them by prayer and imposition of hands the visible Graces of the holye Ghoste which Philip did not The same Philip in Act. 21. verse 8. is called an Euangelist So is Timothy 2. Timoth. 4. 5. Such was Titus Silus and many other This office also with the order of the Apostles is expired and hath no place Likewise as wee doe plainly see that the gifts of healing of povvers or myracles and of diuerse tonges haue long since ceassed to be in the Church So the offices of them which were groūded vpon these gifts must also cease and bee determined Therfore the Papists do vainly retain the name office of Exorcists when they cānot cast out diuels extream vnction when they cannot cure disseases and to speak with straunge tonges which they haue not by inspiration that without any interpretation which Saint Paule expresly forbiddeth There remayneth therefore of these before rehearsed onely in the Church these Ecclesiasticall offices instituted of God namely Pastors Doctors Gouernours and Deacons By which the church of God may according to his worde be directed in all matters which are commonly called Ecclesiasticall And therefore as it is vnlawful so it is vnneedeful for men following the deuises of their owne brayne without the warrant of Gods worde to institute and ordayne anye other offices or kindes of ministerye beside these appointed approued by God himself exercised in the Primitiue pure church vntil the mistery of iniquity working a way for Antichristes pride presumption changed Gods ordinance and brought in al kind of false doctrine confusion and now againe restored in al rightly reformed Churches with such daylie increase and glory of the kingdom of Christ and suppression of the tyrannie of Sathan that the onelye experience hereof might bee a sufficient perswasion to vs to leaue this disordered state of ours wherein we haue so long laboured with so little profit and to imbrace that most beautifull order of Ecclesiastical regimēt which God so manifestlye doth blesse and prosper in our neighboures handes But while we speake of Ecclesiasticall gouernment it maye bee thought of some that we shoulde intreat first of the supreame authority of Christian Princes Whereuppon it seemeth that al the regiment of the church dependeth which is such a myst to dazle the eyes of ignoraunt persons that they thinke all thinges in the Ecclesiastical state ought to be disposed by that onelye high authoritye and absolute power of the Ciuil magistrate Others there be with more colour of reason that referre onely indifferent matters to the disposition of Princes but in determining indifferēt matters they shewe themselues not to bee indifferent Iudges For whatsoeuer it shall please the Ciuill Magistrate or themselues to call or count indifferent it must be so holden of all men without anye further enquiry But of the supreame authority of christian princes in Ecclesiasticall causes howe farre it extēdeth by the word of God we shal haue better occasiō to intreat hereafter when we haue described the Ecclesiastical state And that it is neither needefull nor agreeable to good order of teaching to begin first therewith it may be plaine to euerye man by this reason The Church of God was perfect in all her regiment before there was any Christian Prince yea the Churche of God may stande and doth stande at this day in moste blessed estate where the Ciuill Magistrates are not the greatest fauorers By which it is manifest that the regiment and gouernement thereof dependeth not vppon the authority of Princes but vpon the ordinaunce of God who hath most mercifully and wisely so established the same that as with the comfortable ayde of Christian Magistrates it may singulerlie flourish prosper so without it it may continue and against the aduersaries therof preuail For the church craueth help defence of christian Princes to continue go forward more peaceably profitably to the setting vp of the kingdō of Christ but al hir authority she receiueth immediatly of God Let vs therfore return to those offices of Ecclesiasticall regiment which now remain to be exercised in the Church of God being instituted ordained by Christe himselfe which before we haue proued out of the scriptures to be only these Doctors Pastors Gouernors Deacons wherof some appertain to doctrin some to gouernment and discipline The duty of doctors Pastors is chiefly to teach and instruct the people of god in al things that God hath appointed thē to learne The office of Elders Deacons is to prouide that good order and discipline bee obserued in the church These offices being rightly established exercised in the Church are able to make vs meet together in the vnity of faith and knowledge of the sonne of God vnto a perfect man acording to doctrine And both for doctrine and order of gouernement to make vs one body of Christe and members one of another Nowe what shoulde be desired more then this in the church of God or what wisdom of man can espy better then the spirite of God by what means this shold be brought to effect which we do desire what mans wit cā deuise better then the wisdom of god hath expressed Or whē God hath established an order for the administratiō of his own house what presūptiō of man dare change it But what dare not dust ashes presūe to do against his maker that with greatest incōuenience when with best pretences of correcting and reforming that which they do thinke to be vnperfect in his doings Exāple thereof we haue most euident That which is alleaged as the chief defence of this disordered state which now remaineth in our church namely that our fathers of old time were not content with the simple order instituted by Christe and established by his Apostles but for better gouerning of the Church thought good some offices to ad therto some to take away some to alter change and in effect to peruerte and ouerthrow all Christian and Ecclesiastical pollicie which was builded vpon the foundation of the Prophetes and Apostles Iesus Christ being the cheeft corner stone But how vnhappy a successe this good intent as they call it of theirs deserued to haue of God who alwayes abhorreth all good intentes of men that are contrarye to the good pleasure of his will expressed in his holy worde the age before vs alasse hath felt the present time doth plainly see and wee praye God the posterity warned by examples of their auncesters maye take heede of it For where there are specially two thinges propounded in the Churche of God Doctrine and Discipline as if a man woulde say knowledge and practise by which the glory of God is sought and shineth therin In steed of true Doctrine followed all manner of corruptions of the same both in the whole and in euery part thereof as ignorance heresies idolatry superstition c. The Discipline degenerated vnto intollerable tyrannye
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
