A DEMONSTRATION OF the trueth of that Discipline which Christe hath prescribed in his worde for the gouernement of his Church in all times and places vntill the ende of the worlde ¶ Wherein are gathered into a plaine forme of reasoning the proofes thereof out of the scriptures the euidence of it by the light of reason rightly ruled and the testimonies that haue beene giuen therevnto by the course of the Churche certaine hundreths of yeares after the Apostles time and the generall consent of the Churches rightly reformed in these latter times according as they are alleaged and maintained in those seuerall bookes that haue bin written concerning the same MATTH 21. 38. The husbandmen said among themselues this is the heire come let vs kill him and let vs take his inheritaunce LVKE 19. 27. Those mine enemies which would not that I shoulde raigne ouer them bring hither and slea them before me ¶ TO THE SVPPOSED GOuernours of the Church of England the Archbyshops lord Byshops Archdeacons and the rest of that order MAnie and most euident haue our declarations bin concerning the truth of that gouerment which Christ hath prescribed in his word for the ruling of the Church which we haue manifested vnto you both by our writinges speches as occasion hath bin offered neuer hath any one of you taken in hand to saye any thing against it but it hath made his eyes to dazzle as the clearest sun-shining wherby he hath beene driuen to wander hyther and thyther groping for euasions and yet coulde not escape but hath fallen into infinite most monstrous absurdities and blasphemous assertions as by their writinges yet extant it may appeare so forcible is the trueth to amaze the gainesayers thereof and so pregnant is falsehood to beget and bring forth thousands of absurdities and euery one worse then other And will you still continue in your damnable and most deuellish course Haue you solde your selues vnto Sathan to fight for him vntill you be dampned in Hell with him Haue you morgaged the saluation of your soules bodies for the present fruition of your pompe and plesure is it because you see not what you should do It may be so for many are so blinde that they grope euen at noone day but me thinkes it can hardly be so vnlesse you be they that haue eyes and see not for the cause hath bene by the blessing of God so managed that many ploughmen artificers and children do see it and know it are able by the worde of God to iustifie it and condemne you to bee aduersaries vnto the gospell in resisting it But you think that gouernment not so needfull your fault but small if it be any in continuing your course begon The necessitie of the thing is many wayes apparant both in that it hath so plentiful warrant from Gods owne worde as the course of this booke doeth euidently declare and also in that the gospell can take no roote nor haue any free passage for want of it and the greatnes of your fault appeareth by this that in so doing you are the cause of all the ignorance Atheisme schismes treasons poperie and vngodlines that is to be founde in this land which we challenge to prooue to your faces if we may indifferently be heard and whereof in the meane while we will giue you a taste for the first it is cleere that you are the causers of that damnable ignoraunce wherein the people are so generally wrapped for that you haue from time to time stopped the streams of knowledge in those places where the Lord in mercie bestowed the same and in stead of able and painefull ministers haue pestered the Churche eyther with presumptuous proude persons that are esteemed learned and take no paines to bring the people vnto the knowledge of Iesus Christe or which is the greatest nomber such ignorant asses and filthy swine as are not worthy to liue in a well ordered common-wealth and that you are the cause of all atheisme it is plaine for one may as in deede many doe professe it and you saye nothing to him for it If the most filthy liuer will fawne vpon you and bribe your seruants you will not onely fauor him but assiste him against any godly minister or other but if any that feare God refuse to come vnder the leaste of your popish ceremonies he shal be molested till his pursse be empty or else by your tyrannous dealing hee haue made shipwrack of a good conscience And are not you the cause of all schismes that make a hotch-pot of true religion and poperye and so giue some an occasion to fal into this course and others into that And it is as cleare that you are so farre the cause of all treasons as without you they had not bin for if euery Church had had hir gouernement according to Christs institution our yong gentlemen and studentes had not bene for want of teaching and carefull ouersight made a prey vnto the seducers and consequently to those practises which haue broght the bodies of so manie vnto Tyborne and their soules into hell and who but you be the cause of poperye whilest you vse them so well let them doe what they