that so they may watch over them as those that must giue account for them unto God Act. 20.28 Heb. 13.17 1 Pet. 5.1 4. V. Neither can the Churches or members thereof be so well instructed governed and edified in faith and mutuall loue as if this order and practise be observed For which see also the Scriptures aforesaid and the like But if the church in any city be more large as often commeth to passe and is usuall in great cities then that it can conveniently and ordinarily meet together in one place then is it to be considered whether it should not be distinguished and distributed into divers particular Churches or parishes Which may everie one of them severally haue their owne peculiar place of meeting together their owne Pastour other ministers Elders and Deacons their ovvn meetings and all publick actions duly orderly performed among themselues for the reasons here before alledged and other the like To vvhich end may also be observed hovv at Ierusalem vvhere the great Synedrion of the Iewes was by the Lord appointed to be yet notvvithstanding there vvere in that one city many Synagogues And all the Synagogues also had their ovvn rulers ministers as may appeare by such other Synagogues as are particularly spoken of in the Scriptures Mar. 5 22. with Luke 4 16 20 31 33. and 12 11. and 21 12. with Mat. 10 17. and 23 34 Luke 13 14. vvith Act. 13 14 15. and 18 4 7 8 17. Here moreover about the estate and distinction of churches are two things carefully to be observed First As did the seuen churches of Asia c. Rev. 1 2 and 3 chap. that all particular churches vvith their Pastors as is noted here before do stand immediately under Iesus Christ the Archpastour vvithout any other straunge ecclesiastical power and authoritie interposed betvveen whether it be of the Prelates as of Diocesan Provinciall or Oecumenicall Bishops or of their unlawfull usurping Synods or any such like invented by men and brought into the church Secondly that notwithstanding the estate distinction aforesaid yet all the churches and ministers of them should be alway ready and vvilling with their mutuall ayde counsel assistance and all lawfull maanes to help comfort advise strengthen and build up one another in the truth vvhich is according to godlines in Iesus Christ Ephes 4.4 16. Rom. 12 3 8. 1 Cor. 12 4 27. Col. 2 5 19. and 4 16 17. Act. 15 2 23. with Psal 12 2 3. Sal. Song 8 1. c.. And so to this end and in this manner may be had a lavvfull and profitable use of Synods Classes Assemblies or Councels for mutual help advise in cases of question controversie and difficulties about religion to as alvvaies it be provided that they doe not challenge or usurpe any unlavvfull jurisdiction or power over the particular churches or their pastours and governours to whom their ovvn povver under Christ the Lord is alvvay to be reserved and to be kept whole and intier according to the vvord of God Like as may be seen in all the churches planted by the Apostles and particularly in those seuen of Asia standing not farre asunder to whom Christ vvrote his several letters directed to the Angels or Pastors of everie of them in particular and not to any one of the churches or Pastors more theÌ„ another as having authoritie over the rest nor to any Diocesan Provinciall or Oecumeniall Bishops set over the churches and Pastors thereof Which kind of Prelacie Office government if it had ben ordeyned by Christ and planted by the Apostles in those churches there had novv ben fit and necessarie occasion specially when Christ vvrote about the corruptions of those churches both to haue blamed those Bishops for neglect of their duetie as he doth the Angels of the particular Churches and to haue directed his letters unto them as being the next chiefest in ecclesiasticall authoritie under him to oversee and governe those churches if then there had ben any such among them by the ordinance of Christ Rev. 2 1.8.12 18. and 3 1.7 14. compared vvith ch 1.4.12.13.20 and vvith the estate and constitution of all other churches planted by the Apostles For vvhich see the Scriptures here beâ—â—â—â— alledged pag. 250. And of this also see more hereafter in the fift 〈…〉 here follovving If any aske to whom then the churches shal be subject if there be no Diocesan or other like Prelates set over them I answer that the churches and all the Officers members thereof are to be subject to the Princes States and magistrates under whom they liue according as the Apostles doe teach us saying Let every soul be subject to the higher powers c. Reâ— 13.1 Submit your selues to every ordinance of man for the Lords sake whether it be to the king as supreme or unto governours as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of evill doers and for the praise of them that doe vvell 1 Pet. 2 13 14. vvith Tit. 3 1. The magistrates are under the