which subscribe some doing it vvith this limitation some vvith that some holding their former iudgement as not gaine sayd by their subscription some lamenting their slip in that behalfe vvere deducted the nūber of the one vvoulde not so greatly surmount the other As for the challenge of the Papistes knit vp vvith the consideration of the estate the difference may be considered in the matter and maner Concerning the matter they make it in the substaunce of religion vvhich hath in diuers assemblies abroad and at home beene disputed resolued and novv publikly maintayned for our true holy faith VVe in maters concerning the gouernment of Christ of great moment indeed yet neuer thus handled nor vrging the alteration but perfection of the estate of the Church further good of the common wealth vvhilst by this means amongst many other things of great importance the ignorant ministery by it poperie by popery rebellion should be auoyded vvhich by the other are most manifestly bred nourished Concerning the maner they call it to a sudden and tumultuous reasoning vvhere the readiest vvit the best memorye the moste filed speech shall carry avvaye the truth at least maruailously moue the vngrounded harers VVe require that where both sides may vpon mature sufficient deliberation be beard vvithout any of these shewes and the matter deliuered vnto her maiestie their Hh and vvhomsoeuer they shall chuse to receiue and examine the allegations of both sides So that it neede not be communicated vnto the people vntill the manifest light of truth appeare first vnto them And if this so safe and reasonable an offer cannot be liked in the respect of the last obiected consideration vve thinke it impossible but the persons vvhich desire a vvay so sound peaceable and dutifull shall recouer this fauor that vvith safety of their consciences they shall exercise their ministery vvith that libertie vvhich is meet for those vvho shall be tyed in all thinges to haue especiall regard to the peace of the Church and publique orders VVherefore most christian Reader vvhen thou shalt by these sevve take knovvledge of these things pray vnto God for vs and as thy place is solicite and further so iust a cause to this ende onely that Christes kingdome may be perfectly established the consciences of al the godly quieted and the happy regiment of her maiestie honored vvith much peace ioye and quietnesse at home FINIS ¶ A LEARNED DISCOVRSE OF ECCLESIASTIcall Gouernement prooued by the worde of God THE Churche of God is the house of God and therefore ought to bee directed in all thinges according to the order prescribed by the Housholder himselfe Which order is not to bee learned else-where but in his Holy worde The first of these principles or propositions is the very worde of the holy Ghost vttered by Paul The seconde followeth necessarily of the first The thirde is a manifest trueth beleeued of all them that acknowledge the scripture of God to bee a perfect rule of all our life and able to make the man of God perfect prepared to all good workes This foundation being surely layde against which the gates of hell cannot preuayle wee ought diligently and reuerently to searche the holie scriptures that wee may finde what order our sauiour Christe our onely housholder hath set foorth in them by which he woulde haue his house or church to be directed in al things appertaining to the eternall saluation of vs men his vnprofitable seruants Nowe we finde in the scriptures that our sauiour Christe ascending into Heauen was not vnmindfull of his Church on earth but ordayned an holy ministerye of men to the building vp of the body of Christ in vnity of faith and knowledge We finde also that as the offices are diuerse of this ministery so they are not generall vnto all the Church but as order and necessitye require for executing of their office distributed and limitted vnto certaine places or particuler Churches according to the diuision of Regions Cities and Townes For we reade that Paule and Barnabas ordeyned at Derbe Lystra Iconium Antiochia c Elders by election in euery Churche with Prayer and fasting and so commended them to the Lorde in whome they beleeued Also Paule left Titus in the Ile of Creta that he shoulde ordaine Elders in euery City as hee had appointed Concerning the diuers offices of the Ministery wee are taught by Saynte Paule Rom. 12. 6. Also 1. Cor. 12. 28. and Ephes. 4. 11. Where we reade that God hath ordained in the ministery of his Church these seuerall offices Namely Apostles Euangelistes Prophetes Pastors Doctours Gouernoures and Deacons Also men indewed with the giftes of healing of powers or myracles and of diuerse tongues Of these offices some were temporall seruing onelye for the firste planting foundation of the church amonge the Heathen some are perpetuall pertaining to the nourishing and building vp the Church for euer Of the former sort were Apostles Prophets Euangelists men endued with the graces of powers of healings and of diuerse tongues Of the latter kinde are doctors Pastors Gouernours and Deacons The Apostles were ordained by God and sent foorth immediatly by Christ hauing a generall Commission to spread the Gospell ouer all the worlde Which worke when they had accomplished that office ceased Such were the 12. Apostles Paule and Barnabas c. And for this cause the Apostles appointed Mathias in the place of Iudas according to the Scriptures permitting neuerthelesse the election vnto God by casting of Lots that the number might bee full for the first planting of the Churche But when Herod had slaine Iames the brother of Iohn with the sworde they chose no man to succeede in his place because they had no warrant of Gods worde but the holy ghost as he sawe it was expedient for the Church afterward separated Paul and Barnabas which liued at Antioche as Prophetes and Teachers to the worke whereto hee had called them The Prophets were suche as were indued with a singular gifte of Reuelation in the interpretation of the Scriptures and applying them to the present vse of the Church of whome some also did foreshewe of thinges to come as Agabus Also there were in euery City that Prophecied to S. Paul as he passed by them that bonds and afflictions were prepared for him at Hierusalem This office being in the number of them that were ordeyned for beautifying the Gospell in the first publishing thereof it ceassed with that singuler and extraordinary gift to bee an ordinarye function of the Church The Euangelists were such as were stirred vp of God to assist the Apostles in their ministerye of generall charge in planting the Gospell and confirming the same by their preaching but inferiour in dignity to the Apostles Such was Philip that firste preached the gospel in Samaria Whither Peter and Iohn were sent by the Apostles to conferre vnto
