and laid vppon his shoulders so that no man may shutte iff he doth open neither open iff he doe shutte yt is not to be doubted but that heauen is open and shutte also when they do open and shutt who haue receiued his authority and vnto whom he hath committed this keye Therfore as Lacedemon had an assemblie off Elders Athenes a highe court named Areopagus Rome a Senate and fynally euery kingdome and coÌ„mon welthe a Counsell whos authoritie is chiefe and soueraigne in all affaires and by whome the rest off the society are gouerned So lykewise the churche hath an Assembly off Elders by whose authoritie ecclesiasticall and church matters are gouerned and administred But these thinges are to be declared more at large and all this power and authority more especially and particulerly to be shewed that we may knowe how farre it extendeth it selffe and off how great force and waight it is to the lawfull gouernment off the churche Therfore the whole authority of the coÌ„sistory coÌ„sisteth in ij partes off which the first concernethe the officers off the churche that is to saie touchinge bothe the choosinge and deposinge off theÌ„ wherof I shall not need to speake in this place seig I haue sufficiently spoken before off Elections wherby also may be easelye vnderstoode that which apperteynethe to the other pointe off depositions The secoÌ„d part off this authoritie coÌ„sisteth allmost wholie in takinge heede to offences and correcting and remouinge them out off the churche Which offences Saint Paule semeth in the xvj off the Romans to deuide into two sortes into sectes and Offences wheroff the first semeth to apperteine vnto Doctrine and the other vnto manners All which authority off Correctinge is spirituall as proceeding not from the Magistrates but from the Elders off the churche For as this counsell is Ecclesiasticall and the court a spirituall court as we vse to call yt as also it is manifestly distinguished by S. Paule from the cyuill courtes and places which the Apostle calleth courtes for thinges belonging to this life So also the punyshement is speciall and suche as belongeth to the sowle and Conscience and concerneth not this life nor those thinges with which the ciuill magistrate is wont to deale So that they are the more to blame who for this cause reiect and refuse all Ecclesasticall kinde off punishement as iniurious to the magistrate seing it handleth nothing that the magistrate can in suche sort deale with all but is lymited and bounded with reprehensions taken out off the word off god by takinge awaye the vse and communication off Sacramentes and publique praiers from them and suche like thinges as do apperteine to the soule and conscience But most off all they are to be blamed who doe falsly charge this lawfull discipline as I shewed whith offendinge against Princes and magistrates wheras yt neither punysheth any thiÌ„ge which beloÌ„geth to the courtes off ciuil officers nor yet punysheth with cyuill punishemeÌ„t as off goodes or off body any fault which it correcteth but only in such sort as hath bene declared wheras they whoe do obiect this may be charged with bothe faultes For this discipline off theyrs both dealeth in cyuill causes and by right apperteyninge to the courtes off the Magystrates and often tymes those whome they haue authoritye to correct they punyshe by the purse or emprisonment But to passe thes lightly ouer for hast which notwithstanding are most waighty accusations and worthy for the haynousnes off them to be deâ—ie with in the kinges benche as offending so highly against the state and authoritie off the prince and Magistrate Let vs come to the diuers kindes of Censures and reprehensions which are vsed in this lawfull discipline Now this correction is off two sortes and is done either by Speeche or wordes only as when a man is rubuked for some fault which he hath committed and is warned to take heed that he offend not so againe or ells when besides the chastisement off wordes ther is some spirituall punishement and correction adioyned therunto Example we haue off the first sort in the fourth off the Actes where Theapostells Peter and Iohn being brought to the Assembly off the Elders they were asked by what authoritie they taught the people and preached the resurrection from the dead in the name of Iesus for which after that they had bene rebuked and threatned they were forbidden to preache or speake any more to any man in the name off Christ and so let go In deed they did wickedly to rebuke them for the preachinge the of gospell the best thing that caÌ„ be and most necessary for the saluacion off man but yet by this there doinge we may perceiue what was the forme off gouernment off the churche emonges the Iewes which our Sauiour Christ hath translated to his churche For this is it that our Sauiour Christ meanethe in the xviij off