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cause_n	apostle_n	church_n	word_n	1,489	5	3.9514	3	false

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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A00283	A briefe and plaine declaration, concerning the desires of all those faithfull ministers, that haue and do seeke for the discipline and reformation of the Church of Englande which may serue for a iust apologie, against the false accusations and slaunders of their aduersaries.	Fenner, Dudley, 1558?-1587, attributed name.; Fulke, William, 1538-1589, attributed name.; Travers, Walter, 1547 or 8-1635, attributed name.	1584 (1584)	STC 10395; ESTC S111889	54,423	158

which subscribe some doing it vvith this limitation some vvith that some holding their former iudgement as not gaine sayd by their subscription some lamenting their slip in that behalfe vvere deducted the nūber of the one vvoulde not so greatly surmount the other As for the challenge of the Papistes knit vp vvith the consideration of the estate the difference may be considered in the matter and maner Concerning the matter they make it in the substaunce of religion vvhich hath in diuers assemblies abroad and at home beene disputed resolued and novv publikly maintayned for our true holy faith VVe in maters concerning the gouernment of Christ of great moment indeed yet neuer thus handled nor vrging the alteration but perfection of the estate of the Church further good of the common wealth vvhilst by this means amongst many other things of great importance the ignorant ministery by it poperie by popery rebellion should be auoyded vvhich by the other are most manifestly bred nourished Concerning the maner they call it to a sudden and tumultuous reasoning vvhere the readiest vvit the best memorye the moste filed speech shall carry avvaye the truth at least maruailously moue the vngrounded harers VVe require that where both sides may vpon mature sufficient deliberation be beard vvithout any of these shewes and the matter deliuered vnto her maiestie their Hh and vvhomsoeuer they shall chuse to receiue and examine the allegations of both sides So that it neede not be communicated vnto the people vntill the manifest light of truth appeare first vnto them And if this so safe and reasonable an offer cannot be liked in the respect of the last obiected consideration vve thinke it impossible but the persons vvhich desire a vvay so sound peaceable and dutifull shall recouer this fauor that vvith safety of their consciences they shall exercise their ministery vvith that libertie vvhich is meet for those vvho shall be tyed in all thinges to haue especiall regard to the peace of the Church and publique orders VVherefore most christian Reader vvhen thou shalt by these sevve take knovvledge of these things pray vnto God for vs and as thy place is solicite and further so iust a cause to this ende onely that Christes kingdome may be perfectly established the consciences of al the godly quieted and the happy regiment of her maiestie honored vvith much peace ioye and quietnesse at home FINIS ¶ A LEARNED DISCOVRSE OF ECCLESIASTIcall Gouernement prooued by the worde of God THE Churche of God is the house of God and therefore ought to bee directed in all thinges according to the order prescribed by the Housholder himselfe Which order is not to bee learned else-where but in his Holy worde The first of these principles or propositions is the very worde of the holy Ghost vttered by Paul The seconde followeth necessarily of the first The thirde is a manifest trueth beleeued of all them that acknowledge the scripture of God to bee a perfect rule of all our life and able to make the man of God perfect prepared to all good workes This foundation being surely layde against which the gates of hell cannot preuayle wee ought diligently and reuerently to searche the holie scriptures that wee may finde what order our sauiour Christe our onely housholder hath set foorth in them by which he woulde haue his house or church to be directed in al things appertaining to the eternall saluation of vs men his vnprofitable seruants Nowe we finde in the scriptures that our sauiour Christe ascending into Heauen was not vnmindfull of his Church on earth but ordayned an holy ministerye of men to the building vp of the body of Christ in vnity of faith and knowledge We finde also that as the offices are diuerse of this ministery so they are not generall vnto all the Church but as order and necessitye require for executing of their office distributed and limitted vnto certaine places or particuler Churches according to the diuision of Regions Cities and Townes For we reade that Paule and Barnabas ordeyned at Derbe Lystra Iconium Antiochia c Elders by election in euery Churche with Prayer and fasting and so commended them to the Lorde in whome they beleeued Also Paule left Titus in the Ile of Creta that he shoulde ordaine Elders in euery City as hee had appointed Concerning the diuers offices of the Ministery wee are taught by Saynte Paule Rom. 12. 