intemperate person and therfore feared the iudgment of God for his sinne which he purposed not to forsake Such is the maiestie of Gods word when it is preached that either it boweth or breaketh the wicked in pieces God grant therefore that in steede of ordinarie formes of praiers we may haue preaching in all places The seconde thing that we haue to obserue is this that although we make it the dutie of the Pastour to pray in the name of the whole congregation yet we doe not so meane but that the whole congregatioÌ„ with one heart and with one voyce maye praise God with singing of Psalmes all at once For this custome hath continued in the church from the beginning that the congregation haue praised God with Psalmes singing altogeather And these three partes of a pastors dutie to preach to minister the sacramentes and to praye are so necessarilye requyred of him in the word of God as no man may rightly execute the office of a Pastor but he that performeth al these each one in their due time And to this part of prayer maye be referred the blessing of marriages not of necessitie but of an auncient vse of the Church Furthermore in those thinges that are necessarie partes of the Pastours office the Church hath authoritie to dispose them as touching the circumstaunces for order and comelynesse sake but cheefely for edification As the dayes and times of preaching and administring the Sacramentes the places meet for the same for publique praiers also the form and maner of vsing those thinges so that all things be don comely and agreeably to order but especially that in all things principall regarde be had to edification which S. Paule so often and so precisely vrgeth in the 14. chapiter of the 1. Cor. For therfore ought our assemblies and comminges together to serue that therefore we maye be better that we may be taught that we may be edified 1. Cor. 11. 17. 1. Cor. 14. 23. 24. 25. 26. 31. And therefore we haue great maruell that some are so precise in vrging ceremonies as many thinke much hindering edification but as moste men confesse nothing profiting to edifycation hauing alwayes in their mouth that sentence of Saint Paule 1. Corinth 14. 40. Let all thinges bee done decently and according to an order And doe so little remember that the Apostle in that long Chapiter laboureth altogether to driue al things to edificatioÌ„ or els to driue theÌ„ out of the church As he saith of him that hath the gift of tongues being of it selfe an excellente and comely gifte of the holye ghost and being vsed orderly of one or two by course with an interpreter mighte doe muche good in the Church But if there be none interpreter saith he Let him holde his peace in the congregation 1. Cor. 14. 28. The vncomlinesse that Saint Paule reproueth was that women shold preach in the Church as ver 30. 35. The disorder that those giftes which serued leaste for edifying were preferred before them that serued moste for edifying as tongs before prophecie By which it is euident that S. Paules words are wrested of some clean contrary to his meaning to make him a Patron of idle if not hurtful ceremonies maintained more vpon wil then reason or graunted of Gods worde vnder the colour of order and decency not onely with neglect but also with great hinderance of Gods building by spoyling the Churche of so many learned pastoures There are besides these thinges certaine other matters as confirmation Churching of women buriall of the deade thoughte to belonge to the office of a Byshoppe or Pastour Whereof the firste two are meere deuises of men and ought to haue no place in the Churche of Christe The other albeit it bee to bee retayned with a certayne honestye yet it is not to bee tied to the proper office of a Pastour And as for Confirmation it oughte therefore to be shut oute and haue no place in the church of God as wel because it displaced Catechising and broughte in steede thereof vayne toyes and Childishe ceremonies to the greate hurte of the Churche as for that also it derogateth muche from the dignitye of Baptisme the sacrament of the Lorde and is extolled aboue it being a deuise of man and is pretended to bee a signe to certify the Children of the fauoure and gratious goodnesse of GOD towardes them falsely grounded vpon the example of the Apostles Whereas the ministration of baptisme is permitted to euery hedge-priest minister and Deacon And as for Churching of Women because it sauoureth of the Iewish purification and of Popish institution it ought altogether to bee omitted for it breedeth and nourisheth many superstitious opinions in the simple peoples hearts as that the woman which hath born a child is vncleane or vnholy whereas the Apostle pronounceth that Godlye women are sanctified and saued by bearing of Children 1. Timoth. 2. 