might enioye his kingdome euerlastinglie how carefully and how long euen for the space off fortie daies togither did he talke with his disciples touching his kingdome For these are those charges and commandements which S. Luk and S. Mathewe doe write that he gaue to his Apostels and Embassadors off the administracion and gouernment off his empire and whereoff he commaÌ„ded them to giue his subiectes warning to kepe them with all dewtie and reuerence And after he was sette in his kinglie throne doe we not see how he prouided all thinges which were necessarie not only for the first foundacion off the church by meanes off Apostels and prophetes but also for the preseruacion off it foreuer by Pastors and Doctors But that I be not longer then is needefull in so cleare a matter how cam yt to passe that there was one order forme and discipline off all the churches which were founded by the Apostels excepte they receiued the paterne from Christe him selfe which they thowght not lawfull to alter and chaunge And S. Paul seing he had no more receyued this parte touching discipline from the Apostels then the rest off â—he Gospell for he had established many godlye churches many yeres before that he had conferred with them off his doctrine from whence I saie receyued he all that forme and order off establishung the churche by excepte he were taught off Christe by reuelacion as well concerning this as concerning the rest off the Gospell But I will shut vp all this matter touching the originall off discipline that it commeth from god and is therfore vnchaungeable and perpetuall and common to all churches with that earnest charge which S. Paul geueth Timothie touching the keping and manteining theroff who hauing tawght his scholer all the order off ruling the howse off God which is the churche I charge the saithe he in the sight off that God which quickneth all thinges and Iesus Christe who made that worthie confession before Pontius Pilate that thow kepe these preceptes without blaÌ„e or reprofe euen to that notable coÌ„ming off our lorde Iesus Christe and so forth as the Apostle with most earnest wordes doth charge him Off which place I gather first that allmightie God and our Sauiour Iesus Christe are the authors off that discipline which S. Paule had taught in that epistle forasmuche as they are noted to be the punyshers and auengers off all those who shall breake yt I note furder also that this order off discipline is constaunte and vnchangeable which may neyther be broken for any mans power or authoritie nor altered for any mans fauour seing that it is not only called a commandment but is geuen also with suche a charge Tymothie being warned before the allmigtie God and our Sauior Iesus Christe to beare him selfe therin without blame and reprofe Last off all that yt is no commandment belongâ—ng to any certein tyme but perpetuall and perteyning to all tymes and states off the churche Seing yt is so expresselie commanded that it should be kepte vnto the comming off our lorde Iesus Christe But how blame worthie were many afterwardes and how fowlie stained with the transgression off this holie coÌ„mandment for at the last Satan that conning workman to dostroie the churche hauing made them to forgette this earnest charge off the Apostle and hauing laide to the walles off the churche those twoe engines off Couetoussnes and Ambicion which destroye aswell churches as cyties did cast downe the strong holdes whereby it was mayntened and preserued But what did these so greate Patrones and Protectors how grieuouslie did they punyshe not only the necligence off men but there sinfull and vnfaithfull wickednes The stories doe testifie how that by litle and little with the corruption off Discipline Doctrine also beganne to be corrupted vntill that at the last they were bothe allmost cleane taken awaie and the churche abolished For they knowe not I saie plainelie they knowe not who being content with the doctrine off the Gospell neglecte discipline that the disposicion and nature of these two is like the disposicion off twoe sisters who are twines or off those brotherne off whome Hypocrates speaketh who beganne to be sicke together and to amende togither so that fot the naturall inclinacioÌ„ and disposicioÌ„ of the one towardes the other they were affected one with the others healthe and infirmitie Wherefore seing that god of his infinite goodnes gathered togither againe our churche in these daies and that trewe doctrine as the elder syster is recouered let vs not hinder hir as hir nature is iff she be not hindred to affecte also discipline with hir healthe that as it beganne to be sicke togither with doctrine yt maie be also recouered togither with yt And let vs be moued with the remembraunce of the former calamities to the restoring againe of a pure gouernment off the churche excepte we esteme it not to haue the almightie god and our Sauior Iesus Christe readie to punyshe vs and to be reuenged on vs for the neglecte off his discipline and to knowe at the last to our greate perill and daunger how necessarie it is for the churche and how acceptable vnto god But whie doe I saie lest we knowe at the last seing that we haue alreadie proued not many yeres since by the banyshement and fliing off subiectes by sâ— so crewell burnyng and murdryng off our brethren and horrible wastyng of our churche how greatlie the former reformacion being not sincere as it owght to haue bene displeased our Lorde and god But to returne to that from whence I haue digressed I thincke it plaine and manifest by that which hath bene said which I purposed to proue in the beginning that is to saie that the rule and paterne off discipline is not to be drawne from the ordinaunces and fantasies off men but from the worde off god which thing as it hath long tyme preserued puritie and sinceritie in those churches wherin all thinges are reformed