Lord to be the keepers of both the Tables of the Law of God To whom al persons ought to be subject euen for conscience sake to yeeld obedience unto them yet alwaies in the Lord and not against the Lord by any meanes Deut. 17 18 19 20 Rom. 13 1 7. with Mat. 22 21. Dan. 3 14 18. Act. 4 18 19 20. Rev. 12 10 11. CHAPTER III. Touching the right and power of particular churches VVHether †everie Church haue not right and power graunted by the Lord to chuse their ovvn Pastours other Ministers Elders Deacons and Deaconesses making choise of meet fit persons as also to * use the ministration of the vvord Sacraments Censures and vvhole ecclesiastical administration being careful stil to haue al things done according to the ordinance of God prescribed in his word Mat. 28 18 20. with 〈◊〉 Act 6 3 5. and 14 23. compared with Act. 1 15 23 26. and 2 41 42 46. 11 22. 15 22 25. 1 Cor. 16 3. 2 Cor. 8 19. Gal. 1 1. 1 Tim. 3 1 15. 5 9 10 11 17 â—2 6 13 14. Ezec. 33 2. Lev. 8 2 3 4 5. Num. 8 9. Deut. 1 13 16 18. with Joh. 13 20. 1 Cor. 4 1. 2 Cor. 5 19. Heb. 5 4. Also * Act. 1 2 3 14 15. 15 2 6 23 30 and 20 7 17 18. 21 18 23. Rom. 12 6 7 8. 16 1 2. Mat. 18 17 18 19 20. and 28 18 19 20. 1 Cor. 4 17. 5 ch 10 16. and 11 23 26. and 12 ch Epist to Timoth. Tit. Rev. 2 3 ch with 1 Tim. 6 13 14. I. Because the Primitiue churches planted by the Apostles had this right and power at the beginning as may be seen in the Scriptures here before alledged II. And the Congregation of Israel had of old likewise their right in the election of their officers and other such
4 11.28.32 l. 4. c. 1.4.5.19.22 Which is vvel to be noted for better observation how every church or parish had at the beginning their own Pastor or Bishop and hovv those Bishops were much unlike the Diocesan Provinciall and Oecumenicall Bishops had now a dayes who content not themselues with a parish or particular Church but chalendge by vertue of such office authoritie over whole Dioceses Provinces and the universall vvorld as in the apostasie of Antichrist may be seen And thus much by the way concerning the testimonie of the auncient writers in this behalf Which I leaue to be examined by the Scriptures as is aforesaid II. Secondly vvhere the order is observed vvhich is mentioned in the question here before there may the difference be kept both between the Pastors and Teachers offices and betvveen the offices of the Teaching and ruling Elders Ephes 4 11 12. and 1 Tim. 5.17 vvith Rev. 2.1 and Rom. 12.3 8. 1 Cor. 12.5.8.28 c. Which othervvise is either unknovven of many and so neglected or els is confusedly caried and corrupted sundrie vvaies III. A particular visible church may in the outward constitutioÌ„ there of be considered as a particular visible body Now a particular visible body hath a particular visible head Which also is such as cannot say to the feete or inferiour members I haue no need of you 1 Cor. 12.18 21. vvith Eâ—a 1 5 6. and Rom. 12.3 8. Col. 2.5 and 4.17 Rev. 2.1.8 c. and vvith the Epistles to Timothee and Titus And touching the vvord head thus taken and used in the Scripture for some chief member or members governor or governors or any persons and things vvhich excell or are before others in dignitie office age authoritie time place or any speciall excellencie see Exod. 6 14. 30.23 Numb 1.3 4.16 and 7.2 Deut. 20.9 and 28.13.44 Iosh 23.2 and 2â— 1. 1 Sam. 15 17. 2 Sam. 23 8 13 18. 1 Chron 9.10 13. and 24 4 6 31. Neh. 11 16. 12.7 12 22 23 24. Esa 1 5 6. and 7 8. and 9 14 15. and 29 10. Ezec. 21 26. and â—â— 2 and 40 1. Mic. 3 3 9 11. Ier. 13 21. 1 Cor. 12 21. And note that here I speak onely of particular churches as they are organicall and set in an orderly visible constitution and so of the outvvard order and divers functions set in the church by the Lord himself and that I speak not of the church as it is the mysticall body of Christ nor of the spirituall and quickning head of the church of all the members thereof wheresoever Which is Christ alone and unto whom alone this apperteyneth and to none other vvhosoever besides Eph. 1.22.23 4 15 16. and 5.23 Col. 1.18 and 2.19 1 Cor. 12.12 compared vvith Jer. 33.16 Note also hovv both auncient and later vvriters doe thus use the same word and likewise apply it Chrysostome speaking of the returne of the Bishop vvhen himself was an Elder at Antioch saith Blessed be God that hath restored the head to the body the Pastor to the sheep c. Chrysost homil 20. ad populum Antiochenum Basil vvriting to the church of Neocaesarea upon the death of their Bishop saith The church closeth her eyes the solemne assemblies look heavily the sacred Synedrion Presbytery or Eldership desire their head they that are in dignitie their leader the people their ruler Basil epist 62. ad Eccles Neocasarienâ— Among later vvriters D. Raynolds conferring with Hart saith We teach that * Apolog. Eccl. Ang. confes Helvet c. 17. Christ is the head of the church as he doth quicken it vvith his spirit as he is the light the health the life of it and is present alvvaies to fill it vvith his blessings and vvith his grace to governe it In the vvhich respects because †Ephes 1.22 and 4.15 and 5.23 Col. 1.18 and 2.19 and so the church his body the Scripture giveth the name of head to Christ alone by an excellencie thereof we so conclude that he is the onely head of the church For othervvise vve knovv that in another kind and degree of resemblance they may be called heads who haue anie preeminence of place or government over others As in the Hebrevv text we read ‡ Nehem 11.16 the heads of the Levites for the chief of them * 2 Chro. 31 10. the Priest the head that is to say the chief Priest After the which sort I wil not contend if you entitle Bishops heads of the churches as †In Apolog 2. Athanasius doth †In Regist lib. 4. epist 38. Gregorie vvhen he had named our Saviour Christ the head of the universall church he calleth Christs Ministers as it vvere heads Paul Andrevv Iohn heads of particular flocks yet members of the church under one head Rayn conference with Hart. chap. 1 Divis 2. pag. 20. And M. Iacob in his Attestation vvriteth thus hereabout M. Gabr. Powel maketh it an heresie in the Pope to hold as he doth that in the visible church there ought to be a visible head What doe I heare A visible Body instituted by Christ without a visible head A church and no Pastor A multitude to be governed and no Governour These are straunge assertions whosoever and hovv many soever doe affirme them For I graunt there are not a few others vvhich use so to speak But indeed there is no colour of truth nor reason in these sayings M. Iacobs Attestat ch 7. p. 113. And a litle after again What shall vve think Hath Christ left his body and dear spouse vvithout help vvithout government in such dayly and continuall necessities Or can an ordinarie body be governed vvithout an ordinarie head To use D. Bilsons vvords ‡ Perpet goâ— p. 37â— this vvere an heathenish if not a hellish confusion Ibid. p. 114. He also that vvrote the Manudunction hath the like when he saith A visible church must be considered as an integrall body which for the well being of it exercising those operations which belong unto it and vvhereunto in serveth must become as we say organicall having members of divers ranks some as head mouth and eyes the Pastor Teachers and Elders some as hands the Deacons and helpers c. Manuduct 2. pag. 33. IIII. Here moreover may be considered the order observed in the church of Israell so far forth as it was moral and concerneth particular churches the constitution of the Synagogues vvherein besides the other officers vvas * M. Brou on Rev. 9. and 14. p. 83. 223. M. Ainsw defence of Scrip. pag. 113. one vvhoÌ„ they called SHELIACH TSIBBVR the ambassadour or Messenger of the congregation To which or the like Christ might haue reference wheÌ„ he speaketh of the Angel of each particular church in Asia Rev. 2.1.8.12.18 and 3.1.7.14 And of the terme Angel ascribed to the ministers of the Lord see also Hag. 1.13 Mal. 2.7 where we find the Prophets and Priests in Israell called the
haue also shevved that euen the church of Rome is the church and Temple of God as Iudah likevvise and Israell of old vvere in the time of their apostasies How much more then should we so esteem of the church of England yea and of the Lutherans vvho haue in so many things novv left the apostasie of the church of Rome and haue received the doctrine of justification by faith in Christ alone vvith many other precious doctrines of truth that are yet still miserably depraved and corrupted among the Papists But hereupon some object and say If they be the church of God none may leaue them it is schisme for any to leaue those that are the churches and people of God and vvhy then doe you not continew Ministers and members there still c. First to this objection I haue ansvvered before pag. 116 c. To vvhich I referre the Reader as also to that which M. Iunius hath written concerning this matter as may be seen here before pag. 184 186. Secondly if this objection were sound then might none leaue the present estate of the church of Rome seeing they are the church and Temple of God as before hath ben declared Yet the men that doe thus object haue many of them left it themselues And M. Iunius shevveth that both these may stand vvel together to esteem it to be the church of God and yet to leaue forsake it in their estate yea that it is our duty so to doe But in deed to note this by the vvay wel may it be that some Protestant writers otherwise of great good judgment haue heretofore the more denied it to be the Church of God because they thought if that were granted it vvould then follow to be schisme for any to leaue it as