15. that it is vnlawfull for her for any necessity to go out of her doores before she bee Churched that this churching is a necessarye part of the Pastors office that shee must weare a white raile ouer her head when she goeth to Churche by the Midwife waighted Home with the Parishe Clearke with diuers suche like Bables vvhiche in a vvell refourmed Churche are not to bee suffered As for the buriall of the deade because Sathan tooke occasion vppon Ceremonies appointed therunto to sowe the seede of manye Herisies in the Church as prayers for the dead oblations for the deade Purgatory c. Also many superstitions as hallowing of Churcbyardes distinction of Burialls as some in the Chauncel some in the Churche and some in the Church-yardes some with more pompe as singing ringing c. some with lesse burying towards the East lightes and holy water bestowed vpon the dead c. It is thought good to the best and right reformed churches to burye their deade reuerently without any ceremonies of praying or preaching at them because experience hath taught them what inconuenience may grow therof by exaÌ„ple of that which hath bin before And as they are not to be excused if any for small triâ—â—es only raise vp hâ—t contentions so they haue much to aunswere before God that suffer the people of God to lacke the onelye foode of their souls for such humain constitutions But to conclude it is the duty of euery true Pastor to obserue those thinges that are concluded by the lawfull authoritye of the church concerning ceremonial matters for order and comlinesse sake and for edification and not to controll publique order by his priuate iudgement but vpon great waighty causes Wee haue hitherto intreated of the proper dutye of a Pastour himselfe nowe it followeth that we likewise set foorth his authoritye in common gouernment with the Elders But least any man shoulde mistake that which wee purpose to say of his authority wee haue neede to expresse what wee meane by this worde authoritye For euen those thinges
together with the whole multitude Actes 15. And as they are seuered in place so will they bee higher in authoritie So that whatsoeuer is decreed amongest them that must bee called the determynation of the whole Synode So that no manne muste bee suffered to speake anye thinge agaynste it bee it neuer so reasonable or agreeable to the vvorde of GOD yea vvhosoeuer vvill not subscribe to all suche thinges as they decree muste bee excluded out of the Conuocation as vvas practized and threatened in the Conuocation at the foresayde Parliamente vnto diuerse Godlye and learned Preachers that offered to speake agaynste dyuerse grosse and palpable erroures that had escaped the Byshoppes decrees As for the distinction of Canonicall and Apocriphall bookes for explication of the clause in the article of Predestination where it is sayde that the elect may fall from Grace and such like matters If this bee not to practise Lordshippe ouer our faith to set downe decrees of Religion which must bee accepted of all men without eyther reason or testimony of the Scripture to prooue them and no man permitted to shew anye reason or Scripture that inforceth his Conscience to the contrarye but onely to hang vppon the authority of bishops Let some other declare what Paul meaneth 2. Cor. 1. 4. where he denieth that he woulde excercise any Lordship ouer the faith of the Corinthians For although their decrees were neuer so perfect yet it were an example of tyrannicall Dominion neither to giue reasons to satisfie the ignoraunt them selues nor to hear or cōfute that which might be alleaged against them by others but for a few lordbishops in comparison of all the conuocation to sit by them selues order all thinges at their pleasures as though the Gospell sprang firste from them or had come vnto them only it sauoreth of nothing so much as of popish tyranny Whereas otherwise it is well knowne they are not al of the best learned nor all of longest study nor all of soundest iudgement nor all of greatest zeale nor all of best example and therfore not meetest to be the onely determiners in Ecclesiasticall matters to the preiudice of the whole synode Wherefore it is greatly to be desired that our synodes also which are so farre out of order maye be refourmed according to the scripture and the example of the primitiue Church that all thinges may be done with such modesty grauitie iudgement as they were by the Apostles and Elders Act. 15. And now that we haue set forth the whole Ecclesiasticall ministerye according to the word of God with all the duties authoritie that pertayneth vnto it the place requyreth that we should also intreat of the authority of the ciuil Magistrate in matters ecclesiastical Of the title of the princes supremacie if it be truly vnderstood we moue no contronersie but that it doth properly apperteine to the ciuil magistrat to be the highest gouernor of al persons within his dominion so that the soueraign Empyre of God be kept whol But herein resteth all the doubt howe this is truely to be vnderstoode that shal we best vnderstand by the contrarie namely by the vsurped tiranny of antichrist For antichrist did challenge vnto himselfe al authority both that which is proper to god that which is cōmon to men Therefore that the pope claimed to be that only head of the church frō which the whol body receiued direction was kept in vnity of faith This was blasphemous against Christ therfore may not be vsurped by any Ciuill magistrate no more thē by the pope Likewise wher hee challengeth authoritye to alter change dispence with the cōmandement of god to make new articles of faith to ordain new sacramēts c. this is also blasphemous and ought not to be vsurped of any ciuil prince On the other side where he challengeth authority ouer all princes so ouer al the clergy that he did exempt them from the ciuil iurisdiction this is contumelious iniurious against al christian kings And therfore euery prince in his own dominiō ought to cast off the yoke of his subiection and to bring al ecclesiastical persons vnto his obedience and iurisdiction Here haue we the first part of the title of supreame gouernment ouer al persons In matter or causes ecclesiastical likewise the pope doth not only presume against god as