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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A68024	A parte of a register contayninge sundrie memorable matters, written by diuers godly and learned in our time, which stande for, and desire the reformation of our Church, in discipline and ceremonies, accordinge to the pure worde of God, and the lawe of our lande.	Udall, John, 1560?-1592. Demonstration of the trueth of that discipline which Christe hath prescribed in his worde for the government of his Church, in all times and places, untill the ende of the worlde.	1593 (1593)	STC 10400; ESTC S101665	62,546	88

ouer them bring hither and slea them before me Luke 19. 27. The whiche fearefull sentence that we may auoide let euery one of vs ae may stande with our seuerall callings carefully endeuour to aduaunce this kingdome here whiche among other assurances giuen vs from the Lord shalbe a testimonie vnto vs that we shall haue part in that glorie which shalbe reuealed hereafter Nowe concerning the order of this booke to direst thee good Reader vnto thy further instruction in the pointes therof Thou hast in euery chapter diuers proofes out of the holy worde of God whiche must bee the things wherewith thou mayest safely informe thy conscience thē shalt thou finde also argumentes drawen from reason rightlie ruled by the same word lastly because our aduersaries charg vs that we desire a thing not knowen vnto the olde writers nor agreed vpon among the newe thou hast here the witnes of them both in so plentifull and vniforme wise as may plainly declare that all godly learned men of all times haue giuen testimonie vnto the trueth of it The most of the things that are here expressed I acknowledge to be gathered out of the bookes that haue bin published and are extant purposelie concerning this argument as may appeare in the seuerall points wherein thou art sent vnto them Nowe least eyther thou shouldest bee deceyued with a diuers impression or thinke me to misalleadge the authours I am to shew thee what bookees I haue followed The 1. booke of T. C. twise printed I follow the latter of Ecclesiasticall Discipline I followe the Latine printed 1574. and the last booke of D. Whitgift which containeth all the former in it The rest as I take it haue beene but once printed and therefore carrie no doubt in them If thou be satisfied herewith giue God the glory and promote the cause by prayer all other good means that thy calling may affoord and pray for vs that we may neuer shrinke nor be ouerthrowen by the strength of them that fight against it A Table of Discipline the particular heads whereof are handled in the seuerall Chapters according to the number wherewith they are noted as followeth The Discipline of the Churche is the order that God hath prescribed in his word● for the ruling of the same cap. 1. The offices and officers of whiche are to bee considered in Generall the calling whereunto to wit to A certaine office Chap. 2. Execute his office faithfully Chap. 3. how it muste be by Election whiche must be done by The people chap. 4. Examination chap. 5. Consent onely to a man fit for the place chap. 6. ordination By whom it must be by the eldership Chap. 7. The maner how by publik praier with the people cap. 8. laying on of hands chap. 9. Particular the officers offices Simple by thēselues Bishops Pastours chap. 10. Doctours chap. 11. Deacons or church seruants Ouerseers chap. 12. Distributers chap. 13. Compound the Synode Ecclesiasticall what Be the parties Pastours Doctours and Elders chap. 14. Is the authoritie thereof chap. 15. wherein it consisteth in placing and displacing chap. 16. Cēsures by VVord chap. 17. deed Suspention cap 18. Excommunication cap. 19. A DEMONSTRATION of Discipline CHAP. 1. The diffinition of Discipline containeth this proposition holden by vs. THE worde of God describeth perfectly vnto vs that forme of gouerning the Church which is lawfull and the officers that are to execute the same frō the which no Christian Churche ought to swarue Admonition in the Preface Ecclesiasticall discipl fol. 5. T. C. first booke pag. 26. Counter-poyson pag. 8 Discourse of gouernment pag. 1. c. The assertion of the BB. and their adherents THe word of God describeth not any exact forme of Discipline neither are the offices and officers namely particularly expressed in the Scriptures but in some points left to the discretion and libertie of the Churche Whitgift in preface and page 84. to the answere to the Abstract pag. 33. The proofe of the former is the disproofe of the latter which is thus declared 1 These things write I vnto thee c. out of which place I reason thus That end which Paul respected in writing vnto Timothie doth the holy ghost direct all Ministers vnto for euer for it must be kept 1. Tim. 6. 14. But he wrote to direct him in the establishing and building of the Church Therefore that worde must direct Ministers for euer and consequently they neither may adde to nor take from it but gouerne it onely by the rules that be there prescribed 2 Euery house ought to be ruled by the orders of the skil full wise and carefull housholder onely But the Churche is the house of God and God is such a housholder Therefore the Churche ought to bee ruled by the orders of God onely which are no where to be had but in his word 3 That which teacheth euery good way teacheth also how the Church must bee gouerned But the worde of God teacheth euerie good way Pro. 2. 