the conscience is not afraide off any winde or weather off any storme or tempest when as it staieth yt selfe vpon the lorde and followeth him in that waie wheren he goeth before Furthermore they that are gouerned can by no meanes better be browght to doe there dewtie ād persuaded to doe that which they owght then when they vnderstād that it is the lordes will and cōmandemēt whose embassador the mynister is For they reuerēce only that authoritie which they knowe to be off god hereoff we haue a manifest example in Dauid whome it staied oftētime being readie to fall and oftentimes also raised vp againe being beaten downe to the grounde that he came not to the kingdome by his owne ambicion as his enemies falselie blamed him but by the authoritie off god who called him and off Samuell the Prophete who by the Lordes cōmandemēt had anoynted him The maiestie and authoritie off which creacion at the last so moued all Israell that is to saie the ten tribes which for the space off seuē yeres were not obedient vnto him that they receiued him willinglie for there king whome before they had disdained For this cause also S. Paule so diligentlie almost in the beginning off euerie Epistle calleth him selfe an Apostle and seruante off God. For this cause also he taketh so greate paynes in his Epistles to the the Corinthes to proue his Apostleshippe which some false brethren sowght to take from him that by that meanes they might dyminishe his credite and authoritie with the churche Neyther in deede was he more confirmed by any thing in his infinite perilles trobles and labors which he bare for the Gospells cause then that he assured him selfe off the aide and assistaunce off God in the discharge off that dewtie vnto which he was appointed by him Which great fruyte and commoditie iff it maie moue vs let vs tarie ād waite for the Voice of God to call vs to beare office in his churche and let vs first be assured most plainlie and manifestlie that we are called thereunto by his gouernment and authoritie Lest that hauing entred in by the backe dore we finde the lorde to be punisher and Auenger off this ambycion the people disobedient and vntowarde and our owne consciences shaking and trembling not only at greate and vndowbted daungers but at euerie bugge and at the shaking off euerie leafe Therfore the authoritie off God is to be wayted for to the taking in hand or bearing off any ecclesiasticall office and so to be waited for that we ambiciouslie seke yt not by any disceitfull or vnhonest meanes And let no man boast here off his giftes and worthynes and in confidence thereof as a suter seke and laboure for honor For How fytte soeuer he semeth to be for any charge and office yet no thing is here to be taken rashelie in hand without the authoritie off God who will vse in his affaires whome it pleaseth him It is rehearsed in the holie historie off the iudges off what a meruoulons strengthe and mete for a Prince Sampson was yet notwithstanding iff he had not bene borne the Nazarite off the Lorde and chosen and apointed from his Mothers wombe to deliuer the people he owght not to haue sowght vengeaunce off the Philistines or to haue deliuered his owne countrey from there power and gouernment but rather to haue excercised that greate strengthe and might as Arrius writeth that Philoctetes bestowed his dartes vpon birdes and not vpon his armed enemies Neither had it bene lawfull for Salomon to haue taken in hand the gouernment off the kingdome off Israell to put in practise that excellent and worthie gifte off wisdome and gouernment in yt except the Lorde had first chosen him to succede in the princelie throne off his father Dauid and the administracion his his kingdome And worthelie were Absalon and Adoniah reiected who thinking them selues worthie toke that honor vnto them that he who was chosen by the Lorde and thought worthie by him might rule and gouerne As also was Core in the like case and the rest off his faction And after also king Vzziah desyring honors and places besides the good will and pleasure off god For the Lorde knoweth how to rule his familie and whateuerie man is to be put in trust withall according to that honestie and credite that he knoweth euerie one to be off So that he that resteth not in his iudgement but wolde haue and seketh by all meanes to procure vnto him selfe more then the Lorde hath geuen him must nedes accuse him off folishenes or off malice and therfore be giltie off most grieuous and haynons sinne And let them not obiecte against vs that sayinge off the Apostell that He that desireth the office off a Bishoppe desireth a good thing to proue and cōfirme this ambicious sewing and laboring for the ministerie whereas yt is so farr off that these wordes should kindle and enflame vs hereunto that contrariwise the Apostle semeth by these wordes to haue sowght to bridle our hastie desyre For whereas the Apostle saith that the office off a Bishoppe is a worthie worke to what ende thincke we doth he call yt so but therewithall to admonishe vs how hard yt is and that it requireth a man both off singuler learning and godlines For so yt followeth that Bishoppe owght to be off an honest and blameles life sober temperate liberall meke apte to teache and so forth And this is the worthines off the off ce off a Bishoppe which the Apostle sheweth in this place and which he so meruaileth at in other places that he thincketh no man mete to take so greate a charge vpon him By which dignitie and worthines off the office the Ambicion off men is rather quenched then kindled For vnderstanding thereby how greate and waightie a calcalling it is we are warned to take hede that we run̄e not rashelie to it but rather that we prepare our selues long before with all studye care and diligence for the bearing off so greate a burthen As for the worde 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which signifieth to couette or desire yt is ill alledged for the profe off any ambicious seking off the mynisterie Whereas the Apostle vnderstandeth a godlie zeale to set furthe the glorie off god and to edifie his churche which wisheth and desireth indeede to be made able once by the grace off God to serve him and his churche in that calling which meditateth and thinketh dailie hereupō and exerciseth and prepareth him selfe thereunto bestowyng wholie all studie and laboure to that ende yet notwithstāding waiteth for the voice off God and authoritie off the churche to call him and by an vnripe and headie desire or ambicious kinde off hastines preuenteth not the tyme off his calling We reade that Christe our Sauior him selfe althoughe he were endewed with all heauenlie wisdome yet laie he hidde as yt were without exercising any publique office to the thyrtie yere off his age and taried for that