we said before but also against the lawfull authority giuen by God vnto men For he forbiddeth princes to medle with reformation of Ecclesiasticall matters or to make anye lawes pertayning to causes of religion answering them that those things do appertain onlye to him the general counsel But when he cōmeth to debate anye thing with his clergy then al laws knowledge are enclosed in the closet of his brest When any generall counsel must be holden all that they doe receiueth authoritie from him For except he doe allowe it is nothing And he is so wyse that neyther with the councell nor without the counsell he can erre or thinke amisse in matters Ecclesiasticall wheras it is not onely lawful but also necessary for Princesse if they will doe their dutie to looke to the reformation of religion and to make lawes of matters Ecclesiasticall but so that we confounde not the offices of the Prince and the Pastour Eor as it is not lawfull for the Prince to preach nor administer the Sacramentes no more is it lawfull for him to make lawes in Ecclesiastical causes contrarie to the knowledge of his learned Pastors For as these three partes of a pastors dutie are graunted to him by God preaching ministring of sacraments and Ecclesiasticall gouernment he maye no more take from a Pastor the third then he may the two first By this it appeareth how farre it is lawful for Princes to intermedle with causes Ecclesiasticall namelye that it is the chiefest poynt of their dutie to haue especiall regarde that God may be glorified in their dominion and therefore they ought to make ciuill lawes to binde the people vnto the confession of true faith and the right administring and receiuing of the sacramentes and to all ecclesiastical orders that they beeing instructed by the worde of God thorow the ministerie of the preaching of the same shall vnderstande to bee profitable for edifying of the church of Christe and the aduauncement of the glory of God If any shall offende against the laws whether he be preacher or hearer beside the ecclesiasticall censure which he shoulde not escape he is also to be punished in bodye by the ciuill magistrate This we see that all christian Emperours obserued that when anye controuersie arose either of doctrine or of order and ceremonies they commaunded the Cleargie to consult determine thereof according to the scripture who assembling togeather incounsel obeyed their commandement Their conclusion then by authoritie of the Emperour was commaunded euerye where to be obserued and those that impugned it to be punished the same order we
and then moste earnestly commaundeth him to practise the same with all diligence his wordes are these All Scripture is inspired of GOD and profitable for Doctrine for exhortation for reformation and for instruction which is in righteousnesse thaâ— the man of God maye bee prepared to aâ— good workes Therefore I charge thee before God before the Lord Iesus Christ which shall iudge the quicke and the deade at his appearing and in his kingdome preache the worde bee instanâ— in season and out of season improoue rebuke exhort with all long suffering and doctrine The firste part therefore and the cheefest of a Pastours office or duety is to feede with wholsome doctrine the flocke that is committed to his charge and therefore Sainte Paulâ— describing what manner of men are meete for that charge vnto Timothy requireth that a Byshop or Pastour bee apt or able to teache for if a man haue neuer so much knoweledge and bee not apt or able to teach he ought by no meanes to be admitted vnto this vocation And vnto Titus writing Chap. 1. verse 9. he requireth that he be such a one as holdeth fast the faythfull worde according to Doctrine that he also may be able to exhort with wholesome Doctrine and improoue them that say against it Wherevppon it followeth necessarily that whosoeuer is himselfe ignoraunt in the knowledge of Gods worde and therefore vnable eyther to exhorte with wholsome doctrine or to confute them that gainsay it is altogether vnmeete for the office of a Pastor or bishop Wherefore if euer we minde suche a reformation as God shall thereby bee glorifyed and his Churche edifyed wee must vtterlye remooue al the vnlearned pastors as men by no means to be tollerated to haue any charge ouer the lords flok also prouide that herafter none be receiued into that office but such as are sufficient for their knowledge abilitie in teaching to take so waightie a charge in hand What man hauing but one hundreth sheep would make such a man shepheard or ouerseer ouer them as were a naturall Idiott or otherwise altogeather vnskilfull or vnable to performe those thinges that belong to a shepheard If no man haue so little care of brute beastes What brutishe negligence is it to commit the people of God redeemed with the precious bloud of Iesus Christ to such vnskilfull and vnsufficient Pastours as neither them selues know the waye of saluation neither are able to lead other vnto it whereof they are ignoraunt them selues If there bee no waye of saluation but by faith and none can beleeue but such as heare the worde of God preached O Lorde how miserable is the state of many flockes in this lande who either seldome or neuer heare the worde of God truely preached and â—herefore know not how to beleeue that they might be saued But here it will be aunswered that as it is a thing greatly to be desired To it is altogether vnpossible to prouide the Church of so many learned Pastours as shoulde take charge of euery seueral congregation But hereto we replie that it is a thing necessarily required at our hands by God almighty and therefore we must obiect no impossibilitie especially wheÌ„ our owne negligence is the cause of all the difficultie or if you will so call it impossibilitie We confesse it will be harde at the first but we must doe our endeuour and commit the successe vnto God and there is no doubt but in time it will grow to an happy ende But