the Lorde But the former is true as the Historie teacheth vs Therefore must the latter needes be true also 4 That which giueth comfort vnto a man in the time of his troubles must haue a warrant out of Gods worde But euery lawfull calling giueth comfort vnto a man in the time of his troubles Therefore euerie lawfull calling hath a warrant out of Gods word 5 That which helpeth Gods people forward in godlines must haue a warrant out of Gods worde for God hath promised a blessing to his owne ordinance onlie But euery lawfull calling in the Church helpeth Gods people forwarde in godlines Therefore euerie lawfull calling hath a warrant out of Gods worde Therefore if Iohn did prooue his calling out of the Scriptures if euerie calling vnder the lawe was warranted out of the scriptures if Corath c. were punished for enterprising that which they had no warrant for out of the scriptures if comfort in troubles commeth onely from the scriptures and lastly if euery help to godlines is warranted in the scriptures then c. They confesse all these reasons to bee true but doe denie that the Archbish. lord Bish. c. bee distinct Ministers from others Whitgift pag. 303. which wee hold T. C. 2. booke pag. 438. and proue it thus 1 Those thinges that haue diuers efficient causes are diuers Our BB. and the Ministers of the worde haue diuers efficient causes for the one is the ordinance of God the other the constitution of humane pollicie as themselues doe confesse Therefore they are distinct Ministers from others 2 A diuers forme maketh diuers things the Ministers of the word and the Lord Bishops haue diuers formes for their ordination euen in the Church of England is diuers seeing one Lord Bishop may ordaine a Minister But there must be three to ordaine one of them therefore they are distinct Ministers 3 Members of one diuision are distinct one from another the L. Bishops and ordinarie ministers bee members of one diuision for vsually the Ministers bee diuided into the rulers and them that are to bee ruled therefore they are distinct Ministers 4 The things that haue diuers effects are diuers in them selues one from another the L.BB. and other Ministers haue diuers effects for the one effecteth rule and gouernment the other subiection and obedience Therefore they are diuers and distinct Ministers 5 They that be imployed about diuers thinges are diuers one from another The L.BB. and the ordinarie Ministers be imployed about diuers things for the one is exercised in generall view of many congregations and the other in the particular direction of one Therefore they bee distinct Ministers 6 That which is perpetuall and that which may be taken away by men are distinct one from another The office of the Minister is perpetuall Ephes. 4. 13. and the Bishops may be taken away as themselues doe confesse Therfore they are diuers and distinct Ministers Therfore if the Ministers of the worde and Lord BB. proceede from diuers causes if they haue their being by diuers formes if they be members of one diuision which in nature cannot bee one if they produce diuers effects if they bee exercised about diuers subiectes Lastly if the one bee perpetuall and the other but for a time then must it needes follow that they are diuers and distinct Ministers one from another The name of an Archbishop and also the office that he executeth is contrarie to the worde of God First the reasons that prooue it vnlawful to giue the name vnto any man in the church are these 1 No man may haue the name giuen him which is proper to our Sauiour Iesus Christe But the name of Archbishop is proper vnto our Sauiour Iesus Christe as appeareth in the places quoted therefore no man may haue the name of Archb. giuen vnto him 2 If the name of Pope be therefore odious because of that Antichriste who is intituled therewith then must also the name of Archbishop when it is ascribed vnto any mortall man for so much as it is the title of a speciall member of that kingdome of Antichrist But the former is true euen by their owne confession Whitgift pag. 300. Therefore must the latter be true also But they obiect diuers things against this for the proouing of the name Archb. to bee lawfully giuen vnto some men which together with their answeres doe brieflie followe 1 Obiection Clemens alloweth of those names as Polydor reporteth lib. 4. cap. 12. Answere Polydor is but the reporter and M. Iewel hath prooued euidently against Harding that Clemens is counterfeite and worthie of no credite Obiection Erasmus saith that Titus was an Archbishop Answere He spake as the times were wherein hee liued but that proueth not that he helde him one in deed no more then our naming of the Archbishop of Canterbury when wee speake of him proueth that wee like and allow his authoritie 3 Obiection Anacletus saith that Iames was the first Archbishop of Ierusalem Answere He is forged as our answeres to the Papists haue shewed but a witnes of better credite calleth him only a Bishop Euseb. lib. 2. cap. 23. and Simon bishop after him lib. 3. ca. 22. And Iraen saith lib. 4. ca. 63. that the Apostles ordained Bishops euerie where making no mention of Archbishop 4 Obiection The Councell of Nice Canon 6. mentioneth a Metropolitan Bishop Answere That proueth nothing for it was only as much as to say the Bishop of the chiefe citie Secondly the reasons that prooue the office of the Archbishop vnlawfull be these 1 Euerie Ministerie that is lawfull must be of God The office of the Archbishop is not of God for that he is not described in the worde and them selues confesse that hee is of humane pollicie Therefore the office of the Archbishop is vnlawfull 2 That Ministerie whose originall is vnknowen hath no warrant from Gods worde and consequently is vnlawfull The originall of the Archb. is vnknowne as they confesse Whitegift pag. 351. Therefore it is vnlawfull 3 That office which is needles in the church is also vnlawfull to bee exercised in the same The office of the Archbishop is needlesse for the Ministerie is perfect without it as the Apostle proueth Ephes. 