A demonstration of the trueth of that Discipline which Christ hath prescribed in his worde for the gouernment of his Church in all times and places vntill the end of the world Wherein are gathered into a plain forme of reasoning the prooft thereof out of the Scriptures the euidence of it by the light of reason rightlie ruled and the testimonies that haue been giuen thereunto by the course of the Church 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 alleadged and maintained in those seuerall bookes that haue been written concerning the same Math. 21. 38. The husbandmen said among themselues this is the heire come let vs kill him and let vs take his inheritance Luke 19. 27. Those mine enemies vvhich vvould not that I should raigne ouer them bring hither and flea them before me To the supposed Gouernors of the Church of England the Archbishops Lord Bishops Archdeacons and the rest of that order MANY and most euident haue our declarations been concerning the trueth of that gouernment which Christe hath prescribed in his worde for the ruling of the Church which we haue manifested vnto you both by our writings and speeches as occasion hath been offered neuer hath any one of you taken in hande to say anie thing against it but it hath made his eyes to dazle as the clearest Sun-shining whereby hee hath been driuen to wander hither and thither groping for euasions and yet coulde not escape but hath falne into infinite most mostrous absurdities and blasphemous assertions as by their writinges yet extant it may appeare so forcible is the trueth to amaze the painesayers thereof and so pregnant is falshood to beget and bring foorth thousands of absurdities and euery one worse then other And will you still continue in your damnable and most diuelishe course Haue you solde your selues vnto Satan to fight for him vntill you bee dammed in hell with him Haue you morgaged the saluation of your soules and bodies for the present fruition of your pompe and pleasure is it because you see not what you should doe 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 bee they that haue eyes see not for the cause hath been by the blessing of God so managed that many plough-men artificers and children doe see it and know it and are able by the worde of God to iustifie it and condemne you to bee aduersaries vnto the Gospell in resisting it But you thinke that gouernment not so needfull and your fault but small if it be any in continuing your course begunne The necessitie of the thing is many wayes apparant both in that it hath so plentifull warrant from Gods own word as the course of this booke doth uidently declare and also in that the Gospell can take no roote nor haue any free passage for want of it and the greatnesse of your fault appeareth by this that in so doing you are the cause of all the ignorance Atheisme schismes treasons poperie and vngodlinesse that is to be founde in this lande which we challenge to proue to your faces if we may indifferently be heard wherof in the meane while we will giue you a taste for the first it is cleare that you are the causers of that damnable ignorance wherein the people are so generallie wrapped for that you haue from time to time stopped the streames of knowledge in those places where the Lorde in mercie bestowed the same and in steed of able and painefull Ministers haue pestered the Churche eyther with presumptuous proude persons that are esteemed learned and take no paines to bringe the people vnto the knowledge of Iesus Christe or which is the greatest number suche ignoraunt Asses and filthie swine as are not worthie 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 say nothing to him for it If the most filthie liuer will fawne vpon you and bribe your seruants you will not only fauour him but assist him against any godly Minister or other but if any that feare God refuse to come vnder the least of your popish ceremonies hee shall bee molested till his purse be emptie or els by your tyrannous dealing he haue made shipwrack of a good censcience And are not you the cause of all schismes that make a hotch-pot of true religion and poperie and so giue some occasion to fall 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 her gouernment according to Christes institution our young Gentlemen and students had not bin for want of teaching careful ouersight made a pray vnto the seducers and consequently to those practises which haue brought the bodies of so manie vnto Tyborne and their soules into hell and who but you be the causes of Poperie whilest you vse them so well let them doe wat they list yea and keepe them in office authoritie vnder you yea which more is giue them such offices as none that is not popish can execute I speak not of the ignorance which by your meanes raigneth euerie where which as they confesse is the mother of their deuotion and you are the wretched fathers of that filthie mother whereby you must needes be grandfathers at the least to all kind of poperie And who can without blushing denie you to bee the cause of all vngodlines seeing your gouernment is that which giueth leaue to a man to be any thing sauing a