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
freelie and sincerelie preached vnto vs what were the force off our Adoption in Christe what were the strengthe off the couenannte which God made with vs what the eternall and euerlasting councell off god in CHRIste were touching our saluacon what were the vse off the Sacramentes and namelie off Baptisme For who can dowbte that this fowle error flowed into the churche from these heades and that the ignoraunce off these thinges was the cause that some not vnderstanding that place off Saincte Iohn Onlesse a man be borne againe off vvater and off the Spirite He cannot enter into the Kingdome off God toke occasion thereoff to thincke Baptisme necessarie to saluacion and that all that were not baptized shold be condemned Whereas all the Scripture to the Analâ—ogie and proporcion whereoff this place is to be expounded pâ—ainly teacheth that the Electe are saued by the goode pleasure and will off god by reason off the couenante and off there Adoption in Ihesus Christe That Abraham was iustefied before his circuncision which in force and effecte answereth to our baptisme and that couenaunce and the promises are not made by the sacramentes but sealed by theÌ„ Which seale also serueth not to the confyrmyng off the worde off god in it selfe which in yt seâ—fe is most constaunte certeine and immutable and hath no neede to borowe credite off any thing ells but that iâ— maie be confirmed in vs whose weakenes to the fulie staieng and acquieting off our faithe neded suche meanes to be confirmed by So that seing the lorde to haue sete his sygnet to the confyrming off our Saluacion and to haue sealed yt vp we might the more quietlie rest and acquiete our selues in his faithe and custodie As for the place off S. Iohn wither yt be to be vnderstoode off the holie Ghoste the Author off this regeneracion whereoff our Sauior speaketh who as in an other place is ment by fyre so maie be also here by water or whither yt be ment off Baptisme yt in no wise restraineth our saluacion to euerie sprinckling off waâ—er but to the sacrament only But there can be no sacrameÌ„t without a minister and there can be no embassadge without an embassador And yf any priuate man shold breake breade according to the institucon off Christe and communicate with others to the commemoracion off his Seathe who wold call that the hoâ—y supper off the Lorde and not rather an vnworthie prophanacion off that most holie mynister rie And yet althoughe yt be ministred by a minister our entraunce into the kingdome off god is not to be geuen to the outward baptisme but in as muche as by a sacramentall kinde of speaking vsuall in the scriptures in this kinde That is attributed to the Sacramentes for the certeine coniunction off the thinges signified with the Signes which indede is proper to the thinges whereoff they be Sacramentes Therefore there is not that necessytie off Baptisme to saluacion which many doe suppose that for this cause the holie ordinaunce off god whereby it is lawfull for the mynisters onlie to minister the Sacramentes should be prophaned And I can not see what other cause off his prophanacion they can pretend And a man maie mervailee whie at suche tymes they puâ— not rather priuate men to baptize then women for sure the faulte had bene so muche the lesse For women are further removed from this office for whome yt is vnlawfull to take the same vpon them not onlie because they are preuate but also because they are women For euen the verie sexe is forbidden to exercise any publique charge or function in the churche by sancte Paull And is commanded to sitte still and be quiette which quietnes and vocation these men will not suffer theÌ„ to enioie who styrre them vp to the exercisyng off authoritie and doing off these thinges so expresselie forbidden them But yff this were to be suffred for that necessitie which they imagine whie shold yt not also be suffred in case off like necessitie that they should minister the lordes supper and preache the gospell wherefore seing they are forbidden by S. Paul. to exercise any ecclesiasticall function or authoritie Seing it is an vnlawfull transgression off the ordinaunce off Christe and an vnworthie prophanacion off baptisme to geue leaue to women and mydwiues to exercise this authoritie it were to be wished that some parte off the mydwiues conning were practized here to the vnburdening of our churche off this fowle error as off a shamefull monster that yt trauaileth withall and that it were ordeined which the Lord