4. 13. Therefore the office of an Archb. is vnlawfull 4 If all the gifts needfull for the prefecting of the church be appropriated vnto other Ministeries then is his Ministerie vnlawfull But all the needefull giftes are appropriated vnto Pastours Doctours Elders and Deacons whereof he is none Therefore his office is vnlawfull 5 That office is vnlawful which none may lawfully giue But none may lawfully bestowe the office of an Archbishop because none can giue any new gifts to adorne him withal Therefore his office is vnlawfull This reason beeing vsed of all founde diuines against the Pope is of the same value against the Archbishop 6 If the office of an Archbishop bee lawefull then it is either in respect of his
A demonstration of the trueth of that Discipline which Christ hath prescribed in his worde for the gouernment of his Church in all times and places vntill the end of the world Wherein are gathered into a plain forme of reasoning the prooft thereof out of the Scriptures the euidence of it by the light of reason rightlie ruled and the testimonies that haue been giuen thereunto by the course of the Church certaine hundreths of yeares after the Apostles time and the generall consent of the Churches rightly reformed in these latter times according as they are alleadged and maintained in those seuerall bookes that haue been written concerning the same Math. 21. 38. The husbandmen said among themselues this is the heire come let vs kill him and let vs take his inheritance Luke 19. 27. Those mine enemies vvhich vvould not that I should raigne ouer them bring hither and flea them before me To the supposed Gouernors of the Church of England the Archbishops Lord Bishops Archdeacons and the rest of that order MANY and most euident haue our declarations been concerning the trueth of that gouernment which Christe hath prescribed in his worde for the ruling of the Church which we haue manifested vnto you both by our writings and speeches as occasion hath been offered neuer hath any one of you taken in hande to say anie thing against it but it hath made his eyes to dazle as the clearest Sun-shining whereby hee hath been driuen to wander hither and thither groping for euasions and yet coulde not escape but hath falne into infinite most mostrous absurdities and blasphemous assertions as by their writinges yet extant it may appeare so forcible is the trueth to amaze the painesayers thereof and so pregnant is falshood to beget and bring foorth thousands of absurdities and euery one worse then other And will you still continue in your damnable and most diuelishe course Haue you solde your selues vnto Satan to fight for him vntill you bee dammed in hell with him Haue you morgaged the saluation of your soules and bodies for the present fruition of your pompe and pleasure is it because you see not what you should doe It may be so for many are so blinde that they grope euen at noone day but me thinkes it can hardly be so vnlesse you bee they that haue eyes see not for the cause hath been by the blessing of God so managed that many plough-men artificers and children doe see it and know it and are able by the worde of God to iustifie it and condemne you to bee aduersaries vnto the Gospell in resisting it But you thinke that gouernment not so needfull and your fault but small if it be any in continuing your course begunne The necessitie of the thing is many wayes apparant both in that it hath so plentifull warrant from Gods own word as the course of this booke doth uidently declare and also in that the Gospell can take no roote nor haue any free passage for want of it and the greatnesse of your fault appeareth by this that in so doing you are the cause of all the ignorance Atheisme schismes treasons poperie and vngodlinesse that is to be founde in this lande which we challenge to proue to your faces if we may indifferently be heard wherof in the meane while we will giue you a taste for the first it is cleare that you are the causers of that damnable ignorance wherein the people are so generallie wrapped for that you haue from time to time stopped the streames of knowledge in those places where the Lorde in mercie bestowed the same and in steed of able and painefull Ministers haue pestered the Churche eyther with presumptuous proude persons that are esteemed learned and take no paines to bringe the people vnto the knowledge of Iesus Christe or which is the greatest number suche ignoraunt Asses and filthie swine as are not worthie to liue in a well ordered common-wealth and that you are the cause of all Atheisme it is plaine for one may as in deede many doe professe it and you say nothing to him for it If the most filthie liuer will fawne vpon you and bribe your seruants you will not only fauour him but assist him against any godly Minister or other but if any that feare God refuse to come vnder the least of your popish ceremonies hee shall bee molested till his purse be emptie or els by your tyrannous dealing he haue made shipwrack of a good censcience And are not you the cause of all schismes that make a hotch-pot of true religion and poperie and so giue some occasion to fall into this course and others into that And it is as cleare that you are so farre the cause of all treasons as without you they had not bin for if euery Church had had her gouernment according to Christes institution our young Gentlemen and students had not bin for want of teaching careful ouersight made a pray vnto the seducers and consequently to those practises which haue brought the bodies of so manie vnto Tyborne and their soules into hell and who but you be the causes of Poperie whilest you vse them so well let them doe wat they list yea and keepe