mountaines and wandringe in the woodes with out a guyde which he him selfe spared not to spēd his life for to bring yt into the way againe we are in no part inferior to the Papistes them selues Is this then our discipline is this that order which some men often tymes praisinge in wordes desire nothinge less in deed Is this the gouernment and administracion off our churche and yet no man may be suffred freely to speake for the reformaciō of the churche and restoringe againe of the pure and perfit gouernmēt of the Apostles Seinge thes are most manifestly contrary to the example off our Sauior Christ and off the Apostles Seinge they threaten the certeyne ruyne and ouer throw off the churche Seinge they do not only shake but turne vpward the pillers off the same Haue we not Good cause to be moued bothe for the Glory off God and the saluacion of the churche to requyre more holye ordinaunces and a better gouernment off the same Can any man esteeme thes light matters and off small waight that the sacred Lawes off God are openly violated and broken with oute any shame that the churche which Christ hath redemed with his bludd is neglected That ther is no regard had off discharginge off dewties That a man taketh to hym selfe which the Aungelles dare not and that the Archbishopp dare geue the Pastor leaue contrary to the expresse commandement off God to forsake his flock or graunt him suche priuiledges wheroff that same dothe necessaryly follow which no Archangell may challendge to him selff Or shall thos thinges also which I haue handled from the begynninge to this place be esteemed small faultes to ground Ecclesiasticall discipline not vpon the word off God and the will off the Lord Iesus But off the canon lawe Which suerly I doubt not to affirme to be the very fountaine and springe from whence all the rest off the Corruptions do flow that popishe priestes womē Archdeacons and Chauncelers with ther Officialles Commissaryes and the rest off that Trashe do bringe ther impure handes and neuer sanctified vnto God to do his holie seruice to preache his word to handle and distribute his facred mysteries to order and gouerne his churche And nothinge seare any punishement off this ther boldnes and most vnworthie prophanacion off the holie offices That Ionathan the Leuites shamefull example in seekinge a Maister or as we call yt in gettinge the good will off a Patrone is taken to be followed That Dauid and Salomons example in callinge the Priestes and Leuites to ther cyties and townes and the Apostles in ordeininge no ecclesiasticall officer but vnto certen churches is neglected and contemned And last off all that Thes wicked and intollerable faculties Prerogatiues Priuiledges and dispensacions tha◠I haue spoken off at suffered in our churche Are all thee I say to be countid trifles or certen light faultes and tollerable errors For my par e suerly I thincke as allso I suppose all they will do that will were this by the word off God as by the gold smythes ballance that ther is neuer a one off these light and small to be esteemed but that they ar all heynous trespasses and matters off Treason to be examined and iudged off in the highest courtes Therfore in the name off God let vs not seeke to bringe this holie doctrine off reforminge our discipline into hate and displeasur vnder a shew that yt is a newe and a false pretēce that all innouaciōs ād chāges are dangerous but rather abrogating thes most vniust and vnrighteous lawes dispensacions and as I may well call them pardones and indulgencies at the last let vs call agayne that maner off gouerninge the churche and that discipline being now lost which the Lord him selfe by his embassadors and Apostles hathe apointed Thus hauinge described and layd out the lawfull vocacion off all those which occupie any publique place in the churche let vs now come to the partes and members of the same which especially are two wherin the right maner off geuinge thes offices doth consist that is In election and ordinacion which is so properly called Election is the appointinge by the Elders the rest off the churche allowing it off a fitt man to the bearinge off some office in the churche And as for Election that it is necessary to the geuinge off any off thes offices it may appeare euen off that that S. Paul ioineth it with examinacion and trial and diligently warneth Timothie that he lay not on his handes vpon them that be vnworthie but only vpon thos that after a iust triall beinge had are found meet and chosen That same is proued also by the continuall vse off the Apostles who by the iudgmēt and authoritie off the churche apointed Bishopps to teache and Deacons for the orderinge off the Treasury off the churche For Christ hath not chosen any certen hous or famyly as it was in old tyme vnder the law wherin the gouernment off the churche should all wais remaine He gaue herein no right off Petigree stock and blood no ministers by inheritance but he would haue the iudgement left free vnto his churche and the offices theroff to be gyuen by choyse and worthines Off which election for asmuche as it was so necessary for the state off the churche that without yt the churche it selfe could not longe continew Our Sauior Christ was very carefull and therfor declared particularly and distinctly all thinges which apperteined to the orderyng theroff For he hath perfectly and diligently shewed bothe who owght to choose and to whom especially this care ought to belonge and what ought to be followed and regarded in chosinge off euery one For althoughe this question and controuersy off the chosers hathe beene diuersly disputed off by lerned men yet allmost all off them cōsen in this that ther must be moe to deale therin and that so great and so wayghtie a charge and belonginge to the especiall and singuler commodytie or discomoditie off the wholl churche ought not be committed to the authoritie off any one but be ordered and ruled by the iudgement and consent off many And this is the generall opynion off all thos that euer disputed lernedly and wisely in this cause from which I thinck no man can dissent but the Papists and they that haue succeded them in that authoritie which they most vnuistly and not without open iniury and tyranny doe vsurpe For the Bishopps that challeng this power vnto them selues by ther meere authoritie and ther owne only Iudgment and aduise to apoint the officers off the churche cannot challenge this by any right or law off God but exercise a very tyranny thoughe indeed longe agoe browght into the churche which lest I may seeme to haue said with out cause and to haue condemned them with out hearinge them to say what they can let them shew forth from whom and by what right this infynit power and authoritie is come into ther handes yff they say they haue
succeded by inheritance vnto the Apostles and therfore haue receyued yt off them allthoghe I should graunt them the first the second yet is disprouued by most manyfest testimonies and examples of the appostles them selues For let vs see iff euer the Apostles in any election did challendge this power and authoritie vnto them Sainct Luke writeth off thre elections holden by the appostles the fyrst in the fyrst off the Actes wher a new Apostle is chosen The second in the sixth wher the Seacons the third in the fourtenthe wher the Elders ar appointed in euery church For althoughe the Apostles did not choose Matthias But left it to the Lott which should declare the Lordes will and counsell therin because this was proper and peculier for that office off Apostles that they should not be chosen off men nor by men But immediatly from the Lord him selfe yet in settinge forth two ther is a certene kind off choise and election But what is ther in all this actioÌ„ that either Iames whome some say to haue bene Bishopp at Ierusalem or Pâ—â—er or any off the other Apostles doth take vnto him selfe For althoughe that Sainct Luke declareth that Iames was present heere yet we reade not that he was cheefe ther or tooke vpon him as he was Bishoppe authority to appointe an Apostle Or ells thos two off whom one should be chosen by the Lott But contrawise we see that he challenged no more to him selfe then either Andrew or Philipp or any other off the rest off the Apostles In deed Peter as Proloquutor propoundethe all the matter and purteth vp as yt wer this grace vnto the churche off chosinge an Apostle And he him self declareth what one they ought to choose and what especially in ther election they ought to respect and regard But vsed no particuler or special autoritie in choosinge the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 They sett forthe Which is off the plurall nomber vsed by Sainct Luke in that place dothe manyfestly declare and proue Therfore in this first and solemne election off the Apostles ther was nothinge done or said from whence this infynite power and authoritie may be deriued vnto the Bishoppes But contrariwise seinge Iames taketh nothinge to him selffe nor Peter nor any other off the rest nay seinge all the Apostles togeether doe nothinge heere off ther owne authoritie nor choose whom yt pleasethe them It is sure and manifest that That Bishopp that will not take him selfe greater then an Apostle or then all the Apostles can by no right challendge to hym selffe any suche power or priuiledge in gyuinge and apointinge the offices off the churche But Let yt be that this election for the choice off Mathias and the great office and callinge wherevnto he was chosen had somewhat singuler and extraordinary and let vs see the next that is the election off the Seacons written by Saincte Luke in the sixthe chapter off the Actes wherin ik is so farr off that Peter or Iames or any other off the Apostles challenged any thinge aboue the rest vnto them selues in choosinge off them that contrariwise ther was nothinge done but by the common consent and agreement off them all For Sainct Luke dothe expressly declare that the multitude off the disciples we called togeether by the twelue that the choosinge off SeacoÌ„s was propouÌ„ded by the twelue and that the election beinge ended the praiers were made and handes laid on by the twelue For allthoughe they did not all call them to geether nor propounde the election nor make the praiers yet so expresse a speakinge as Sainct Luke vseth heere That the tvvelue called the disciples together and the words off the plurall nombre which he vsethe in euery place off this history do manyfestly proue that nothing was done heere by the priuate commandement or counsell off any but that coÌ„trariwise all thinges passed by the comÌ„on consent and authoritie off all the Apostles Therfore in this second and most solemne election bothe for the presence off all the Apostles and multitude off the disciples They take the repulse againe and can not obteyne this immesurable and princely authoritie in the churche which they seeke to haue The last is the election off Elders written in the fourtenth off the Actes which was heeld not by all the Apostles but only by Paule and Burnabas wherin althoughe they two ruled all the actioÌ„ and did moderate and gouerne the Iudgment off those that gaue the voices yet that they vsed no power and authoritie off ther owne in electinge the Elders off the churche euen that one word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Chosinge by liftinge vp off the handes off the people doth manyfestly declare Therfore the Bishopps receyued not this authoritie by inheritance from the Apostles whose elections I haue declared to haue beene furthest off from this lordly authoritie For so they had bene taught off Christ that his kingdome was notlike the kingdomes off this world wherin some one hathe the chiefe authoritie to whome the rest ought to obey and whom they call ther Lord an master But he had appointed â—oir greatest or greater then his fellowes they had lerned that he was only king to whom all ought to be obedient and that they ought to lyue togeether like fellows in equall place and degree one with an other But they flee from the Apostles to the EuaÌ„gelistes And that fauour they could not get off the Apostles they hope to atteyne by them therfore they fetche the begynninge off this power and authoritie from Tymothie and Titus loff whom they say the one was bishop at Ephesus and the other in Candy And Timothie say they was commanded that he should not lay on his handes to rashly vpon any which commandement had bin in vayne iff the election off ministers had not beene in the Bishopps handes But I aske them how they proue that Tymothe was bishoppe at Ephesus For I thinck they will not bringe me that subscriptioÌ„ To Tymothe first chosen bishoppe off Ephesus much lesse Eusebius authorite the Author wheroff is vnknowne and off no great credit which also is not sett at the end off the first epistle against the most manifest testimoni off the Scripture which callethe Tymothie not a Bishoppe but an Euangelist for so Sainct Paule expresly calleth hym in the ende off his secoÌ„d epistle vnto him And the whole history prouethe that it cannot be that he could haue taried long at Ephesus who followed Paule trauelinge throughe so many churches and serued him in his iourny whom Paule himselfe doth witnes in mani places to haue beene an eye witnes off his afflictions whome he sent some tymes to Ephesus namely when he went into Macedonia sometymes to Corinth witnessinge that he did the lordes worck euen as he him selfe As also to the Rom. he calleth him his follow laborer as one that labored to geeâ—her her with him in plantynge and orderinge off churches and last â—ff all that ther may be no way
for I se no cause whithis may not aswel bee referred to all the maner off ordeininge of theÌ„ as to that which followeth Therfore that at the last I may coÌ„clude all this matter The EuaÌ„gelistes ar no more PatroÌ„es for this matter then the Apostles wer neyther is ther any the lest deed or word off eny off them wherby this tyranny may be allowed Therfore let them confesse as the thinges in deed That this mischife was borne and bred at Rome which after together with the empier spred it selfe ouer into all landes But all the question off the chosers off Ecclesiasticall officers is not yet thus ended For all thoughe I haue concluded owte off the worde off god that one man can not vsurpe this power without tyranny yet here arise new pleas and controuersies And it is doubted whether this be equally to be permitted vnto all or only vnto certene chosen men that exercise ordinarie Iurisdiction in the churche As for me when I consider both the holy scriptures and the exaÌ„ple off the best reformed churches I thinck it most agreing with the will off God that that Senate and counsell which exercisethe ordinary authoritie in all the affaires off the churche and whom for the same cause the Apostle calleth leaders and ouer seers and exhorteth the church to obey them an suffer it selffe to be ruled by theÌ„ shold also haue most a doe in this busynes to gouerne the ElectioÌ„ and to guyde and direct the iudgmeÌ„t of the rest of the churche with ther wisdoÌ„e and authoritie Neither do I bring in heere any Oligarky or tyrannous rule off a few and reteyne still the same tyranny in the churche chaunginge only the persons For I would not that the iudgment off the rest off the churche should be contemned and neglected or that the counsell or elders off the churche should off ther owne authoritie sett one ouer the churche whom they list against the churches will but that the Elders goinge before the people also follow and hauinge hard and vnderstorde ther sentence and decree may either by some outward token or ells by ther sylence allow it iff it be to be liked off or gayne say it iff it be not iust and vpright And not only gayne say yt but iff iust cause of ther dislikinge may be brought make it alltogether voyde and off none effect vntill at the last a meete one may be chosen by the authoritie and voices off the Elders and allowed off by the consent and approbacion off the rest off the churche So that herein ther is no cause to coÌ„pleine that by the bringing in off the rule of a fewe the maiesty off the wholl church is diminished we read in deed that it was some what otherwise practized in the sixth and fourtheÌ„et off the Actes aÌ„d that the people had the chiefe power and authoritie in thos elections but that me thinck was done for a speciall cause which doth not in like maner belonge vnto vs neither ought to be referred to the ordinary and perpetuall gouernment of the church For as in coÌ„mon welthes not only suche wher the people is to be made soueraigne or a few but also eueÌ„ wher the kingdome of one is to be established before it be confirmed all the power is in the peoples handes who of ther free will choose magistrates vnto them vnder whos autoritie they may after be gouerned and afterwardes not all the people but only the magistrates chosen by them administer and gouerne the affaires off the common wealthe So it cometh to passe in the establishinge off the churche So that when as yet ther were none set ouer them all the authoritie was in all mens handes but after that they had once geuen the helme into the handes off certeÌ„ chosen men this power no lenger belonged vnto all but only to thos who wer chosen by them to steare and gouerne the churche off god As for the election off Seacons ther was yet an other especiall reason why yt was meet that they should haue beene chosen all the churche For when the Grecians murmured against the hebrues and complained that they had wronge for that in the distribucion which was dailie made for the help off the poore ther widowes were not dewly regarded It was need full that they to whom this charge was to be coÌ„mitted should be chosen by all the company that all occasioÌ„ off complayninge and suspicion might be taken away therfor that which once extra ordinarilie was done by the people for certen speciall and particuler causes and respectes ought not to be referred to the perpetuall certeÌ„ stable and ordinary maner of gouerninge the church Althoughe euen in this election the Apostles reserued vnto themselues the chiefe authoritie of â—â—yinge on of haÌ„des and allowing or dissalowinge the iudgmentes and voices off the people which power and authoritie seinge in the very tyme off the Apostles theÌ„ selfes and that by ther allowynge yt was traÌ„slated to the Ecclesiasticall consell and the Elders that had the ordinari gouernment as after in dew place shall appere whi shall I not thinck that the power also of examininge and doinge of other thinges that perteine to the electioÌ„ is to gether with the other translated vnto them Therfor keepinge the right libertie off the churche I conclude oute iff the word off god and the examples off the Apostles That no thinge be done not only against the god will theroff or vnknowinge to the same but also not with out the consent and approbation off it But we must keepe also the iust authoritie off the elders that they goe before the people in the election that they try and examin thos that aâ—e to be chosen that they iudge off ther worthines and publishe vnto the church whom they haue thought meeâ—e and worthie that beinge allowed by the consent off aâ—â— they may bey receiued for thus the wholl body off the churche is bâ—st preserued when euery part and membre doth his office when the eyes do see and leade the waye and the other partes suffer them selues to beled and guided in the way But the Elders in elections as also in all the rest off the gouernment off the churche ar as Eâ—es vnâ—o the rest and leade and direct them that either through ignorance or beinge blinded with ther owne desires they slyde not in the way For which causes I said they ar called gouernors Ouer seers and Elders And how shall the people be able to iudge off the diuers giftes off the Spirit off god to chose this man to gouerne that to teache and an other to ouerse the treasury off the churche for as thes be diuers offices so to discharge them well they had neede to be indewed with diuerse guiyftes off the holie ghost that be chosen therunto as after shal be declared more at large in ther seuerall offices But euery man is not able to iudge off thes diuerse guyftes which ar fitt for what purpose and at