¶ A BRIEFE and plaine declaration concerning the desires of all those faithfull Ministers that haue and do seeke for the Discipline and reformation of the Church of Englande Which may serue for a iust Apologie against the false accusations and slaunders of their aduersaries GOD IS MY DEFENDER AT LONDON Printed by Robert Walde-graue 1584. A praeface to the Christian Reader THE holy Prophets hauing oftentymes * but searched vvhen and at vvhat time the foreseeing spirit of God declared vnto them the manifold afflictions and troubles of the church to come haue therevpon entered into great lamentations for the same And haue not onely vvept and fasted them selues * but haue compiled for the church vvhole bookes of lamentations therein instructing them what vvay to take for appeasing the fierce wrath of God breaking out against them VVhich dutie in semblable maner should novv long agoe haue beene done of vs did not the hope vvee conceiue in the middest of manye tempestes confirme vs in such expectation of her maiestie and her most honourable counsell as that according to their clemencie tovvardes the poore ministers and their families but most especially according to their holye and zealous care vvhich ought to abound for the cleane driuing out of the Cananites and planting hedging pruning and continuall preseruing of the Lord his vineyard from Foxes yea little Foxes this ciuill vvar as a man may say of the church vvherein so much of that bloud * vvherof Paule speaketh is powred to the grounde shoulde by their holie and iuste authoritie fully bee ended Now vvhen as vve at this time are subiect almoste vnto all the afflictions vvhich can come vnto a church blessed of God vvith such a christian and happie regiment as to the prophane scoffing of the * Hammonits at the buylding of the church as at a vval vvhich a Fox should destroy to the conspiracies of the Arrabies and those of Ashod to the false * charges of sedition contempt of all good lavves and proceedinges like to that of Sanballat yea to the * prophetes them selues vndermining nay reuiling displacing and grieuouslye afflicting the Godly and learned ministerie so consequently plaging the Church vvith that plague vvherby * the priestes may mourne because there is no offering and the people perishe euen the yong men vvith the famine of hearing the vvorde of God preached when I say we are subiect to al these vvee can thinke of no vvaye for reconciling the brethren at variance after a most sure holy vnion of both their forces for a couragious setting vpon the common aduersary then the certaine peaceable and reasonable vvay following VVhich is that vvhereas both by bookes alreadie written and by treatizes latelye and novv published it may appeare vve seeke that vvhich at the least in the iudgement of all true Christians hath no small probabilitie as vve iudge necessitie of trueth out of the scriptures it maye please her most excellent maiestie and their honours to appoynt on both sides the best learned most Godly moderate men to debate all differences of vvaight betweene them and vs. So that first vpon sufficient consideration the questions to be debated be vvithout all ambiguitie set downe the reasons of both sides vvithout all out-goynges shortly and plainely deliuered in vvriting each to other that after vpon sufficient examination the reasons of both be continuallye confirmed and resolued till eyther by the euidence of truth one part yeeld vnto the other or the folly and madnes of those vvhich gaynesay it do in equall iudgement become manifest in regarde of the contradictions and absurdities vvhereto they shall bee dryuen by the force of Gods vvorde VVhich vvay though it shoulde come naked vnto vs can not well be refused but beeing richly attyred vvith all robes and ornaments vvhich the scripture giueth vnto the Synodicall assemblyes for such conferences as namely that there bee * much searching of the trueth by sufficient reasoning vvithout all by matters quarrels euasions and colours vvhatsoeuer that there be much * order vvhen the spirite of euerye prophet shall be subiect vnto the spirits of the other prophets the iudgement of al shalbe sufficiently heard vvithout stopping of free sufficient answere without Lordly carrying away of the matter with no substāce of reason vvhere no authoritie pregnancie of vvit plausible perswasion of mans vvisedome shall turn the truth aside but al shal stand in the * euident demonstration of Gods spirite lastly that there be * peace without all bitternes reuilinges suspicions chargings of men dead aliue wherby affections are mooued iudgement blinded and men driuen as vvith a mighty streame from the loue of the truth vvhen it commeth thus adorned vve thinke that vvhich we labor to procure to be so honorable * not only before God but also before men that none can iudge othervvise of it then vve doe For if any shall obiect that the graue authoritie of Archbishops Bishoppes shall receiue a checke whilest they are brought to deale with those whome they iudge fewe young vnlearned and not comparable to them selues or that it is a challenge not much vnlike the Papistes or lastly that it shall be preiudiciall to the estate of gouerment established It maye please their wisedomes vvho are to bee iudges to consider what vvee haue to aunsvvere vnto these things which if they haue the truth of God his word containe the safest best way in such cases tend to the full quieting of all and the remoouing of the plagues vvhich are vppon vs and are like dayly further to come euen from the cōmon aduersary VVe may boldly yet most humbly vppon our knees requyre them before God and all his elect Angels no◠to cast it away VVherfore for the first let vs grant the great difference vvhich they make of yeares and learning yet the speech of Elihu giueth them sufficient answere that this vnderstanding is not tyed to such outvvard respectes but to the * reuelation of Gods spirit and to accept in such cases the persons of men or to giue titles is but to prouoke God to destroy vs. Yea let the memorable examples of * Ezechias and the priestes of the Apostles in their counsels of * Paule in his Epistles and euen of * Peter in yeelding to the challenge of some not so well instructed mooue them vvho not onely not refused the Leuites Elders but accepted the people in some maner to be heard to speake and to authorize their determinations and writings at least let their own opinion that in interpreting the scriptures and deliuerye of doctrine we are equall vvith them persvvade them not to refuse those vvho if they coulde straine their consciences to subscribe to the Archbish. articles they would gladly receiue them to be the Ambassadors of Iesus Christ. As for the fevvnes it may bee if the ignorant ministers the varietie of other
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
and external domination clean contrarye to the commaundemente of Christ whereof insued all vnbrideled license of vngodly liuing To be short the exchaunge of the ordinaunce of God and Christ brought in nothing else but the Diuell and Antichriste Wherefore if we minde such a reformation as shall bee acceptable to God profitable vnto his church We must thoroughly bee resolued to set vp no new kinde of ministerye of our owne inuention neyther for teaching nor for discipline in the Ecclesiastical state but bring all thinges to that most perfect and absolute order which God himselfe hath established by his worde And because all offices of the Churche are so lincked togeather as the members of one bodye whereof Christe is the heade we will so describe one part as the descriptioÌ„ of theÌ„ al may be sufficiently coÌ„prehended therin As if a man wold set forth the manifold office vses of the haÌ„d he shold declare what it doth alone what it doth with the helpe of the other hand or with the arme with the brest with the knee or with the foot c what it caÌ„ do with diuers kinds of tooles what without al maner of instrumeÌ„ts This order we thought good to obserue in describing the ministery of the Church as by which both the distinction coÌ„municatioÌ„ of al offices seruices in the Church might most plainli appear Otherwise we force not by what method so the same truth be plainly set forth by any maÌ„ And as we controle not other mens methods by ours so we wold not that other mens maner of teaching shold be preiudicial to ours This we say because of theÌ„ which either for lack of wit or thorow too much wilfulnes if they see any difference in the form order of teaching of diuers men though in matter substaunce they all agree they exclaim there is no vnitie therfore no truth among theÌ„ Let vs then proceed in our purpose The office of teaching is the chiefe principall office that is in the church By that we be taught to know God how to serue him what benefits to look for at his hand without which knowlege ther caÌ„ be no felicity but only destruction loked for according to the saying