hath commanded that they who are not chosen nor by any meanes can be chosen to goo on the Lordes embassadge should not abuse any longer the place office and authoritie off so woâ—thy a calling It remaineth now to enquire off Archedeacons chancellors commissaries and the rest off that sorte who withouâ— any grownde off the worde off god take vpon them authoritie â—o Iudge off all suche causes as belong to the Assemblie off Elders to Iudge off and to gouerne the chur +che and to correcte and punyshe not only the people but euen the ministers them selues according to there will and pleasure who I knowe not what answere they can be able to make for them selues what letters off Order they can shewe what signes and seales off there Vocacion whereas the holy scripâ—ures doe not onlye commytie no suche charge vnto them but maketh not a worde mencion off all this sorte at all For in all the Testament wherein our Sauior hath declared his last will vnâ—o vs and appointed Tutors and Gardianes for his churche There is not one worde mencyoned off the Tutorshippe off these men but off Apostles Prophetes and Euangelistes who for a certeine tyme should haue the charge off yt After also off Pastors Doctors and Elders to whome this office was committed for euer To vsurpe then without the will off so worthie a Testator not onlie some parte off this charge which notwithstanding could not be done without the breaking off the Testament but euen the the whole and that by displacing those who were lawfullie called therunto and subiecting them to the vsurped authoritie and so to breake into an other mans possession that thow not onlie put out the right owner and maister but also compell him to become subiecte and slaue to the hath not only no pretence off right and equitie but being so heynous and vnworthie a facte were worthie to be corrected by the Magistrates authoritie For what a confusion is this that the deacon leauing his proper charge off the poore should take vpon him an other mans and rule not onlie the churche but also the Pastors Doctors and Elders to whom by goddes commandement he owght to be subiecte And that euerie Canonise and Petifogger in the lawe should vsurpe the Authoritie off Ministers and deuines I passe ouer that the most off them be Papistes and that suche are suffred to sitte in the stearne who should no
is hathe happened as vvell by secret vvhisperinges as open accusations partly off Bishopes partly off those vvhich stande for Bishoprickes vvhiche perceiue that they caÌ„ not stande if the churche staÌ„de and florishe vvee dispeire not of the good vvill and redinesse off the prince and her counseillers tovvardes this cause For vve hope vvhen the vanity falsenesse of slaunders as off treason Rebellion destroyinge off common â—ealthes confusion Anabaptisme Donatisme whiche all they lay vpon discipline and those that are desyrous thereoff shal be seen we hope I say it vvill come to passe that those whom we haue hytherto felt somÌ„ewhat est raunged from this cause wee shall try hereafter freindly and fauourable thereunto For we so trust to the goodnesse off the cause that vvee can hardely thinke it able to be brought to passe that it shoulde be condemned not beinge hard off so witty a Prince and so wise counseillers Nowe whereas Her Maiesty accordinge to the excellent learninge and amongest vvomen without all comparison vvhiche she hathe is delighted vvith thinges that are vvritten in latin wee haue conceiued great hope that this cause which hytherto she hath tasted here and there out off the false rumores off those which deale iniustly with vs as it were out of the channels shall more fully be dravven out of our ovvne bookes as it were out off the founteines VVhich that she would doe vve throwinge dovvne our selues at Her Maiesties feet do in most humble manner and vvith all supplication beseche Her in the name off Christ whose matter this is the noblest and far moste excellent off all Kinges And in this place I marke an other signe to confirme my minde in the mercy off God that our mercyfull Father hathe prouided a notable vvorckman vvhose breast he hathe filled vvith all kinde off treasures bothe off artes and tonges Novve seinge that he hathe framed a Bezaleel for vs to make the vessels and instrumentes off the Tabernacle he seemeth not as yet to haue cleane left off to thinke off repayringe the ruines off our Church For he hathe so behaued him selffe in a cause bothe for the diuerse iudgementes off many and the fevvnesse off those that haue vvrit thereoff most harde