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
Sainct Peter saithe an euerlastinge crowne off glory This is therfore the dewty off a Bishopp which I will not here curiously enquyre how faithfully they execute seinge they be bownd to no speciall charge but content with a generall ouersight off the Dioces haue exempted them selfes from the necessary charge off rhe Bishoppes dewty Let vs rather see wither I haue iustly compassed in the whole office off a Bishopp in the handlynge off Religion and the seruice off god For it is an old opinion and receiued off long tyme that Bishoppes are not so lymited with doinge off the seruice off God But that they may also handle the thinges off this liffe and gouerne both at once the church and the common welth Heroff yt comethe that our Bishoppes are Iustices off peace and haue authoritie to see the Queenes peace kept and to cast the breakers off yt into prison and bondes That they haue authoritie to heere pleas and also to Iudge off in ther courtes pleas off willes and Testamentes and other cyuill thinges Heroff also it is that the same titles off state and honor that are geuen to the noble men are geuen to them wheras Archbishopes are saluted by the most honorable and Princely title off Grace An other is called Bishopp off the order off the garter An other Counte Palatine And all off them honorable Lordes whervpon some are displeased that the Chauncelorshipp off this realme The Presidentshipp off york and suche like honorable offices which were wont in popery to be there 's are now geuen to horable Lordes off cyuill estate And complayne off yt as thoughe they had wrong offred them Therfore they do vniustly and with out any cause and contrary to ther dewty desyre and vsurp thes thynges or ells I haue not done well to enclose all the office off a Bishopp in the administracion off heauenly and spirituall thinges wheroff let vs se whither is to be thought That that is ould and auncient yt may sufficiently enoughe appere by this that such Ambition and busyinge off them selues is forbidden by the old Cannons yea furder the greuous complaynt off some off the old farthers touchinge this matter are knowen well enoughe and to be found in ther writinges who partly invey and sharpely reproue them that brought in this confusion partly lament that by that meanes they were called from ther owne particuler dewty which also we here saye some off ours do complaine off and confesse that they haue only one houre in the weeke to thincke off preachinge And that in a manner wonne by force out off the importunitie off clieÌ„tes whom TereÌ„cies menedemus worthely would merueyle at to see theÌ„ to haue so much leysure from ther owne busines that they may look to other mens But this that is now so amplified and growen that it is become intollerable and no lesse daungerous for them selues then for thee church sprange at the first as all most all other mischiefes haue done from begynninges that were not so euill For first off all this busines was w holie pryuate and controuersies were frely giuen ouer to the Bishoppes by the consent off the parties who trustinge there conscience thought by this meanes to haue the best issue off ther matter After it grewe by the Authorytie of Princes who partlie off a good mynd but not warie enough and off a desire to adorne and beutifie the churche partly also because they them selues were hindered with warres and externall busines gaue authority to Bishoppes to correct euen suche with ciuill punishment as should troble the churche Last off all it so infinitely spread out her bowghes by the couetousines and ambicion off the Bishoppes that ther was no honorable office in the ciuill state which they did not partly begg partly receyue willingly and with great thanckes being offered till they had myngled the churche and the comon welth ciuill and ecclesiasticall matters and coÌ„founded the kingdome and the bishprick to gether But as that which god hath ioyned no mann can seperate So we may not thinck that any maÌ„ can ioyne or couple to gether that which he hath seuered and deuided a sonder And iff it be vnlawfull to altor and change the boundes that our fathers haue sett how much lesse is it laufull to change those boundes and lymites that the Lord hathe bounde vs with all and wherby he would haue vs seuered and deuided from others and by this deceit to encrease Patrimonies and possessions For that ther is a great difference betwene the cyuill magistrat and them that haue charge off ecclesiasticall matters That sufficiently dothe proue that wheras first off all both powers were confounded togither in Moses The lord leauing him only the charge off the common welth committed the gouerment off the churche to Aaron his brother And set so great distance betwene them bothe that the kingdome could not onâ—y not be gouerned by the highe priest him selfe but also by none off the same familie name or trib Nor contrary wise the priesthood off any off the kinges stock or off the royal bâ—ud house or tribe and fynally off none but a Leuite So they were diuided a sonder not only in ther owne persons but also by families and by tribes which distinction and difference was allwais diligently obserued by all that came after vntil king vzziah being puffed vp with pride as it is expresly noted in the holy history vsurped the priesthood and burnte incense in the temple off god But he weÌ„t