in the distributing of the goods of the Church then must it needs follow that his office is not to meddle with anye part of the ministery of the worde and sacraments but to attend onely vpon the distributing of the liberallitie of the Churche vnto them that stande in need thereof Their obiections herevnto be these two that follow 1 Obiection Phillip one of the seuen deacons did preache Actes 8. 8. therefore Deacons may preach the word Ansvvere Phillip was a deacon of the church at Ierusalem while they abode together but now he was not any more so but an Euangelist as he is euer tearmed after by vertue of which office he did preach 2 Obiection Steuen beeing a Deacon preached Act. 7. 2. Ansvver He preached not for all that is there was but his Apologie at the seat of iudgement which euery man in the like case may doe and which many of the martyrs haue done So that the former proposition beeing true vpon the groundes alleadged notwithstanding these obiections we are to proceede to the second which is this There ought to be such Deacons as are described in the former proposition in euery congregation which is thus prooued 1 That office which euerye congregation hath need of ought to be in euery congregation But euery congregation hath need of the Deacons office whiche appeareth by this that they haue poore to prouide for or els they must regarde the necessitie of others and the liberallitie of others to distribute Therefore Deacons ought to be in euery congregation 2 That which is indefinitely appointed for the good of the Church belongeth vnto euery congregatton as well as to any one But suche is the appointment of the Deacons 1. Tim. 3. 8. Therfore there must be deacons in euery congregation 3 Euery Church ought to haue their office of Deaconship 4 All the reasons or the most of them that are alleadged chap. 10. for a bishopp in euerye congregation and chap. 12. for Elders in euery congregation are forcible here vnto Therefore if there be the like neede of Deacons in one congregation that is in another if they be appointed indefinitely for the good of the Church if euery Church must haue their office of Deaconship and lastly if there be like resons to prooue thē belong to euery Church that be for bishopps and Elders then must it needes follow that there ought to be Deacons in euery congregation CHAP. 14. THere ought to be in euerye congregation an eldership consisting of a pastor or pastors doctor if there be any elders whose authoritie Christ hath ordayned to be perpetual in his church to gouerne the same onely by the rules of Gods word T. C. 1. booke page 175. Discip. Ecclesiast 123. which containeth these 3. perticular propositions defended by vs and gaine said by the BB. and their adherents 1 The Eldership ought to be in euery congregation 2 The office of the Eldership is perpetuall 3 The Church must be gouerned onely by the rules of Gods vvorde The first is denyed by them VVhitgift page 627. and by their practize in tying the gouernment of many Churches to the BB. sea it is thus prooued 1 Whatsoeuer Christe hath ordayned as a meanes to keepe men in obedience to the gospell that same must be in euery congregation for particuler men are in particuler congregations But Christ hath ordayned the Eldership for that ende as appeareth Matth. 18. 15. c. where Chrisost. expoundeth Tell the Churche that is sayth he the gouernors of the Churche Therefore the Eldershipp ought to be in euery Church 2 Where all sortes of Elders ought to bee there must be also the ioyning of their offices in one for the good of that congregation ouer which they are placed But all sorts of Elders ought to be in euery congregation as is prooued in the 10. chap. for bishopps the 12. for Elders c. Therefore there must be an Eldership in euery congregation 3 If no perticular congregation haue greater priuiledges giuen there vnto by the word of God then others haue then must there eyther be no Eldership at all which is false in that Elders are prooued to be by the worde of God in the Church or els it must be in euery congregation But euery congregation is of like priuiledge which appeareth by this that it is a perfect bodie of it selfe Therefore there must be an Eldership in euery congregation 4 The same warrant that is in the worde of God for to haue an Eldership in one place is a warrant for it in all for the word of God tyeth it not to Churches in cities but indefinitely to the church But there is warraunt for it out of the worde to be some where as appeareth by this that the Apostles are sayd to establish it make mention of it Therefore it must be in euery congregation Therefore if the Eldershipp be ordayned by Christ as a meanes to keepe men in obedience vnto the Gospell if all sorts of Elders must be