when we shall be altogether carelesse as we haue been of long time and that is worse not acknowledging anye default in this behalfe as there be that doe not and that is most of all mayntaining suche lets and hinderaunces as bee continuall nurseies of ignoraunce and ignorant pastors We may bee ashamed to alledge that difficulty for which none are to be blamed but we our selues We may be ashamed now that our church hath had rest and peace with free preaching of the gospel this 25. or 26. years vnder the protection of our most gratious Queen to bee so vnfurnished of learned Pastors as we are whereas if that diligence had bene vsed of all partes as might and shoulde haue beene emploied of all them that vnfaignedly seeke the kingdome of God and his righteousnesse almoste in halfe the time this necessitie might haue bene well supplied If we seeke experience what diligent carefull prouision is able to do with the blessing of God looke to our neighbours brethren in Christ of Fraunce whoe although they neuer enioyed one day of such peace as we haue don so many years Yet how plentifullie they are furnished withall kinds of Ecclesiasticall ministers and namely with Godly and learned pastors it would reioyce any Christian heart to beholde in them â—nd lament to see the lack in vs. But â—s for those that acknowledge no deâ—ect in our Church thorow the great multitude of ignoraunt Pastors We had rather at this time praie to God â—o lighten their blindenes then by â—ny long discourse to discouer their palpable darkenes Would to God there were not more difficultie in reforming them that maintaine suche inconueniences as except they bee taken away we shall neuer be disburdened of the cankers of the church those vnlearned ministers For while Nonresidents and Pluralities be reteined we shal neuer want vnlearned Curates that for small stipendes will supplie the absence of Pluralities and Nonresidentes Which grosse corruptions of pastorall office as they maye haue some honest pretence so canne they haue no better pretence neyther are they reteyned with a better conscience then the Priestes in our Sauiour Christs time suffered the exchaungers of mony Grasyers and Pulterers to make a Burse or shambles and a Pultrie yea a denne of theeues of the Temple of God which was appoynted to be a house of prayer to all nations Math. 21. 12. Mark 11. 15. Iohn 2. 14. But especially while the whole office of a Pastour shall be thought to consist in reading onely a prescript number of Psalmes and chapters of the scriptures with other appointed formes of prayer and that he maye bee allowed as a sufficient Pastour which doth the thinges which a Childe of ten yeares olde maye doe as well as he so long shall we neuer lacke vnlearned Pastours ignoraunt and vngodly people Symonicall and sacrilegious patrones So long the building of Gods Church shall goe but slowly forwarde beside other superstitious fantasies mayntained in the peoples heartes which for shortnesse wee omitte to speake off What though some saye formall reading might be borne withall for a time vntill the Church might bee prouided of sufficient Pastours which yet is not graunted shall it therefore continue alwayes to the perpetuall decay of knowledge and hurt of the Church of God What greater discouragement is there vnto Students then to see the rewardes of learning bestowed as commonly vppon the ignorant as vpon the learned What encouragement
we finde in the worde of God certayn Officers appoynted for gouernmente vvee are bolde to affirme that that charge belongeth vnto those that are such And that doth S. Paule playnely declare where hee putteth a difference of the seuerall offices of the Church whereof hee nameth Gouernors for one 1. Cor. 28. 29. and Rom. 12. 8. Let him that ruleth doe it with diligence Therefore there ought to be in euery Church a Consistory or segnorye of Elders or gouernors which ought to haue the hearinge examination and determining of all matters pertaining to Discipline and Gouernement of that Congregation which authoritye of theirs neuerthelesse ought to be moderated that their iudgment may be rightly accounted the iudgement of the holy Church Which thing consisteth in these two pointes First that the Elders bee elected and chosen by consent of the whole Congregation men of Godlinesse and Wisedome in whome the whole Churche reposeth such confidence that they commit vnto them their authoritye in hearing determining such matters as without horrible confusion they cānot perform themselues And hereto also may be referred that which is sayde of Election of Pastours that the Apostles Paul and Barnabas did ordain by Election of the congregation Elders vnto many Churches Actes 14. 23. because the name of Elders is common to both to Pastors and Gouernors and is vsed in the Scripture to comprehend both at once as it appeareth manifestly by S. Paul 1. Tim. 5. 7. Those Elders that gouern well are worthy of double honor especially those that labour in the word and doctrine Of which testimonie we learne these three things First that there bee Elders in the Church which meddle not with teaching but are occupied altogether in gouerning Secondly that the Elders which labor in teaching otherwise called Pastors are ioined also in gouernment with them which teach not And thirdlye that the name of Elder comprehendeth both sorts of Elders And especially in the place before alleadged for election ther is great reason to lead vs to think that the elders for gouernment are as wel vnderstood as the other for doctrin because it is writtē in the same place that after they had ordeined them Elders in euery congregation by election as hauing set the Churches in perfect order which could not be except thei had established discipline as wel as doctrine they cōmitted thē to the Lorde in whome they beleeued The second point for moderation of the elders authority in such sorte that their sentēce may be the sentēce of the Church is