the Papists themselues are vvoont usually to object But the consequence is not good as is shewed before by the Scriptures and examples both in Iudah and Israell c. Pag. 116. Thirdly in a Church there are tvvo things specially that are still to be respected the faith and the order thereof Col. 2 5. For touching the worship of God therein it may in divers respects be referred to the one or to the other or to both of them Novv for the Faith which is in Christ alone to salvation we acknowledge that they professe it soundly and in the unity thereof vve also hope our selues to be saved with them and therefore albeit they intreat deale yll with us sundry vvaies yet we hold them to be our brethren in the Lord and in the faith of his Gospell But as for the churches order worship and government ecclesiasticall vve hold and professe that they stand yet still greatly corrupted and transgressing the second commandement many waies As namely ‡ Of these more particularly see in the Apologie and other Treatises of ours also in the Treatise here following touching the reformed churches in their Prelacie and inferiour ministerie in their Canons Constitutions and Worship devised and imposed by man especially in the Book of common prayer according to which all the ministers and people of that Church are enjoyned to minister and partake of the holy things of God had among them vvherein are corruptions not a few that are also observed and written against †The Abridgement of the Ministers book of Lincolne Diocesse The Survey of the book of Common praier c by divers of themselues besides the refusal opposition persecution of the trueth vvhich hath now a long time very often many vvaies benshewed unto them c. And yet more specially that the particular churches ministers thereof stand not as the primitue Churches and Pastors did immediately under Iesus Christ the Archpastor as touching their ecclesiasticall constitution but under another spirituall authoritie and Prelacie devised by man neyther haue povver in themselues as now they stand to receiue and practise all the ordinances of God to redresse all errors and corruptions that are manifested unto them by the vvord of God as the Pastors and Churches aforesaid had Which things standing thus hereby may appeare that none can stand Ministers or members of the Church aforesaid in their estate and performe the dueties thereof according to the Lavves and Constitution thereof but they shall sinne and transgresse the second Commandement Which the Lord that is a jelous God accounteth to be hatred of him and hath threatned severely to punish as on the contrarie he hath promised to shew mercy graciously to them that loue him and keep his commandements Exod. 20 4 5 6. compared with Lev. 10 1 2. Deut. 4 1 2. 2 King 10 18 31. 2 Chron. 19 2 3. Luke 19 27. Psal 119 126 127 128. Esa 29 13. and 65 2. Mal. 1 6 14. Mar. 7 4 6 7. c. Col. 2 20 23. Rev. 14 9 12. and 22 18 19. Fourthly which commeth to a like end vvith the former reason but yet vvill make it more plaine there are two things concerning the vvorship and service of God which we ought alwaies carefully to remember and obserue One that we ought to leaue and forsake all the inventions of men and more specially al the mixtures and corruptions of Antichrist the man of sinne in the service and worship of God And this not onely in things concerning the faith but in such also as concerne the order of the church Exod. 20 4 5. with Deut. 12 32. Iudg. 8 27. 1 Chro. 13. 15 2. c. 2 Chron. 33 17. Psal 119 101 113 128. Esa 30 21 22. Ezech. 43 8. Mal. 1 6 14. Matt. 15 9 13 14. Rom. 16 17. Rev. 14 9 12. and 22 18 19. The other is that vve obserue and practise all the commandements and ordinances of the Lord vvhich he hath once for all giuen unto his church vvhether concerning the faith or the order of the church and so consequently the Churches government vvorship ministerie ministration of all every of the holy things of God according to his vvord Exod. 20 6. compared with Deut. 12 32. Matth. 28 20. Gal. 3 15. Jude v. 3. 1 Tim. 6 13 14. 2 Chron. 13 8 12. and 19 8 11. Psal 119 101 128. Esa 30 21. and 33 22. Rev. 14 12. Which two things seeing that in the present estate of the church of England neither ministers nor members can obserue them nor be suffred peaceably so to vvalke hovv can it be but we must needs leaue that estate unlesse vve should still continew in sinne against the Law of God And hovv can that justly be counted schisme vvhich is our bounden duty to the Lord vvherein vve ought to obey God rather then Man Fiftly to make the matter yet more plaine let us put the case that some Kings and States vvould permit the Churches in their dominions peaceably to enjoy the ministerie of the word and the Baptisme of elder people among them but not of children urging those words according to the letter Make disciples