in euery Church if euery congregation be of equall priuiledges lastly if there bee the lyke warraunt for it in euery Church that is in any then must it needs followe that there ought to be an Eldership in euery congregation Whatsoeuer is obiected against this that hath any shewe in it is aunswered in the 12. chap. of Elders The office of the Eldershipp is ordayned by Christ to be perpetuall and ordinarie for the gouernment of his church T. C. 1. book 177 denied by them VVhitgift 1. and by their practize in keeping it out but the trueth of it appeareth by these reasons that do follow 1 If the causes why Christe woulde haue an Eldershipp in his Churche be perpetuall then must also the thing it selfe be perpetuall But the causes are perpetuall which be to gouerne the Church by the rules of his worde and that ecclesiastically Therefore the Eldership is perpetuall 2 If Christ be the author of the Eldership left it by the Apostles to bee established in the Church then it is perpetuall for his commission giuen to the Apostles is to be obserued vnto the end of the world But Christ is the author of it as appereth both by his giuing of the gifts for the perticular members thereof the whole bodye of it as also in that the Apostles did establish it in the Church who went not frō their commission 1. cor 11. 12. Therfore the Eldership is perpetuall 3 Whatsoeuer is the commaundement of God once deliuered by him is neuer repealed againe and to be acknowledged of euery spirituall man that same is to bee receiued by the Churche of God to be perpetuall But such is the gouernment of the Church by pastors doctors and Elders and so of the whole Eldership as appeareth in that they are all mentioned in the writinges of S. Paule which are so esteemed 1. cor 14. 37. Therefore the gouernment of the Church by an Eldership is
bring hither and slea them before me Luk. 19. 27. The which fearefull sentence that we may auoide let euerye one of vs as may stand with our seuerall callings carefully endeuor to aduaunce this kingdom here which among other assurances giuen vs from the Lord shal be a testimonie vnto vs that we shall haue part in that glory which shal be reuealed herafter Now concerning the order of this booke to direct thee good reader vnto thy further instructioÌ„ in the points therof Thou hast in euery chapter diuers proofs out of the holy word of God which must be the things wherewith thou mayest safely informe thy conscience then shalt thou finde also arguments drawn from reson rightly ruled by the same word and lastly because our aduersaries charge vs that we desire a thing not known vnto the olde writers nor agreed vpon among the newe thou hast here the witnes of them both in so plentifull and vniforme wise as may plainly declare that al godly learned men of al times haue giuen testimony vnto the trueth of it The most of the thinges that are here expressed I acknowledg to be gathered out of the books that haue bene published and are extant purposely concerning this argumeÌ„t as may appeare in the seueral points wherein thou art sent vnto theÌ„ Now lest either thou shouldst be deceiued with a diuers impression or think me to missealleadge the authors I am to shew thee what books I haue followed The 1. book of T. C. twise printed I folow the latter of Ecclesiast discip I folow the latine printed 1574. and the last booke of D. Whitgift which containeth all the former in it The rest as I take it haue bene but once printed and therefore cary no doubt in them If thou bee satisfied herewith giue God the glory and promote the cause by prayer and all other good meanes that thy calling may affoord and pray for vs that we may neuer shrinke nor be ouerthrowen by the strength of them that fight against it FINIS A Table of Discipline the particular heades whereof are handled in the seuerall chapters according to the number wherevvith they are noted as follovveth The Discipline of the Church is the order that GOD hath prescribed in his worde for the ruling of the same cap. 1 The offices officers of whiche are to bee considered in General the calling wherevnto to wit to A certaine office Chap. 2. Execute his office faythfully Chap. 3. how it muste be by Election whiche must be done by The people chap. 4. Examination chap. 5. Consent onely to a man fit for the place Chap. 6. ordination By whom it must be by the eldership Chap. 7. The maner howe by publike prayer with the people chap. 8. laying on of hands cap. 9. Particular the officers and offices Simple by themselues Byshops Pastours chap. 10. Doctours chap 11. Deacons or Church seruants Ouerseâ—â—â— chap. 1â— Distributers chap. 13. compound the Synode Ecclesiasticall What Be the parties Pastours Doctours and Elders Chap. 14. Is the authoritie thereof