this that when the cōsistory hath traueled in examining of causes pertaining to Ecclesiasticall Discipline and agreed what iudgement ought to passe vpon the matters they propound it to the whole multitude that it may be confirmed by their consent Wherof S. Paul speaketh touching the execution of Excōmunication because the fact was manifest Whē you are gathered together with my spirit in the name of our Lord Iesus Christ and with the power of our Lord Iesus Christ to deliuer such a one vnto Sathan Nowe therfore to◠prooue that there ought to be a Consistory of elders in euery Church for gouerning of the same It is manifest by the cōmandemēt of our Sauior Christ touching him that despiseth pryuate admonitiō If he hear not them tel the congregation if hee hear not the congregation let him be vnto thee as an heathē publicane Verily I say vnto you whatsoeuer you shall bind vpon earth shall be bound in heauen In which saying of our Sauiour Christ this worde Congregation is not so largely taken as in other places for the whole multitude but for the chosen assembly of elders For our sauiour Christ in that worde alludeth vnto the assembly of elders that was amōg the Iews which they called but corruptlie of a greeke worde Synedrion which signifieth a Counsell or Consistory Sanedrin which had the hearing and determining of all difficult and waightie matters among the Iews the like wherof hee willed to be established in his Churche for administration of gouernment For seeing it was first instituted by God for gouernement of his Church in the olde lawe as hath beene shewed before out of Num. 11. 6. although it was shamefully abused by the wicked Iewes our sauiour Christ trāslateth it into his Church also in the new Testament and the name of Elders doth moste aptlye agree vnto them that bee gouernours in the Church now euen as it did to the ancients of Israel so that the Pastors seme to haue borrowed the name of Elders speciallye in respect of their gouernment The name of this consistory also in the new Testament we finde to be agreable with that of the Iewes whereof our sauiour Christe speaketh when he sayth Tell the congregation or assembly S Paule 1. Tim. 4. 14. Dispise not the gift which was giuen thee thorough prophecie with imposition of handes of the Eldership where the greeke word is Presbyterion the assemblie or Consistorye of the Elders Which worde is vsed also by Saint Luke in his Gospell speaking of the consistory of the Iewish Elders Luke 22. 66. As soone as it was daye the whole Eldership or assemblie of Elders came togeather both chiefe Priestes and Scribes and brought him into their counsell In which saying their counsel Synedrion is called Presbyterion Also Saint Paule Act. 20. 5. that he had beene a persecutor of christians taketh witnesse of the high priest and of the whol consistory of Elders vsing the same word Presbyterion By which it is euident that our sauiour Christ by this word Ecclesia in that place meaneth a consistory or assemblye of Elders whose authoritie he doth ratifie with such power that whatsoeuer is bounde or loosed by them on earth in the feare of God and with heartie prayer the Lord will bring it to passe yea he him selfe will be in the middest of them as President of their counsell to direct their consultations to the glory of God and the profite of his owne Church Therefore in euery Church there ought to be a consistory of Elders or Gouernours which with the Pastor may take charge of Ecclesiasticall discipline and good order to bee obserued in the church to the punishment of vice and the aduauncement of true vertue These if they gouerne well as Saint Paule doth testifie are worthy of double honour both that honour which is due to Godly men and that which is due to good gouernours How necessarye it is that Discipline shoulde be in the Church to keepe men in awe from offending and to bring offenders to repentaunce to auoyde the infection of sinne within the Church and the reproche that groweth by neglecting the punnishment of sinne among them that are without the Church We thinke it needlesse to stande long in proouing the matter of it selfe is so apparaunt and hath such plentifull testimonies in the scripture And especially let the reasons of Saint Paule 1. Cor. 5.
the consent of the church in that place 1. Tim. 2. 20. So likewise where he speaketh to Timothie in the singular nuÌ„ber concerning the hearing determining of matters pertaining to Discipline we ought to acknowlege that he teacheth in Timothie his person the duty of elders neuer ment to giue Timothy an absolute or singular authority to be iudge in these matters without consent of the Eldership whereof he maketh mention but a little before To conclude therfore the Pastor with aduise consent of the Elders hath authoritie to heare examine matters pertaining to Ecclesiasticall Discipline and as the cause requireth to excommunicate offenders and vpon their repentance and amendment to receiue them againe into the bosom of the church approued by the word of God Insteede of which Antichrist hath set vp a tyrannicall iurisdiction of one Bishop to be iudge of excommunication which is practized neyther for causes sufficient nor by sufficient authoritie in so much as it hath beene alreadye testified by the scripture that the power of excommunication is in no one man no not in an Apostle but is common to the whole church ought to be executed by lawful delegats of the church also But so much that vsurped authoritie presumeth that the bishop as an absolute owner therof commiteth it ouer to his chancelor or ArchdeacoÌ„ the Archdeacon to his Official he to his register he again to his substitute and his substitute to his seruants man or boy as it happeneth in so much that a learned preacher may be excommunicated by a folish boy If this matter seeme not to requyre speedy reformatioÌ„ god hath blinded our eies that we can not see the clere light of the sun shining in our faces For