finishe and perfect it and off the other parte a iudge ād a reuēger if he did cōtemne and neglect it Therfore S. Paule stirring vp Timothe to the diligēt discharge of his dewtie in all partes maketh menciō off layinge on of hādes warning him that he neglecte not that place and calling which he was called vnto for to prophesie by the layinge on off the handes off the Elders Furthermore ther is yet an other vse off this ceremony which belongeth to the confirminge and strenghtning off him that is chosen who was admonyshed therby to remember that the same hād was allways ready to helpe to ease his burden and to beare him vp that had laid it vpon hym that being assured to haue been called to his office off god he might execute yt with great corage being terrified with no feare or daunger The second vse and cōmoditie hereoff that perteyneth vnto the churche is that they seinge this authoritie to be off god and the partie set ouer them in his name should acknowledge and lerne to reuerence thos that haue care and charge ouer them and to be obedient vnto them in such thinges as perteine vnto ther office And this is the right vse off that layinge on off handes which is vsed in the ordering off ministers Which being left and forsaken the Papistes and we that with out any iudgment keep ther fond and foolishe Traditions vse an other sorte which was neuer practized in ordeininge off the Officers off the churche But in geuing off the giftes of the holie ghost to all thos that beleeued and were baptized not that Ordinary laying on off handes the vse wheroff ought allwais to remaine in the church but that which was extraordinary and serued only for a certen tyme and season For by cause the Apostles when they as the stewardes off God did distribute the holy ghost that is to say the diuers and manifold giftes off the spirit to them that embraced religion vsed this signe and as it wer this sacrament off laying on off handes Thes Ioly fellowes who notwithstandinge that power off geuinge the holie ghost was ceased kept still the signe ād laying ther handes vpō the priestes bad them receyue the holy ghost which no man gaue them no nor cold geue them onlesse yt were extraordinarilie this beinge proper to those tymes and to the apostles only neither do they consider that this ceremony is farr vnlike the other which they vsed to the ordeininge off the officers off the churche for this was wont to be vsed in those dayes all most to all the faithfull The other to thos only that had some charge in the church and that when they gaue the guiftes off the holy ghost extra ordinarilie This was nothing so as may plainly appere out off the places which I haue named aboue both off Paule and Barnabas and also off the Deacons And as for Paule that he had receyued the holy ghost and was endewed with thos extraordinary guyftes before that handes were laid vpon him on this sort It may be proued by that that Christ had appered vnto him from heauen and made him a worthie vessell to beare his gospell into all partes so that streight way he preached in the synagoges and declared Christ to be the sonne off god As for Barnabas Sainct Luke doth plainly witnes that he was full off the holy ghoste wherby I vnderstand the extraordinary guistes and off faithe whome also before he testified to haue bene one off those that first professed the Gospell so that the laying on off handes which followed in the xiij off the actes was no geuinge off new giftes but as the holy ghost speakethe in that place a separacion and setting a part and as it wer a consecracion to the goinge aboute off a great worcke and taking vpon him a more trauellsome charge and office As for the Deacons we read that the Apostles when they wer to the chosen gaue warninge that they should choose mē full of wisdome and off the holy ghost wherby I doubt not But that they signified that they should choose off them that wer qualified with thos singuler and diuers gyftes and that the churche accordinge to ther prescription did choose the Deacons from emonges thos thre thousand which Sainct Luke had spoken off before Therfore that the Bishopp in ordeininge off ecclesiasticall officers and layinge his handes vpon them biddethe them receyue the holie ghost hath no shadow or shew of any practize off the Apostles but is a Popishe rite and ceremony folishly at the first ād with out any foundacion off the scripture instituted by them or who so euer were the authors off it off an imitacion off that which is not in deede But which they thought to be And after receiued by the authors of our discipline by ther leaue with no great Iudgment and yet kept in the church with as litle Ther remainethe yet one thinge in this matter off Ordinaciō to be declared which is to whōe the right and authority off ordeining belonges A pointe not so hard to be declared as that which hath allready beene handled off Election Seinge that ther can be found no example where any one or the whole churche haue vsed this authoritie in all the holy scriptures Neyther any precept or commaundement wherby either the Bishoppes or the people should thinck the right hereoff to perteine vnto them For as for that place off Paule to Tymothe which allwais they obiect against vs Take heed thovv lay not thy hands rasshly vppon any I trust it is sufficiently answered allredy and declared how that in thos wordes ther is nothing graunted to Timothe aboue his fellowes And that he was warned only to take heed off him selfe that he were not ledde away by other men or should thinck that iff he did anything rasshly yet might be excused by the example and authoritie off others But contrarywise we reade euery where that in all ordinations ther were mo that layd on ther handes or if one did it yet all this matter was ruled by the authoritie off the counsell off the church Thus the Docters and Prophetes off Antioche ordeined Paule and Barnabas in the xiij off the Actes lickwise the xij Apostles in the sixthe off the Actes laid ther handes vpon the Deacons that were chose by the churche And lest we should doubte to which off the ordinarie offices off the church the Apostles had left this power and authoritie Sainct Paule declareth that yt was the Elders that laid ther handes vppon Timothe Off which patrimony left by the Apostles the Bishoppe in deed suche a one I meane as Paule describeth in his first Epistle to Timothe and the third chapter and in the first to Titus is fellow heyre with others and succeded in some part as after more largely shal be declared when I handle the authoritie off the Elders But to be sole and only heyre they shall neuer proue by any right off the
and laid vppon his shoulders so that no man may shutte iff he doth open neither open iff he doe shutte yt is not to be doubted but that heauen is open and shutte also when they do open and shutt who haue receiued his authority and vnto whom he hath committed this keye Therfore as Lacedemon had an assemblie off Elders Athenes a highe court named Areopagus Rome a Senate and fynally euery kingdome and coÌ„mon welthe a Counsell whos authoritie is chiefe and soueraigne in all affaires and by whome the rest off the society are gouerned So lykewise the churche hath an Assembly off Elders by whose authoritie ecclesiasticall and church matters are gouerned and administred But these thinges are to be declared more at large and all this power and authority more especially and particulerly to be shewed that we may knowe how farre it extendeth it selffe and off how great force and waight it is to the lawfull gouernment off the churche Therfore the whole authority of the coÌ„sistory coÌ„sisteth in ij partes off which the first concernethe the officers off the churche that is to saie touchinge bothe the choosinge and deposinge off theÌ„ wherof I shall not need to speake in this place seig I haue sufficiently spoken before off Elections wherby also may be easelye vnderstoode that which apperteynethe to the other pointe off depositions The secoÌ„d part off this authoritie coÌ„sisteth allmost wholie in takinge heede to offences and correcting and remouinge them out off the churche Which offences Saint Paule semeth in the xvj off the Romans to deuide into two sortes into sectes and Offences wheroff the first semeth to apperteine vnto Doctrine and the other vnto manners All which authority off Correctinge is spirituall as proceeding not from the Magistrates but from the Elders off the churche For as this counsell is Ecclesiasticall and the court a spirituall court as we vse to call yt as also it is manifestly distinguished by S. Paule from the cyuill courtes and places which the Apostle calleth courtes for thinges belonging to this life So also the punyshement is speciall and suche as belongeth to the sowle and Conscience and concerneth not this life nor those thinges with which the ciuill magistrate is wont to deale So that they are the more to blame who for this cause reiect and refuse all Ecclesasticall kinde off punishement as iniurious to the magistrate seing it handleth nothing that the magistrate can in suche sort deale with all but is lymited and bounded with reprehensions taken out off the word off god by takinge awaye the vse and communication off Sacramentes and publique praiers from them and suche like thinges as do apperteine to the soule and conscience But most off all they are to be blamed who doe falsly charge this lawfull discipline as I shewed whith offendinge against Princes and magistrates wheras yt neither punysheth any thiÌ„ge which beloÌ„geth to the courtes off ciuil officers nor yet punysheth with cyuill punishemeÌ„t as off goodes or off body any fault which it correcteth but only in such sort as hath bene declared wheras they whoe do obiect this may be charged with bothe faultes For this discipline off theyrs both dealeth in cyuill causes and by right apperteyninge to the courtes off the Magystrates and often tymes those whome they haue authoritye to correct they punyshe by the purse or emprisonment But to passe thes lightly ouer for hast which notwithstanding are most waighty accusations and worthy for the haynousnes off them to be deâ—ie with in the kinges benche as offending so highly against the state and authoritie off the prince and Magistrate Let vs come to the diuers kindes of Censures and reprehensions which are vsed in this lawfull discipline Now this correction is off two sortes and is done either by Speeche or wordes only as when a man is rubuked for some fault which he hath committed and is warned to take heed that he offend not so againe or ells when besides the chastisement off wordes ther is some spirituall punishement and correction adioyned therunto Example we haue off the first sort in the fourth off the Actes where Theapostells Peter and Iohn being brought to the Assembly off the Elders they were asked by what authoritie they taught the people and preached the resurrection from the dead in the name of Iesus for which after that they had bene rebuked and threatned they were forbidden to preache or speake any more to any man in the name off Christ and so let go In deed they did wickedly to rebuke them for the preachinge the of gospell the best thing that caÌ„ be and most necessary for the saluacion off man but yet by this there doinge we may perceiue what was the forme off gouernment off the churche emonges the Iewes which our Sauiour Christ hath translated to his churche For this is it that our Sauiour Christ meanethe in the xviij off Matthew and xvij verse when he commandeth the stubborne that will not be obedient to the admonytion off two or three to be brought to the churche that he may be admonished and corrected by the churche Wher vnto also belongeth that wher S. Paule admonisheth Tymothy off reprouinge the Elders openly that is to say suche as had bene lawfullie conuicted And for those admonitions and corrections which haue some punishment ioined with them for the diuersitie both of faultes and punishementes they are deuided into two sortes And resemble in a manner those two punishementes off the Romanes wherby the state condition and priuilege off suche as did offend was diminished wheroff the first is called by Ecclesiasticall writers Suspension the second Excommunication Now suspension is a charge geuen by the assembly of the Elders to absteyne a certen tyme from the communication off the supper off lord Hereoff ther is some example and shadowe in the lawe which forbiddeth such as be vncleane to be partakers off hoâ—y thinges and suffered not indifferently any to enter into the Temple and to be partakers off the Sacramentes and sacrifices which were offred Therfore there were appointed keepers off the gates off the temple by Iehoyada the priest to keepe euery filthy and vncleane person from entringe into the temple So also in the xij off Exodus It is forbidden that any man being vncircuncised shold be admitted to the cmomunicatinge off the Passouer or that any straunger who by receiuinge circuncision professed not the like Religion with them should be admitted In the ix off Nombres ther is a notable example concerninge this matter off certen who beinge driuen from communicatinge the Passouer bycause they had polluted them selues by touchinge a dead body weÌ„t to Moses and Aaron that is to say syttinge in the Counsell house as it is well noted by an Hebrew Interpretor and desyred that ther vncleanes might be forgeuen them that they might eate the passeouer with the rest off Israell alledginge that seinge off necessitie some must dailie die in so great a multitude yt seemed
eare nor hearing in the body no nose nor smellinge no handes nor fealinge fynally nothing but the Eye and seinge So the Bishop cutteth off the Deacons as the handes from the body taketh away the Elders who do necessarilie serue to smell out and vnderstand many matters abolisheth the Assembly as if he should stopp vp the eares which are apointed for the hearing off controuersies and fynallie hath destroyed the whole body whiles he will haue yt nothing but an eye neither will suffer either the Deacons or the Elders or the Assembly to do any thing but only himselfe to heare handle and deale with all manner matters But what a body is this which is nothing but an eye for as the Apostle saith The whole body is not one member but many And if ther be nothing but an eie then where is the smellinge wher is the hearinge wher be the handes and wher be the other partes Surely God made the bodie otherwise apointed to euery membre his office and function Neither can the Bishopp say vnto the Deacon no more then the Eye vnto the hand that he hathe no need off him seing we see Apostles who were the clearest Eyes which euer were had neede off the Deacons helpe Muche lesse can I say that he hathe no need off the Elders or off the whole assembly Neither durst the Byshoppes arrogate thus muche to them selues in the begynninge but by litle and lytle as Ambition and dysyre off bearinge rule did encrease in them and the care off the churche did decrease in ther fellows at the last they came to this vnspeakable pride Wherunto this was the first steppe when as the name off a Bishopp which is common to all other ministers and there fellowes as yet appeerethe in the xx off the Actes beganne to be attributed to one alone who was chosen by the rest to this end that he might propound the matters which were to be handled vnto the Assembly and gather the voices and beare as yt were that office which the Consull did in the Senate off Rome But as yet he was chosen by the rest and that not for euer but for a tyme And althoughe he had the honor off the name yet for other thinges he vsed no priuate authority neither toke vnto him selffe any more geuinge off voyces or determyninge off matters then any off the rest he contynewed still in the common care and chardge off all the Assemblie to watche ād ouer see the flock and was carefull also off his owne particuler dewty to preache ād to teache the people neither pretēded the charge off the common care which he had with the rest to make yt a cloke for his ydlenes and to liue at ease and leaue his proper and peculier charge off preaching but kept still his owne churche as his standinge vpon the wall so that yet hether to euery thing But only the Arrogatinge off the name off Bishopp vnto him selfe was tollerable But afterwardes when as by the negligence and ignorance off Bishopps and ministers there were but a fewe who were meete to handle suche matters and many were vnlerned some also idle and negligent and cared not for the churche then began this authority and charge touchinge the Discipline off the churche to be allmost wholie geuen vnto one which occasion Ambition tooke and seing the tyme to serue so fitt for the purpose hoised vp the sailes vnto honor So yt became a perpetuall office wheras before they were chosen vnto yt for a tyme And all matters were gouerned and ruled by one mans Authoritie alone and no more by the voyces off his fellowes and off the Assembly But afterward that darknes encreasinge and couering all the churche when as fewe fit Mynisters were to be found not onely in one towne or cytie But in some whole countrie or prouince the Tyranny grewe greater and encreased still and brought vnder the subiection off one man all the churches which were in a whole Dioces wheruppon the charge off a perticuler and as we will call yt a parishe churche was shaken off vnder pretence off this great burden off the ouersight off so many churches So that they left vnto them selues no more off the trew office off a Bishop and mynistery then that serued for ther honor that is they reserued only so muche that they might speake to the people wher and in what churche and when they wold Thus they vsurped all the authority off the Assembly yea ouer the Assembly ruling them as they listed chosing and putting out whom they would vntill at the last the Assemblies were cleane taken away and the churches off euery Dioces had Lordes set ouer them But ambition which as the flame or fyre goeth vpwardes still and cannot be kept with in any bandes staied not thus in Dioces and small prouinces But ascended vpp to greater from whence come our Metrapolitanes who were called Archbishopps and fyrst begann that Authoritie to be geuen them in theyr name which in deed they had vsurped before Then from the greater prouinces and Archebishoprickes they came higher to the rule off all the churches in a whole kingdome whervppon they wer called primates Then the whole churche thoroughe out the world was ruled by a Quadrumvirat that is by foure who had the chiefe charge off all the world and were called Patriarches vntill at the last Antychrist by thes staires went vpp to the throne off god and sat hym downe in the middest off the churche as Paule had prophesied and boasted him selfe as god This is the trewe hystorie off the confusion off Ecclesiasticall offices This was the cradle and the beginning off the Ambition off churche men Thus they grewe forewardes vpp and encreased wherby iff we perceyue all thinges to be so oute off ordre that the state off the whole bodye is to be feared by yt Let vs at the last geue warninge to our Prymat to our Metropolitanes and to our Lorde Bishoppes that yff they think yt a shamefull and an ambytious thinge and vnbesceminge the modesty off the seruant off Christ and off a trewe Pastor for the pope to take the Authorytye off Generall Counsells and to suffe nothing to be done nor decreed in them but what he only dothe or alloweth that I say yff they think this shamefull in the pope to doe to generall Counsells they would not plaie the petipopes in Conuocations or prouinciall Synods and takinge awaie the libertie off the Ecclesiasticall Synodes and Assemblies rule gouerne and apoint all alone by tyranny lest they seeme not to haue desyred to deliuer the churche cleane out off Bondage but only to chaunge the maister and to make it become subiect vnto them and to haue sought onelie that we should haue no forraine popes not that we should haue none at home or none alltogether and rather to haue abhorred the pope off Rome then the popedome yt selffe Let them remember at the last that they haue as great need iff they do
Doctors Elders haue the chiefe care and charge off this commoÌ„ wealthe to see that no office want his officer and how faithfullie euery one beareth hiÌ„selfe in doinge off his office regarding all with one eye how offeÌ„ses may be auoided and how they may be remedied when they do arise As for the placinge off euery one in his degree how honest and orderly ys it wheras all do generally reuerence and respect the Assembly for their Authoritie And euery one knoweth his place and degree and lifteth not him selfe aboue his callinge But the Deacons sitting downe in the lowest Roume geue place vnto the Bishopps who sitting as Stevvards off the Lordshouse at the higher ende off the table enuie not other officers to sit together with them And the Stewards also do so know them selues to beare the same office that notwithstanding the Pastors go before and the Doctors follow after After whom next be the Elders and in the last place the Deacons sitting notwitstandinge at the Officers table As for euery mans garments and apparell howe seemely are they how meet for ther callinges and how precious aÌ„d excellent The common Araie off them all is a certen godlie and holie knowledge and profession off Religion and an vndefiled life and coÌ„uersacion wherwith being clothed as with those white garmentes which Saint Iohn mencioneth in his reuelacion they need no cloth off gold our suche like costly apparell to set them out with all Yet besides this common Aray euery one carieth the proper tokens and badges off his office For the Bishopps as the kinges stewardes in steade off ther staues haue sounde knowledge of the scriptures besides which the Pastors haue allso that mouiÌ„ge aÌ„d percinge speeche wherby they haue bothe power and authoritie to strenghten and to terrefie to comfort and to cast downe againe as the Reye off openinge and shuttinge which Eliachim great steward off kinge Ezechias house is described to beare vpon his shoulder As for the rest off the Deacons their seuerall signes and markes are Diligence Symplicitie Which so merueilous gouernment off the howse off God apointed by the most devine and heauenly wisdome seing it passethe aboue measure the ordre off Salomons house with the loue wheroff the Queene off Saba was Rauished the God off all mercy graunt that yt may muche more rauishe our most noble Queene and hir right honorable Counsellors with the love theroff then the other did the Queene off the Sowthe and hir Courtiers For then shall we bee all most happy who liue in the churche as in the court off Christ our trewe Salomon when we may allwais stand in his presence before him and heare him speake being the wisdome off his Father Then shall we confesse that king Salamon doth reigne in deede and that all thinges are trew which the Prophetes prophesied touching his kingdome when we see the churche in this ordre when we see the Ministers and officers theroff thus araied and apointed For althoughe as we saie the court is wher the king is So also the church is wher as Christ is present And allthoughe this be the cheifest end most principall To heare the voice and wisdome off Salomon yet it is not possible that he should tary any longe tyme in a place that he appoint not and set in ordre his Court according to his heauenlie wisdome It may be that in time of his progresse where he soiourneth but for a short tyme being ready by and by to depart againe that this whole ordre and gouernment off his court canÌ„ot so well be seene and appeere but it cannot be that where he is purposed to dwell and where he hath chosen a certen place to abyde and continewe in that he set not all thinges in ordre according to his wisdome meetest both for his state aÌ„d maiestie and for the perpetuitie off his reigne For which cause I am the more a fraid lest that he be come into England as into some castle in the waie off his progresse for a small tyme vnles this confusion and disordre which coÌ„monly followeth progresses be taken awaye and a certeine and sure ordre off gouerninge the churche be established for I cannot fullie reioice in the state off our churche vntill that I see both for religion sownde faithe and doctrine in Christ and for discipline a commely and meet order off gouerninge the churche which Saint paule reioised to see in the churche off the Colossians For the stable and perpetuall state and condition off the churche standethe vpon these ij pillers Wherfore I most humblie pray and beseech all men that haue any care to preserue and keepe the kingdome off Christ emonges vs to deliuer the trew seruice and worshipp off God to our posteritie that to their power euery one would seeke for this lawfull discipline off the churche which I haue described and boâ—he all seeke to furder yt with their good will and prayers and especially the ministers by preachinge and the Maiestrates by authoritie As for me I bynd my selffe as it were by this Obligation to god and to the churche that my labor and diligenc shall neuer be wanting in any thing that may helpe and furder by any meanes this reformation which our Eyes dasell and our sowles pyne away with so long looking and waiting for which yff I may once see I shall thinck that parte off any life the happiest wherin so great a benefit shall comme vnto the churche but Iff I shall neuer see yt with mine eyes yet I am glad that I haue seene the forme and patterne off it allready in my mind and left it to those that shall come after and so by the example off Dauid and Ezechiel whose condicion was not vnlyke in this behalffe and by the testimony off my conscieÌ„ce that I haue dischardged my dewty to my God and to our churche I will rest and confort my selffe herewithall in the want off that which with so great desyer I haue longed for To God alone be honor glorye a 2. Corr. 7.3 what discipline is Hebr. 3.3 Exodus 25 40. a 2. Chro. 8.14.29 25. b Ezechie 40. 41. 42. a Artes 3.22 b Matth. 17.5 c Eliezer was Abrahams seruant whose faithfulnes is shewed in that 24. off Genes Psal. 45.7.5 Esaie 32.1.4 35.5.6.7.8.9 Zachar. 14.21 Luk. 9.58 Luk. 12.13.14 Luk. 21.25.26 Iohn 19.36 Math. 18.15.15.17 Act. 1.2.3.4 Math. 28.20 Ephe. 4.8.10.11 1. Timoth. 6.13 Diuision of discipline 1. Corrint 32.19.29 1. Corrint 10.15.16 Heb. 13 24. Hebr. 4.5 Nomb. 17. â— â— Samuel â—â— 2. King. 15.5 Nomb. 1â— 32.35 Math. 28. â—â— Hebr. 7. Iohn 3.5 Ephes 1.5 Rom. 4.11 1. Tâ—moth 2.11.12 Iudges 13.5 1. Timoth. 1.3 2. Corinth 2.16 Luk. 3.23 Math. 3.17 Luk 2.49 Math. 28.19 Actes 14.23 Titus 1.5 〈…〉 1. Act. 20.17 Act. 15.2 2. epist. Peter 5.1 Iosue 22. Coloss 4.17 2. Timoth. 4.5 2. Cor. 9.16 Ephe. 4.9 1. Pet. 1.18.19 1. Timoth 3.10 1. Timoth. â— â—2 Actet 1.23 Math