of the wise man Wher propheciyng fayleth ther the people perish The ministery is diuided into two functioÌ„s they that exercise the first are called Pastors the other are called Doctors or Teachers The office of a Doctor is to teach as the very name doth declare but yet euery teacher is not meÌ„t thereby for it appertaineth to Pastors also to teach yet this latter is distinct froÌ„ the former Almighty God being carefull that true doctrin should continue in his church from time to time most wisely prouided that certain meÌ„ shold be appointed in euery coÌ„gregation whoÌ„ he hath endued with gifts meete for the same purpose which shoulde employe themselues either wholly or principally to the studie of holy scriptures therebye to learne to auouche the principles of true religion and to represse and beate downe al false and strange opinions of which sathan neuer ceaseth to sow the seeds but cheefly where this office is not set vp mayntained according to Gods ordinance These men must not content themselues with contemplatiue knowledge but as by the grace of God they excell other men in vnderstanding so they must diligentlye instruct other meÌ„ in the same learning and openly confute al false Doctrine and herisie and especially they ought to take payne in the instruction of such men as maye bee made meete to serue in the Churche as Pastoures and to succeede in their place as Doctours Their institution is set foorth 1. Corin. 12. 28. Also Ephes. 4. 11. In the former place the Apostle teacheth that they are the ordinaunce of God Sayth he God hath ordayned in the Church First Apostles Secondly Prophets Thirdly Doctors or Teachers In the latter place hee testifieth that our Sauior Christ ascended on high ledde capâ—iuitie captiue and hath giuen giftes vnto â—en amongst which gifts he accounâ—eth the function of Teachers Who â—â—oulde then refuse to imbrace the â—rdinaunce of God Who should deâ—riue vs of the free gyft of Christ The office of Doctours is briefly exâ—ressed in Rom. 12. 7. Let him that is Teacher attend vppon teaching where â—lso it is distinguished from other ofâ—ces and namely from the office of â—astors For it followeth immediatâ—e Let him that exhorteth which is a â—rincipall part of a Pastors office not â—ecessarily requyred in a Teacher Be â—ligent in his exhortation For the office of Doctours is onely to teach true doctrine and to confute all heresies and false opinions by the worde of God concerning all Articles prinâ—â—ples of Christian religion without applying their teaching to anye particular state of time of persons or places The example or practize of this office is set foorth Acts. 13. 1. Where it is recorded by S. Luke that Paule and Barnabas before the holy Ghost commanded them to be separated for the worke wherevnto he called them were in the number of prophetes and Doctors with Symeon Niger Lucius of Syrene and Manahenâ— in the Church of Antiochia where they continued in that office a wholâ— yeare in which Citie the Disciples were first called by the name of christians Act. 11. 26. Likewise Apolloâ— which was an eloquent man mightie in the scriptures firste at Ephesus but afterward beeing more perfectly instructed in the waye of God by Aquila and Priscilla in the church of Achaâ—a exercised the office of a Teacher with great profite of theÌ„ which had beleeued and to the great confusion of the stiffnecked Iewes while hee proued plainly by the scriptures that Iesus was the Christ. Act. 18. 28. Therefore if we purpose to haue the church to flourish in true knowlege we must prouide that this office be restored both in the vniuersities and in as manie other places as maye be as well for the better instruction of al men which are desirous to learne as especiallye for the information of those which shoulde occupye the â—oomes of Pastours of which sort â—here ought to be a great number alwayes in good towardnesse to take charge of so many seuerall flockes as must of necessitie be in so great a Church as this is Besides Doctors there must be Paâ—tours ordained in euery congregation which haue diuers appellations â—n the scripture as Eph. 4. They are â—alled by the name of Pastours beâ—ause they ought to feede the seueral â—ocks of Gods sheepe committed to â—heir charge As it appeareth Act. 20 â—8 1. Peter 5. 2. They are called also Elders not alwaies in respect of their â—ge but of their office and grauitie â—or Timothie was but a young man and yet had the office of an Elder This name was receiued of an anâ—ient custome of the people of Isâ—aell who vsed so to call those that were Rulers and Officers amonge them
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
is it to idlenesse and slouthfulnesse in them that bee alreadye in that vocation to beholde them that take no paine to liue in wealth and ease without punishement of their negligence But here againe it will be obiected because there are not liuinges able to maintaine all learned Pastors we must be inforced to admitte manie ignoraunt ministers But againe we aunswere it is our part not onely to prouide learned Pastours but also liuinges sufficient to maintayne them vppon the necessitie of Gods commaundement Let him that is instructed in the worde sayth Saint Paul minister to him that doth instruct him in all good thinges Be not deceaued for God is not mocked By which saying the Apostle confuteth all vaine excuses which manie are wonte to alleadge why they would contribute nothing to the maintenance of their Pastors al which he affirmeth to be vain because they haue to do with God and not with men onely For here is not regarded the liuing of a man but howe much they esteeme Christ and the Gospell of God Therefore except we will mocke God to his face Let vs obiect nothing to testifie such shamefull ingratitude that we would doubt how they should be prouided of bodely foode of whom we receiue the foode of our souls as though we coulde not afford them an earthely recompence of whome wee receiue heaunely benefits If nothing had bene before time allotted towards the liuing of the Pastors Yet were vvee bounde in payne of damnation to prouide sufficient for them and nowe there is somewhat towardes a liuing where there is least and in all places sufficient if it were well disposed Why should we obiect necessity through lacke of â—iuinges to reteine idols in steede of true Pastors Looke once againe into Fraunce for examples moue muche and beholde the Churches there impouerished and spoiled with long warres persecution vnquietnes They haue neither Byshoppricks Deaneries Prebends nor benefices to bestow on their Pastors and yet minister vnto them all things necessarie for an honest sober life And shall wee that haue all this while liued in peace and prosperitie vnder a godly and religious Princesse hauing all these helpes thincke it is impossible by disposition of godly and wise gouernours to appoint a sufficient portion for so manie learned Pastors as are necessarie for our Churches There is none excuse therefore to be admitted but that wee must endeuour to the vttermost of our power that euery seuerall congregation Church or parrishe be prouided of a learned Pastour For vnskilful sheepheardes haue beene to long thrust vppon vs to the great dishonour of God and defacing of the Gospell of Christe We haue hitherto taken vpon vs without warraunt of Gods worde to allow such for Pastours of mens soules whom no carefull owner of Cattell woulde make ouerseer of his sheepes bodyes Which thing almightye God hath alwayes detested and signified his mislyking by diuers testimonies both of the olde and newe Testament Therefore he sayeth by the Prophet Esaye complayning of the vnlearned Pastours of Israell which was the onelye cause of their affliction and miseries Their watchmen are all blinde they haue no knowledge they cannot barke they lye and sleepe and delight in sleeping and these greedie dogges can