The Preface. F cular, which are of principal confideration in the De- clenfionofthe Churches from their Primitive Inífitution, Order and Rule. And I. It is evident, that there was an Alteration made in the frate ofthe Church as to its Officers. For it ilfuedat lafr in Topes, `Patriarchs, Cardinals, aletropelitan, and Diocefan Bifhops, who were utterly forreign unto the State andOrder of the PrimitiveChurches, and that for fòme Ages. Nor were there Officers introduced into the Ghurch at one, or in one Age, nor with the Powers which they afterwards claimed and affúmed unto them- felves. It was donegradually in many fucceedingAges, working by a Defign to accommodate the State of the Church, unto the Political State of the Empire in the diffribution ofits Government. 2. The 'Beginningsof this great Alteration were finall, nor at all perceived in the days wherein they were firft aced. Nor is it agreed, nor as far as I fee, will it ever be agreed among Learned Men, when firft a Diffiarity among the ordinary Officers of the Church, in Order, Degree or Power did firft begin, nor by what means it was brought about. The Apofiles were all equal among themfelves, noone had either Office or Ofce-Tower a- bove others. So were all the ordinary Bifhops andPref-' titers mentioned in theScripture, as fhall be proved af- terwards ; No intimation is given of any Preheminence or Superiority amongff them, ofone over others. Yet afterwards in the third and fourth Centuries, much of that nature appears. It begins to be granted that the `Bifhops and Elders mentioned in the Scripture were the fame, and that there was no difference in Name, Office, or Power, during the Apoffles times, which was the Judgment ofHierome, and our Author feems to me to be
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