according to goddes worde So all the corruptions which are in our churche this daie spring from no other heade then this that we haue followed popishe dreames and fantasies as most stickyng syncks and chanells leauing the pure fountames off the worde off god For I see and perceyue that the master Builders off our churche in repairing off yt againe were so wholy bent vnto the doctrine that they neuer thowght off Discipline and so reteined yt still almost wholie suche as it was amonghest the Papistes whereupon it coÌ„meth that all the gouernmeÌ„t of our churche is not takeÌ„ out of Goddes worde but out off the cannon lawe and decrees off Popes Which wither it were done by reason off the ignoraunce off those daies or off negligence or for ambicion and vaine glorie or because they thought that popishe discipline might be tollerated for a tyme or for what purpose soeuer Surelie no man can doubte but that yt was to the greate hindraunce and discommoditie off the churche which knoweth
it throwglie and with diligeÌ„tlie considereth how small frute hath groweÌ„ off so long trauaile and labor in the preaching off the gospell Out off this CaÌ„non lawe came all that romyshe Hierarchie primates Archbishoppes Lord Bishoppes Chancellors Achdeacons and there seruantes Officialls Commissaries and therest off that Trashe by whom the churche as it were taken prisoner is now off long tyme kepte in prison and bondage From hence commeth also that romische courte wheron a most shamefull markete off vnlawfull and wicked dispensacions and all gainful meanes off destrouing the churche is kepte wold to God that we had rather suffred the papistes when they were cast out to haue gone awaie with there bagge and baggage and that we had not had so greate a desire to be enriched by these spoiles and praies This is not beleue me to he enriched with the Iewells off the Egyptians but to be infected with there boyâ—es and soares These eare ringeâ— and Egyptian ornamentes which we haue gotteÌ„ are fytter to make a golden calfe with then to adorne and beautifie the tabernacle off god Therfore let vs send them backe againe froÌ„ whence they come and at the last take in hand an earnest and sincere reformacion off the churche Let vs abrogate and abolishe the authoritie off this Canon lawe then the which there is nothing lesse canonycall and which is the fyrst and greatest faulte in our discipline and the fountaine and originall off all the rest and Let this be the fyrst article off the newe reformacion that all thinges be exacted as nere as maie be vnto the worde off god That our particular lawes grownde vpon this foundacon and let so much be admitted for Ecclesiasticall discipline as may be confirmed by the voice and authoritie off God him selfe And thus muche let yt suffice generally to haue spoken what discipline is Now let vs devide the rest off this treatise as almost all politique doctrine is wont to be deuaded into two partes whereoff the fyrst declareth that which belongeth vnto them who bare any office or haue any charge in the churche the other part brieflie toucheth the dewtie off the rest off the bodie off the churche For as the Apostle saith all the bodie is not one membre nor all axe not Prophetes or Doctors but there is a certeine diuersite and dinstinction off Offices as off members wherby the whole bodie is preserued All which diuersitie and difference is deuided by the Apostle into two sortes who in the Epistle to the Corrinches calleth some Fellovve helpers and laborers naming the rest off the churche by the name off Sainctes Thus allso the Apostle to the Hebrewes deuideth the churche into those who had the ouersight and into the rest off the Sainctes Now to speake fyrst off the former part it is to be vnderstoode that to the bearing off any ecclesiasticall office there is a certeine vocation and calling to be vsed which a man owght to waite for being necessarie to the taking vpon him off any charge what soeuer which manner off apointing to an office wither we call it Creation or Assignacion or as the ecclesiasticall writers doe most vsually Vocacion It is the apointement off God to the bearing off some office in his churche in suche sorte and maner as he hath ordeined for euerie officer to be apointed by Which calling to the Bearing or the excuting off any ecclesiasticall charge and function hath all tymes bene holdeÌ„ so necessarie that no man hath bene thowght to exercise any lawfull authoritie therin who had not fyrst off all in his owne conscience wytnesse off the calling off God thereunto and after also off the churche apointing him according to Goddes decree and ordinaunce For that sentence off the Apostle is generall that no man owght to take this honor vnâ—o him but he that is called thereto as was Aaron For this doctrine off the necessytie of a Vocaâ—on and Calling did not so once growe ouâ— off that noble rodde off Aaron togither with the Almandes that yt fell afterwardes also from the tree togither with them but this AlmaÌ„d three off Aaron sette and planted by the witte and labor off Moses florisheth euen to this daie So that we maie yet gather this doctrine off yt which is muche more precious then any Almondes or other frute what soeuer Nere to the same place in Moses is rehersed also a notable iudgement off God whereby yt semeth that the lorde ment to ratefie this lawe off the necessitye off Vocation for euer wherein we see that neyther the heauens could abyde to loke vpoÌ„ nor the earthe to beare so shameles boldnes but the one melting consumed with fire such as without a calling would take vpoÌ„ theÌ„ the priesthoode and the earthe gaping and opening it selfe swallowed theÌ„ vp aliue which owght to be a lesson to vs for euer not only as Moses writeth that not man burne incense before the lorde but only they which are off the stocke off Aaron and are thereby called thereunto but also that