[ 3 ] tOmortal Difcord, on pretence of being the only : way to Concord. Chrifi only is the Head, the King, and Law-giver, and·Judge of the whole World: The Law of Nature, and facred infpired Apofrolical Scriptures, are his only Univerfal ' Law. Pafiors by the Word, and Princes by the Sword (conjoyned where it may be) rule . under him only in their feveral Provinces.. God made the largenefs of the Roman Empire a Receptive Means of the happy propagation of Chrifiianity.. Mans nature is prone to felfiibnefs and ambition : By ·degrees thofe humours, and the Wifdom of theWorld, conformed the Epifcopal Government to the Civil, and made thofe Bifl1ops higheft, who dwelt in the Cities where the Secular Rulers were highefl:. The Churches had before ufed to ferve God in Concord, and to Affemble for Confulta– tion when Concord required it. The Emperors therefore exalted the great Bi!bops, not to Go– vern alone, but to prefide in thefe Affemblies. The fir 1 fi General ~ouncil had been called as a ra. tional means to cure the ibameful threatning Dif-. cords of the Churches, without the formal.ity of -any Prefident, fave the Emperor and a temporary Moderator : But three Patriarchs were foon fet up, apd after made five, and other BHhops in dif– ferent degrees of grandeur : The great and fha- , king dangers bred by Religious Faetions, were ordered to be .decided by Aifemblies pf Biiliops, when ,changes were made in the Cities of the Empire, the Rule of conforming the Church to the Civil Gov.ernment bred a competition be– tween Rome and Conffantinople, becaufe of the tranllating of the Imperial Seat. Th- grew l~igher an'ct higher; and whenever any Emperm· B 2 · . of
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