office and function nor the same or like equall authoritie in the church of Israel and in the administration of the holy things of God Num. 16 8 9 10 40. and 18 1 2 3. vvith 3 4 chap. 2 Chron. 29 16 34. II. Secondly the Offices of the Pastors and Teachers are themselues divers functions giuen to the church by Christ the Lord and accordingly had in the Primitiue churches Eph. 4 11. 1 Cor. 12 5 8. with Rom. 12 7 8. Object But the Apostle in Ephes 4 11. seemeth rather to joyne them together as one by the conjunction copulatiue KAI And then to distinguish them as being severall the one from the other Answ This conjunction also is sometimes used for a discretiue in divisions and in the shutting up of distributions As the same Apostle useth it otherwhere Gal. 3 8. when he saith There is neither Jew nor Greek there is neither boâ—d nor free there is neither male nor female c. vvhere vvord for word it is neither male and female But and is used here distributiuely and so is understood and translated neither male nor female according to the distributions used before in the same sentence And thus in the place to the Ephesians the Syriack translation vvhich is most auncient useth a distributiue particle distinguishing asvvell between Pastors and Teachers as between Apostles Prophets and Euangelists Ephe. 4 11 in Syriâ—â— translat Not to speak of the Hebrew conjunction VAU And which the Scripture also ofteÌ„ useth for a discretiue as in Exo. 21 15 17. Deu. 17 9 12. Besides that the like maner of speach is used in Gen. 1.14 and Hos 3 4. c. III. Thirdly the holy Ghost bestowing the gifts of God and dividing them to every man severally as he vvill distributeth divers distinct gifts unto men for the performance of the dueties of these offices aforesaid 1 Cor. 12 4 8 11. IIII. Fourthly God worketh diversly by these offices and gifts bestowed on his church 1 Cor. 12 6 7 11 18 c. V. And Christ the Lord layeth divers vvorks and administrations upon these offices and ministers themselues besides the duties that are coÌ„mon to them both viz. Vpon the Pastors that they should in their ministerie more particularly use the speach of vvisedome together vvith doctrine exhort rebuke comfort and vvisely apply the vvord of God as there is occasion to the divers uses necessities and conditions of the church and people that they should also administer the Sacraments and seales of Gods grace annexed to his word and promise execute the censures and sanctions of his vvord and judgments and alvvaies stirre up al of all sorts to godlines righteousnes and sobrietie and defend the truth of God against all adversaries and finally to governe the Church in all things according to the duetie of their calling carefully vvisely and faithfully under Iesus Christ the Lord and Archpastor of his church and people 1 Cor. 12 5 8. with Rom. 12 8. Ephes 4 11 12. with Esa 66 21. 2 Chro. 13.10 11. and 15 3. 1 Cor. 10 16 21. and 11 23 26. with Mat. 26 26 27 28. Eze. 44 15 16 23 24. Lev. 10 9 10. Num. 6 23 27. Joh. 20 19 23. with Mat. 16 19. and 23 34. and 24 45. and 28 18 19 20. Epist to Timoth. and Titus Heb 13 7 17. â— Pet. 5 1 4. Rev. 1 12 13 16 20. and 2 1. c. All vvhich things may well be included and comprised in the verie name of a Pastor Which is the more to be observed both for the similitude of the Shepheards whence it is taken and because the names of Offices used in the Scripture doe fitly note out the nature dueties of the Offices themselues sometimes in one respect sometimes in another Vpon the Teachers also the Lord hath laid that they should in their ministerie specially use the speach of knovvledge and instruct the Church out of the vvord of God interpreting the Scriptures teaching the knowledge of the truth vvhich is according to godlines catechizing the people elder and younger as there is occasion confuting errours convincing adversaries performing all those things that more specially perteyne to the delivering and defending of the doctrine of God faithfully and syncerely under Christ the great Prophet and Teacher of his church and people 1 Cor. 12 5 8 28 29. with Rom. 12 7. Eph. 4 11 12. with Esa 66 21. and 30 20. Neh. 8 8 9. Deut. 33 8 10. vvith Num. 16 8 9 10. Gal. 6 6. Prov. 22 6 20 21. Esa 28 9 12. Heb. 5 12. and 6 1 2. Matth. 13 52. and 23 34. Luke 2 46. and 4 16 24. and 5 17. and 13 33. vvith Deut. 18 15 22. Act. 5 34. and 8 30.31 35. and 13.1 and 15 35. 1 Tim. 1 3 4 7. and 2 7. and 3 2. and 5 17. 2 Tim. 1 11 13. and 4 1 2 3. Tit. 1 5 9. c. And these things may vvel be implied in the name of a Teacher But whether more is to be required of them as they are Teachers may further be considered As also that of old in the Church of Israell they might haue Teachers vvho vvere not Sacrificers and vvhether likewise they might not haue Teachers that were not Rulers or governours among they unles they vvere also chosen to government besides Deut 33.8 10. Neh 8 8 9. vvith Numb 16 8 9 10. and 18 1 7. 