them in office authoritie vnder you yea which more is giue them such offices as none that is not popish can execute I speak not of the ignorance which by your meanes raigneth euerie where which as they confesse is the mother of their deuotion and you are the wretched fathers of that filthie mother whereby you must needes be grandfathers at the least to all kind of poperie And who can without blushing denie you to bee the cause of all vngodlines seeing your gouernment is that which giueth leaue to a man to be any thing sauing a sounde Christian. For certainely it is more free in these dayes to bee a Papist Anabaptist of the famely of loue yea any most wicked one wahtsoeuer then that which we should be and I could liue these twenty yeres any such in Englande yea in a Bishops house it may bee and neuer bee muche molested for it so true is that which you are charged with in a Dialogue lately come foorth against you since burned by you that you care for nothing but the maintenance of your dignities bee it to the damnation of your owne soules and infinite millions moe Enter therefore nowe at the last into the serious confideration of these thinges remember that one day you must bee presented before the tribunall seate of Iesus Christe to bee arraigned for all the soules that haue gone to hell seeing you will needes bee the rulers of the Churche since the Gospell first appeared in this land then shall you not be excused with this the Queene and Counsell will haue it so not with that our state cannot beare it For it shall be said vnto you why do you not informe thē better of my will why taught you them not to worship with
it bee voide and in what Church one is intituled let him there remaine 8 Hee complaineth that Ministers were ordained beeing chosen by no church and so went here and there hauing no certaine place 9 That action which neuer is read to be practised but by idolators is vnlawfull To haue wandering officers is onely found to be in idolaters as appeareth Iudg 17. 8. Therefore it is vnlawfull Therefore If the Apostles ordained not Matthias vntill the place was voide if in planting of Churches they euer allotted officers to their proper places if Minister and Ministerie be of one beginning continuance and ending if it bee with a Minister and his ministerie as with a shephearde and his flocke that hee cannot bee the one but in respect of hauing the other if it be lawfull to transgresse the precepts and practise of the Apostles if no Minister in the church bee ordained at randone if the ordination that is without a title bee voide if Ierome complained of it as a great fault in his time if no example be found of it but in Idolaters then it must needes followe that to ordaine any Church-officer vntill there be such a place voide as he is fit for is vtterly vnlawful and so the Bb. making of manie Ministers at once licencing of wandering Preachers is contrarie to the worde of God They will haue something to say for euery action they do be it neuer so shameful that which they alleagde for this is that Paul and Barnabas did wander The Apostles office and so the Euangelists as assistants vnto them was to preach the worde and plant Churches in euery part of the worlde but the order that they left is a president for vs which is that euerie Churche haue their proper officers and that there be no other els where to be found CHAP. 3. EVerie church-officer ought to execute the office committed vnto him with all faithfull diligence and consequently bee continuallie resident vppon his charge T. C. booke 1. page 65. The denie not the proposition but the consequent that is inferted vpon it as appeareth by their writings Whitgift pag. 246. and by their daylie practise in giuing dispensations for many benefices The reasons we alleage to proue the necessitie of perpetuall residence and the vnlawfulnes of nonresidence be these that follow 1 A shepheard hath a flocke to the ende to feede it continually The Minister is a shepheard and his charge a flocke Therefore he ought to feede it continually and consequently to be perpetually resident for how can he feede them frō whom he is absent 2 Where God doth place any man there his continuall trauaile is needfull for God is most wise in disposing euerie thing But God placeth euery right Minister ouer that people which is his charge Therefore his continuall trauaile is needful there and consequently he may not discontinue 3 Flockes that are in danger are by carefull shepheards watched night and day Luke 2. 8. Euery congregation is a flocke in danger for the enemie goeth about like a roaring lyon 1. Pet. 5. 8. and soweth tares whilest men sleepe Matth. 13. 25. Therefore euery congregation is to be watched night and day by the Minister thereof and consequently hee may not be nonresident 4 If his duetie to them requireth so muche trauaile as may continually set him on work then may he not bee non-resident But it is euident that it doth so to all them that either know by the worde of God what studie prayer doctrine exhortation c. bee required of him or maketh any conscience of giuing account for the soules committed to their charge Therefore may not they be nonresident 5 If the Minister cannot apply himselfe fruitfully to the capacity of his people vnlesse he haue particular knowledge of their disposition and capacitie then is it not lawfull for him to be nonresident for by continuall residence among them he may know them and not els But the former is true as the small knowledge that the people get by generall teaching doth euidently declare Therefore it is not lawfull for him to be nonresident 6 If the Ministers of the Gospell bee as narrowly tied to their charges as the Priests vnder the law then may they not be nonresident For they were alwaies readie in the Temple to answere the doubts 1. Sam. 1. 