neuer haue ynough and these sheepheardes cannot vnderstande for they all looke to their owne way euery one for his aduantage and for his owne purpose Come I will bring wine and we wil fill our selues with strong drink and to morrowe shall bee as this day and much more aboundant If the Prophet had liued in these our days might he not haue spoken the same more truely of many Shiers in Englande We see therefore that blinde watchmen and ignoraunt dumbe Dogges and idle greedie Curres and vnlearned sheepheardes that serue for nothing but to fill their owne purses or their paunches by the testimonie of God his spirite are denied to be meet Pastours of the people of God The prophet Ezechiell also inueigheth at large against the vnfeeding sheepheardes of Israell saying Woe be vnto the sheepheardes of Israell which feede them selues shoulde not the sheepeheardes feede the flockes Yee eate the fat and you cloth you with the wooll yee kill them that are fedde but yee feede not the sheepe The weake haue yee not strengthened the sicke haue yee not healed neither haue yee bound vp the broken nor brought againe that which was driuen awaye neither haue yee sought that which was lost c. throughout the whole Chapter When feeding of Gods sheepe is a matter of so great importaunce and consisteth of so many partes which the Prophet hath heere described how shoulde we admit them whome God reiecteth which being ignoraunt and vnlearned knowe nothing at all and therefore nothing can do that appertaineth to this charge or any part thereof Vndoubtedly the retaining of such is a manifest token of the vengeance of God against vs for so he threatneth by the Prophet Zachary his wordes are these And the Lorde sayde vnto me Take to thee yet the Instrumentes of a foolish Sheepheard for loe I will rayse vp a Sheapheard in the Lande which shall not looke for the thinge that is lost nor seeke the tender Lambes nor heale that is hurt nor feed that which standeth vp but he shall eat the flesh of the fat tear their hooues in peeces O Idole sheaphearde that leaueth the flocke the Sworde shall bee vppon his arme and vpon his right eye his arme shall be cleane dried vp and his right eye shall bee vtterly darkened Now seeing we are taught by these wordes of the Lord God that it is a greate and horrible plague to haue the church of God encumbred with such foolish and Idole Sheapheards Let vs study to remoue such plagues from the flocke of Christe vvhose armes are cleane dried vp that they haue no force and their eyes vtterly darkned that they haue no skill so that they are not able to perfourme those duties which pertaine to a vvise and faythfull Sheaphearde excepte wee will betraye the Sheepe of Christe into the mouthes of rauenous Wolues and speciallye into the teethe of that greate ramping Lyon the deuill who neuer ceaseth going aboute to seeke whome hee may deuoure for his pray For what doe these readinge Ministers differ from those Idole Sheapheards which God in his vengeance threatneth to sende for the ingratitude of the people It wil be answered no doubt that to supplie their ignorance there are added to their appointed seruice manie Godly learned homilies which if they read with their seruice there is not so great neede of Preaching interpretation of the scriptures We will derogate nothing here from the dignitie of those homilies we will not accuse here the vnsensible reading of vnlearned ministers neither yet the vnreuerent contempt of the ignoraunt hearers but which all godly and wise men must needs confesse those exhortations that are not applied to the proper circumstances of times places persons
by other good means reforming vniuer sities by erecting of doctors teachers in as many places as may be by coÌ„pelling the vnlearned ministers in whome is any towardnes to become schollers in diuinity with some allow aunce of liuing if they bee willing to study or else to sende theÌ„ froÌ„ whence they came to get their liuinges with sweate of their brows and especially coÌ„sidering the gretnes of the haruest fewnes of the laborers by praying earnestly the Lord of the haruest in this great necessity of ours to thrust foorth labourers into his Haruest And in the meane time till God shal blesse vs with a sufficient number of learned pastors to take some extraordinarie and temporall order for ouerseeing the Churches that although they can not bee all sufficientlie instructed and gouerned yet so many shall not be altogether destitute of al knowledge and spiritual gouernment as ther are now in this most corrupt state of the Church in which we haue hitherto continued If any man thinke this is ouer harde to be brought to passe let him consider that there was neuer worke of more difficulty then to build vp the Church of God so that the necessity and commodity of the work should cause vs to stay nothing at the difficultie thereof For with our faithfull endeuor we shall not want the mighty assistance of God who will blesse our Godly labours with greater successe then we can looke for If God therefore will graunt that these and such like meanes may take place by the high authority of our dread soueraigne the Queenes Maiesty and continue this comfortable peace which we enioy vnder her most gratious gouernment wee dare ieopard oure liues that in lesse then halfe the time that is already prosperously passed of her Maiesties moste honourable and glorious reigne the necessity of learned pastors shall bee so well supplied as wee shall haue no great cause to complaine for lacke of them if we may vse like diligence to continue them if not we wil speÌ„d the rest of oure life in mourning expectation of the heauy vengeance of God which must needes fall vpon vs for this manifest contempt of his expresse commaundement aud neglect of increasing the glorious kingdome of our Sauiour Christe In the meane time we may boldly say with the Apostle Act. 20. We testify vnto you this day that we are cleane from the bloud of you all for we haue not failed to shew you the whole Counsell of God concerning the regiment of his Church Hitherto wee haue somewhat at large set foorth the principall parte of a Pastors office which is to preach the word of God and to instruct the people committed to his charge in the same Here followeth now in the second part of his duety which consisteth in right administration of the Sacramentes of God For seeing it hath pleased God to adde such outwarde signes to be helpes of our infirmitie as seales for confirmation of his promises vttered by his worde Rom. 4. 11. He hath appoynted ministers of the same to deliuer them vnto his people Math. 28. 19. Luke 22. 19. For no man may take vppon him any office in the Church but he that is called of God as was Aaron Heb. 3. 4. Seeing therefore that God hath giuen some to bee Pastours in his Church Ephes. 4. 11. And it is the duetie of Pastours to feede the flocke of God committed to their charge with all maner of spirituall pasture of their soules appoynted by God 1. Cor. 4. 