remaine Then we should not haue had at this day so great coÌ„tencion for ther filthy garmentes But it hathe come to passe by the ignoraunce off the priestes when they wer nor able to Iudge according to the lawe what wer cleane and what were vncleane and thought that the leprosy had not spred it selffe vppon the garmentes that they haue not condemned them to be burned but to be washed only the filthe wheroff no art or conninge off the fuller is able to washe away But this in the way off digression yet I trust not vnprofitablie Now let vs retourne to our purpose and conclude that for suche causes as haue bene alledged we ought to obey the Apostles decree touching thes Novices and grene kinghtes and not admit them to ministerie off the word And thes are thos thinges which are required off a fit Bishopp and which especially the posers and examiners ought to haue respect vnto For wheras the old CanoÌ„s require that he be off a certen age surely the choosers ought wisely to consider off it for it is not allmost possible but by the singuler and especiall grace off off god that youthe should be so well ordered and gouerned that the want off yeeres appere not in some youthfull trick or â—oy that may dishonest the sacred office notwithstandinge seing the Apostle geueth no precept nor commandement touchinge age yea rather forbiddethe any man to condemne and despise Tymothi and Titus for ther youthe godly and lerned yonge men are not to be kept back from this office For somtymes thes first fruites are consecrated to god and then comonly they are more holie then the rest off the lompe And as the Poeth saithe Some tymes on yong mens heades doth grow the hoary heare Before by nature yt be tyme for them such crowne to weare That is to sey They haue hoarie heares off godlines and holines yea and somtimes also hoary knewledge as it appereth in certen notable examples off Daniel Thimothy and Titus and some other which are worthie examples for yonge men to follow often times also they are more inflamed and set on fire with that heauenly fire off the zeale off god then other And I know not howe but thes first fruties off the spirit are oftentimes more holie and thes first begotten guiftes off the holie ghost are more stronge and mightie And thus muche off the particuler election off bishoppes and ministers Now let vs beginne a newe and speake of ther ordinatioÌ„ I said before that all the offices of the churche are to be ordeined and apointed to certen places and persons wher and amoÌ„ges whom ther may exercise ther office But the orderinge off bishopes hathe this thiÌ„g particuler in our times for wheras in times past this was coÌ„mon to them with the rest off the ancieÌ„tes that was for a singuler respect aÌ„d especiall occasioÌ„ off that time that off ther apointinge and ordinacion to a certen place and flock which they ought diligently to defend and loke vnto certen profit and coÌ„modities do depend wherof they may liue and wherby they may be susteined and norished wheroff I shall need to speake more at large that all men may vnderstaÌ„d that they are bound by the coÌ„mandement off god to performe this dewty to ther bishoppes and ministers and that I may represse the couetones of some meÌ„ which haue neuer enoughe And first off all we must remeÌ„bre here that which was proued before that bishops that is so say ministers ought to geue theÌ„ selues continuallie to praier and to the administracion off the word and not suffer them selues to be called from doing that ther dewty by any office be it neuer so honorable either in the church or in the coÌ„mon wealthe For thes idle bellies that wildo none of ther dewty ought also to haue no dewty done to theÌ„ againe but they are rather to be delt with as Paule coÌ„mandeth the Thessalonians to deale with thos that liue disorderly that is say that They that labor not shold not eate But and if they be suche as do ther dewtie and refuse to deale with the affaires off the coÌ„mon welche the handlung wher off might be honorable vnto theÌ„ for the churches cause how great wrong wer it to suffer suche men to be pore an needie and compelled â—o seeke ther liuinge by some haÌ„die crafft or occupatioÌ„ wherby they should be no lesse hindred froÌ„ doing ther duties then by the honorable charges of the coÌ„mon welthe And seiÌ„ge they ar day aÌ„d night carefull for the churche and setting all other thinges a side wholie thinck how they may defend it and promote the saluacioÌ„ theroff what can be more iust or equall then that they againe should not be neglected off those for whose cause they take so great paynes For who did euer as S. Paule notably handlethe this matter to the CorinthiaÌ„s goe to warfare of his owne charges who plaÌ„tethe a vineiard and eatethe not of the fruit therof or who feedeth a flocke and eatethe non off the milck off it But the churche hathe many mortall enemyes and continuall warre with them without any peace or truce and the bishops be they that take vpon them and susteine thes enmyties for the churches cause and striue to ther very great daunger for the saluacion theroff with most mighty princes and potentares as S. Paule callethe them and the monarche and prince off this world For how often thinck we euen for this cause are they assaulted because ther defend the churche how many dauÌ„gers do they put them selues into and with what fiercnes thinck we dothe the enemies pursue theÌ„ knowing that many ar preserued by there life Therfore they that wold suffer this ther souldier or captaine to die for hunger were they not worthie to fall into the handes off ther enemies And what vineiard is ther so painfully trimmed and dressed off the husband man as the churches are dressed of there husbaÌ„d meÌ„ how carefull are they in plantinge what paines take they in pruninge and culting oft aÌ„d other suche like toile and labor if theÌ„ being so well dressed it should not norishe the husbaÌ„d maÌ„ that dressed it might they not worthelie coÌ„plaine off it as the lord by the prophet Esay after an other sorte complainethe off his vine Seinge also ther is nothinge more reasonable then that the shepherd should feede off the milke of his flock should not those shepeherdes be fedde which the milke and clothed with the flece aÌ„d wolle of there flockes who susteine for the flockes cause the assaultes of most greeuous wolues and watch fortheÌ„ day and night suffring the parching heate and chillinge cold for ther cause who feede theÌ„ ouersee theÌ„ and seeke theÌ„ and often tymes put ther life in extreame danger to defend them Nether are these thinges spoken and grounded only vpon humaine and naturall reason or handled according to mans Iudgment only but this is Goddes ordinaunce and appointment and groundeth
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
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
grene wood which haue not yet swett out ther moysture nor are seasoned by the weather so that it is to be feared lest that they might be occasion by ther shrincking off the ruin and falling off the buildinge Therfore they prouide yll both for the churche and also for the parties them selues to whom being suche they geue this office that receyue into the ministerie such as scarcely are crept out off superstition and Idolatry and make them captaines and guydes in the campe off the lord off hostes that are scarcely to be receiued for sould yers and prefere to the highest dignities off the Christian common wealthe thos with are scarcely made free from the intollerable seruitude and bondage off Popery Wherupon it commeth often tymes which Dionysius Halicarnaffeus witnesseth to haue happened to the Romain common wealthe that we see vncleane cappes in the highest places And many as Socrates in Plato complainethe off Athens take in hand the gouernment off the church who haue yet ther seruantes heare growinge still in ther mindes that is to say whos seruile and slauishe condicions do still remaine And suerly we aboue others haue more cause to complaine off so shamefull an abuse who perceiue at the last to our great cost how great a matter it is to haue neglected this holie wisdome off the Apostle For iff any thing ells surely this hathe bene a great hinderance to the establishing off discipline in our church That thes new vpstartes in religioÌ„ being peeferred to the ministerie and to the highest places wer lothe to be brought from that