no man be so bolde as to peruert or alter that order which God hath established in his churche and to arrogate vnto hiÌ„ that honor which he hath by no right or lawfull calliÌ„g obteined Hitherto beloÌ„geth also that which is writteÌ„ off Peres vzzach that is to saie off the breache which the lorde made in vzzach who was stricken sodainlie to deathe only for that beyonde the bondes off his calling he put to his hand and held vp the arcke of God which shaked and was readie to fall which was lawfull only for the Leuites to touche So the the Lord did no more spare Vzza attempting beyonde his vocacion to touche the arke althoughe his entent and purpose were neuer so good then he had pardoned before Aarons kinsmen But if we require yet witnesses of greater authoritie we may reade that king vzziah was stricken with the leprosie for that being not content with his kinglie office he wold haue taken vpon him the Priestes office also Thus the lorde hath ratified and sealed vp this parte of discipline with most grieuous aÌ„d fearfull punyshement and the same not once but oftentimes executed to this entent that this lawe might for euer be off such authoritie in the churche that no man should euer dare to be so bolde and hardie as to breake yt Wherefore seing that god neuer forgaue or lefte vnpunished this faulte in any degree state or person but punyshed the leuites and euen Aarons owne howse and familie SathaÌ„ and Abyram also being Princes off tribes yea Vzziah being a king and that so sharpelie and seuerelie so greate punishemeÌ„t in such personages fire from god the earthe opening hir mowthe Sodaine death and the most fylthie disease off the leprosie owght to stricke such a feare into our hartes that we suffer not sacred functions and offices to be prophaned by voloÌ„tarie officers aÌ„d such as take them vpon them without any lawfull
and must needes be so nor can not be otherwise seinge ther be not so many lerned men as ar able to suffice for all the kingdom So that the people must either want alltogether a minister or some must needes be admitted althoughe they be not fitt and able It should seeme by this defence that all thos that wer lerned and fitt were allready placed throwout the churches which how trew it is It may be seene in both the vniuersities wherin ther be many bothe off excellent godlines and lerninge which neither are called to the ministerie nor neuer shal be on lesse they go for it seke ambiciously after it buye it and bargayne for it But let vs put the case they wer all placed abrode and that yet still many churches wanted ministers They aske vs heere what is to be done I answere Surely euen that which our Sauior Christ commandeth his disciples to do wher the haruest was great and the laborers wer fewe That is to say That we praie the Lord off the haruest that he would send out laborers into his haruest For euery man may not be sent into the Lordes feeld to reape his corne because the haruest is great But the Lord him selffe is to be desired and praied that he wold haue a care off his corne and prouide haruest men who settethe no man to do his work that is not fit and able for it Therfore iff we be towched with trew compassion for the lordes haruest fearinge least iff any storme come it may susteine some damage let vs not be caried awai with a folishe pitie to prouide for yt as we think best for what wer this ells but to blame the lord as negligent and not carefull enoughe for his affaires but let vs keepe that meane and measure which our Sauior hath prescribed vs which is to commend vnto the Lord his owne haruest by our earnest praiers And as all men must pray for it So the Magystrate to whom god hathe committed this charge is bound to prouide workmen as sone as is possible They must erect schooles and collrdges finde and mainteine teachers and readers that the youth may be taught and made fitt for this work finally they must bestowe all ther care thought studie and labor vpon this that this golden haruest may with all possible speed be prouided for to pray to god that he woold send out workmen for to praie to god that he wold send out workmen and not to doe the diligence for that place and callinge wherunto thow art called that they may be sent is not to praye but to moke and tempt the lord Therfore suche order is to be taken wher by in thes dayes the lorde doth ordinarily send out his workemen or suche order beinge allredy well taken is diligently and carefully to be looked vnto that it be not neglected And surely it is not to be doubted but the lord will blesse our praiers and our endeuors and sent out fit worck men into his haruest But in the meane time vntill all may sufficiently be prouided for As it was practized in the Apostles tyme men must come to the next churches wher the word off god is preached and to those places wher the churches are allready established vntill suche tyme as moe may besett in order which thinges iff they wer not so cleere and manifest and iff we had not so certen a rule to followe herein yet what necessitie is that which ought to make vs breake the expresse commandement off god to set him ouer the church whom the lord hathe forbidden Is ther as off all other thinges a tyme also to synne or may we do any thinge against the good will and pleasur off God vnder pretence to helpe and edifie the churches and are we not rather bownd to obey that euerlastinge and most holy law that no euill is to be done that good may come off it and seeke for that that is good and honest by iust and lawfull meanes Althoughe in deed the churche is not holpen by this meanes but rather much hindered wher that as iff they wer sufficiently prouided for allready they care not nor thinck any more off prouiding fit and worthy ministers and preachers off the word off god But to the end we should not thinck but that they wer carefull for the churche they haue founde out