chap. 15. wherein it consisteth in placing and displacing chap. 16. Censures by Word chap. 17. deed Suspention cap. 1â— Excommunication Chap. 19. A DEMONSTRATION of Discipline CHAP. 1. The diffinition of Discipline contayneth this proposition holden by vs. THe worde of God describâ—th perfectly vnto vs that forme of gouerning the Church which is Iawfull and the officers that are to execute the same from the which no Christian Church ought to swarue Admonition in the praeface Ecclesiasticall Discip. fol. 5. T. C. first booke page 26. Counterpoyson page 8. Discourse of gouernement page 1. c. The Assertion of the BB. and their adherents THe worde of God describeth not any exacte forme of Discipline neyther are the offices and officers namely and particularly expressed in the Scriptures but in some points left to the discretion and libertie of the Churche VVhitgift in praeface and page 14. aunswere to the Abstract page 33. The proofe of the former is the disproofe of the latter which is thus declared 1. These thinges write I vnto thee c. out of whiche place I reason thus That end which Paule respected in writing vnto Timothie doth the holy ghost direct al ministers vnto for euer for it must be kept 1. Tim. 6. 14. But he wrote to directe him in the establishing and building of the Church Therefore that word must direct ministers for euer and consequently they neither may add to nor take from it but gouerne it onely by the rules that be there prescribed 2 Euery house ought to be ruled by the orders of the skilfull wise and careful householder onely But the Church is the house of God and God is such a householder Therefore the Church ought to be ruled by the orders of God onely which are no where to be had but in his worde 3 That which teacheth euery good way teacheth also how the Church must be gouerned But the word of God teacheth euery good way pro. 2. 9. therefore it teacheth how the Church must be gouerned 4 We cannot glorifie God but by obedience to his word in all that we doe we must glorifie God 1. Cor. 10. 31. Therefore in all that we doe there must be obedience to the word and consequently in gouerning his Church 5 If meat and drinke be not sanctified vnto vs but by the word prayer then much lesse is any thing holy which is done in the gouernement of the Church besides the word But the former is true by the testimonie of the Apostle 1. Tim. 4. 5 therfore the latter must be true also 6 All lawfull things are of fayth Rom. 14 23. All lawfull things that are of fayth haue a warrant from the word for the word is the foundation of fayth therefore all things lawfull haue their warrant from the word and consequently euery lawfull action in the gouernement of the Church 7 Eyther hath God left a prescript forme of gouernement for the Church vnder the newe testament or he is lesse careful for it now then he was vnder the lawe for his care is in guyding it But he is as careful now for his church as he was then Therefore hath hee left a prescript forme to gouerne it 8 He that was as faythfull as Moses left as clear instruction both for the buylding of faith and gouernment of the Churche as Moses did But Christ was as faythfull in Gods house Heb. 3. 2 therefore he lefte as cleare instruction for them both as Moses but Moses gaue direction euen for euery particular as appeareth in the buylding of the Tabernacle and order of the priesthood Therefore hath Christe also giuen particuler direction for the gouernment of the Church 9 If the word of God haue described sufficient ministers and ministeries for the buylding of the Church and keeping it in good order then is our assertion true But it hath set downe sufficient for doctrine exhortation ouerseeing distributing
and ordering of euery particular Churche or generall Synode Therefore is our assertion true 10 That gouernement which the Apostles taught and planted is expressed in the word of God But the Apostles taught and planted pastours and teachers for instruction elders for ouersight and deacons to distribute and that vniformely in euery Churche as appeareth by their writinges and practises Therefore a certaine forme of gouernement is expressed in the worde 11 Euery lawfull office action in the building of the Churche is from heauen Matth. 21. 25. 