kind off life wherunto they had bene off longe tyme accustomed Being acquainted with a profitable and gainfull priesthoode they abhorred the meane estate off the ministerie being delighted with the pompous shew off the ambitious Hierarchie and prelacy off the Romishe church they cold not away with the seueritie and rigor off the reformed Religion And hauinge vsed many yeeres so many ceremonies and trifles aÌ„d all that stagelike shewe off the Papacy which seemed to theÌ„ to cary a goodly glosse off maiesty and honor they despised the simplicitie off the gospell How much better therforr were it and fitter for the edification off the church iff thes beames had bene suffered to haue swett out ther iewse and moysture and had not beene occupied so greene in the buildinge off the house off god wherby they threaten some feare off fall and ruyne we leaue not so easylie our acquaynted kind off life especially iff it be ioyned with idolatry and superstition which is borne togither with vs and which we suf with our nurses milke The remeÌ„braunce and longing for off our old kind off life commeth often to our myndes so that it is needfull to vse great labor and diligence to the chaunginge off the wholl state off off our life Therfore the Lord commanded in the law that iff any man had saued the life off a woman off any off the idolatrous nacions being taken prisoner in the warre and had a mind to marry her being conuerted to the faithe that he should graunt hir first a certen tyme to bewaile hir country hir parentes and hir frindes and see that she should shaue hir hedd and pare hir nayles and put off the garment that she was taken and finallie that he should first suffer her in a manner to be buried touching her former life and to be raised vp againe into a new life and profession and as it were to be new borne againe off other parentes and in a new country before he ioyned him selffe with her or toke hir to be his wife how muche more ought they that are to be made maisters and teachers off a new religion especially hauing bene priestes and teachers of idolatrie before to haue beene suffered first to haue bewailed ther olde liuinges ease profit and coÌ„modities For how often thinck wee do they remembre the coÌ„modities off ther former life And how often ther old ease pompe and estimacion with no lesse longing for then iff it were for ther country and for ther pareÌ„tes And as for ther heare it is rather to be let grow then to be shauen for this they were accustomed to But the garment they were taken in should haue been chaunged and ther raueninge nailes pared wherby they were wont to take and scrape on euery side vnto them selues finaly we should haue let theÌ„ first in a maÌ„ner to haue died that after as it wer by a newe birth they might haue beeÌ„ borne againe off newe pareÌ„tes and in an other contry For if he hathe bene at any time not only an idolater but also master aÌ„d a teacher off it muche more hede is to be taken in this case and so much the more carefully and painfullie must he be clensed and purged how muche more fowly he defâ—led him selffe with all kind off filthe and vnclennes for so the law off god doth comaund washing and clensinge to be vsed accordinge to the kinde off the pollution and vncleanes For he is more easelie purified and clensed that had only touched the vessell or garment off an vncleane person then he that was infected with leprosy for the leprous man eueÌ„ after the disease was healed yet was he not suffred to enter inâ—o his tent for seuen daies And after when it appered manifestly that he was recouered yet was he shauen washed and purified But what more fowle and shamefull leprosy can ther be then that popis he priesthood So that in this case we ought to vse no lesse labor in clensinge and purging then in the other yea so muche more by how much the leprosy off the mind is greater then the leprosy off the bodie Therfore this leprous priest allthoughe he were cured and healed yet is he to be seperated from other men and to be shutt vp for a tyme both for the shame off so filthy a disease and for feare it breake not out againe to the daunger off others Afâ—er iff it appere in deede that he is recouered he must put off his clothes and be washed shauen and purged by sacrifice Off which so diligent purginge and clensinge the papistes theÌ„ selues put vs in mind wheras they to honor ther priesthoode when they disgrade any off ther priestes make him put off his cope or vestiment his surples or albe his square cupp and his other garmentes that were polluted with leprousy they pare his nailys and rase his crowne lest peraduenture ther should some infection yet secretly lie hid in thos places wher his disease first appered This ther diligence and labor we ought to haue followed in the conuicted Popishe priesthoode and haue taken all the garmentes from yt and not only washed them seing the leprousy had spread it selffe euen vpon them but as the law prescribethe to haue burnt them The nayles theroff should haue beene pared and which thing only we did as we ought the crowne rased least that any moisture or fatnes off that oile might
it had bene needefull to haue bene vsed ther is no doubt but that Christ would haue warned his Apostles off yt especially seing that these thinges were before so at large set out vnder the lawe For it is not to be thought that Christ was lesse diligent in shewinge how god would be worshipped vnder the Gospell then Moses in shewing the same vnder the lawe Or that Moses being a seruant was more faithfull in the administracion off the Lordes house then Christ the Sonne and heire in his owne fathers howse Therfore to binde the Mynisters to any certen fashion or forme off apparell hath no grownde off any precept off the gospell or commādement out off the word off god They are therfore the inuencions off men and off what men but euen off suche which haue soughte to paint and adorne with these colors the shame off ther wherishe idolatrie ād superstition For as iff they had bene ashamed off the simplicitie off the gospell which they ought rather to haue had in reuerence and in honor They thought good to follow what so euer had any shewe or ostentacion in any Religion and thought it to be vsed to the setting forthe off the gospell Thus they take out off the lawe allmost all ther massing apparell by a folishe and ridiculous imitation that hauing an alter and a priest they might not want apparell for the stage As for the surplice it is notable which is written off hope Siricius who fetcheth the cause and originall off yt from Christ and prouethe that we ought to vse a lin̄en garmēt at deuine seruice be cause Christ was buried in a winding sheete A notable reason surely why we should vse the surplice in our churches but peraduēture they are ignorant off ther owne antiquities and the surplice is to be thought rather to haue bene borowed by them off certen Egyptian monckes who vpon the skinnes which they vsed to weare for there apparell did weare lynnen garmentes from whence also the name off Surplice seemeth to come Such like reasons are to be founde in there wrightinges but to let passe these trifles it is to be lamented that euen amonges vs who professe the Gospell there were some that when the whole papacie was to be consecrated and this Rome to haue been vowed to destruction accordinge to the vowe and curse off the citie off Hiericho who being deceiued with the faire and glitteringe shewe off the Babylonishe garmentes brought them as Acan did into the tentes off Israell For why do they commande a cope and surplice to be vsed in diuine seruice or a Tippet and a Square Cappe to be worne dailie but because they thīk it is of some authority with the people and bringeth some estimacion to ther office and to ther persons ād is thought to be of great force to make a mā seeme to be graue ād off authoritie For thes be the best reasōs which they are wont to bring wherby they would signifie both that thes ij sortes off apparell are not commanded for Religions sake and that the abusing off them heretofore cannot nor ought not to take away the right vse off them which belongeth to comlynes and order to which ende contrary to the Apostles mind they wrest that place off S. Paule That all things are to be done orderly in the church But iff they perteine only to a decency and comlynes what needeth any commandement to be giuen to a minister to