sounde Christian. For certainely it is more free in these dayes to bee a Papist Anabaptist of the famely of loue yea any most wicked one wahtsoeuer then that which we should be and I could liue these twenty yeres any such in Englande yea in a Bishops house it may bee and neuer bee muche molested for it so true is that which you are charged with in a Dialogue lately come foorth against you since burned by you that you care for nothing but the maintenance of your dignities bee it to the damnation of your owne soules and infinite millions moe Enter therefore nowe at the last into the serious confideration of these thinges remember that one day you must bee presented before the tribunall seate of Iesus Christe to bee arraigned for all the soules that haue gone to hell seeing you will needes bee the rulers of the Churche since the Gospell first appeared in this land then shall you not be excused with this the Queene and Counsell will haue it so not with that our state cannot beare it For it shall be said vnto you why do you not informe thē better of my will why taught you them not to worship with
excellēcie aboue other men or the place whereof he is aboue other places But neither of these haue euer been neither hereafter can bee Therefore that office is vnlawfull Therefore if the office of the Archbishop be not of God if the originall of it bee vnknowne if in the Churche it be needlesse if all the giftes that God hath bestowed vppon his Ministerie bee appropriated vnto those Church officers whereof he is none if none may lawfully bestowe such an office vpon any if it can neither bee incident vnto any one man for his excellencie nor his place for preheminence then must it needes 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 Proctours Promotours and all that swinish filth now of long time hath wasted the church So doth Peter Martyr vppon the Rom. 13. speaking against ciuill Iurisdiction in Bishops 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 speciall wherof are these 1 Obiection Cypran saith lib 1. Epist. ad Cornelium Neither haue heresies and schismes risen of any other occasion then of that that the Priest of God is not obeyed neither one Priest for the time and one Iudge for the time in steede of Christ thought vppon to whome if the whole brotherhood woulde bee obedient according to Gods teaching no man woulde mooue any thing against the Colledge of Priests Answere This place is alleadged 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 heretike for all the course of his writings condemneth this superioritie It is expoounded by M. Iewel booke 1. sect 4. diuision 5. of euery Bishop and so is it by M. Nowel against Dorman booke 1. pag. 25. and also by M. Foxe tom 1. fol. 93. See T. C. in his 1. replie page 98. c. 2 Obiection The authoritie of the Archbishop preserueth vnitie Answere Cyprian lib. 4. Epist. 9. saith that vnitie is reserued by the agreement of Bishoppes that is of Ministers one with another 3 Obiection It compoundeth cōtrouersies that els would grow to many heades without any speciall remedie Answere Cyprian lib. 1. Epist. 13. saith that the plentifull bodie and companie of Elders are as it were the glewe of mutuall concord that if any of our company be authour of heresie the rest should helpe 4 Obiection Ierome vppon Tit. 1. saith that in the beginning a Bishop and Priest meaning a teaching Elder were all one but when men began to say I am of Paul I am of Apollo c. It was decreed that one shoulde bee chosen to beare rule ouer the rest Answere From the beginning it was not so the saying of Tertul. contra Prax. is fit for this that is true whatsoeuer is first and that is false whatsoeuer is latter and Ierome saith in the place alleaged that this authoritie is by custome and not by any institution of God if it had been the best waye to take away diuisions the Apostles in whose times the controuersies did arise would haue taken the same order 5 Obiectiō Caluin saith that the Apostles had one among them to gouerne the rest Answere That was not in superioritie but for order to propound the matters gather the voyces such like which is meete to be in euery well ordered meeting but his authoritie is no more ouer the rest then the speaker in the Parliament hath ouer the other knights and Burgesses 6 Obiection Paul was superior to Timothie and Titus Answere Paul and they had diuers offices whereof the Apostles office was the chiefe the like is to bee saide of Timothie and Titus hauing superioritie 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 the Archb. if vnitie be not preserued by him but by the Bishops among themselues if his authoritie make nothing to the taking away of controuersies if it bee meerely inuented by man and not from the beginning if it bee by custome and not by any ordinaunce of God if neither one Apostle ouer the rest nor any of them ouer the Euangelistes nor of the Euangelists ouer the Pastours and Teachers will serue to proue their authoritie then must it needes followe that it is vtterly vnlawfull No man may be ordained vnto any office in the Church vntill there be such a place voide as hee is fit for T. C. booke 1. pag. 61. Whitgift pag. 222. 