for the kinde affection which I beare to that churche in which I haue bene bothe borne and browght vp and therfore loue most deerelie for goode causes euen as the Apostle saith to liue and die togither I thought yt I saie my dewtie to desire and beseche this Churche earnestlie and carefullie to thincke off this so greate a benefyte whereby yt maie be established for euer And most earnestlie to exhorte and admonishe yt to abolishe that popishe tyrannye which yet remayneth in the gouernment thereoff and to restore againe the most holie pollicie offâ—◠〈◊〉 the churche which our Sauior Christe hath 〈◊〉 vnto vs and to feare lest that the lorde will punishers and will be reuenged off vs iff we contynewe still to despise his discipline But forasmuche as there be many who because they delight rather in a faire owtwarde shewe then the trew symplicitie off the Gospell striue and contend to retaine still this Popishe Hierarchie and conterfaite manner off gouerning the churche blaming that order for many causes which we persuade vnto This whole controuersie is fullie and at large to be disputed of that when they vnderstand the goode cause that we haue to repriue the one and require the other they maie ioyne togither with vs in earnest praiers vnto god and humble suyte vnto hir maiestie That this Popishe tyrannie being at the last vtterlie abolished and cleane taken away In place theroff a better and more holie gouernment of the churche accoding to Goddes worde maie be established Which cause I purpose so to handle that fyrst drawing out the right paterne and platforme off the lawfull pollicie and gouernment off the churche as Christe and his Apostles haue lefte it vnto vs togither their withall I will note our faultes and errors in euerie pointe that by this comparison the trewthe maie more clerelie shine and appeare fyrst therfore seing we haue not to doe with such as reiecte all discipline off the Churche that yt maie be better vnderstode what it is whereoff we dispute I will declare what the lawfull discipline off the churche is I call therfore Ecclesiasticall Discipline the pollicie off the Churche off Christe ordeyned and appointed off God for the goode administracion and gouernment off the same That I make here God the Author off discipline wherupon yt followeth that we haue to fetche the rules thereoff from no other fountaines but from the holie scriptures had nede be more fullie proued because it is denied by many who dare affirme that there is no precepte geuen touching this matter but contend that it is wholy lefte vnto iudgement of the magestrate and off the churche first then let theÌ„ tell vs whie they denie that god hath thus carefullie prouided for Christiane Churches and whie they affirme yt to be lefte free for vs to rule it as we lifte seing that in the olde churche off the Iewes All thinges which perteined not onlie to the gouernment off the cyuile state but also off the Ecclesiasticall for althoughe with them god was Author of bothe yet he wold haue them distinguished the on from the other were so diligentlye and exactelie destributed and bothe commanded by god and commended to writyng by Moses that yt was expresslye forbidden that Nothing should be added vnto yt nor taken from yt For yt appreareth manyfestlye that that exacte paterne off Discipline came not fyrst from Moses but from God by this that Moses testifieth so often that the lorde had apointed the maner off creating and ordeining Ecclesiasticall officiers and and there power and authoritie who aso allwaies readie to punyshe the transgressors off his ordinances with most grieuous plages and punyshementes There is a notable historie in the ninthe off NoÌ„bers off certeine vncleane persons who thincking yt no sufficient cause whie they shold not eate the Passeouer with the rest off Israell because they were polluted with touching off a deade bodie which thei must needes doe seing there died dailie some emonghest them as off necessitye yt commeth to passe in so greate a multitude went to Moses and Aaron desiring that they might not be secluded from that solempne communion off the churche But what doth Moses in this case what taketh he vpon him Surelie nothing at all but referreth the cause wholie vnto God by whose answere they were forbidden to eate the Passouer with the rest off Israell and were put off vnto the next moneth Off which cause properlie belonging to this Discipline which we handle and referred to God yt maie be clearlie vnderstoode That Moses in all the gouernment off the churche did nothing by his priuate authoritie but onlie deliuered vnto them that which the lorde had commanded which thing also Moses him selfe doth plainlie testefie by his often repeating off these wordes As the Lord had commanded And this is that faithfulnes which the Apostle to the Hebrewes commendeth in him that he ruled not the howse off God by his owne will but by the authoritie off the Lorde the master off the howsholde And how preciselie ys yt commanded in the Tabernacle that all should be made after the fashoÌ„ and paterne which had bene shewed by the Lorde in the Montaine neyther so long as kinges were in any tollerable state Any eyther kinges or priestes toke vpon them any suche authoritie to appointe matters belonging to the churche but all thinges were ruled and gouerned according to the will and authoritie off god For whereas in the fashion and buiding off the temple and in the offices off the leuites and off the Singers certeine thinges were somewhat otherwise appointed by danid and Salomon then they had bene commanded by Moses That chaunge and alreracion was not made by the authoritie off Dauid and Salomon as kinges but by the will off God himselfe who apointed yt so by his Prophetes as appeareth in the Chronicles Therfore also the fashion and paterne of the teÌ„ple after it was ouerthrowne was so exactelie drawne out by Ezechiell that the newe temple might he builled againe according to the paterne off God shewed by his Prophete Wherfore also Erra and Nehemiah exacte all there reformacion to the paterne off Moses Dauid and Ezechiel Seing then so stable and certeine a rule off gouerning the churche contynewed vnto Christe the lawes and ordinances were appointed by god him selfe and that it was accompted wicked and vnlawfull for any man boldlye to haue taken any thing in hand in these matters and that suche as did so eschaped not the grieuous punishement and vengaunce off God whie doe they now at the last deliuer god off this care or rather spoile the churche off hir patrone and defender by whose gouernment yt might be preserued and who sitting in the sterne at the helme yt neuer feared any stormes or tempestes but was allwaies safe in all daunger And how absurde and vnreasonable a thing is it then especially to thincke the loue and care off God to be demynished towardes his churche when
he hath testified yt with a most certeine and vndoubted testemony that is to saie by the sendyng off his onlie begotten sonne to take awaie our sinnes and as the Prophete off God to declare all the Lordes will and couÌ„sell towardes vs and to rule the churche by his owne authoritie For this is that Prophet like vnto Moses who shold plainelie and perfectlie declare vnto vs of God all thinges which doe belonge vnto our dewtie whome we ought to heare and to obeye as the holie ghoste by the mowthe off Peter hath expounded that promise and by that heauenlie voice which testefied off him from heauen that he was the deare and onlie begotten sonne off god in whome the father was well pleased and commanded vs to heare him But how shoulde we thincke him to be like vnto Moses yff he either hath wholy omitted or not so clearlie and perfectelie as farr as was needfull for vs shewed and declared this doctrine off the manner off gouerning the churche being so necessarie and which Moses hath so diligentlie and faithfullie declared Thefore we must conclude iff we acknowledge Christe to be that Prophette that he hath fullie and perfectlie declared vnto vs whatsoeuer was nedefull for the gouernmeÌ„t off the churche excepte we will robbe hiÌ„ of some parte off his Propheticall office or preferre a seruate be he neuer so faithfull before the only begotten sonne and as yt were Eliezer before Isaac in his fathers howse which surelie they doe who thincke the seruante to haur omitted nothing in this behalffe that the heire hath omitted all and that Moses lefte all thinges perfecte but Christe eyther beganne them not or did not fynishe that which he beganne Now whereas I affirme that Christ hath lefte vs so parfecte a rule and Discipline I vnderstand yt off that discipline which is common and generall to all the churche and perpetuall for all tymes and so necessarie that without yt this whole societie and company and Christiane common wealthe cannot well be kepte vnder there Prince and king Iesus Christe And surelie we must nedes either confesse that Christe hath lefte vs suche an order to liue by or ells spoile him off his kinglie office For what doth more belong vnto the name office and dewtie off a king then to geue lawes vnto his cytezens and subiectes â–ª and to make such decrees and ordinauÌ„ces wherby all the partes off his kingdome maie be mainteined The Papistes indeede denie it and dispute against vs and coÌ„tend that it is lawfull for there highe prieste to rule and order the churche off God as he listeth but we who doe detest and abhorre this blasphemous voice and according to goddes worde aknowledge and confesse Christe to be the only king off the churche how can we saie either that he neglected so greate and so necessarie a point off his Kinglie office or that he hath left yt vs to order as we please But yff there be any whose speache is so contrarie to it selfe that they graunte Christe to be the King and lawe geuer off the churche and yet will saye that either he made no lawes touching tht gouernment off his people or fewer then were needfull Let them consider how litle they differ from the Papistes in this poincte and how vnhonorably and vnreuerently they speake off Christe our Lorde For yff he hath not set in order the whole state off his kingdome iff he hath not apointed officers and declared the dewtie and authoritie off euerie one yff he hath not apointed what shoulde be the order off courtes and off Iustice iff he hath taken no order how the controuersies off his subiectes maie be ended he hath lesse prouided for his churche then not only Moses did for the Iewes but then Lycurgus Solon Numa and other lawegeuers off the gentiles prouided for there cities and common weales Which yff we confesse what shall become off that famous kingdome which the Prophetes sette out with such pompe and glorie what shall become off that septer off Iustice and that Chariotte wherein Dauid describeth him sitting in the middest off the church Which althoughe we graunte properlie to belong to the kingdome off Christe in heauen affter thâ—s life yet are those Prophecies not so wholy to be referred therunto but that they haue also some relacion to the begynning off his kingdome in this life For seing his kingdome in this life differeth from the other by reason and certeine respecte only and is not altogether off an other kinde so that the thinges which are here begonne shall then be fully accomplished There is a certeyne proporcion to be considered here and all those prophecies are after a sorte also to be expopounded off this kingdome As where yt is prophesied that in the kingdome off Christe all thinges shal be ordred by perfecte Iustice and equitie that all his subiectes shal be obedient and full off heaueÌ„ly knowledge that there shall be no Cananyte in all the lande that the gentiles shal be shutte out off the citie off god and suche other thinges which the prophetes most worthelie and notablie haue sett out we must vnderstand that all these thinges after a certeyne manner are to be referred also to his Kingdome in this life and declareth that the gouernment of this Kingdome of his churche here owght also to be iust and equall that the faithfull who are his subiectes owght not to be brutishe and ignoraunte but as conning in heauenly matters and as full off that knowledge as maie be That men off vicious lyfe and geuen to all sinne and wickednes are to be cast out and banyshed from the churche and the temple off god to be kepte as nere as is possible free and cleane from all pollutions and prophanacions Furder also they are conuicted by the whole historye off the Gospell and by the writinges off the Apostles by which it appeareth that he hath lefte vnto vs fully all thinges which were nedefull for the administracion off gouernment off his kingdome For howe ofteÌ„ talked he with his disciples touching this kingdome How often did he declare what maner off kingdome yt was namelie that yt was no kingdome off this werlde that it handled not the busynes and affaires off this life but suche only as parteine to the mynde and conscience How often did he declare what his officers should be naÌ„ely no gracious nor honorable Lordes but ministers off the churche How exactelie did he apointe the order off his courtes and iustice that no thing more could be required to a right gouernmeÌ„t and lawfull pollicye yea eueÌ„ a litle before that he went from his disciples how earnestlye and how carefully coÌ„meÌ„ded he the charge off his kingdome vnto them how greate authoritie gaue he them to shutte or open heauen and so greate was his care for the dewe administring off his kingdome euen then when he toke his triumphant chariotte wherewith he was after caried into heauen that sitting there he
it throwglie and with diligeÌ„tlie considereth how small frute hath groweÌ„ off so long trauaile and labor in the preaching off the gospell Out off this CaÌ„non lawe came all that romyshe Hierarchie primates Archbishoppes Lord Bishoppes Chancellors Achdeacons and there seruantes Officialls Commissaries and therest off that Trashe by whom the churche as it were taken prisoner is now off long tyme kepte in prison and bondage From hence commeth also that romische courte wheron a most shamefull markete off vnlawfull and wicked dispensacions and all gainful meanes off destrouing the churche is kepte wold to God that we had rather suffred the papistes when they were cast out to haue gone awaie with there bagge and baggage and that we had not had so greate a desire to be enriched by these spoiles and praies This is not beleue me to he enriched with the Iewells off the Egyptians but to be infected with there boyâ—es and soares These eare ringeâ— and Egyptian ornamentes which we haue gotteÌ„ are fytter to make a golden calfe with then to adorne and beautifie the tabernacle off god Therfore let vs send them backe againe froÌ„ whence they come and at the last take in hand an earnest and sincere reformacion off the churche Let vs abrogate and abolishe the authoritie off this Canon lawe then the which there is nothing lesse canonycall and which is the fyrst and greatest faulte in our discipline and the fountaine and originall off all the rest and Let this be the fyrst article off the newe reformacion that all thinges be exacted as nere as maie be vnto the worde off god That our particular lawes grownde vpon this foundacon and let so much be admitted for Ecclesiasticall discipline as may be confirmed by the voice and authoritie off God him selfe And thus muche let yt suffice generally to haue spoken what discipline is Now let vs devide the rest off this treatise as almost all politique doctrine is wont to be deuaded into two partes whereoff the fyrst declareth that which belongeth vnto them who bare any office or haue any charge in the churche the other part brieflie toucheth the dewtie off the rest off the bodie off the churche For as the Apostle saith all the bodie is not one membre nor all axe not Prophetes or Doctors but there is a certeine diuersite and dinstinction off Offices as off members wherby the whole bodie is preserued All which diuersitie and difference is deuided by the Apostle into two sortes who in the Epistle to the Corrinches calleth some Fellovve helpers and laborers naming the rest off the churche by the name off Sainctes Thus allso the Apostle to the Hebrewes deuideth the churche into those who had the ouersight and into the rest off the Sainctes Now to speake fyrst off the former part it is to be vnderstoode that to the bearing off any ecclesiasticall office there is a certeine vocation and calling to be vsed which a man owght to waite for being necessarie to the taking vpon him off any charge what soeuer which manner off apointing to an office wither we call it Creation or Assignacion or as the ecclesiasticall writers doe most vsually Vocacion It is the apointement off God to the bearing off some office in his churche in suche sorte and maner as he hath ordeined for euerie officer to be apointed by Which calling to the Bearing or the excuting off any ecclesiasticall charge and function hath all tymes bene holdeÌ„ so necessarie that no man hath bene thowght to exercise any lawfull authoritie therin who had not fyrst off all in his owne conscience wytnesse off the calling off God thereunto and after also off the churche apointing him according to Goddes decree and ordinaunce For that sentence off the Apostle is generall that no man owght to take this honor vnâ—o him but he that is called thereto as was Aaron For this doctrine off the necessytie of a Vocaâ—on and Calling did not so once growe ouâ— off that noble rodde off Aaron togither with the Almandes that yt fell afterwardes also from the tree togither with them but this AlmaÌ„d three off Aaron sette and planted by the witte and labor off Moses florisheth euen to this daie So that we maie yet gather this doctrine off yt which is muche more precious then any Almondes or other frute what soeuer Nere to the same place in Moses is rehersed also a notable iudgement off God whereby yt semeth that the lorde ment to ratefie this lawe off the necessitye off Vocation for euer wherein we see that neyther the heauens could abyde to loke vpoÌ„ nor the earthe to beare so shameles boldnes but the one melting consumed with fire such as without a calling would take vpoÌ„ theÌ„ the priesthoode and the earthe gaping and opening it selfe swallowed theÌ„ vp aliue which owght to be a lesson to vs for euer not only as Moses writeth that not man burne incense before the lorde but only they which are off the stocke off Aaron and are thereby called thereunto but also that no man be so bolde as to peruert or alter that order which God hath established in his churche and to arrogate vnto hiÌ„ that honor which he hath by no right or lawfull calliÌ„g obteined Hitherto beloÌ„geth also that which is writteÌ„ off Peres vzzach that is to saie off the breache which the lorde made in vzzach who was stricken sodainlie to deathe only for that beyonde the bondes off his calling he put to his hand and held vp the arcke of God which shaked and was readie to fall which was lawfull only for the Leuites to touche So the the Lord did no more spare Vzza attempting beyonde his vocacion to touche the arke althoughe his entent and purpose were neuer so good then he had pardoned before Aarons kinsmen But if we require yet witnesses of greater authoritie we may reade that king vzziah was stricken with the leprosie for that being not content with his kinglie office he wold haue taken vpon him the Priestes office also Thus the lorde hath ratified and sealed vp this parte of discipline with most grieuous aÌ„d fearfull punyshement and the same not once but oftentimes executed to this entent that this lawe might for euer be off such authoritie in the churche that no man should euer dare to be so bolde and hardie as to breake yt Wherefore seing that god neuer forgaue or lefte vnpunished this faulte in any degree state or person but punyshed the leuites and euen Aarons owne howse and familie SathaÌ„ and Abyram also being Princes off tribes yea Vzziah being a king and that so sharpelie and seuerelie so greate punishemeÌ„t in such personages fire from god the earthe opening hir mowthe Sodaine death and the most fylthie disease off the leprosie owght to stricke such a feare into our hartes that we suffer not sacred functions and offices to be prophaned by voloÌ„tarie officers aÌ„d such as take them vpon them without any lawfull