9. But it is cleare that they are because men are now as hardly trained vnto godlinesse and the enemie is as wrathfull as hee was then Therefore they may not be nonresident 7 If the Minister must be an example to his people then must he bee daily present with them that they may beholde him But the former is true 1. Tim. 4. 12. Therfore is the latter true also 8 Hee whom the sheepe are to follow in and out must know by the voyce ought to bee continually among them A good Minister of the worde is such a one Ioh. 10. 4. Therfore he must be resident among them 9 None can bee alwayes readie to feede his flocke that is absent from it Euery Minister must be alwaies ready to feed his flocke because it dependeth vpon him 1. Pet. 5. 2. Therefore euery Minister is to be resident with his flocke 10 Hee that must take heede to his flocke watch ouer it and feede it must be resident continually with it Euery Minister must doe so Actes 20. 28. Therefore c. 11 If Satan be the cause of nonresidence then is it vtterlie vnlawfull But Satan is the cause of it 1. Thes. 2. 17. 18. Therefore it is vtterly vnlawfull 12 That which abridgeth the loue of God to his people and comfort to the Minister that same is vnlawfull But not to be resident doth both Therefore it is vnlawfull 13 That which hindereth the louing familiaritie that shoulde bee betwixt the Minister and his people that same is vnlawfull But nonresidence doth so for it maketh them straunge one to another and argueth small loue in him towards them Therefore it is vnlawfull 14 To be absent from them that haue interest in vs and continuall need of vs is vnlawfull which wee can see to bee true in our seruants c. But the congregation hath an interest in the Minister and continuall neede of him Therefore it is vnlawfull for him to be absent from them 15 If the Priestes might not dwell farre from the Temple then may not Ministers bee nonresident But the former is true as appeareth by this that they had houses builded close to the Temple 1. Chron. 28. 13. Therefore the latter is true also seeing the residence of the one is as needful as the other as appeareth in the sixt reason 16 Let no Clarke be placed in two charges for it is filthie marchandize and no man can serue two maisters and euery one must tarrie in that place wherevnto he is called 17 Damasus compareth them that set ouer their charges to others to harlottes that put out their children that they
and be absent from them as their dispensations and practize doe prooue 2 That one minister may haue a Soueraingtie and Lordship ouer his fellowe ministers which both beeing disprooued the former assertion will remaine still sure 1 One man may not haue moe charges then he is able in any measure to discharge No man is able in any measure to discharge the duetie that is belonging vnto moe flockes then one seeing he can not preache vnto them both in season out of season Therefore no man may haue moe charges then one 2 That which maketh an open entrance to the enimie to spoile can not be lawfull for one to haue moe charges then one maketh an open entrance for the enimie to spoyle for the wolffe watcheth to deuoure whilest the shepheard is absent Therefore no man may haue moe charges then one 3 That which hath neyther precepte nor president for it eyther in Gods worde or any approoued writer but onelie from Antichrist is vnlawfull But such is the hauing of moe charges then one Therefore it is vnlawfull 4 That which declareth a minister to be more desirous of the fleece then to profite the flocke that same is vnlawfull But such is the hauing of mo charges then one for were it not for the gaine they would thinke one a burden as heauie as they could beare Therefore it is vnlawfull 5 All the reasons that be alleadged in the thirde chapter against nonresidence are forcible to this purpose for if hee may not be nonresident he may not haue mo charges vnles he be willing to be quartered that euery charge may haue a piece of him He reckoneth them among theeues and their action to be theeuerie condemned by that commaundement Therefore if one man cannot in any tollerable measure discharge mo charges then one if to haue mo maketh an open entrance to the enimie to spoyle if it haue neyther precept nor president for it but onely in the kingdome of Antichrist if it declare the practizers to be more desirous of the fleece then to feede the flocke if all the reasons that condemne nonresidencie be against it lastlie if it be plain theeuerie then must it needs follow that one may not haue two or mo charges Their obiections such as they be are set downe in the 3. chapter and the aunsweres vnto them The seconde proposition that they holde is thus One minister may haue a soueraigne authoritie Lordship ouer his fellowe ministers which is thus disproued 1 They that haue their commission indifferentlie giuen them without difference betweene one and another are of equall authoritie and may not be one ouer another But such is the commission of all Gods ministers indifferentlie as appeareth Mat. 28. 19. 20. Therefore they are of equall authoritie and may not haue anie dominion one ouer another 2 That which Christ hath directlie forbidden that maye not in any case be allowed but is euer vnlawfull But Christ hath directlie forbidden that one minister shoulde haue dominion ouer another Matth. 20. 25. Luke 22. 25. Therefore one minister may not haue superioritie or dominion ouer another 3 They that may not be Lordes ouer the people of God may much lesse be Lordes ouer the Ministers for the Ministers bee in respect of the ministerie aboue the people But a Minister may not be Lordly ouer Gods people as is testified by him on whom they would father the greatest lordlines 1. Pet. 5. 