a merueilous way wherby appointing readers to reade some part of the scripture and the praiers and the rest off the seruice they should be thought notwithstanding to make meet ministers and preachers off the word off god For they haue made certen homilies off the creation off prouidence off the dewty off the magistrat off the obedience off the subiect and other thinges which they thought needefull which they charge them to reade to the people at certen times supposing that by this meanes they remedy that euill off admitting thos that be vnworthy which they say is so necessary A meruelous straunge remedy and neuer hard off in the churche in the Apostles tyme and which not only amendethe not the fault but maketh it greater and most like to the pece that our Sauior Christ speaketh off in the gospell wherby the rent is not amended but made a great deale worse For who may arrogate this vnto hym to haue his writinges rehersed read and propounded vnto the church Is not this proper to god onlie that his worde be reade in the churche and ought not the voice off god alone to sound and to be hard in the church But they say thes ar holie meditations to good manners taken out off the scriptures and written by great and worthy men why then do they not reade also the holy meditations off Augustin Chrysostome and other great men why not also the eccesiasticall history which conteineth infinite examples off singuler vertue for men to follow By which meanes at the last the lord shal be pulled out off his throne that as we sawe it come to passe in that egyptiacall darcknes off popery men may sit in his place What then say they shall we take awaye al interpretation off the word off god shall only the writinges off the Apostles and prophetes be read and shall not the holy doctrine be more fully expounded Shall ther be no exhortations nor reprehēsions as the times off the church shall geue occasion yes verely for I haue declared aboue that suche a one is to to be chosen minister that is able to exhort with sownd doctrine and to conuince thos that speake against it and doe suppose this to be the especiall dewty off a lawfull Pastor to applie the word of god to this churche as time and occasion shall serue but to bring in other writinges into the churche which cōteine either generall doctrine or holie meditatiōs and are not applied to the speciall vse off the churche as beinge such which are common to all churches and to all times I thinke it is no more lawfull thē to translate
myracles and suche like Let them bring forthe the commission off this theyr so large embassage to all churches last off all let them proue that they are immediatly called therunto off god For not only one Bishopp but all the Bishops in the world are not able to ordeine and make and Apostle seinge that as it apperethe by the Argument I haue alleadged ther office is allready ceased They cannot be Euangelistes neither seinge that they were as yt were the Legates off the Apostles who in respect off them were as Proconsulles or Presidentes For Prophetes I think they will not say they be seinge they cannot tell vs off thinges to come Besides that we reade not that the Prophetes went thus abroade thoroughe out all churches but it seemethe rather that they were wont to abyde in certen places Wherfore takinge away extraordinary callinges and vocations out off the ordinarie state off the churche Let vs follow that certeine rule which the Lord hathe prescribed Let Pastors and Doctors be assigned vnto churches who are only the ordinary and perpetual ministers of the word off god apointed to the edificacion off the chuâ—che These thinges thus set downe let vs now see what the particuler charges and dewties off these two be And first let vs speake off Doctors whose office is more symple Doctors therfore I call Bishoppes who are occupied in the symple teachinge and expoundinge off the holie doctrine and trew Religion For it semethe that this was the office off Doctors symply to teache oute of god his word what was to be thought off god and off his worshipp and seruice what off Christ what the law is what the Gospell what ys the rule off our life what the hope and expectation off the life to come fynallye what to think off euery point off Religion without those vehement speeches wherby the mindes off men are either raised vp and comforted or beaten downe and made sadd For seing that Sainct Paule dothe lymite and bound the office off a Doctor by Doctrine and attributethe to an other office To exhort he seemethe to shewe that a Doctor is as yt were the schole maister and teacher off the principles off Religion off withe office how great aÌ„d manifold vse there is in the churche off god we shall easely vnderstand iff we consider how many there be emonges vs that be rude and know not the first principles and growndes off religion Which beinge vnworthy and vnseemely for a Christian churche and for our profession off the gospell Let Teachers and Doctors be prouided suche as we haue but a fewe right and lawfull in these our dais to teache the churches and especially the rude and ignorant For allthoughe we inuent a thousand waies we shall neuer promote the edification off the churche but only by those meanes and instrumentes which the Lord hath appointed for his work For with these the blessinge of god is ioyned which is not only wantinge to those who are made by vs how goodly a shewe so euer they haue but coÌ„trariwise they haue Cursinge for Blessinge Now to retorne to Doctors againe In the primitiue churche They were set to instruct in the Doctrine off faithe and Religion suche as were rude and ignorant For so Eusebius telleth that when in the churche off Alexandria many had fled away for feare of persecutioÌ„ so that no man had the charge of Cathechizinge OrigeÌ„ beinge a yonge man and But xviij yeres off age at the request off certen worthy men toke