freelie and sincerelie preached vnto vs what were the force off our Adoption in Christe what were the strengthe off the couenannte which God made with vs what the eternall and euerlasting councell off god in CHRIste were touching our saluacon what were the vse off the Sacramentes and namelie off Baptisme For who can dowbte that this fowle error flowed into the churche from these heades and that the ignoraunce off these thinges was the cause that some not vnderstanding that place off Saincte Iohn Onlesse a man be borne againe off vvater and off the Spirite He cannot enter into the Kingdome off God toke occasion thereoff to thincke Baptisme necessarie to saluacion and that all that were not baptized shold be condemned Whereas all the Scripture to the Analâ—ogie and proporcion whereoff this place is to be expounded pâ—ainly teacheth that the Electe are saued by the goode pleasure and will off god by reason off the couenante and off there Adoption in Ihesus Christe That Abraham was iustefied before his circuncision which in force and effecte answereth to our baptisme and that couenaunce and the promises are not made by the sacramentes but sealed by theÌ„ Which seale also serueth not to the confyrmyng off the worde off god in it selfe which in yt seâ—fe is most constaunte certeine and immutable and hath no neede to borowe credite off any thing ells but that iâ— maie be confirmed in vs whose weakenes to the fulie staieng and acquieting off our faithe neded suche meanes to be confirmed by So that seing the lorde to haue sete his sygnet to the confyrming off our Saluacion and to haue sealed yt vp we might the more quietlie rest and acquiete our selues in his faithe and custodie As for the place off S. Iohn wither yt be to be vnderstoode off the holie Ghoste the Author off this regeneracion whereoff our Sauior speaketh who as in an other place is ment by fyre so maie be also here by water or whither yt be ment off Baptisme yt in no wise restraineth our saluacion to euerie sprinckling off waâ—er but to the sacrament only But there can be no sacrameÌ„t without a minister and there can be no embassadge without an embassador And yf any priuate man shold breake breade according to the institucon off Christe and communicate with others to the commemoracion off his Seathe who wold call that the hoâ—y supper off the Lorde and not rather an vnworthie prophanacion off that most holie mynister rie And yet althoughe yt be ministred by a minister our entraunce into the kingdome off god is not to be geuen to the outward baptisme but in as muche as by a sacramentall kinde of speaking vsuall in the scriptures in this kinde That is attributed to the Sacramentes for the certeine coniunction off the thinges signified with the Signes which indede is proper to the thinges whereoff they be Sacramentes Therefore there is not that necessytie off Baptisme to saluacion which many doe suppose that for this cause the holie ordinaunce off god whereby it is lawfull for the mynisters onlie to minister the Sacramentes should be prophaned And I can not see what other cause off his prophanacion they can pretend And a man maie mervailee whie at suche tymes they puâ— not rather priuate men to baptize then women for sure the faulte had bene so muche the lesse For women are further removed from this office for whome yt is vnlawfull to take the same vpon them not onlie because they are preuate but also because they are women For euen the verie sexe is forbidden to exercise any publique charge or function in the churche by sancte Paull And is commanded to sitte still and be quiette which quietnes and vocation these men will not suffer theÌ„ to enioie who styrre them vp to the exercisyng off authoritie and doing off these thinges so expresselie forbidden them But yff this were to be suffred for that necessitie which they imagine whie shold yt not also be suffred in case off like necessitie that they should minister the lordes supper and preache the gospell wherefore seing they are forbidden by S. Paul. to exercise any ecclesiasticall function or authoritie Seing it is an vnlawfull transgression off the ordinaunce off Christe and an vnworthie prophanacion off baptisme to geue leaue to women and mydwiues to exercise this authoritie it were to be wished that some parte off the mydwiues conning were practized here to the vnburdening of our churche off this fowle error as off a shamefull monster that yt trauaileth withall and that it were ordeined which the Lord hath commanded that they who are not chosen nor by any meanes can be chosen to goo on the Lordes embassadge should not abuse any longer the place office and authoritie off so woâ—thy a calling It remaineth now to enquire off Archedeacons chancellors commissaries and the rest off that sorte who withouâ— any grownde off the worde off god take vpon them authoritie â—o Iudge off all suche causes as belong to the Assemblie off Elders to Iudge off and to gouerne the chur +che and to correcte and punyshe not only the people but euen the ministers them selues according to there will and pleasure who I knowe not what answere they can be able to make for them selues what letters off Order they can shewe what signes and seales off there Vocacion whereas the holy scripâ—ures doe not onlye commytie no suche charge vnto them but maketh not a worde mencion off all this sorte at all For in all the Testament wherein our Sauior hath declared his last will vnâ—o vs and appointed Tutors and Gardianes for his churche There is not one worde mencyoned off the Tutorshippe off these men but off Apostles Prophetes and Euangelistes who for a certeine tyme should haue the charge off yt After also off Pastors Doctors and Elders to whome this office was committed for euer To vsurpe then without the will off so worthie a Testator not onlie some parte off this charge which notwithstanding could not be done without the breaking off the Testament but euen the the whole and that by displacing those who were lawfullie called therunto and subiecting them to the vsurped authoritie and so to breake into an other mans possession that thow not onlie put out the right owner and maister but also compell him to become subiecte and slaue to the hath not only no pretence off right and equitie but being so heynous and vnworthie a facte were worthie to be corrected by the Magistrates authoritie For what a confusion is this that the deacon leauing his proper charge off the poore should take vpon him an other mans and rule not onlie the churche but also the Pastors Doctors and Elders to whom by goddes commandement he owght to be subiecte And that euerie Canonise and Petifogger in the lawe should vsurpe the Authoritie off Ministers and deuines I passe ouer that the most off them be Papistes and that suche are suffred to sitte in the stearne who should no
the conscience is not afraide off any winde or weather off any storme or tempest when as it staieth yt selfe vpon the lorde and followeth him in that waie wheren he goeth before Furthermore they that are gouerned can by no meanes better be browght to doe there dewtie ād persuaded to doe that which they owght then when they vnderstād that it is the lordes will and cōmandemēt whose embassador the mynister is For they reuerēce only that authoritie which they knowe to be off god hereoff we haue a manifest example in Dauid whome it staied oftētime being readie to fall and oftentimes also raised vp againe being beaten downe to the grounde that he came not to the kingdome by his owne ambicion as his enemies falselie blamed him but by the authoritie off god who called him and off Samuell the Prophete who by the Lordes cōmandemēt had anoynted him The maiestie and authoritie off which creacion at the last so moued all Israell that is to saie the ten tribes which for the space off seuē yeres were not obedient vnto him that they receiued him willinglie for there king whome before they had disdained For this cause also S. Paule so diligentlie almost in the beginning off euerie Epistle calleth him selfe an Apostle and seruante off God. For this cause also he taketh so greate paynes in his Epistles to the the Corinthes to proue his Apostleshippe which some false brethren sowght to take from him that by that meanes they might dyminishe his credite and authoritie with the churche Neyther in deede was he more confirmed by any thing in his infinite perilles trobles and labors which he bare for the Gospells cause then that he assured him selfe off the aide and assistaunce off God in the discharge off that dewtie vnto which he was appointed by him Which great fruyte and commoditie iff it maie moue vs let vs tarie ād waite for the Voice of God to call vs to beare office in his churche and let vs first be assured most plainlie and manifestlie that we are called thereunto by his gouernment and authoritie Lest that hauing entred in by the backe dore we finde the lorde to be punisher and Auenger off this ambycion the people disobedient and vntowarde and our owne consciences shaking and trembling not only at greate and vndowbted daungers but at euerie bugge and at the shaking off euerie leafe Therfore the authoritie off God is to be wayted for to the taking in hand or bearing off any ecclesiasticall office and so to be waited for that we ambiciouslie seke yt not by any disceitfull or vnhonest meanes And let no man boast here off his giftes and worthynes and in confidence thereof as a suter seke and laboure for honor For How fytte soeuer he semeth to be for any charge and office yet no thing is here to be taken rashelie in hand without the authoritie off God who will vse in his affaires whome it pleaseth him It is rehearsed in the holie historie off the iudges off what a meruoulons strengthe and mete for a Prince Sampson was yet notwithstanding iff he had not bene borne the Nazarite off the Lorde and chosen and apointed from his Mothers wombe to deliuer the people he owght not to haue sowght vengeaunce off the Philistines or to haue deliuered his owne countrey from there power and gouernment but rather to haue excercised that greate strengthe and might as Arrius writeth that Philoctetes bestowed his dartes vpon birdes and not vpon his armed enemies Neither had it bene lawfull for Salomon to haue taken in hand the gouernment off the kingdome off Israell to put in practise that excellent and worthie gifte off wisdome and gouernment in yt except the Lorde had first chosen him to succede in the princelie throne off his father Dauid and the administracion his his kingdome And worthelie were Absalon and Adoniah reiected who thinking them selues worthie toke that honor vnto them that he who was chosen by the Lorde and thought worthie by him might rule and gouerne As also was Core in the like case and the rest off his faction And after also king Vzziah desyring honors and places besides the good will and pleasure off god For the Lorde knoweth how to rule his familie and whateuerie man is to be put in trust withall according to that honestie and credite that he knoweth euerie one to be off So that he that resteth not in his iudgement but wolde haue and seketh by all meanes to procure vnto him selfe more then the Lorde hath geuen him must nedes accuse him off folishenes or off malice and therfore be giltie off most grieuous and haynons sinne And let them not obiecte against vs that sayinge off the Apostell that He that desireth the office off a Bishoppe desireth a good thing to proue and cōfirme this ambicious sewing and laboring for the ministerie whereas yt is so farr off that these wordes should kindle and enflame vs hereunto that contrariwise the Apostle semeth by these wordes to haue sowght to bridle our hastie desyre For whereas the Apostle saith that the office off a Bishoppe is a worthie worke to what ende thincke we doth he call yt so but therewithall to admonishe vs how hard yt is and that it requireth a man both off singuler learning and godlines For so yt followeth that Bishoppe owght to be off an honest and blameles life sober temperate liberall meke apte to teache and so forth And this is the worthines off the off ce off a Bishoppe which the Apostle sheweth in this place and which he so meruaileth at in other places that he thincketh no man mete to take so greate a charge vpon him By which dignitie and worthines off the office the Ambicion off men is rather quenched then kindled For vnderstanding thereby how greate and waightie a calcalling it is we are warned to take hede that we run̄e not rashelie to it but rather that we prepare our selues long before with all studye care and diligence for the bearing off so greate a burthen As for the worde 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which signifieth to couette or desire yt is ill alledged for the profe off any ambicious seking off the mynisterie Whereas the Apostle vnderstandeth a godlie zeale to set furthe the glorie off god and to edifie his churche which wisheth and desireth indeede to be made able once by the grace off God to serve him and his churche in that calling which meditateth and thinketh dailie hereupō and exerciseth and prepareth him selfe thereunto bestowyng wholie all studie and laboure to that ende yet notwithstāding waiteth for the voice off God and authoritie off the churche to call him and by an vnripe and headie desire or ambicious kinde off hastines preuenteth not the tyme off his calling We reade that Christe our Sauior him selfe althoughe he were endewed with all heauenlie wisdome yet laie he hidde as yt were without exercising any publique office to the thyrtie yere off his age and taried for that
voice of his father whereby being declared the Beloued sonne of God in whome only the father was well pleased he might be sent out to goe off his embassage ▪ he had disputed indeede once before with the Doctors in the Tēple but that was no full execuciō off any publique office but as yt were a certeine florishe ād plaieng at wasters whereby he prepared him selfe vnto a full combate and a greater battel Lykewise did the Apostles who did not thrust them selues in to the churche without his cōmanmandement and apointment but waited for that voice Goe preache the Gospell and baptize those which beleue The same modestie appeared in the Bishoppes of the primitiue churche so lōg as it cōtinewed vncorrupted and in goode estate for after as they were not afraide to enter into the churche by fraud and doceyte so being once entred in they behaued them selues in yt with like faithfullnes and modestie that they entred in whie doe we not therfore bridle this posting and spurring for the mynisterie and contenting our selues with the godlie and zealous desire off our mynde and our laboure and studie to prepare our selues thereunto flee and avoide this shamefull ambicion These so notable and worthie examples let vs esteme as a lawe made against Ambicion which yff we shal be so bolde as to transgresse let vs assure our selues that one daie in a most solempne courte and assemblie we shal be charged with Ambicion Neyther only in the office off a Bishoppe but in all other Ecclesiasticall charges this woyng off places and offices owght to be estemed vnmette and vnworthie for the modestie off any Christian man and how muche better were yt to send backe againe this laboring for offices and sutorlike care vnto Rome from whence yt came For as muche then as greate fruite ys lost by this ambicious seking for offices and honor which they reape who are fully persuaded off there calling and off the wille off God appointing them thereunto Seing also the examples off our Sauior Christe off his Apostles off the purer and primitiue churche doe call vs from yt and exhortethe vs to all sobernes and modestie and that hereby greate wrong is done vnto God whose authoritie is not waited for and that bothe the Lordes ordinaunce and our owne proffitte and commoditie calleth vs backe from this hunting after places and and offices Let vs at the lengthe amende the custome which we haue that to come flocking from all partes to that place where orders as we call them by a popishe name are geuen by the bishoppe to seke and sewe for them to bring letters off Lordes or Iustices or some other off our frendes in our commendacion and fauoure Fynally Let vs amend whatsoeuer yt is whereby a lawfull calling may be corrupted and stained and now at the Lengthe which we owght to haue done long agoe Let vs decree according to the worde off God that no man hereafter sewe for any calling in the churche Let euerie man more shamefastlie and modestlie offer his labour and diligence Let all men kepe them selues at home and there abyde and wayte for the voice off God and authoritie off those who are chosers to the taking vpon him off any ecclesiasticall charge or function There do yet remaine certaine thinges to be spooken off ecclesiasticall officers touching the execucion off that office wherunto they be called Off which the first is that the vocacion wandre not freely wher it listethe but be ioined with a charge off some certeine place and churche For yt is not here as yt is in the profession off the arts that we should esteeme thes orders as certein commendacions and the churches allowinge off any mans worthines as it is in them that by the Iudgment and authoritie off the vniuersities are preferred to the profession off the liberall sciences or off the cyuall law or phisick or any other such like For they haue none apointed them whom they should teache or heale or geue counsell vnto or wher they should exercise ther profession but as they see it commodious for them selues go to thos places which they thinck fyttest for them or iff they thinck good sit idle at home But the ministers apointement ought not to be suche that hauinge receiued as it were the commendacion and allowance of lerned men they should after provide a place for them selues as they thought most commodious or ells sit idle all ther life tyme at vome iff they list For thes admissions and allowances off studentes are geuen vnto thē as honors and rewardes which haue no more labor hanginge vpon thē then they list and iudge to be profitable for them But thes honors are suche that men are rather chareged then preferred by them and indeed rather to be esteemed burthens then honors whose nature is suche that as gardaynshipppz are graunted not for his cause who is chosen but rather for theirs who haue neede off their care helpe and labor So that iff ther be no suche in the churche ther is no cause off apointinge any to ecclesiasticall charges Therfore the Apostles did at no tyme appoint mynisters or deacons that afterwards should prouide them selues churches wher they should teache or whos treasury they should ouersee or ells be idle if they would but they ordeined deacons Pastors and Elders as the necessytie off the churche did require Thus we reede in the sixth off the Actes that when the state off the churche off Ierusalem did require the Apostles ordeined deacons ouer the treasury off that churche to see the orderinge off it and the prouision for widowes and pore folkes Thus also Paule and Barnabas in the xiiij off the actes ordeined elders in euery churche and neyther lefte the churches as orphanes with out any to care and prouide for them neither apointed any elders but vnto suche certen chuches as had need off them So also Sainct Paule expressely commandeth Titus whom he hade left in Crete to set the churches in order that he should appoynt Elders in euery citye that is to say wher ther was any churche or nomber off thos that beleeued And for this same cause I thinck ther is scarcely any wher in the holy scriptures mencion made off Elders and Deacous wher together with all is not mencioned the name off the churche place or cytie wher in they did exercise ther office Thus Paule in the Epistle to the Philippians maketh mencion off ther Bishoppes and Deacons Thus also also Sainct Luke writethe in the Actes Sainct Paule sent for the Elders off Ephesus and that the churche off Antioche sent vnto the Aoostles and Elders at Ierusalem aboute the question off Circumcision And also in Saint Peter writinge to the churches wchich wer scattered in Pontus and Galatia in the fifte chapiter I exhort saithe he the Elders which ar amonges yow that is to say the Elders which are set ouer your seuerall churches And in the same place he