mountaines and wandringe in the woodes with out a guyde which he him selfe spared not to spēd his life for to bring yt into the way againe we are in no part inferior to the Papistes them selues Is this then our discipline is this that order which some men often tymes praisinge in wordes desire nothinge less in deed Is this the gouernment and administracion off our churche and yet no man may be suffred freely to speake for the reformaciō of the churche and restoringe againe of the pure and perfit gouernmēt of the Apostles Seinge thes are most manifestly contrary to the example off our Sauior Christ and off the Apostles Seinge they threaten the certeyne ruyne and ouer throw off the churche Seinge they do not only shake but turne vpward the pillers off the same Haue we not Good cause to be moued bothe for the Glory off God and the saluacion of the churche to requyre more holye ordinaunces and a better gouernment off the same Can any man esteeme thes light matters and off small waight that the sacred Lawes off God are openly violated and broken with oute any shame that the churche which Christ hath redemed with his bludd is neglected That ther is no regard had off discharginge off dewties That a man taketh to hym selfe which the Aungelles dare not and that the Archbishopp dare geue the Pastor leaue contrary to the expresse commandement off God to forsake his flock or graunt him suche priuiledges wheroff that same dothe necessaryly follow which no Archangell may challendge to him selff Or shall thos thinges also which I haue handled from the begynninge to this place be esteemed small faultes to ground Ecclesiasticall discipline not vpon the word off God and the will off the Lord Iesus But off the canon lawe Which suerly I doubt not to affirme to be the very fountaine and springe from whence all the rest off the Corruptions do flow that popishe priestes womē Archdeacons and Chauncelers with ther Officialles Commissaryes and the rest off that Trashe do bringe ther impure handes and neuer sanctified vnto God to do his holie seruice to preache his word to handle and distribute his facred mysteries to order and gouerne his churche And nothinge seare any punishement off this ther boldnes and most vnworthie prophanacion off the holie offices That Ionathan the Leuites shamefull example in seekinge a Maister or as we call yt in gettinge the good will off a Patrone is taken to be followed That Dauid and Salomons example in callinge the Priestes and Leuites to ther cyties and townes and the Apostles in ordeininge no ecclesiasticall officer but vnto certen churches is neglected and contemned And last off all that Thes wicked and intollerable faculties Prerogatiues Priuiledges and dispensacions tha◠I haue spoken off at suffered in our churche Are all thee I say to be countid trifles or certen light faultes and tollerable errors For my par e suerly I thincke as allso I suppose all they will do that will were this by the word off God as by the gold smythes ballance that ther is neuer a one off these light and small to be esteemed but that they ar all heynous trespasses and matters off Treason to be examined and iudged off in the highest courtes Therfore in the name off God let vs not seeke to bringe this holie doctrine off reforminge our discipline into hate and displeasur vnder a shew that yt is a newe and a false pretēce that all innouaciōs ād chāges are dangerous but rather abrogating thes most vniust and vnrighteous lawes dispensacions and as I may well call them pardones and indulgencies at the last let vs call agayne that maner off gouerninge the churche and that discipline being now lost which the Lord him selfe by his embassadors and Apostles hathe apointed Thus hauinge described and layd out the lawfull vocacion off all those which occupie any publique place in the churche let vs now come to the partes and members of the same which especially are two wherin the right maner off geuinge thes offices doth consist that is In election and ordinacion which is so properly called Election is the appointinge by the Elders the rest off the churche allowing it off a fitt man to the bearinge off some office in the churche And as for Election that it is necessary to the geuinge off any off thes offices it may appeare euen off that that S. Paul ioineth it with examinacion and trial and diligently warneth Timothie that he lay not on his handes vpon them that be vnworthie but only vpon thos that after a iust triall beinge had are found meet and chosen That same is proued also by the continuall vse off the Apostles who by the iudgmēt and authoritie off the churche apointed Bishopps to teache and Deacons for the orderinge off the Treasury off the churche For Christ hath not chosen any certen hous or famyly as it was in old tyme vnder the law wherin the gouernment off the churche should all wais remaine He gaue herein no right off Petigree stock and blood no ministers by inheritance but he would haue the iudgement left free vnto his churche and the offices theroff to be gyuen by choyse and worthines Off which