vse dailie the tippet and the square cappe and a Priestes gowne and at devine seruice the cope and the surplice seing a minister who is sett ouer the gouernment off the churche and by the Apostles rule ought to be suche a one as not only is able to vse him selffe honestlie in euery thing but also suche as keepeth his familie in order and ought to be an example off all modesty and honest comlines to his flock who suerly iff he be meet for suche an office and worthie to handle the word off god will take heede that he doe not dishonest his worthy office by vile and vnhonest apparell But seing they make no worthie ministers but readers and seruice saiers yt was needfull they should appoint them what cappe they should weare and howe the sleeues and collers off ther gownes should be made and suche like Althoughe they atteine not this decency and comlines which they pretend for often times ther is nothing more filthye and vnhonest then this kinde off apparell And iff any can vse a comely square cappe he can vse also a rounde cap which is as comely and so muche more as it is fitter for his heade thē the square Therfore ther is no cause to prescribe this apparell to be dailie worne for decencie and order But they say the Ministers must be distinguished from other men and that they may be knowne off ther parishiners and church This is euen as great a reason as the other For iff they did set suche a shepheard ouer the sheepfolde off god who were able as well with his voice as the sheppherd with his hooke and staffe to rule his sheepe who were able also to heale the sicke and diseased and to bringe home againe suche as wander and straie out off the waie finallie iff they set a right sheppherd ouer the flocke the sheepe would knowe him by his voice and would not need to haue any marke by his apparell to knowe him Therfore allthoughe this reason might be off some force for hirelinges yet it cannot be of any force for meete and worthie ministers And wheras they alledge also Order and decencye for there surplice I would knowe whie yt should seeme more comelie and decent for a Minister that be should preache or praie in a surpl ce then in a gowne .. In white raiment then in black apparell For as for the coloure me thinketh black to be more comely for him and for the fashion me thinketh a long garment reaching downe to the foote sholde be more honest and seemelie Further more do they not see that Simplicitie liked our sauior Christ that the Gospell is in a maner shadowed and couered by these vayles and figures that by this meanes the waie is made open to bringe in many other moo ceremonies for as good respectes as these be do they not also think that we perceiue that nothing ells is sought by this which they call comelines and order but only a conformitie with Papistes and a superstitious decency as also in vsing the signe off the crosse in baptisme the rounde cake in the Lordes supper and many other suche ceremonies and not that seemely order which the Apostle commandeth For iff the simplicitie and nakednes off the gospell misliked them why did they especially clothe it with popishe apparell seing we ought to be so muche the furder off and to abhorre ther doinges by how muche we are in greater daunger off them then off other heretiques because they liue amonges vs For which cause also
not that that vncleanes wherwith they were polluted by doinge ther necessary dewry to ther frendes and neigbours in burying off them shold be so great that they therfore should be forbidden to eate off the Passeouer with the rest off the church But Moses askinge counsell off god what was to be done in this case Aunswer was made that they shold not eate the passeouer with the rest off ther brethren and a lawe made for euer after touchinge that matter That those kinde off vncleane persons shold not eate the passeouer with the rest of Israell in the first monethe but sholde tarie to eate yt in the second moneth Out off which places we haue many thinges to gather which belonge to the discipline off the churche And first off that which is in the xij off Exodus That no vncircumcised person shold be admitted to eate the passeouer no allthoughe they were Iewes and by nature borne heires off the couenaunt and off the promises but that open profession off trew Religion was necessarilie required as well off Iewe as off straunger before they were admitted to eate off the passeouer Off this I saie we learne that now no maÌ„ ought to be admitted to the Lordes table and to the holie communioÌ„ but he that is knowen by his open profession to be off trewe Religion for Asmuche as the body excelleth the shadowe and the Trewth the figure So muche more carefully ought we to take heed that the Sacramentes wherin we haue the truthe and the body it selffe be not communicated with vncircumcised and vncleane persons So that diligent Inquisicion is to be had off euery man what saythe he holdeth and how he serueth God lest we communicate them with any who professe not the same trewe Religion off Christ Which was so well taken heed vnto in the primitiue churche that Eusebius reportethe in his Ecclesiasticall history that a Romaine Emperour named Philippe who fâ—rst became Christian off all the Emperours and fyrst submitted the romaine Empire vnto Christ desyringe to coÌ„municate with the rest off the churche was not admitted therunto by the Bishop off that churche for that he was yet suspected for diuers causes before that he had openly made profession off trewe Religion And in those our daies in these churches which haue receyued the Doctrine off the Gospell and trewe discipline together as in olde tyme no man was suffered to eate off the Passeouer beinge either a straunger or a hyred seruant onlesse he had his part in the lambe So likewise in the holie Communion off the Lordes supper Christ the trewe paschall lambe is communicated onely to suche as farre as men can iudge by there outward profession vnto whome Christ hym selffe belongethe Now theÌ„ seing we haue a lawe touching this matter off no lesse waight then theyrs why do we suffer yt to Remayne in the book off the gospell as in a scabbard and suffer the edge off yt to wax dull now fyften yeeres together why do we communicate the holie Sacramentes with the Papistes and require not before they be admitted a syncere open and franck Confession off trewe Religion The holie Mysteries off God are prophaned The Gentles enter into the Temple off God The holie thinges are indifferently communicated with cleane and vncleane cyrcuncised and vncyrcuncised and yet we sâ—t no porters at the churche dores nor shut vpp the vncleane and polluted together by them selues Therfore Let this so necessary a part off Eclesiasticall discipline be established Let an open profession off trewe ReligioÌ„ be exacted of those who are admitted to the vse off holie thinges aÌ„d Let no longer the heauenly mysteries off God be prophaned by communycating them with the Papistes The next thing which is to be noted out off these places which I haue alledged belongeth vnto those who are in deede heires off the promises and as Saint Peter speaketh in the Actes Sonnes off the Testament and couenant made withe the Fathers but yet for some fault made are for a tyme excluded from the vse off holie thinges And hitherto belongeth that example which I alledged out off the ix off Nombres off those who were put ouer vnto the second monethe before they might eate the Passeouer Touching which kind off punishment all thoughe ther be nothing expressely mencioned and commanded in the gospell yet seing it is commanded in the fift off Matthew that he at whome a brother is offended bringing an offring to the aulter of the lord should leaue his offring there and goo first aÌ„d be recoÌ„câ—led to his brother how muche more ought this to be done wher the Anger hath bene so hote that it hath broken out into reprochefull and contumelious wordes and suche as our Sauiour manifestly declareth to be suche as the Counsell off the churche hath to deale with that is to saie That they be commanded to abstaine from the aulter off the lord vntill they be reconciled with there brother who is offended For otherwise If without reconciliacion they offer ther gift the offringe is prophaned and they that doe such thinges are giltye off great offence and for a small fauit that was made before haue nowe coÌ„mitted a great aÌ„d a hainous