not away scotfree with his pride but being sodenly stricken with the leprousy was made an example for all ages to take heed off the like boldnes to confounde and mingle thos to gether which the Lord did deuide and set a sonder But ther was no priest for many yeres after that medled him selfe with the gouerment off the kingdome vntill first Aristobolus most vnaduisedly after the retourne from Babylon ioyned the kingdome and the priesthoode the myter and the crowne togither For wheras we read that Elias Samuel and Daniel exercised both offices It was alltogither extraordinary neither ought to be drawne to the ordinary and perpetuall gouernment off the church All thoughe vnder the law many thinges wer done by the Priestes which cannot be now done by Bishoppes And they wer put to many thinges to which yt wer not lawfull that the Bishoppes vnder the Gospell should be applied which was in respect off the publique law wheroff they wer as well keepers and interpreters as off the morall beinge made and gyuen by the same lord so that it was needfull to vse them to many thinges whereunto ours may not neither ought not to be put As for the Gospell what can be cleerer then the difference that it maketh in this case wheras our sauior him selffe off whose example we ought to lerne refused to deuide the herytage betwene the brethren as a thing not belonginge to his office and offten tymes he reprouethe and repressethe the
like desyer off the Apostles desyring and longyng after suche thinges he detested all this lordinge and exercisyng off domynion togither with the titles off princes and honorable personages and such like titles and names professinge freely that thes honors wer ciuill and wordly and therfore to be sought for at other mens handes which they should not thinck might begotten at his handes that had no such like thing in all his kingdome By whom they wer called indeed to greater offices greater I say and more honorable in respect off trew honor allthough not for the outward shew And this the Apostles wer taught not only by the preceptes and voyce off ther master but after also by ther owne experience that this spirituall charge to be well done can be ioyned with no other so that they gaue ouer off them selues euen the charge off the pore with is an ecclesiasticall office and so neere off kindred vnto the other that it seemed they might well haue stode togither and lymited ther office in he seruice off God alone And iff it be so that the ministers off the word off god ought not to be charged with prouiding for the widowes and for the poore that being free from any other charge they might wholy bestowe them selues vppon ther owne how much lesse lawfull is yt that they should be called away from ther owne office and dewty to do worldly thinges and belonging to the ciuill Magistrat For thus thow dost not only gather hinderances vnto thy selffe to hindre theÌ„ that thow do not thy duty otherwise then either good souldiors or conninge wrestlers are wont to doe but also dost wronge vnto an other into whose ground and possession thow breakest in by force which thing seinge the Apostle in the xij off the Romans chargeth with ambytion and 〈…〉 busines euen in ecclesiasticall offices whe◠〈…〉 â—â—ligently from this being wiser then we ought to be exhorteth vs to a Christian like modesty and to be soberly wise how muche more shall he be giltie off the same cryme that mingleth and confoundeth togither thinges so farr different and diuers off nature For who knoweth not that the office off the Magistrate especially consisteth in thos thinges which belong to our life and to our goodes and hath not to doe with the holie ceremonies but only to see by his authoritie that it be administred by them by whom and in what manner it ought to be by the word off God but that he admynistred nothyng hym selffe And agayne who knoweth not that the Byshoppes Office is bounded and limited with spirituall matters and cure off sowles and hath no charge off the common wealth nor off the state off this life Or that the Magistrates are carefull for the body and thinges belonginge therunto The Bishoppes of the sowle and that which apparteineth vnto the soule And that the Magistrates are carefull for this fraile and britie life but the Ministers off that blessed life which endureth for euer Therfore seinge the Lord God vnder the lawe beinge about to plant the priesthoode as a tree hard by the Mgistrate his neighbors grownd knowinge well what the nature off this tree was namely that it enlargeth and spreadeth out his rootes farr abrod as the figg tree or the olyue tree doth and therfore was to be set furder off lest that any contention or striffe should affterward arise seuered yt by a most greate distance and greater then the space off ix feet which Solon commanded in such like trees from the Magestrates grownd that lay hard by let godly Magistrates diligently take heed beinge admonished both by the ordinance off the most wise god and the example off the Roman Empire that they suffer the Bishoppes to chalenge nothinge vnto theÌ„ with in ther ground nor secretly so roote them selues with in the same that they be afterwardes compelled as we reade many Emperors haue done to striue with them for ther owne right and patrimony And seinge God hathe punyshed the transgression off this his law touchinge the distinction off the two estates in a noble prince and godly