1 Chron. 6 48 49. Amoâ— â—â— 12 15. Mat. 13 52. and 23 34. Luke 2 46. and 5 17. compared with 2 Chron. 17 7 8 9. Iohn 3 1 10. and Act. 5 34. Finally for the distinction betvveen the Pastors Teachers office obserue hovv Ambrose repeating the place of Ephes 4 11. saith thereon I doe neither challenge the glorie of the Apostles for who will doe that but those whom the â—â—me of God himself chose nor the grace of the Prophets nor the vertue of the Euangelists nor the circumspection of the Pastors but I desire onely to obteyne intension and diligence about the divine Scriptures which the Apostles placed last among the offices of the Saints and â—â—â—n this that studying to teach I may learne Ambros off l. 1. c. 1. For which also see Gregorâ—e Nazianzen de mod And Ierome who likewise distinguish the Pastor Doctor Eph. 4 11. And among the later Writers Calvin in his Institutions treating of the ministers of the church and on Ephes 4.11 after he hath spoken of the Apostles Prophets Euangelists comming to speak of the Pastors Teachers saith thus There followe the Pastors and Teachers whom the church can never want among whom there is this difference that the Teachers are not set over the discipline nor the administration of the Sacraments nor admonitions or exhortations but over the interpretation of the Scripture that the doctrine may be kept syncere and sound among the faithfull But the Pastors office conteyneth all these things in it Calvin Institut lib. 4. cap. 3.
themselues to see them performed by others as is aforesaid In like sort that the Euangelists besides their own peculiar office and function had in them the povver and authority of the inferior offices of Pastors Teachers and Elders c. And likevvise that the Pastors besides their own peculiar function haue in them the power and authoritie of the Teachers and other ordinarie offices for performance and oversight of them as is aforesaid Also that the Elders besides their ovvne speciall function haue in them the povver and authoritie of the Deacons office for the doing and overseeing thereof as was said before and so forth in the rest For all vvhich see Acts 2 40 41 42. and 4 34 35. and 6 1 6. and 8 14 25 26 35 38. vvith 21 8. and 11 29 30. and 14 7 23. 15 6 22 32 35 36 40 41. and 16 4.40 and 20 7 11 17 28 29 30. 21 18 25. vvith Mat. 28 18 19 20. Ioh. 20 21 22 23. and 21 15 16 17. 1 Cor. 4 15 17 22. and 5 3. and 9.7.16.17 and 10.16 and 12.28 and 16 3.4.10 2 Cor. 1.19 and 8. 16.17.23 Ephes 4.11.12 Phil. 1.1 and 4.3 1 Thes 3.2 and 5.12.13.14.27 Hebr. 13.7.17 1 Pet. 5.1 4. Rev. 2.1 c. 2. The second is this Whether on the contrarie the apostasie of Antichrist be not such as touching the ministerie and government of the church as therein they vvhich be in the lesser and inferiour offices haue power authoritie vvith them to exceed the dueties of the office which Christ hath appointed and to performe the duties apperteyning to the higher offices by meanes vvhereof both Antichrist hath risen up to so great a height and so many orders and degrees of superior and inferior ministers haue ben received stil are reteyned in that degenerate estate and apostasie of the man of sinne as is come to passe As namely when the pastors and bishops of particular congregations came to haue power authoritie over many churches over the Ministers people therein in a kind of resemblance of the extraordinarie offices of the Apostles and Euangelists alreadie ceased vvhen now the foundation was layd Contrarie to that which is written Rom. 17 3 8. Rev. 1 11 12.13 16 20. with 2 1 8 12 18. and 3 1 7 14. Ephes 4 11 12 13. Act. 20 17 28. Phil. 1 1. and 4 3. 1 Pet. 5 1 2 3 4. And that the ruling Elders or Presbyters did the ministeriall duties of the Pastors and Teachers in the particular Congregations Contrarie to 1 Tim. 5 17. Ephes 4 11 12. Rom. 12 7 8. 1 Cor. 12 28. And that the Deacons also baptise and became ministers of the word in the office of Deaconship vvhich the Apostles did expressely oppose to the duties of that office at the institution thereof Act. 6.2.3.4 So as of these things and the like in that estate it may be said as Christ did in another case From the beginning it was not so Mat. 19.8 These things and the like may be noted about the points questions aforesaid Which being not vvell observed in former ages a way vvas made for the Popes supremacy by the steps of the Diocesan and Provinciall Prelacy whiles each Pastor kept not his place within his bounds under Christ the Archpastor nor the other Officers theirs nor the Churches that order vvherein they vvere set by the Apostles at the beginning Which being novv in this latter age observed and discovered we should set our selues to reject and witnesse