26. Euery thing that is in the ordinarie building from heuen is reueled in the word Therfore euerye lawfull office and action is reuealed in the worde 12 If God continued in regarde of the substance the Church administration as wel as the things to be administred then is the forme of Discipline described in the word But the former is true as appeareth by the particulars for priests pastours for teaching Leuites or doctors of the law Teachers for rulers of the Synagogue Elders for Leuiticall lookers to the treasurie Deacons for the Sanedâ—rim the Eldershipp therefore the forme of gouernment is prescribed in the word 13 Euery wise king that is careful for his subiects setteth downe Lawes for the gouernment of the same and will haue them tyed to no other But Christ is such a king vnto his church Therefore hath he prescribed Lawes vnto his Church which none therein can alter or disobey and consequently the certaine forme of gouernment of the Church is described in the worde 14 That which the ministers must teach the people to obserue is set downe in the worde of god for they may teach nothing but that which is there Matth. 28. 20 But they are to teache them to obserue and be obedient vnto the particular forme of the Churche gouernement Therfore the particular forme is set downe in the word 15 Euery gouernment consisteth in the gouernours matter wherabout they are to be imployed and maner of doing it But in the word are described all these particulars as it is shewed in the 9. reason Therfore the word prescribeth a prescript forme of gouernment 16 The Christian religion shall finde that out of this Scripture rules of all doctrine haue sprong and that from hence doeth spring and hyther doth returne whatsoeuer the Ecclesiasticall Discipline doth containe 17 We may not giue our selues the libertie to bring in anye thing that other men bring of their will we haue the Apostles for authours whiche themselues brought nothing of their owne will but the Discipline which they receiued of Christe they deliuered saythfully to the people 18 It is adulterous it is sacriledgious whatsoeuer is ordayned by humane furie that the diuine disposition should be violated Therefore if Timothie was written vnto that he might be directed by the worde in disposing of the Churches if the Lawes of God onely being the housholder must be followed in the Churche his House if the word of God teache vs in euerye good way whereof the gouernement of the Church is one if God must be glorified in the ruling of his Church which cannot be but by obedience to his word if nothing be lawfull but that which iâ— of fayth warranted by the word if God haue shewed himselfe as carefull for his Church vnder the Gospell as vnder the law if Christ was as faythfull to giue direction as Moses if in the worde be described sufficient ministers ministeries to buylde vp the Churche if that gouernement which the Apostles taught and practized be in the worde if euery lawfull office and action in an ordinarie building be from heauen and reuealed thence by the worde if God continued the same forme in respect of the substance in the time of the Gospel that was vnder the law if euery wise carefull king doe set downe lawes for the direction of his subiectes if the Apostles haue taught vs to obey that which Christ commanded if both the gouernours matter of gouernment maner of doing it be set downe in the worde if all that pertayneth to Ecclesiasticall Discipline spring from the scriptures if wee may bring nothing into the Discipline of the Church but that which the Apostles haue deliuered vs lastly if that be adulterous sacriligious that is not according to the worde thâ—n it must needes followe that God doth describe perfectly vnto vs out of his worde that forme of gouernment which is lawfull and the officers that are to execute the same from the which it is not lawful for any Christian Church to swarue And contrariwise that is a most vntrue assertion to saye that the officers and offices are not particularly expressed but left to the discretion of the Church The reasons that they alleadge against this are in effect none their obiections to these reasons not worthy to be mentioned CHAP. 2. EVery officer in the Church must be placed in some calling warraunted by the worde of God and some congregation must haue neede of such a one before he be called to any function Wherein are these propositions 1 No calling is lawfull in the Churche but that whiche is directly warraunted out of the word vnto him that executeth it The BB. and their adherentes thinke otherwise as their practize in ordeyning Archbysh L. Byshops Deanes Archdeacons Chauncellors officialls c. doth plainly declare 2 The name and office of an Archb. is contrary to the word of God 3 No man may be ordeined vnto any office in the Church vntill there be such a place void as he is fit for T. C. 1. booke page 61. They thinke otherwise as their making of so many ministers at once proueth and as is holden VVhitgist page 222. 