as it seemeth scant that any thing coulde haue bene taught either more exactly or more plainly in one vvhich had bene bothe allovved by all mennes opinions and commonly vvritten vppon by many For Discipline shevvethe her selfe and cometh forthe openly in the sight off all men not onely vvith good vvordes and excellent sentences as it vvere arayed vvith costly garmentes but also the same as it vvere vvith methode comely plaitted and seemely girded And vvhereas the very matter off Discipline is off it selfe amiable and louely beinge decked vvithe Rhetoricke Logicke diuersity off tounges purenesse off speache knovvledge in the ciuile Lavve as it vvere vvithe broidures vvhat loue ought it to kindle in the mindes off men Novve iff this fruit to read and looke vpon hathe pleasure in it hovve mutche more pleasant and svvet shall it be to tast But iff any vvill say that I gyue ouer hasty iudgement in this matter I am content to lose so mutch off mine estimation iff I haue any as shall seem to be vvanting either off iudgement or learninge to this litle booke Discipline therefore hauinge tvvise suffred repulse at our handes commeth vnto vs the thirde tyme the same vvhich she vvas before but vvith greater traine and ornameÌ„tes as are meet for a most noble dauhter of the noblest kinge Wherefore onles vvee vvill try the sharpenesse off the vvrath and displeasure off God let vs goe forth to meet her comminge let vs open vnto her all the gates and haueÌ„s off the realme let vs run into her most louinge armes let vs gyue her the kisse off loue and reuerence finally let vs bothe receiue her vvillingly and keepe her constantly vvith all kinde off seruice and duty For that vvhiche happeneth sometime to Princes that hide them selues vnder baser apparell that they are not greatly angry thoughe they be not knovven off their subiectes but vvhen they shevve them selues in princely aray and furniture are offended greiuously iff they be not acknovvledged the same doubtlesse shall vve try in this prince For iff hytherto she either more basely appareilled or hauinge a vayle before her face and not suffringe men to knovve her fully hathe kept in her angre vvithin her breast yet surely she vvill nevver suffer so great brightnesse to be contemned or refused as may perce the eyes euen off men that are blinde And iff they vvhich disdaine a costly gift beinge offred in an earthen vessel are vvorthely punished for their rashenesse certenly they shall neuer escape a most greiuous punishement off their madnesse vvhiche despise it beinge gyuen in a gorgeous and costly dis he Hereunto may be added that the author off the booke not buklinge him selffe vvith any aduersary and hauinge his minde bent onely on the cause inueieth not against any mannes person VVherin hauing vnderstanded off some in part offended vvith me modestly ansvveringe an importunate man and lightely stinginge him againe vvhich thrust others thorovve vvith most sharpe reproches surely as I am sory that they are displeased vvithe me so I reioyce for their cause that in this treatise all comparison off personnes beinge separated they shall haue nothinge vvhich may offend sutch mindes as are somevvhat to deinty VVherefore I haue done my indeuour that I might bringe to light this bothe for these and other causes so excellent a Ievvell committed to my custody beinge persuaded that I could not vvitheout the haynous sinne off sacriledge haue buried in silence as it vvere in graue so notable a thresure Vvhiche truly I haue done so faithfully that allthoughe I savve him differinge from me in the interpretatioÌ„ off a place or tvvo notvvithstandinge I haue left them vnchaunged and reserued them vvhole to the iudgement off the church It remaineth o England that thovv for vvhose sake all this paine is taken bringe vnto the readinge hereoff a minde void of all affection neither hindred vvith any error of custome nor dismayed vvith the vayne noyes and pomp off Bishopes nor ruÌ„ninge headlonge vvithe any preiudice or desire off mainteninge any side that thovv look onely vpon the matter try the vveight off euery argument not by the deceitfull scoles off men or off the greatest but by the autoritie off the vvorde off God as it vvere by the gouldsmithes vveightes that thovv acknovvledge the truthe once knovveÌ„ keepe it in thy minde bringe it into practise euery one so far as his vocation vvill suffer as it vvere into present possession Novve I most humbly beseche god the father off our Lorde Iesus Christ that out off the threasures off his vvisdome and strenght both openinge thyne eies to see and strenghtheninge thy handes to put in execution he vvould vouchsafe to perfect and alvvayes to continevve the good thinge vvhiche is begonne in thee Necessitye off Disciplyne THe