1 As was the 12. place for Matthias so is a certain church to euery Church officer But Matthias was not ordained vnto the place of an Apostle vntill Iudas by hanging himselfe had made it voide 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 be done in the building thereof for euer But they ordeined neither Pastour Teacher Elder or Deacon butto some certaine church that had need thereof Therfore may none be ordained vnto any office vntill a place be voide that hath need of him 3 Those thinges that be of one beginning continuance and ending cannot bee one before or after another But a Minister and the execution of his Ministerie in a lawful standing be so for they be relatiues and haue reference one vnto the other Therfore a Minister ought not to be ordained before there be a Ministerie whereunto he is to be allotted 4 If none ought to be called to be a shepheard that hath no flocke of sheepe to keepe neither any watchman that is not allotted to some place to watch then may none bee ordained to any office before there be a place void for him for Ministers are in this sense tearmed shepheards and watchmen But the former is true as euery simple man can easilie perceiue Therefore the latter is true also 5 To doe contrary to the precepts and practise of the Apostles is vnlawfull But to ordaine any officer without a certaine place wherein he may bee imployed is contrarie to the precepts and practise of the Apostles as it appeareth Tit. 1. 5. Act. 14. 23. Therfore to ordaine any officer of the church without a certaine place whereunto he is to be allotted is vnlawfull 6 It was ordained that no Elder Deacon or any other Ecclesiasticall officer should be ordained a Apolelymenos that is loosely or let at randone but as afterwarde is expounded specially in a Church citie or towne 7 The ordination that is made without a title let
doe declare that the Deacons were to bee wholy imployed in the distributing of the goodes of the Church then must it needes followe that his office is not to meddle with any parte of the ministerie of the worde and Sacramentes but to attende onelie vpon the distributing of the liberalitie of the Church vnto them that stande in neede thereof Their obiections herevnto be these two that followe 1 Obiection Philip one of the seuen Deacons did preach Act. 8. 8. Therefore Deacons may preach the worde Answere Philip was a Deacon of the Church at Ierusalem while they aboade togither but nowe hee was not anie more so but an Euangelist as he is euer tearmed after by vertue of which office he did preache 2 Obiection Steuen being a Deacon preached Act. 7. 2. Answere He preached not for all that is there was but his Apologie at the seate of iudgement which euery man in the like case may doe and which manie of the Martyrs haue done So that the former proposition beeing true vppon the groundes alleadged notwithstanding these obiections wee are to proceede to the seconde which is this There ought to be such Deacons as are described in the former proposition in euerie congregation whiche is thus prooued 1 That office which euerie congregation hath neede of ought to be in euerie congregation But euery congregation hath neede of the Deacons office whiche appeareth by this that they haue poore to prouide for or els they must regard the necessitie of others and the liberalitie of others to distribute Therefore Deacons ought to be in euery congregation 2 That whiche is indefinitely appointed for the good of the Churche belongeth vnto euery Congregation as well as to anie one But such is the appointment of the Deacons 1. Tim. 3. 8. Therefore there must be Deacons in euery Congregation 3 Euery Church ought to haue their office of Deaconshippe 4 All the reasons or the most of them that are alleadged chap. 10. for a Bishop in euery congregation and chap. 12. for Elders in euery congregation are forcible herevnto Therefore if there bee 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 lastlie if there be like reasons to prooue them belong to euery Church that be for Bishops and Elders then must it needes followe that there ought to be Deacons in euery congregation CHAP. 14. THere ought to bee in euery Congregation an Eldershipp consisting of a pastor or pastors Doctor if there be anie and Elders whose authoritie Christ hath ordayned to be perpetuall in his church to gouuerne the same onely by the rules of Gods worde T. C. 1. booke pag. 175. Discip. Ecclesiast 123. which contayneth these 3. particular propositions defended by vs and gaynesayde by the Bishops 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 worde The first is denyed by them Whitgift page 627. and by their practize in tying the gouernement of many churches to the Bb. sea it is thus prooued 1 Whatsoeuer Christ hath ordayned as a meane to keepe men in obedience to the gospell that same must be in euerie congregation for particular men are in particular congregations But Christ hath ordayned the Eldership for that end as appeareth Matth. 18. 