A defence of the sermon preached at the consecration of the L. Bishop of Bath and VVelles against a confutation thereof by a namelesse author. Diuided into 4. bookes: the first, prouing chiefly that the lay or onely-gouerning elders haue no warrant either in the Scriptures or other monuments of antiquity. The second, shewing that the primitiue churches indued with power of ecclesiasticall gouernment, were not parishes properly but dioceses, and consequently that the angels of the churches or ancient bishops were not parishionall but diocesan bishops. The third, defending the superioritie of bishops aboue other ministers, and prouing that bishops alwayes had a prioritie not onely in order, but also in degree, and a maioritie of power both for ordination and iurisdiction. The fourth, maintayning that the episcopall function is of apostolicall and diuine institution.

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Author:	Downame, George, d. 1634.
Title:	A defence of the sermon preached at the consecration of the L. Bishop of Bath and VVelles against a confutation thereof by a namelesse author. Diuided into 4. bookes: the first, prouing chiefly that the lay or onely-gouerning elders haue no warrant either in the Scriptures or other monuments of antiquity. The second, shewing that the primitiue churches indued with power of ecclesiasticall gouernment, were not parishes properly but dioceses, and consequently that the angels of the churches or ancient bishops were not parishionall but diocesan bishops. The third, defending the superioritie of bishops aboue other ministers, and prouing that bishops alwayes had a prioritie not onely in order, but also in degree, and a maioritie of power both for ordination and iurisdiction. The fourth, maintayning that the episcopall function is of apostolicall and diuine institution.
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Print source:	A defence of the sermon preached at the consecration of the L. Bishop of Bath and VVelles against a confutation thereof by a namelesse author. Diuided into 4. bookes: the first, prouing chiefly that the lay or onely-gouerning elders haue no warrant either in the Scriptures or other monuments of antiquity. The second, shewing that the primitiue churches indued with power of ecclesiasticall gouernment, were not parishes properly but dioceses, and consequently that the angels of the churches or ancient bishops were not parishionall but diocesan bishops. The third, defending the superioritie of bishops aboue other ministers, and prouing that bishops alwayes had a prioritie not onely in order, but also in degree, and a maioritie of power both for ordination and iurisdiction. The fourth, maintayning that the episcopall function is of apostolicall and diuine institution. Downame, George, d. 1634. London: Printed by Thomas Creed, William Hall, and Thomas Snodham, 1611.
Subject terms:	Downame, George, d. 1634. -- Two sermons. Part 2 -- Early works to 1800. Answere to a sermon preached the 17 of April anno D. 1608, by George Downame -- Controversial literature -- Early works to 1800. Episcopacy -- Early works to 1800.
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Table of Contents

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title page

TO THE MOST High and mighty Monarch, Iames by the grace of God King of great Britayne, France and Ireland, defender of the faith, &c. All true happinesse and prospe∣ritie, in this life, and eternall felicitie in the life to come.

The Contents of this Booke.

The first booke treateth chiefly of Lay-elders.

The second Booke proueth that the Churches which had Bishops were Dioceses, and the Angels or Pa∣stors of them Diocesan Bishops.

The third Booke treateth of the superioritie of Bi∣shops aboue other Ministers.

The fourth Booke proueth the Episcopall function to be of Apostolicall and diuine institution.

An Ansvvere to the Preface.

THE FIRST BOOKE, TREATING CHIEFELY of Lay-Elders.

CHAP. I. Answering the Refuters Preamble.

CHAP. II. Diuiding the Sermon, and defending the first part thereof which he calleth the Preface.

CHAP. III. Defending the two first Sections concerning Elders.

CHAP. IIII. Containing my first Reason, why Lay-Elders are not pro∣ued, out of 1. Tm. 5.17.

CHAP. V. Containing my second reason, why Lay-Elders are not proued out of 1. Tim. 5.17.

CHAP. VI. Maintaining the third reason, that Lay-Elders are not men∣tioned nor meant 1. Tim. 5.17.

CHAP. VII. Ambros• in 1. Tim. 5.•. doth not giue testimonie to the Lay- that their exposition of Ambrose is vntrue.

CHAP. VIII. The proofe of their Exposition of Ambrose, disproued, and the reasos which I alleadged, why the Counsell of the Se∣niors, was neglected, defended.

CHAP. IX. Answering the testimonies which by the refuter are alleaged to proue Lay-Elders.

CHAP. X. Containing an answere to the same testimonies, and some other proofes, as they are vrged by other disciplinarians.

CHAP. XI. Answering the Allegations out of the Fathers, for Lay-Elders.

colophon

THE SECOND BOOKE, PROVING That the Primitiue Churches, in∣dued with Power of Ecclesiasticall Gouernment, were not Parishes pro∣perly but Dioceses; And that the Angels of the Churches, or ancient Bishops were not Parishionall, but Dio∣cesan Bishops.

The First Chapter entreating of the diuers acceptations of the words , Church, Diocesse, and that which is translated, Parish.

CHAP. IJ. Prouing by other Arguments that the ancient Churches which had Bishops, were not Parishes, but Dioceses.

CHAP. III. Maintaining the first Argument in the Sermon, pro∣uing that the seuen Churches of Asia, &c. were Dioceses.

CHAP. 4. That Presbyters were appointed, not to parishes, but to dioceses.

CHAP. V. Answering their obiection, who say, that in the first two hun∣dred yeeres, all the Christians in each great Citie, were but one particular congregation, assembling in one place.

CHAP. VI. Answering the Refuters arguments.

CHAP. VII. Prouing the third point of the Sermon, that the Bishops of the primitiue Church were Diocesan Bishops.

THE THIRD BOOK, prouing the superiority of Bishops aboue other Ministers.

CHAP. 1. Confuting the refuters preamble to the fourth point, and defending mine owne entrance thereinto.

CHAP. II. That Bishops were superior to other Mini∣sters in degree.

CHAP. III. Shewing wherin the superiority of Bishops did and doth consist: and first of the singularity of preeminence.

CHAP. IIII. That Bishops were superior in power, and first in the power of ordination.

CHAP. V. That Bishops were superior to other Ministers in the power of iurisdiction.

CHAP. VI Titles of honour giuen to BB.

THE FOVRTH BOOKE, Maintayning the fift point, that the Episcopall function is of Apostolicall and diuine Institution.

The I. CHAPTER: Prouing the Episcopall function to be of Apostoli∣call institution, because it was generally receiued in the first 300. yeeres after the Apostles.

The II. CHAPTER. Prouing the function of BB. to be of Apostolicall insti∣tution, because it was vsed in those times without their dislike.

The III. CHAPTER: Prouing that the Apostles themselues ordayned Bishops.

The IIII. CHAPTER. Shewing the Places where, and the Persons whom, the Apostles ordayned BB: but chiefly, that Timothie was B. of Ephesus, and Titus of Creet.

The V. CHAPTER. Answering the allegations out of Ierome.

The VI. CHAPTER. Prouing directly, that the Episcopall function is of Diuine institution.

The VII. CHAPTER. Defending the conclusion of the Sermon, and shewing that the chiefe Protestant writers did not disallow the Episcopall gouernment.

errata

Errata, In the first Booke.

In the second Booke.

In the third Booke.

The fourth Booke.