1. And that the Sacramentes are a part of this spiritual food it is manifest that it belongeth to the dutie of Pastors to administer the holy Sacramentes and that the Sacramentes appertaine to the doctrine and worde of God it is euident that whome God hath instituted to be minister of the worde him also hath he made to be minister of the Sacramentes and as the Sacramentes are compared by the holye Ghost vnto seales and the worde or promise of God vnto writinges so it appertaineth to him to deliuer the seale which deliuereth the writings For as the seale hath alwayes relation vnto the writinges so haue the Sacramentes vnto the word of God By this it appeareth that as it is the duetie of euerye Pastour to administer the Sacramentes of Christe so this office appertayneth to none but to those which are ministers of the worde Our Sauiour Christ authorizing his Apostles to Baptize all Nations sayeth Goe yee foorth and teache all Nations baptizing them in the name of the father the sonne and the Ghoste teaching them to obserue all thinges that I haue commaunded you Likewise to the same effect Goe yee foorth into the whole worlde and preache the Gospell to euery creature he that shall beleeue and is baptized shall be saued c. Also instituting his holy supper hee sayde Doe this in remembraunce of me Which remembrance Saint Paul declareth that it ought to bee celebrated by preaching of the Lords death So often saith he as you shall eate of tbis Bread and drinke of this Cup you shal shew foorth the Lords death vntill he come By these testimonies it is euideÌ„t that the administratioÌ„ of the sacrameÌ„ts ought to bee committed to none but vnto such as are Preachers of the worde that are able to teach them that they baptise that are able to preache the mystery of Christs death to them to whom they doe deliuer the outward signe thereof Howe intollerable an abuse then is it of the sacraments of the Lord to commit the administration of them to those men that are not able to expounde the mystery of them And seeing the elementes of the worlde of which the outwarde â—art of the sacramentes is taken bee leade and beggerly of themselues except they bee animated and entiâ—hed with the promise and worde of God which is the life of the Sacramentes what can it bee better then â—acriledge to seperate the ministratition of preaching of the worde from the sacramentes And forasmuch as the spirite of God compareth the Sacraments to seales that are added for confirmation of writinges wee knowe well that a worde or writing may be auailable without a seale but â—euer a seale without a writing Therefore in this behalfe we haue â—ad greate defaulte so long time to â—ommit the administration of the Sacramentes to those men who not onely haue beene knowne to be vnable but also haue beene forbidden to preach the word And that which is more strange to be suffered in this cleare light of the Gospel to permit the ministration of baptisme not only to ignorante men but also to women which haue no voyce to speake in the congregation 1. Cor. 14. 34. 1. Tim. 2. 11. and that in priuate places but in case they say of necessity as though there were such necessity of the outward signe when it cannot bee ministred according to the institution of Christ which is nothing els but to
affirme with the Papistes that Sacraments confer grace of the work wrought and that the sacrament of baptisme is a sacrament of such necessity that whosoeuer is not dipped in water must be eternally condemned Which hereticall opinion as we haue hissed out in our profession and preaching so is it a great shame for vs to maintain by such corrupt vsage of Christes holy sacramentes Let vs therefore reteine this principle that the administration of the sacraments is a part of the pastors duety for although the office of preaching bee more excellent then of ministration of the sacraments as S. Paul speaketh comparatiuely Christ sent me not to baptize but to preach 1. Cor. 1. 17. Yet they are of such affinitie that the accessory cannot be seperated from the principall thereof For where is no preacher of the worde ther ought to be no minister of the Sacramentes Furthermore it pertaineth to the dutie of the pastor to make prayers as Act. 16. 16. not onely priuate as all men are bound to doe but also publike prayers in the name of the whol Church Act. 6. 4. 1. Timot. 2. 1. being the mouth thereof For whereas the spirit of God commandeth al things to be done in decent and comely order and forbiddeth all confusion and disorder As it were great confusiō vncomelines for euery man to make his seuerall praiers in the publike assemblies so is it orderly for one to pronounce the praier in the name of the rest and the rest to pray with him in silence to answer Amē It is also decēt that he which is the shepherd should go before the sheep in praier the sheepe to follow him in lifting vp of their harts in mutuall consent Moreouer for asmuch as preaching and administration of the sacramēts ought not to bee vsed without publique prayers as it is the Pastors office to preache and minister the Sacraments so is it his duety also to go before his flocke in publique prayers But heere we haue to obserue two things the first that as it perteineth to the Pastor to conceiue publique praiers so it is the duty of the whole Church in the name of the whole Church to ioyne in hart with the pastor in the same praiers that they knowing and vnderstanding what he hath praied may at the end giue ther consent by answering Amen Wherin their is great abuse in our Churches For as though it weare notinough to keepe out preaching by longe prescribed formes of praier these praiers are so pronounced by the minister that a great number some not of the worst disposed people thinck it perteineth not to them to giue eare or consent of mind vnto them We speake not here of such insensible Readers whose voyce eyther cannot be heard or else cannot be vnderstood wherof there be great numbers nor of the vnfit place prescribed for the ministers standing at prayer in the east ende of the house whē the simple people shal stand oftētimes 40. or 50. yards of in the west ende or of the confusion of voyces whilest all speake at once besides scrines of roode-lofts Organe lofts Idoll cages otherwise called Chauntrie Chappelles and high pewes betweene them which although they do manifestly hinder edifycation yet may they not be remooued in many places for defacing the beauty of the materiall houses whereas S. Paule so much estemeth the building of gods spirituall house that he commaundeth the glorious giftes of the holye Ghost to cease in the congregation when they do not helpe to edification But we speake of this that a great multitude thinke they haue wel serued God if they haue been present at common prayers or anye part of them as they were wont to thinke in popery although they bee neuer so vainly occupyed in the Church some in walking some in talking in gathering of money not onely for the poore but for other contributions c. And they that thinke they doe best are occupyed in their priuate praiers or in reading of books while their minister pronounceth publique praiers Thus as preaching is neglected vppon colour of publique prayers So publique prayers by priuate exercises are made altogether vnprofitable to a great number For who knoweth the right vse of publique prayer but they that are taught by the word of God Let vs therfore establish publique preaching and publique prayers will follow of necessitie But if we continue to vpholde formal praiers that preaching bee neglected it will come to passe that neither shall be regarded For what did thrust out preaching from the Romishe Church but long prescript formes of reading of singing of praying so that their ordinarye was ynough and to much to occupye the whole daye though there were no sermon wheras contrariwise there woulde be no ordinarie publique prayer without preaching Which terrible example of the practize of Sathan in the man of sinne shoulde make vs afrayde to giue any like occasion of such inconuenience hereafter to come For is not this opinion already growen into a great manye mens heades that the seruice maye not giue place to a sermon no though the time be not sufficient for both And are ther not many that had much rather heare a chaunted Mattens and Euensong then a godly learned sermon Yea they frequent the one and refuse the other Let Cathedral Churches c. be an example where you shall see a great number that tarrye while the seruice is songe but depart so soone as the Sermon beginneth While the Organes pipe some are drawen with the sweetnes of musike to come vp but while the preacher cryeth out continue beneath and in laughter or brawling be lowder then he oftentimes So that which was wont to be sayd of the Masse Missa non mordet the masse was a gentle beast and did bite no man and therfore was so well beloued of manye may rightly be verified of our ordinary seruice For therefore a great number can so well away with it because it doth not sharpely reprooue them of theire sinnes nor disclose the secreates of their heartes but that they maye continue still in all kinde of voluptuousnes and al other kind of wickednes Wheras by preaching their conscience is gauled ther wickednes and hipocrisy discouered their damnation threatned they are called to repentaunce and forsaking of their pleasant sinnes and to holynesse and innocencie of life So that if there be any sparke of the feare of God in them hearing preaching so often as they vse to heare seruice they will fall downe on their faces worship God acknowledging the great power of God in his ministers 1. Cor. 14. 15. But that they cannot away with all beeing like vnto Felix the liefetenaunt of the Romanes in Iewrie Who when he heard Paule a poore prysoner that stoode before him bound in chaines preaching of righteousnes of temperaunce and of the iudgement to come he was wearie of him because he was a great oppressour and an