to escape In the end off the same Epistle wherin he is called a Bishop he sendethe for him from Ephesus to Rome which suerly he would neuer haue done yff he had beene appointed Bishopp ther or one off thos elders whom Paule in the twentieth off the Actes sent for to miletum and exhorteth to contynuall watche and ward And Paule hym selfe writeth that he willed him to tary at Ephesus not that he had ordeined him bishopp ther. A like obiection they make out off the Epistle to Titus wher it is written that Paule left him in Creta that he should appoint Elders in euery towne But it may lickwise be annswered that the Apostle saithe not that he ordeineth him Bishopp off the churches off Creta But only that he leaft him in Creta namely so longe vntill he had sett suche thinges in order as Paule beinge otherwise called away could not tarry to do and had appointed Elders in euery citie which apperethe by this that he commanded hym when thos thinges wer done to come to him to Nicopolis into Macedonia Lickwise in an other place he writeth that Titus was gonn into Dalmacia so that yt is cleere enoughe that Titus had no charge off any certen place or church Therfore seing I thinck yt is sufficiently proued that Titus and Tymothie were EuaÌ„gelistes and not Bishoppes how doeth that make for the Bishoppes which we see by ther Epistles was granted vnto theÌ„ For I thinck they will not compare them selues with the Euangelistes or affirme them selues to be off equall authoritie with them which iff they should they might be easelie confuted as after in dew place shal be declared But that we may put the case that Timothie was Bishopp at Ephesus and that we may freely graunt that what so euer may apperre to haue beene lawfull for him to be lawfull also for them Let vs see now what the Apostle graunted to Timothie For soothe say they that he might choose off his owne authoritie the officers off the church Let vs then see whether it be so or not And here is first to be noted that they do yll geue that vnto Election which perteyneth not to Election But to Ordinacion For the laying on off handes was not wonte to be vsed in choosinge off any Officers off the churche But in ordeininge off him Then that we graunt them this also That election hereby is signified I say that ther Tyranny and Lordly authoritie is by no place more confuted then by this which they bring for them selues which that yt may more cleerly appeere I must first take away a certen false exposicion which they bringe off this place that after I may the more easyly convince them by the true and naturall meaninge theroff Heere say they Tymothie is warned that he lay not his handes to hastely vpon any nor communicate with other mens faultes namely with thers say they who allthoughe they be vnworthy seeke to enter into the ministery An interpretacion very vnfytt either for the wordes off the Apostle or for those tymes Will they confesse that euen in thos tymes this ambicion had crept into the churche that as now a dayes so then also they went vnto the Bishop for order and layinge on off handes for otherwise what other menÌ„s fault is this wherwith the Apostle warne the Tymothi that he pollute not him selfe for what fault can this bee Not to be fitt to taky vpon him an ecclesiasticall function But herein is the fault that he that is giltie to him selfe off his owne vnworthines desirethe notwithstandinge to take that vpon him which he is not able to be are with out great offence But who will say that so shamfull Ambicion raigned in the churche in thos daies which many yeeres after was borne and brought vpp at Rome And iff the church had then been steyned with this blott would not Paule expresly haue forbidden this Ambition seinge that he would haue a bishoppe to be blamles and prouided by all meanes that he sholde not swell and wax prowd Therfore this is off smaller waight then it may be allowed and the meaninge off this place is farr otherwise nam y this That Paule foreseyng longe before that greeuous wolues not sparing the flock would ryse vp euen off the Elders off Ephesus them selues and that Tymothie was but off equall authoritie with the Elders in gouerninge off the churche and choosinge off others into the same place and degree and that they that were suche wold choose to bâ— Elders and lay ther handes on suche as wer like them selues he warneth Timothy that he do nothing rashely in this behalffe neyther iff any suche thing happen althoughe other like neuer so well off it yet he shall not suffer him selfe to be led away by ther authoritie to the allowynge off it but iff he could not keep others by his counsell from so doinge at the least he should keepe hym selff pure and innocent for so he addeth emphatically Keepe thy self pure communicate not vvith other mens faultes And this is the true and naturall meaninge off this place wher by yt appeareth that the Apostle not only grauntith him no princely authoritie for then he would not haue warned him to keepe him selfe pure from allowynge any suche Election but haue commanded him off his meer authoritie to haue hindered and stayed yt and to haue made the choise of the rest off no effect by his negatiue voice but contrariwise that he was off so equall authoritie with the rest off the Elders that iff they had chosen one vnfyt in some respect yet he could not off his owne meere authoritie haue put hym back nor done any more in this matter theÌ„ any off the rest And that he could only take heede vnto him selfe that he allowed not any vnripe or vnworthie IudgmeÌ„tes off other officers Therfore ther is no cause which they should make Tymothie the Author off this ambition and tyranny Now let vs examin also the example off Titus whom they do trewly affirme to haue beene commanded to appoint Elders in euery citie but I suppose no man will thinck that Paule graunted more to Titus then eyther he and Barnabas or then all the rest off the Apostles tooke vnto them selues neyther iff he had graunted is it like that Titus being a yonge man and his scholler and as it wer his sonne would haue vsed it For as the Iewes say in a coÌ„mon prouerbe it is enoughe for the seruaÌ„t to be like his maister which sayinge allso Christ him selfe alloweth when he said that the disciple is not aboue his maister And that it owght to be enowghe for the scholer iff he be suche as his maister is But I haue shewed allredy what both Paule and all the rest off the Apostles did Neither is it â—ike that Titus did otherwise ordeine Elders in euery towne then Paule did in euery churche especially seing Paule doth expressly warne him to appoint them as he had commaÌ„ded
yt were made and appointed off God especially in this age and in thes daies wherin all thinges ar so corrupted that the most part followinge the pleasures off this life ar smally carefull for the right vse off spirituall giftes wher off notwithstandinge the Apostle would haue no man ignorant And allthoughe many wer able to iudge in other charges who ar meete and vnmeet how fewe be ther that could make triall and assay off a minister that could examyn his gifftes and make due searche and triall what godlines what lerninge or what ability he were off to edefy the churche And suerly iff all men were so taught off god that they could know and iudge off thes thinges then in deed we should neede no certein choosen men who by ther spirituall wisdome and discretion should gouerne and direct the Iudgementes off the people we should not then need to feare the chosinge off any vnworthy or vnable to edifie the churche ther would be no daunger off confusion and vproares Thes in deed should be the bancketes that they commend so highly that ar the dayntier the more ther be that bringe ther dishes to it and the Gosyppe feastes which they praise so muche which when they can prepare for vs we ar so fare off that we would not sit downe beinge bidden that with great thanckes to the host that so should receyue vs we would take great pleasure in the vse off so so exquisite daynties and preferre them before the most deyntie feastes off the Syracusians and such a table before that golden table off the sonne that Herodotus doth mencion But seinge thes thinges ar rather to be wished then hoped or loked for let vs keep that ordre which I haue described beinge most agreable to the decrees of the Apostles to edificacion the chiefest and most sacred lawe off discipline and furthest off from confusion and tumultes which is that the ecclesiasticall counsell when neede shal be prouide fitt men for the churche in euery function and office examin and trie them diligently and carefully then choose them after publishe and make knowne ther election vnto the church and last off all beinge allowed by the church lay ther handes vpon them and so stablishe them in ther place and callinge by ther authoritie But paraduenture I haue taried longer in this part then needed seing we ar not troubled with the lightnes and confusion off populer elections but with lordshipp and tyranny which I cannot se may continue with the safety off the church which it hath already allmost ouerthrowne so that speedie remedy is to befound lest we lament to late the ruine off our decaying church Now as for Elections ther must allwais goo before them a due profe and triall off the worthynes off the partyes that ar to be chosen For that which the Apostle to Timothe commandeth concerninge Deakons That they also be fist examined and then iff ther be no other cause to the contrary admitted to ther deaconshipp doth plainlie proue that examinacion owght to be had before that election and choise be made to any ecclesiasticall office and function for which cause also S. Paule doth no lesse declare the maner how to proue and trie a bishoppe or ministers then to examin the Deacon and ther is the same ende ād vse off examinaciō in all which is That no charge be cōmitted to an vnfit man or not able enoughe for the office wherby it might come to passe that both the church should want hir needfull and necessary helpes and that the holie offices should be prophaned Therfore the churche ought to choose no man but whom they knowe before to be chosen off God for it standeth vppon the gouerment off his house whos keies it is vnlawfull to commit vnto any to whom the Sonne and heyre that great steward off the house off Dauid vpon whose shoulder the master off the house hath laid the keies hath not thought good to credit and commit them vnto But God chooseth no man to any office whom therwith all he doth not indewe with meet giftes for the discharginge off it for otherwise how should he aske accōpt off doinge the office off him whom he compelled to beare and take it vpō him knowinge him vnmeet and vnable for it Therfore no man is sent oute off god without worthie giftes into any parte off his gouerment but for the burthen and function that he laieth vpon him he ministreth also strenght and force to beare it And this is the meaninge off the often repeatinge in the booke off Iudges off that sentence The Spirit off the Lord came vpon him and he iudged Israel ād many suche like examples are to be founde in the olde Testament off Moses and Iosua off the Prophetes Esay and Ieremy and many other whō when the Lord ment to vse in any the lest charge off his churche he therwith all endeweth them with worthy giftes for the good execution theroff And in the new Testament our Sauior Christ him selfe tooke not vpō hī to deale in the mediator his office before he had receiued the holy ghost wherby he might be furnished withmeet giftes for the full discharge and execution off it For so Esay expressely Prophesithe off him The pirit off the Lord is vpon me therfore he hath anoynted me he hath sent me to preach the Gospell vnto the pore c. Out off which place whe see that fyrst he receyued the Spirit or euer that office and embassage was enioyned him and that he was anoynted before he came to the wrestling and exercise So lickewise the Apostles allthoughe they had beene taught by our Sauior him selfe the most heauēly schole master that could be for three yeeres and more and had after a sorte receyued the holie ghost by his breathinge vppon them yet because they had a great battell to fight and muche trauell to be taken and many daungers to aduenture into he geuethe them warninge that they enter not into the listes rashly and vnprouided but commandeth them yet to tary and waite for the promise off the father and more plentifull guiftes off the holie ghost Hither also belongethe the ceremonies vsed in bothe the Testamentes in ordinacion or consecracion as we call it For what ells doth that anoyntinge off the priestes kinges and Prophetes declare But thos guyftes wherwith they who were anoynted were endewed by the holie ghost for the execucion off ther offices To this also the layinge on off handes in the newe testament is to be referred which declareth that the Lord had laid on his handes before and giuen them worthi gyftes for the places they were called vnto But what do I trauelinge so carefully in this behalfe doth not nature it selfe and reason and common experience teach vs this when some ar sett ouer the citie and cōmon wealth that they are choosen counsellors whom greate lerninge and long life and diligēt obseruacion and experience it selfe hath taught that worthie and hard knowledge off
gouerninge the common wealthe Ought not I say dailie experiēce teache vs that we preferre not them that ar vnworthy to honors and offices Therfore so muche the more ought we to be ashamed off our most greeuous fault in this behalfe that suffer euen the most vnworthy to take vpon them the most waighty callinge off the ministery and sett open the church dores to euery base Artificer that leapethe from his shopp bord to the plowman that leaueth his share to youge schollers in grāmer and Philosophy that ar nothinge more conninge in heauenly thinges then Artificers and husband men finally to minstrells and harpers to noble and gentelmens seruantes to Neateherdes Shepherdes and porters and somtimes not only to vnlerned men but also men off most filthy life and conuersacion chosinge into that most waightie office lerned an vnlerned good and bad worthy and vnworthy with out any chois or difference which how lawfully it is done yt shall after appere Here only because the vse off examinacion is that vnable men be not admitted to any office in the church I ment generallie te note how greeuously and against the expresse commandement off God we offend in this behalffe and to desyre and beseeche them that haue authoritie to amend thes thinges in the name off God who will not suffer vnpunyshed the trangression off his holie Ordinaunces and in the behalfe off the church to whose destruction and decay suche thinges are daylie cōmitted that we de not with Ieroboam make cōmon this worthy and sacred office with most vile and vnworthy persons that we neglect not the vse off examininge and holy ordinaunce off god that we destroy not the churche bringinge this sweepe into the churche but that rather decreeinge accordinge to the word off god that vnworthy men be not preferred to Ecclesiasticall functions we may bothe hereafter keepe out suche and also thrust out thos that by deceuinge off men and false commendaciō ar crept into the church allreedy and compell them to leaue ther places But let vs retorne from whence we haue digressed and follow the maner off examynacion declaringe it as fare forthe as it is generall and perteyneth to all the offices and functions off the churche For as euery office hath his seuerall guystes which ar necessary to the dew execucion off it So certen thinges ar to be requyred and looked for in euery eccesiasticall office which as I haue obserued out off Sainct Paule ar chiefly two wheroff the fast is that they be fownd and sincere in the faithe The second that they be with out reprehension in life and maners As for requyringe religion in a minister I need not to geue any reason off it seinge that they ar choosen to be teachers and interpreters off the same And for Deacons the Apostle expressly warneth Tymothe that they be suche as haue the mistery off faithe which after in the same chapter he callethe the mistery off godlynes and declareth what it is in a pure conscience So lickewise all the Apostles monishe the churche off Ierusalem that they should choose seauen Deacons from amonges them selues It is not needfull in this place to declare what they ought to thinck off religion which is a large matter and would require a seuerall treatise for it selfe yet notwithstanding it is wel enoughe knowen vnto all men and briefly comprehēded in that place off Paule which I spake off before and it is no hard matter to know what they thīcke off the true knowledge and worship off God seinge they make profession off the same that the church dothe wherunto they ordeine thēselues And iff it were needfull they might delare ther iudgmēt particularly in euery point beinge demāded And yet here is not any common or vulgar knowledge ād zeale of religiō to be required but speciall and singular aboue other men For ther is no ne so small a functiō in the churche that doth not as it were exempt thē out off the nomber off other men and ioyninge them as it were neerer to God doth lay a necessitye vpon them beinge placed in higher degree to shine and geue example vnto others and stire them vp by ther meanes to all vertewe and godlynes Therfore the Apostles when the Deacons were to be chosen required that they should be men full off wisdome and the holie ghost As for the examination off maners the Apostle him selfe hathe declared it so particulerly that no man can be deceiued herin whereas he geueth warninge that they be not infected with couetousnes or dronkennes or any other more greeuous or infamous cryme but that they be off good report and honest estimacion with all men and suche as all men can witnes off them that they haue liued a good and an honest life yea it is further also to be considered how they haue brought vp ther children and how they haue gouerned ther priuate families for therin wise men will obserue many thinges wherby they may be able to iudge whither they be meet to take vpon them any publique charge or no for he that shall ouerturne askuller or a payer off Oares in the Temmes who will thinck him meet to gouerne the Queenes barge or some great vessel vpon the sea This is therfore that law off God which towchinge the examinaciō and triall off ecclesiasticall offices the Lord him selfe hathe geuē vnto the church and hath commanded that it should allways be kept and obserued In kepinge wheroff surely bothe the estimacion and safegard off the church consisteth For by this meanes the church shall haue bothe necessary helpes for hir vse and worthy ornamentes for hir estimacion wher by both all occasion off euell speakinge should be taken from hir enemyes that are allwais ready to deface hir for the least occasion and the name off God by meanes off the church should be glorified before all men Therfore lest the name off God and his holy Gospell may be euill spoken off for our cause lest the churche want the necessary helpes which yt needeth for the preseruacion theroff a carefull heed is to be had herein to whom the charge off admynistringe off yt is to be committed which triall and examinacion seinge yt is so plainly describeth by the Apostle yt is meruell how that ther be euery where so many withe vs both corrupt in doctrine and defiled in life and conuersacion For how many Papistes be ther now a dayes that euen fiften yeeres after the reformacion off religion occupy the place of ministers in the church partly being left in thos churches which before in tyme off Popery they vniustly held partly also entred in our tyme and since the prechinge off the Gospell How many also be ther admytted to the gouernment off the church off most wicked life and vngodly behauior Therfore seing the Papistes openly declare that they ar greuously offended herewith neither can be brought to esteeme that to be the true religion off God whose preachers ar so vnhonest and the