if we loke to banish the tyrannye of the Pope out of all mens harts we must vtterly remoue al his detestable enormities out of the Realme as it was wont to be sayd in the common prayers of the Church in the time of K. Henry and Edward whereas now by reteining stil all the detestable enormities of his prerogatiue and faculties whole course of his Canon law the papacie is not so much banished in name as translated in deede from the Sea of Rome to the Sea of Caunterbury vnder the shadowe of the Princes supremacie with as heynous iniurie and contumely of the lawful authoritie godly supremacie of the Prince as ioyned with the great dishonour of God and the miserable disorder of the Church But we meane not in this place to prosecute our iust complaintes nor to inueigh againste the abuse of these thinges with such vehemencie of wordes as the worthines of the matters deserueth but onelye in setting foorth the plaine trueth to giue a glimpst by the waye of the contrarye falshoode We must therefore returne to the authoritie of the Pastour which he hath ioyned with the Elders of the Church whereof he is pastour The Church hath alwayes had great care for prouision of the poore by which compassion they shewed that they were liuely members of the body of Christ and auoyded great reproch of them that were without For what shame is it for them that professe to be all sonnes of one father and therfore all brethren yea that be members all of one body to suffer their brethren fellow members to lacke necessaries to sustayne their temporal life as though they that communicate in all spiritual graces and blessinges were not worthye to take part of these worldlye benefites at leastwyse so farre forth as to supply their necessities Therefore our Sauiour Christe alwayes commendeth brotherly loue among his Disciples to teach vs how ready we ought to be to distribute vnto the necessities of our brethren which is a true testimonie of our loue declared by his owne example For although hee were so poore that he liued of the almesse and liberalitie of other men yet of that which was more then serued his owne necessitie he vsed to bestowe vppon the poore as Iohn 13. 29. to teache them whome hee hath blessed with Temporall riches which hee refused to enrich vs with heauenlye treasures that they of their superfluitie woulde be content to giue to the reliefe of their poore bretheren which he did not neglect in his extreame pouerty To teach also them that haue but mean substaunce that they ought not to bee excused but somewhat to contribute vnto the necessitie of their poore bretheren when he that had nothing at all but that which was giuen euen of that bestowed part Therefore the Apostles in the primitiue Church thought it to be expedient for the better prouiding for the poore that certaine men shoulde be appoynted of approoued Godlinesse and diligence which shoulde take the speciall charge of the distribution vnto the poore Act. 6. These men were called Deacons or ministers because they did minister and serue the poore in their necessities and because the occasion of the ordinaunce continueth alwayes as our Sauiour Christ hath sayde we should alwayes haue the poore amongest vs Iohn 12. 8. vvhereby GOD woulde exercise our charitie The office of Deacons also is perpetuall Therefore the Apostle Saint Paule prescribeth what kinde of men are meete for that office 1. Timothie 3. 8. And in euery well constituted Church they were ordayned accordingly as Phillip 1. 1. Also after the ordeyning of the seuen Deacons this office was deuided into diuers partes as necessitie shewed diuers occasions For some were appoynted for the collection and distribution of alâ—esse as Romans 12. 8. and some for attending vppon the sicke and impotent among the poore as in the same place Let him that distributeth doe it with simplicitie and let him that sheweth mercie doe it with cheerefulnesse Which kinde of Deacons 1. Cor. 12. 28. are called helpers and for the seruice of this office were appointed diuers olde poore widowes who as they were mainteined by the church so they serued the church attending vppon the other poore who beeing sicke and impotent had neede not onely of things necessary but also of seruice and attending 1. Timoth. 5. 5. These offices being instituted by the spirit of God for the necessary vse of the Church which vse still continueth ought also to be reteined among vs. For we see for want of these offices what great inconueniences are among vs concerning the poore For although ther be very good politike laws made for prouision of the pore yet smal reliefe commeth thereby to the poore indeed at least wise manie abuse the reliefe which they receiue which commeth of this that there be not in euery church or congregatioÌ„ such Deacons as the holy ghost hath appointed which should take a speciall care employ a great diligence for the prouision of the poore not only some to gather and distribute but also to see it well imployed on the poore and to imploy the poore that liue of the almes of the church to the releefe of their
