Section 12

Your next section has more pomp of reading in it than the rest, but to as little purpose, I shall trouble you with neglecting it; we cannot anger a gay man more than in passing by him unseen. My ground was, that our Bishops differ not in respect of any spiritual power, from that which was delegated from Apostolic authority, to Timothy and Titus; you spend your time in proving that they differ in their employment, in secular and state affairs; but, I ask, is this difference, or fault universal, or not? Surely, you cannot say they are all thus misemployed; and if not, why is this blame cast upon all? Why should the calling, and others' innocence suffer? My cause shall yield you your postulate herein, and be no whit the worse; it is true the ordinary managing of secular affairs is not proper for a Bishop: Chrysostom's counsel, Julian's practice, Constantine's bounty, Cyril's insolent pomp, the Roman Bishops degenerating into a secular principality, Cyprian's grave limitation, the just inhibitions of many Canons, are of an undoubted truth; and we could easily (if need were) add many more to these, and tell you of those [illegible] that must upon the Apostolic Canons be avoided by sacred persons, and the rigorous charge of Cyprian against Geminius Victor, for ordaining Geminius Faustinus, a Presbyter, but the Executor of his last will; with many other the like instances; but what are these to the work in hand? Two exceptions must necessarily be admitted; the one of extraordinary occasions, and services, as when a Prince, or state, having had good proof of the abilities of an Ecclesiastical person, shall think fit (as now it is done in this great Northern negotiation) to call for his counsel, or to employ his present agency, for a time, in some main business that may import the public good, and safety of the Church, or Commonwealth, so Saint Chrysostom once; so Saint Ambrose twice, was employed in Embassage from the Emperors: the very trade of tent-making did as much take up Saint Paul for the time, as a state-employment might have done; and how many have we known, that have (not unprofitably) professed medicine both for soul and body; and done much good in both? The other, of a charitable interposition in matters of difference for peace and reconciliation; and composing of the unkind quarrels of dissenting neighbors, wherewith Saint Ambrose and Saint Augustine were so extremely taken up, that the latter makes no little complaint of the importunity of those continual interpellations; such, as both his morning studies were distracted by them, and the afternoon wholly spent in them: and he professes he could not have the opportunity of opening his estate, and heart to Bishop Ambrose, by reason of that continual audience of causes, daily brought before that great Prelate: surely, if the charity of more of ours have not rendered them more guilty of secularity, in this kind, than the supposed ambition of others, there will be no cause why our Bishops, and the Bishops of former times should be two.