15. c. where Chrisost expoundeth Tell the Church that is sayeth hee the Gouuernours of the Church Therefore the Eldershippe ought to bee in euery Church 2 Where all sortes of Elders ought to be there must be also the ioyning of their offices in one for the good of that cōgregation ouer which they are placed But all sortes of Elders ought to be in euerie congregation as is prooued in the 10. chapter for Bishops the 12. for Elders c. Therfore there must be an Eldership in euery congregation 3 If no particular congregation haue greater priuiledges giuen therevnto by the worde of God then others haue then must there eyther be no Eldershipp at all whiche is false in that Elders are prooued to bee by the worde of God in the Church or els it must be in euery congregation But euerie congregation is of like priuiledge whiche appeareth by this that it is a perfect bodie of it selfe Therefore there must bee 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 warraunt for it in all for the worde of God tyeth it not to Churches in cities but indefinitely to the church But there is warrant for it out of the worde to be somewhere as appeareth by this that the Apostles are sayd to establishe it and make mention of it Therefore it must be in euery congregation Therefore if the Eldership bee ordayned by Christ as a meanes to keepe men in obedience vnto the Gospell if all sortes of Elders must be in euery church if euery congregation be of equall priuiledges lastly if there be the like warrant for it in euery church that is in any then must it needes followe that there ought to be an Eldershipp in euerie Congregation What soeuer is obiected against this that hath any shew in it is answered in the 12. chap. of Elders The office of the Eldership is ordayned by Christe to bee perpetual and ordinarie for the gouernement of his church T. C. 1. booke 177. denied by them Whitgift 627. and by their practize in keeping it out but the trueth of it appeareth by these reasons that doe follow 1 If the causes why Christ would haue an Eldershippe in his Church be perpetuall then must also the thing it selfe be perpetuall But the causes are perpetuall which bee to gouuerne 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 and left it by the Apostles to be established in the Church then it is perpetual for his commission giuen to the Apostles is to bee obserued vnto the ende of the worlde But Christ is the author of it as appeareth both by his giuing of the giftes for the particular members thereof and the whole body of it as also in that the Apostles did establishe it in the church who went not frō their commission 1. Cor. 11. 12. Therefore the Eldershippe is perpetuall 3 Whatsoeuer is the commandement of God once deliuered by him is neuer repealed againe and to be acknoweledged of euery spirituall man that same is to be receyued by the Church 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 writings of S. Paule whiche are so esteemed 1. Cor. 14. 37. Therefore the
to that place whereto he is to be called T. C. 1. book page 38. Disci Ecclesiast fol. 46. They thinke one may doe it as appeareth by the booke of ordering c. Whitgift page 134. and 135. and their slight passing it ouer thorowe the Archdeacons handes 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 els they breake the rule prescribed them 1. Tim. 5. 22. whiche cannot be without examination But the Eldershippe is to ordayne euerie Church-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 gouernment of the Church must be done by the most able gouuernours of the same The approuing or disprouing of Church-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 appeare in the chap. of Eldership Therefore the Eldership is to examine c. 3 The way whereby a mans insufficiencie is best espied 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 espied and his abilitie best discerned for the common prouerbe telleth vs That many eyes doe 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 partialitie But the Eldershipp is least subiect to partialitie both for that they be many who are not so easilie ouer-ruled by affection or fauour as one as also and that especially for that it being the Lordes owne ordinance as shall appeare wee are to perswade our selues that his spirit shall 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 bee followed vnles some reason out of the worde to perswade the conscience can be alleadged to the contrarie which none haue euer yet done But many vsed in the Apostles time to examine as appeareth in choosinge out one to be in the place of Iudas Act. 1. 22. 23. and fit men for Deacons Actes 6. 