manner off gouernment in all humaine societies is off greatest force and power either to the preseruacion or ouerthrowe off the same for there is no common wealthe be it neuer so small no not a howse that can be preserued without some certeine manner off gouernment and discipline And those Kingdomes and common weales hawe alwaies most notablie florished and longest continewed which first off all were sette in goode order off gouernment and afterwardes kepte the same without any alteracion or chaunge As contrarywise the distruction off greatest commō weales and most florishing states haue follwed where either the order of gouernment was yll apointed in the beginning or ells being well begonne was afterwardes altered and neglected for Pollicie gouernment and goode lawes are in citye or any common wealthe what soeuer as the helme is to the shippe the wrest to the Instrument Order to an Armye and as the sowle is to the bodie Hereoff yt came that Athens which was so famous a citie after it could no lenger holde and stere this helme was tossed with euery waue and storme and in the ende perished and was ouerthrowne And hereby also that auncient cytie of Lacedemon chaunging the seuere lawes off Lycurgus chaunged also hir estate euen as a song is chaunged by altering the tyme and note in which it was first sette Hereby the Romaines commonwealthe or Armye rather after that they lefte the seueritie off the lawe off Armes and warlyke discipline whereby they did allwaies more preuaile then by might and power lost also there auncient glorye and renowme And to conclude Hereoff cometh that we see now euerye where so many townes fallen to ruyne and lying lyke the deade carkases off the cities which some tymes they haue bene because that by chaunging there olde gouernment by litle and litle at the last the whole state was lost and went away as the sowle from the bodie And euen as the monumentes off the Greeke and Lattin wryters doe witnesse these thinges to haue chaunced to many common weales and other societies and companyes euē so we reade in the holye histories that the churche which is a certeine societie and companye off suche as professe the trewe seruice off God with no lesse daunger neglected the discipline and order which God there most louīg and wise lawegeuer had apointed them to be ruled bye yea to there muche greater losse and punishement for that besides those incommodities which are wont to chaunce vnto others bye chaunging goode lawes They alwaies founde by experience that the lorde God there lawe geuer was redie to punishe and reuenge the contempte off his discipline and order for to passe ouer the punishement off God vpon the churche off the Iewes whosoeuer doth diligentlie and attentiuelie reade the historie off the Christiane Churche shall well vnderstand that the calamitie off the former times in which the Churche laye Deade as it were by the space off manye yeres came off no other cause then off the contempte off the most holesome and most holie Ordinaunces wherupon yt was grownded by our Lorde and Sauiour Christe that it might haue endured for euer Therfore it is a wonder te see whereas our mercifull God off his vnspeable goodnes and by a singuler myracle euen now off late within the memorie off our fathers hath raised vp the churche as it were out off the graue againe by the voice off the Gospell that so fewe are carefull for the maynteining and preseruing off this life and that being content as it were to be in goode healthe by preaching off the gospell they care not for discipline whereby this healthe maye be the better preserued and also the strengthe and beawtie which was lost by former sicknes be recouerd and gotten againe And surelie it is greatelie to be feared lest that they if they goe thus on stille and continewe to contemne so necessary an ayde fall againe into the calamities off the former tymes and lest that these later tymes become worse and more miserable then the former But I am most off all afraide for our Churche off England which by the space off so many yeres as it hath alreadie embraced the Gospell not onlie thincketh not off instituting a lawfull Discipline therin but in a manner vseth only that which it hath receyued from the Papistes nor will not be persuaded to receyue and imbrace that Discipline which Christe