Of the Primitive Order and Government of the Church. The first Popish Encroachment upon it, backed with Forgery. The Detection of the Fraud in the Sixth Council of Carthage.

It is S. Cyprian's observation, that our Saviour, in the first Foundation of the Church, gave his Apostles equal honour and power, saying unto them, Whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whose soever sins ye retain, they are retained, Cyprian. Tract. de Simpl. Prælator. The place has been tampered with, but unsuccessfully: For though they have thrust in other words into the Fathers Text, in some Editions of their own; yet in others they are left sincere: As Dr. James in his corruption of the Fathers, Part. 2. Cap. i does well observe. But the most remarkable attempt of the Papists is, that whereas they have set a Tract concerning the Primacy of the Roman Church before the Councils, containing many Quotations out of the Bastard Decretals, which they pretend to be extracted, ex Codice antiquo, out of an Old Book, without naming any Author; closing it with this passage of S. Cyprian, they leave out these words of Scripture, Whose soever sins ye remit, &c. as rendring the Fathers Testimony unfit for their purpose. You may see it in Binius his Collection of the Councils, &c.

When the Apostles had converted Nations, they constitutedBishops, Priests, and Deacons, for the Government of the Church; and left those Orders among us, when they departed from the world.

It was found convenient also for the better Regiment of the Church, when it was much inlarged, to erect the Orders of Archbishops, and Patriarchs.

The Patriarchs being Supreme in their several Jurisdictions, had each of them many Primates and Archbishops under him, with many Nations and Kingdoms allotted to their several Provinces; every of which was limited in it self, and distinct from the residue: as appeareth in that first Oecumenical Council assembled at Nice, An. Dom. 327. where it was ordained, Can. 6. that the ancient custom should be kept; the Jurisdiction of the Bishop of Rome being expresly noted to be equal to that of the other Patriarchs.