election for asmuche as it was so necessary for the state off the churche that without yt the churche it selfe could not longe continew Our Sauior Christ was very carefull and therfor declared particularly and distinctly all thinges which apperteined to the orderyng theroff For he hath perfectly and diligently shewed bothe who owght to choose and to whom especially this care ought to belonge and what ought to be followed and regarded in chosinge off euery one For althoughe this question and controuersy off the chosers hathe beene diuersly disputed off by lerned men yet allmost all off them cōsen in this that ther must be moe to deale therin and that so great and so wayghtie a charge and belonginge to the especiall and singuler commodytie or discomoditie off the wholl churche ought not be committed to the authoritie off any one but be ordered and ruled by the iudgement and consent off many And this is the generall opynion off all thos that euer disputed lernedly and wisely in this cause from which I thinck no man can dissent but the Papists and they that haue succeded them in that authoritie which they most vnuistly and not without open iniury and tyranny doe vsurpe For the Bishopps that challeng this power vnto them selues by ther meere authoritie and ther owne only Iudgment and aduise to apoint the officers off the churche cannot challenge this by any right or law off God but exercise a very tyranny thoughe indeed longe agoe browght into the churche which lest I may seeme to haue said with out cause and to haue condemned them with out hearinge them to say what they can let them shew forth from whom and by what right this infynit power and authoritie is come into ther handes yff they say they haue
for I se no cause whithis may not aswel bee referred to all the maner off ordeininge of theÌ„ as to that which followeth Therfore that at the last I may coÌ„clude all this matter The EuaÌ„gelistes ar no more PatroÌ„es for this matter then the Apostles wer neyther is ther any the lest deed or word off eny off them wherby this tyranny may be allowed Therfore let them confesse as the thinges in deed That this mischife was borne and bred at Rome which after together with the empier spred it selfe ouer into all landes But all the question off the chosers off Ecclesiasticall officers is not yet thus ended For all thoughe I haue concluded owte off the worde off god that one man can not vsurpe this power without tyranny yet here arise new pleas and controuersies And it is doubted whether this be equally to be permitted vnto all or only vnto certene chosen men that exercise ordinarie Iurisdiction in the churche As for me when I consider both the holy scriptures and the exaÌ„ple off the best reformed churches I thinck it most agreing with the will off God that that Senate and counsell which exercisethe ordinary authoritie in all the affaires off the churche and whom for the same cause the Apostle calleth leaders and ouer seers and exhorteth the church to obey them an suffer it selffe to be ruled by theÌ„ shold also haue most a doe in this busynes to gouerne the ElectioÌ„ and to guyde and direct the iudgmeÌ„t of the rest of the churche with ther wisdoÌ„e and authoritie Neither do I bring in heere any Oligarky or tyrannous rule off a few and reteyne still the same tyranny in the churche chaunginge only the persons For I would not that the iudgment off the rest off the churche should be contemned and neglected or that the counsell or elders off the churche should off ther owne authoritie sett one ouer the churche whom they list against the churches will but that the Elders goinge before the people also follow and hauinge hard and vnderstorde ther sentence and decree may either by some outward token or ells by ther sylence allow it iff it be to be liked off or gayne say it iff it be not iust and vpright And not only gayne say yt but iff iust cause of ther dislikinge may be brought make it alltogether voyde and off none effect vntill at the last a meete one may be chosen by the authoritie and voices off the Elders and allowed off by the consent and approbacion off the rest off the churche So that herein ther is no cause to coÌ„pleine that by the bringing in off the rule of a fewe the maiesty off the wholl church is diminished we read in deed that it was some what otherwise practized in the sixth and fourtheÌ„et off the Actes aÌ„d that the people had the chiefe power and authoritie in thos elections but that me thinck was done for a speciall cause which doth not in like maner belonge vnto vs neither ought to be referred to the ordinary and perpetuall gouernment of the church For as in coÌ„mon welthes not only suche wher the people is to be made soueraigne or a few but also eueÌ„ wher the kingdome of one is to be established before it be confirmed all the power is in the peoples handes who of ther free will choose magistrates vnto them vnder whos autoritie they may after be gouerned and afterwardes not all the people but only the magistrates chosen by them administer and gouerne the affaires off the common wealthe So it cometh to passe in the establishinge off the churche So that when as yet ther were none set ouer them all the authoritie was in all mens handes but after that they had once geuen the helme into the handes off certeÌ„ chosen men this power no lenger belonged vnto all but only to thos who wer chosen by them to steare and gouerne the churche off god As for the election off Seacons ther was yet an other especiall reason why yt was meet that they should haue beene chosen all the churche For when the Grecians murmured against the hebrues and complained that they had wronge for that in the distribucion which was dailie made for the help off the poore ther widowes were not dewly regarded It was need full that they to whom this charge was to be coÌ„mitted should be chosen by all the company that all occasioÌ„ off complayninge and suspicion