114 THE FOURTH SUPPOSITION. proper sense; but in a larger and improper sense both might be so styled. Indeed, that St Paul was in someacception [acceptation] bishop of Rome, that is, had a supreme superintendence or inspection of it, is reasonable to affirm, because he for a good time resided there, and during that residence could not but have the chief place, could be subject to no other. " He," says St Luke, " dwelt two whole years in his own hired house, and received all that entered in unto him, preaching the kingdom of God, and teaching those things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ with all oonfidence, no man forbid- ding him," Acts xxviii. 30, 31. It may be [might have been] inquired, if St Peter was bishop of Rome, howhe became such? did our Lord appoint him such? did the apostles, all or any, constitute him? did the people elect him? did he put himself into it? Of none of these things there is any appearance, nor any probability: non constat. SUPPOSITION IV. They affirm, That St Peter continued bishop of Rome after his translation, and was so at his decease. Against which assertions we may consider, - 1. Ecclesiastical writers affirm that St Peter, either alone or to- gether with St Paul, constituted other bishops; wherefore St Peter was neverbishop, or did not continue bishop there. Irenæus says that " the apostles founding and rearing that church, delivered the episcopal office into the hands of Linus. "1 If so, how did they retain it in their own hands or persons? could they giveand have?* Tertullian says that " St Peter ordained Clement."' In the Apostolical Constitutions, a very ancient book, and setting forth the most ancient traditions ofthe church, the apostles ordering prayers to be made for all bishops, and naming theprincipal, reckon not St Peter, but Clement : " Let us pray for our bishop James, for our bishop Clement, for our bishop Euodius," &c. These reports are consistent, and reconciled by that which the Apostolical Constitutions affirm, that " Linus was first ordained eE(t E.roiaaYTEÇ ory xai olxo0olo eavTEÇ al (.EaxLapra1 á,rSçr,Xor , , ixocTmaíav, Aívá , is iaraxoor;,ç ñ.firTOupyíaV iYE,Y,EÌP /aaY. Iren., apud Euseb. v. 6. That is, could they both give and have the office at the same time ?En. = Romanrum ecclesim Clementem a Petro ordinatum edit.Tert. de Prcescr. xxxii. Ex quibus electum magnum plebique probatum, Hac cathedra, Petrus qua sederat ipse, locatum Maxima Roma Linum primum considere jussit.Tert. [Poem.] inMarc. iii. 9.
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