the charge vpon hym Wherwith all thoughe in the beginninge he ioyned also teachinge off grammar aÌ„d other artes yet he afterwards vnderstoode that yt beloÌ„ged not vnto his office so to doe and therfore gaue him selfe wholie to the expoundinge off the scriptures and instructinge off suche as were ignorant in religion The whom after one Hercules succeded in the same office whom before he had taken to him to helpe hym to teache who afterward was chosen from beinge Doctor to be Pastor and Bishopp off the same churche wheroff it may be gathered that in the primitiue churche this was an ordynarie office and that before Pastors and Bishops there were other also appoynted to be Doctors whose office did consist in expounding the scriptures and cathechizinge off the ignorant But as for our Doctorshippe suche as it was in tyme off popery and as coÌ„tynueth yet still I knowe neither from whence it came nor to what vse yt seruethe For they expounde not the scriptures in any certeine churche appointed vnto theÌ„ declaringe the naturall and true sence and meaninge off the word off god they do not teache the youthe nor cathechize the ignorant but lyue idly in the vniuertsities For it is no name off any lawfull office or function in the churche no not as yt is vsed in the vniuersities but only a name and title off honor and a commendacion off a mans knowledge in diuinitie so that it rather seemeth to serue to ambicion and vainglory theÌ„ to any vse and proffit They say there was sometimes an image maker named Passo who did so engraue the image off mercurye in marble-stone that a man could not iudge or discerne whither mercury were within or without the same Suche Mercuries and Images do our vniuersities make vs whose knowledge we cannot tell whither it be within them or without them for they proue not them selues to be right Mercuries by any speache eloquence or vtterance I knowe not what a shadowe and Image off vain contemplacion this is for true and Christian Religion bestowethe the gyftes that are receiued of god to the common vse and proffit off all the bodie Therfore these Mercuries are to be apointed to churches and to be set vp in highe and lightsome places that their speache and talke and other properties may proue them to be right Mercuryes in deed For suerly it is not tollerable that they should bury the lordes treasure in the earthe aÌ„d hid his light vnder a Bushell and as it is saide off one Aspendius a harper that they should playe on ther sweete harpes as they selues may onlie heare it Therfore let these goodly lights be put on caÌ„dlestickes that as Christ commandeth they may shine and geue light not only to them selues but to all that are in the house Let this riche treasure be laid out to the banck that when the Lord commethe he may receiue his owne with aduantage that is to say let these lerned Doctors be assigned and appointed to churches 〈◊〉 expound the Scriptures to Cathechize the rude and ignorant and by the example off Dauid a better and more excellent harper Let them awake in the morning to singe and awake ther harpes togither with them and call bothe riche and pore and all degrees and orders to heare them and sing and play not to them selues only but to the churche and set out there heauenly songes and dities with most plesant tune and melody in the hearinge also off many off
noysom shadowe to those yong and frutefull plantes that growe vp vnder them are in those places which they meant should haue bene Orchiardes off most precious fruite and off the most noble and rare plantes that might be The vniuersities ought to be the seede and the frye off the holie ministerie thorowghe out the realme but now there is scarce one sent out in to the churche in many yeres that is fitte for suche an office It ought in deede to be like the Aple treoff Persia wheroff Theophrastus maketh mencion which doth budde blossome and beare fruit at all times off the yere and bringeth furth some fruit which is allready ripe and some other buddinge and newe geowing out So the vniuersities should haue some allwais fitte and as it wer ripe allready to take the ministery ād some other ripening and budding oute but now neither ripe fruit fallethe from the tree neither is the blossome such as declareth any plenty or store to come hereafter iff furder he should complaine that it is a heauy sight for them to see the vniuersities thoroughe contention and that many times for small occasion so inflamed and set on fire And that as they are greued who do behold ther feeldes and possessions wasted and burnt So they with no lesse sorrowe behold good lerned and worthy men expulsed out off ther vniuersities godlie and lerned younge men driuen from ther places the scholes depriued off most famous professors and Teachers Colledges bereaued of youthe of merueilous hope and towardnes off singuler vertue and learning and the churche deceiued off that which she looked for at there handes Therfore iff they loued god there chiefe founder and Author off all that had bene bestowed vpon them or feared that he would be a punisher and reuenger iff they continewe to abuse the same iff they bare any respect and reuerence to them ther Patrones and founders and wold be ruled by them they should leaue ther striuinge and runninge one against and other with mutuall wronges and iniuries they should banishe out ydlenes and expulsing the droanes out off there hiues fall to laboure and take paines againe they should applie the studie off the liberall artes and off the tongues they shold meditate vpon the Scriptures and exercise them selues therin as the Prophetes and the sonnes off the Prophetes They should think with them selues and remember that the church hangeth vpon ther brestes desyring to suck that sweet milke off heauenlie doctrine and as Peter calleth it the sincere milke off the word that they shold make ready euery yeere a great