list yea and keepe them in office and authoritie vnder you yea whiche more is giue them such offices as none that is not popish can execute I speake not of the ignorance which by your means raigneth euery wher which as they confes is the mother of their deuotion and you are the wretched fathers of that filthye mother whereby you muste needes bee grandfathers at the least to al kinde of popery And who can without blushing denie you to be the cause of al vngodlines seeing your gouernment is that which giueth leaue to a man to be any thing sauing a sound Christian For certainly it is more free in these dayes to be a papist anabaptist of the family of loue yea anye moste wicked one whatsoeuer then that which we should be and I could liue these twentie years any such in England yea in a Byshopps house it may be and neuer be much molested for it so true is that which you are charged with in a Dialogue lately come forth against you and since burned by you that you care for nothinge but the maintenaunce of your dignities be it to the damnation of your owne soules and infinit millions mo Enter therefore nowe at the last into the serious consideration of these things remember that one day you must be presented before the tribunall seat of Iesus Christ to be arraigned for all the soules that haue gone to hell seeing you will needes be the rulers of the Church since the gospel first appeared in this land then shall you not bee excused with this the Queene and Councell wil haue it so nor with that our state cannot beare it For it shal be sayde vnto you why do you not infourme them better of my will why taught you them not to
whereof he is aboue other places But neyther of these haue euer bene neyther hereafter can be Therefore that office is vnlawfull Therefore if the office of the Archb. be not of God if the original of it be vnknown if in the Church it be needlesse if all the gifts that God hath bestowed vppon his ministery be appropriated vnto those Church officers whereof he is none if none may lawfully bestow such an office vpon any if it can neyther bee incident vnto any one man for his excellencie nor his place for preheminence then must it needs follow that his office is vnlawfull Caluin in his Institut booke 4. cap. 11. sect 7. alleadgeth diuers reasons to this purpose and Beza in his booke of diuorcements stretcheth the same to all the inferiour officers vnder him saying Officials proctors promotours and all that swinish filth now of long time hath wasted the Churche So doth Peter Martyr vppon the Rom. 13. speaking against ciuill Iurisdiction in Byshops doth by the same reasons condemne it in their substitutes But this being the corner stone of their building they labour to support it with many props the most special whereof are these 1 Obiection Cyprian sayth lib. 1. Epist. 3. ad Cornelium Neyther haue haeresies and schismes risen of anye other occasion then of that that the prieste of God is not obeyed neyther one priest for the time and one iudge for the time in the stead of Christ thought vpon to whome if the whole brotherhood woulde be obedient according to Gods teaching no man woulde mooue any thing against the College of priests Ansvvere This place is alleaged for the pope and the answere that M. Iewel and others make to it serueth our turne onely let this be noted that Cyprian speaketh of the people at Rome that had receiued another bishop besides Cornelius who was an haeretike for all the course of his writings condemneth this superioritie It is expounded by M. Iewel booke 1. sect 4. diuision 5. of euery bishop and so is it by M. Nowell against Dorman booke 1. page 25. and also by M. Foxe tom 1. fol. 93. See T. C. in his 1. reply page 98. c. 2 Obiection The authority of the Archb. preserueth vnitie Ansvvere Cyprian lib. 4. Epist. 9. sayth that vnitie is reserued by the agreement of bishopps that is of ministers one with another 3 Obiection It compoundeth controuersies that els would growe to many heades without any special remedie Ansvvere Cyprian lib. 1. Epist. 13. sayth that the plentifull body and company of Elders are as it were the glewe of mutual concord that if any of our companye be authour of haeresie the rest should helpe 4 Obiection 〈◊〉 Ierome vpon Tit. 1. sayth that in the beginning a bishop and priest meaning a teaching Elder were all one but when men began to say I am of Paule I am of Apollo c. It was decreed that one shoulde be chosen to beare rule ouer the rest Ansvvere From the beginning it was not so the sayinge of Tertull. Contra Prax. is fitt for this that is true whatsoeuer is firste and that is false whatsoeuer is latter and Ierome sayth in the place alleaged that this authority is by custome and not by any institution of God if it had bene the best way to take away diuisions the Apostles in whose times the controuersies did arise would haue taken the same order 5 Obiection Caluine sayth that the Apostles had one among them to gouerne the