No one is so little versed in the History of the Church, as not to know, that in the Three first Centuries of the Christian Religion, married and unmarried Men were indiscriminately raised to the Episcopal, and every other Ecclesiastical Dignity; nay, _Jerom_ writes, that in his Time, that is, in the Fourth Century, the former were, the most part, preferred to the latter, not in regard of their greater Merit, but because, in such Elections, the unmarried Men were outnumbered by the married, who chose to be governed by one in their own Station of Life[1246]. It is hence manifest, that Marriage was not thought, in _Jerom_’s Time, inconsistent with, or any Bar to, the Episcopal Dignity. And why should it? since, excepting St. _John_, the Apostles themselves were all married, as we are told, in express Terms, by _Ignatius_ the Martyr[1247], who was their Contemporary and Disciple, and whose Authority ought, on that Consideration, to be of greater Weight than that of all the other Fathers together. _But such of the primitive Clergy_, says _Bellarmine_[1248], _as were married before their Ordination, abstained ever after from the Use of Matrimony: let our Adversaries produce, if they can, but a single Evidence of a Presbyter or Bishop’s having any Commerce with their Wives_. It lies upon him to shew they had not. We know nothing to the contrary, and therefore may well suppose, that, pursuant to the Advice given by the Apostle to all Husbands and Wives, _they came together_ after Ordination as they did before, _lest Satan should tempt them for their Incontinency_. [Sidenote: _Celibacy recommended by the Fathers_:]