9. therefore it teacheth how the Church must be gouerned 4 We cannot glorifie God but by obedience to his word in all that we doe we must glorifie God 1. Cor. 10. 31. Therfore in all that we doe there must be obedience to the word and consequently in gouerning his Church 5 If meate and drinke bee not sanctified vnto vs but by the word and prayer then much l●sse is any thing holy which is done in the gouernment of the Church besides the worde But the former is true by the testimonie of the Apostle 1. Tim. 4. 5. therefore the latter must be true also 6 All lawfull things are of faith Rom. 14. 23. All lawfull things that are of faith haue a warrant from the word for the worde is the foundation of faith therefore all things lawfull haue their warrant from the worde and consequently euery lawfull action in the gouernment of the Church 7 Either hath God left a prescript forme of gouernment for the Church vnder the new Testament or he is lesse carefull for it now then hee was vnder the lawe for his care is in guiding it But hee is as carefull nowe for his Church as hee was then Therefore hath hee left a prescript forme to gouerne it 8 Hee that was as faithfull as Moses left as cleare instruction both for the building of faith and gouernment of the Churche as Moses did But Christe was as faithfull in Gods house Heb. 3. 2. therfore he left as cleare instruction for them both as Moses but Moses gaue direction euen for euery particular as appeareth in the building of the Tabernacle and order of the Priesthood Therfore hath Christ also giuen particular direction for the gouernment of the Church 9 If the worde of God haue described sufficient Ministers and Ministeries for the building of the Church and keeping it in good order then is out assertion true But it hath set downe sufficient for doctrine exhortation ouerseeing

haue onlie executed iustice vpon vs as malefactors and they perswade men that we desire a thing not warranted by the worde not heard of in the Church of God vntill within this fewyeares nor tollerable in any Christian Common-weal whatsoeuer The which monstrous slaunders albeit they haue been many wayes and by many men of moste worthie giftes detected and made knowne in those seuerall bookes that haue beene published concerning the same yet haue I thought it necessarie in an other course to write also of it The course of my enterprise is first in respect of the fauorers of the desired reformation secondlie of the aduersaries of the saeme the fauorers of it are also of two sorts Ministers of the word priuate persons both I hope may haue profit by it Concerning the former when these woefull troublees that were renued vppon vs by that wretched subscription that was euery where vrged did begin to increase I thought it meete to betake my selfe vnto that which I had read or might any way by studie finde out concerning the cause and collected all into a briefe summe referred euery thing vnto some head which beeing euer present with mee might furnishe mee to aunswere in the defence of the trueth though it were of a sodaine by which thorow the blessing of God I found such profit in my seuerall troubles that I thought it a course not altogether vnprofitable for others also and vpon that occasion betooke my selfe vnto a more serious meditation about the matter and communicating the thing with diuers verie worthie men I founde encouragement and heartening on generallie by all whom I made acquainted therewith so that I trust the iudgements yea and wishes also of others so iumping with mine manie Ministers that loue the cause and haue not so throughlie studied as were meet they should may reape some profite therby Now concerning priuate men that loue the cause some haue great affaires in hande and haue no leasure to reade the seuerall bookes of this argument some when they reade are not of sufficient capacitie to conceiue the force of a reason or to make vse of it to informe themselues in the grounded knowledge of the cause thereby some which is the generall fault of our religious Gentlemen will take no paines to reade some are poore and not able to buye the bookes which might let them see the cause all these I hoope may finde helpe in some measure heereby Nowe concerning the aduersaries vnto the cause they are of two sortes also they that know it and they that are ignorant of it the former if they write any thing against it are contented to deale in so rouing a course as may rather arise vnto great volumes then soundlie to say any thing against the cause Wherein D. Whitgift but especially D. Bridges haue giuen vs an euident example and these with others of their iudgement though none in these latter dayes haue written more vnlearnedly then they of any argument of diuinitie what soeuer are contented to make the world beleeue if men will be so wilfully seduced that our argumentes bee no arguments that they be