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
that wee haue shewed before to bee the duetye of a Pastor may also bee called his authority as to preach and teach wherein is included his authoritye to forgiue and retaine sinnes also his authoritye to minister the Sacramentes and to doe other thinges in the Churche which none may doe but hee But in this place wee vnderstande authority for power of gouernment in the Church Whereof the Apostle speaketh that it is one of the graces and giftes of GOD necessarye for the building of his Church This authority of regiment we haue declared that it ought not to be a Lordly ruling neither ouer their flocke nor yet ouer their fellowe seruauntes and brethren and leaste of all that they ought to haue dominion or Lordship ouer the faith of the Church In all these the man of sinne hath exalted him selfe contrary to the worde of God So that he would be head of all the Church Byshop of all Byshops and haue authoritye to make nevve Articles of Faythe Whose vntollerable presumption as we haue long since banished out of this Lande so we wish that no steppes of such pride and arrogancy might be left behind him namely that no elder or minister of the Church shoulde challendge vnto himselfe or accept it if it were offred vnto him any other authority then that is allowed by the spirit of God but cheefly to beware that hee vsurp no authority which is forbidden by the word of God For wherefore do wee deâ—est the Pope and his vsurped supremacy but bicau â—se he arrogateth the same vnto himself not only with out the warrant of Gods worde but also cleane contrarye to the same Now if the same reasons authorities that haue banished the Pope do serue to condemn all other vsurped authoritye that is practised in the Church Why shoulde not all such vsurped authority be banished as well as the Pope We can alledge against the Pope and rightly that which S. Ioh. Baptist did answere to his disciples No man can take vnto himself any thing except it be giuen him from Heauen Ioh. 3. 27. And that saying of the Apostle to the Hebrewes No man may take vpoÌ„ him any honor in the church of God but he that is called of God as was Aaron Insomuch that Christe himselfe did not giue himselfe to be an high Priest but he that saide vnto him Thou art my Sonne this day I haue begotten thee Hee sayth in another place Thou art a priest for euer after the order of Melchisedec Now seeing these rules are so generall that the Sonne of God him selfe was not exempted from them but shewed foorth the decree wherein he was authorized By what rule caÌ„ any man reteine that authority in the church of god which is not called thereto by the worde of God Likewise we can alledge again against the supremacie of the Pope to proue that Peter was not superiour to the other Apostles that which our sauiour Christ sayeth to his Apostles Luk. 22. 26. and Mat. 20. 25. Mark 10. 42. It shall not be so among you but he that is greatest amongst you shall be as the yongest and he that ruleth as he that serueth And Mat. 23. 8. You haue but one master which is Christ and all you are brethren If these places prooue that the Pope ought not to bee aboue other ministers of the church Why doe they not likewise proue that the Ministers are equal among themselues And for the most part all those arguments and authorities of Scripture that are vsed to confute the vsurped authoritie of the pope are of as great force aganst all other vsurped authorities of one pastor ouer an other Therfore while we intreate of the authoritie of the pastors we must take heede that we open not a window to popish tyrannie in steede of pastorall authoritye that we enlarge not the bounds of authoritye without the boundes of the Scripture Wherefore while wee search the Scripture the onelye rule whereby the Church of God oughte to be gouerned we finde that in regiment gouernaÌ„ce of the church the pastor bishop or elder hath none authority by himself seperated from other For in the Church ther ought to be no monarchy or sole absolute gouernment but that is referred peculiarly to our sauiour Christe only 2. Tim. 6. 7. Iude. 4. And that regimente which hee hath left vnto his Church is a consent of his houshold seruaunts to do all things according to his prescription as he witnesseth Math. 18. 19. If two of you consent vpon earth vppon any matter what soeuer ye shall aske it shall bee graunted to you of my Father which is in Heauen For wheresoeuer two or three bee gathered together in my name there am I in the middest of them Seeing therefore that our Sauiour Christe hath neither authorized nor promised to blesse anye other forme of regiment then that which consisteth of the consent and gathering together of his Seruauntes in his name wee holde vs content with this simplicity and therefore we are bolde to say that the authoritye of a Pastour in publique Regiment or Discipline seperate from others is nothing at all Let vs then see what is his authority ioined with others and first who are so ioyned in Commission with him that without their consent hee can do nothing We say therefore that the authority of Christ is left vnto his whole Church and so to euery church that none may challeÌ„ge Episcopall or Metropoliticall authority as it is with vs at this day ouer other without greate tyrannye and manifest iniury For seeing our Sauiour Christe promised his presence and authority to euery Churche indifferentlye Math. 18. 19. 20 None may challenge any such prerogatiue aâ—ore other but as the Churches are limitted out for order conueniency so is euery one of them of like authority in it self but because they make al but one church one body of Christ therefore there is but one authority in them to determine of matters concerning them all By which ther appeareth to be a double authority of the Pastor one with the seuerall congregation in which he is Pastour the other with the whole Synode or assembly whereof hee is a member and both these authorities wee finde sufficientlye authorized in the Scripture as shall playnâ—lye appeare in the seuerall Discourses of them First therefore wee will speake of his authoritye in his seuerall Churche in which hee maye doe nothing without the consente of the Churche And first let vs examine whether this authority bee so diffused ouer the whole Churche that the hearing trying and determyning of all matters pertayneth to the vvhole multitude or to some speciall chosen persons amongest them meete for that purpose The authoritye is the power of our Lorde Iesus Christe graunted vnto the Church But because the iudgement of the multitude is confuse whereas God is not the authoure of Confusion but of order and that
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
