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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A00283	A briefe and plaine declaration, concerning the desires of all those faithfull ministers, that haue and do seeke for the discipline and reformation of the Church of Englande which may serue for a iust apologie, against the false accusations and slaunders of their aduersaries.	Fenner, Dudley, 1558?-1587, attributed name.; Fulke, William, 1538-1589, attributed name.; Travers, Walter, 1547 or 8-1635, attributed name.	1584 (1584)	STC 10395; ESTC S111889	54,423	158

Archipresbyter Archiepiscopus Archiepoimen and suche like do properly agree For as the Apostle calleth our Sauiour Christe in this place the chiefe Pastor So in the second Chapiter the 25. vers he calleth him both the Pastor and Byshop of our soules Wherefore as he onelye is oure chiefe Pastour or Archiepoimen so is hee also our onelye Archbyshoppe And that the name of Archipresbyter or chiefe of Elders pertayneth tono mortall man may bee seene by this place where Saint Peter that excellent and high Apostle who if anye man coulde might as well as anye haue challenged that name durste not call him selfe other then Sunpresbyteros a fellowe Elder no not when hee sought authoritie to him selfe by that name to be bold to exhort the Elders of the Church But least any man shoulde thinke wee staye onely in names and tearmes which are not so greatlye materiall let him consider that Sainte Peter expresly forbiddeth the Elders to exercise Lordship ouer their seuerall congregations how much more ouer their fellowe Elders Which thing also our Sauiour Christ precisely forbiddeth when there was a contention among his Apostles about the prymacie The kings of the nations haue dominion ouer them and they that beare rule ouer them are called gratious Lordes or beneficiall but you shall not be so Also Math. 20. 25. and Mark 10. 41. vpon the ambitious request of the sonnes of Zebedy and the disdaine of the other against them The Princes of the Gentiles exercise Lordship ouer them and they that be great exercise authoritie ouer them but it shall not be so amongst you but who so will be great amongst you let him be your Minister and he that will be first among you let him be your seruaunt The same thing he taught by his example when hee washed his Apostles feet and commanded them to shew the like humilitie one towarde an other which were all brethren which he their Lord and maister shewed towards them Also Math. 23. 8. c. he forbiddeth all ambitious Titles of Rabbi Maister Father c. the reason hee addeth for you are all Brethren For these names agree properly to God Christ. For the greatest dignitie of an Ecclesiasticall person is a ministery and not a lordship S. Ioh. also in his third epistle sharply reprooueth Diotrephes because he was Philoproteuon one that desired the primacie in the Church Howbeit in this case we must take heede that we spoyle not the ministers of the church of al their lawfull authoritie For although these testimonies of scripture directly condemne the authoritie of one Pastour aboue an other yet neither do they set euery pastour at libertie by him selfe to do what they list without controlment nor yet doe take away the lawful authoritie he hath ouer his flocke but that imperious and pompeous dominion which is meet for ciuill magistrates and great Potentates to exercise in worldly affayres otherwise in respect of their lawfull authoritie they are called by the Apostle in his Epistle to the Hebrewes Guides such as are appoynted to ouersee the flocke with authority and vnto them submission and obedience is commaunded in the same Chapiter verse 17. Other names are applied to them in the Scripture but they bee for the moste parte more generall pertaining to all kinde of Teachers in the Church of GOD both in the time of the Lawe and of the Gospell as Seers Prophets VVatchmen Angelles Labourers Builders Stewardes and such like all which with many other serue to expresse some parte of their office as their knowledge their diligence their authority their faithfullnesse their discretion also the necessity of them the commoditie that commeth by them c. But concerning the names of Pastours as they are a speciall office in the Church this maye suffise But for as muche as we haue vndertaken so to describe a Pastour and and his office as all other offices of the Church may be described therewith wee must not staye onelye in the name but set foorth also the whole substaunce of the person For which intent it shall bee necessarye for vs to consider a Pastour or Bishop these two wayes in the proper function of his Ministerye and in gouernement with his Elders By which we shall