rest Ansvvere That was not in superioritie but for order to propound the matters gather the voyces and such like which is meete to be in euery wel ordered meeting but his authority is no more ouer the rest thē the speaker in the Parliament hath ouer the other knightes and Burgesses 6 Obiection Paule was superior to Timothy and Titus Ansvvere Paule and they had diuers offices whereof the Apostles office was the chiefe the like is to be sayd of Timothie and Titus hauing superiority ouer the other ministers for that they were Euangelists a degree aboue ordinarie ministers Therefore if the place alleaged out of Cyprian make nothing for Archb. if vnity be not preserued by him but by the Byshoppes among themselues if his authoritie make nothing to the taking away of controuersies if it be meerly inuented by man and not from the beginning if it be by custome and not by any ordinance of God if neyther one Apostle ouer the rest nor any of them ouer the Euangelists nor of the Euangelistes ouer the pastours and teachers wil serue to prooue their authority then must it needs follow that it is vtterly vnlawful Non man may be ordayned vnto any office in the Church vntill there be such a place voyde as he is fit for T. C. booke 1. page 61. VVhitgist page 222. 1 As was the 12. place for Matthias so is a certaine Church to euery Church officer But Matthias was not ordained vnto the place of an Apostle vntill Iudas by hanging himself had made it voyde Act. 1. 20. Therefore may none be ordained vnto any office in the Church before the place where he may be imployed be destitute of such a one 2 As the Apostles did in planting of the Churches so must it bee done in the buyldinge thereof for euer But they ordayned neyther pastour teacher elder or deacon but to some certaine Church that had neede therof Therfore may none bee ordayned vnto any office vntill a place be voyd that hath need of him 3 Those thinges that bee of one beginning continuance and ending cannot be one before or after another But a minister and the execution of his ministery in a lawfull standing be so for they be relatiues haue reference one vnto the other Therfore a minister ought not be ordained before there be a ministery whervnto he is to be allotted 4 If non ought to be called to be a shepherd that hath no flocke of sheepe to keepe neither any watchman that is not allotted to som place to watch then may none be ordayned to any office before there be a place void for him for ministers are in this sence tearmed shepheards and watchmen But the former is true as euery simple man can easily perceiue Therefore the latter is true also 5 To do contrary to the precepts and practize of the Apostles is vnlawfull But to ordain any officer without a certain place wherin he may be imployed is contrary to the precepts and practize of the Apostles as it appeareth Tit. 1. 5. Act. 14. 23. Therefore to ordayne any officer of the Churche without a certayne place wherevnto he is to be allotted is vnlawfull 6 It was ordayned that no Elder Deacon or any other Ecclesiastical officer shoulde bee ordayned a Apolelymenos that is loosely or let at randone but as afterward is expounded specially in a Church of citie or towne 7 The ordination that is made without a title let it be void and in what
to he is to be called T. C. 1. book page 38. Disci Ecclesiast fol. 46 They thinke one may do it as appeareth by the book of ordering c. VVhitgist page 134. 135. and their slight passing it ouer thorow the Archdeacons hands The former is prooued and the latter disprooued thus 1 Those that are to ordayne must haue particular knowledge of the parties to bee ordayned or else they breake the rule prescribed them 1. Tim. 5. 22 which cannot be without examination But the Eldership is to ordayneeuerye Churche officer as shall appeare in the Chap. of Ordination Therefore it belongeth to the Eldership to examine c. 2 The matter of greatest importance in the gouernement of the Churche must be done by the most able gouernours of the same The approouing or disproouing of Churche officers is the matter of greatest importance because the consequence of ruling well is the best or ill the worst and the Eldership is the Senate of most able gouernours in the Church as shall appear in the Chap. of Eldership Therefore the Eldership is to examine c. 3 The way whereby a mans insufficiencie is best espyed and his abilitie discerned is the fittest to examine them that are to be admitted But by the eldership consisting of diuers his insufficiencie is best espyed and his abilitie best discerned for the common prouerbe telleth vs that many eyes do see more then one Therefore it belongeth to the Eldership c. 4 They are to examine Church officers that are least subiect to be blinded with partiallitie But the Eldership is least subiect to partiallitie both for that they be many who are not so easily ouer ruled by affection or fauour as one as also and that especially for that it being the Lords owne ordinance as shall appeare we are to perswade our selues that his spirit shal guyde them Therefore it belongeth to the Eldership c. 5 The way that was vsed in the Apostles time in examining is of vs to be folowed vnles some reason out of the word to perswade the conscience can be alleadged to the contrary which none haue euer yet done But many vsed in the Apostles time to examine as appereth in chosing out one to be in the place of Iudas Act. 1. 