interpreters wheroff ar so defyled why do some complaine that both other myschifes ar spronge of this reformacion which we require and especially this that the Papistes being offended with our contencion are further estraunged from embracinge the gospell For what is it that may more further ther saluacion then iffthes offences be taken away wherat they stumble and ar hindered Off which so shamefull disorder as ther be many causes so I allwayes esteemed that the greatest and most waightie That we leauinge this exact maner off tryenge and examininge which the Lorde hath commanded vs to obserue and followe in this behalfe keepe only I cannot tell what shadow and image off yt which we receyued from the Papistes The receiuinge off which one error to followe the fancies off men in steade off the certen lawes off god hath brought in as vsually yt doth infinite other wherby it cōmeth to passe that the most worthy order and degree is most vnworthely prophaned that the church like the popishe sanctuaries is full off vile and vicious persons off all sortes and the gospell euill spoken off by the enemies For wheras certen men haue authoritie that euery one off them twise a yeere may giue orders to whom and to how many they list and that so great a multitude off suters come to them at the tyme off geuing off orders howe is yt possible that one man in a day or two should be able to proue and to examyn so many sewters beinge all for the most part vnknowne to him how can he take any assay or make any triall either off Iudgment in religion or off ther honestie in conuersacion For to subscribe is a small matter with them that thinck it the point off a wise man to dissemble that dispence with them selues to do any thing that they may distroy the church therby and whom Euripides hath perswaded to sweare with the tonge and to keepe the mynd vnsworne Neither is that excuse that is brought for those off vnhonest life any thinge more sufficient which is wont to be made by the testimonialles which commonly the suters beinge vnto them seinge the Apostle expressly warnethe Timothe that he be not brought by other mens Iudgmentes to lay handes to sone vppon any man But iff other do it rashly yet he should keep him selfe free and vnspotted from any such fault Althoughe euery man knoweth what waight thes testimonialles ar off seinge some off fauor commend ther kinsfolkes and Allies vnto the Bishopp by ther lettres or others whom they would gratifie by ther authoritie other some euen for couetousnes and hopinge to deuide the pray with them that by ther meanes obteyne the benefice For the couetousnes off some Patrons is to to well knowne who for ther owne gaine sake wil couenant with him with whome they may for leaste and sometyme iff they haue any seruant in the house that can read because the matter may be more easylie gon throwgh with such a one who would be very willinge to geue the greater parte off his benefice iff he obteine yt by his maisters commendacion and authority to chaunge his vile and base estate with some more honest and liberal condicion they writee for him to the Bishop who hauinge this testimoniall either for negligence or often tymes to curry fauor with suche men doth easylie adimit hym Therfore ther must be a triall off ecclesiasticall officers that all dishonesty may be taken away from that most worthy order and degree that ought to be a patterne and example to all other which beinge done order would be takē that here after before Electiōs ther be a dew ād iust proofe and triall had of thos that are to be chosen that we may exactly keep and follow the Lordes Canons ād decrees in this behalfe in keepinge wherof other churches at this day florishe and haue done now a long tyme And thus muche off Election now let vs come to ordinacion Ordinacion is a settinge a part off the partie chosen vnto his office and as it were a kind of inuesting him into it For after the election a certen order and ceremonie is wont to be vsed wherby the parties chosen enter as it wer anto the possession off ther office Now this ordination as we call it consisteth especially in two ceremonies Namely in praier wherunto also I referre the declaringe off his dewty and laying on off handes For the gospell is content to haue the ministers theroff inuested and ordeined by thes most simple ceremonies nor hath any need off that carefull and curious consecracion off the lawe with which the priestes and Leuites were consecrated And as for praiers S. Luke telleth that when Paule and Barnabas were commanded by the holie ghost to be separated for the worck off God the breethren praied for thē before they were sent out to go on ther message Lickwise also the Apostles praied for the deacōs which the people had chosen that the lord would blesse this newe chamberlainshippe as it were to his honor and the profit of his churche that he would ēdew the parties chosē with worthy gyftes and able thē for the worthy execution of ther office For ther is no doute but the Apostles applied ther praiers to the tyme ād state of the churche ād that as before in the election of Matthias so now also in the admissiō and allowance off the Deacons they praied as the present occasion off the busines did require which was then to be done The other ceremony is the layinge on off handes in praier time vpon the heade off the chosen for so it seemeth that it was wont to be vsed as a thinge belonginge vnto praier that bringing in the chosen before God and as it were presentinge thē vnto him the praiers off the church might be kindled ād be the more zealous ād vehemēt and that it was wōt to be vsed to this end yt apearethe bothe by other places wher menciō is made therof in the scriptures ād also in the 19. off Mathew whē he tellethe that children were brought to Christ that he might lay his handes on thē and pray for them as also in that place of the actes which I named before wherin it is repeated that the Apostles praied laying on ther handes vpō the Deacōs which were chosē by the church But this is a generall ēd Ther be other proper ād peculier vses of it wheroff the first perteineth to the partie chosē the secōd to all the church The partie chosē was warned by this ceremony that he was seperated ād set apart to the worck off god as appereth in the 13. off the act and that he was taken out off the rest of the people to the doinge off that office as it were by the hand off god him selfe wherby he might vnderstād that it was no longer in his owne power to do what he list but that god had called him to his worke off whome he should haue a plētiful reward if he did
Sainct Peter saithe an euerlastinge crowne off glory This is therfore the dewty off a Bishopp which I will not here curiously enquyre how faithfully they execute seinge they be bownd to no speciall charge but content with a generall ouersight off the Dioces haue exempted them selfes from the necessary charge off rhe Bishoppes dewty Let vs rather see wither I haue iustly compassed in the whole office off a Bishopp in the handlynge off Religion and the seruice off god For it is an old opinion and receiued off long tyme that Bishoppes are not so lymited with doinge off the seruice off God But that they may also handle the thinges off this liffe and gouerne both at once the church and the common welth Heroff yt comethe that our Bishoppes are Iustices off peace and haue authoritie to see the Queenes peace kept and to cast the breakers off yt into prison and bondes That they haue authoritie to heere pleas and also to Iudge off in ther courtes pleas off willes and Testamentes and other cyuill thinges Heroff also it is that the same titles off state and honor that are geuen to the noble men are geuen to them wheras Archbishopes are saluted by the most honorable and Princely title off Grace An other is called Bishopp off the order off the garter An other Counte Palatine And all off them honorable Lordes whervpon some are displeased that the Chauncelorshipp off this realme The Presidentshipp off york and suche like honorable offices which were wont in popery to be there 's are now geuen to horable Lordes off cyuill estate And complayne off yt as thoughe they had wrong offred them Therfore they do vniustly and with out any cause and contrary to ther dewty desyre and vsurp thes thynges or ells I haue not done well to enclose all the office off a Bishopp in the administracion off heauenly and spirituall thinges wheroff let vs se whither is to be thought That that is ould and auncient yt may sufficiently enoughe appere by this that such Ambition and busyinge off them selues is forbidden by the old Cannons yea furder the greuous complaynt off some off the old farthers touchinge this matter are knowen well enoughe and to be found in ther writinges who partly invey and sharpely reproue them that brought in this confusion partly lament that by that meanes they were called from ther owne particuler dewty which also we here saye some off ours do complaine off and confesse that they haue only one houre in the weeke to thincke off preachinge And that in a manner wonne by force out off the importunitie off clieÌ„tes whom TereÌ„cies menedemus worthely would merueyle at to see theÌ„ to haue so much leysure from ther owne busines that they may look to other mens But this that is now so amplified and growen that it is become intollerable and no lesse daungerous for them selues then for thee church sprange at the first as all most all other mischiefes haue done from begynninges that were not so euill For first off all this busines was w holie pryuate and controuersies were frely giuen ouer to the Bishoppes by the consent off the parties who trustinge there conscience thought by this meanes to haue the best issue off ther matter After it grewe by the Authorytie of Princes who partlie off a good mynd but not warie enough and off a desire to adorne and beutifie the churche partly also because they them selues were hindered with warres and externall busines gaue authority to Bishoppes to correct euen suche with ciuill punishment as should troble the churche Last off all it so infinitely spread out her bowghes by the couetousines and ambicion off the Bishoppes that ther was no honorable office in the ciuill state which they did not partly begg partly receyue willingly and with great thanckes being offered till they had myngled the churche and the comon welth ciuill and ecclesiasticall matters and coÌ„founded the kingdome and the bishprick to gether But as that which god hath ioyned no mann can seperate So we may not thinck that any maÌ„ can ioyne or couple to gether that which he hath seuered and deuided a sonder And iff it be vnlawfull to altor and change the boundes that our fathers haue sett how much lesse is it laufull to change those boundes and lymites that the Lord hathe bounde vs with all and wherby he would haue vs seuered and deuided from others and by this deceit to encrease Patrimonies and possessions For that ther is a great difference betwene the cyuill magistrat and them that haue charge off ecclesiasticall matters That sufficiently dothe proue that wheras first off all both powers were confounded togither in Moses The lord leauing him only the charge off the common welth committed the gouerment off the churche to Aaron his brother And set so great distance betwene them bothe that the kingdome could not onâ—y not be gouerned by the highe priest him selfe but also by none off the same familie name or trib Nor contrary wise the priesthood off any off the kinges stock or off the royal bâ—ud house or tribe and fynally off none but a Leuite So they were diuided a sonder not only in ther owne persons but also by families and by tribes which distinction and difference was allwais diligently obserued by all that came after vntil king vzziah being puffed vp with pride as it is expresly noted in the holy history vsurped the priesthood and burnte incense in the temple off god But he weÌ„t not away scotfree with his pride but being sodenly stricken with the leprousy was made an example for all ages to take heed off the like boldnes to confounde and mingle thos to gether which the Lord did deuide and set a sonder But ther was no priest for many yeres after that medled him selfe with the gouerment off the kingdome vntill first Aristobolus most vnaduisedly after the retourne from Babylon ioyned the kingdome and the priesthoode the myter and the crowne togither For wheras we read that Elias Samuel and Daniel exercised both offices It was alltogither extraordinary neither ought to be drawne to the ordinary and perpetuall gouernment off the church All thoughe vnder the law many thinges wer done by the Priestes which cannot be now done by Bishoppes And they wer put to many thinges to which yt wer not lawfull that the Bishoppes vnder the Gospell should be applied which was in respect off the publique law wheroff they wer as well keepers and interpreters as off the morall beinge made and gyuen by the same lord so that it was needfull to vse them to many thinges whereunto ours may not neither ought not to be put As for the Gospell what can be cleerer then the difference that it maketh in this case wheras our sauior him selffe off whose example we ought to lerne refused to deuide the herytage betwene the brethren as a thing not belonginge to his office and offten tymes he reprouethe and repressethe the
it yeldeth the best fruite and as it were a golden haruest when it is diligently carefully and painfully labored and tilled when ther is a greate and a carefull heede taken off the seedes when the churches are looked vnto with as great diligence as the campe and armie is watched in the feeldes And finally wheÌ„ they are labored by honest men For neither doeth the grownde respect the lawrell garlonde vpoÌ„ the ploughe share nor whither the plowe man weareth riche and costly embroidred garmentes but would haue him painfull laborsome diligent and full off trauell neither dothe the church looke for this outward pompe and shewe in her bishopp but for faithe diligence labor good and precious seedes honest busy and painfull handes and had a great deale rather haue hir husband man godl y lerned and diligent then mitred and Rocheted Whervpon it cometh to passe that when the feelde off Rome was plowed and tilled by Seranus and Cincinnatus and suche like worthie men and the church by Paul and Peter and suche like The encrease was very plentyfull but now as farre as we are gone from there example and paines takinge so much are our churches behinde and inferior to the feeldes off Ephesus and Antioche Therfore it is the deuty off all godlie bishoppes who desire to serue the churche and to be well esteemed in it rather for ther godlines and learninge then for this pompe and shewe seing they haue allready declared that the gospell is dearer vnto them then all the commodities off this life that iff they will discharge ther dewty they wold better fynishe and make perfect that which they haue allreadie well begonn and euen willinglie for the rest off the gospell which yet we want touching discipline once againe leaue and forsake that pompous state and dignitie and be more carefull for the glory off god the saluacion off the churche and keepinge a god conscience vnto them selues then for keepinge or mainteininge this false shewe off honor and glory and the vaine names off titles and dignities and retourne againe to the worcke off the ministerie and not as in a sence somewhat diuerse froÌ„ this the Apostle warnethe the Galathians finishe in the fleshe which they haue begonne in the spirit I knowe in deede how hard it is to perswade them which haue once tasted off this sweet inchaunting cuppe but seing bothe the commandement iff god ther owne callinge and vocacion and the proffit and commoditie off the churche doth require yt It becommeth them for the godlines they are off and for the life they haue spent in the professinge off the Gospell to leaue all for CHRIST and the Gospelles cause and to follow him wither he calleth and leadeth them and as they in a maner first taught and preached vnto vs the doctrine off the Gospell So they would be the first Authors to bring in the Discipline off the Gospell and vse ther estimacion credite and authoritie not to the ouerthrowing off the trewth off God but to the establishing and preseruing off the same But yff there be any for I cannot but hope well off many especially off thos who haue seene other reformed churches but I saie iff ther be any who either for couetousnes for ambicion or because they thinck this lordly state tollerable in Bishoppes will by no meanes be perswaded to rest and quiet them selues in that meane estate which becommethe the men off God they are to be compelled euen against ther willes and to be forced to retourne againe to the first and right institution off Bishoppes And surely iff we serche the fountaine and originall off thes great riches we shall find that they neither in the beginning Gott this wealth by any right nor yet keepe yt to this day not only because they do no duty off a Bishopp or Mynister But also because they wrongfully vsurpe that which belongeth vnto other For a great part off ther Goodes is that which in the beginninge was geuen for the reliefe off the poore which was committed as an almes vnto the Bishopp which as yt apperethe by the old cannons he should distribute by his advise and the consent off the company off the Elders But after when they had abolished the power and authoritie off the Elders and ruled all thinges alone accordinge to ther owne conscience They made them selues those pore men and tooke almes to ther owne vse and so grew riche and welthie by the want and necessitie off others An other part which they haue belongeth to the mynisters off other churches which was vnited to the Bishopprickes by Impropriations besides proxies and other tolles and fees which they take off the ministers Therfore what right haue they to vsurpe that as there owne which was geuen in tymes past for the maynteyninge off ministers in other churches Therfore when they haue restored to the pore and to other ministers that which is ther owne iff yet they haue more then is meete for a Bishop let them bestow it off other ther pore fellowe ministers who in many other places want necessaries by reason off the pouerty off the churches which they serue that at the last being content which an honest and reasonable liuinge they may retourne againe to thâ—r originall and first beginninge Thes wordes off diminishinge the pompe and welthe off Bishoppes as it displeasethe some who thinck that some credite and authoritie is gotten to the gospell therby So it pleaseth verie well thos that think this will be profitable for them and do allreadie gape for this praie and hope for this grea inheritaunce For thei thinking that we seeke only that the bishoppes might be put downe waite for the like praie by ther puttinge downe as they had sometimes at the ouerthowe off â—he abbais For as for Religion they care nor what become off it so they may waxe welthie by sacriledge and robbery And would not stick iff it were possible to crucifie Christ againe that they might cast lottes for his coate and deuide his garmeÌ„tes amonges theÌ„ For this our age hathe many suche souldiours many suche as Denis the king or rather the tyranne off Syra cusa was who think that a golden growne is not fit for God neither in sommer neither in winter and yet that it will serue them well at all tymes and seasons But iff they marck diligently what I saie they shall well perceiue that I fauor not in any respect there couetousnes and greedie desyre For I speake not heere off spoilinge the Bishoppes or robbing the goodes off the church and geuinge them away to most vnworthie men but rather that the neede off a great nombre may be relieued by the aboundance and excesse off a fewe that hospitalles may be mainteined and prouided for and which is the chiefe that the ministery may be established aÌ„d mainteined thorowe ought the realme so that by thes wordes they haue no occasion to hope or looke for any thing but rather to feare they loose not that
which they haue iff at any tyme they haue gotten wrongfully into ther handes the patrimony off the churche For they must either restore it againe that the churche may be prouided for off worthy teachers or ells make them selues giltie off the losse and destruction off so many soules as by there meanes are destitute off a minister and shall perishe in ther ignorance But seing this place hath bene handled now fullie enoughe as I suppose let vs conclude that which I purposed in the begin̄inge namely that the churches ought the prouide for the ministers and that in suche measure that they be not hindred from doinge there dewties either by neede and pouerty or by welthe and aboundance That they be not despised thorowghe neede and necessitie nor waxe wanton by excessiue riches As for that point by what meanes this ought especially to be done we must vnderstand that which was cōmanded in the lawe touchinge the geuinge the tēthes to the priestes and Leuites bindeth not vs precisely to the payinge of tēthes For this was a politique lawe off the Iewes which bindeth vs only generallie that we also prouide for them which labor in the Lordes work But as we are not necessarylie bounde to vse that way off prouision for them So iff it be commodious for any country either because the people are allreadie accustomed vnto it or for some orher ciuill and politique respect yt may be vsed so that we remember that which hath bene shewed before That the ministers must honestly and liberally be prouided for with oute ther takinge off any suche paines as may hindre the doinge off ther dewtie And seing the Lord would not suffer the Leuites and Priestes to the with drawinge off them from doinge ther dewtie to goe about the feeldes and see that euery man pay ther tithes and to see it brought home how muche lesse ought the worck off the ministerie to be hindered by doing this busynes But also besides this discommoditie It is a base and a vile thing for them to vewe euery mans feelde lest they be deceyued and to knowe the nombre and encrease off euery mans flocke or cattell and off other thinges wheroff by the custome off our realme the tenthes are paide especially seinge he shal be forced sometymes to striue with peuishe and couetous men for his right which in suche a man especially in suche a case were a shamefull and vnworthie thinge Therfore iff we thinck good to keepe still the tenthes and to pay the Ministers off them the magistrate must prouide for this by his authoritie that they may be free from all thes troubles that they may wholie bestowe them selues in readinge meditating and expoundinge off the Scriptures and at one word in doing off there dewtie And to see that so doing they may be honestly and liberally prouided for For thus we reade that the godlie and noble kinge Ezechias did who brought to passe by his authoritie first that the Priestes were prouided for as yt was commanded in the lawe Then also he tooke suche order That ther tithes growinge to a great quantitie and store should be so laide vpp and reserued as might be most commodious for the priestes And howe meete wer it for Christian princes and for the perpetuall praise off ther godlines in the churche to followe the example off Ezechias in this behalffe who not only brought to passe by his authoritie that as I said before the priestes and Leuites should be prouided for as it was commanded by the lawe but also had a especiall care that That which was liberallie giuen might be deuided to those to whom yt apperteined Therfore he built barnes and granaries for the better commoditie off the priestes and finally appointed certen men by whose meanes the Leuites who were scattered throwgh owt the kingdome were prouided for Suche Auncetors and so worthy patterns and examples off godlines and all kind off vertue let Good Princes set before them to followe and not only not spoile the Ministery them selves or suffer it to be robbed off others but liberallie accordinge to the commandement off our Sauior Christ see it mainteined and prouided for thorowghe owt ther kingdome nor suffer that That which was once geuen to this ende be prodigallie spent and wasted in courtly Pompe excesse and wantones nor bestowed vppon noble mens seruantes nor other innumerable sortes off vngodlie and intollerable abuses by sacriledge and the churche robbery but that yt be faithfully ordered and bestowed vppon Religion the seruice off god and publishinge off the word off god thorowghe out the kingdome and the maintenance off the sacred ministerie Thus they shall proue them selues to be suche kinges and Queenes as Esay prophesied off who should norishe cherishe and defeund the churche like foster Fathers and nurces Thus therfore hauinge ended this pointe off the Liuinge off Bishoppes or Mynisters Let vs go forward to the next which is touching ther garmentes and appparell which apparell being off ij sortes that is to saye either belonging to deuine seruice or which seruethe in the common and dailie vse off life I finde nothing written or commanded in in the gospell off either off them but only that which is generallie commannded touchinge modestie sobernes and honest conuersacion with all men which as yt may be referred to the diet and houshold stuffe and to all other partes off ther life So also to ther garmentes and apparell But a certen kinde forme and fashion off apparell either in dailie vse off liffe or ells in deuine seruice is no where commannded in the Gospell Neither yet vnder the lawe was any thing prescribed to the Leuites and Priestes for ther daylie wearinge in what apparell or garmentes they should daylie goe In deede in the diuine seruice which they did in the tabernacle off the Temple such thinges are diligentlie and exactly prescribed and set forthe accordinge to the dispensacion off the old Testament But in thes our tymes wherin by the grace off God we haue the trewth yt selffe and the bodie in Christ our Sauior we haue no lenger neede off figures and shadowes Thes thinges were but for a certen tyme which so long as God would haue kept he left the forme and fashion off ther apparell plainly set forthe in his law adioining therunto the punishement off deathe iff any man should trangresse the lawe therin But this difference off apparell in diuine seruice doeth no more belōg vnto vs thē the offring vp off sacrifice and the kepinge off other ceremonies off the lawe Neither vnder the lawe perteined it to any but only to suche as ministred in the tabernacle and temple and not to the rest off the Leuites who were scattered throwgh out Iury and preached the word off god in the Sinagoges How much lesse ought the Interpreters off the gospell vse those veiles and shadowes in thes daies wherin as the Apostle saithe we behold which open and vncouered face the glory off god And iff