trespasse For so the lawe threateneth to that vncleane person that durst touche the holie fleshe aÌ„d eate of the sacrifices that he should surely pay for it aÌ„d that no other sacrifice sholde serue to take away his sinÌ„e but eueÌ„ his owne blud As also our Sauiour Christ threatneth in the gospell that they which reconcile not them selues shall surely paie for it euen to the vttermost farthing And S Paule saithe that they that drincke and eate the Lordes body vnworthely eate and drinck there owne damnation Seing theÌ„ it is so aÌ„d that the lord is so greuously displeased with the neglectinge off these dewties and prophanation off his holie misteries Seing also that those men theÌ„ selues who do thus boldly prophane them doe make them selues gilty by this meanes of more greuous iudgement and condenmnatioÌ„ this part off discipline also being no lesse necessary then the other which we want nowe to loÌ„ge time is to be restored againe and the keepinge off it to be as muche esteemed as we esteme aÌ„d set by the heauy iudgemeÌ„ts of god and his wrathe punishinge and reueÌ„ginge the prophanatioÌ„ of his holie misteries For let no man here obiect vnto me the Bishops Consistory and the Officiall and CoÌ„missarie geuinge charge from the Bishop to be recoÌ„cyled aÌ„d punishinge by the purse suche as do offend as if we wanted not those thinges that I saie we waÌ„t for all those are but toyes and trifles which seing it hath abolished the lawfull manÌ„er of taking awaie off offences apointed by our Sauiour Christ to be kept in his churche what hope can we looke for to haue any holesome remedie by these meanes off so daungerous diseases Therfore Let ther be a lawfull Counsell establyshed in the churche and Let them vse that authoritie
interpreters wheroff ar so defyled why do some complaine that both other myschifes ar spronge of this reformacion which we require and especially this that the Papistes being offended with our contencion are further estraunged from embracinge the gospell For what is it that may more further ther saluacion then iffthes offences be taken away wherat they stumble and ar hindered Off which so shamefull disorder as ther be many causes so I allwayes esteemed that the greatest and most waightie That we leauinge this exact maner off tryenge and examininge which the Lorde hath commanded vs to obserue and followe in this behalfe keepe only I cannot tell what shadow and image off yt which we receyued from the Papistes The receiuinge off which one error to followe the fancies off men in steade off the certen lawes off god hath brought in as vsually yt doth infinite other wherby it cōmeth to passe that the most worthy order and degree is most vnworthely prophaned that the church like the popishe sanctuaries is full off vile and vicious persons off all sortes and the gospell euill spoken off by the enemies For wheras certen men haue authoritie that euery one off them twise a yeere may giue orders to whom and to how many they list and that so great a multitude off suters come to them at the tyme off geuing off orders howe is yt possible that one man in a day or two should be able to proue and to examyn so many sewters beinge all for the most part vnknowne to him how can he take any assay or make any triall either off Iudgment in religion or off ther honestie in conuersacion For to subscribe is a small matter with them that thinck it the point off a wise man to dissemble that dispence with them selues to do any thing that they may distroy the church therby and whom Euripides hath perswaded to sweare with the tonge and to keepe the mynd vnsworne Neither is that excuse that is brought for those off vnhonest life any thinge more sufficient which is wont to be made by the testimonialles which commonly the suters beinge vnto them seinge the Apostle expressly warnethe Timothe that he be not brought by other mens Iudgmentes to lay handes to sone vppon any man But iff other do it rashly yet he should keep him selfe free and vnspotted from any such fault Althoughe euery man knoweth what waight thes testimonialles ar off seinge some off fauor commend ther kinsfolkes and Allies vnto the Bishopp by ther lettres or others whom they would gratifie by ther authoritie other some euen for couetousnes and hopinge to deuide the pray with them that by ther meanes obteyne the benefice For the couetousnes off some Patrons is to to well knowne who for ther owne gaine sake wil couenant with him with whome they may for leaste and sometyme iff they haue any seruant in the house that can read because the matter may be more easylie gon throwgh with such a one who would be very willinge to geue the greater parte off his benefice iff he obteine yt by his maisters commendacion and authority to chaunge his vile and base estate with some more honest and liberal condicion they writee for him to the Bishop who hauinge this testimoniall either for negligence or often tymes to curry fauor with suche men doth easylie adimit hym Therfore ther must be a triall off ecclesiasticall officers that all dishonesty may be taken away from that most worthy order and degree that ought to be a patterne and example to all other which beinge done order would be takē that here after before Electiōs ther be a dew ād iust proofe and triall had of thos that are to be chosen that we may exactly keep and follow the Lordes Canons ād decrees in this behalfe in keepinge wherof other churches at this day florishe and haue done now a long tyme And thus muche off Election now let vs come to ordinacion Ordinacion is a settinge a part off the partie chosen vnto his office and as it were a kind of inuesting him into it For after the election a certen order and ceremonie is wont to be vsed wherby the parties chosen enter as it wer anto the possession off ther office Now this ordination as we call it consisteth especially in two ceremonies Namely in praier wherunto also I referre the declaringe off his dewty and laying on off handes For the gospell is content to haue the ministers theroff inuested and ordeined by thes most simple ceremonies nor hath any need off that carefull and curious consecracion off the lawe with which the priestes and Leuites were consecrated And as for praiers S. Luke telleth that when Paule and Barnabas were commanded by the holie ghost to be separated for the worck off God the breethren praied for thē before they were sent out to go on ther message Lickwise also the Apostles praied for the deacōs which the people had chosen that the lord would blesse this newe chamberlainshippe as it were to his honor and the profit of his churche that he would ēdew the parties chosē with worthy gyftes and able thē for the worthy execution of ther office For ther is no doute but the Apostles applied ther praiers to the tyme ād state of the churche ād that as before in the election of Matthias so now also in the admissiō and allowance off the Deacons they praied as the present occasion off the busines did require which was then to be done The other ceremony is the layinge on off handes in praier time vpon the heade off the chosen for so it seemeth that it was wont to be vsed as a thinge belonginge vnto praier that bringing in the chosen before God and as it were presentinge thē vnto him the praiers off the church might be kindled ād be the more zealous ād vehemēt and that it was wōt to be vsed to this end yt apearethe bothe by other places wher menciō is made therof in the scriptures ād also in the 19. off Mathew whē he tellethe that children were brought to Christ that he might lay his handes on thē and pray for them as also in that place of the actes which I named before wherin it is repeated that the Apostles praied laying on ther handes vpō the Deacōs which were chosē by the church But this is a generall ēd Ther be other proper ād peculier vses of it wheroff the first perteineth to the partie chosē the secōd to all the church The partie chosē was warned by this ceremony that he was seperated ād set apart to the worck off god as appereth in the 13. off the act and that he was taken out off the rest of the people to the doinge off that office as it were by the hand off god him selfe wherby he might vnderstād that it was no longer in his owne power to do what he list but that god had called him to his worke off whome he should haue a plētiful reward if he did