Matthew and xvij verse when he commandeth the stubborne that will not be obedient to the admonytion off two or three to be brought to the churche that he may be admonished and corrected by the churche Wher vnto also belongeth that wher S. Paule admonisheth Tymothy off reprouinge the Elders openly that is to say suche as had bene lawfullie conuicted And for those admonitions and corrections which haue some punishment ioined with them for the diuersitie both of faultes and punishementes they are deuided into two sortes And resemble in a manner those two punishementes off the Romanes wherby the state condition and priuilege off suche as did offend was diminished wheroff the first is called by Ecclesiasticall writers Suspension the second Excommunication Now suspension is a charge geuen by the assembly of the Elders to absteyne a certen tyme from the communication off the supper off lord Hereoff ther is some example and shadowe in the lawe which forbiddeth such as be vncleane to be partakers off hoâ—y thinges and suffered not indifferently any to enter into the Temple and to be partakers off the Sacramentes and sacrifices which were offred Therfore there were appointed keepers off the gates off the temple by Iehoyada the priest to keepe euery filthy and vncleane person from entringe into the temple So also in the xij off Exodus It is forbidden that any man being vncircuncised shold be admitted to the cmomunicatinge off the Passouer or that any straunger who by receiuinge circuncision professed not the like Religion with them should be admitted In the ix off Nombres ther is a notable example concerninge this matter off certen who beinge driuen from communicatinge the Passouer bycause they had polluted them selues by touchinge a dead body weÌ„t to Moses and Aaron that is to say syttinge in the Counsell house as it is well noted by an Hebrew Interpretor and desyred that ther vncleanes might be forgeuen them that they might eate the passeouer with the rest off Israell alledginge that seinge off necessitie some must dailie die in so great a multitude yt seemed
he hath testified yt with a most certeine and vndoubted testemony that is to saie by the sendyng off his onlie begotten sonne to take awaie our sinnes and as the Prophete off God to declare all the Lordes will and couÌ„sell towardes vs and to rule the churche by his owne authoritie For this is that Prophet like vnto Moses who shold plainelie and perfectlie declare vnto vs of God all thinges which doe belonge vnto our dewtie whome we ought to heare and to obeye as the holie ghoste by the mowthe off Peter hath expounded that promise and by that heauenlie voice which testefied off him from heauen that he was the deare and onlie begotten sonne off god in whome the father was well pleased and commanded vs to heare him But how shoulde we thincke him to be like vnto Moses yff he either hath wholy omitted or not so clearlie and perfectelie as farr as was needfull for vs shewed and declared this doctrine off the manner off gouerning the churche being so necessarie and which Moses hath so diligentlie and faithfullie declared Thefore we must conclude iff we acknowledge Christe to be that Prophette that he hath fullie and perfectlie declared vnto vs whatsoeuer was nedefull for the gouernmeÌ„t off the churche excepte we will robbe hiÌ„ of some parte off his Propheticall office or preferre a seruate be he neuer so faithfull before the only begotten sonne and as yt were Eliezer before Isaac in his fathers howse which surelie they doe who thincke the seruante to haur omitted nothing in this behalffe that the heire hath omitted all and that Moses lefte all thinges perfecte but Christe eyther beganne them not or did not fynishe that which he beganne Now whereas I affirme that Christ hath lefte vs so parfecte a rule and Discipline I vnderstand yt off that discipline which is common and generall to all the churche and perpetuall for all tymes and so necessarie that without yt this whole societie and company and Christiane common wealthe cannot well be kepte vnder there Prince and king Iesus Christe And surelie we must nedes either confesse that Christe hath lefte vs suche an order to liue by or ells spoile him off his kinglie office For what doth more belong vnto the name office and dewtie off a king then to geue lawes vnto his cytezens and subiectes â–ª and to make such decrees and ordinauÌ„ces wherby all the partes off his kingdome maie be mainteined The Papistes indeede denie it and dispute against vs and coÌ„tend that it is lawfull for there highe prieste to rule and order the churche off God as he listeth but we who doe detest and abhorre this blasphemous voice and according to goddes worde aknowledge and confesse Christe to be the only king off the churche how can we saie either that he neglected so greate and so necessarie a