The naked truth. Or, the true state of the primitive Church / By an humble moderator [i.e. H. Croft].
- Herbert Croft
- Date:
- [Printed in the year 1675]
Licence: Public Domain Mark
Credit: The naked truth. Or, the true state of the primitive Church / By an humble moderator [i.e. H. Croft]. Source: Wellcome Collection.
75/84 page 63
![SSS ee pe ction into all, and underftand the behaviour of cach Paftor under him, to admonith and chaftife when there was caufe. whereas with us partly by great diftance of Cities , partly by the favour of former Princes, fevera] Towns being caft‘into one Diocefs, they became fo large, as tis impoflible any one Bifhop. fhould have a fufficient infpetion into them, As I faid before of great. Parifhes fo bereof Diocefles , the Bifhop knows not the names nor faces of halfjor a quarter of ther, much ‘lef their behaviour she may have as wella part of France inhis Diccefs to govern. And: as for their Triennial and Circuity Vifitations, they fignihe juft nothing as to this, tis a meer money bufinefs to pay procurations to the Bifhop , fees to Chancellors, Regifters,&c. the Bithop indeed ufually makes a Speech unto them , and a Sermonis preach’t by fome one of them » Wherein’ perchance g00d Admonitions are given; but what knowledge can the Bithop by this have of thcir lives, or doctrine, or diligence? Ifhe continue long there he may learn a few more names or faces, fearce any thing more. “J humbly ‘conceive this ought to be redreffed, and the Diocefs bronght into that com- pafs, that each Bifhop may bea Bifhop in Government, as well as in Title and Authority over them,. Butif the Dioceffes be divided lefs,and Bifhops more encréafed, where fhall we have maintenance for many Bifhops;fome having too little already > When ever I fhall ee the Clergy 6f this Nation Congregated by his Majefties Authority, refelved in 200d carneft to reform and eftablifh all according to the holy Conftitutions of the Primitive Times, ener éafing the Dioceffes,and Bifhops forthem, Fle undertake to propofe way¢s both rational and confcientious of providing convenient maintenance for all; but I defire to beéxcufed at prefent, leat} greedy Harpies make ill ufe of my zealous intentions. And fo Iproceed to confider a {econd abufe in Church Govetnment, whichis, Exempt Jurifdictions, a thing altogether unknown to Antiquity and brought in by Papal Tyranny. The Popes at the height of their ufurped dominion, taking upon themnfebves to behead of the ChriftianCh urches,/to be the Univerfal Bifhop thereof; and all other to ‘be butitheir Curates, took then upon them alfo,among other matters,to exempt fiom the power ofany their under Bifhops whomfover they Pleafed: And out of policyto-have the more Créatures and Vaffals immediately depending on | them/in ‘evety occalions,did for the moft part exempt all Monafteriescawho with their near tom the Purif diction of the Bifhop; they exempted alo feveral Deansand Chapterss.fe- veral peculiar Chappels, feveral Arch-‘Deaconries , and Other ) and fome of thefe were endowed ‘with Archicpifcopal Jurtdi@ion in their Precindts, wherein they acted whatever they-pleafed ,. without-controulof any ibut Pr](https://iiif.wellcomecollection.org/image/b30339431_0075.jp2/full/800%2C/0/default.jpg)