1 The first is prooued thus If Iohn was constrayned to prooue his ministerie out of the Scriptures when the Priests accused him then is no calling lawfull that hath not his warrant in the word for if any be priuiledged the extraordinarye ministers whereof he was one are specially excepted But he prooued his ministery by the word as appeareth by his aunswere vnto them in the 23. verse Therfore no calling is lawfull in the Church that hath not his warrant in the word 2 The callings vnder the Gospell must haue as good warrant as they had vnder the law because the light of the Gospell is at the least as cleare as that of the law But there was neuer any lawfull calling vnder the lawe excepting those that were by miraculous manner confirmed from heauen whiche had not his directe warrant out of the worde Therefore no calling is lawfull in the Churche whiche is not directly warranted in the word 3 If Corath Dathan and Abiram though they were Leuites were punished for that they had no warrant for that which they presumed to take in hande then is euerye lawfull calling both in generall warranted out of the worde particularly layde vppon the parties from the Lorde But the
of like nature if we iustly reprooue the papists for their two swordes if a magistrate may not preach if they may not meddle with worldly offices nor be tutors to Orphans but attend only vnto the ministery of the word if they may neither vsurpe nor take being offered any ciuill-office if they be to be distinguished to seuerall persons or els one hindereth the other lastly if none be able to execute both then must it needs follow that Ecclesiasticall officers may not beare ciuill offices and consequently the office of the Church-gouernment is meere ecclesiasticall Their obiections hereunto be these 1 Obiection It countenanceth and maintayneth religion to haue ciuill authoritie Ansvvere It is in deed the papists reason for their two swordes which M. Caluin confuteth Institut booke 4. cap. 11. sect 9. 2 Obiection It is good to punishe vice by corporall punishment that Gods word may be the better obeyed Ansvvere It is good to preach Gods word to men that they may obey their prince for conscience sake may the magistrate therefore preach wee may not doe euerye thing that is good but onely that which is agreeable to our callings 3 Obiection Eli and Samuel were both priests and Iudges Ansvvere They were extraordinary for God separated those two offices in Moses and gaue the one vnto Aaron and so was Eliahs killing of the false prophets and Christes whipping of the buyers and sellers out of the Temple 4 Obiection Peter killed Ananias therefore â—B may haue prisons Ansvvere It was by his worde onely and not by anye ciuill punishment if they can doe the like Peters example will serue their turnes if not then must it be with the former extraordinarie CHAP. 16. THe placing and displacing of Church-officers appertaineth vnto the Eldership This is prooued in the 7. chap. and their obiections are there aunswered for the first part which is the placing but the latter part is to be cleared by some mo reasons because the BB. do displace the best ministers at their plesure which is proued to be a most wicked action by these resons 1 Those that are called vnto the ministery by the Lord from heauen and outwardly by the meanes of men so long as they are blameles in doctrine and conuersation 1. Tim. 3. 10. cannot be displaced without hainous wikednes against the manifest will of God But suche are the ministers that the BB. do daily displace as they coÌ„fesse themselues when euen in their sermons they iustifie their doctrine in saying that they differ onely in outward rites and as their greatest enemies will saye when they are asked of such mens liues Therefore they cannot be displaced without great wickednes 2 Those that are carefull to discharge the dutie of Gods ministers both in teaching and giuing example to their flockes cannot be displaced without great impietie Such are these ministers that are daily displaced as appeareth by this that they preache more diligently then any other and that they followe not the course of the worlde in adding liuing vnto liuing but many of them being as worthy for their giftes as the worthiest liue poorely rather then they will want the comfort of a good conscience Therefore they cannot be put to silence without great sinne 3 To depriue Gods people of their spirituall comfort is a grieuous and horrible wickednes To put such to silence as are before mentioned is to depriue Gods people of their spirituall coÌ„fort which if any man will denie all the godly where such a one dwelleth shall tell him hee lyeth Therefore to displace such ministers is a haynous and horrible wickednes 4 That which giueth occasion to the weake to stumble and fall away from the Gospell is a haynous and horrible sinne But such is the displacing of those ministers as appeareth by this that many doubt whether that which he hath taught be true whom the professors of the gospell do