might be taken away therfor that which once extra ordinarilie was done by the people for certen speciall and particuler causes and respectes ought not to be referred to the perpetuall certeÌ„ stable and ordinary maner of gouerninge the church Althoughe euen in this election the Apostles reserued vnto themselues the chiefe authoritie of â—â—yinge on of haÌ„des and allowing or dissalowinge the iudgmentes and voices off the people which power and authoritie seinge in the very tyme off the Apostles theÌ„ selfes and that by ther allowynge yt was traÌ„slated to the Ecclesiasticall consell and the Elders that had the ordinari gouernment as after in dew place shall appere whi shall I not thinck that the power also of examininge and doinge of other thinges that perteine to the electioÌ„ is to gether with the other translated vnto them Therfor keepinge the right libertie off the churche I conclude oute iff the word off god and the examples off the Apostles That no thinge be done not only against the god will theroff or vnknowinge to the same but also not with out the consent and approbation off it But we must keepe also the iust authoritie off the elders that they goe before the people in the election that they try and examin thos that aâ—e to be chosen that they iudge off ther worthines and publishe vnto the church whom they haue thought meeâ—e and worthie that beinge allowed by the consent off aâ—â— they may bey receiued for thus the wholl body off the churche is bâ—st preserued when euery part and membre doth his office when the eyes do see and leade the waye and the other partes suffer them selues to beled and guided in the way But the Elders in elections as also in all the rest off the gouernment off the churche ar as Eâ—es vnâ—o the rest and leade and direct them that either through ignorance or beinge blinded with ther owne desires they slyde not in the way For which causes I said they ar called gouernors Ouer seers and Elders And how shall the people be able to iudge off the diuers giftes off the Spirit off god to chose this man to gouerne that to teache and an other to ouerse the treasury off the churche for as thes be diuers offices so to discharge them well they had neede to be indewed with diuerse guiyftes off the holie ghost that be chosen therunto as after shal be declared more at large in ther seuerall offices But euery man is not able to iudge off thes diuerse guyftes which ar fitt for what purpose and at
yet when Iames was slaine they did choose nome into his Roume or the Roume oft any other off the Apostles when they died So that yt is plaine that this office is abolished Which beinge playne off the Apostles must be likewise vnderstood off the Euangelistes who serued and mynistred vnto them and were after a sort ther vicairs and deputies For as it doth appere in the Actes This was the office of the Euangelistes to accōpany the Apostles whom they when they had gathered any company off a churche together and must needes depart left behind them beinge instructed by them in what sort ād order to stablishe the churche who hauinge set the churche in order and prouided pastors and Elders to gouerne yt left it ād followed the Apostles againe So they as Emperors and Generalles when they had ouercome any citie left as it were some chiefe captaines behinde them vntill thinges could be brought to a better stay and that ancientes and elders as certen perpetuall garrisons were set ouer them for the Apostles were appointed to cōquere and to ouercome The Euangelistes to establishe and set in order The elders to mainteine and preserue the churche of god Therfore this office off the Euangelist must needes cease seinge the Apostleshippe is ceased allreadie As for the Prophetes office althoughe it consisted in expoundinge the scriptures yet seinge it was ioyned with extraordinary gyft off foretellinge thinges to come necessary for the primitiue churche but now no more in vse yt can not be doubted but that the office ys ceased as well as the gyft wherupon we may conclude That seinge as Saint Paule witnessethe onely Apostles Euangelistes Prophetes Pastors and Doctors were geuen by Christ to the edifyinge off the churche and the work off the ministery That the three first ceasinge there remaine only Pastors and Doctors perpetuall and ordinary ministers off the word In deede sometymes the lord extraordinarily in a confused state where is no place off ordynary callinge stirreth vp as be did in our tyme as yt were certen newe Apostles to lighten the world agayne with the light off the gospell And Eusebius maketh mencion off some who saith he with a heauenly zeale off followinge the Apostles went preachinge the gospell to the Indians But I speake off the Ordinary state off the churche suche as oures ought to be after so many yeeres Therfore Sainct Paule in the xij to the Romans speakinge off this state makethe no mencion off Apostles Euangelistes or Prophetes but only off Teachers and exhorters callinge Pastors Exhorters as it shall appeere hereafter Neither was i◠needfull that they should continewe any longer in the churche no more then it is needfull after the platforme be drawen that the master builder tarie any longer but that there be carpenters and workmen to builde and raise the worck as he hathe appointed And it seemethe that our Sauior Christ in the stablishinge off his kingdome followed a kind off order not diuers from that which is vsed by earthly kinges and princes Who at the daie off ther coronacion and for a certen time after make many officers for diuers and sondry vses who serue not only for a solemnitie pompe and shewe but also to great vse and seruice for that time but when thinges are set in order and the kingdome stablished are vsed no longer So Christ our lord and king when as beinge ascended into heauen he was as it were inuested into his kingdome created Apostles and suche other officers which should set his