point off his Kinglie office or that he hath left yt vs to order as we please But yff there be any whose speache is so contrarie to it selfe that they graunte Christe to be the King and lawe geuer off the churche and yet will saye that either he made no lawes touching tht gouernment off his people or fewer then were needfull Let them consider how litle they differ from the Papistes in this poincte and how vnhonorably and vnreuerently they speake off Christe our Lorde For yff he hath not set in order the whole state off his kingdome iff he hath not apointed officers and declared the dewtie and authoritie off euerie one yff he hath not apointed what shoulde be the order off courtes and off Iustice iff he hath taken no order how the controuersies off his subiectes maie be ended he hath lesse prouided for his churche then not only Moses did for the Iewes but then Lycurgus Solon Numa and other lawegeuers off the gentiles prouided for there cities and common weales Which yff we confesse what shall become off that famous kingdome which the Prophetes sette out with such pompe and glorie what shall become off that septer off Iustice and that Chariotte wherein Dauid describeth him sitting in the middest off the church Which althoughe we graunte properlie to belong to the kingdome off Christe in heauen affter thâ—s life yet are those Prophecies not so wholy to be referred therunto but that they haue also some relacion to the begynning off his kingdome in this life For seing his kingdome in this life differeth from the other by reason and certeine respecte only and is not altogether off an other kinde so that the thinges which are here begonne shall then be fully accomplished There is a certeyne proporcion to be considered here and all those prophecies are after a sorte also to be expopounded off this kingdome As where yt is prophesied that in the kingdome off Christe all thinges shal be ordred by perfecte Iustice and equitie that all his subiectes shal be obedient and full off heaueÌ„ly knowledge that there shall be no Cananyte in all the lande that the gentiles shal be shutte out off the citie off god and suche other thinges which the prophetes most worthelie and notablie haue sett out we must vnderstand that all these thinges after a certeyne manner are to be referred also to his Kingdome in this life and declareth that the gouernment of this Kingdome of his churche here owght also to be iust and equall that the faithfull who are his subiectes owght not to be brutishe and ignoraunte but as conning in heauenly matters and as full off that knowledge as maie be That men off vicious lyfe and geuen to all sinne and wickednes are to be cast out and banyshed from the churche and the temple off god to be kepte as nere as is possible free and cleane from all pollutions and prophanacions Furder also they are conuicted by the whole historye off the Gospell and by the writinges off the Apostles by which it appeareth that he hath lefte vnto vs fully all thinges which were nedefull for the administracion off gouernment off his kingdome For howe ofteÌ„ talked he with his disciples touching this kingdome How often did he declare what maner off kingdome yt was namelie that yt was no kingdome off this werlde that it handled not the busynes and affaires off this life but suche only as parteine to the mynde and conscience How often did he declare what his officers should be naÌ„ely no gracious nor honorable Lordes but ministers off the churche How exactelie did he apointe the order off his courtes and iustice that no thing more could be required to a right gouernmeÌ„t and lawfull pollicye yea eueÌ„ a litle before that he went from his disciples how earnestlye and how carefully coÌ„meÌ„ded he the charge off his kingdome vnto them how greate authoritie gaue he them to shutte or open heauen and so greate was his care for the dewe administring off his kingdome euen then when he toke his triumphant chariotte wherewith he was after caried into heauen that sitting there he
be suffred to sitte vpon the pompe let this be the faulte off men and not off the lawes I speake off the thing yt selfe But some man will saye that the Bishoppe hath this power by the worde off God And they haue yt off the Bishoppe whose office and authoritie in this behalffe they execute What the Bishoppes power is and that the authoritie which he hath is common also with him to the Pastors and Elders and hath no proper nor peculiar authoritie in this pointe we shall after see in dewe place But let vs put the case that only the Bishoppe had this power and authoritie graunted to him to gouerne his owne churche according to Goddes word Is yt therefore lawfull for him to sitte ydâ—e and dreamyng at home and let an other doe his offâ—ce abroade But admite allso that yt were lawfull for him to haue an other to doe his office yet yt