3. Therefore one minister may not be Lord or haue superioritie ouer another 4 It is ordayned and is equall and right that euery mans cause bee hearde where the faulte was committed and it is meete to handle the matter there where they may haue both the accusers and witnesses of the faulte which sheweth that euerie minister had authoritie ouer his owne flocke and no other to meddle 5 Bishops wheresoeuer they be in all the worlde are equall to our Bishops or parishe ministers and preachers of none it can be sayde one is Lorde another is seruaunt whatsoeuer belongeth to the Church belongeth equallie to all sauing that some are of better giftes then others howebeit such giftes cause no inequalitie or lordship in the church 6 In the Apostolike Church the Ministers of the Worde were none aboue another and were subiect to no heade or president c. 7 The honor of a Bishop being taken from the rest of the ministers and giuen to one was the first step to papacie 8 Christ did most feuerilie forbid vnto the Apostles and their successors primacie and dominion 9 Equall power and function is giuen to all ministers of the Church and that from the beginning no one preferred him selfe before another sauinge onely that for order some one did call them togither propounded the matters that were to be consulted off and gathered the voyces Therefore if all Ministers haue their commission indifferentlie giuen vnto them if Christ haue forbidden that one Minister should haue dominion ouer another if no Minister may exercise dominion ouer Gods people if authoritie to handdle controuersies belonged to euerie seuerall Congregation if a Bishoppe and parishe minister bee all one if in the Apostles time no minister was aboue another if the superioritie of one aboue another was the firste steppe to the papacie lastlie if they haue equal power and function from the beginning then must it needes followe that no minister may haue superioritie or exercise dominion ouer another Their obiections herevnto so many as are worthie anie answere be these 1 Obiection Christ Matth. 20. 25. forbiddeth onely ambition and not dominion as Musculus expoundeth it Answere Musculus his iudgement appeareth in the 6. and 7. reasons the place is expounded against superioritie by Caluin Bullinger Zwinglius Gualter Hemingius c. But let it bee so expounded that dominion is ambition because it causeth a man to aspire aboue his fellowe ministers 2 Obiection The Greeke worde signifieth rule with oppression which is the thing that is forbidden Answere That is not so for Luke 22. 25. vseth the single verbe Keurieuem whiche signifieth simplie to rule The sonnes of Zebedeus desired not to oppresse but to rule which desire he reprooued 3 Obiection Christ sayeth not no man shalbe so but hee that will be so desiring it Answere But Luke sayth Let the greatest be as your seruant and therefore that is but a sillie shifte So that their assertions being ouerthrowen and their obiections aunswered it remayneth that wee prooue yet more directlie that the Lorde hath ordayned that there should be a Bishoppe resident ouer euerie Congregation which is proued thus 1 If a Bishop and Minister be all one then must there be a Bishoppe in euery Congregation for euery man will confesse that euerie Congregation ought to haue a minister But a Bishoppe and a Minister is all one as appeareth by this that Saint Paule describeth not one qualitie for the Bishopp but it is also the qualitie of
euery good minister and also in that hee describeth no other minister but the Bishoppe Therefore there ought to be a Bishop in euerie congregation 2 S. Paules bishoppes and his deacons were appointed to one place as appeareth both in the description of them and the practise of the Apostles But the Deacons were in euerie congregation which appeareth Phil. 1. 1. Act. 6. 2. that office being needfull euery where and in that it continued so longer then the office of Bishoppes Athanasius Apol. 2. Ierome contra Luciferianos c. Therefore there ought to be a Bishop in euery congregation 3 That which Paule enioyned to Titus is also to be practised alwayes in the like case But he commaunded him to ordaine Elders in euery Citie Tit. 1. 5. which are expounded in the next verse to be Bishops Therefore there must bee a Bishop in euery congregation 4 Euery Church should haue her Communion table euery Church her Bishop 5 Where there was founde anie worthie to be a Bishopp there a bishoppe was appointed and where there was not to furnishe both bishop and preaching Elder he meaneth the Doctor there the Apostles made a bishoppe and left the Elder 6 If a Bishop run into a slaunder and many Bishops can not suddenlie be gathered his cause shalbe hearde of twelue Bishops c. 7 If an Elder bee accused hee may call sixe Bishops from the places harde by 8 Stories make mention of Bishoppes of little townes as Soticus bishop of the village Cuman Mares bishopp of a small towne called Solicha Gregorie bishoppe of a small citie called Nazianzum The bishop of a Castle 9 A minister that is to saye a bishopp and a little after the Apostle doeth plainely teache that a minister and a Bishop is all one and vpon Titus a bishop and a minister are the same and ad Oceanū with the ancient fathers Bishops and Elders were all one 10 D. Barnes in his sixt article sayeth I will neuer beleeue neyther can I euer beleeue that one man may by the lawe of God be a bishop of two or three cities yea of a whole countrie for that it is contrarie to the doctrine of S. Paule who writing to Titus commaundeth that he should ordaine a bishop in euerie towne 11 It is pitie to see howe farre the office of a Bishop is degenerated from the originall in the Scripture it was not so in the beginning when Bishops were at the best as the Epistle to Titus testifieth that willeth him to ordayne in euerie citie c. They knowe the primitiue Churche had no such Bishops as we haue vntill the time of Siluester the first Therefore if a Bishop and a Minister be all one if bishops were to bee where Deacons are who were in euery congregation if Paule enioyned Titus to ordayne bishops in euery citie and if euerie Church had her Bishop a long time after the Apostles as appeareth by the testimonies of Councelles Histories and learned writers both olde and newe then must it needes followe that there ought to bee a Bishop in euerie Congregation CHAP. 11. FOr the further reuealing of the trueth God hath ordayned that there should be in the Church Doctours whose office is to be employed in teaching of doctrine and is an office different from that of the Pastour The latter parte of this proposition is the thing whiche especiallie they doe denie whiche is thus prooued to bee true 1 Those which the Apostle in speaking of distinct officers doeth distinguishe one from another are seuerall and distinct one from another But the Apostle doeth distinguish the Pastour and Teacher one from another Rom. 12. 