6. Also 1. Cor. 12. 28. and Ephes. 4. 11. Where we reade that God hath ordained in the ministery of his Church these seuerall offices Namely Apostles Euangelistes Prophetes Pastors Doctours Gouernoures and Deacons Also men indewed with the giftes of healing of powers or myracles and of diuerse tongues Of these offices some were temporall seruing onelye for the firste planting foundation of the church amonge the Heathen some are perpetuall pertaining to the nourishing and building vp the Church for euer Of the former sort were Apostles Prophets Euangelists men endued with the graces of powers of healings and of diuerse tongues Of the latter kinde are doctors Pastors Gouernours and Deacons The Apostles were ordained by God and sent foorth immediatly by Christ hauing a generall Commission to spread the Gospell ouer all the worlde Which worke when they had accomplished that office ceased Such were the 12. Apostles Paule and Barnabas c. And for this cause the Apostles appointed Mathias in the place of Iudas according to the Scriptures permitting neuerthelesse the election vnto God by casting of Lots that the number might bee full for the first planting of the Churche But when Herod had slaine Iames the brother of Iohn with the sworde they chose no man to succeede in his place because they had no warrant of Gods worde but the holy ghost as he sawe it was expedient for the Church afterward separated Paul and Barnabas which liued at Antioche as Prophetes and Teachers to the worke whereto hee had called them The Prophets were suche as were indued with a singular gifte of Reuelation in the interpretation of the Scriptures and applying them to the present vse of the Church of whome some also did foreshewe of thinges to come as Agabus Also there were in euery City that Prophecied to S. Paul as he passed by them that bonds and afflictions were prepared for him at Hierusalem This office being in the number of them that were ordeyned for beautifying the Gospell in the first publishing thereof it ceassed with that singuler and extraordinary gift to bee an ordinarye function of the Church The Euangelists were such as were stirred vp of God to assist the Apostles in their ministerye of generall charge in planting the Gospell and confirming the same by their preaching but inferiour in dignity to the Apostles Such was Philip that firste preached the gospel in Samaria Whither Peter and Iohn were sent by the Apostles to conferre vnto

them by prayer and imposition of hands the visible Graces of the holye Ghoste which Philip did not The same Philip in Act. 21. verse 8. is called an Euangelist So is Timothy 2. Timoth. 4. 5. Such was Titus Silus and many other This office also with the order of the Apostles is expired and hath no place Likewise as wee doe plainly see that the gifts of healing of povvers or myracles and of diuerse tonges haue long since ceassed to be in the Church So the offices of them which were groūded vpon these gifts must also cease and bee determined Therfore the Papists do vainly retain the name office of Exorcists when they cānot cast out diuels extream vnction when they cannot cure disseases and to speak with straunge tonges which they haue not by inspiration that without any interpretation which Saint Paule expresly forbiddeth There remayneth therefore of these before rehearsed onely in the Church these Ecclesiasticall offices instituted of God namely Pastors Doctors Gouernours and Deacons By which the church of God may according to his worde be directed in all matters which are commonly called Ecclesiasticall And therefore as it is vnlawful so it is vnneedeful for men following the deuises of their owne brayne without the warrant of Gods worde to institute and ordayne anye other offices or kindes of ministerye beside these appointed approued by God himself exercised in the Primitiue pure church vntil the mistery of iniquity working a way for Antichristes pride presumption changed Gods ordinance and brought in al kind of false doctrine confusion and now againe restored in al rightly reformed Churches with such daylie increase and glory of the kingdom of Christ and suppression of the tyrannie of Sathan that the onelye experience hereof might bee a sufficient perswasion to vs to leaue this disordered state of ours wherein we haue so long laboured with so little profit and to imbrace that most beautifull order of Ecclesiastical regimēt which God so manifestlye doth blesse and prosper in our neighboures handes But while we speake of Ecclesiasticall gouernment it maye bee thought of some that we shoulde intreat first of the supreame authority of Christian Princes Whereuppon it seemeth that al the regiment of the church dependeth which is such a myst to dazle the eyes of ignoraunt persons that they thinke all thinges in the Ecclesiastical state ought to be disposed by that onelye high