is not lawfull for him to substitute whome he listeth in his place but only some other maÌ„ in the same degree that he is of and that is in equall place and authoritie with him For neyther in olde tyme could the Consulles off Rome leaue any man to doe there office for them but only such as were off the Consulles state and dignitie Nor now adaies can the maire off a towne leaue any Burgesse to execute his office for him but onlie an Aldermen and one off the same degre and companie How muche more vnmeete is it to trust any man with the keyes off the howse off Dauid but onlie suche to whome the Sonne and Heire who is set ouer the gouernment off the howse hath commanded to deliuer them For how greatlie is it to be feared lest that they oppen and shutte they care not how and order all thinges not according to the Sonne and Heires commandment but there owne will and pleasure How greatelie I saie is it to be feared lest they cast the lordes Iewells before swine lest they sette open his holie misteries to be abused by euerye one Lest they receyue and enterteine stranngers and put out aÌ„d refuse theÌ„ off the housholde fynally Lest they prophane and abuse all that they take in hande And suerlie experieÌ„ce teacheth vs how greatlie they haue erred who haue put theÌ„ in trust with the kepiÌ„g of so waightie thinges For we haue ofteÌ„ times sene and trulie doe see these thinges to happeÌ„ which I haue spoken off that some off this courte for a grote or some small dewtie wil excommunicate and as it were banyshe out off heauen the most honest citezens off the kingdome off God and Curse them and cast them headlong into Hell And conterwise accompte off enemies often times as off free men and cytezens and suffer them to be partakers off all the freedomes and liberties off the citie off god For it commeth to passe with them as with the hirelinges off whome our Sauior Christe speaketh in the tenth off Iohn who because they doe not there owne office but an other mans care not how faithfullie nor with what credite they vse theÌ„ selues but rule and order all thinges for ther owne commoditie and pleasure But hereoff I trust we shall speake more at large hereafter Now to goe forwarde Let vs admitte bothe That the Bishoppe hath this authoritie and that he may appointe whome he liste to excute it for him yet how can we thincke it lawfull that a man should be admitted to ordinarie and perpetuall office in the churche without a right and lawfull calling which as after shal be declared consisteth in these twoe poyntes fyrst that he be chosen and after that he be ordeined seing it is generall and belongeth vnto all without exception who doe bare any office in the churche which I laide in the begynning as the foundacion off all this disputacion that is to saie that no man take this honor vnto him but he that is called vnyt as was Aaron But seing Archdeacons and Channcellors are apointed onlie by the Bishoppes pleasure and the other vnder-officiers by theres and seing that nothing is vsed in the apointing off them which shal be shewed to be necessarie in the calling to any eccleasticall function Seing there is no Election no praiers no Ordeining no laiing on off handes and suche life as bothe are wont and owght to be vsed in such a matter naie seing there is not so much as an othe geuen them without the which no office off any waite in the common wealthe is committed to any man It must nedes be confessed as the thing it selfe declareth and I haue proued by sure and vndoubted argumentes That all this rabble and company exercise authoritie in the churche off God without any lawfull vocacion at all or calling Wherfore seing so many voluntarie officers haue without any lawfull calling taken vpon them the gouernment off the churche whereby as I haue shewed the wrath off god is most greuously prouoked against vs why doe we not fiftene yeres after that by the grace off God his holie Gospell is preached emongest vs whie doe we not I saie in the ecclesiasticall officers that which the Romanes did euerie fyue yeres in all degrees that is to saie whie doe we not make a searche and assaie off euerie mans calling That Right and lawfull authorie being discerned from that which is vniust and vnlawfull those impudent officers who were chosen by them selues or crepte in at the backe dore and were not called thereunto by the authoritie off God and off his churche maie be compelled to leaue there places and be put out off office Therfore let enquirie be made into euerie mans calling Let them shewe how they were chosen and ordeined as the leters and seale off ther calling let them rehearse there genealogies and the race off there descente let them bring there roddes and set them before the Arcke off God And they who cannot shewe the markes and tokens off there CreacioÌ„ and Election They that cannot fetche there