finde in euery place So that Ieroboam neuer made worse Priestes of the refuse of the people to serue his Golden Calues then they haue ordayned Ministers to feede the Flocke of Christe which hee hathe purchased with his owne bloude This complaint we confesse is greeuous but the indignity of the matter inforceth it We know that vaine excuses shall not be wanting of necessity c. But if necessity compelled thē to take such at the first what necessity compelleth them to suffer them to bee such still For if they woulde needes admit ignoraunt persons to that charge yet should they haue enforced them to study as wel as to other thinges they haue inforced them vnto that in time they might haue growne to be meete for their calling Which if they had done in 10. 12. or 13. yeeres space a great many might haue proued excellētly well learned and able to serue in the Church with great fruit and profit and the rest according to proportion of their time might haue come to some mediocrity in knowledg wheras nowe as ignoraunt and as vnfit as they were the first day so are they still for the moste parte and will so continue to theire liues ende if they may be suffered in idlenesse as they haue beene hitherto Then it is a torment to thinke what ambitious suing what enuious labouring what vnseemelie flattering what prodigall bribing is vsed to attayne to greate dignities in the Church to farre vnmeete for the modesty and grauitye that shoulde be in Christian preachers And as for the inferior benefices from the fattest Parsonadge to the poorest Vicaradge almoste if it bee worth 40. pounds by the year what Symonicall bargains of leases Annuities Reseruations exhibitions yea notwithstanding the Act of Parliament Anno. 13. by Antedates and other subtil conueyances what christian heart can think of them without detestation of such horrible abuses Shall we speak here any thing of the popish priesthood the greatest blasphemy that euer was how long was it allowed for a lawfull ministery vntill by the Godlye meaning of the sayde Parliament some brandmarke of shame was set vppon it But howe pitifullye that authority was abused which was by the same statute committed to the bishops in allowing of priests that came to doe their penance by negligence of the bishops bribery of their Officers the country crieth out of it and the state of the church is little amended by it Old Sir Iohn Lacklatin that had not seen some of his benefices a dosē yeare before was carried aboute on his Mare and sometimes on a Cart First to the bishop whom he chose if he might for his purpose such one as had bene a priest of his owne order and cared leaste what ministers serue in his Diocesse and then from Shire to Shire one distant an hundred mile from another mumbling vp his Articles in his morowmasse voice in euery Church where hee had liuing and returned as very a beaste as hee came But this and all other inconueniences before rehearsed shoulde vtterlye bee auoyded if wee mighte once establish the lawfull election of Pastours according to the word of God It were also greatly to bee wished that it might bee broughte to passe that in euery Congregation there shoulde be two pastors at the least both because the charge is great and also for supplying the lack of the one if the other were sicke or absent vppon necessity or any such like case Which thing were both agreeable to the example of the Apostolike Churche and also verye profitable for the Congregation Wee doe not meane this in euerye Parish as they bee nowe distinguished but in euery Congregation as they may be disposed both for best edifying and also for sufficient liuing for the Pastors It will bee obiected when we haue all thinges at our pleasure concerning the Election of Pastors yet will there creepe in many abuses Wee answere they shall not so soone nor so easily nor so many abuses creepe in as nowe at wide Windowes yea great port-gates doe throng in But if as many or more abuses if more coulde bee were crept in yet were the case better then it is now for we shoulde be sure that God approoueth our order though he condemn the abuses because it is grounded vpon Gods worde whereas now he abhorreth both But of the authority that Pastors haue as members of the Synode we haue spoken hitherto sufficiently By which it is euidēt how all things haue beene corrupted in Poperye which had at the first any good institution which corruptions we also retaine at this day without desiring of any refourmation For to begin first with our particuler Synodes good lord what a mockery they are of law ful synodes beeing holden for no other ende almoste but to gather vp fees both ordinary extraordinary with dayly newe deuises to poll the poore Priestes of their mony which they extort for seeing the Letters of orders for Dynners and suche like matters And yet a newe inuented pyllage vvhereby they compell men to buy Bookes of them for 4. pence or 6. pence which are to deare of a peny or two pence and not onelye suche small Ware but also greate bookes beeing such as euerie parish is appointed to buy must be bought of them for two or three Shyllinges in a Booke dearer then it may bee bought in Paules Church-yarde yea otherwhiles though the Parish bee furnished of them alreadye they are not authenticall except they be boughte at Master Chauncellers and Officiall at Master Regesters hands As for refourmation of any thing in the Churche there are indeede many presentments and men sworn to presente matters but little or none amendmente at all doth followe So that it is a common saying in the Countrie when the presentment is once receyued they shal neuer heare more of it Soone after the Visitation or Synode the petitbribing Sumner rideth foorth laden with Excommunications which hee scattereth abroad in the Country as thicke as Haileshot against this parson and that Vicar this Church warden and that Side-man whome hee himselfe when he came to summon him to the Synode for a Cheeze or a Gammon of Bacon had vndertaken to excuse for none apparaunce But when he is once Excommunicated there is no remedy but hee must trudge to the Chauncelour or Officiall for absolution who after hee hath once absolued his Purse of a fewe Groates giueth him his blessing and sendeth him away And this is the image of our litle or particuler Synode Our generall Conuocations haue a more shevve of good order but in effect little better For firste they are stuffed full of Popish and prophane Chauncelloures and other Lawyers which beeing meere laye men and vnlearned in Diuinitie by their owne Lawe ought to be no members of the Synode And yet these will beare the greatest sway in all thinges The Byshops as though they were greater then the Apostles must haue their seuerall couuenticle wheras the Apostles and elders came