vnderstande how this Ministerye ought to bee refourmed and restored amongest vs. As touching his office something hath beene sayde before generallye vnder the description of his seuerall names But now more particularlye wee must examine what belongeth to his charge The Pastor must be limitted to one onelye congregation of such competent number as he if hee be but one or if they be two may be sufficient to the instruction of all and euerye member of the same Church And first he may no more lawfully haue charge of two or three churches then he can be possibly in diuerse places No more then a sheephearde of whome he taketh his name may haue the leading of sundrie flockes in diuers places neither maye he be absent from his charge with better reason then a shepheard from his flocke As for substitutes or● hyrelinges will not bee allowed in this case for Pastors are substitutes of God and haue an office of credite committed vnto them therefore by no good reason may they make any substitutes in their place or commit their charge vnto an other The law of a man grounded vppon good reason alloweth not substitutes of substitutes nor committing ouer of an office of credite in temporall matters How shall God almighty then take it in good part when the flocke of Christe which he hath purchased with his own bloud shal be so greatly neglected to the endaungering of their euerlasting saluation Therfore the ordinaunce of God is that the Pastor should attend vnto his peculiar flocke That Elders should be ordayned in euery Citie Towne and other places Tit. 1. 5. and Act 14. 23. The Apostles ordeined Elders in ●uery Church of Derbe Lystra Iconi●m and Tichia and all the Congrega●●ons about Secondly the office of Pastors is ●ot onely to teach the same truth in ●heir seuerall flockes but also to ap●ye it to the time and persons of ●home they haue charge with ex●ortation and reprehension with ●onsolation of the afflicted threat ●ing of the obstinate c. This in ●we wordes is set foorth by S. Paule ●●eaking of the diuerse Gifts of God 〈◊〉 his Church hee saith Whether it ●●e hee that teacheth in his Doctrine 〈◊〉 hee that exhorteth in his exhortati●● The Doctour therefore teacheth ●ithout exhortation The Pastor tea●heth and exhorteth withall More 〈◊〉 larg he setteth forth the same offi●● in his exhortation vnto the Past●rs of Ephesus willing them to folow ●●s example whoe supplied that of●●ce vntill they were able to succeed 〈◊〉 his Place Also very breifly and yet fully hee describeth the same vnto Timothy shewing first that al his foundation must be out of the scriptures which were sufficient for all parts o● his charge

we finde in the worde of God certayn Officers appoynted for gouernmente vvee are bolde to affirme that that charge belongeth vnto those that are such And that doth S. Paule playnely declare where hee putteth a difference of the seuerall offices of the Church whereof hee nameth Gouernors for one 1. Cor. 28. 29. and Rom. 12. 8. Let him that ruleth doe it with diligence Therefore there ought to be in euery Church a Consistory or segnorye of Elders or gouernors which ought to haue the hearinge examination and determining of all matters pertaining to Discipline and Gouernement of that Congregation which authoritye of theirs neuerthelesse ought to be moderated that their iudgment may be rightly accounted the iudgement of the holy Church Which thing consisteth in these two pointes First that the Elders bee elected and chosen by consent of the whole Congregation men of Godlinesse and Wisedome in whome the whole Churche reposeth such confidence that they commit vnto them their authoritye in hearing determining such matters as without horrible confusion they cānot perform themselues And hereto also may be referred that which is sayde of Election of Pastours that the Apostles Paul and Barnabas did ordain by Election of the congregation Elders vnto many Churches Actes 14. 23. because the name of Elders is common to both to Pastors and Gouernors and is vsed in the Scripture to comprehend both at once as it appeareth manifestly by S. Paul 1. Tim. 5. 