Pedigree from Aaaron and whose roddes remaine deade before the Arcke and neyther blossome nor florishe let them by the most iust authoritie off the worde off God be displaced and put out off those offices which they most vniustlie and wrongfully haue desyred and vsurped And thus muche maie be sufficient to proue the necessitye off a lawfull vocacion and calling Now let vs see the vse fruite and comÌ„oditie off the same which semeth to me to be so greate that althoughe there were no punishement for the neglecte and contempte off yt yet yt were to be taried and waited for for the meruailous vse and commoditie that yt bringeth with yt For what can so strengthen a man against all daungers which hang ouer hym discharging his dewtie faithfully as the remeÌ„braunce that he is placed in that standing by the coÌ„mandement and authoritie off god which as it placeth him so it will be alwaies readie to defend him against the enmyties and lieng in waite off all men For then only
when the rest off the Egyptians for famyn were compelled to sell ther flockes and droues and euen ther landes and possessions for corne vntill that ar the last all the country by this means was come into the kinges handes he suffered not the priestes to sell theirs neither would he encrease his treasure by ther losse and hinderaunce But contrarywise ordeined that they should be prouided for geuinge them euen that which was his owne So likewise all other nacions and kingdomes prouide for ther priestes and Religious men and think that god would be greuously offended with them iff they should neglect them And we see how beneficiall and liberall Papistes were to the mainteininge off Idolatrie and superstition for yt ys allmost incredible what cost they made vpon there Idolatry and that shewe and shadowe off Religion which they had And how costly and swete odors they bestowed as it were vpon the deade corps off Christ But we forsake him aliue and raised vp againe So that it is to be feared that he will one day vpbraide vs with his pouerty and need and complaine that we left him naked hungry thirsty and forsaken without helpe or succor But he is not only forsaken beinge naked But euen robbed off that apparell which he hathe So that yt apperethe that some men thought to crucifie hym againe when they thus parted his garmentes amonges them and cast lottes for his coate But allthoughe ther be many waies off spoilinge yet me thinck none more greuous then impropriation the only name wheroff declarethe how litle right ther is in it which is the translatinge and the alienatinge off the goodes off some churche to an other that hathe no right vnto them But seinge this wholl matter off the most vnworthy spoilinge and robbinge our church is fully handled by that worthy and lerned man Master Bucer in that booke off his which I named in the beginninge and seing that in the same booke he handlethe not only impropriacions but also first fruites which is a certen kind theroff presentacions collacions resignations and diuers other kind off robberies I had rather thes thinges were sought for in the lerned wrightinges off that worthy man that the matter might carie more credit and authoritie with it As for me I lament with him this miserable state of our church which allmost in euery place is destitute off fit Pastors and ministers seing no man is willing to take that condicion wherby after he hathe taken neuer so great paines he shal be scarce able to mainteine his life Neither is it destitute only at this present tyme but it is to be feared that it is alwais like to be so here after and that the studie off god his word shal be neglected For no man will willingly follow that trade off life wherin he hathe only no hope to liue honestly and with some commoditie but wherin besides the infinit trauell and greefes that follow that profession he shal be afflicted also with neede and pouertie And iff we had not rather be wise by our owne domage and losse then by other mens ther ruyns off the churches round about vs might sufficiently teache vs how daungerous this spoilinge off the churches goode is and this neglect off mainteninge the holy ministery Therfore iff we prouide not otherwise let vs assure our selues that euen this fault doth threatē the vndoubted ruine off the churche and that so worthy gestes as the preachers off the gospell cannot long tary in an In̄e wher they be so ill receiued and interteined And iff we compell them to leaue vs surely they will take away wi h them that peace and blessinge which they brought and which we may truly professe came into England with them Therfore let vs not so lightly esteeme the great care that the Lord hath ouer vs in feeding ouerseinge and rulinge vs by his seruantes lest at the last he breake his shepherdes hooke in his anger ād cast awaie all care ouer vs and go his way and