reade also to bee obserued by the christian kinges of Fraunce Spaine yea and of this our Brittany also in gouerning their Ecclesiastical state by the aduise of the Cleargie of their dominion But it will perhaps be sayd that for Princes to subscribe to the determination of priestes as they call them is no supremacie but a subiection We answer it is no subiection vnto men but to God his worde to doe nothing in these matters but by the faithfull aduise of theÌ„ that know his will are bounde to teach it vnto all men No more then it is to be counted a subiection for a Prince in ciuill affayres to follow the aduise of wise and faithfull Counsellers Whereby we see that if Gods ordinaunce were not plaine in the scriptures yet reason it self wold conclude that if in Temporal matters a wise prince wil doe nothing of weight without the counsell of wise men how much more in Gods busines which are of greatest importaÌ„ce shold they not decree any thing with out the aduise of them that be learned in those matters And if all princes by heathen wise mens iudgments are so rulers that they are seruaunts of the laws of the coÌ„mon wealth why should it be accounted for anye dishonour vnto princes to be obedient to the lawes of God their father and to serue to the commoditie of the church their mother It is a greater honor to be the son of God and the child of the church then to be a monarch of al the earth Of this honourable subiection to GOD and his church Esay prophesieth Chapiter 49. 23. Kinges shall be thy nursing Fathers and Queenes shall bee thy Nurses They shall worship thee with their faces towardes the earth and licke the dust of thy feete and thou shalt know that I am the Lord. The prophet meaneth that Kinges and Queenes shal be so careful for the preseruatioÌ„ of the church that they shall thinke no seruice too base for them so they maye profite the Church of Christ withal Vnto this honourable subiection the holy Ghost exhorteth princes in the second psalme after that they haue tryed that they preuayle nothing in stryuing againste the kingdome of Christ Be now therefore wise O yee Kinges be learned that iudge the earth serue the Lord with feare and reioyce vnto him with trembling Declaring that it is a ioyfull seruice to bee obedient to Christ yea to serue GOD is indeede to reigne And especiallye it is to be noted where Saint Paule commaundeth prayers and supplications to bee made for the conuersion of Kinges vnto the knowledge of the truth and their own saluation that he alleadgeeth this reason That we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all Godlinesse and honestie vnder their protection A godly and honest life wee may liue vnder enemies of the Churche and persecutors but a peaceable and quiet life in all godlinesse and honesty only vnder a christian Prince This thing therefore the Church most humbly desireth of the prince for this end the Church continually prayeth to GOD for the Prince in this respect the Churche most obediently submitteth her self vnto the Prince as a Childe to his nurce that both prince and people may honour God in this life and after this life reigne with Christe euerlastingly Thus haue we breefely set foorth a form of reformation touching matters ecclesiastical as we are throughly perswaded agreeable to the word of God and as we are able to proue consenting with the example of the primitiue Church building only vppon the most sure foundation of the canonicall scriptures but intending more at large if occasion shall serue hereafter to set foorth the practize and consent of the Godly fathers in their Actes Counsels and writinges following the same rule interpretation of the scripture that we haue done Therfore we protest before the liuing God and his holy Angels and before the Lord Iesus Christ that shal come to iudge the quicke and the dead and before the Queenes maiestie our most gratious Soueraigne the whole assemblie of all estates of this Realme that as the whol world may plainly see we seeke hereby not our owne profite ease nor aduancement but onely the glorye of God and the profite of his Church so by this present writing wee discharge our conscience according to our dutie which is to shew vnto all men the true waye of reformation and to mooue them that haue authoritie to put it in practize and to seeke by all lawfull and ordinarye meanes that it may take place that if it may please God to giue it good successe at this time to be imbraced we maye fulfill the rest of our course with ioy But if our sinnes be the let that this or the like grouÌ„ded vpon Gods worde may not now be receiued yet the present age may see iudge what is the vttermost of our desire concerning reformation which hitherto for lacke of such a publike testimoniall hath been subiect to infinite slaunders deuised by the aduersaries of Gods truth hinderance of Godly procedings vnto reformatioÌ„ And that the posterity may know that the truth in this time was not generallye vnknowen nor vntestified concerning the right regiment of the church of god nor this disordered forme of ecclesiasticall gouernement which we haue receiued for the most part of popery deliuered to our Children without contradictioÌ„ that our example shold not be preiudicial vnto them as the exaÌ„ple of our Godly fathers which in this poynt neglected their duetie hath beene preiudiciall vnto vs. The Lorde graunt for Christes sake that we beeing so farre from perfection God may open al our eyes to see the same and bend our heartes earnestly to labour to attaine therevnto and in the mean time so farre as we haue attained that we may proceede al by one rule that we may be like affectioned to seeke the glory of God and to build vp the ruynes of his temple that with one hearte and with one voyce we maye praise the Father of our Lorde Iesus Christ in his holye Temple which is the congregation of saints in the holy ghost to whom be al honor Dominion for euermore Amen FINIS 1. Pet. 9. 10. Lamen 1. 2 3. 4. Ioel. 2. Act. 20. 26. Neh. 4. 2. 3. 4 Neh. 4. 7. Neh. 6. 5. 6. Neh. 10. 11. 12 Ioel. 1. 9. Amos. 8. 11. 12. 13. Act. 15. 7. 1. Cor. 14. 13. 32. 1. Cor. 2. 4. 1. Cor. 14. 33 Act. 14. 16. Iob. 32. 7. 8. Iob. 32. 21. 22. 2. Chro. 30. 1 5. 23. ver Actes 15. 23. Gal. 1. 1. Act. 11. 1. 2. 3 4. c. D. VVhitgifts booke page 389. Tim. 3. 15. The definition of the Church 2. Tim. 3. 17. VVhat ministers are appointed in the church Ephes. 4. 11. 1. Cor. 12. 28. Act. 14. 23. Titus 1. 5. Rom. 12. 6. 1. Cor. 12. 28 Ephes. 4. 11. Math. 28. 19. Mark 16. 25. Act. 1. 15. Act. 12. 2. Act. 13. 2. 1. Cor. 12. Ephes. 4. 11. Acts. 11. 28 21. 10. Acts. 20. 23 Acts. 8. 5. Act. 8. 14. Acts. 21. 8. 2. Tim. 2. 5. 5 1. Corin. 14. VVhat offices remaine in the Church Doctors Ephes. 4. 13. 1. Cor. 12. 27. Ephes. 2. 20. 2. Thes. 2. 1â— Prou. 29. 18. The office of a Doctor Ephes. 4. 11. Rom. 12. 7. Rom. 12. 8. Acts. 11. 26. Acts. 18. 28. Pastors and their Titles Acts. 20. 28. 1. Pet. 5. 2. Num. 11. 16. Mala. 2. 7. Heb. 7. 12. 24 Act. 14 23. Act. 20. 17. 1. Tim. 5. 17. Tit. 1. 5. Iam. 5. 14. Pet. 5. 2. Act. 20. 17. Phillip 1. 1. 1. Tim. 3. 2. 8. Tit. 1. 5. 6. 7. 1. Pet. 5. 1. 1. Pet. 5. 1. 2. 3 4. Pet. 2. 25. Luk. 22. 25. Mat. 20 25. Mark 10. 41. Iohn 13. 13. Mat. 23. 8. 3. Iohn 9. Heb. 13. 7. 1. Pet. 5. Tit. 1. 5. Tit. 1. 5. Actes 14. 23 Rom. 12. 7. 8. Acts. 20. 2. Tim. 3. 16. 17. 2. Tim. 4. 1. 2 1. Tim. 3. 2. Tit. 2. 9. Rom. 10. 14. Math. 21. 22. Mark 11. 15. John 2. 14. Gal. 6. 6. 1. Cor. 9. 7. Gal. 6. 6. 7. Esai 56. 10. 11. 12. Eze. 34. 2. 3. 4 Zac. 15. 16. 16 1. Pet. 1. 8. Math. 15. 14. Math. 5. 13. Acts. 20. 18. 19. 20. Acts. 20. 26. Acts. 20. 31. Math. 9. 38. Actes 20. 26. 27. Rom. 4. 11. Math. 28. 19. Luke 22. 19. Heb. 3. 4. Ephes. 4. 11. 1. Cor. 4. 1. Math. 28. 19. Mark 16. 15. Luke 2â— 19. 1. Cor. 24. 1. Cor. 14. 34. Tim. 2. 11. 1. Cor. 1. 17. Act. 16. 16. Acts. 6. 4. Tim. 2. 1. 1. Cor. 14. 16. 1. Cor. 14 40. 1. Cor. 14. 16 1. Cor. 14. 28. 1. Cor. 14. 15 1 Cor. 14. 15 26. 1. Cor. 11. 17. 1. Cor. 14. 23. 24. 25. 26. 31. 1. Cor. 14. 40 1. Cor. 14. 28. 1. Tim. 2. 15. Acts. 28. 29. 1. Cor. 12. 28. 1. Pet. 5. 3. Luke 23. 26. 2. Cor. 1. 14. Hierarchia Iohn 3. 27. Heb. 5. 4. Philip. 2. 6. Luke 22. 26. Math. 20. 25 Mark 10. 42. Math. 23. 8. 2. Tim. 6. 15. Math. 18. 19. Math. 18. 19. 20. 1. Cor. 28. 29 Rom. â—2 8. Acts. 14. 23. 1. Tim. 5. 7. Acts. 14. 23. â— Cor. 5. 4. Math. 18. 17. Num. 11. 6. Mat. 18. 1. Tim. 4. 14. Luke 22. 66. Acts. 20. 5. The ende of Discipline 1. Cor. 5. 2. Cor. 2. 1. Cor. 5. 11. Tit. 3. 10. 2. Tim. 2. 16. 1. Tim 1. 20. 2. Ioh. 10. 11. Math. 18. 15. 16. c. â— Thes. 3. 6. 1. Cor. â— 1. Tim. 5. 19 21. 1. Cor. 5. 4. 2. Cor. 1. 10. 1. Tim. 2. 20. 1. Tim. 2. 20. Ioh. 13. 29. Actes 6. Ioh. 12. 8. 1. Tim. 3. 8. Phil. â— 1. Rom. 12. 8. 1. Cor. 12. 28. 1. Tim. 5. 5. Act. 11. 30. 1. Tim. â— 1. Tim. 3. 13. Phillip 1. 1. Act. 6. Act. 21. 18. â—al 2. 9. 12. Act. 6. 20. 29 Genes 9. 4. Act. 15. Actes 14. 23. 1. Tim. 4. 14. Chusing of Clearkes of the ConuocatioÌ„ house Actes 15. 2. Cor. 1. 14. Actes 15. Esay 49. 23. Psal. 2. 10. 11 1. Tim. 2. 2.