22. 23. and fit men for Deacons Act. 6 5. wherof the gouernours especially were some for that they were to ordayn vpon knowledge as is said in the first reason Therefore it belongeth to the Eldership c. 6 They whose testimony the people may best credit are to examine them that are to be admitted But the people may best credite the iudgement of a company of able and sufficient men which the Eldershipp rightly established must needes be Therefore it belongeth to the Eldership c. 7 Examination belongeth vnto them which may most perswade the people of his sufficiency so procure gretest reuerence vnto him in his place But the examination by the Eldership is such Therefore it belongeth to the Eldership c. Therefore if they that are to ordain must examine if it be a matter of grerest waight in the gouernment of the Churche they the most able to dispatch it if by them his sufficiency or insufficiency be best found out if they be hardliest carried away with affection or parciallitie if the examination was suche in the Apostles time if the people may in reason giue most credit to the examination that is by such if that kinde of examination perswade the people best of his sufficiencie and procure him greatest reuerence in his place then must it needs folow that it pertaineth to the Eldership to examine those that are to bee admitted to any office in the Church There is nothing obiected against this that hath any shew of reason in it and therfore it were needles to set any thing downe CHAP. 6. BEfore consent be giuen to any man vnto any calling in the Churche it must appeare by sufficient tryall and due examination that he is quallified with those giftes that the worde of God requireth in one of that place Discipl Ecclesiast fol. 44. T. C. 2. booke 1. part page 368. and in many other places They gainsay this in two points first in mainteining their reading ministery secondly in gouerning the Church by their commissaries and officialls which both shal be ouerthrown if we prooue these two propositions following to be true by the worde of God No man ought to bee receiued vnto the ministery but such as be able to teache the trueth and conuince the gainsayers The Churche ought not to be gouerned by commissaries officialls and chauncellors 1 He that may be receiued into the ministery must be able to teach the people whatsoeuer Christe hath commaunded Matth. 28. 20. Onely he that is able to teache the trueth and conuince the gainsayers can teach the people whatsoeuer Christ hath commanded Therefore none must be receiued into the ministery but such as be able to teach c. 2 That which is to be done conditionally may not be done if that condition be not kept Men are to be receiued into the ministery conditionally that is if they bee vnreproâ—â—eable Tit. 1. 5. 6. Therefore if they be not such as bee there discribed they may not be receiued and consequently none may be receiued but such as be able to teach c. 3 That which cannot be done without the manifest brech of Gods commandement may not be done at all To receiue any that be not able to teach is a manifest breach of Gods coÌ„maundement 1. Tim. 3. 1. Tit. 1. 9. Therefore no man ought to be receiued into the ministerye that is not able to teach c. 4 They whome the Lorde refuseth to be his ministers may not be receiued into the ministery for the ministery being the Lords haruest we may admit none to labour therein but onely such as he hath giuen liking of by the rules of his worde The Lorde refuseth to be his ministers all those that cannot teach Hosea 4. 6. Therefore such as are not able to teache may not be receiued and consequently none may be receiued but those that be able to teach c. 5 He that may be admitted into the ministery must be able to deuide the word of God aright 2. Tim. 2. 15. Onely he that is able to teach and conuince the gainesayers can deuide the worde of God aright Therefore none may be admitted into the ministery but he that is able to teach c. 6 He that may bee admitted into the ministery must haue a treasury furnished with olde thinges and newe and must be able to bring it forth as occasion shal serue Matth. 13. 52. Onely hee that is able to teache c. is such a one Therefore onely he may be admitted c. 7 He that can espy the enemy and giue warning aforehand how to resist him may be receiued into the ministery Ezek. 33. 7. None can espy the enemie