7. 8. and Ephes. 4. 11. euen as hee distinguisheth man and woman Gal. 3. 28. See the Greeke of them both Therefore the office of Pastour and Doctour are distinct one from another 2 As are the giftes that adorne offices so are the officers them selues for the execution of the office consisteth in the employing of the giftes But the giftes of the Pastour Doctour are diuers as appeareth 1. Cor. 12. 8. and by experience for some hath an excellent gifte in doctrine and not in application and others excell in application and exhortation that are verie meane in deliuering of doctrine Therefore the office of a Pastour and Teacher are distinct one from another 3 Those that are to take a diuers course in teachinge are diuers and different in their functions for els why shoulde they be enioyned to take a diuers course But the Pastour is to take one course and the Doctour another for the one is to direct him selfe principallie to exhorte and the other to attende vpon doctrine Rom. 12. 7. 8. Therefore the office of Pastour and Doctour be distinct offices the one from the other 4 The ecclesiasticall stories especiallie speakinge of the Church of Alexandria doe vsuallie make a difference betwixt the Bishop and the Doctor 5 Cathedrall Churches haue yet some shewe thereof left in them who besides the Bishop haue also one that readeth a Lecture in diuinitie 6 If the distinguishing of them make more for the building of the church then the vniting of them then are they to be distinguished and not made all one But the former is true as appeareth by this that hardlie is a people brought to a sounde knowledge of godlines by him that instructeth in doctrine continuallie and as hardlie are wee stirred vppe to a zealous care of our duetie though we be exhorted continuallie which both should bee with lesse continuance if one man were to performe all Therefore they are to bee esteemed distinct offices and not partes of one office whiche one is to performe Therefore if the Apostle Paul distinguisheth them one from another if God doe vsuallie bestowe doctrine and exhortation vpon seuerall persons wherein eche is founde to excell and to bee no bodie in the other if the Pastour bee commaunded to take one course in teaching and the Doctor another if Ecclesiasticall stories doe vsuallie distinguish them if Cathedrall Churches haue yet some steppes lefte of the distinction if to distinguish them maketh more to the building of the Church then to vnite them then must it needes followe that the office of Pastor and Doctour be distinct and different the one from the other CHAP. 12. EVerie congregation ought to haue Elders to see into the maners of the people and to bee assistant vnto the Ministers in the gouernement Ecclesiasticall T. C. booke 1. pag. 174. Dise fol. 120. which they denie Whitgift pag. 627. and their practize in keepinge them out of the Church but it is prooued to be true by these reasons following 1 That which the Apostles established in euery Congregation ought still to continue seeing the Church must bee ruled by the same lawes that it was ruled by then and needeth as great furtherance nowe as it did then But the Apostles established Elders in euery congregation Actes 14.
that which the Ministers may teache if the worde of God onely make the Church obedient vnto Christ if euerie kingdome must be ruled by the lawes of their King and if the cannon lawe be ordayned to destroye the Church if it was inuented to persecute the church if it strengthen the power of darkenesse and ignorance if it kill the church of God if it breede moe traiterous papistes then the Seminaries at Rome and Rhemes if it nourishe the hope of Antichrists returne lastlie if all the churches that haue forsaken the pope haue cast it of also yea if we our selues doe mislike it then must it needes followe that the Church ought to bee gouerned onely by that golden rule of Gods worde not by that leaden lumpe of the cannon lawe CHAP. 15. THe office of the Church gouernement is meere Ecclesiasticall and therefore the gouernours of the church may not meddle but onely in Church-matters as for example vocation and abdication deciding of controuersies in doctrine and manners so farre as appertayneth to conscience and the church censures T. C. booke 1. pag. 206. Discipl Eccle 126. but they thinke that church-gouernours may also meddle in ciuill causes Whitgift pa. 749. and their practize that take vpon them to be Councellors of state to iudge ciuillie as punish with imprisonment c. But this is disprooued and so the former proued by these reasons 1 That which our Sauiour Christ refused because it belonged not vnto him ruling and teaching the church that same is not lawfull for any Ecclesiasticall person to doe But Christ refused to deuide the inheritance Luke 12. 