grounded vpon false foundations and that we are not able to conclude our cause in any forme of reasoning The course that is heere taken I trust shall shewe that they are lyers the other sort of aduersaries be they that be meerly ignorant of anie thing either for it or against it and perswading themselues that the sway and shew of the worlde must needes carry the truth with it doe like blinde bayardes boldly venture to say any thing against it and thinke they doe well Now of all these sorts of people I haue to request some thing I hope I shall obtaine my request at the least at the handes of some of them The first sort of fauorers which be the Ministers I intreate that as they tender the glory of God and honour of the cause which they stand in so they would diligently employ themselues in this that they may be found able to defend the same by sounde and euident groundes out of the worde and so much the rather for that the aduersaries doe greatly triumph when they meete with one that professeth the cause and is not able to defend it and confute the gaine sayers of it The second sort of fauourers be the priuate persons that loue the cause whom I beseech to be carefull as of all other pointes of religion of this that they grow in the knowledge of the worde of God whereby they may be able vpon their owne knowledge to defende the trueth and not giue the enemie any occasion to thinke or say that they be of that minde because such and such Ministers whom they doe affect doe thinke so Now concerning the former sort of aduersaries to wit they that know it I pray them to looke into their own hearts they shall finde they mislike it either because it correcteth their excessiue pompe and maintenance or requireth more trauaile in their Ministerie then they are willing to vndergoe or at the least controlleth that dissolutenesse of behauiour wherein they willingly wallow and if it would please God to bring them to a serious meditation of this that it is the will of the mightie God before whom they must be called to giue an account which they doe resist they would I doubt not more carefully looke about them And lastly for them that be ignorant of the cause speake euill of that they knowe not let them if they will be admonished vouchsafe to reade this little booke and wey the reasons with an vpright iudgement which shall cause them at the least to suspend their sharpe censures which so vsuallie appeare in their ordinarie communication and concerning vs all let vs know for one day we shall be sure to feele it that the controuersie is not about goates wooll as the Prouerbe faith neither light trifling matters which may safely be followed or reiected as in deed the enemies of this cause do confidentlie affirm but about no lesse matter then this whether Iesus Christ shall be King or no For if none is said to be a King but he that ruleth by the scepter of his lawes thē the turning out of these orders which Christ hath prescribed in his word for the ruling of the church is to giue him the title and denie him the authoritie belonging to the same and so in trueth to make him an Idoll making him to carrie a shew of that which hee is not and with the crucifiers of him to put a reede in his hand in steed of his yron rod and crowning him with thornes in steede of the crowne of greatest glorie which is the cause that so many Atheistes spit in his face and so many godlesse persons doe make but a iest of him but when hee commeth to shewe him self in his glorious maiestie it shalbe said vnto all these sortes of aduersaries Those mine enimies which would not that I should raigne

distributing and ordering of euery particular Church or generall Synode Therefore is our assertion true 10 That gouernment which the Apostles taught planted is expressed in the word of God But the Apostles taught and planted Pastors and Teachers for instruction Elders for ouersight and Deacons to distribute and that vniformely in euery Churche as appeareth by their writinges and practises Therfore a certaine forme of gouernment is expressed in the worde 11 Euery lawfull office and action in the building of the church is from heauen Mat. 21. 25. 26. Euery thing that is in the ordinarie building from heauen is reuealed in the word Therefore euerie lawfull office and action is reuealed in the worde 12 If God continued in regarde of the substaunce the Church administration as well as the thinges to bee administred then is the forme of Discipline described in the word But the former is true as appeareth by the particulars for Priestes Pastors for teaching Leuites or Doctors of the law Teachers for rulers of the Synagogue Elders for Leuiticall lookers to the treasurie Deacons for the Sanedrim the Eldership therefore the forme of gouernment is prescribed in the worde 13 Euery wise King that is carefull for his subiectes setteth downe lawes for the gouernment of the same and will haue them tyed to none other But Christ is such a King vnto his Church Therefore hath hee prescribed lawes vnto his Church which none therein can alter or disobey and consequently the certaine forme of gouernment of the Church is described in the worde 14 That which the Ministers must teach the people to obserue is set downe in the worde of God for they may teache nothing but that which is there Math. 28. 