5. whereof the gouuernours especially were some for that they were to ordayne vpon knowledge as is saide in the first reason Therefore it belongeth to the Eldership c. 6 They whose testimonie the people may best credit are to examine them that are to be admitted but the people may best credite the iudgement of a companie of able and sufficient men which the Eldershippe rightlie established must needes be Therefore it belongeth to the Eldership c. 7 Examination belongeth vnto them which may moste perswade the people of his sufficiencie and so procure greatest reuerence vnto him in his place But the examination by the Eldership is such Therefore it belongeth to the Eldershippe c. Therefore if they that are to ordayne must examine if it be a matter of greatest waight in the gouuernement of the Church and they the most able to dispatch it if by them his sufficiencie or insufficiencie be best founde out if they bee hardliest carried away with affection or partialitie if the examination was such in the Apostles time if the people may in reason giue most credite 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 needes followe that it partayneth to the Eldership to examine those that are to be admitted to anie office in the Church There is nothing obiected against this that hath anie shewe of reason in it and therefore it were needles to set anie thing downe CHAP. 6 BEfore consent be giuen to any man vnto any calling in the Church it must appeare by sufficient triall due examination that he is qualified with those giftes that the worde of God requireth in one of that place Discip. Ecclesiast fol. 44. T. C. 2. booke 1. part page 368. and in manie other places They gainsay this in two points first in maintayning their reading ministerie secondlie in gouerninge the Church by their commissaries and officialls whiche both shalbe ouerthrowen if we prooue these two propositions followinge to be true by the worde of God No man ought to bee receyued vnto the ministerie but such as be able to teache the trueth and conuince the gainesayers The Church ought not to be gouerned by commissaries officialls and chauncellors 1 He that may be receyued into the ministerie must bee able to teache the people whatsoeuer Christ hath commaunded Matth. 28. 20. Onely he that is able to teache the trueth and conuince the gainsayers can teache the people whatsoeuer Christ hath commaunded Therefore none must bee receiued into the the ministerie but such as be able to teache c. 2 That which is to be done conditionally may not bee done if that condition be not kept Men are to bee receyued into the ministerie conditionally that is if they be vnreproueable Tit. 1. 5. 6. Therefore if they be not such as bee there described they may not bee receyued and consequentlie none may be receyued but such as be able to teach c. 3 That which cannot be done without the manifest breach of Gods commaundement may not bee done at all To receyue any that be not able to teache is a manifest breache of Gods commaundement 1. Tim. 3. 1. Tit. 1. 9. Therefore no man ought to be receiued into the ministerie that is not able to teache c. 4 They whom the Lord refuseth to be his ministers may not be receyued into the ministerie for the ministerie beeing the Lordes haruest wee 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 can not teache Hosea 4. 6. Therefore such as are not able to teache may not bee receyued and consequentlie none may be receyued but those that be able to teache c. 5 He that may be admitted into the ministerie must bee able to diuide the worde of God aright 2. Tim. 2. 15. Onelie he that is able to teache and conuince the gainsayers can diuide the worde of God aright Therefore none may bee admitted into the ministerie but he that is able to teache c. 6 He that may be admitted into the ministerie must haue a treasurie furnished with olde thinges and newe and must be able to bring it foorth as occasion shall serue Mat. 13. 25. Onely he that is able to teache c. is such a one Therefore onely he may be admitted c. 7 He that can espie the enimie and giue warning aforehande howe to resist him may bee receyued into the ministerie Ezek. 33. 7. None
euery good minister and also in that hee describeth no other minister but the Bishoppe Therefore there ought to be a Bishop in euerie congregation 2 S. Paules bishoppes and his deacons were appointed to one place as appeareth both in the description of them and the practise of the Apostles But the Deacons were in euerie congregation which appeareth Phil. 1. 1. Act. 6. 2. that office being needfull euery where and in that it continued so longer then the office of Bishoppes Athanasius Apol. 2. Ierome contra Luciferianos c. Therefore there ought to be a Bishop in euery congregation 3 That which Paule enioyned to Titus is also to be practised alwayes in the like case But he commaunded him to ordaine Elders in euery Citie Tit. 1. 5. which are expounded in the next verse to be Bishops Therefore there must bee a Bishop in euery congregation 4 Euery Church should haue her Communion table euery Church her Bishop 5 Where there was founde anie worthie to be a Bishopp there a bishoppe was appointed and where there was not to furnishe both bishop and preaching Elder he meaneth the Doctor there the Apostles made a bishoppe and left the Elder 6 If a Bishop run into a slaunder and many Bishops can not suddenlie be gathered his cause shalbe hearde of twelue Bishops c. 7 If an Elder bee accused hee may call sixe Bishops from the places harde by 8 Stories make mention of Bishoppes of little townes as Soticus bishop of the village Cuman Mares bishopp of a small towne called Solicha Gregorie bishoppe of a small citie called Nazianzum The bishop of a Castle 9 A minister that is to saye a bishopp and