nōbre off fit interpreters and Teachers off Religiō for the vse of the churche that they would be the Authors and seekers of a more full and perfect reformacion and when they had obteined it constantly to keepe and preserue the same Thes thinges would be acceptable to god ther Arch founder and to them there founders and be most seemely and becomminge the name off an vniuersitie Iff I saie we harde him speake these and suche like thinges vnto vs would we not be a shamed to be so sharply reproued Yet allthoughe we heare not either king Henry the eight or any other off those worthies speake thus vnto vs yet notwithstāding we ought not to be lesse moued with the thīg yt selffe seing these thinges may trewly be obiected vnto vs and cast in our teethe Which neuertherles I speake not off all suche as be in the vniuersities for I knowe there be many suche as we wold wyshe that all shold be and vndoubtedly ther would be many moe iff Samuelles Eliahs and Elishas wer set ouer the sonnes off the Prophetes who as they were wont to doe might liue together with the Schollers be present at there exercises helpe an furder there indeuors and by ther example frame them and stirr them vp to all godlines knowledge zeale and finally to euery thing that is praise worthie Iff our vniuersities had many suche Samuells Eliahs Doctors and Pastors wold be prepared for the churches which are abrode the nomber off studentes as yt did vnder Elizeus would encrease and multiplie and most pleasant streames as out of Eden the garden off the Lord wold flowe from them and water all the Land. But seing that is farre otherwise being cōtent with this moderate reproufe and light shewing off the disease only for helpe and remedy first most humbly I be seeche the Lord god the chiefe chauncellor off our vniuersities ād then also the Magistrates that by his apointemēt and in his name are set to gouerne vs that they would earnestly and carefully thinke off reforminge the vniuersities and restoring them to ther right vse againe that they may serue to the preseruinge polishing and perfiting off all other the liberall sciences and especially off the studie off diuinitie and maintenance off the sacred mynistery And let it be sufficient to haue spoken thus muche off Doctors and therwithall of scholes Colledges and vniuersities Now let vs speake off Pastors whose office and function allthoughe it be neere of kindred vnto the doctors functiō yet it conteinethe in it besides certen other thinges neither off lesse waight nor lesse necessary then these be A Pastor therfore I call a Bishopp who appliethe the Scriptures to the diuers occasiōs and necessities off the church and ministrethe the Sacramentes to those which doe beleue For Pastors touchinge the office they bare in the churches succede the Apopostles and after a sort also the priestes off the lawe wheras Doctors do rather resemble and are more like vnto the Prophetes and the Leuites Therfore Pastors administre not only the word but also the Sacramentes And seale vpp our saluacion with the Lordes signet which they preache by worde For this is the nature off the Sacramentes to seale vp as it were the promises that when we haue them vnder seale we might keepe them more safely and possesse them more securely Wherfore the Pastor to whom the promises are committed to be declared and vttered and as yt were the writinges and indētures off our saluaciō to be made hath also authoritie to sette the seale therunto For so the Lord commaunded his Apostles that they should preache the Gospell and baptize those which sholde beleue Wherfore the administracion off the Sacramentes perteinethe to the office off a Pastor and that in suche sort to a Pastor that no man ells may take yt vppon him and arrogate that to him selffe which the Lord hath committed to an other to doe But besides the administracion off the Sacramentes this is also proper and peculier to the Pastors euen in the ministerie off the word to applie the Scriptures to the diuers occasions and necessities off the churches And as tyme and occasion seruethe to correct reproue and reprehend to raise vp those that be cast downe to breake the stubburne to vse exhortacions and dehortacions to cmofort the godly with the hope off the promises to terrifie the wiked with the
gouerninge the common wealthe Ought not I say dailie experiēce teache vs that we preferre not them that ar vnworthy to honors and offices Therfore so muche the more ought we to be ashamed off our most greeuous fault in this behalfe that suffer euen the most vnworthy to take vpon them the most waighty callinge off the ministery and sett open the church dores to euery base Artificer that leapethe from his shopp bord to the plowman that leaueth his share to youge schollers in grāmer and Philosophy that ar nothinge more conninge in heauenly thinges then Artificers and husband men finally to minstrells and harpers to noble and gentelmens seruantes to Neateherdes Shepherdes and porters and somtimes not only to vnlerned men but also men off most filthy life and conuersacion chosinge into that most waightie office lerned an vnlerned good and bad worthy and vnworthy with out any chois or difference which how lawfully it is done yt shall after appere Here only because the vse off examinacion is that vnable men be not admitted to any office in the church I ment generallie te note how greeuously and against the expresse commandement off God we offend in this behalffe and to desyre and beseeche them that haue authoritie to amend thes thinges in the name off God who will not suffer vnpunyshed the trangression off his holie Ordinaunces and in the behalfe off the church to whose destruction and decay suche thinges are daylie cōmitted that we de not with Ieroboam make cōmon this worthy and sacred office with most vile and vnworthy persons that we neglect not the vse off examininge and holy