it yeldeth the best fruite and as it were a golden haruest when it is diligently carefully and painfully labored and tilled when ther is a greate and a carefull heede taken off the seedes when the churches are looked vnto with as great diligence as the campe and armie is watched in the feeldes And finally wheÌ„ they are labored by honest men For neither doeth the grownde respect the lawrell garlonde vpoÌ„ the ploughe share nor whither the plowe man weareth riche and costly embroidred garmentes but would haue him painfull laborsome diligent and full off trauell neither dothe the church looke for this outward pompe and shewe in her bishopp but for faithe diligence labor good and precious seedes honest busy and painfull handes and had a great deale rather haue hir husband man godl y lerned and diligent then mitred and Rocheted Whervpon it cometh to passe that when the feelde off Rome was plowed and tilled by Seranus and Cincinnatus and suche like worthie men and the church by Paul and Peter and suche like The encrease was very plentyfull but now as farre as we are gone from there example and paines takinge so much are our churches behinde and inferior to the feeldes off Ephesus and Antioche Therfore it is the deuty off all godlie bishoppes who desire to serue the churche and to be well esteemed in it rather for ther godlines and learninge then for this pompe and shewe seing they haue allready declared that the gospell is dearer vnto them then all the commodities off this life that iff they will discharge ther dewty they wold better fynishe and make perfect that which they haue allreadie well begonn and euen willinglie for the rest off the gospell which yet we want touching discipline once againe leaue and forsake that pompous state and dignitie and be more carefull for the glory off god the saluacion off the churche and keepinge a god conscience vnto them selues then for keepinge or mainteininge this false shewe off honor and glory and the vaine names off titles and dignities and retourne againe to the worcke off the ministerie and not as in a sence somewhat diuerse froÌ„ this the Apostle warnethe the Galathians finishe in the fleshe which they haue begonne in the spirit I knowe in deede how hard it is to perswade them which haue once tasted off this sweet inchaunting cuppe but seing bothe the commandement iff god ther owne callinge and vocacion and the proffit and commoditie off the churche doth require yt It becommeth them for the godlines they are off and for the life they haue spent in the professinge off the Gospell to leaue all for CHRIST and the Gospelles cause and to follow him wither he calleth and leadeth them and as they in a maner first taught and preached vnto vs the doctrine off the Gospell So they would be the first Authors to bring in the Discipline off the Gospell and vse ther estimacion credite and authoritie not to the ouerthrowing off the trewth off God but to the establishing and preseruing off the same But yff there be any for I cannot but hope well off many especially off thos who haue seene other reformed churches but I saie iff ther be any who either for couetousnes for ambicion or because they thinck this lordly state tollerable in Bishoppes will by no meanes be perswaded to rest and quiet them selues in that meane estate which becommethe the men off God they are to be compelled euen against ther willes and to be forced to retourne againe to the first and right institution off Bishoppes And surely iff we serche the fountaine and originall off thes great riches we shall find that they neither in the beginning Gott this wealth by any right nor yet keepe yt to this day not only because they do no duty off a Bishopp or Mynister But also because they wrongfully vsurpe that which belongeth vnto other For a great part off ther Goodes is that which in the beginninge was geuen for the reliefe off the poore which was committed as an almes vnto the Bishopp which as yt apperethe by the old cannons he should distribute by his advise and the consent off the company off the Elders But after when they had abolished the power and authoritie off the Elders and ruled all thinges alone accordinge to ther owne conscience They made them selues those pore men and tooke almes to ther owne vse and so grew riche and welthie by the want and necessitie off others An other part which they haue belongeth to the mynisters off other churches which was vnited to the Bishopprickes by Impropriations besides proxies and other tolles and fees which they take off the ministers Therfore what right haue they to vsurpe that as there owne which was geuen in tymes past for the maynteyninge off ministers in other churches Therfore when they haue restored to the pore and to other ministers that which is ther owne iff yet they haue more then is meete for a Bishop let them bestow it off other ther pore fellowe ministers who in many other places want necessaries by reason off the pouerty off the churches which they serue that at the last being content which an honest and reasonable liuinge they may retourne againe to thâ—r originall and first beginninge Thes wordes off diminishinge the pompe and welthe off Bishoppes as it displeasethe some who thinck that some credite and authoritie is gotten to the gospell therby So it pleaseth verie well thos that think this will be profitable for them and do allreadie gape for this praie and hope for this grea inheritaunce For thei thinking that we seeke only that the bishoppes might be put downe waite for the like praie by ther puttinge downe as they had sometimes at the ouerthowe off â—he abbais For as for Religion they care nor what become off it so they may waxe welthie by sacriledge and robbery And would not stick iff it were possible to crucifie Christ againe that they might cast lottes for his coate and deuide his garmeÌ„tes amonges theÌ„ For this our age hathe many suche souldiours many suche as Denis the king or rather the tyranne off Syra cusa was who think that a golden growne is not fit for God neither in sommer neither in winter and yet that it will serue them well at all tymes and seasons But iff they marck diligently what I saie they shall well perceiue that I fauor not in any respect there couetousnes and greedie desyre For I speake not heere off spoilinge the Bishoppes or robbing the goodes off the church and geuinge them away to most vnworthie men but rather that the neede off a great nombre may be relieued by the aboundance and excesse off a fewe that hospitalles may be mainteined and prouided for and which is the chiefe that the ministery may be established aÌ„d mainteined thorowe ought the realme so that by thes wordes they haue no occasion to hope or looke for any thing but rather to feare they loose not that
Paule making oure whole life to answer to those 7. dayes off the Passeouer and Christ to be our Paschall Lambe the house to be the Assembly and Companye off Communicantes as also some off the Hebrew interpretors expound yt Sweate bread to be synceritie and trew the and Leauen to be maliciousnes and wikednes seemeth he not I say to ground and gather herevppon that that same Corinthian who in the tyme off the feast off our trewe Passeouer had that leauen found in his house that is to saye had so greuously synned after the profession off Christian Religion was to be cast out off the church And hauinge chaunged a litle the manner off Speakyng he addeth in the same place that this olde leauen was to be purged out from the church off God which he calleth a newe Lumpe and Sweete or vnleauened bread Herebye therfore as I think yt is plainly proued bothe that the vse offexcommunication hathe bene at all tymes necessarie in the churche and also that is was fyrst translated vnto vs from he Iewes by Lord hym selffe And that yt was afterwardes vsed by the Apostles and synce the Apostles tyme euen vnto this age in the churche off God Allthoughe myserablye depraued and corrupted in this later age wheruppon I conclude that it ought to be vsed in Christian churches when tyme and occasion doth serue Furder it hathe bene declared hereby what excommunication is and what the force and nature off it is namely that yt cutteth off from the church that is to saie that company which professeth the trewe seruice off god the party against whom suche a sentence is geuen and depriueth hym from the blessed hope â—ff the children off God and waiting for the promises togither with the signes and seales