14. onely because he came to buylde a spirituall kingdome for otherwise he being God had authoritie ouer all thinges Therfore it is not lawfull for Ecclesiasticall persons to bee iudges of ciuill causes 2 That which was forbidden the Apostles is vnlawful for euery Ecclesiasticall officer for they were the chiefe vnder Christ and had after a sort all offices in themselues vntill they could plant them in others But such dominiō was forbidden them as the Kinges of the nations and other ciuill Magistrates haue Luke 22. 28. which is to rule ciuilly Therfore they may not exercise any ciuill authoritie 3 If necessarie dueties are to be lefte rather then our dueties to the Church should not be thorowly discharged then may not a church-officer deale in ciuill iurisdiction which is lesse necessarie vnto him But the former is true as appeareth by the wordes of Christ to him that would haue buried his father Luke 9. 59. 60. Therefore they may not exercise anie ciuill authoritie 4 If he that hath an office must atrende vpon it then may he not meddle in another for he can not attende them both at once But the former is true Rom. 12. 7. Therefore maye no Church-officer medle with temporall iurisdiction 5 As the Souldiour is in his warfare so are Church-officers in the ruling of Gods church But the Souldiour entangleth not him selfe in the things of this life because they are of another nature to his warfare which place Cyprian alleadgeth against a minister that became an executour to his friendes will Therefore church-officers may not meddle with ciuill offices because they are of another nature then his calling 6 Those things that in them selues are of contrarie quallitie can not concurre in one subiect But the gouernments of the Church and common wealth bee such not onelie in this that they are the next speciall members of one generall but also in that the one is spirituall and the other temporall the one respecteth the soule and the other the bodie Therefore they can not be in one man togither and consequentlie c. 7 If the gouernement of the Church both in euery particular mans office and in the generall Eldership bee a matter of great waight and the abilitie of man very small in euery good action then may not a church-officer meddle in another calling whereby hee is made lesse able to discharge his duetie But the former is true as all men may see that looke into the worde of God what is required of such men and knowe by the same worde the manifolde infirmities vntowardnes of man Therefore the latter must needes bee true also 8 If the Apostles who were the most able of all others founde them selues vnfitt for two offices whiche were both Ecclesiasticall then is the best church-gouernour vnfitt for two which be of more difference one from another as bee the gouernement of the church and common wealth But the former is true as appeareth Actes 6. 2. Therefore the latter must needes be true also 9 That which we iustly reprooue in the papistes muste needes if we doe like be founde more vnlawfull and intollerable in ourselues But we iustly reprooue the papistes for hauing in their handes both the swordes that is the Ecclesiasticall and ciuill iurisdiction Therefore it is more intollerable being founde in any of vs. 10 If it be lawfull for an Ecclesiasticall person to exercise the office of the ciuill Magistrate then on the contrary it is lawfull for the ciuill Magistrate to exercise the offices of Ecciesiasticall persons for there is as good reason for the one as the other But the latter is vnlawfull for who would like of any L. Mayor to step into the pulpit and preach c. Therfore the first is vnlawfull also 11 They may not intangle them selues with worldly offices but attende vpon their Ecclesiasticall affaires 12 None of the Clarkes or Cleargie shall receyue any charge of those which are vnder age the cause of that decree is there saide to be for that there were certaine Ministers that were stewardes to noble men and in the 7. cannon that none of them should receyue any secular honors 13 The Bishops shall onely attende vnto prayer reading and preaching 14 He bringeth diuers reasons to prooue that Bishops may neither vsurpe nor take beeing offered vnto them any ciuill office 15 He sheweth howe the offices are to bee distinguished and in what sorte it is sayd that the fathers dealt in the things of this life and howe the corporall punishmentes by the Apostles were particular and extraordinarie 16 When both the offices meete in one man the one hindereth the other so that he that exerciseth the one cannot minister the other 17 There is no man so wise and holy which is able to exercise both the ciuill and Ecclesiasticall power and therefore he that will exercise the one must leaue the other Therefore if Christe refused to iudge in temporall causes because it belonged not to his office if ciuill dominion was forbidden the Apostles if necessarie dueties are rather to bee lefte vndone then our diligence in the matters of the church should be lessened if he that hath an office must attende vppon it if we may not bee intangled with any hinderance if the ciuill and Ecclesiasticall functions bee of contrarie natures if euery office in
the Church be more then any one can perfectlie discharge if the Apostles founde them selues vnfit for two offices of like nature if we iustlie reprooue the papistes for their two swordes if a Magistrate may not preache if they may not meddle with worldlie offices nor be tutours to Orphans but attende onely vnto the ministerie of the worde c. if they may neither vsurpe nor take being offered any ciuill office if they be to be distinguished to seueral persons or els one hindereth the other lastlie if none bee able to execute both then must it needes followe that Ecclesiasticall officers may not beare ciuill offices and consequentlie the office of the church-gouernement is meere Ecclesiasticall Their obiections herevnto be these 1 Obiection It countenanceth and maintayneth religion to haue ciuill authoritie Answere It is in deede the papistes reason for their two swordes which M. Caluin confuteth Institut booke 4. cap. 11. sect 9. 