otherwise why do we not feare that he will shew the like punyshement in the like fault off the Bishoppes And seing Christ hym selfe did refuse the kingdome being offered him nor would handle the lest eyuill matters no not to agree brethren therby Seinge the Apostles would not ioyne any other office thoughe it were off the same kind with ther owne no not the charge off the poore and widows that they might bestowe them selues wholy and attend vpon ther owne seinge this agreethe better with the kingdom off Christ and the other with the kingdomes off this world what iust excuse can they lay for this ambition and busyinge off them selues or why do they storme so when we call them froÌ„ the ciuill courtes to the churche from the Iustices benche to Moses chaire from a kingdome and a lordshipp to a Bishoprick and ministerie We reade in the holy history that Azariaz the highe priest cast out kinge Vzzrah out off the holy place and that worthelie because the lawe so commanded And Sozomenus telleth that when Theodosius themperor would haue gone vp to the highe part off the temple Ambrose for badde him because as he said that was the Bishops place and comÌ„anded him to sit belowe with out the chancell whiche I do not reherse to this ende that I do allow off those superstitious and proud separations off the bishopps from other meÌ„ but seing this ther inordinate desire off catching to them selues to stirr vp kinges and magistrates to a iust care of maintaining ther owne right and in like manner to bownd and lymit them within there chancelles and quyres and commande them to keep them selues with in ther bondes and limites and to know also ther barrs and ranges And iff they had carefully seene to to it when this plage beganne first to creepe in surely the ambition off churche men had neuer come to that vnspeakable pride that we haue seene it at that they might glory off the power off both estates and as we vse to speake off both the swordes off a triple crowne off treading vpoÌ„ the Emperors neckes and suffering kinges to hold ther stirruppes But seing they loked not vnto it neither regarded it at the last when the Apostles wer dead who as in old tyme that noble worthy Gedeon desired not any vnlawfull kingdome or Lordshipp in Israell and ther naturall children desyred lickwise no suche thing At the last I say this bastard Abimelech rose vp that ambitiously sought an vnlaufull kingdom and named hymsellffe bobothe a father and a kinge but it is to be hoped that same end and the like destruction will come vpon this Tyrant that in old tyme came vpon Abimelech for I doubt not but Ioathans parable is as it wer an orackle vttered against this ambicion And it is alltogither to be hoped that as the empyre is weakened and allmost
interpret the word off god vnto others althoughe also ther ought to be no common and ordinary but a singuler and chiefe respect in examyninge his manners as beinge suche whos smallest faultes for the high place wherin they are can by no meanes be hidden and couered Seing that the ministers off the word off God as Christ warneth the Apostles are like vnto cyties that are vpon the mountaynes Therfore seinge they must dwell in the eyes off men and in the fayrest light and as our Sauior Christ saith in the same place be put as it wer vpon candel stickes that they may gyue light vnto other It is meet that there holines off life godlines and moderat coÌ„uersacion should shine like lightes a monges men whervppon the Apostle Paule setting furth in Timothe a lawfull minister off the word declareth that he ought to be such as may be an example or glasse and a patterne to all the faithfull in loue â—n chastitie and in all the order off his life And sure good cause it is he should be innocent that asketh other meÌ„ accompt off ther life seinge nothing is more iust then that he that teacheth other should first instruct hym selffe and that callinge other men from shame he hould keep hym selffe free from any spott or blemishe For what a shame is it when the sick man may say to hym that wolde help him Physicion heale thy selfe or when thos thinges are cast in a mans teeth which Paule vpbraydeth the Iewes with all thow that teachest an other teachest not thy selffe and thow that preachest a man should not steale stealest thy selffe And againe the name off God is blasphemed amonge the gentils for your cause Therfore seing that they are set in so highe a plaâ—â— that the example off ther integritie not only edifieth the churche but also glorifieth god therby And contrarywise ther faultes and errors do geue occasion to straungers to speake euill off the Lord whom they preache and the gospell which they publishe abrode and to the faithfull that are weake to whom the lest fault that they make is as it wer a law wherby they thincke they may lickwise offend with out reproofe and seinge herein they hurt by ther example no lesse yea a great deale more then by the fault it selfe a great diligeÌ„ce and singuler care is to be had off the life and manners off him who is to be chosen a bishopp But seinge the office off a Bishop consisteth chifely in this that they publishe preach and interpret all the gospell especially thos giftes are to be respected which are proper and peculier to that office to the executinge wheroff he is to be chosen therfore he is to be examined how well he hath been exercised in the holie scriptures and whither he