7. Those Elders that gouern well are worthy of double honor especially those that labour in the word and doctrine Of which testimonie we learne these three things First that there bee Elders in the Church which meddle not with teaching but are occupied altogether in gouerning Secondly that the Elders which labor in teaching otherwise called Pastors are ioined also in gouernment with them which teach not And thirdlye that the name of Elder comprehendeth both sorts of Elders And especially in the place before alleadged for election ther is great reason to lead vs to think that the elders for gouernment are as wel vnderstood as the other for doctrin because it is writtē in the same place that after they had ordeined them Elders in euery congregation by election as hauing set the Churches in perfect order which could not be except thei had established discipline as wel as doctrine they cōmitted thē to the Lorde in whome they beleeued The second point for moderation of the elders authority in such sorte that their sentēce may be the sentēce of the Church is this that when the cōsistory hath traueled in examining of causes pertaining to Ecclesiasticall Discipline and agreed what iudgement ought to passe vpon the matters they propound it to the whole multitude that it may be confirmed by their consent Wherof S. Paul speaketh touching the execution of Excōmunication because the fact was manifest Whē you are gathered together with my spirit in the name of our Lord Iesus Christ and with the power of our Lord Iesus Christ to deliuer such a one vnto Sathan Nowe therfore to● prooue that there ought to be a Consistory of elders in euery Church for gouerning of the same It is manifest by the cōmandemēt of our Sauior Christ touching him that despiseth pryuate admonitiō If he hear not them tel the congregation if hee hear not the congregation let him be vnto thee as an heathē publicane Verily I say vnto you whatsoeuer you shall bind vpon earth shall be bound in heauen In which saying of our Sauiour Christ this worde Congregation is not so largely taken as in other places for the whole multitude but for the chosen assembly of elders For our sauiour Christ in that worde alludeth vnto the assembly of elders that was amōg the Iews which they called but corruptlie of a greeke worde Synedrion which signifieth a Counsell or Consistory Sanedrin which had the hearing and determining of all difficult and waightie matters among the Iews the like wherof hee willed to be established in his Churche for administration of gouernment For seeing it was first instituted by God for gouernement of his Church in the olde lawe as hath beene shewed before out of Num. 11. 6. although it was shamefully abused by the wicked Iewes our sauiour Christ trāslateth it into his Church also in the new Testament and the name of Elders doth moste aptlye agree vnto them that bee gouernours in the Church now euen as it did to the ancients of Israel so that the Pastors seme to haue borrowed the name of Elders speciallye in respect of their gouernment The name of this consistory also in the new Testament we finde to be agreable with that of the Iewes whereof our sauiour Christe speaketh when he sayth Tell the congregation or assembly S Paule 1. Tim. 4. 14. Dispise not the gift which was giuen thee thorough prophecie with imposition of handes of the Eldership where the greeke word is Presbyterion the assemblie or Consistorye of the Elders Which worde is vsed also by Saint Luke in his Gospell speaking of the consistory of the Iewish Elders Luke 22. 66. As soone as it was daye the whole Eldership or assemblie of Elders came togeather both chiefe Priestes and Scribes and brought him into their counsell In which saying their counsel Synedrion is called Presbyterion Also Saint Paule Act. 20. 5. that he had beene a persecutor of christians taketh witnesse of the high priest and of the whol consistory of Elders vsing the same word Presbyterion By which it is euident that our sauiour Christ by this word Ecclesia in that place meaneth a consistory or assemblye of Elders whose authoritie he doth ratifie with such power that whatsoeuer is bounde or loosed by them on earth in the feare of God and with heartie prayer the Lord will bring it to passe yea he him selfe will be in the middest of them as President of their counsell to direct their consultations to the glory of God and the profite of his owne Church Therefore in euery Church there ought to be a consistory of Elders or Gouernours which with the Pastor may take charge of Ecclesiasticall discipline and good order to bee obserued in the church to the punishment of vice and the aduauncement of true vertue These if they gouerne well as Saint Paule doth testifie are worthy of double honour both that honour which is due to Godly men and that which is due to good gouernours How necessarye it is that Discipline shoulde be in the Church to keepe men in awe from offending and to bring offenders to repentaunce to auoyde the infection of sinne within the Church and the reproche that groweth by neglecting the punnishment of sinne among them that are without the Church We thinke it needlesse to stande long in proouing the matter of it selfe is so apparaunt and hath such plentifull testimonies in the scripture And especially let the reasons of Saint Paule 1. Cor. 5.