and giue warning aforehande howe to resist him but he that is able to teach c. Therefore none may be admitted into the ministery but he that is able to teach c. 8 He that leadeth himselfe and his people into hel may not be admitted into the ministery He that is not able to teache and conuince the gainsayer leadeth himselfe and his people into hell Matth. 15. 14. Therefore he that is not able to teache c. may not be admitted into the ministery 9 Hee that preacheth not but holdeth his peace murdereth 10 Hee that preacheth not is not sent and so he begetteth no fayth in man 11 In that S. Paule requireth that a byshop should be wise he barreth those that vnder the name of simplicitye excuse the follye of ministers 12 We condemne all vnmeet ministers not endued with gifts necessary for a shepherd that should seed his flocke Therfore if a minister must teache vnto his people all that Christe hath commaunded if none may be made ministers but conditionally if they be quallified with gifts meete for the same if vnpreaching ministers cannot be made without the manifest breach of the commaundement of God if they may not bee made ministers whom the Lord refuseth to haue if euery minister must haue a treasurie well furnished and be able to bring forth of it when need requireth if euery minister must haue skill to see the enemie and to giue warning aforehand how to resist him if vnlearned ministers draw their people to hell after them if he that preacheth not be a murtherer if he be not sent so doe no good if he be barred from the ministery lastly if he be condemned as not to be in such a place then must it needes followe that none may be receiued into the ministery but such as be able to teach the trueth and to conuince the gainsayer Many are the arguments that be alleaged to this purpose and many moe may be alleadged for the whole course of the scriptures tende therevnto the testimony of all sorts of writers is very plentifull for this purpose yea of the very Canon law as the authour of the Abstracte hath learnedly prooued and yet doe not our prelates rest in the same but haue sett themselues though in a silly maner against it in this sort that followeth 1 Obiection There must bee reading in the Church therefore a reading ministery VVhitgift page 252. Ansvvere By that reason we must haue an officer for euery particular action for there must be breaking of bread in the Church and powring of water but it followeth not that therefore there must bee one whose office must bee onely to breake bread or to powre water 2 Obiection It is better to haue readers then none for preachers cannot be had for euerye congregation Ansvvere It is not better for if they had non they would seek for him that they should haue whereas nowe they that haue a reader onely thinke themselues in case good inough but if there be such want of prechers why are so many of the most diligent and able ones turned out 3 Obiection It is impossible to haue prechers euery where and suche as can be had must bee taken Ansvvere Sometimes you say all is well and is it now impossible that our state shoulde obey the Lordes ordinance this is the greatest disgrace to it that can be and yet iâ— followeth not for no necessitie may warrant vs to violate the decrees of the highest 4 Obiection It were vncharitablenes to turne them out that be bare readers for so they their wiues and children might beg Ansvvere This is to sell mens souls for morsels of bread shall we rather feare the begging of 3. or 4. then the damnation of 1000. but they may bee otherwayes prouided for they neede not beg many of them may returne to their occupations againe So that al these obiections notwithstanding the conclusion remaineth sure which is grounded vpon so many certaine and vnmooueable foundations The Churche ought not to be gouerned by Commissaries and officialls and Chauncellors 1 They which are no Elders of the Church haue nothing to do in the gouernement of the same 1. Tim 5. 17. These chauncellors commissaries officialls are no Elders in the Church whether we expound Elder for a minister and him also that is assistant vnto the minister in ouerseeing the Churche or for a minister onely as they do for none of them be ministers and if they be they doe not rule in this respect that they are ministers Therefore the Churche ought not to be gouerned by them 2 They that must gouerne the Churche of God must haue a warraunt for their so doing from Iesus Christ the head of the Church But Chauncellors c. haue no warraunt so to doe from Iesus Christe the heade of the Churche Therefore the Church ought not to be gouerned by them 3 Those whose names offices and practize be deriued from Antichrist may haue nothing to do in the gouernement of the Churche for who will suffer his wife to be gouerned by the Master of a brothelhouse But the names offices and practize of Chauncellors officialls and commissaries be such which is playne by this that they haue their grounde in that filthie dunghill the cannon law Therefore they may haue nothing to do in the gouernement of the Church 