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.

Abstract

A defense of Downame's "A sermon defending the honourable function of bishops" (part 2 of his "Two sermons") against the anonymous "An answere to a sermon preached the 17 of April anno D. 1608, by George Downame". The first leaf is blank except for signature-mark "A". With a final errata leaf. Each book has separate pagination. Reproduction of the original in the Henry E. Huntington Library and Art Gallery.