against the Antichristian apostasie of the man of sinne and all the aberrations and iniquitie thereof And be carefull on the other hand to returne to the auncient simplicity of the churches of Christ as they were planted in the beginning alvvaies obserueing good order in all things and that vvay of government of the church which is appointed by the vvord of God CHAPTER VII Touching the Teachers office more particularly and the Ministers of the word in generall VVHether there be not tvvo sorts of Teachers or Prophets which the Lord hath giuen for the work of the ministerie or at least a two fold duty and divers function or ministration thereof One of such as are peculiarly appointed to the teaching of particular churches Of whō see here before in the fift Question pag 259. The other of such as doe either †1 Sam. 19 20. 2 King 2 3 5 7 15. and 4 1. and 6 1. and 9 1. with Amos 7 14. Luc. 2 46. and Act. 5 34. vvith 22.3 in the Schooles and universities interpret the Scriptures train up the students in Theologie or doe ‡ Deut. 33 8 10. Nehem. 8 1 8. 2 Chron. 17 7 8 9. Prov. 1 20 21. and 8 1 2 3. and 29 18. Esa 30 10 20 21. and 57 19. and 59 21. Ier. 18 18. Hos 5 9. and 7 12. Amos 2 12. and 7 12 13. Mic. 3 11. Ezech. 22 25 28. and 13 and 14 chap. Jer. 14.13 Mat. 5 1 2. and 9 37 38. and 13 1 2 52. and 22 35. and 23 34. Luke 5 17. Act. 13 1 15. and 15 35. Rev. 11 3. and 18 24. vvith Act. 11 19 24. Rom. 10 14 15 17. 1 Cor. 12 28 29. and Ephes 4 11 12. othervvhere privately and publikly in houses streets ships armies garrisons or other assemblies any where instruct the people in Religion and al duties of godlines commō or speciall as there is just occasion Also vvhether these Teachers should minister the Lords supper is vvithal to be considered and examined by the Scriptures Seeing the Levites in Israell vvere not suffered to come to the Altar or holy things of God no nor to flay the sacrifices unlesse in a speciall case when there were not Priests ynough Num. 18 3. and 3 10. and Levit. 1 6. vvith 2 Chron. 29 34. Which is the more to be noted because the Levites vvere by the ordinance of God joyned to the Priests in the Ministerie of the Lords house and for teaching Israell the Lavv of God c. who yet notwithstanding might not doe all things perteyning to the Priests office Numb 18 2 3. and Ezech. 44 13 14 15 16. with Num. 3 5 10. c. and 16 chap. By vvhich also appeareth that some Ministers may be imployed in some works of the Ministerie vvho yet notwithstanding may not lavvfully do all things that perteine to the holy ministration and to some other Offices appointed thereunto And that the Pastors Teachers now are ansvverable to the Priests and Levites in Israell vvas noted before out of Esa 66 21. compared vvith Ephes 4 11 12. As touching the election or calling of these Teachers I spake here before of the calling of those which are of the former sort as touching their choise to particular congregations as may be seen in the third Question pag. 252 c. Now touching the calling of the Teachers of the latter sort whether they be such as are Professors in Vniversities
could The Catholike church of Rome as they call it and the universall Bishop thereof I omit as being Antichristian most of all and justly left by the Protestants and Reformed churches Though yet far more in some respects might be pretended for this from the state of Ierusalem the High Priests that vvere for the universall church then for the Diocesan or Provinciall churches and Bishops If any alledge in this behalf as some use to doe the examples of Timothee abiding at Ephesus and Titus left at Crete by the appointment of the Apostle for the oversight and government of those churches c. the subscriptions also of those Epistles vvherein both of them are styled the first Bishops of those churches let these things be observed thereabout 1. That those subscriptions are Apocryphall and not part of the Scripture it self 2. That some Greek copies and the Syriack and old Latin translation also haue not this style or title at all 3. That Timothee and Titus were Euangelists vvho were sent appointed by the Apostles sometimes to one place sometimes to another as they had occasion 2 Tim. 4.5.9 Tit. 1.5 and 3.12 whereas the Pastors Bishops vvere appointed to their peculiar flock and seat Act. 20.17 28. 