kingdome in order and appoint and ordeine a certen ordinary state for the gouernment and administracion off it which being so established and set in order Those offices should cease and the kingdome should be gouerned as they had appointed Therfore theris no cause why we should think the loue ād care off our Sauior towardes his churche to be diminished for this cause or that he dealethe not bountifully and liberallie with vs no more then subiectes for the like cause haue occasiō to suspect ther kinges good will and fauor to be chaunged towardes them For these thinges are but for a certeyne time and perteine to the beginninge off the kingdome which time seemethe necessarilie to require some other kinde of order then all the rest that followeth Therfore to cōtinewe the same similiritude after he was crowned-kinge he scattered in great aboundāce spirituall giftes off knowledge prophesyinge healinge and other graces as gold and siluer amonges his people All the conduites ranne with sweet and most pleasant wyne All the pipes and cockes ranne with rose water and other sweet and plesant waters But allthoughe he geueth vs dailie all thinges liberally and plentifully yet he geueth vs not dailie a Largesse as at the tyme off his coronacion Therfore we ought to be content with that liberalitie which the lord shewethe vnto vs and not to looke to haue allwais alike The same reason is off the perpetuall mynisters off the word with whom he would haue vs to be contented and not to wishe for the first and those which were extraordinary and apointed to serue but for a tyme For as some thinge was geuen more liberally and extraordinarilie to the extraordinary tymes off the churche So we are sufficiently prouided for off all thinges which belonge to the continuall and necessarie vse off the churche Therfore beinge content with this meane estate and condicion Let vs vse that which is giuen vnto vs and seeke not for offices which serued but for a tyme in the perpetuall gouernment off the churche nor wil he extraordinary functions in an ordinary state Wherfore we ought to haue Pastors and Doctors appointed in our churche and not to reteine still the extraordinary office off preachers which yet I reproue more sparingly for the respect I haue to many worthie men who haue labored with some fruite after this sort for I see that some by the negligence off those who ought to haue prouided meete Pastors for the churches for the loue they had vnto the gospell thought it lawfull for them in these tymes to take vpon them this Apostolicall or Euangelicall kind off office and embassage wheras rather they owght to haue vrged the full and perfit reformacion off our churche and to haue striuen by the word off god that euery church might haue bene prouided off a fit Pastor And that the Lordes heritage might be no more left barren and vntilled left that at the last the Lord be angry with vs and take it from vs and let out his farme to other that will dresse it better But iff there be any which please them selues to muche in this gadding abroade thorough out the churches and will contend they may do so by the example off the Apostles and Euangelistes let them shew vs the signes off ther Apostleship as Saint Paule did to the Corinthians Let them proue that they are indewed with those Apostolicall gyftes off knowledge and vnderstanding tonges healinges doinge off
for the kinde affection which I beare to that churche in which I haue bene bothe borne and browght vp and therfore loue most deerelie for goode causes euen as the Apostle saith to liue and die togither I thought yt I saie my dewtie to desire and beseche this Churche earnestlie and carefullie to thincke off this so greate a benefyte whereby yt maie be established for euer And most earnestlie to exhorte and admonishe yt to abolishe that popishe tyrannye which yet remayneth in the gouernment thereoff and to restore againe the most holie pollicie offâ—◠〈◊〉 the churche which our Sauior Christe hath 〈◊〉 vnto vs and to feare lest that the lorde will punishers and will be reuenged off vs iff we contynewe still to despise his discipline But forasmuche as there be many who because they delight rather in a faire owtwarde shewe then the trew symplicitie off the Gospell striue and contend to retaine still this Popishe Hierarchie and conterfaite manner off gouerning the churche blaming that order for many causes which we persuade vnto This whole controuersie is fullie and at large to be disputed of that when they vnderstand the goode cause that we haue to repriue the one and require the other they maie ioyne togither with vs in earnest praiers vnto god and humble suyte vnto hir maiestie That this Popishe tyrannie being at the last vtterlie abolished and cleane taken away In place theroff a better and more holie gouernment of the churche accoding to Goddes worde maie be established Which cause I purpose so to handle that fyrst drawing out the right paterne and platforme off the lawfull pollicie and gouernment off the churche as Christe and his Apostles haue lefte it vnto vs togither their withall I will note our faultes and errors in euerie pointe that by this comparison the trewthe maie more clerelie shine and appeare fyrst therfore seing we haue not to doe with such as reiecte all discipline off the Churche that yt maie be better vnderstode what it is whereoff we dispute I will declare what the lawfull discipline off the churche is I call therfore Ecclesiasticall Discipline the pollicie off the Churche off Christe ordeyned and appointed off God for the goode administracion and gouernment off the same That I make here God the Author off discipline wherupon yt followeth that we haue to fetche the rules thereoff from no other fountaines but from the holie scriptures had nede be more fullie proued because it is denied by many who dare affirme that there is no precepte geuen touching this matter but contend that it is wholy