displace and by this that many who had made good beginnings by the discontinuance of their teachers doe fall away Therefore to displace those ministers is a haynous and horrible sinne 5 Those whose labours God doth blesse can not be displaced without fighting against God and consequently great impietie But such are these ministers that the BB. doe dayly displace as all that loue the Gospell in euery countrye can witnes Therfore to displace them is great impiety 6 That action which giueth the common enemy iust cause to reioyce and hope to get the victory is a haynous and horrible offence But such is the displacing of those ministers as appeareth in euery country where such ministers are displaced and such enemies do dwell Therfore to displace such is a haynous and horrible offence 7 That action that causeth the doers therof to be esteemed enemies to the gospell must needes be a haynous sinne But such is the putting of those ministers to silence for it maketh the people that haue any loue to religion think that they are not of God in so doing for say they he that loueth Christ cannot crosse the course of the Gospel as these men doe Therefore the displacing of them is a haynous sinne 8 That which letteth in more wickednes at once then the diligent preaching of the worde could driue out in diuers yeeres must needs be a haynous sinne but suche is the displacing of these ministers for prophaning of the Saboth and all disorder commeth into a congregation the same day that such a minister that hath long labored against it is displaced as experience in suche places prooueth Therefore to displace such ministers is a haynous sinne 9 That which interrupteth the course of the Gospell without warraunt eyther from Gods word or the lawes of the land is a haynous and horrible sinne Such is the displacing of those ministers as is proued in al the writings on our side lastly in the answere to D. Bridges therfore to displace such ministers is a haynous horrible sinne Therefore if the ministers that bee vsually displaced be called of God if they discharge the dutie of good ministers both in doctrine and life if the displacing of them bee to depriue Gods people of their spiritual comfort if it giue occasion to some to doubt of the Gospel and to fall away if God giue a blessing vnto their labours if the displacing of them giue the enemy matter to reioyce and hope to ouercome if it cause the displacers to be esteemed enemies to the Gospell if it let in more wickednesse in one day then preaching can throwe out in many yeeres if it interrupt the course of the gospell without warrant eyther from the word of God or lawes of the land then must it needs follow that the displacing of those ministers is a most haynous and horrible sinne against the Lord. CHAP. 17. THe Eldership is to admonishe euery one by whome offence appeareth vnto them to grow in the Church There is no question between vs about admonition it selfe but this they deny that
such is the matter of excommunication being the denouncing of that against a man which he will most hardly beleeue being the wayghtiest poynt of discipline Therefore it may not be done by one man 4 Those must excommunicate that are to deale in the other partes of discipline as shall appear in the resons following and as I think no man will denie But the other partes of discipline are exercized not by one but by the Church as hath bene prooued Therefore not one but the Church is to excommunicate 5 As it was ministred among the Iewes so must it be in the Church for euer which appeareth by this that it is translated vnto vs from them as the Greeke word Synedrion being by a corrupt imitation called Sanedrim by the Rabbins doth import and had nothing ceremoniall in it But it was executed among them by the Church and not any one Iohn 9. 22. Therefore the Church is to excommunicate and not one man 6 Sayth he would neuer do any thing in his charge without the counsell of his Elders and consent of the people 7 The elders other church-officers haâ—e as wel power to obsolue as the byshop 8 For so much as absolution belongeth vnto all I alone dare not do it 9 If there be any that haue committed such a fault that he is to be put away from the partaking of the prayers of the Church c. There do be are rule certayne of the most approoued auncients or elders of the Church which haue obtayned this honour not by money but by good report 10 It helpeth much to make the party more ashamed that he be excommunicated by the whole Church also in his bookes of Baptiâ—me against the Donatists often 11 The Elders haue interest in other censures of the Church and the Church it selfe in excommunication 12 S. Paule accuseth the Corinthians for that the whole Church had not excommunicated the incestuous person 13 The Elders had the gouernement in excommunication 14 It is very dangerous to permit so weightie a matter to one man and therefore that tyrannie may be auoyded and this censure executed with greater fruite and grauitie the order that the Apostle there vseth is still to bee obserued 15 Hee sheweth that it pertayneth not to one man that it is a wicked fact that one should take the authoritie to himselfe that is common to others that it openeth a way to tyrannie taketh from the Church their right and abrogateth the Ecclesiasticall senate ordayned by Iesus Christ. 