authoritye and absolute power of the Ciuil magistrate Others there be with more colour of reason that referre onely indifferent matters to the disposition of Princes but in determining indifferēt matters they shewe themselues not to bee indifferent Iudges For whatsoeuer it shall please the Ciuill Magistrate or themselues to call or count indifferent it must be so holden of all men without anye further enquiry But of the supreame authority of christian princes in Ecclesiasticall causes howe farre it extēdeth by the word of God we shal haue better occasiō to intreat hereafter when we haue described the Ecclesiastical state And that it is neither needefull nor agreeable to good order of teaching to begin first therewith it may be plaine to euerye man by this reason The Church of God was perfect in all her regiment before there was any Christian Prince yea the Churche of God may stande and doth stande at this day in moste blessed estate where the Ciuill Magistrates are not the greatest fauorers By which it is manifest that the regiment and gouernement thereof dependeth not vppon the authority of Princes but vpon the ordinaunce of God who hath most mercifully and wisely so established the same that as with the comfortable ayde of Christian Magistrates it may singulerlie flourish prosper so without it it may continue and against the aduersaries therof preuail For the church craueth help defence of christian Princes to continue go forward more peaceably profitably to the setting vp of the kingdō of Christ but al hir authority she receiueth immediatly of God Let vs therfore return to those offices of Ecclesiasticall regiment which now remain to be exercised in the Church of God being instituted ordained by Christe himselfe which before we haue proued out of the scriptures to be only these Doctors Pastors Gouernors Deacons wherof some appertain to doctrin some to gouernment and discipline The duty of doctors Pastors is chiefly to teach and instruct the people of god in al things that God hath appointed thē to learne The office of Elders Deacons is to prouide that good order and discipline bee obserued in the church These offices being rightly established exercised in the Church are able to make vs meet together in the vnity of faith and knowledge of the sonne of God vnto a perfect man acording to doctrine And both for doctrine and order of gouernement to make vs one body of Christe and members one of another Nowe what shoulde be desired more then this in the church of God or what wisdom of man can espy better then the spirite of God by what means this shold be brought to effect which we do desire what mans wit cā deuise better then the wisdom of god hath expressed Or whē God hath established an order for the administratiō of his own house what presūptiō of man dare change it But what dare not dust ashes presūe to do against his maker that with greatest incōuenience when with best pretences of correcting and reforming that which they do thinke to be vnperfect in his doings Exāple thereof we haue most euident That which is alleaged as the chief defence of this disordered state which now remaineth in our church namely that our fathers of old time were not content with the simple order instituted by Christe and established by his Apostles but for better gouerning of the Church thought good some offices to ad therto some to take away some to alter change and in effect to peruerte and ouerthrow all Christian and Ecclesiastical pollicie which was builded vpon the foundation of the Prophetes and Apostles Iesus Christ being the cheeft corner stone But how vnhappy a successe this good intent as they call it of theirs deserued to haue of God who alwayes abhorreth all good intentes of men that are contrarye to the good pleasure of his will expressed in his holy worde the age before vs alasse hath felt the present time doth plainly see and wee praye God the posterity warned by examples of their auncesters maye take heede of it For where there are specially two thinges propounded in the Churche of God Doctrine and Discipline as if a man woulde say knowledge and practise by which the glory of God is sought and shineth therin In steed of true Doctrine followed all manner of corruptions of the same both in the whole and in euery part thereof as ignorance heresies idolatry superstition c. The Discipline degenerated vnto intollerable tyrannye