fellow poore which are more impotēt thē they as it was vsed in the Primatiue Church And aboue all thinges to beware of them that walke disorderlye and labour not if they be able Of which kinde of people when there is so greate multitudes in this land that they doe euen ouerflowe the Countryes and haue beene knowne to bee practizers of greate matters agaynste the state It is maruayle that neither by politique nor by ecclesiasticall Lawe they are broughte into order and sette to laboure or else as Saynt Paule prescribeth so that they shoulde not eate vntill they bee willing to labour 2. Thes. 3. 10. But now to return to the Election of Deacons Concerning the form of chusing of Deacons we may reade at large Actes 6. that they were chosen by consente of the vvhole Churche and hadde the approbation of the Apostles And because wee maye not thinke there was anye confusion in that blessed companye wee muste needes confesse that vvhich hath beene before declared that there were euen in that assemblie and firste Churche at Hierusalem certayne elders appoynted which in the name and by the consente of the rest had the disposition of suche matters as appeareth by manie places of the Actes of the Apostles where the Elders are named with the Apostles As Actes 15. 4. 12. c. but especiallye concerning this matter of the distribution vnto the poore we reade that when the Church of Antiochia was so wel disposed as to make a collection to bee sente vnto the poore Brethren that dwelt in Iury they sent vnto the Elders by the handes of Barnabas and Saule Actes 11. 30. By vvhich it appearethe that the Elders had the disposition and appoynting of suche as shoulde destribute it vnto the Congregation which were the Deacons For it is agreeable to reason that hee that should doe any seruice in the name of all should be chosen and approued by the consent of all For the Regiment of the church as it ought to bee furthest of from all Tirannye so ought it to be as farre from Confusion and disorder Tyranny is auoyded when no one man contrarie to the ordinaunce of Christe shall presume to doe anye thing in the Church without the aduise and consent of others that bee Godlye and vvise and authorized by the consent of the Church Confusion is preuented by the graue counsayle and orderlye assemblye of Elders vnto vvhome the Churche hathe committed her authority By this it maye easily appeare vvhat great defaulte there is in our Church where those that are sayde to be ordeined Deacons neuer purpose in their life to execute any part of a Deacons office neither are chosen for that end but only that within a short time after they may bee made Priestes or ministers nothing in the worlde differing from the superstition of Popery where the office of Deacon was conferred onely as a step vnto priesthood As though it were necessarye that euerye one which is ordayned an Elder shoulde first be a Deacon and yet when he is made a Deacon hee is but an Idoll yea scarse an Idoll of a Deacon hauing no resemblaunce at all vnto a Deacon indeed but that he is a man This prophaning of Gods institution God will not alwayes suffer vnpunished especially when it is not maintained of ignoraunce or infirmity but defended against knowledge and vpon wilfulnesse Therefore the Collectors are more like to deacons a great deal then those that the Byshops make Deacons For first they haue after a sort election of the Church whereas the other haue but the approbation of one man And secondly they gather and distribute the common almes vnto the poore which the other neuer think of But yet we may not allow them for lawfull Deacons indeede because they are not alwayes endued with suche qualities as the Apostle requireth 1. Tim. 2. For they ought to bee men of good estimation in the Churche full of the holy Ghost and of wisedome that should be chosen Acts. 6. For as it is an office of good credit so ought the person to bee of good reputation Therefore saith S. Paule that Those Deacons that Minister well doe get them selues a good degree and great liberty in the faith which is in Christ Iesus Insomuch that S. Paule him self doth salute in speciall wordes the Deacons next to the Byshops or ouerseers in the Churche of Philipi Wee reade also what worthye men were chosen to be the first Deacons as Stephen the first Martyr and Philip which afterwarde was an Euangelist when the Churche was dispersed thoroughe the persecution raysed aboute Stephen So that euery ignoraunte contemptible personne is not to bee allowed vnto this office but as Godly wise and vvorshipfull as maye conuenientlye bee founde in the Congregation maye not thinke them selues too good to minister vnto Christe in his members and in the name of the Churche The Election also of oure Collectours is too Prophane for so holye an Office Wee maye reade in the Historye of the Actes Actes 6. with vvhat grauitye reuerence and religiousnesse the Apostles ordayned Deacons vvith Prayer and Imposition of handes For these and suche like causes althoughe the ordinarye Collectors haue some resemblance with the Deaconship of the church yet wee cannot in