a little after the Apostle doeth plainely teache that a minister and a Bishop is all one and vpon Titus a bishop and a minister are the same and ad Oceanū with the ancient fathers Bishops and Elders were all one 10 D. Barnes in his sixt article sayeth I will neuer beleeue neyther can I euer beleeue that one man may by the lawe of God be a bishop of two or three cities yea of a whole countrie for that it is contrarie to the doctrine of S. Paule who writing to Titus commaundeth that he should ordaine a bishop in euerie 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 ordayne in euerie citie c. They knowe the primitiue Churche had no such Bishops as we haue vntill the time of Siluester the first Therefore if a Bishop and a Minister be all one if bishops were to bee where Deacons are who were in euery congregation if Paule enioyned Titus to ordayne bishops in euery citie and if euerie Church had her Bishop a long time after the Apostles as appeareth by the testimonies of Councelles Histories and learned writers both olde and newe then must it needes followe that there ought to bee a Bishop in euerie Congregation CHAP. 11. FOr the further reuealing of the trueth God hath ordayned that there should be in the Church Doctours whose office is to be employed in teaching of doctrine and is an office different from that of the Pastour The latter parte of this proposition is the thing whiche especiallie they doe denie whiche is thus prooued to bee true 1 Those which the Apostle in speaking of distinct officers doeth distinguishe one from another are seuerall and distinct one from another But the Apostle doeth distinguish the Pastour 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 Greeke of them both Therefore the office of Pastour and Doctour are distinct one from another 2 As are the giftes that adorne offices so are the officers them selues for the execution of the office consisteth in the employing of the giftes But the giftes of the Pastour Doctour are diuers as appeareth 1. Cor. 12. 8. and by experience for some hath an excellent gifte in doctrine and not in application and others excell in application and exhortation that are verie meane in deliuering of doctrine Therefore the office of a Pastour and Teacher are distinct one from another 3 Those that are to take a diuers course in teachinge are diuers and different in their functions for els why shoulde they be enioyned to take a diuers course But the Pastour is to take one course and the Doctour another for the one is to direct him selfe principallie to exhorte and the other to attende vpon doctrine Rom. 12. 7. 8. Therefore the office of Pastour and Doctour be distinct offices the one from the other 4 The ecclesiasticall stories especiallie speakinge of the Church of Alexandria doe vsuallie make a difference betwixt the Bishop and the Doctor 5 Cathedrall Churches haue yet some shewe thereof left in them who besides the Bishop haue also one that readeth a Lecture in diuinitie 6 If the distinguishing of them make more for the building of the church 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 hardlie is a people brought to a sounde knowledge of godlines by him that instructeth in doctrine continuallie and as hardlie are wee stirred vppe to a zealous care of our duetie though we be exhorted continuallie which both should bee with lesse continuance if one man were to performe all Therefore they are to bee esteemed distinct offices and not partes of one office whiche one is to performe Therefore if the Apostle Paul distinguisheth them one from another if God doe vsuallie bestowe doctrine and exhortation vpon seuerall persons wherein eche is founde to excell and to bee no bodie in the other if the Pastour bee commaunded to take one course in teaching and the Doctor another if Ecclesiasticall stories doe vsuallie distinguish them if Cathedrall Churches haue yet some steppes lefte of the distinction if to distinguish them maketh more to the building of the Church then to vnite them then must it needes followe that the office of Pastor and Doctour be distinct and different the one from the other CHAP. 12. EVerie congregation ought to haue Elders to see into the maners of the people and to bee assistant vnto the Ministers in the gouernement Ecclesiasticall T. C. booke 1. pag. 174. Dise fol. 120. which they denie Whitgift pag. 627. and their practize in keepinge 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 Church must bee ruled by the same lawes that it was ruled by then and needeth as great furtherance nowe as it did then But the Apostles established Elders in euery congregation Actes 14.