thought to haue brought into the churche off god with out his word off our owne authority so many newe offices and functions as into how many partes and membres this one office is deuided Touchinge those thinges which besides this are faulty in the Election and Ordinacion off Pastors they haue bene spoken off in other places before neither is it needfull to repeat the same againe Therfore to conclude all this treatise off Bishoppes takinge away extraordinarie functions and offices and abolishing the pompe and tyranny off the Lord Bishoppes Let vs esteeme the office off a Bishopp and minister as yt is declared vnto vs in the word off god Let vs remembre that this is a seruice and Ministery not off the affaires off this life But off the holie word off god Let this most neceessary office amonges all other offices that be in the earthe both for the seruice and Religion off God and for the saluacion off man be ordeined and established thorowgh out this Realme Let an Assay be made that they which beinge vnmeete for the office being put out godlie learned and worthye men be chosen therunto who discharging ther offices faithfully may be sufficiently prouided for concerning the necessaries off this life as the Lord hath commanded Let vs fetche the manner and fashion off our examininge choosinge and ordeininge out off the Scriptures Let Doctors be appoynted to teache and Cathechize the rude and ignorant Let Pastors be ordeyned to Mynister the Sacramentes and to applye the generall Docrine to the particuler vses and occasions off the churche That faultes beinge amended and reformed accordinge to to the right lyne off the word off God a iust and lawfull ministerie suche as the Lord hath appointed may be established amonges vs That Christ powringe his blessing vpon his owne Ordenance and apointment as the Apostle noteth thes to be the endes off the ministery the work off the ministery may be done The bodie off Christ which is the churche may be edified and buylded vp and the Saintes may be fitly orderly and proportionally ioined and knit together one with an other Thus now hauinge finished one part off ecclesiasticall functiōs and charges namely that which consisteth in the dutie off a Bishoppe and the Ministerie off the worde Let vs come to that which remaineth and concerneth deacons But to the ende we may hereī also orderly procede first I say that Sainct Paule in his first epistle to Timothy and thyrd chap. and in the other places before alledged off me to the same ende calleth all those Deacons which do exercise any office or or charge in the churche not belonging to the Ministery off the word For ther be also other offices besides the ministery off the word needfull for the preseruacion off the churche Which what they be we shall see hereafter But iff they were not necessary for the preseruatiō off the whole body Surely Iesus Christ the most wise ruler and gouerner off his churche would neuer haue appointed them yff then this other ordre off Deacons be so necessary why do we want it wholie in our churche deforminge the body no lesse yea a great deale more by so notable want off those partes that are necessary then by the superfluitie off those which are not off the body as hath bene allready before shewed For let them not here speake off there Chauncelors whom I haue allready proued to haue no lawfull place in the church nor off the churche wardens off whom I shall speake more hereafter For I say we want and require Ecclesiasticall Deacons who accordinge to the ordinaunce off god are lawfully chosen created and ordemed to there offices not ciuill and politique men who by the authoritie off the Magistrate deale in some suche matter but what these be we shall see hereafter more at large Here I cannot sufficiently wonder at the boldnes off the braine off man who thus altereth and peruerteth wholie the lordes gouerment in his owne house appointinge some besides those which are appointed by him to the rulinge off his house and putting out those as iff the church off god had no neede off ther labour whō the Lord him selffe had apointed fynally licensing them selues in the lords matters to set downe and take away to adde and diminishe what they list and to rule ād dispose all thinge according to ther owne will and fantasy Thē the which seing ther cā be nothinge more against the honor off our Sauior let vs at the last learne to be modest and to be ruled by his word let vs suffer him to rule his owne house by his owne authoritie and restore againe to the churche those offices and functions which he hath thought meete and profitable for it But that thes thinges may be the better vnderstood and that we proceede the more orderly forewarde As I shewed in the former parte first what was ordeined off God wherby it was easie to vnderstād what was superfluous or to muche So I must likwise doe in this part that yt may be the better vnderstood what we want and what is to to be supplied in this behalffe There be therfore ij sortes off Deacons as they are deuided by Sainct Paule in the xij to the Romans The one sorte are called distributers who also in the sixte off the Actes are properly called Deacons The other ouer seers who also in other places are called Elders and Gouernors off the church Those therfore who are properly called Deacons are officers off the churche sette ouer the bestowing and distributing off the churche goodes and treasurie How great cause there was off institutinge this office in the churche it appereath in the sixth off the Actes wher the the Apostles who in the beginninge administred the treasury off the churche when they perceiued that they were not able to serue bothe that is to saye the preachinge off the word and the caringe for the pore gaue ouer this office to be Treasurers any more and propounded yt to the churche that ther might be a seuerall office appoynted for this charge that might take vppon them the prouidinge for the poore To whome should be giuen what so euer was bestowed for the reliefe off the needy that they might after dispose yt according as euery one had neede That the poore might not be dispised in the church off God whom he declareth to be so deare vnto hym and that all complaintes being taken awaie euery thing might be orderly and honestly gouerned in the house off god Therfore the Treasury off the church whither yt be in daily offringes or in rentes and reuenuews appoynted to that ende is to be cōmitted vnto the Deacons The hospitalles and houses which are appointed for the reliefe off straungers and off the poore are to be ruled by them fynally what other suche like thing ther is belongeth to the office off Deacons In olde tyme in deede in the prymitiue churche this Treasure was committed to the Bishoppes because all men trustinge
iust cause now to complaine that our church wanteth so worthy an office do not the slaunders off our aduersaries who are ready to take all occasions to speak euill off the Gospell require suche watchemen to watche and see that offences rise not in the churche doth not the shamefull wickednes off men require suche Censors And can this noble lawe off doinge all thinges orderly and comely in the churche off God want those any longer who shold haue a care to see it kept That all thinges come not to confusion and be turned vpside downe Therfore let Elders be restored to our churche againe which are both necessary helpes for the safetye and preseruation off yt and worthy ornamentes for the estimation off the same Let vs obeye the Lordes Commaundement touchinge the ordeyninge off Elders yff either the safety or estymacion off the church be deare vnto vs or yff we haue any care off doinge our duty vnto god As for election and Ordynacion off them seing yt may be taken out off those Generall rules which I haue giuen before and doth not requyre any thinge to be speciallie spoken in this behalffe Let vs conclude this matter and together with all euen the whole treaty which hath bene handled concerninge the symple charges and offices off the churche besech ing God our most mercifull father that yt may please him to haue mercy off our churche and that as he hath raised yt in a maÌ„ner from the deade and oute of the graue againe So he would also vouchsafe to adorne and beautyfy yt being raised vpp That yt may please hym to take awaye the deformyties off yt cutting off that which is superfluous and supplyinge that which wantethe To encrease hir beauâ—y and ornamentes and to Poolishe and perfect her with his most freshe and lyuely colors To restore trewe Discypline againe To abolishe the Canon lawe that only they which are called may bare office in the churche That Ambition may be repulsed and put back That the the lawes off lawfull Election and ordynation may be kept Fynally that a lawfull Mynistery may be established thoroughout the Realme which may continewe for euer That Deacons may be made for the poore and Elders to admonishe such as goe astray And last off all that as he hath most mercifully allready begonn in our church all thinges which he hath most wisely appoynted to the glorifyinge off his name and preseruinge off his churche So yt may please hym of like grace and fauour to perfect and finishe his worck emonges vs And thus much off those offices and charges off the churche whiche we call symple It followeth now to speake off the Consystory or Councell off the churche Whereoff allthoughe ther be no newe or speciall Eelection and ordynacion because yt consisteth off suche as are allredy called to the former offices yet I thought Good euen for this cause to distinguishe them from the former for that here no one man hath any office or authothoritye to do any thing as in the former But ther is one office off all which they all do execute in common together For the Consistory or Councell off the churche is the company and Assemblye off the Elders off the churche who by common Counsell and authoritye do rule and gouerne the same Vnder the name off Elders I do meane only Pastors Doctors and those who are by proper named called Elders For I see not what ground yt hath that some would also haue Deacons to be off this company For seing that Sainct Paule calleth this assembly the company off Elders It followeth that they must be Elders who be off this assembly But the name off Elders is no wher in the Scriptures that I can remember attributed vnto Deacons But only vnto Pastors Doctors and suche as are properly so called To proue that Pastors and Doctors be Elders I neede not cite many places which are infinite where they are so named As for them who are specially called by this name That one place in the xij off the Romanes may sufficiently proue Where the Apostle distinguishinge the office off a Deacon into two partes geueth to those only the name off Elders and gouerners calling the other by an other name This Consistory therfore consisteth of these three ordres Pastors Doctors and Elders which is called by S. Paule the Assembly off Elders as also by the same Apostle they are all called by the name off Elders in an other place In the xviij off Mathew our Sauior calleth them by the name of the churche because they rule aÌ„d gouerne church matters vnder the name and authority off the churchr So likewise the name off all the assembly by Moses is geuen to the Elders off the Iewes that is to say vnto certein chosen and picked out men who were assigned by all the congregation to the gouernment off the affaires Thus plainly it is taken in the viij of nombres wher the Lord appointeth that the Congregation shall lay handes vppoÌ„ the Leuites But I think no man will say that this is to be vnderstoode off all the congregatioÌ„ that so many thousandes should laie there handes vpon them as are rehersed to haue bene then in the host off Israell but the Elders and princes only as Aben Ezra doth rightly interprete yt Which is to be noted the rather because some will haue the wordes off our Sauior to be expounded off all the churche wher as accordinge to the manner off speakinge which the Hebries vse the Consistory or counsell off the churche is called the church where also it is to be obserued that togither with the name the thing it selfe is translated from the Iewes vnto vs That looke what a Counsell the Iewes vsed for the gouernment off the churche we ought to vnderstand by this name that suche a one is apointed by our Sauior to be in our churche Therfore in the same place he attributeth to this Counsell the chiefe gouernment off all churche matters that all such thinges as cannot otherwise be agreed and ended be at the last brought vnto them and ended by ther auâ—horitie and iudgement And iff there shold be any off so desperate boldnes that should dispise the authoritie off this Assembly off Elders Our Sauiour Christ pronounceth hym to he as an ethnik or a publycan assuringe suche a one that his stubburnnes and rebellion shall not escape vnpunished Wherfore he graunteth vnto them chiefe authoritie accordinge to his word to forgeue or retaine synnes which the Doctors off the church are wont to call the keies off heauen because that heauen is in a manner set open for them to enter into whome they haue thus accordinge to god his word forgyuen there synnes as contrarywise it is shutte and barred against them whose sinnes they doe retaine And seing that God hath giueÌ„ to our Sauiour Christ all power in heauen and in earth and that the keye off the house off Dauid which is the church off god is geuen to him
not that that vncleanes wherwith they were polluted by doinge ther necessary dewry to ther frendes and neigbours in burying off them shold be so great that they therfore should be forbidden to eate off the Passeouer with the rest off the church But Moses askinge counsell off god what was to be done in this case Aunswer was made that they shold not eate the passeouer with the rest off ther brethren and a lawe made for euer after touchinge that matter That those kinde off vncleane persons shold not eate the passeouer with the rest of Israell in the first monethe but sholde tarie to eate yt in the second moneth Out off which places we haue many thinges to gather which belonge to the discipline off the churche And first off that which is in the xij off Exodus That no vncircumcised person shold be admitted to eate the passeouer no allthoughe they were Iewes and by nature borne heires off the couenaunt and off the promises but that open profession off trew Religion was necessarilie required as well off Iewe as off straunger before they were admitted to eate off the passeouer Off this I saie we learne that now no maÌ„ ought to be admitted to the Lordes table and to the holie communioÌ„ but he that is knowen by his open profession to be off trewe Religion for Asmuche as the body excelleth the shadowe and the Trewth the figure So muche more carefully ought we to take heed that the Sacramentes wherin we haue the truthe and the body it selffe be not communicated with vncircumcised and vncleane persons So that diligent Inquisicion is to be had off euery man what saythe he holdeth and how he serueth God lest we communicate them with any who professe not the same trewe Religion off Christ Which was so well taken heed vnto in the primitiue churche that Eusebius reportethe in his Ecclesiasticall history that a Romaine Emperour named Philippe who fâ—rst became Christian off all the Emperours and fyrst submitted the romaine Empire vnto Christ desyringe to coÌ„municate with the rest off the churche was not admitted therunto by the Bishop off that churche for that he was yet suspected for diuers causes before that he had openly made profession off trewe Religion And in those our daies in these churches which haue receyued the Doctrine off the Gospell and trewe discipline together as in olde tyme no man was suffered to eate off the Passeouer beinge either a straunger or a hyred seruant onlesse he had his part in the lambe So likewise in the holie Communion off the Lordes supper Christ the trewe paschall lambe is communicated onely to suche as farre as men can iudge by there outward profession vnto whome Christ hym selffe belongethe Now theÌ„ seing we haue a lawe touching this matter off no lesse waight then theyrs why do we suffer yt to Remayne in the book off the gospell as in a scabbard and suffer the edge off yt to wax dull now fyften yeeres together why do we communicate the holie Sacramentes with the Papistes and require not before they be admitted a syncere open and franck Confession off trewe Religion The holie Mysteries off God are prophaned The Gentles enter into the Temple off God The holie thinges are indifferently communicated with cleane and vncleane cyrcuncised and vncyrcuncised and yet we sâ—t no porters at the churche dores nor shut vpp the vncleane and polluted together by them selues Therfore Let this so necessary a part off Eclesiasticall discipline be established Let an open profession off trewe ReligioÌ„ be exacted of those who are admitted to the vse off holie thinges aÌ„d Let no longer the heauenly mysteries off God be prophaned by communycating them with the Papistes The next thing which is to be noted out off these places which I haue alledged belongeth vnto those who are in deede heires off the promises and as Saint Peter speaketh in the Actes Sonnes off the Testament and couenant made withe the Fathers but yet for some fault made are for a tyme excluded from the vse off holie thinges And hitherto belongeth that example which I alledged out off the ix off Nombres off those who were put ouer vnto the second monethe before they might eate the Passeouer Touching which kind off punishment all thoughe ther be nothing expressely mencioned and commanded in the gospell yet seing it is commanded in the fift off Matthew that he at whome a brother is offended bringing an offring to the aulter of the lord should leaue his offring there and goo first aÌ„d be recoÌ„câ—led to his brother how muche more ought this to be done wher the Anger hath bene so hote that it hath broken out into reprochefull and contumelious wordes and suche as our Sauiour manifestly declareth to be suche as the Counsell off the churche hath to deale with that is to saie That they be commanded to abstaine from the aulter off the lord vntill they be reconciled with there brother who is offended For otherwise If without reconciliacion they offer ther gift the offringe is prophaned and they that doe such thinges are giltye off great offence and for a small fauit that was made before haue nowe coÌ„mitted a great aÌ„d a hainous trespasse For so the lawe threateneth to that vncleane person that durst touche the holie fleshe aÌ„d eate of the sacrifices that he should surely pay for it aÌ„d that no other sacrifice sholde serue to take away his sinÌ„e but eueÌ„ his owne blud As also our Sauiour Christ threatneth in the gospell that they which reconcile not them selues shall surely paie for it euen to the vttermost farthing And S Paule saithe that they that drincke and eate the Lordes body vnworthely eate and drinck there owne damnation Seing theÌ„ it is so aÌ„d that the lord is so greuously displeased with the neglectinge off these dewties and prophanation off his holie misteries Seing also that those men theÌ„ selues who do thus boldly prophane them doe make them selues gilty by this meanes of more greuous iudgement and condenmnatioÌ„ this part off discipline also being no lesse necessary then the other which we want nowe to loÌ„ge time is to be restored againe and the keepinge off it to be as muche esteemed as we esteme aÌ„d set by the heauy iudgemeÌ„ts of god and his wrathe punishinge and reueÌ„ginge the prophanatioÌ„ of his holie misteries For let no man here obiect vnto me the Bishops Consistory and the Officiall and CoÌ„missarie geuinge charge from the Bishop to be recoÌ„cyled aÌ„d punishinge by the purse suche as do offend as if we wanted not those thinges that I saie we waÌ„t for all those are but toyes and trifles which seing it hath abolished the lawfull manÌ„er of taking awaie off offences apointed by our Sauiour Christ to be kept in his churche what hope can we looke for to haue any holesome remedie by these meanes off so daungerous diseases Therfore Let ther be a lawfull Counsell establyshed in the churche and Let them vse that authoritie