theroff which both promises Sacraments are geuen to the churche alone So that by this as it was in that most greuous sentence and condemnacion off the Romaines spoken off before all the rightes priuiledges and freedomes off a citezin off the cyty off God are cleane lost and taken away and so muche the more greuous is this sentence to be esteemed that wheras he that had lost his fredom in Rome might haue bene denyzed into some other free towne or place but he that loseth the freedome off this cytie can not be receiued as Denison into any other free state or common welthe but being cast oute off the kingdome off god is delyuered to the kingdome off darcknes and to extreame bondage seing ther is no meane but that he who is not off the one kingdome must be off the other as doth appeere in the example to the Colossians Therfore our Sauiour Christ declareth that by this senteÌ„ce a man is pronounced to be an ethnick and a publycaÌ„ which being spoken in respect off the Iewes is as asmuche as one should say nowe in respect off the Christians a Panym a Saracene or a Turcke And Saint Paule declareth it to be a delyuering to Sathan wherupon also we are commaÌ„ded in the Epistle to the Thessalonians that we haue not to doe with theÌ„ who are suche which Sentence the more greuous yt is and how much more terrible this sword is then that the Angell shaked before Adam to feare hym with all So muche the more care and heede is to be taken here against whom we pronounce suche a sentence against whom we draw out so sharpe â—n edged sword lest that iff it be against and Innocent or one that is not giltie off some haynous offence and vnrepentant we make our selues by prophaninge the most holie and sacred Iustice off god gyltie off his heauy iudgement and displeasure Therfore this sword is to be handled and ruled by the word and commandement off the highe Iudge and to be drauen out onlie against them against whom he shall commaund it to be drauen neither is so sharpe a kinde off surgerie to be vsed to the curing off the rest off the body except yt euidently appere that some member be cleane rotten and putrified Wherin lest we should offend by any error certen expresse rules are geuen vs which do fully sett out all the ordre whereby we ought to proceede in this case For our Sauiour Christ declareth generallie that euery one who shal be disobedient vnto the churche exhorting him to acknowledge and bewaile his offences shold be holden as an ethnick and a publican And Saint Paule more particulerly declarethe an heretick is be excommunicated A schismatike a Blasphemer an Idolater or he that offendethe so greuously in maÌ„ners that he is an incestuous person or a fornicator or giltie off any of thos crymes which are rehersed in the first Epistle to the Corinthes the v. chap. and the xj verse and to the Thessalonie in the ij Epistle the iij. chap. and ij verse For allthoughe as our Sauiour Christ most wisely and worthelie handleth this matter in the xviij off Math. yt be better that one member be cut off then that all the bodie do perishe yet wher the case is concerninge the cutting off off some part off our bodie or off pulling out the eie we ought to considre first diligently yff there be any hope to recouer yt againe yff there be any medicine that may do yt good yff the publique fast off the churche as a certene spirituall diet off the whole bodie may remedy it fynally wither yt be alltogether putrified and rotten so that the part must needes be plucked awaie or cut of that the rest of the the bodie may be preserued before we suffer yt to be pulled out or cut off from the bodie Yea futhermore allthoughe it plainly appeerethe to be putrified and that the sore be alltogether desperate and past hope of remedie yet notwithstandinge we ought not to mayme the bodye or put out the eye althoughe that part and membre be become vnproffitable nay althoughe yt be hurtfull and and noysome to the rest without great griefe and sorowe off the whole bodye nor without sence and feelinge and naturall compassion off so great a myserie In which behalffe as the Papistes were wont most greuously to offend when as for euery light cause and euen for not payinge the Officiall or some Officer off his court some shillinge or two or other dewties men that were otherwise very honest and godlie had bothe other sentences and euen this most greuous emonges all geuen against them So that to this daye this notable corruption off this deuyne Iustice is not corrected nor amended But euen as yt was wont to be in tyme off darknes matters off lest waight and importance are punyshed with those greuous and fearefull sentences But seing that the Edge both off the other sentences and also off this which is most greeuous is the commanndement off god aÌ„d that not only one off the Bishopps officers but all men alyue are not able to cut off from the churche whom Christ from heauen doth quicken which his spirit as a membre off his bodie
continency frugalitie and all moderacion off life but only that I would haue them receiued as the embassadores off Christ for the honor off ther master honestly aÌ„d liberally that we put not theÌ„ downe to the meany to eate with the shepherdes and hired seruantes nor forget those that labor in the Lordes worck as Moses gaue the Iewes warniÌ„ge towchinge the Leuites seing we sit all of vs by the blessinge of the Lord quietly and in peace euerie man vnder his Oliue tree and vnder his vine aÌ„d gather in our hauest and our vintage seinge I say we enioy thes coÌ„modities we ought not to deale couetously sparingly and niggardly with them but louingly liberally and bountifully that they may liue honestly and coÌ„modiously off ther labors that they may norishe and mainteine ther house and familie that they may prouide them selues suche necessary helps as they stand in need off for ther vocation and callinge yea and furder that they may be able to releiue and succor the pore and â—eedy for this is the right waie to preserue the ministerie that bothe it become not vile and conteÌ„ptible thorowghe poueâ—â—y and misery neither that it wax wanton an prophane by great excesse and abundance For as it is a shame for the churches to see ther minister in miserie thoroughe neede aÌ„d necessitie so it is to be feared leste they wax wantoÌ„ by to great pleÌ„ty aÌ„d riches For surely it was a right heauenly voyce and spoken as an Oracle off the maner off gouerninge the church which the story of the primitiue church reherseth was hard from heauen in the time off Constantine the great that godly Emperor that is to say that the churche was poisoned with riches For so it came to passe that they fell froÌ„ labor to idlenes from teÌ„perancie to excesse and wantonnes from the meane estate off bishopes and ministers to affect and desire to imitate aÌ„d follow the magnificence and maiesty off lordes and princes hereof come the ther siluer aÌ„d gilted Crosiers wherby they imitated the sceptres off kinges heroff they got them myters as kinges haue ther crownes hereoff also because the noble men kept great traines of seruaÌ„ts that they might be the beter able to serue the comon wealthe in tyme off need they wold also haue ther traines and began to be delighted and to take pleasure in an vnprofitable nomber off seruantes and waitinge men to adorne and set out ther cuphordes with siluer vessell and plate off gold to array theÌ„selues in costly apparell for now a dais a man may see them that weare soft apparell not only in kiÌ„ges courtes as our Sauior Christe saide but eueÌ„ in the church to be called honorable lords to sit at the right hand off kinges and princes to send them giftes and presentes to bid theÌ„ to ther bancketes and bothe seeke and mainteine ther honor and estimation by a certen courtly pompe and shewe This condicion I not only wishe not to our Bishoppes but iudge it and esteeme it alltogether intollerable and by no meanes to be suffered as a meanes to hindre there labor and diligence in ther office as a meanes to make them wanton lascyuious and proud and agreathe not with that meane estate that ought to appere in Bishopps but is most contrary bothe to the ordinance and also to the examples off Christ our Sauior and off his Apostles Neither in my Iudgmenâ— may any church be esteemed well enoughe reformed that euen in this behalffe doth not obey to the expresse commandement off god and take away all this vaine