the consent of the church in that place 1. Tim. 2. 20. So likewise where he speaketh to Timothie in the singular nūber concerning the hearing determining of matters pertaining to Discipline we ought to acknowlege that he teacheth in Timothie his person the duty of elders neuer ment to giue Timothy an absolute or singular authority to be iudge in these matters without consent of the Eldership whereof he maketh mention but a little before To conclude therfore the Pastor with aduise consent of the Elders hath authoritie to heare examine matters pertaining to Ecclesiasticall Discipline and as the cause requireth to excommunicate offenders and vpon their repentance and amendment to receiue them againe into the bosom of the church approued by the word of God Insteede of which Antichrist hath set vp a tyrannicall iurisdiction of one Bishop to be iudge of excommunication which is practized neyther for causes sufficient nor by sufficient authoritie in so much as it hath beene alreadye testified by the scripture that the power of excommunication is in no one man no not in an Apostle but is common to the whole church ought to be executed by lawful delegats of the church also But so much that vsurped authoritie presumeth that the bishop as an absolute owner therof commiteth it ouer to his chancelor or Archdeacō the Archdeacon to his Official he to his register he again to his substitute and his substitute to his seruants man or boy as it happeneth in so much that a learned preacher may be excommunicated by a folish boy If this matter seeme not to requyre speedy reformatiō god hath blinded our eies that we can not see the clere light of the sun shining in our faces For if we loke to banish the tyrannye of the Pope out of all mens harts we must vtterly remoue al his detestable enormities out of the Realme as it was wont to be sayd in the common prayers of the Church in the time of K. Henry and Edward whereas now by reteining stil all the detestable enormities of his prerogatiue and faculties whole course of his Canon law the papacie is not so much banished in name as translated in deede from the Sea of Rome to the Sea of Caunterbury vnder the shadowe of the Princes supremacie with as heynous iniurie and contumely of the lawful authoritie godly supremacie of the Prince as ioyned with the great dishonour of God and the miserable disorder of the Church But we meane not in this place to prosecute our iust complaintes nor to inueigh againste the abuse of these thinges with such vehemencie of wordes as the worthines of the matters deserueth but onelye in setting foorth the plaine trueth to giue a glimpst by the waye of the contrarye falshoode We must therefore returne to the authoritie of the Pastour which he hath ioyned with the Elders of the Church whereof he is pastour The Church hath alwayes had great care for prouision of the poore by which compassion they shewed that they were liuely members of the body of Christ and auoyded great reproch of them that were without For what shame is it for them that professe to be all sonnes of one father and therfore all brethren yea that be members all of one body to suffer their brethren fellow members to lacke necessaries to sustayne their temporal life as though they that communicate in all spiritual graces and blessinges were not worthye to take part of these worldlye benefites at leastwyse so farre forth as to supply their necessities Therefore our Sauiour Christe alwayes commendeth brotherly loue among his Disciples to teach vs how ready we ought to be to distribute vnto the necessities of our brethren which is a true testimonie of our loue declared by his owne example For although hee were so poore that he liued of the almesse and liberalitie of other men yet of that which was more then serued his owne necessitie he vsed to bestowe vppon the poore as Iohn 13. 29. to teache them whome hee hath blessed with Temporall riches which hee refused to enrich vs with heauenlye treasures that they of their superfluitie woulde be content to giue to the reliefe of their poore bretheren which he did not neglect in his extreame pouerty To teach also them that haue but mean substaunce that they ought not to bee excused but somewhat to contribute vnto the necessitie of their poore bretheren when he that had nothing at all but that which was giuen euen of that bestowed part Therefore the Apostles in the primitiue Church thought it to be expedient for the better prouiding for the poore that certaine men shoulde be appoynted of approoued Godlinesse and diligence which shoulde take the speciall charge of the distribution vnto the poore Act. 6. These men were called Deacons or ministers because they did minister and serue the poore in their necessities and because the occasion of the ordinaunce continueth alwayes as our Sauiour Christ hath sayde we should alwayes haue the poore amongest vs Iohn 12. 8. vvhereby GOD woulde exercise our charitie The office of Deacons also is perpetuall Therefore the Apostle Saint Paule prescribeth what kinde of men are meete for that office 1. Timothie 3. 8. And in euery well constituted Church they were ordayned accordingly as Phillip 1. 1. Also after the ordeyning of the seuen Deacons this office was deuided into diuers partes as necessitie shewed diuers occasions For some were appoynted for the collection and distribution of al●esse as Romans 12. 8. and some for attending vppon the sicke and impotent among the poore as in the same place Let him that distributeth doe it with simplicitie and let him that sheweth mercie doe it with cheerefulnesse Which kinde of Deacons 1. Cor. 12. 