2 Obiction It is good to punish vice by corporall punishment that Gods worde may be the better obeyed Answere It is good to preache Gods worde to men that they may obey their Prince for conscience sake may the Magistrate therefore preache we may not doe euery thing that is good but onely that which is agreeable to our callings 3 Obiection Eli and Samuel were both Priests Iudges Answere They were extraordinarie for God separated those two offices in Moses and gaue the one vnto Aaron so was Eliahs killing of the false prophetes Christes whipping of the buyers and sellers out of the Temple 4 Obiection Peter killed Ananias therefore Bishops may haue prisons Answere It was by his worde onely and not by any ciuill punishement if they can doe the like Peters example will serue their turnes if not then must it bee with the former extraordinarie CHAP. 16. THe placing and displacing of Church-officers appertayneth vnto the Eldership This is prooued in the 7. chap. and their obiections are there aunswered for the first part which is the placing but the latter part is to be cleared by some moe reasons because the Bishops doe displace the best Ministers at their pleasure which is prooued to be a most wicked action by these reasons 1 Those that are called vnto the ministerie by the Lorde from heauen and out wardlie by the meanes of men so long as they are blameles in doctrine and conuersation 1. Tim. 3. 10. can not be displaced without hainous wickednes against the manifest will of God But such are the Ministers that the Bishops doe daily displace as they confesse them selues when euen in their sermons they iustifie their doctrine in saying that they differ onely in outwarde rites and as their greatest enimies will saye when they are asked of such mens liues Therefore they can not bee displaced without great wickednes 2 Those that are carefull to discharge the duetie of Gods Ministers both in teaching and giuinge example to their flockes can not be displaced without great impietie Such are these Ministers that are daily displaced as appeareth by this that they preache more diligentlie then any other and that they followe not the course of the worlde in adding liuing vnot liuing but many of them being as woorthie for their giftes as the worthiest liue poorelie rather then they will want the comfort of a good conscience Therefore they can not be put to silence without great sinne 3 To depriue Gods people of their spirituall comfort is a grieuous and horrible wickednes To put such to silence as are before mentioned is to depriue Gods people of their spirituall comfort which if anie man will denie all the godlie where such a one dwelleth shall tell him hee lyeth Therefore to displace such Ministers is a haynous and horrible wickednes 4 That which giueth occasion to the weake to stumble fall away from the Gospell is a haynous and horrible sinne But such is the displacing of those Ministers as appeareth by this that many doubt whether that which he hath taught be true whom the professors of the Gospell doe displace and by this that many who had made good beginnings by the discontinuance of their Teachers doe fall away Therefore to displace those Ministers is a haynous and horrible sinne 5 Those whose labours God doeth blesse can not bee displaced without fighting against God and consequentlie great impietie But such are the Ministers that the Bb. doe daily displace as all that loue the Gospell in euery countrie can witnes Therefore to displace them is great impietie 6 That action whiche giueth the common enimie iust cause to reioyce and hope to get the victorie is a haynous horrible offence But such is the displacing of those Ministers as appeareth in euery countrie where such Ministers are displaced and such enemies doe dwell Therefore to displace such is a haynous and horrible offence 7 That action that causeth the doers thereof to bee esteemed enimies to the Gospell must needes be a haynous sinne But such is the putting of those Ministers to silence for it maketh the people that haue any loue to religion thinke that they are not of God in so doing for say they hee that loueth Christ can not crosse the course of the Gospell as these men doe Therefore the displacing of them is a haynous sinne 8 That which letteth in more wickednes at once then the diligent preaching of the worde could driue out in diuers yeares must needes be a haynous sinne But such is the displacing of these Ministers for prophaning of the Saboth and all disorder commeth into a congregation the same day that such a Minister that hath long laboured against it is displaced as experience in such places prooueth Therefore to displace such ministers is a haynous sinne 9 That which interrupteth the course of the Gospel without warraunt eyther from Gods worde or the lawes of the lande is a haynous and horrible sinne Such is the displacing of those Ministers as is prooued in all the writinges on our side and lastlie in the answere to D. Bridges therefore to displace such Ministers is a haynous and horrible sinne Therefore if the Ministers that be vsuallie displaced bee called of God if they discharge the duetie of good ministers both in doctrine and life if the displacing of them be to depriue Gods people of their spirituall comfort if it giue occasion to some to doubt of the Gospell and to fall away if God giue a blessing vnto their labours if the displacing of them giue the enimie matter to reioyce and hope to ouercome if it cause the displacers to be esteemed enimies to the Gospell if it let in more wickednesse in one day then preachinge can throwe out in many yeeres if it interrupte the course of the Gospell without warrant eyther from the worde of God or lawes of the lande then must it needes followe that the displacing of those Ministers is a most haynous and horrible sinne against the Lord. CHAP. 17. THe Eldership is to