20. But they are to teach them to obserue and bee obedient vnto the particular forme of the Church gouernment Therefore the particular forme is set downe in the worde 15 Euery gouernment consisteth in the gouernours matter whereabout they are to be imployed and maner of doing it But in the worde are described all these particulars as it is shewed in the ninth reason Therefore the worde prescribeth a prescript forme of gouernment 16 The Christian religion shal find that out of this scripture rules of all doctrine haue sprong and that from hence doth spring and hither doth returne whatsoeuer the Ecclesiasticall discipline doth containe 17 Wee may not giue our selues the libertie to bring in any thing that other men bring of their will we haue the Apostles for authours which themselues brought nothing of their owne will but the Discipline which they receiued of Christ they deliuered faithfully to the people 18 It is adulterous it is sacrilegious whatsoeuer is ordained by humane furie that the diuine dispositon shoulde bee violated Therefore if Timothie was written vnto that he might be directed by the worde in disposing of the Churches if the lawes of God only being the housholder must bee followed in the Church his House if the worde of God teach vs in euerie good way whereof the gouernment of the Churche is one if God must be glorified in the ruling of his Churche which cannot be but by obedience to his worde if nothing be lawfull but that which is of faith warranted by the word if God haue shewed himselfe as carefull for his Church vnder the Gospell as vnder the law if Christ was as faithful to giue direction as Moses if in the worde bee described sufficient Ministers and Ministeries to build vp the Churche if that gouernment which the Apostles taught and practized be in the worde if euery lawfull office and action man ordinarie building be from heauen reuealed thence by the worde if God continued the same forme in respect of the substance in the time of the Gospell that was vnder the laws if euery wise carefull King doe set downe lawes for the direction of his subiects if the Apostles haue taught vs to obey that which Christe commaunded if both the gouernours matter of gouernment and maner of doing it bee set downe in the word if all that pertaineth to Ecclesiastical Discipline spring from the scriptures if wee may bring nothing into the Discipline of the Churche but that which the Apostles haue deliuered vs. Lastly if that bee adulterous and sacrilegious that is not according to the worde then it muste needes followe that God doth describe perfectly vnto vs out of his worde that forme of gouernment which is lawfull the officers that are to execute the same from the which it is not lawfull for any christian Churche to swarue And contrariwise that is a most vntrue assertion to say that the officers and offices are not particularly expressed but left to the discretion of the Churche The reasons that they alleage against this are in effect none and their obiections to these reasons not worthie to bee mentioned CHAP. 2. EVerie officer in the Churche must bee placed in some calling warranted by the word of God and some congregation must haue neede of such a one before hee be called to any function Wherein are these propositions 1 No calling is lawfull in the Churche but that which is directly warraunted out of the worde vnto him that executeth it The BB. and their adherents thinke otherwise as their practise in ordeyning Archbishops L. Bishops Deans Archdeacons Chauncellours Officials c. doth plainly declare 2 The name and office of an Archb. is contrarie to the word of God 3 No man may be ordained vnto any office in the church vntill there be such a place voide as he is fit for T. C. 1. booke page 61. They thinke otherwise as their making of so many Ministers at once prooueth and as is holden Whitgift page 222. 1 The first is prooued thus If Iohn was constrained to prooue his Ministerie out of the scriptures when the Priestes accused him then is no calling lawfull that hath not his warrant in the worde for if any bee priuiledged the extraordinarie Ministers whereof he was one are specially excepted But hee proueth his Ministerie by the worde as appeareth by his answere vnto them in the 23. verse Therefore no calling is lawful in the Church that hath not his warrant in the worde 2 The callinges vnder the Gospell must haue as good warrant as they had vnder the lawe because the light of the Gospell is at the least as cleare as that of the lawe But there was neuer any lawfull calling vnder the law excepting those that were by myraculous manner confirmed from heauen which had not his direct warrant out of the word Therefore no calling is lawfull in the Churche which is not directlie warranted in the worde 3 If Corath Dathan and Abiram thoughe they were Leuites were punished for that they had no warrant for that which they presumed to take in hand then is euerie lawfull calling both in generall warranted out of the word and particularly laid vpon the parties from