28. are called helpers and for the seruice of this office were appointed diuers olde poore widowes who as they were mainteined by the church so they serued the church attending vppon the other poore who beeing sicke and impotent had neede not onely of things necessary but also of seruice and attending 1. Timoth. 5. 5. These offices being instituted by the spirit of God for the necessary vse of the Church which vse still continueth ought also to be reteined among vs. For we see for want of these offices what great inconueniences are among vs concerning the poore For although ther be very good politike laws made for prouision of the pore yet smal reliefe commeth thereby to the poore indeed at least wise manie abuse the reliefe which they receiue which commeth of this that there be not in euery church or congregatiō such Deacons as the holy ghost hath appointed which should take a speciall care employ a great diligence for the prouision of the poore not only some to gather and distribute but also to see it well imployed on the poore and to imploy the poore that liue of the almes of the church to the releefe of their

fellow poore which are more impotēt thē they as it was vsed in the Primatiue Church And aboue all thinges to beware of them that walke disorderlye and labour not if they be able Of which kinde of people when there is so greate multitudes in this land that they doe euen ouerflowe the Countryes and haue beene knowne to bee practizers of greate matters agaynste the state It is maruayle that neither by politique nor by ecclesiasticall Lawe they are broughte into order and sette to laboure or else as Saynt Paule prescribeth so that they shoulde not eate vntill they bee willing to labour 2. Thes. 3. 10. But now to return to the Election of Deacons Concerning the form of chusing of Deacons we may reade at large Actes 6. that they were chosen by consente of the vvhole Churche and hadde the approbation of the Apostles And because wee maye not thinke there was anye confusion in that blessed companye wee muste needes confesse that vvhich hath beene before declared that there were euen in that assemblie and firste Churche at Hierusalem certayne elders appoynted which in the name and by the consente of the rest had the disposition of suche matters as appeareth by manie places of the Actes of the Apostles where the Elders are named with the Apostles As Actes 15. 4. 12. c. but especiallye concerning this matter of the distribution vnto the poore we reade that when the Church of Antiochia was so wel disposed as to make a collection to bee sente vnto the poore Brethren that dwelt in Iury they sent vnto the Elders by the handes of Barnabas and Saule Actes 11. 30. By vvhich it appearethe that the Elders had the disposition and appoynting of suche as shoulde destribute it vnto the Congregation which were the Deacons For it is agreeable to reason that hee that should doe any seruice in the name of all should be chosen and approued by the consent of all For the Regiment of the church as it ought to bee furthest of from all Tirannye so ought it to be as farre from Confusion and disorder Tyranny is auoyded when no one man contrarie to the ordinaunce of Christe shall presume to doe anye thing in the Church without the aduise and consent of others that bee Godlye and vvise and authorized by the consent of the Church Confusion is preuented by the graue counsayle and orderlye assemblye of Elders vnto vvhome the Churche hathe committed her authority By this it maye easily appeare vvhat great defaulte there is in our Church where those that are sayde to be ordeined Deacons neuer purpose in their life to execute any part of a Deacons office neither are chosen for that end but only that within a short time after they may bee made Priestes or ministers nothing in the worlde differing from the superstition of Popery where the office of Deacon was conferred onely as a step vnto priesthood As though it were necessarye that euerye one which is ordayned an Elder shoulde first be a Deacon and yet when he is made a Deacon hee is but an Idoll yea scarse an Idoll of a Deacon hauing no resemblaunce at all vnto a Deacon indeed but that he is a man This prophaning of Gods institution God will not alwayes suffer vnpunished especially when it is not maintained of ignoraunce or infirmity but defended against knowledge and vpon wilfulnesse Therefore the Collectors are more like to deacons a great deal then those that the Byshops make Deacons For first they haue after a sort election of the Church whereas the other haue but the approbation of one man And secondly they gather and distribute the common almes vnto the poore which the other neuer think of But yet we may not allow them for lawfull Deacons indeede because they are not alwayes endued with suche qualities as the Apostle requireth 1. Tim. 2. For they ought to bee men of