John (1 Epist. iv. 1) saith: _Believe not every spirit; but try the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets are gone out into the world_. But by what Church, but that to which that epistle was written? In like manner St. Paul (Gal. ii. 14) reproves the Churches of Galatia, because they Judaized; although they seemed to do so by the authority of Peter. For when he had told them, that he had reprehended Peter himself in these words: _If thou being a Jew, livest after the manner of Gentiles, and not as do the Jews; why compellest thou the Gentiles to live as do the Jews_: not long after he questions them, saying (Gal. iii. 2): _This only would I learn of you: received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?_ Where it is evident, that it was Judaism which he reprehended the Galatians for, notwithstanding that the apostle Peter compelled them to Judaize. Seeing therefore it belonged to the Church, and not to Peter, and therefore also not to any man, to determine what doctors they should follow; it also pertained to the authority of the Church of Antioch, to elect their prophets and doctors. Now, because the Holy Ghost separated to himself the apostles Paul and Barnabas by the imposition of hands from doctors thus elected, it is manifest, _that imposition of hands and consecration_ of the prime doctors in each Church, belongs to the doctors of the same Church. But _bishops_, who were also called _presbyters_, although all presbyters were not bishops, were ordained sometimes by _apostles_; for Paul and Barnabas, when they had taught in Derbe, Lystra, and Iconium, ordained _elders_ in every Church (Acts xiv. 23): sometimes by other bishops; for Titus was by Paul left in Crete, that he should ordain _elders_ in every city (Tit. i. 5). And Timothy was advised (1 Tim. iv. 14) _Not to neglect the gift that was in him, which was given him by prophecy with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery_. And he had rules given him concerning the election of _presbyters_. But that cannot be understood otherwise, than of the ordination of those who were elected by the Church; for no man can constitute a doctor in the Church, but by the Church’s permission. For the duty of the apostles themselves was not to command, but to teach. And although they who were recommended by the apostles or presbyters, were not rejected, for the esteem that was had of the recommenders; yet seeing they could not be elected without the _will_ of the Church, they were also supposed elected by the _authority_ of the Church. In like manner ministers, who are called _deacons_, were _ordained_ by the apostles; yet _elected_ by the Church. For when the seven deacons were to be elected and ordained, the apostles elected them not: but, _look ye out_, say they (Acts vi. 3, 5, 6), _among you, brethren, seven men of honest report, &c.: and they chose Stephen, &c.: and they set them before the apostles_. It is apparent therefore by the