all poyntes allowe them for Deacons whose office truely consisteth onelye in ministration vnto the poore as wee haue shewed in that they bee Deacons Wee haue declared before that there is a double authority of the Pastour the one ioyned vvith the Elders of the Churche vvhereof hee is Pastour the other vvith the Synode or holy assembly whereof he is a member Of the former wee haue intreated hitherto Nowe it followeth that wee speake of the latter There aryseth oftentimes in the Church diuerse Controuersyes which cannot bee othervvise expressed pertayning to the state of the vvhole Churche then by a generall assemblye of all the Pastoures of that Churche vvhich is called a Synode or generall Counsayle Also there bee diuerse cases vvherein the seuerall Churches are driuen to pray the ayde of the Synode vvhere matters can not bee determined among them selues For this cause the Holye Ghoste hathe ordayned these Holy assembles with promise that they being gathered together in the name of Christe he him selfe will bee among them With the Synode the Pastour hath authority to determine concerning regiment of the Church Wherefore we haue to enquire of what persons a Synode doth consist For which intent wee finde in the history of Act. 15. 6. that when a cont●ouersie arose concerning the Ceremonies of the Lawe whether they were to bee vsed by those Christians that were conuerted of the Gentiles The Apostles Elders came together to consider of this matter and that the people was not excluded appeareth by the 12. verse the whol multitude being perswaded by the argumentes alleaged by Peter helde their peace and quietly hearde Paule and Barnabas declare what signes wonders God had wrought by them amongest the

finde in euery place So that Ieroboam neuer made worse Priestes of the refuse of the people to serue his Golden Calues then they haue ordayned Ministers to feede the Flocke of Christe which hee hathe purchased with his owne bloude This complaint we confesse is greeuous but the indignity of the matter inforceth it We know that vaine excuses shall not be wanting of necessity c. But if necessity compelled thē to take such at the first what necessity compelleth them to suffer them to bee such still For if they woulde needes admit ignoraunt persons to that charge yet should they haue enforced them to study as wel as to other thinges they haue inforced them vnto that in time they might haue growne to be meete for their calling Which if they had done in 10. 12. or 13. yeeres space a great many might haue proued excellētly well learned and able to serue in the Church with great fruit and profit and the rest according to proportion of their time might haue come to some mediocrity in knowledg wheras nowe as ignoraunt and as vnfit as they were the first day so are they still for the moste parte and will so continue to theire liues ende if they may be suffered in idlenesse as they haue beene hitherto Then it is a torment to thinke what ambitious suing what enuious labouring what vnseemelie flattering what prodigall bribing is vsed to attayne to greate dignities in the Church to farre vnmeete for the modesty and grauitye that shoulde be in Christian preachers And as for the inferior benefices from the fattest Parsonadge to the poorest Vicaradge almoste if it bee worth 40. pounds by the year what Symonicall bargains of leases Annuities Reseruations exhibitions yea notwithstanding the Act of Parliament Anno. 13. by Antedates and other subtil conueyances what christian heart can think of them without detestation of such horrible abuses Shall we speak here any thing of the popish priesthood the greatest blasphemy that euer was how long was it allowed for a lawfull ministery vntill by the Godlye meaning of the sayde Parliament some brandmarke of shame was set vppon it But howe pitifullye that authority was abused which was by the same statute committed to the bishops in allowing of priests that came to doe their penance by negligence of the bishops bribery of their Officers the country crieth out of it and the state of the church is little amended by it Old Sir Iohn Lacklatin that had not seen some of his benefices a dosē yeare before was carried aboute on his Mare and sometimes on a Cart First to the bishop whom he chose if he might for his purpose such one as had bene a priest of his owne order and cared leaste what ministers serue in his Diocesse and then from Shire to Shire one distant an hundred mile from another mumbling vp his Articles in his morowmasse voice in euery Church where hee had liuing and returned as very a beaste as hee came But this and all other inconueniences before rehearsed shoulde vtterlye bee auoyded if wee mighte once establish the lawfull election of Pastours according to the word of God It were also greatly to bee wished that it might bee broughte to passe that in euery Congregation there shoulde be two pastors at the least both because the charge is great and also for supplying the lack of the one if the other were sicke or absent vppon necessity or any such like case Which thing were both agreeable to the example