fellow poore which are more impoteÌ„t theÌ„ they as it was vsed in the Primatiue Church And aboue all thinges to beware of them that walke disorderlye and labour not if they be able Of which kinde of people when there is so greate multitudes in this land that they doe euen ouerflowe the Countryes and haue beene knowne to bee practizers of greate matters agaynste the state It is maruayle that neither by politique nor by ecclesiasticall Lawe they are broughte into order and sette to laboure or else as Saynt Paule prescribeth so that they shoulde not eate vntill they bee willing to labour 2. Thes. 3. 10. But now to return to the Election of Deacons Concerning the form of chusing of Deacons we may reade at large Actes 6. that they were chosen by consente of the vvhole Churche and hadde the approbation of the Apostles And because wee maye not thinke there was anye confusion in that blessed companye wee muste needes confesse that vvhich hath beene before declared that there were euen in that assemblie and firste Churche at Hierusalem certayne elders appoynted which in the name and by the consente of the rest had the disposition of suche matters as appeareth by manie places of the Actes of the Apostles where the Elders are named with the Apostles As Actes 15. 4. 12. c. but especiallye concerning this matter of the distribution vnto the poore we reade that when the Church of Antiochia was so wel disposed as to make a collection to bee sente vnto the poore Brethren that dwelt in Iury they sent vnto the Elders by the handes of Barnabas and Saule Actes 11. 30. By vvhich it appearethe that the Elders had the disposition and appoynting of suche as shoulde destribute it vnto the Congregation which were the Deacons For it is agreeable to reason that hee that should doe any seruice in the name of all should be chosen and approued by the consent of all For the Regiment of the church as it ought to bee furthest of from all Tirannye so ought it to be as farre from Confusion and disorder Tyranny is auoyded when no one man contrarie to the ordinaunce of Christe shall presume to doe anye thing in the Church without the aduise and consent of others that bee Godlye and vvise and authorized by the consent of the Church Confusion is preuented by the graue counsayle and orderlye assemblye of Elders vnto vvhome the Churche hathe committed her authority By this it maye easily appeare vvhat great defaulte there is in our Church where those that are sayde to be ordeined Deacons neuer purpose in their life to execute any part of a Deacons office neither are chosen for that end but only that within a short time after they may bee made Priestes or ministers nothing in the worlde differing from the superstition of Popery where the office of Deacon was conferred onely as a step vnto priesthood As though it were necessarye that euerye one which is ordayned an Elder shoulde first be a Deacon and yet when he is made a Deacon hee is but an Idoll yea scarse an Idoll of a Deacon hauing no resemblaunce at all vnto a Deacon indeed but that he is a man This prophaning of Gods institution God will not alwayes suffer vnpunished especially when it is not maintained of ignoraunce or infirmity but defended against knowledge and vpon wilfulnesse Therefore the Collectors are more like to deacons a great deal then those that the Byshops make Deacons For first they haue after a sort election of the Church whereas the other haue but the approbation of one man And secondly they gather and distribute the common almes vnto the poore which the other neuer think of But yet we may not allow them for lawfull Deacons indeede because they are not alwayes endued with suche qualities as the Apostle requireth 1. Tim. 2. For they ought to bee men of good estimation in the Churche full of the holy Ghost and of wisedome that should be chosen Acts. 6. For as it is an office of good credit so ought the person to bee of good reputation Therefore saith S. Paule that Those Deacons that Minister well doe get them selues a good degree and great liberty in the faith which is in Christ Iesus Insomuch that S. Paule him self doth salute in speciall wordes the Deacons next to the Byshops or ouerseers in the Churche of Philipi Wee reade also what worthye men were chosen to be the first Deacons as Stephen the first Martyr and Philip which afterwarde was an Euangelist when the Churche was dispersed thoroughe the persecution raysed aboute Stephen So that euery ignoraunte contemptible personne is not to bee allowed vnto this office but as Godly wise and vvorshipfull as maye conuenientlye bee founde in the Congregation maye not thinke them selues too good to minister vnto Christe in his members and in the name of the Churche The Election also of oure Collectours is too Prophane for so holye an Office Wee maye reade in the Historye of the Actes Actes 6. with vvhat grauitye reuerence and religiousnesse the Apostles ordayned Deacons vvith Prayer and Imposition of handes For these and suche like causes althoughe the ordinarye Collectors haue some resemblance with the Deaconship of the church yet wee cannot in all poyntes allowe them for Deacons whose office truely consisteth onelye in ministration vnto the poore as wee haue shewed in that they bee Deacons Wee haue declared before that there is a double authority of the Pastour the one ioyned vvith the Elders of the Churche vvhereof hee is Pastour the other vvith the Synode or holy assembly whereof he is a member Of the former wee haue intreated hitherto Nowe it followeth that wee speake of the latter There aryseth oftentimes in the Church diuerse Controuersyes which cannot bee othervvise expressed pertayning to the state of the vvhole Churche then by a generall assemblye of all the Pastoures of that Churche vvhich is called a Synode or generall Counsayle Also there bee diuerse cases vvherein the seuerall Churches are driuen to pray the ayde of the Synode vvhere matters can not bee determined among them selues For this cause the Holye Ghoste hathe ordayned these Holy assembles with promise that they being gathered together in the name of Christe he him selfe will bee among them With the Synode the Pastour hath authority to determine concerning regiment of the Church Wherefore we haue to enquire of what persons a Synode doth consist For which intent wee finde in the history of Act. 15. 6. that when a contâ—ouersie arose concerning the Ceremonies of the Lawe whether they were to bee vsed by those Christians that were conuerted of the Gentiles The Apostles Elders came together to consider of this matter and that the people was not excluded appeareth by the 12. verse the whol multitude being perswaded by the argumentes alleaged by Peter helde their peace and quietly hearde Paule and Barnabas declare what signes wonders God had wrought by them amongest the