ther is no cause why any man should feare that sentence as yf it were this thunderbolt which I haue described But as there hath bene fault into muche lightnes and rashenes and pronouncinge so heauy sentences without iust cause so ther hath bene no lesse fault in this that by negligence this wholesome seuerytie when iust cause and occusion requireth is not executed For that meanes being taken awaye which the Lord would haue exercised in his church and wherby offences are to be prouided for and the whole authoritie translated from the consistorye and company off the Elders to the Bishop and his court where the Pastor must come to pleade yff he will hart from the coÌ„munion suche as are to be put back by the word off god the holie mysteries off god are with great lycence and without any punishement daily prophaned the holie thinges are prostituted and set open to Adulterers fornicators drunckerds and all kinde off vicious and sinfull liuers and which our Sauiour forbiddethe precious stoÌ„nes are cast before hogges and swine And the holie mysteries not only prophaned by taking awaie off this means wherby they might be kept from thes pollutions and propanacioÌ„s but the churche also is brought into an vndoubted dauÌ„ger For asmuche as it is to feared lest that the rest off the body be infected with the same contagion and euen they them selues who be suche heape and doble their condeÌ„nacion for that they dare take in hand to be so bold tho come in suche sort vnto the lords table For besides that the worship and seruice off god is preserued and kept chast pure and vndefiled by this seueritie the whole churche also and euen the parties them selues who are giltie are best by this meanes prouided for And that the church is thus preserued the Apostle plaiÌ„ly sheweth wheras willing them to cast out the leauen he geueth them warninge that the whole lumpe is sone sowred with a litle leauen And that this also doth apperteine to the benefit and safety off the gilty parties S. Paule sheweth noting this to be the end off deliueringe the incestuous man vnto Satan that his sowle might be saued in the daie off the Lord. And againe where he saith that they ougt to be contented with that correction which had bene done lest that peradueÌ„tur the partie should be swallowed vp with to muche greefe Wherby we see that this a medicine rather then a deadly punishement a sharpe aÌ„d bitter medicine in deede But we must remember that no remedy is so greuous as that which is most healthfull and holesome Seinge therfore excoÌ„munication hath so profitable necessarie â—od holesome vses in the churche let it be restored to vs agayne and established in suche sort as ys described by the word off God Let the holie Sacramentes off god be carefully kept from all pollucion and and prophanacion Let the leauen be purged and cast out off the churche that we may be a newe lump as we are vnleauened and sweet breade as the Apostle witnesseth Let vs procure diligently the helth off those membres which be in daunger that we enter not lame and maimed but whole into that life which by the word off God we hope for Let the Angell off God therfore be set at the gate off Eden that with his sharpe and glistering sword he may keepe back all polluted and vncleane persons from tastinge or touching off the tree off life Let the safety off the churche be procured and sought for by this kind of purgation and the amendemeÌ„t off suche as goe astray by these remedies sharpe in deed and vnpleasant but holesome notwithstanding and proffitable Thus in those two kindes or sortes all manner off kindes off Ecclesiasticall discipline aÌ„d remedyinge off offences is conteined onles some man think good that that execration be added which S. Paule denounceth and threatneth in the first to the Corinthians and the last chap. against all those who loue not the Lord Iesus and to the Galathians against suche as preache any other Gospell which S. Iude oute off Enoch semeth to thunder against all the wicked Which iff any man so take and referr to excommunication Saint Iohn seemeth to allude to the necessary vse off excoÌ„munication in the church were as it semeth out off Zachary who had prophesyed that in the kingdome of Christ ther should no more be any Cananite in the Land he declareth that in this cyty which he describeth in the xxij chap. ther should no more be any accursed thing as also in the xxj chap. and xxvij ver and the 22. chap. the 25. ver he alludeth to the same thing wheras he say that no prophane or abhominable thing no doggs inchaunters fornicators â—c shall enter into the cyty But that semeth to be more then a Medicine and to be rather a sentence off deathe and a threatning off the last Iudgement without hope off forgyuennes And some think yt agreeth rather to the vices them selues then to any certen persons as also the Apostle denounceth theÌ„ not against certeÌ„ men but generally against the wicked and reprobate Althoughe the primitiue churche pronounced this sentence euen against certeÌ„ meÌ„ as Socrates declareth in his history that Nestorius was accursed by the churche men which curse saith he we Christianes are wont to call the sentence that is pronounced against a blasphemer when as iff it were grauen vpon some pilleâ— we publishe this sentence to all the world Which iff we take in this sense yt semeth so to answer to excommunication as Destruction Which the Hebrews call Abaddon doth answer to that excision and cutting of whiche they call careth Which hath bene spoken off before Touching which Destruction the Hebrew interpretours confesse that they knowe not certenly what it is yet they do proue plainly that it is an other kind off punyshement distinguished from the other and off more greeuous and certen destruction And let thus much suffise to haue bene spokeÌ„ of the chiefe and soueraigne authority off the Assembly off the Elders in the gouernment off the churche wherby we may see by which of the three states of lawfull gouernmeÌ„t which are wher one is soueraigne or more or all the churche is gouerned For asmuche as the state and kind off gouernment is esteemed off the soueraigne whither he be one moo or the commynaltie Therfore for asmuch as all thinges are ordered and gouerned by the authority off certen chosen men who are cheife in the congregation in godlines and vertewe we may call the gouernment off the churche Aristocratie that is that gouernment and state wherin a fewe off the best do beare the rule or rather Theocratie that is the gouernment off god seing that they haue no authoritie to do any thing but by the word and commandement off god But these chosen aÌ„d picked out meÌ„ do so exercise this authoritie that they do well vnderstaÌ„d they execute no ciuill nor politique gouernment but that they so
rule ouer the people off god that ther be no violence nor tyranny vsed or suche like as comonly is vsed in that state which degenerating from the gouernment of a fewe off the best commeth to a fewe off the richest but that they adioyne also to ther owne authoritie especially in matters off great waight as in choosinge or deposinge off any Ecclesiasticall Officer or in suspendinge or excommunicatinge any man the consent and agreement off all the people For we reade it to haue bene thus done eueÌ„ froÌ„ the Apostles tymes vntill that Discipline was corrupted as appereth in the Actes off the Apostles written by Sainct Luke and the Ecclesiasticall history off the primitiue churche So that in this respect yt seemeth that the churche is gouerned rather by all then by a fewe And therin to resemble that state off gouernment wherin the coÌ„minaltie is the chiefe Which societie must needes be gouerned by a heauenly ordre for it is the best state off all wheras all these thre meete in one kind off gouerment as both Plato thought and Aristotle and the other chiefe and excellent Philosophers that state I say wherin all the cytezins obediently submit them selues to god which coÌ„mandeth as kinge and monarche and the assembly which decreeth by his will and authoritie where also the assembly decreeth no weighty matter without the coÌ„sent and approbacion off the rest off the churche and people Neither is this the maÌ„ner of gouernment off parish churches onely but the same is also kept where more churches are either for that they be nighe togeether or because they are all subiect to the same Magistrate or for ther coÌ„mon proffit and commodty ioyne togeether and make as yt were one body For off this sort also be all the assemblyes which are gathered for the gouernment off the churche both those which are called Conferences and Synodes wither they be lesse Synodes suche as they were wont to haue twise a yeere in euery prouince or greater which are gathered to geether by the authoritie off any one whole kingdome free state or common wealthe or ells off mo kingdomes and countries For the souerantie allwais reserued vnto Christ by whose word all thinges are gouerned as in a Monarchy The counsell or Assembly off Elders as in the second state off gouernment which I described before decreeth by common counsell and authoritie that which is for the wealth and commoditie off the churche the people with all good will allowing off the godly iust and honest determinacions off the Assembly or making them voide and off none effect yff they be not suche as in the last ststate wherin the people hathe to rule and gouerne Off which Assemblye both Conferences and Synodes of both sortes althoughe many thinges might be said very necessary and profitable for the vse off our churche to which nothing could be more profitable then these assemblies being so vsed as they are apointed to be vsed by the word off god and vsed by other purer and better reformed churches as contrariwise nothinge doth more hurt then these Synodes visitacions and conuocations which are come into ther places which as we vse them are full off infinitie abuses wherin almost no other thiÌ„ge is talked of or detreed but of square cappes copes aÌ„d surplises what fashioÌ„ the ministers gowne and cloke must be off an such like trifles yet seing this hangeth off that which hathe bene allready spoken off the gouernment off particuler churches and the more full handling off those thinges may be taken out of the lerned writinges of some off our daies which haue lately writeÌ„ touching this matter passinge this thus briefly ouer let vs returne againe to the assembly and coÌ„pany off Elders which seing I haue declared both to haue bene instituted by our Sauiour Christ and to be very necessary for the preseruacion off the churche because that therby controuersies are ended offenses are taken away the churche being purged is deliuered from the feare off the punishement off god the Sacraments are kept holie and vndefiled fynally all thinges are done seemely and orderly as the Apostle coÌ„mandeth to be done in the churche off god By what subtelty off Satan and negligence of our selues are our churches bereaued off so singuler aÌ„d heaueÌ„ly a benefit can any maÌ„ deny but that Christ hath thus apointed that this assemblie should thus gouerne in his churche iff ther be any man that can deny it Let hym tell vs what the meanyng ys off thes wordes Tell the Assembly in the xviij off Matthew or what keyes that is to say what power off openinge and shutting off heauen off bindinge or losinge sinne our Sauiour speaketh off in that place Or what that Assembly off Elders is which Paule in his Epistle to Tymothy speaketh off or what Elders they be that he speaketh off in the chap. following And Peter likewise in his Epistle who they be that to the Corinthians he calleth gouernours To the Thessalonians Rulers and Ouersers And who they be whom the Apostle to the Hebrews saith to be set ouer the congregation vnto whom he willeth them to be obedient and to submitt them selues And who they be also whom Sainct Luke in the Actes calleth the Elders off the churche off Hierusalem and off Ephesus wold they haue vs proue that it is necessary Let them teache vs contrary to that which our Sauiour Christ hath geuen vs warning off that yt is not necessary that offenses should arise or ells shewe some better meanes how to redresse them or take away when they be risen then that which our Sauiour hath appoynted which is to be exercised by the Assembly Let them shewe it to be a needles care to kepe the Sacramentes impolluted and vndefyled or iff they confesse yt to be needfull let them teache vs some better way to do yt by then that which our Sauiour Christ hath taught vs allready For I think ther is no man off any sound Iudgement that will say That which we vse nowe is fytter for this purpose that is to say that one Bishopp and he not oftentymes by him selffe but by his Chancellor and he by his Surrogaâ—e should take hym so selffe all this authoritie alone rule as he listeth in steade off a lawfull Assembly off Elders who by common counsell and authoritie should gouerne the church For as I declared before the Bishop tooke vpon him the office off Deacons that they being taken away he might distribute the church goods all alone and how after also takinge vppon him tâ—e office off the Elders when he had likewise thrust ouâ— them he tooke vpon him alone all the care off the churche So here also he hath abolished the whole Assembly that he alone may be asked Counsell off he alone may haue knowledge iudge and determyne off all matters For he spreadeth him selffe ouer all the body euen as the eye which S. Paule speaketh off in the first to the Corinthes For as the eye will haue no
ther dewties off the helpe off Deacons as the Apostles had Let them remember that the bodye would bee destroyed yff there were no member in yt but the eye And that churche in like manner wherin no man beareth any office but the Bishopp Let them remember that god hathe so made the bodye that there is a merueilous necessary vse off the diuers membres theroff which variety off partes and members must needes be preserued yff we would haue the bodie whole healthfull and stronge Let this infinite Ambition and desyre off rule and off medlinge with euery thinge that is in the Lord Bishoppes be corrected Let the Consistorie and Assembly off the Elders being so necessarie and so profitable for all the affaires off the churche be established wherin they may haue indeede the fyrst place in respect off the worthines off ther office S that they leaue the second to the Doctors and the third to the Elders For the churche perceiue the howe hurt full a thinge yt is that they should take all vnto them selues and can beare yt no longer perceiuinge well that the shamfull prophanacion off the Sacramentes the manifold and intollerable abuses off excommunication which is the highest Iustice off the churche and other innumerable euilles flow and springe from no other fountaine then from this pride off theâ—â—â— and busy medling very hurtfull and daungerous for the state off the churche And thus muche off Ecclesiasticall officers off whom because I haue spoken more at large how they ought to be appointed for that in the appoyntinge off them Ecclesiasticall discipline dothe in a manner wholie consist I will recompense yt with the shortenes off that part which followeth which is touchinge the dewtie off all the Saintes and faithfull Vnder the name off the Sainctes are conteined all the rest off the churche which doe not exercise any publique office or function therin whose dewtie as in all other societies ys only this to suffer them selues willingly to be ruled and gouerned by those whom god hathe set ouer them whervnto there is a short but a notable and pithy exhortacion off the apostle to the Hebrevvs wherin he exhorteth them aÌ„d by them all other churches to obedience vnto them who haue the ouersight off theÌ„ that they may geue vp their accoÌ„pte of the charge off sowles which they haue taken in hand with ioye and comforte and that they maye readilie aÌ„d with good courage beare for the churches sake all suche labor grees cares and sorwes as are ioined vnto ther offices Neither let Magestrates think allthough in respect off ther ciuill authoritie the churche be subiect to them that in this behalffe they are to be exempted from this precept and commanndement off the Appostle who chargeth euery one to be subiect to those who in Lord are set ouer them for seing they ought to be carefull as well off the saluacion off the Magystrate as off others and that the sowle off the magystrate as well as of the rest is committed to theyr charge They must also as well as the rest submit them selues and be obedient to the iust and lawfull authoritie off the Officers off the churche For seinge they not onlie rule by the authoritie off Iesus Christ but in a maÌ„ner do represent his person seing they rule not as they them selues list accordinge to ther owne will but only accordinge to this word and commandement Is it not meete that euen kinges and the highest magystrates should be obedient vnto them For yt is meet that all the princes and Monarches off the world shold geue vpp their sceptres and crownes vnto him whome god had made and appointed the Heyre off his kingdome and Lord off heauen and earthe I might alledge heare oute off the histories off all times diuers examples off godlie princes who submitted them selues to the order and gouernment off the churche apointed by god Who allthoughe as touching this life they did rule and gouerne yet they despised not the discipline aÌ„d correction off the Lord I might name out off the most auncient historye and holie Chronicles off the Hebrevvs kinge Azarias who allthoughe he proudely and boldly vsurped the priesthood yet when he was stryken by the Lord with a Leprosy and was therfore cast out of the temple and seperated from the coÌ„mon society off men by the highe priest accordinge to the lawe which God had made therin He obeied the priest coÌ„mandinge according to God his word and letting his sonne rule is his steade passed the rest of his life in solitarines alone by himselfe Amonges the Christian Emperors allthoughe ther be many worthy examples which now a dayes Princes may set before them to follow yet those two which the ecclesiasticall story reherseth off Philipp the first Christian Emperor and off Theodosius conteine a singuler example aboue the rest off godlie subiection wheroff the one beinge commaunded to absteine from the Sacramentes vntill he had first professed him selffe to be a penitent for that he had committed certen faultes and had made open protestacion off his Religion for that he was suspected He willinglie obeied the Bishopp or rather the word off god And both protested openly his grefe and srowe for the synnes he had committed and professed before all the churche his faithe and Religion The other that is Theodosius being not admitted by Ambrose into the churche into the which he would haue come did likewise so willinglie obeie that prostratinge hym selffe vppon the grownd and pauement off the temple in the sight off god and his Angells and all the churche followinge the meeknes off Dauid reprehended off Nathan declared the wuÌ„derfull sorowe which he had for his wiked fact and the slaughter committed at Thessalonica by his commaundement rehersing these wordes out off the Psalme My soule did cleane vnto the pauement Therfore all the faithfull and euen the princes and magistrates them selues ought to be subiect to the word off god and to Ecclesiasticall Discipline and then is the churche in florishing estate when bothe they who beare rule do commannd according to gods word and theâ— who be subiectes do willingly obeye But the Magistrates haue this proper and peculier to them selues aboue the rest off the faithfull To set in order and establishe the state off the churche by ther authoritie and to preserue and mainteine it according to godds will being once established Not that they should rule the Ecclesiasticall matters by their authoritie for this belongeth vnto Christ alone and to hym he hath committed this charge but for asmuche as the Apostle teachethe that they are apointed off God to th end that we may lyue a godlie aÌ„d a peceable life aÌ„d that the kinges off Israell by the apointement off god had charge to see the execution off all the lawe they ought to prouide and see that the seruice off god be established as he hathe appointed and administred by suche as ought to administre the same and afterwardes preserued