of the Apostolike Churche and also verye profitable for the Congregation Wee doe not meane this in euerye Parish as they bee nowe distinguished but in euery Congregation as they may be disposed both for best edifying and also for sufficient liuing for the Pastors It will bee obiected when we haue all thinges at our pleasure concerning the Election of Pastors yet will there creepe in many abuses Wee answere they shall not so soone nor so easily nor so many abuses creepe in as nowe at wide Windowes yea great port-gates doe throng in But if as many or more abuses if more coulde bee were crept in yet were the case better then it is now for we shoulde be sure that God approoueth our order though he condemn the abuses because it is grounded vpon Gods worde whereas now he abhorreth both But of the authority that Pastors haue as members of the Synode we haue spoken hitherto sufficiently By which it is euidēt how all things haue beene corrupted in Poperye which had at the first any good institution which corruptions we also retaine at this day without desiring of any refourmation For to begin first with our particuler Synodes good lord what a mockery they are of law ful synodes beeing holden for no other ende almoste but to gather vp fees both ordinary extraordinary with dayly newe deuises to poll the poore Priestes of their mony which they extort for seeing the Letters of orders for Dynners and suche like matters And yet a newe inuented pyllage vvhereby they compell men to buy Bookes of them for 4. pence or 6. pence which are to deare of a peny or two pence and not onelye suche small Ware but also greate bookes beeing such as euerie parish is appointed to buy must be bought of them for two or three Shyllinges in a Booke dearer then it may bee bought in Paules Church-yarde yea otherwhiles though the Parish bee furnished of them alreadye they are not authenticall except they be boughte at Master Chauncellers and Officiall at Master Regesters hands As for refourmation of any thing in the Churche there are indeede many presentments and men sworn to presente matters but little or none amendmente at all doth followe So that it is a common saying in the Countrie when the presentment is once receyued they shal neuer heare more of it Soone after the Visitation or Synode the petitbribing Sumner rideth foorth laden with Excommunications which hee scattereth abroad in the Country as thicke as Haileshot against this parson and that Vicar this Church warden and that Side-man whome hee himselfe when he came to summon him to the Synode for a Cheeze or a Gammon of Bacon had vndertaken to excuse for none apparaunce But when he is once Excommunicated there is no remedy but hee must trudge to the Chauncelour or Officiall for absolution who after hee hath once absolued his Purse of a fewe Groates giueth him his blessing and sendeth him away And this is the image of our litle or particuler Synode Our generall Conuocations haue a more shevve of good order but in effect little better For firste they are stuffed full of Popish and prophane Chauncelloures and other Lawyers which beeing meere laye men and vnlearned in Diuinitie by their owne Lawe ought to be no members of the Synode And yet these will beare the greatest sway in all thinges The Byshops as though they were greater then the Apostles must haue their seuerall couuenticle wheras the Apostles and elders came

together with the whole multitude Actes 15. And as they are seuered in place so will they bee higher in authoritie So that whatsoeuer is decreed amongest them that must bee called the determynation of the whole Synode So that no manne muste bee suffered to speake anye thinge agaynste it bee it neuer so reasonable or agreeable to the vvorde of GOD yea vvhosoeuer vvill not subscribe to all suche thinges as they decree muste bee excluded out of the Conuocation as vvas practized and threatened in the Conuocation at the foresayde Parliamente vnto diuerse Godlye and learned Preachers that offered to speake agaynste dyuerse grosse and palpable erroures that had escaped the Byshoppes decrees As for the distinction of Canonicall and Apocriphall bookes for explication of the clause in the article of Predestination where it is sayde that the elect may fall from Grace and such like matters If this bee not to practise Lordshippe ouer our faith to set downe decrees of Religion which must bee accepted of all men without eyther reason or testimony of the Scripture to prooue them and no man permitted to shew anye reason or Scripture that inforceth his Conscience to the contrarye but onely to hang vppon the authority of bishops Let some other declare what Paul meaneth 2. Cor. 1. 