4 They that being iuferiours doe proudly tyrannize ouer their superiours ought not to rule the Church of God for it is meet it should be ruled by modest humble and orderly men But such are they for being inferiors to the ministers of the word as our aduersaries doe confesse and is plaine also by the cannon lawe they crow ouer theÌ„ as if they wer their slaues and if they doe not so they can doe nothing Therefore they ought not to rule the Churche of God 5 They that liue by the faultes of men are not fit to rule the Church of God for they wiâ—â— rather increase offences that their gayne may increase then orderly lessen them as experience also prooueth But suche are all Chauncellors commissaries and officials Therefore they ought not to rule the Church of God Therefore if chauncellors commissaries officialls be no Elders of the Churche if they haue no warraunt from Iesus Christe the head of the Church if their names offices and practize be deriued from Antichrist if their office compel them being inferiors to tyrannize ouer their superiours if they liue onely by the faults and offences of men then it must needs followe that the Churche of God ought not to be gouerned by them CHAP. 7. EVery officer of the Church must be ordayned by the laying on of the handes of the Eldershipp T. C. 2. booke 1. part page 274. Discip. Ecclesiast fol. 53. They say it ought to be done by the bishopp alone VVhitgift page 196. their dayly practize doth likewise shew it The former is prooued and the latter disprooued by these
hee describeth no other minister but the bishop Therefore there ought to be a bishop in euery congregation 2 S. Paules bishopps and his deacons were appoynted to one place as appeareth both in the description of them and the practize of the Apostles But the deacons were in euery congregation which appeareth Phil. 1. 1. Actes 6. â— that office being needfull euery where and in that it continued so longer then the office of bishops Athanasius Apol. 2. Ierome Contra Luciferianos c. Therefore there ought to be a byshop in euery congregation 3 That which Paule enioyned to Titus is also to be practized alwaies in the like case But he commanded him to ordaine Elders in euery citie Tit. 1. 5. which are expounded in the next verse to be bishops Therfore there must be a bishop in euery congregation 4 Euery Church should haue her Communion table and euery Church her bishop 5 Where there was found any worthy to be a bishopp there a bishopp was appointed and where there was not to furnish both bishop and preaching elder he meaneth the doctor there the Apostles made a bishop and left the elder 6 If a bishop run into a slaunder and manye bishops cannot suddenly be gathered his cause shal be heard of twelue bishops c. 7 If an elder be accused he may call sixe bishops from the places hard by 8 Stories make mention of bishops of little townes as Solicus bish of the village Cuman Mares bishop of a small towne called Solicha Gregory bishop of a smal citie called Nazianzum The bishop of a Castle 9 A minister that is to say a bishopp and a little after the Apostle doth plainly teach that a minister and a bishop is all one and vpon Titus a bishopp and a minister are the same and ad Occanum with the ancient fathers bishopps and Elders were all one 10 D. Barnes in his sixt article sayth I will neuer beleeue neyther can I euer beleeue that one man may by the law of God be a bishop of two or three cities yea of a whole countrie for that it is contrary to the doctrin of S. Paul who writing to Titus commandeth that he shoulde ordayne a bishop in euery towne 11 It is pitie to see howe farre the office of a bishop is degenerated from the originall in the Scripture it was not so in the beginning when bishops were at the best as the Epistle to Titus testifieth that willeth him to ordaine in euery citie c. They know the primitiue Church had no such bishops as we haue vntill the time of Siluester the first Therefore if a bishopp and a minister be all one if bishops were to be where Deacons are who were in euery congregation if Paule enioyned Titus to ordayne bishops in euery city and if euery church had her bishop a long time after the Apostles as appeareth by the testimonies of Councels Histories and learned writers both olde and newe then must it needes follow that there ought to be a bishop in euery congregation CHAP. 11. FOr the further reuealing of the trueth God hath ordayned that there shoulde be in the Churche Doctors whose office is to be employed in teaching of doctrin and is an office different from that of the Pastour The latter part of this proposition is the thing which especially they doe deny which is thus prooued to be true 1 Those whiche the Apostle in speaking of distinct officers doe distinguish one from another are seuerall distinct one from another But the Apostle distinguishe the Pastoure and teacher one from another Rom 12. 7. 8. and Ephes 4. 11. euen as hee distinguisheth man and woman Gal. 3. 