pompe and shewe and make the Bishoppes be content with the meane estate off ther place and callinge making them able to bidde the pore to ther table and the banished for Christs sake but not to bidd kinges and princes calling them the seruantes and Ministers off Christ and not honorable lordes beinge carefull that they may be suche as may shine in godlines learninge modesty temperaunce continencie and all example of good life not with gold and siluer with traines and trompes off meÌ„ and lordly port and courtly state off honor Thes are the right ornamentes off Bishoppee wherby they may procure to theÌ„ selues an honest report with credite aÌ„d authority in the church off god to there ministerie wherbie also they mvy preserue and mayntene the same Therfore let vs not take to muche pleasure in the outward beautie and faire shewe off this pompe and glory but let vs see iff ther be any vse and proffit off it desyre rather that which is proffitable for others then that which seruethe only for avaine shewe For as the Poet saithe Seeke not the thing that faire is to eye But rather that the cyty may liue by But the church liueth not by this pompe and shewe nor hathe no neede off it but off godlines lerninge symplicitie and modesty by which thinges Christ would haue his kingdome enlarged And I pray yow how do this moue the mindes off men to goe to the church with a great traine off men before him and after him as the Bishoppe that Eusebius speaketh off in the seuenth boke off his ecclesiasticall historie to goe to the pulpit with officers afore him makinge Roume for my lorde to preache in a Rochet and a faire square cappe leaninge opon a quishion off clothe off gold Thes thinges may delight the eyes for a tyme and the outward senses take pleasure in this vaine shewe but I see not how the miÌ„d is more easilie taught beaten downe or raised vp againe by this meanes For it must be a certen heauenly power ioyned with a pure lerned and simple interpretation off the scriptures which must work thes thinges which are Iewells more meet to shyne in a pulpit than siluer or gold Plinie shewinge the cause off the fruitfulnes off the Roman feeldes in times past more elegantly in deed then truly Then saithe he when the fieldes wer tilled by Emperors it is like that the earthe reioysed to be plowed with a share bearing a lawrell garlond vpon it and to be tilled off such a plow man who had before triumphed More pretilie I say then truly for that it is better for tilliÌ„ge off the earthe that the ploughe share be sharpe then that it be crowned with a laurel garlond and that the ploughe man be diligent rather then suche a one as had entred the citie in greate pompe and triumphe Which also the same Author correctinge him selffe addeth after in the same place sayinge Or ells this might haue beene the cause off the fruitfulnes off the feeldes theÌ„ That thos worthie Captaines and Emperors handled ther seedes as carefully as ther battelles and were as diligent ouer ther fieldes as ouer ther tentes Or ells this That all thinges speede more happilie which are done by them who are honest and vertuous because they be also done more painfully and with greater trauell which surely me thincketh is the very cause off the fruitfulnes off the lordes field And that then
the Lord commanded that greater seueritie should be vsed against them off the land off Canaan then against Idolaters off other nacions and cuntries But they saie further that men should be admonished that they are nowe vsed to an other ende then they were by the Papistes and that the abuse cannot take awaye the right vse off theÌ„ and althoughe the popishe priesthoode be a most greuous leprosie yet the apparell which they vsed iff yt be washed againe may be applied againe to our vse but I say that off all the leprous garmentes they haue chosen the filthiest and most polluted and suche as cannot be washed nor made cleane againe by anie art or conning off the fuller For seing it is manifest that Popishe Priestes receiued ther orders by the puttinge on off a surplice and square cappe and that they vsed the coope euen to the singinge off masse who is he that hathe lerned by the lawe off god to distinguishe and discerne betwene sore and sore betwene holie and vncleane and vnderstandethe not and euen seethe with his eies that the leprosie was spredde vpon thes garmentes and that they are polluted and vncleane not only by the contagion off the leprous man but euen by ther owne disease And therfore by the lawe not to be washed but to be burned nor to be purged with water but to be consumed with fier Seinge then it is so and that this lawe off prescripte apparell off ministers hath no grownde not only off no scripture but also off no sownde Iudgment and reason a merueile it is to see howe earnestly and with great contencion yt hath bene defended and mainteined And it makethe me afraide to remember the bitternes of thos daies the churches bereaued of there ministers and most faithfull Pastors and Doctors driuen from there places the troble that came in the vniuersities for this cause and the most toward youth both for godlines and lerninge driuen out off ther colledges finally the commandementes off god transgressed that the preceptes off men might be established But they haue made me to longe in a matter off small waight who do so earnestly vrge these trifles as iff they were matter off great waight and were grounded off the commandement off God But seinge yt appereth manifestly as I suppose by that which I haue said that yt is farre otherwise Let vs conclud that noe certeine kinde forme or fashion off apparell is to be prescribed to ministers neither to be dailie worne nor yet in seruice tyme and that they are only to be admonished that they shewe them selues sober modest and honest both in ther apparell aÌ„d in all the rest off there life and conuersation which iff some shall neglect to doe and beinge admonished by there breethren doe not amend yt let theÌ„ be corrected by the magistrate And thus muche generallie off Bishopps that is to say off ministers Now it followeth to declare the diuers sortes and kindes of them and to shew what euery one hath proper and peculier to hiÌ„ selffe There be therfore two kindes and sortes off Bishopes the one off Doctors the other off Pastors For these are not to be confounded as iff one and the selfe same office were signified by two names as some haue supposed For seinge the Apostle in the iiij to the Ephesians doth seuerally reherse all the ministers off the church which Christ hathe geuen and appointed to the edifyinge theroff and distinguisheth Apostles from Prophets and Prophetes from Euangelistes I do not see why we shold not think also that Pastors and Doctors as they are distinguished and seuered by name to be so also in office and duty which also appereth more manifestly in the xij to the Romans wher they are distinguished not only by names but also by giftes proper to seuerall offices Therfore these are diuers and sundry offices how neere so euer they seeme to be togither Now to proue that only Doctors and Pastors be Bishopps and that no man ells as it hathe bene saide here to fore may or ought to minister the word off god in the church needeth a longer proofe But seing it cannot be doubted that the Apostle rehearseth in the iiij to the Ephesians all the offices and functioÌ„s which haue any thinge to doo with the worck off the ministery and by which Christ would haue his church builded vp and seing that those offices off Apostles Euangelistes aÌ„d Prophetes are ceased as also they were geueÌ„ only to to serue for a tyme and not for the perpetuall gouerment off the churche It is manifest that ther remaine no other Bishoppes or ministers off the word off god but only Pastors and Doctors But that it may the more clerely be shewed that those other offices serued but for a time let vs more at large consider the nature and condition off euery one off them And first for the Apostles office what it was it apperethe by the word off our Sauior wherby he ordeineth them to the Apostleshipp namely This that they should go preache the Gospell in all the world and baptize those which beleue So that an Apostle was not bound to preache the gospell to any one and certeine prouince nacioÌ„ or country but to the whole world So lickwise Christ before his departure commended not to peter and by him to the rest