togither 1. Cor. 5. 5. Therefore it may not be done by one man 3 That which hath neede of greatest aduice and greatest authoritie may not be done by one man but such is the matter of excommunication being the denouncinge of that against a man which he will most hardlie beleeue and beinge the waightiest point of discipline Therefore it may not bee done by one man 4 Those must excommunicate that are to deale in the other partes of Discipline as shall appeare in the reasons following and as I thinke no man will denie But the other partes of Discipline are exercised not by one but by the Churh 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 doeth import and had nothing ceremoniall in it But it was executed among them by the Church and not any one Ioh. 9. 22. Therefore the Church is to excommunicate and not one man 6 Cyprian sayeth he would neuer doe any thing in his charge without the counsell of his Elders and coÌ„sent of the people 7 The Elders and other Church-officers haue as well power to absolue as the Bishop 8 For so much as absolution belongeth vnto all I alone dare not doe 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 doe beare rule certayne of the most approoued auncients or Elders of the Church which haue obtayned this honor 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 Baptisme 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 gouuernement in excommunication 14 It is very daungerous to permit so waightie a matter to one man and therefore that tyrannie may be auoyded this censure executed with greater fruite and grauitie the order that the Apostle there vseth is still to be obserued 15 Hee sheweth that it partayneth not to one man that it is a wicked fact that one should take the authoritie to him selfe 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 Bishops when they excommunicated of themselues alone did it ambitiouslie contrarie to the decrees of godly cannons See Bucer against Gropper and vpon Ephes. 4. De animicura also Zuinglius in Ecclesiast 17 It is plentifullie forbidden euen by that filthie puddle the cannon lawe and therefore it must needes bee a haynous sinne when it findeth faulte with it Therefore if excommunication be to be executed by the commaundement of Christ of the Church if S. Paule enioyned it vnto the church if it haue neede of greatest aduice and authoritie if it belong to them that may execute the other partes of Discipline if it was so executed amonge the Iewes if to absolue be as well in the Elders power as the Bishops if Cyprian durst not doe it alone if it was the action in Tertullians time of the most approoued Elders if to bee by the whole church helpeth much to make the partie more ashamed if the whole church haue interest in it if the whole Church at Corinth was reprooued for not doing it if it bee to waightie a matter for one man if the executing of it by one ouerturneth the order appointed by Christ bringeth in tyrannie maintayneth ambition and lastlie be forbidden by the cannon lawe it selfe then must it needes followe that it belongeth not vnto one man to excommunicate but vnto the Eldershippe and that with the consent of the whole Church Their obiections herevnto in defence of their owne practise be these 1 Obiection The right of excommunication was in Saint Paule and not in the rest Answere He gaue onely direction in that as in all other matters which he wrote of vnto them but if they had not throwne out the incestuous person he had remayned still vnexcommunicated for all that which S. Paul had sayde vnto them 2 Obiection Christ gaue Peter and euery Apostle power to binde and lose in earth and in heauen which interpreters expounde by Matth. 18. 15. Answere That power was of denouncing 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 Answere That is being moderator of the action he pronounced it not that he did it alone The same aunswere is to be made vnto the Fathers as Ambrose c. who are saide to excommunicate Therfore vpon these grounds of Scriptures Fathers CouÌ„cels Emperours Lawes Histories newe Writers and cleare light of reason I conclude that Christ hath prescribed vnto vs an exacte and perfect platforme of gouerninge his Church at all times and in all places which is this that there ought to be no ministers of the worde but Pastours Teachers whiche are to be called by the people and ordained by the Eldership are of equal authoritie in their seuerall congregations must with all faithfull diligence imploye theâ—selues in the ministerie of the worde and Sacramentes that there are to bee in euery Congregation certaine Elders whose office is to ouersee the behauiour of the people and assist their pastour in the gouernement of the Church also Deacons who are to be imployed only in receyuing and bestowing the liberalitie and goods of the Church to the reliefe of the poore and other necessarie vses Lastlie that there must be in euery Congregation an Eldership of Pastour Teacher if they can haue any and Elders who are in common to see that the Church bee well gouerned not onely in maintayning the profession and practize of the worde in generall but also in admonishing reprehending or separatinge from the Lordes Supper them that walke offensiuely and lastlie in excommunicating them that by no other meanes can bee reclaimed So that all and euery gouernement contrarie or besides this whether in parte or in whole swarueth froÌ„ that order which Christ hath set downe in his worde and therefore is vnlawfull FINIS Omnia tum liceant non licet esse bonum 1. Tim. 3. 14. 15. Pro. 2. 9. 1. Cor. 10. 11. 1. Tim. 4. 5. Rom. 14. 23. Heb. 3. 2. Rom. 12. 5. 6. 7. 1. Co. 12. 28 Ephe. 4. 11. c. See