be able fruitfully and to edifyinge to coÌ„municate with the churche that which he doth godlilie vnderstaÌ„d No vnskillfull or vnlerned man may be called to the stearing off this helme vnlesse we would haue the shipp not only to be in daunger but willingly to runne vpon the râ—kes But what is he onlesse he wer coÌ„spired agaiÌ„st the safety of the church and of the sonÌ„es off god that would coÌ„mit the church which god redeemed with his blud that he might adopt vs to be his sonnes an this nobleship fraighted full off worthies to any but to some most conninge and expert pilote and master Therfore suche conÌ„ing Pylotes and gouernours ar to be chosen aÌ„d set to the stearinge off the shipp who ar able to discerne the diuers face and chaungeable contenaunce of the heaueÌ„s that ar able to for seestormes and teÌ„pestes that can guid ther ship by the north starr and finallie whom thos heauenly muses haue taught the vnknowne pathes aÌ„d wais of the sea and that which is in the Poet. From smoky storme fluddes that swell Kepe of the shipp guide it well But the word of god is the only starr wherby this life is Our eies must be bent vpon this heauen and fyrmament wherby stormes and tempestes are much more certenly fore sene then by the other This is the helme off our life which who so euer hath not lerned to steare and gouerne he may well be put to some other seruice but let hym not come into the sterne and iff he he do let him be put out a-againe For it is very good reason to requyre off an Artificer knowledge off that art which he professeth to require off a Captainâ— and a Generall knowledge and skill off war fare and chieualty off a physicion that he know how to mayteyne the health and to recouer them that are diseased And vnder the law the Lord apointed his priestes that they should be suche as might be able when they wer asked to answer out off the law off god Which wer adorned not only with the diademe and myter but with thos xij Iewelles and precious stones which Moses for ther lightsome clerenes and perfit beauty calleth Vrrim and Thummim by meanes wheroff they asked off the Lord in all affaires by which two names sometymes all the priesthood is signified to teach vs that he that hath not them hath nothing And that ther is no priesthood with out Vrim and Tummim To whom seinge the Bishoppes as parteininge to to this matter haue succeded although they had put on Aarons tunicle Ephod or Diademe yet iff thos stones shyne not in ther brest wherby as Ennius saithe men being doutfull of there matters what to do may be certefied that they take not waightâ— thinges rasshly in hand we acknowledge no stock nor succession off the Priesthoode nor all the rest off the garmentes off Aaron And seing we haue now in thes tymes no other meanes to be certified off the will off god besides his writteÌ„ word and the holy scriptures And seing it is sure that this word is come in place off the Arck the Sanctuary the brestplate off Iudgement and all the other ceremonies off off the old law euen as thos in old tyme wer necessary for the priestes So now is the vnderstandinge and knowledge heroff for the ministers off the word off god Therfore the Apostle Paule warneth Timothe that a bishopp ought to be able to teache Wheras declaringe that he ought to be suche he speaketh not off it as off some helpe or ornameÌ„t but as off the nature matter and substance off a Bishopâ— And that we may more fullâ— vnderstand what the force off the word is and how many thinges are conteined vnder it he declareth it more at large in his epistle to Titus sainge a Bishopp ought to besuche a one as holdeth fast the faithfull word according to doctrine that he may be able also to exhort with holesome doctrine and reproue them that speake against it But how is it possible that he should be able to exhort with sound doctrine vnlesse he hath first lerned that sound doctrine him selffe out off the holie scriptures And by what meanes
ther dewties off the helpe off Deacons as the Apostles had Let them remember that the bodye would bee destroyed yff there were no member in yt but the eye And that churche in like manner wherin no man beareth any office but the Bishopp Let them remember that god hathe so made the bodye that there is a merueilous necessary vse off the diuers membres theroff which variety off partes and members must needes be preserued yff we would haue the bodie whole healthfull and stronge Let this infinite Ambition and desyre off rule and off medlinge with euery thinge that is in the Lord Bishoppes be corrected Let the Consistorie and Assembly off the Elders being so necessarie and so profitable for all the affaires off the churche be established wherin they may haue indeede the fyrst place in respect off the worthines off ther office S that they leaue the second to the Doctors and the third to the Elders For the churche perceiue the howe hurt full a thinge yt is that they should take all vnto them selues and can beare yt no longer perceiuinge well that the shamfull prophanacion off the Sacramentes the manifold and intollerable abuses off excommunication which is the highest Iustice off the churche and other innumerable euilles flow and springe from no other fountaine then from this pride off theâ—â—â— and busy medling very hurtfull and daungerous for the state off the churche And thus muche off Ecclesiasticall officers off whom because I haue spoken more