good estimation in the Churche full of the holy Ghost and of wisedome that should be chosen Acts. 6. For as it is an office of good credit so ought the person to bee of good reputation Therefore saith S. Paule that Those Deacons that Minister well doe get them selues a good degree and great liberty in the faith which is in Christ Iesus Insomuch that S. Paule him self doth salute in speciall wordes the Deacons next to the Byshops or ouerseers in the Churche of Philipi Wee reade also what worthye men were chosen to be the first Deacons as Stephen the first Martyr and Philip which afterwarde was an Euangelist when the Churche was dispersed thoroughe the persecution raysed aboute Stephen So that euery ignoraunte contemptible personne is not to bee allowed vnto this office but as Godly wise and vvorshipfull as maye conuenientlye bee founde in the Congregation maye not thinke them selues too good to minister vnto Christe in his members and in the name of the Churche The Election also of oure Collectours is too Prophane for so holye an Office Wee maye reade in the Historye of the Actes Actes 6. with vvhat grauitye reuerence and religiousnesse the Apostles ordayned Deacons vvith Prayer and Imposition of handes For these and suche like causes althoughe the ordinarye Collectors haue some resemblance with the Deaconship of the church yet wee cannot in all poyntes allowe them for Deacons whose office truely consisteth onelye in ministration vnto the poore as wee haue shewed in that they bee Deacons Wee haue declared before that there is a double authority of the Pastour the one ioyned vvith the Elders of the Churche vvhereof hee is Pastour the other vvith the Synode or holy assembly whereof he is a member Of the former wee haue intreated hitherto Nowe it followeth that wee speake of the latter There aryseth oftentimes in the Church diuerse Controuersyes which cannot bee othervvise expressed pertayning to the state of the vvhole Churche then by a generall assemblye of all the Pastoures of that Churche vvhich is called a Synode or generall Counsayle Also there bee diuerse cases vvherein the seuerall Churches are driuen to pray the ayde of the Synode vvhere matters can not bee determined among them selues For this cause the Holye Ghoste hathe ordayned these Holy assembles with promise that they being gathered together in the name of Christe he him selfe will bee among them With the Synode the Pastour hath authority to determine concerning regiment of the Church Wherefore we haue to enquire of what persons a Synode doth consist For which intent wee finde in the history of Act. 15. 6. that when a cont●ouersie arose concerning the Ceremonies of the Lawe whether they were to bee vsed by those Christians that were conuerted of the Gentiles The Apostles Elders came together to consider of this matter and that the people was not excluded appeareth by the 12. verse the whol multitude being perswaded by the argumentes alleaged by Peter helde their peace and quietly hearde Paule and Barnabas declare what signes wonders God had wrought by them amongest the

wisedome of the Synode therefore ought to haue such regard of all churches that they haue speciall respect to euerye one Wherin we of long time in England haue beene caried away with an vntrue principle that vniformitie must be in all places and thinges a like as though we would feede old men and sucking infants all with one kind of meat or as though we would cloath all ages in a robe of one assize and that which is more absurde compell men of ripe age to sucke the dugge to weare their biggins and to carrye Rattles and other Childish bables Our lande is not yet wholly conuerted to Christe so great hath beene our negligence hitherto therefore there can not bee suche an vniformitye of orders in all places as shall be profitable for all Therefore it were meete that the Ouerseers and Elders of the Churche shoulde come together to consider of this matter what orders were moste meete for diuerse places to bring thē to the obediēce of Christ what for the furtheraunce of them that are newly come and what for the continuance and increase of thē that are very well come on The same doctrine although not the same parts of Doctrine is to bee euery where but ceremonies euen as they be ceremonies do admit variety as time persons and occasions serue to be diuerse Yea Christian liberty in them somtimes is necessary to be testified because there are many so simple that they know not the difference betweene those thinges that are necessarye in the Churche and those that are not of necessitye There be that thinke a Crosse or Font as they call it is as necessary in baptisme as water and that kneeling at the Communion is more necessary then preaching of the Lordes death that a Surplusse in common prayer is more necessary then a deuoute minde and greate occasions offered to the ignoraunt so to thinke vvhen they see them that preache moste diligently pray most feruentlye