28. See the Greek of them both Therefore the office of pastour and Doctor are distinct one from another 2 As are the gifts that adorne offices so are the officers themselues for the execution of the office consisteth in the employing of the gifts But the gifts of the pastour and Doctor are diuers as appeareth 1. Cor. 12. 8. and by experience for some hath an excellent gift in doctrine and not in application and others excel in application and exhortation that are verye meane in deliuering of doctrine Therefore the office of a pastor teacher are distinct one from another 3 Those that are to take a diuers course in teaching are diuers and different in their functions for els why should they be enioyned to take a diuers course But the pastor is to take one course the Doctor another for the one is to direct himselfe principally to exhort and the other to attend vpon doctrine Rom. 12. 7. 8. Therefore the office of pastour and Doctor be distinct offices the one from the other 4 The Ecclesiastical stories especially speaking of the Church of Alexandria doe vsually make a difference betwixt the bishopp and the Doctor 5 Cathedrall Churches haue yet som shew thereof left in them who besides the bishopp haue also one that readeth a Lecture in diuinitie 6 If the distinguishing of them make more for the buylding of the Churche then the vniting of them then are they to be distinguished and not made all one But the former is true as appeareth by this that hardly is a people broght to a sounde knowledge of godlines by him that instructeth in doctrine continually as hardly are wee stirred vp to a zealous care of our duetie though we be exhorted continually which both shoulde bee with lesse continuance if one man were to performe all Therefore they are to be esteemed distinct offices not parts of one office which one is to perform Therfore if the Apostle Paul distinguisheth them one from another if God do vsually be-bestow doctrine and exhortation vpon seuerall persons wherein eche is found to excell and to be no bodie in the other if the pastor be commanded to take one course in teaching and the Doctor another if Ecclesiasticall stories doe vsually distinguish them if Cathedrall Churches haue yet some steps left of the distinction if to distinguish them maketh more to the building of the Churche then to vnite them then must it needs follow that the office of pastour and Doctour be distinct and different the one from the other CHAP. 12. EVery congregation ought to haue Elders to see into the maners of the people and to be assistaunt vnto the ministers in the gouernment Ecclesiastical T. C. book 1. pag. 174. Disc. fol. 120. which they denie VVhitgift p. 627. their practize in keeping them out of the Church but it is prooued to be true by these reasons following 1 That which the Apostles established in euery congregation ought still to continue seeing the Churche must bee ruled by the same lawes that it was ruled by then and needeth as great furtherance now as it did then But the Apostles established Elders in euery congregation Act 14 23. which cannot be vnderstood of preaching Elders onely considering
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
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.
reasons following 1 As Church officers were ordayned in the Apostles time so must they be continually for they did lay the plot according wherevnto the Churche must be built vnto the ende but they were ordayned in the Apostles time by the laying on of the hands of the Eldership Act. 6. 6. 13. 3. Therefore the Churche officers must be ordayned by laying on of the handes of the Eldership 2 Churche officers must bee ordayned by them that haue warrant from the worde to assure the parties ordayned that they are called of God Onely the Eldership hath suche a warrant 1. Tim. 4. 14. Therefore they ought to bee ordayned by the Eldership 3 Many of the sentences alleadged before out of Councells Emperors lawes histories sound writers both olde and newe for election not to be by one but by diuers speake also of ordination and so are forcible to this purpose 4 Euagrius came to the office of a Bishopp vnlawfully because onely Paulmus ordayned him contrary to the tenure of many Cannons which prouide that they should not be ordayned but by all the Bishops of the prouince or at the least by three 5 When a Bishop is to be ordayned c. one bishop shal pronounce the blessing and the rest of the bishops with the Elders present shall all lay on their hands 6 When a bishopp was to be ordayned the bishops adioyning did ordayne him Therefore if Church officers were ordained in the Apostles time not by one but by the Eldershipp consisting of many if they be to ordayne that haue warrant out of the worde to assure the parties ordayned that they are called of God if ordination by one bishop be vnlawfull and contrary to many canons of Councells if the bishops and Elders were to laye on their hands lastly if the bishops adioyning were to ordayne then must it needes followe that Church officers are not to be ordained by one man but by the laying on of the handes of the Eldership But they fight hard against this because it striketh at a maine pillar of their kingdome their chiefe grounds be these 1 Obiection Paule and Barnabas ordayned Elders where is no mention of any Eldership Ansvvere They are said to ordaine because they being the chiefe procured it so is Ioshua 5. 