ordinaunce off god that we destroy not the churche bringinge this sweepe into the churche but that rather decreeinge accordinge to the word off god that vnworthy men be not preferred to Ecclesiasticall functions we may bothe hereafter keepe out suche and also thrust out thos that by deceuinge off men and false commendaciō ar crept into the church allreedy and compell them to leaue ther places But let vs retorne from whence we haue digressed and follow the maner off examynacion declaringe it as fare forthe as it is generall and perteyneth to all the offices and functions off the churche For as euery office hath his seuerall guystes which ar necessary to the dew execucion off it So certen thinges ar to be requyred and looked for in euery eccesiasticall office which as I haue obserued out off Sainct Paule ar chiefly two wheroff the fast is that they be fownd and sincere in the faithe The second that they be with out reprehension in life and maners As for requyringe religion in a minister I need not to geue any reason off it seinge that they ar choosen to be teachers and interpreters off the same And for Deacons the Apostle expressly warneth Tymothe that they be suche as haue the mistery off faithe which after in the same chapter he callethe the mistery off godlynes and declareth what it is in a pure conscience So lickewise all the Apostles monishe the churche off Ierusalem that they should choose seauen Deacons from amonges them selues It is not needfull in this place to declare what they ought to thinck off religion which is a large matter and would require a seuerall treatise for it selfe yet notwithstanding it is wel enoughe knowen vnto all men and briefly comprehēded in that place off Paule which I spake off before and it is no hard matter to know what they thīcke off the true knowledge and worship off God seinge they make profession off the same that the church dothe wherunto they ordeine thēselues And iff it were needfull they might delare ther iudgmēt particularly in euery point beinge demāded And yet here is not any common or vulgar knowledge ād zeale of religiō to be required but speciall and singular aboue other men For ther is no ne so small a functiō in the churche that doth not as it were exempt thē out off the nomber off other men and ioyninge them as it were neerer to God doth lay a necessitye vpon them beinge placed in higher degree to shine and geue example vnto others and stire them vp by ther meanes to all vertewe and godlynes Therfore the Apostles when the Deacons were to be chosen required that they should be men full off wisdome and the holie ghost As for the examination off maners the Apostle him selfe hathe declared it so particulerly that no man can be deceiued herin whereas he geueth warninge that they be not infected with couetousnes or dronkennes or any other more greeuous or infamous cryme but that they be off good report and honest estimacion with all men and suche as all men can witnes off them that they haue liued a good and an honest life yea it is further also to be considered how they haue brought vp ther children and how they haue gouerned ther priuate families for therin wise men will obserue many thinges wherby they may be able to iudge whither they be meet to take vpon them any publique charge or no for he that shall ouerturne askuller or a payer off Oares in the Temmes who will thinck him meet to gouerne the Queenes barge or some great vessel vpon the sea This is therfore that law off God which towchinge the examinaciō and triall off ecclesiasticall offices the Lord him selfe hathe geuē vnto the church and hath commanded that it should allways be kept and obserued In kepinge wheroff surely bothe the estimacion and safegard off the church consisteth For by this meanes the church shall haue bothe necessary helpes for hir vse and worthy ornamentes for hir estimacion wher by both all occasion off euell speakinge should be taken from hir enemyes that are allwais ready to deface hir for the least occasion and the name off God by meanes off the church should be glorified before all men Therfore lest the name off God and his holy Gospell may be euill spoken off for our cause lest the churche want the necessary helpes which yt needeth for the preseruacion theroff a carefull heed is to be had herein to whom the charge off admynistringe off yt is to be committed which triall and examinacion seinge yt is so plainly describeth by the Apostle yt is meruell how that ther be euery where so many withe vs both corrupt in doctrine and defiled in life and conuersacion For how many Papistes be ther now a dayes that euen fiften yeeres after the reformacion off religion occupy the place of ministers in the church partly being left in thos churches which before in tyme off Popery they vniustly held partly also entred in our tyme and since the prechinge off the Gospell How many also be ther admytted to the gouernment off the church off most wicked life and vngodly behauior Therfore seing the Papistes openly declare that they ar greuously offended herewith neither can be brought to esteeme that to be the true religion off God whose preachers ar so vnhonest and the