1 Pet. 5.1 4. Rev. 1.20 and 2.1.8 c. If eyther of these were so particularly employed afterward it helps not the matter 4. The first Epistle of Timothee hath not this in the subscription And in the latter Epistle where the subscription styleth Timothee the first Bishop of the church of the Ephesians there doth Paul in the same Epistle both terme him an Euangelist and exhorte him to doe the work of an Euangelist 2 Tim 4.5 yea and call him from the church of Ephesus which was in Asia to come unto him to Rome which was in Italie 2 Tim. 4 9 21. if the subscription be right Likevvise in the Epistle to Titus vvhere the subscription styleth him the first Bishop of the church of the Cretians there doth Paul in the same Epistle call him from Creta in Greece to Nicopolis in Armenia Tit. 1 5. vvith 3 12. And these things may be observed in those Epistles themselues vvhere these subscriptions are besides that other Scriptures doe also shevve hovv they vvere sometimes in one part of the world and sometimes in another sometimes in Asia and sometimes in Europe doing the duties of their office As that Timothee vvas in Asia in divers countreyes and parts thereof in Phrygia Galatia Mysia Ionia c. And in Europe also in Macedonia Achaia Italie c. And in these countreyes and nations sometimes in one city and with one church sometimes vvith another for divers occasions purposes as namely at Thessalonica at Athens at Corinth at Ephesus at Rome at Philippi c. For al vvhich see these Scriptures Acts 16 ch and 17 14 15. and 18 5. and 19 22. and 20 4. Rom. 16 21. 1 Cor. 4 17. and 16 10 11. 2 Cor. 1 19. Phil. 1 1. and 2 19 22 23. 1 Thes 3 1 2 6. with both the Epistles to Timothee And that Titus likevvise was sometimes in Europe at divers places as at Corinth in Achaia at Rome in Italie in Creta and Dalmatia in Greece c. And sometimes in Asia as at Jerusalem in Iudea at Nicopolis in Armenia c. As is evident by these Scriptures 2 Cor. 8 23 24. and 12 18. Gal 2.1 2 Tim. 4.10 Tit. 1 4 5. and 3.12 vvith the whole Epistle to Titus By vvhich also appeareth that Timothee and Titus were Euangelists so imployed by the Apostle Paul sundry times and in sundry places 5. Besides the church of Ephesus vvas a particular not a Diocesan or Provinciall church as may appeare both by the places vvhere it is particularly spoken off Acts 20 17 28. Ephes 1.1 1 Tim. 1.3 and 3.15 Rev. 1 11.12 and 2.1 by the like estate of the other Churches of Asia written unto by Christ Rev. 1.4.11.12.13.16.20 and 2.8.12.18 and 3.17.14 compared vvith Col. 4.16 And so this toucheth not the point in hand Creta in deed is an Iland wherein were divers cities but in every of them were Elders and Bishops ordeyned as is here plainly expressed Tit. 1 5 6 7. c. And by this Scripture it seemeth that when the Apostle departed from thence all things vvere not yet finished among them vvhereupon he left Titus behind him to set in order the things that were wanting and to ordeyne Elders and Bishops in every city Wherein vvhat other thing did Titus then vvhat any other Euangelist so left there might haue done Which also the Apostle himself might and vvould haue done if he had remayned there longer and yet haue ben an Apostle still though for the time or by that occasion he had ben so particularly imployed there And when this was done there by Titus Paul called him from thence to come unto him to Nicopolis as vve haue noted here before out of the same Epistle Tit. 3 12. 6. Moreover the vvord Bishop or Overseer is sometimes used generally and very largely so as the office of an Apostle is sometimes so called Acts 1 20. 7. And lastly vvhy might not the Euangelists being in an office superiour to the Pastors or Bishops of particular churches haue and supply their place in any Church vvhere they came and remayned yet this be no ground or warrant of Diocesan or Provincial Bishops churches any more then Iames so being at Ierusalem who othervvise vvas an Apostle Act. 21.18 Euseb l. 2. c. 23. l. 3. c. 11. l. 7. c. 18. For the further consideration vvhereof besides that vvhich hath ben said before I will here propound two things in an other †Reasons touching cōmunicating with the Minist of the church of Engl. p. 26. c. treatise mentioned heretofore vvhich as they shal be found to haue waight may giue more light to these and other points sometimes called in question 1. The first is this Whether the Lords ordinance in his church be not such as the higher offices conteyne in them and comprehend the inferior offices so as they vvhich be in the greater offices haue besides their ovvne peculiar function vvhereunto they ought to attend povver and authoritie both themselues to performe the duties of the inferiour offices when there is needfull occasion and to look that they be performed by all such as they are specially layd upon for the better service of the Lord and his church therein As may be observed both by the estate of Israell heretofore in the Priests and Levites c. and by divers things written concerning the Apostles Euangelists Pastors and other Elders in sundry cases For example that the Apostles who were in the greatest ecclesiasticall office ordeyned by Christ under the Gospell had besides the peculiar office of Apostleship the povver also and authoritie of the offices of the Euangelists Pastors Teachers Elders Deacons both to performe them upon just occasion