16 The byshops when they excommunicated of themselues alone did it ambitiously contrary to the decrees of godly cannons See Bucer against Groppet and vpon Ephes. 4. De animi Cura also Zuinglius in Ecclesiast 17 It is plentifully forbidden euen by that filthie puddle the cannon law and therefore it must needs be a haynous sinne when it findeth fault with it Therefore if excommunication be to be executed by the commaundement of Christe of the Churche if S. Paule enioyned it vnto the Church if it haue need of greatest aduice and authoritie if it belong to them that may execute the other partes of Discipline if it was so executed among the Iewes if to absolue be as well in the Elders power as the Byshops if Cyprian durst not do it alone if it was the action in Tertulians time of the most approoued Elders if to be by the whole Churche helpeth much to make the partie more ashamed if the whole Churche haue interest in it if the whole Church at Corinth was reprooued for not doing it if it be too weighty a matter for one man if the executing of it by one ouerturneth the order appoynted by Christ bringeth in tyrannie maintayneth ambition and lastly be forbidden by the cannon law it selfe Then must it needes followe that it belongeth not vnto one man to excommunicate but vnto the Eldershipp and that with the consent of the whole Church Their obiections herevnto in defence of their owne practize be these 1 Obiection The right of excommunication was in S. Paule and not in the rest Ansvvere He gaue onely direction in that as in all other matters whiche hee wrote of vnto them but if they had not throwne out the incestuous person he had remayned still vnexcommunicated for all that which S. Paule had sayd vnto them 2 Obiection Christ gaue Peter and euery Apostle power to binde and lose in earth and in heauen which interpreters expound by Matth. 18. 15. Ansvvere That power was of denouncinge Gods iudgements or pronouncing his mercie in preaching and not of this action they are expounded one by another because of the ratifying of them both in heauen alike 3 Obiection Paule did excommunicate Hymeneus and Philetus Ansvvere That is beeing moderator of the action he pronounced it not that he did it alone The same answere is to be made vnto the fathers as Ambrose c. who are said to excommunicate Therefore vpon these grounds of Scriptures Fathers Councels Emperours Lawes Histories newe writers and cleare light of reason I conclude that Christ hath prescribed vnto vs an exacte and perfect platforme of gouerning his church at all times and in all places which is this that there ought to be no ministers of the the word but pastors and teachers whiche are to be called by the people and ordained by the Eldership are of equall authoritie in their seuerall congregations muste with all faythfull diligence imploye themselues in the ministery of the worde and sacramentes that there are to be in euery congregation certaine elders whose office is to ouersee the behauiour of the people and assist their pastour in the gouernment of the church also Deacons who are to be imployed onely in receiuing and bestowing the liberallity and goods of the church to the reliefe of the poore and other necessary vses Lastly that there must be in euery congregation an eldershipp of pastour teacher if they can haue any and elders who are in common to see that the church be well gouerned not onely in maintayning the profession and practize of the worde in generall but also in admonishing reprehending or seperating froÌ„ the Lords supper them that walke offensiuely and lastly in excommunicating them that by no other meanes can be reclaimed So that all and euery gouernement contrary or besides this whether in part or in whol swarueth from that order which Christ hath set downe in his word and therefore is vnlawfull FINIS ERRATA Page 1. line 21. for 14. read 84. p. 4. l. 16. for Saâ—edoriâ— read Sanedrim p. 9. l. 11. for 43. read 43 8. l. 20 for ministerie read ministers p. 15. l. 3. blot out also p. 17. in the margent for Nepolitan read Nepotian pag. 22. l. 16. for Damascus read Damasus and so pag. 27. l. 24. pa. 23. l. 18. for the these p. 25. l. 2 for 6. read 26.