thunder off the iudgement off god whereat they may be cast downe and as yff they had bene stricken with a thunder bolt from heauen and consumed yff they repent not to lift vpp some as yt were to heauen and to cast downe other to the bottom off hell All which Sainct Paule doth signifie to the Romaine figuratiuelie by nanynge one kinde theroff that is to say off Exhortation for all the rest In his Epistle to Timothy he settethe out euery thinge more at large commandinge Timothy to preache the word to correct to reproue to exhort Seing therfore the Pastors office is so wayghty and so diuers I will not shewe that they which be vnable to teache are not to be admitted vnto it for that I haue hādled this before but how weake there defence herein is which they are wont to bring that is to say That the want off these vnable ministers is supplied by the diligence off others whereas they reade and reherse out off the booke vnto the people homelies touching all the necessary pointes off Religion I dispute not heere against homelies nor minde to shew what iniury is done vnto god his worde when the wrightinges off men are redd and rehersed in the churche or howe daungerous a thinge it is for geuinge occasion off bringing in to the churche the writinges and sermons also off other godly men the stories off martyres and at the last also the Popishe Legend For that it belongeth to an other place to speake off thes thinges this one thinge I will shewe that the reading off Homelies is no sufficient excuse for an vnable and vnlearned Pastor seing that it belongethe to the dewtie off a Pastor to applie the doctrine off the Scriptures to the diuers tymes necessities and occasion off the churche For seing that the Homelies be domme and speake only that which hathe beene endited a long time a fore how can they either knowe or vnderstand or cure and remedie the diseases off the churche Therfore let vs not thinke that the Ordeininge of◠vnable Pastors can be excused by this pretence nor that Homelies as it is saide off a sworde in olde time as Delphos which did serue for all vses can serue for all occasions which do arise in the churche Here the Pastor had neede off greate and profounde knowledge to knowe the chaunge off times the diuersitie off thinges the variety off persons and to deale thus or otherwise according to that varietie and difference For a Shephard hathe not only one way both to heale the sike and cure the broken and bruised And the phisicion cureth some men by diet and medicine some by cutting ād surgerie so likewise this only waie off readinge off Homelies can in no wise be sufficient to cure and to remedy all the sondry necessities off the churche To be cōninge in the profession off this kinde off physick a man had neede be perfite in his simples he had need to knowe many kindes off herbes floures rotes an infynite sort off other thinges fynallie he must needes thouroughly knowe all Eden and the whole garden off God that he may knowe what herbes are fit to raise vp those who are cast downe and as it were to cōforte and restore againe suche as be in a consumpcion which also are meet to purge and clense those that are full and stuffed finallie what so euer is proper for the curinge off euery disease and in what sorte and after what manner and at what time yt ys to be ministred and applied Which most worthie and necessary office for the saluacion off mankind and chiefest off all which be vnder the Sonne Good Lord how infinite waies is it prophaned So that now a daies to make a Pastor is nothing ells but to make a seruice saier or reader off praiers out off his booke And this not only emonges the people but euen in the middest off the vniuersities in the scholes and Colledges them selues from whence as frō certen sacred and pure fountaines reformatiō ought to flowe from thence I say euen from thence shamefull examples off this great disorder and prophanacion do springe and come furthe into all the realme iff we seeke thoroughe both the vniuersities what schole is there what Colledge society and fellowshipp off learned men that hathe a right and a lawfull Pastor amonges them But either one or moe chaplaines and conductes as they call them are hired to reade the seruice at the houres appointed or ells the fellowes off Colledges them selues do read yt being bound by othe to enter into the ministery at a certen time appointed after they become Fellowes Wherupon it commeth to passe that a man may finde sometimes ten or a dossen off these Pastors in a litle Colledge But one suche Pastor as the word off God doth set out is hardly or not at all to be found amonges them Further also this fault is made in the apointinge off pastors That vnder pretence off makinge a more full and perfit triall off suche as are to be apointed they ordeine not any man wholy and at once to the office off a pastor but I knowe not by what degrees they leade him vp to this pulpit They must first be Deacons as they call yt for a yere that is to saye they must receyve authoritie to saie praiers and reade the Scriptures But in no case to admynister the Sacramentes or to expounde without furder lycense Then at the last he is fullie admitted to he office off a Pastor Which as I perceiue well enoughe to haue bene translated from the manner off Popishe ordres So knowe I not what ground off Scripture yt hath or can haue But rather cōtrarywise yt semethe to be cleane against the expresse appointement off the Scriptures which make no more degrees to come to the office But the godlines and integritie off his former life in what sort so euer he hathe occupied him selffe vnto that tyme and the knowledge off the holie scriptures So that it is needles for a man to come thoroughe all the offices off the churche before he can euer atteine to this Wherin also ther was to to curious a diligence in Siluester Bishopp off Rome and others who appointed that before a man was ordeyned a Pastor he should first come vp vnto yt as yt were by certen staires steppes and degres thoroughe out all those offices off the churche which they had inuented And first he must be Accolythus twenty yeere Deacon xxvj and so furth That at the last after fyfty or thre score yeres triall thus had he should be admitted to the full priesthood Leauing therfore these vaine inuentions off the braine off man Let vs keepe that certeine ordre which is taught vs by the Apostles which is That after dewe examination had of his life and doctrine he be admitted to this ministery and office off a Bishopp Lest by this drawing a sonder and quarteringe off the right office off a Pastor we be iustly