leste that being prouoked with this thirty pence a notable hire that we pay him he leaue vs and depart in his anger as some times he threatned the Iewes not caringe any more whither the broken be bound vp or the lost be sought againe Therfore let vs at the last amend this shamefull neglect off the ministers off the word off god and seinge as the Apostle saithe they sowe spirituall thinges to vs and suche as belonge to euerlasting life let vs not thinck muche iff they reape carnall thinges off vs againe and some commodities off this present life yea rather seinge this is a most gainfull husbandry for the churche off this so vile seede to reape thos most precious fruites off the Spirite Loue Peace Ioye Long Suffering Goodnes Faith Meeknes Temperance and at the last that golden haruest off life euerlasting let vs sowe plentifully and with good corage that we may reape a more plentifull haruest Neither let vs now be more weried with sowinge whiles it is sowinge time then we will be weary hereafter when haruest shall come in reapinge and gatheringe most precious fruit into our barnes Therfore let vs embrace the ministers off the gospell with all loue kindnes and dutie and that so muche the more liberally and plentifully for that what so euer is bestowed vpon them euen to a dishe off cold water shall not only be muche more richely requited and recōpensed againe but accompted euen as it had bene bestowed off Christ him selffe But we ought not only to lay our clothe and spreade our Table for Christ whom we haue bidden vnto vs as Symon the Pharisie did in S Luke iff we wold haue him know that he is well come to vs and that we loue him with great affection but also embrace him and kisse him and washe his feete with water and anoint his heade with oyle and finallie to receiue with all seruice and dutie so worthie a guest as both becometh his honor and also is meet for the great loue we beare vnto him And this is the dewty off all men But kinges that are wont to receiue no man off any countenaunce or estimation but honorablie and with great magnificence and ther Equalles with more princely port and stately manner how ought they to take heed that they be not to pinching and to sparinge when they receiue Christ the Lord the kinge off heauen and earthe off whom they as Vasselles hold ther kingdomes and lordshippes as off see nor commit any thing that may offend so noble and worthie a guest and rather be carefull that all thinges heere be magnificall gorgeous and princely But I would not that any man should thinck I say thus as iff I thought vnder pretence off Christ nothing cold be to muche that were bestowed vpon Bishopes and ministers or that I would haue them made dronke with the delightes and pleasures off this world who ought to be an example to other men off
yet when Iames was slaine they did choose nome into his Roume or the Roume oft any other off the Apostles when they died So that yt is plaine that this office is abolished Which beinge playne off the Apostles must be likewise vnderstood off the Euangelistes who serued and mynistred vnto them and were after a sort ther vicairs and deputies For as it doth appere in the Actes This was the office of the Euangelistes to accōpany the Apostles whom they when they had gathered any company off a churche together and must needes depart left behind them beinge instructed by them in what sort ād order to stablishe the churche who hauinge set the churche in order and prouided pastors and Elders to gouerne yt left it ād followed the Apostles againe So they as Emperors and Generalles when they had ouercome any citie left as it were some chiefe captaines behinde them vntill thinges could be brought to a better stay and that ancientes and elders as certen perpetuall garrisons were set ouer them for the Apostles were appointed to cōquere and to ouercome The Euangelistes to establishe and set in order The elders to mainteine and preserue the churche of god Therfore this office off the Euangelist must needes cease seinge the Apostleshippe is ceased allreadie As for the Prophetes office althoughe it consisted in expoundinge the scriptures yet seinge it was ioyned with extraordinary gyft off foretellinge thinges to come necessary for the primitiue churche but now no more in vse yt can not be doubted but that the office ys ceased as well as the gyft wherupon we may conclude That seinge as Saint Paule witnessethe onely Apostles Euangelistes Prophetes Pastors and Doctors were geuen by Christ to the edifyinge off the churche and the work off the ministery That the three first ceasinge there remaine only Pastors and Doctors perpetuall and ordinary ministers off the word In deede sometymes the lord extraordinarily in a confused state where is no place off ordynary callinge stirreth vp as be did in our tyme as yt were certen newe Apostles to lighten