lefte vnto iudgement of the magestrate and off the churche first then let theÌ„ tell vs whie they denie that god hath thus carefullie prouided for Christiane Churches and whie they affirme yt to be lefte free for vs to rule it as we lifte seing that in the olde churche off the Iewes All thinges which perteined not onlie to the gouernment off the cyuile state but also off the Ecclesiasticall for althoughe with them god was Author of bothe yet he wold haue them distinguished the on from the other were so diligentlye and exactelie destributed and bothe commanded by god and commended to writyng by Moses that yt was expresslye forbidden that Nothing should be added vnto yt nor taken from yt For yt appreareth manyfestlye that that exacte paterne off Discipline came not fyrst from Moses but from God by this that Moses testifieth so often that the lorde had apointed the maner off creating and ordeining Ecclesiasticall officiers and and there power and authoritie who aso allwaies readie to punyshe the transgressors off his ordinances with most grieuous plages and punyshementes There is a notable historie in the ninthe off NoÌ„bers off certeine vncleane persons who thincking yt no sufficient cause whie they shold not eate the Passeouer with the rest off Israell because they were polluted with touching off a deade bodie which thei must needes doe seing there died dailie some emonghest them as off necessitye yt commeth to passe in so greate a multitude went to Moses and Aaron desiring that they might not be secluded from that solempne communion off the churche But what doth Moses in this case what taketh he vpon him Surelie nothing at all but referreth the cause wholie vnto God by whose answere they were forbidden to eate the Passouer with the rest off Israell and were put off vnto the next moneth Off which cause properlie belonging to this Discipline which we handle and referred to God yt maie be clearlie vnderstoode That Moses in all the gouernment off the churche did nothing by his priuate authoritie but onlie deliuered vnto them that which the lorde had commanded which thing also Moses him selfe doth plainlie testefie by his often repeating off these wordes As the Lord had commanded And this is that faithfulnes which the Apostle to the Hebrewes commendeth in him that he ruled not the howse off God by his owne will but by the authoritie off the Lorde the master off the howsholde And how preciselie ys yt commanded in the Tabernacle that all should be made after the fashoÌ„ and paterne which had bene shewed by the Lorde in the Montaine neyther so long as kinges were in any tollerable state Any eyther kinges or priestes toke vpon them any suche authoritie to appointe matters belonging to the churche but all thinges were ruled and gouerned according to the will and authoritie off god For whereas in the fashion and buiding off the temple and in the offices off the leuites and off the Singers certeine thinges were somewhat otherwise appointed by danid and Salomon then they had bene commanded by Moses That chaunge and alreracion was not made by the authoritie off Dauid and Salomon as kinges but by the will off God himselfe who apointed yt so by his Prophetes as appeareth in the Chronicles Therfore also the fashion and paterne of the teÌ„ple after it was ouerthrowne was so exactelie drawne out by Ezechiell that the newe temple might he builled againe according to the paterne off God shewed by his Prophete Wherfore also Erra and Nehemiah exacte all there reformacion to the paterne off Moses Dauid and Ezechiel Seing then so stable and certeine a rule off gouerning the churche contynewed vnto Christe the lawes and ordinances were appointed by god him selfe and that it was accompted wicked and vnlawfull for any man boldlye to haue taken any thing in hand in these matters and that suche as did so eschaped not the grieuous punishement and vengaunce off God whie doe they now at the last deliuer god off this care or rather spoile the churche off hir patrone and defender by whose gouernment yt might be preserued and who sitting in the sterne at the helme yt neuer feared any stormes or tempestes but was allwaies safe in all daunger And how absurde and vnreasonable a thing is it then especially to thincke the loue and care off God to be demynished towardes his churche when
freelie and sincerelie preached vnto vs what were the force off our Adoption in Christe what were the strengthe off the couenannte which God made with vs what the eternall and euerlasting councell off god in CHRIste were touching our saluacon what were the vse off the Sacramentes and namelie off Baptisme For who can dowbte that this fowle error flowed into the churche from these heades and that the ignoraunce off these thinges was the cause that some not vnderstanding that place off Saincte Iohn Onlesse a man be borne againe off vvater and off the Spirite He cannot enter into the Kingdome off God toke occasion thereoff to thincke Baptisme necessarie to saluacion and that all that were not baptized shold be condemned Whereas all the Scripture to the Analâ—ogie and proporcion whereoff this place is to be expounded pâ—ainly teacheth that the Electe are saued by the goode pleasure and will off god by reason off the couenante and off there Adoption in Ihesus Christe That Abraham was iustefied before his circuncision which in force and effecte answereth to our baptisme and that couenaunce and the promises are not made by the sacramentes but sealed by theÌ„ Which seale also serueth not to the confyrmyng off the worde off god in it selfe which in yt seâ—fe is most constaunte certeine and immutable and hath no neede to borowe credite off any thing ells but that iâ— maie be confirmed in vs whose weakenes to the fulie staieng and acquieting off our faithe neded suche meanes to be confirmed by So that seing the lorde to haue sete his sygnet to the confyrming off our Saluacion and to haue sealed