and minister the Sacramentes moste reuerently according to Christes institution to be displaced of all ministery for a Crosse or a Fonte or a Surplusse or some such other trifle The Synode therefore oughte to bee carefull in ordayning of Ceremonyes not onelye that they bee pure and agreeable to the worde of God but also that they bee expediente for the time and personnes for whose vse they are ordayned And as wilfull contemners of good orders established by publique authoritye are worthy to bee corrected so intangling of mens consciences or tyrannicall coaction in these indifferente matters must alwayes bee auoyded The Synode hathe further authoritye concerninge Discipline to refourme and redresse by Ecclesiasticall Censure all suche defaultes and controuersies as cannot bee determined in the particuler Churches as for example If the Pastour himselfe haue neede to bee seuerelye punished vvhere there is but one Pastour in a Churche or if Elders vvhiche shoulde bee refourmers of others haue notoriouslye misgouerned them selues or if they haue beene ledde by affection to condemne an Innocente or to iustifye the vngodlye in these and suche like cases all Contention is to bee concluded by the authority of the Synode Some example vvee haue thereof Acts. 15. where those contentious Schismatiques that withstoode Paule and Barnabas at Antiochia were constrained to yeelde by authoritye of the Councell and Paul and Barnabas restored to their credite For which causes Synodes ought oftentimes to bee assembled though not general of the whole realme but particular of euery prouince or shire as it may be most conueniently that such thinges as are to be refourmed may bee redressed with speede Last of all forasmuch as the election of Pastors is a great waighty matter which ought not to bee permitted to the iudgement of anye one man but pertaineth to the Church whereunto they shoulde be chosen both for better aduise in chusing of a meete man and for authority in causing him to accept their election it is conuenient that it bee done by iudgement of the particular Sinode That no one man hath authority to ordaine Pastors and to impose them ouer churches hath bene before declared by example of the Apostles Paule and Barnabas who although they were Apostles yet would they not challenge that prerogatiue vnto themselues but by common election they ordained Elders in euery Church Acts. 14. 23. Timothy also receiued his charge although it were through prophecy by imposition of handes of the Eldership 1. Timoth. 4. 14. Therefore as it hath bene euidently declared before the assembly of Elders consisting of graue wise and Godly men ought to enquire when the Pastors place is voyd wher they may finde a man meete to supplie his roome and therein to desire aide of the Synode The man by such Godly aduise so chosen ought to be presented to the Congregation and of them to be allowed and receiued if no man can shew anye reasonable cause to the contrarie This is the right election and ordaining of Pastors grounded vppon the worde of God and practised by the primatiue Church two hundred yeeres after Christ vntil the mistery of iniquity grew to work more openly to the setting vp of the tyrannicall kingdome of Antichrist By this we may plainly see that our presentation of patrons is both prophane and preiudicial our giuing of orders by Byshoppes is presumptuous and full of absurdities Firste because they take vppon them to do that which none of the Apostles durst doe that is without election of Churches to ordayne Elders Secondly that they giue an Office vvithout a charge to make a Pastour and sende him to seeke a Flocke where hee canne finde it which is as vnreasonable a thing as if one were chosen to bee a Church-warden and had neuer a Churche to keepe or made a Constable that had neuer a Towne or place appoynted whereof he should bee Constable For the name of a Pastour Elder or Ouerseer is the name of an office in Act and esse because it is a proper Relatiue and not a Potentiall abilitye in the Cloudes If Byshoppes as they bee nowe were consecrated after the same maner to seeke theire Byshoprickes vvhere they coulde finde them it 〈◊〉 no greater absurdity then it is to ordayne Pastoures and let them proll where they can for their benefices Thirdlye by this wandring we may also say vagabounde ministery shifting from place to place and in all places to bee counted a Minister where he hath no charge it wold grieue a man to thinke what inconueniences doth follow but principally how filthily it stinketh of the olde Popish indelible character frō whēce it hath his ground and neither of any reason or of the worde of God And yet forsooth it is so perfect that it may abide no reformatiō Fourthly if you will see how well the authority which they claime and practize is vsed of them that onelye haue the choyse and admission of Ministers Looke ouer the vvhole Realme of Englande What a multitude of vnfitte Pastours shall you