3. saide to circumcise which was the Leuites office so say we the Queene hath made a lawe and yet not she alone maketh any 2 Obiection Though it were so then yet is it not so required nowe no more then the communitie in the Apostles time Ansvvere There was no more communitie then for they that thinke otherwise are in that point Anabaptists then is to be required now so that instance maketh for vs. 3 Obiection Examples are no general rules to be followed Ansvvere Examples not contrarying anye rule or reason of the Scripture be to be followed as if they were commaundementes so that notwithstanding any thing aledged to the contrary it remaineth vpon the former groundes most stedfast that it belongeth to the Eldership to ordaine those Churche officers that are to be imployed in the publike seruice of God CHAP. 8. THe ordaining of Churche officers must be done with humble prayer of the Eldership and the congregation Discipl Ecclesiast fol 50. Their vnreuerent beginning proceedding therewith in a corner is contrary to this which is condemned by the proofe of our assertion by these reasons 1 We are to behaue our selues in these actions as they by whom we haue direction to doe them haue set vs an example But the Apostles and Elders when they ordayned Church officers did alwayes commende the action to God by prayer together with those congregations ouer which they placed them Act. 6. 6. 14. 23. Therefore the ordeyning of Churche officers must be done by humble prayer of the Eldership and congregation 2 The greater the action is that is in hand the more carefull must they be that haue it in hand to humble themselues by prayer for the Lords assistance therein But the ordeyning of Churche officers is an action of most weightie importance Therefore they that haue it in hand which be the Eldershipp to ordayne him congregation to receiue him ought to humble themselues in earnest prayer before hand 3 They that shall haue part in the comfort or discomfort of the action are to ioyne together in prayer vnto God for the better euent and against the worse But the Eldershipp and people shall both haue part in the euent of the action Therefore they are to ioyne together in humble prayer before hand c. CHAP. 9. CHurche officers must be ordayned by laying on of hands in this they agree with vs concerning the ceremonie it selfe albeit neyther in the parties by whome nor on whome it must be conferred The profit of this ceremonie appeareth in the reasons following 1 That which stirreth vp euerye partie to pray with more feruencie is profitable to be vsed But such is this ceremonie for it affecteth the ordeyners when they feele him for whom they pray and the ordeyned when he feeleth a calling and charge from God as it were sensiblie comming vpon him and the congregation when they see him seperated from the rest by whome they shall reape muche comfort or griefe Therefore the vse of it is very profitable 2 That which helpeth forward the party ordained in his care to walke with a good conscience in his calling is profitable to be vsed Such is the imposition of hands for both it declareth vnto him that he is separated of God for that purpose also giueth him hope that his hand who allotted him therevnto will alwayes assist him in the course of that calling Therefore it is of a profitable vse 3 That which worketh a more acknowledgment of Gods ordinance in the heartes of the people is profitable to be vsed Such is the laying on of handes for it declareth vnto them that the Lorde hath placed him in that calling ouer them Therefore it is profitable to bee vsed Therefore seeing the ceremonie of layinge on handes is forcible to increase the feruencie of euery partie when they pray seeing it assureth the calling to the partie ordayned and giueth him an argument of good hope for the blessing of God vppon him in the course of the same and seeing it procureth a more perswasion in the people that he is allotted vnto them from the Lord himselfe it is euident that it is not a vaine and idle ceremonie as manie do imagine but of good and profitable vse in al ordinations CHAP. 10. THe Lord hath ordayned that there should be one byshop or pastor at the least president ouer euery congregation who are of equall authoritie in their seuerall charges in the generall gouernement of the Churche T. C. 1. booke page 22. 2. booke 1. part page 515. They maintaine contrary vnto this these two 1 That one may haue two or mo chardges and be absent from them as their