yt vp we might the more quietlie rest and acquiete our selues in his faithe and custodie As for the place off S. Iohn wither yt be to be vnderstoode off the holie Ghoste the Author off this regeneracion whereoff our Sauior speaketh who as in an other place is ment by fyre so maie be also here by water or whither yt be ment off Baptisme yt in no wise restraineth our saluacion to euerie sprinckling off waâ—er but to the sacrament only But there can be no sacrameÌ„t without a minister and there can be no embassadge without an embassador And yf any priuate man shold breake breade according to the institucon off Christe and communicate with others to the commemoracion off his Seathe who wold call that the hoâ—y supper off the Lorde and not rather an vnworthie prophanacion off that most holie mynister rie And yet althoughe yt be ministred by a minister our entraunce into the kingdome off god is not to be geuen to the outward baptisme but in as muche as by a sacramentall kinde of speaking vsuall in the scriptures in this kinde That is attributed to the Sacramentes for the certeine coniunction off the thinges signified with the Signes which indede is proper to the thinges whereoff they be Sacramentes Therefore there is not that necessytie off Baptisme to saluacion which many doe suppose that for this cause the holie ordinaunce off god whereby it is lawfull for the mynisters onlie to minister the Sacramentes should be prophaned And I can not see what other cause off his prophanacion they can pretend And a man maie mervailee whie at suche tymes they puâ— not rather priuate men to baptize then women for sure the faulte had bene so muche the lesse For women are further removed from this office for whome yt is vnlawfull to take the same vpon them not onlie because they are preuate but also because they are women For euen the verie sexe is forbidden to exercise any publique charge or function in the churche by sancte Paull And is commanded to sitte still and be quiette which quietnes and vocation these men will not suffer theÌ„ to enioie who styrre them vp to the exercisyng off authoritie and doing off these thinges so expresselie forbidden them But yff this were to be suffred for that necessitie which they imagine whie shold yt not also be suffred in case off like necessitie that they should minister the lordes supper and preache the gospell wherefore seing they are forbidden by S. Paul. to exercise any ecclesiasticall function or authoritie Seing it is an vnlawfull transgression off the ordinaunce off Christe and an vnworthie prophanacion off baptisme to geue leaue to women and mydwiues to exercise this authoritie it were to be wished that some parte off the mydwiues conning were practized here to the vnburdening of our churche off this fowle error as off a shamefull monster that yt trauaileth withall and that it were ordeined which the Lord hath commanded that they who are not chosen nor by any meanes can be chosen to goo on the Lordes embassadge should not abuse any longer the place office and authoritie off so woâ—thy a calling It remaineth now to enquire off Archedeacons chancellors commissaries and the rest off that sorte who withouâ— any grownde off the worde off god take vpon them authoritie â—o Iudge off all suche causes as belong to the Assemblie off Elders to Iudge off and to gouerne the chur +che and to correcte and punyshe not only the people but euen the ministers them selues according to there will and pleasure who I knowe not what answere they can be able to make for them selues what letters off Order they can shewe what signes and seales off there Vocacion whereas the holy scripâ—ures doe not onlye commytie no suche charge vnto them but maketh not a worde mencion off all this sorte at all For in all the Testament wherein our Sauior hath declared his last will vnâ—o vs and appointed Tutors and Gardianes for his churche There is not one worde mencyoned off the Tutorshippe off these men but off Apostles Prophetes and Euangelistes who for a certeine tyme should haue the charge off yt After also off Pastors Doctors and Elders to whome this office was committed for euer To vsurpe then without the will off so worthie a Testator not onlie some parte off this charge which notwithstanding could not be done without the breaking off the Testament but euen the the whole and that by displacing those who were lawfullie called therunto and subiecting them to the vsurped authoritie and so to breake into an other mans possession that thow not onlie put out the right owner and maister but also compell him to become subiecte and slaue to the hath not only no pretence off right and equitie but being so heynous and vnworthie a facte were worthie to be corrected by the Magistrates authoritie For what a confusion is this that the deacon leauing his proper charge off the poore should take vpon him an other mans and rule not onlie the churche but also the Pastors Doctors and Elders to whom by goddes commandement he owght to be subiecte And that euerie Canonise and Petifogger in the lawe should vsurpe the Authoritie off Ministers and deuines I passe ouer that the most off them be Papistes and that suche are suffred to sitte in the stearne who should no