at large how they ought to be appointed for that in the appoyntinge off them Ecclesiasticall discipline dothe in a manner wholie consist I will recompense yt with the shortenes off that part which followeth which is touchinge the dewtie off all the Saintes and faithfull Vnder the name off the Sainctes are conteined all the rest off the churche which doe not exercise any publique office or function therin whose dewtie as in all other societies ys only this to suffer them selues willingly to be ruled and gouerned by those whom god hathe set ouer them whervnto there is a short but a notable and pithy exhortacion off the apostle to the Hebrevvs wherin he exhorteth them aÌ„d by them all other churches to obedience vnto them who haue the ouersight off theÌ„ that they may geue vp their accoÌ„pte of the charge off sowles which they haue taken in hand with ioye and comforte and that they maye readilie aÌ„d with good courage beare for the churches sake all suche labor grees cares and sorwes as are ioined vnto ther offices Neither let Magestrates think allthough in respect off ther ciuill authoritie the churche be subiect to them that in this behalffe they are to be exempted from this precept and commanndement off the Appostle who chargeth euery one to be subiect to those who in Lord are set ouer them for seing they ought to be carefull as well off the saluacion off the Magystrate as off others and that the sowle off the magystrate as well as of the rest is committed to theyr charge They must also as well as the rest submit them selues and be obedient to the iust and lawfull authoritie off the Officers off the churche For seinge they not onlie rule by the authoritie off Iesus Christ but in a maÌ„ner do represent his person seing they rule not as they them selues list accordinge to ther owne will but only accordinge to this word and commandement Is it not meete that euen kinges and the highest magystrates should be obedient vnto them For yt is meet that all the princes and Monarches off the world shold geue vpp their sceptres and crownes vnto him whome god had made and appointed the Heyre off his kingdome and Lord off heauen and earthe I might alledge heare oute off the histories off all times diuers examples off godlie princes who submitted them selues to the order and gouernment off the churche apointed by god Who allthoughe as touching this life they did rule and gouerne yet they despised not the discipline aÌ„d correction off the Lord I might name out off the most auncient historye and holie Chronicles off the Hebrevvs kinge Azarias who allthoughe he proudely and boldly vsurped the priesthood yet when he was stryken by the Lord with a Leprosy and was therfore cast out of the temple and seperated from the coÌ„mon society off men by the highe priest accordinge to the lawe which God had made therin He obeied the priest coÌ„mandinge according to God his word and letting his sonne rule is his steade passed the rest of his life in solitarines alone by himselfe Amonges the Christian Emperors allthoughe ther be many worthy examples which now a dayes Princes may set before them to follow yet those two which the ecclesiasticall story reherseth off Philipp the first Christian Emperor and off Theodosius conteine a singuler example aboue the rest off godlie subiection wheroff the one beinge commaunded to absteine from the Sacramentes vntill he had first professed him selffe to be a penitent for that he had committed certen faultes and had made open protestacion off his Religion for that he was suspected He willinglie obeied the Bishopp or rather the word off god And both protested openly his grefe and srowe for the synnes he had committed and professed before all the churche his faithe and Religion The other that is Theodosius being not admitted by Ambrose into the churche into the which he would haue come did likewise so willinglie obeie that prostratinge hym selffe vppon the grownd and pauement off the temple in the sight off god and his Angells and all the churche followinge the meeknes off Dauid reprehended off Nathan declared the wuÌ„derfull sorowe which he had for his wiked fact and the slaughter committed at Thessalonica by his commaundement rehersing these wordes out off the Psalme My soule did cleane vnto the pauement Therfore all the faithfull and euen the princes and magistrates them selues ought to be subiect to the word off god and to Ecclesiasticall Discipline and then is the churche in florishing estate when bothe they who beare rule do commannd according to gods word and theâ— who be subiectes do willingly obeye But the Magistrates haue this proper and peculier to them selues aboue the rest off the faithfull To set in order and establishe the state off the churche by ther authoritie and to preserue and mainteine it according to godds will being once established Not that they should rule the Ecclesiasticall matters by their authoritie for this belongeth vnto Christ alone and to hym he hath committed this charge but for asmuche as the Apostle teachethe that they are apointed off God to th end that we may lyue a godlie aÌ„d a peceable life aÌ„d that the kinges off Israell by the apointement off god had charge to see the execution off all the lawe they ought to prouide and see that the seruice off god be established as he hathe appointed and administred by suche as ought to administre the same and afterwardes preserued