the world agayne with the light off the gospell And Eusebius maketh mencion off some who saith he with a heauenly zeale off followinge the Apostles went preachinge the gospell to the Indians But I speake off the Ordinary state off the churche suche as oures ought to be after so many yeeres Therfore Sainct Paule in the xij to the Romans speakinge off this state makethe no mencion off Apostles Euangelistes or Prophetes but only off Teachers and exhorters callinge Pastors Exhorters as it shall appeere hereafter Neither was i◠needfull that they should continewe any longer in the churche no more then it is needfull after the platforme be drawen that the master builder tarie any longer but that there be carpenters and workmen to builde and raise the worck as he hathe appointed And it seemethe that our Sauior Christ in the stablishinge off his kingdome followed a kind off order not diuers from that which is vsed by earthly kinges and princes Who at the daie off ther coronacion and for a certen time after make many officers for diuers and sondry vses who serue not only for a solemnitie pompe and shewe but also to great vse and seruice for that time but when thinges are set in order and the kingdome stablished are vsed no longer So Christ our lord and king when as beinge ascended into heauen he was as it were inuested into his kingdome created Apostles and suche other officers which should set his kingdome in order and appoint and ordeine a certen ordinary state for the gouernment and administracion off it which being so established and set in order Those offices should cease and the kingdome should be gouerned as they had appointed Therfore theris no cause why we should think the loue ād care off our Sauior towardes his churche to be diminished for this cause or that he dealethe not bountifully and liberallie with vs no more then subiectes for the like cause haue occasiō to suspect ther kinges good will and fauor to be chaunged towardes them For these thinges are but for a certeyne time and perteine to the beginninge off the kingdome which time seemethe necessarilie to require some other kinde of order then all the rest that followeth Therfore to cōtinewe the same similiritude after he was crowned-kinge he scattered in great aboundāce spirituall giftes off knowledge prophesyinge healinge and other graces as gold and siluer amonges his people All the conduites ranne with sweet and most pleasant wyne All the pipes and cockes ranne with rose water and other sweet and plesant waters But allthoughe he geueth vs dailie all thinges liberally and plentifully yet he geueth vs not dailie a Largesse as at the tyme off his coronacion Therfore we ought to be content with that liberalitie which the lord shewethe vnto vs and not to looke to haue allwais alike The same reason is off the perpetuall mynisters off the word with whom he would haue vs to be contented and not to wishe for the first and those which were extraordinary and apointed to serue but for a tyme For as some thinge was geuen more liberally and extraordinarilie to the extraordinary tymes off the churche So we are sufficiently prouided for off all thinges which belonge to the continuall and necessarie vse off the churche Therfore beinge content with this meane estate and condicion Let vs vse that which is giuen vnto vs and seeke not for offices which serued but for a tyme in the perpetuall gouernment off the churche nor wil he extraordinary functions in an ordinary state Wherfore we ought to haue Pastors and Doctors appointed in our churche and not to reteine still the extraordinary office off preachers which yet I reproue more sparingly for the respect I haue to many worthie men who haue labored with some fruite after this sort for I see that some by the negligence off those who ought to haue prouided meete Pastors for the churches for the loue they had vnto the gospell thought it lawfull for them in these tymes to take vpon them this Apostolicall or Euangelicall kind off office and embassage wheras rather they owght to haue vrged the full and perfit reformacion off our churche and to haue striuen by the word off god that euery church might haue bene prouided off a fit Pastor And that the Lordes heritage might be no more left barren and vntilled left that at the last the Lord be angry with vs and take it from vs and let out his farme to other that will dresse it better But iff there be any which please them selues to muche in this gadding abroade thorough out the churches and will contend they may do so by the example off the Apostles and Euangelistes let them shew vs the signes off ther Apostleship as Saint Paule did to the Corinthians Let them proue that they are indewed with those Apostolicall gyftes off knowledge and vnderstanding tonges healinges doinge off
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