to escape In the end off the same Epistle wherin he is called a Bishop he sendethe for him from Ephesus to Rome which suerly he would neuer haue done yff he had beene appointed Bishopp ther or one off thos elders whom Paule in the twentieth off the Actes sent for to miletum and exhorteth to contynuall watche and ward And Paule hym selfe writeth that he willed him to tary at Ephesus not that he had ordeined him bishopp ther. A like obiection they make out off the Epistle to Titus wher it is written that Paule left him in Creta that he should appoint Elders in euery towne But it may lickwise be annswered that the Apostle saithe not that he ordeineth him Bishopp off the churches off Creta But only that he leaft him in Creta namely so longe vntill he had sett suche thinges in order as Paule beinge otherwise called away could not tarry to do and had appointed Elders in euery citie which apperethe by this that he commanded hym when thos thinges wer done to come to him to Nicopolis into Macedonia Lickwise in an other place he writeth that Titus was gonn into Dalmacia so that yt is cleere enoughe that Titus had no charge off any certen place or church Therfore seing I thinck yt is sufficiently proued that Titus and Tymothie were EuaÌ„gelistes and not Bishoppes how doeth that make for the Bishoppes which we see by ther Epistles was granted vnto theÌ„ For I thinck they will not compare them selues with the Euangelistes or affirme them selues to be off equall authoritie with them which iff they should they might be easelie confuted as after in dew place shal be declared But that we may put the case that Timothie was Bishopp at Ephesus and that we may freely graunt that what so euer may apperre to haue beene lawfull for him to be lawfull also for them Let vs see now what the Apostle graunted to Timothie For soothe say they that he might choose off his owne authoritie the officers off the church Let vs then see whether it be so or not And here is first to be noted that they do yll geue that vnto Election which perteyneth not to Election But to Ordinacion For the laying on off handes was not wonte to be vsed in choosinge off any Officers off the churche But in ordeininge off him Then that we graunt them this also That election hereby is signified I say that ther Tyranny and Lordly authoritie is by no place more confuted then by this which they bring for them selues which that yt may more cleerly appeere I must first take away a certen false exposicion which they bringe off this place that after I may the more easyly convince them by the true and naturall meaninge theroff Heere say they Tymothie is warned that he lay not his handes to hastely vpon any nor communicate with other mens faultes namely with thers say they who allthoughe they be vnworthy seeke to enter into the ministery An interpretacion very vnfytt either for the wordes off the Apostle or for those tymes Will they confesse that euen in thos tymes this ambicion had crept into the churche that as now a dayes so then also they went vnto the Bishop for order and layinge on off handes for otherwise what other menÌ„s fault is this wherwith the Apostle warne the Tymothi that he pollute not him selfe for what fault can this bee Not to be fitt to taky vpon him an ecclesiasticall function But herein is the fault that he that is giltie to him selfe off his owne vnworthines desirethe notwithstandinge to take that vpon him which he is not able to be are with out great offence But who will say that so shamfull Ambicion raigned in the churche in thos daies which many yeeres after was borne and brought vpp at Rome And iff the church had then been steyned with this blott would not Paule expresly haue forbidden this Ambition seinge that he would haue a bishoppe to be blamles and prouided by all meanes that he sholde not swell and wax prowd Therfore this is off smaller waight then it may be allowed and the meaninge off this place is farr otherwise nam y this That Paule foreseyng longe before that greeuous wolues not sparing the flock would ryse vp euen off the Elders off Ephesus them selues and that Tymothie was but off equall authoritie with the Elders in gouerninge off the churche and choosinge off others into the same place and degree and that they that were suche wold choose to bâ— Elders and lay ther handes on suche as wer like them selues he warneth Timothy that he do nothing rashely in this behalffe neyther iff any suche thing happen althoughe other like neuer so well off it yet he shall not suffer him selfe to be led away by ther authoritie to the allowynge off it but iff he could not keep others by his counsell from so doinge at the least he should keepe hym selff pure and innocent for so he addeth emphatically Keepe thy self pure communicate not vvith other mens faultes And this is the true and naturall meaninge off this place wher by yt appeareth that the Apostle not only grauntith him no princely authoritie for then he would not haue warned him to keepe him selfe pure from allowynge any suche Election but haue commanded him off his meer authoritie to haue hindered and stayed yt and to haue made the choise of the rest off no effect by his negatiue voice but contrariwise that he was off so equall authoritie with the rest off the Elders that iff they had chosen one vnfyt in some respect yet he could not off his owne meere authoritie haue put hym back nor done any more in this matter theÌ„ any off the rest And that he could only take heede vnto him selfe that he allowed not any vnripe or vnworthie IudgmeÌ„tes off other officers Therfore ther is no cause which they should make Tymothie the Author off this ambition and tyranny Now let vs examin also the example off Titus whom they do trewly affirme to haue beene commanded to appoint Elders in euery citie but I suppose no man will thinck that Paule graunted more to Titus then eyther he and Barnabas or then all the rest off the Apostles tooke vnto them selues neyther iff he had graunted is it like that Titus being a yonge man and his scholler and as it wer his sonne would haue vsed it For as the Iewes say in a coÌ„mon prouerbe it is enoughe for the seruaÌ„t to be like his maister which sayinge allso Christ him selfe alloweth when he said that the disciple is not aboue his maister And that it owght to be enowghe for the scholer iff he be suche as his maister is But I haue shewed allredy what both Paule and all the rest off the Apostles did Neither is it â—ike that Titus did otherwise ordeine Elders in euery towne then Paule did in euery churche especially seing Paule doth expressly warne him to appoint them as he had commaÌ„ded