off the Apostles any certen sheepe off some certeÌ„ grownd or pasture but all his flock For as our Sauior Christ had geuen theÌ„ merueilous giftes off the Spirit So he would haue them beare greater offices He assigned them not a fewe acres to plowe and till or a litle feelde not some small porcion off his vyneiard and inheritaunce to dresse but euen all his feeld his whole vyneiard and inheriâ—aunce Suche off all the disciples off Christ ther were only xij to whome afterwardes were added Paule and as some think Barnabas who as certeyne chiefe capitaines should bring the world vnder subiection to the kingdome and Empire off Christ And as Maister builders who should drawe out and describe the patterne and platforme off all the churches and lay the fyrst foundacions and groundes Which so great a charge beinge laid vpon them excellent giftes were also geuen them wherby they might be able to beare and vphold so great a burthen For they were endewed with a merueilous knowledge off heauenly thinges and diuers straung tongues and languages as is yt rehersed off the xij Apostles in the Actes and as Paule testifiethe off him selffe to the Corinthes Furthermore there were many other thinges proper and peculier to this office as that they should be witnesses off the Lordes resurrection that they should be immediatly called and appointed by CHRIST and otherlike Which seing they can be in no man now adayes yt is playne and euident that the Apostleshipp is ceased and that this worthy and excellent office ys no longer remaininge in the churche wherupon the Apostles who did choose Matthias into Iudas place beinge voyd
ther is no cause why any man should feare that sentence as yf it were this thunderbolt which I haue described But as there hath bene fault into muche lightnes and rashenes and pronouncinge so heauy sentences without iust cause so ther hath bene no lesse fault in this that by negligence this wholesome seuerytie when iust cause and occusion requireth is not executed For that meanes being taken awaye which the Lord would haue exercised in his church and wherby offences are to be prouided for and the whole authoritie translated from the consistorye and company off the Elders to the Bishop and his court where the Pastor must come to pleade yff he will hart from the coÌ„munion suche as are to be put back by the word off god the holie mysteries off god are with great lycence and without any punishement daily prophaned the holie thinges are prostituted and set open to Adulterers fornicators drunckerds and all kinde off vicious and sinfull liuers and which our Sauiour forbiddethe precious stoÌ„nes are cast before hogges and swine And the holie mysteries not only prophaned by taking awaie off this means wherby they might be kept from thes pollutions and propanacioÌ„s but the churche also is brought into an vndoubted dauÌ„ger For asmuche as it is to feared lest that the rest off the body be infected with the same contagion and euen they them selues who be suche heape and doble their condeÌ„nacion for that they dare take in hand to be so bold tho come in suche sort vnto the lords table For besides that the worship and seruice off god is preserued and kept chast pure and vndefiled by this seueritie the whole churche also and euen the parties them selues who are giltie are best by this meanes prouided for And that the church is thus preserued the Apostle plaiÌ„ly sheweth wheras willing them to cast out the leauen he geueth them warninge that the whole lumpe is sone sowred with a litle leauen And that this also doth apperteine to the benefit and safety off the gilty parties S. Paule sheweth noting this to be the end off deliueringe the incestuous man vnto Satan that his sowle might be saued in the daie off the Lord. And againe where he saith that they ougt to be contented with that correction which had bene done lest that peradueÌ„tur the partie should be swallowed vp with to muche greefe Wherby we see that this a medicine rather then a deadly punishement a sharpe aÌ„d bitter medicine in deede But we must remember that no remedy is so greuous as that which is most healthfull and holesome Seinge therfore excoÌ„munication hath so profitable necessarie â—od holesome vses in the churche let it be restored to vs agayne and established in suche sort as ys described by the word off God Let the holie Sacramentes off god be carefully kept from all pollucion and and prophanacion Let the leauen be purged and cast out off the churche that we may be a newe lump as we are vnleauened and sweet breade as the Apostle witnesseth Let vs procure diligently the helth off those membres which be in daunger that we enter not lame and maimed but whole into that life which by the word off God we hope for Let the Angell off God therfore be set at the gate off Eden that with his sharpe and glistering sword he may keepe back all polluted and vncleane persons from tastinge or touching off the tree off life Let the safety off the churche be procured and sought for by this kind of purgation and the amendemeÌ„t off suche as goe astray by these remedies sharpe in deed and vnpleasant but holesome notwithstanding and proffitable Thus in those two kindes or sortes all manner off kindes off Ecclesiasticall discipline aÌ„d remedyinge off offences is conteined onles some man think good that that execration be added which S. Paule denounceth and threatneth in the first to the Corinthians and the last chap. against all those who loue not the Lord Iesus and to the Galathians against suche as preache any other Gospell which S. Iude oute off Enoch semeth to thunder against all the wicked Which iff any man so take and referr to excommunication Saint Iohn seemeth to allude to the necessary vse off excoÌ„munication in the church were as it semeth out off Zachary who had prophesyed that in the kingdome of Christ ther should no more be any Cananite in the Land he declareth that in this cyty which he describeth in the xxij chap. ther should no more be any accursed thing as also in the xxj chap. and xxvij ver and the 22. chap. the 25. ver he alludeth to the same thing wheras he say that no prophane or abhominable thing no doggs inchaunters fornicators â—c shall enter into the cyty But that semeth to be more then a Medicine and to be rather a sentence off deathe and a threatning off the last Iudgement without hope off forgyuennes And some think yt agreeth rather to the vices them selues then to any certen persons as also the Apostle denounceth theÌ„ not against certeÌ„ men but generally against the wicked and reprobate Althoughe the primitiue churche pronounced this sentence euen against certeÌ„ meÌ„ as Socrates declareth in his history that Nestorius was accursed by the churche men which curse saith he we Christianes are wont to call the sentence that is pronounced against a blasphemer when as iff it were grauen vpon some pilleâ— we publishe this sentence to all the world Which iff we take in this sense yt semeth so to answer to excommunication as Destruction Which the Hebrews call Abaddon doth answer to that excision and cutting of whiche they call careth Which hath bene spoken off before Touching which Destruction the Hebrew interpretours confesse that they knowe not certenly what it is yet they do proue plainly that it is an other kind off punyshement distinguished from the other and off more greeuous and certen destruction And let thus much suffise to haue bene spokeÌ„ of the chiefe and soueraigne authority off the Assembly off the Elders in the gouernment off the churche wherby we may see by which of the three states of lawfull gouernmeÌ„t which are wher one is soueraigne or more or all the churche is gouerned For asmuche as the state and kind off gouernment is esteemed off the soueraigne whither he be one moo or the commynaltie Therfore for asmuch as all thinges are ordered and gouerned by the authority off certen chosen men who are cheife in the congregation in godlines and vertewe we may call the gouernment off the churche Aristocratie that is that gouernment and state wherin a fewe off the best do beare the rule or rather Theocratie that is the gouernment off god seing that they haue no authoritie to do any thing but by the word and commandement off god But these chosen aÌ„d picked out meÌ„ do so exercise this authoritie that they do well vnderstaÌ„d they execute no ciuill nor politique gouernment but that they so