4. where he denieth that he woulde excercise any Lordship ouer the faith of the Corinthians For although their decrees were neuer so perfect yet it were an example of tyrannicall Dominion neither to giue reasons to satisfie the ignoraunt them selues nor to hear or cōfute that which might be alleaged against them by others but for a few lordbishops in comparison of all the conuocation to sit by them selues order all thinges at their pleasures as though the Gospell sprang firste from them or had come vnto them only it sauoreth of nothing so much as of popish tyranny Whereas otherwise it is well knowne they are not al of the best learned nor all of longest study nor all of soundest iudgement nor all of greatest zeale nor all of best example and therfore not meetest to be the onely determiners in Ecclesiasticall matters to the preiudice of the whole synode Wherefore it is greatly to be desired that our synodes also which are so farre out of order maye be refourmed according to the scripture and the example of the primitiue Church that all thinges may be done with such modesty grauitie iudgement as they were by the Apostles and Elders Act. 15. And now that we haue set forth the whole Ecclesiasticall ministerye according to the word of God with all the duties authoritie that pertayneth vnto it the place requyreth that we should also intreat of the authority of the ciuil Magistrate in matters ecclesiastical Of the title of the princes supremacie if it be truly vnderstood we moue no contronersie but that it doth properly apperteine to the ciuil magistrat to be the highest gouernor of al persons within his dominion so that the soueraign Empyre of God be kept whol But herein resteth all the doubt howe this is truely to be vnderstoode that shal we best vnderstand by the contrarie namely by the vsurped tiranny of antichrist For antichrist did challenge vnto himselfe al authority both that which is proper to god that which is cōmon to men Therefore that the pope claimed to be that only head of the church frō which the whol body receiued direction was kept in vnity of faith This was blasphemous against Christ therfore may not be vsurped by any Ciuill magistrate no more thē by the pope Likewise wher hee challengeth authoritye to alter change dispence with the cōmandement of god to make new articles of faith to ordain new sacramēts c. this is also blasphemous and ought not to be vsurped of any ciuil prince On the other side where he challengeth authority ouer all princes so ouer al the clergy that he did exempt them from the ciuil iurisdiction this is contumelious iniurious against al christian kings And therfore euery prince in his own dominiō ought to cast off the yoke of his subiection and to bring al ecclesiastical persons vnto his obedience and iurisdiction Here haue we the first part of the title of supreame gouernment ouer al persons In matter or causes ecclesiastical likewise the pope doth not only presume against god as we said before but also against the lawfull authority giuen by God vnto men For he forbiddeth princes to medle with reformation of Ecclesiasticall matters or to make anye lawes pertayning to causes of religion answering them that those things do appertain onlye to him the general counsel But when he cōmeth to debate anye thing with his clergy then al laws knowledge are enclosed in the closet of his brest When any generall counsel must be holden all that they doe receiueth authoritie from him For except he doe allowe it is nothing And he is so wyse that neyther with the councell nor without the counsell he can erre or thinke amisse in matters Ecclesiasticall wheras it is not onely lawful but also necessary for Princesse if they will doe their dutie to looke to the reformation of religion and to make lawes of matters Ecclesiasticall but so that we confounde not the offices of the Prince and the Pastour Eor as it is not lawfull for the Prince to preach nor administer the Sacramentes no more is it lawfull for him to make lawes in Ecclesiastical causes contrarie to the knowledge of his learned Pastors For as these three partes of a pastors dutie are graunted to him by God preaching ministring of sacraments and Ecclesiasticall gouernment he maye no more take from a Pastor the third then he may the two first By this it appeareth how farre it is lawful for Princes to intermedle with causes Ecclesiasticall namelye that it is the chiefest poynt of their dutie to haue especiall regarde that God may be glorified in their dominion and therefore they ought to make ciuill lawes to binde the people vnto the confession of true faith and the right administring and receiuing of the sacramentes and to all ecclesiastical orders that they beeing instructed by the worde of God thorow the ministerie of the preaching of the same shall vnderstande to bee profitable for edifying of the church of Christe and the aduauncement of the glory of God If any shall offende against the laws whether he be preacher or hearer beside the ecclesiasticall censure which he shoulde not escape he is also to be punished in bodye by the ciuill magistrate This we see that all christian Emperours obserued that when anye controuersie arose either of doctrine or of order and ceremonies they commaunded the Cleargie to consult determine thereof according to the scripture who assembling togeather incounsel obeyed their commandement Their conclusion then by authoritie of the Emperour was commaunded euerye where to be obserued and those that impugned it to be punished the same order we