Episcopatum ejus accipiat alter . And the true Id. Serm . 50. Ambrose saying of Judas , that he was a Bishop [ Episcopus enim & Judas fuit ] addes for the proofe thereof the same very text . Finally , to conclude this matter , Saint Cyprian , shewing that Ordinations were not made Nisi sub populi assistentis conscientia . lib . 1. ep . 4. without the privitie of the people , in the Jewish Church , addes that the same was afterwards observed by the holy Apostles , Quando de ordinando in locum Judae Episcopo ; when Peter spake unto the people , about the ordering of a Bishop in the place of Judas . But for a further proofe of this , that the Apostles were ordained Bishops by our Lord & Saviour , we shall see more hereafter in convenient place Vide chap. 6. n . 12. when wee are come to shew , that in the government of the Church , the Bishops were the proper Successors of the Apostles ; and so esteemed to be by those , who otherwise were no great friends unto Episcopacie . In the meane time we may take notice of that impudent assertion of Johannes de Turre cremata : viz. Quod solus Petrus à Christo Episcopus est ordinatus : Lib . 2. Summae de Eccl. c . 32. ap . Bell . de Rom. Pont. that Peter , onely Peter was made Bishop by our Saviour Christ , and that the rest of the Apostles received from Peter their Episcopall consecration : wherein I find him seconded by Dominicus Jacobatius , lib . 10. de Concil . Art. 7. A paradoxe so monstrous and absurd , that howsoever Bellarmine doth reckon it amongst other the Prerogatives of that Apostle , in his first Booke de Romano Pontifice , cap . 23. yet upon better thoughts , he rejects it utterly in his 4. Book upon that argument , Cap. 22. and so I leave it .

Thus having showne in what estate the Church was founded by our Saviour , and in what termes he left it unto his Apostles : we must next see what course was tooke by them to promote the same ; what use they made of that authority which was trusted to them .