and his Apostels haue lefte vnto vs whose state hitherto hath bene this vntill the tyme off king Henry the eight his reigne for a long space before it had lien deade and as it were without any life Then at the lengthe by the greater fauoure and grace off God towardes vs diuers notable men rose vp who as Elias and Elizeus raised vp the children which were deade So they likewise by most earnest praier and cherishyng yt by all meanes gotte at the last some life into yt so that at the lengthe yt beganne as it were to wexe warme and neese and by certeine articles off sounde doctrine to shewe some tokens off a Churche reuiuing againe And after wardes in the tyme of Edward the sixthe a prince off singuler hope and towardnes in all godlynes and vertewe was fully reuiued and recouereed not only hir life but also hir healthe againe But our churche being thus recouered was contented with physicke onlie and goode diette for hir healthe and vsed no exercise to gette hir colour and strengthe againe for althoughe many did exhorte to abolishe that popishe tyrannye which then was still remayning in the pollicie off the Churche and to place in steade theroff a iust and lawfull manner off gouernment according to the worde off God wich thing especially that famous man Marten Bucer being then a straunger in England did in that booke which he wrote of the Kingdome off Christe yet could not Englād be browght to leaue that forme of gouernīg the churche wherunto it had bene accustomed vnder Poperie but deuided and separated asonder the doctrine and discipline off the Gospell twoe thinges which bothe by there owne nature and also by the commandement off God are to be ioyned togither But forasmuche as healthe can not long be kepte and preserued without due and moderate exercise not long after namelie in those most cruell tymes off Queene mary it fell sicke againe that it was not onlie in daunger off deathe but in a manner past all hope to recouer againe And surelie euen then our churche had out off doubte bene vtterlie destroied as in deede it was browght all to ashes onlesse that heauenlie Sonne Iesus Christe had quickned yt being more then halfe Deade and raised yt vp like a Phenix out off the ashes againe And excepte our most noble Queene Elizabeth had risen vp as a mother in Israell to trauell with and bring forthe our churche againe But this newe byrthe hath not as yet bene any more happie towching the restoring of discipline then were the former tymes Therfore I thowght yt my dewtie euen
commendeth also vnto the Elders the flocks which ar amonges them that is to say to euery one off them ther owne flockes wherby yt may appeere that they were set ouer certen flockes And these be not only the examples off the Apostles but the lawes which they geue vs and the commandementes which they left vs to ordeyne Elders and Deacous in the churche as the necessitie and state theroff shall require And sure I cannot tell how he can thinck him sellfe to haue receyned any office who with out doinge any man wronge may sitt idle iff he list Offten tymes the auncient Sinodes made decrees against thes idle orders that leaue a man so free bindinge him to no certen charge That no man should be ordeyned an elder as they vse to speake yt without a title that is to say without a churche And suerly iff all wer not confused and trobled in the Discipline off our churche we could neuer beare so notable disorder that suche kind off allowinges should be esteemed lawfull ministeries which ar then only Mynisteries off the churche when they that ar thus commended and allowed off haue gotten a churche that will vse ther labor and who in the meane tyme eyther do nothinge or ells goe about as they lift in all the realme as roges and masterles seruantes seekinge some mayster that will hyre them and vse ther Labor Suche tymes in deed ar spoken off in the stories off the Iudges wher Ionathan the Leuite wantinge a highe place and an aulter went rouinge to let out his seruice to any that would hyre hym but it is added in the same place that ther was then no kinge in Israell But this great confusion was taken away afterward by Dauid and Salomon and euery one accordinge to the ancient prescripcion off Moses and Iosus wer appointed ther proper seates townes and cynes â—o occupy them in Therfore whie do we that lyue vnder the kingdome off CHRIST our true Salomon who hath sett all this in very Good order whie do we I say suffer the churche to be stayned with so notable a spott and ordeyne not accordinge to the word off God that no no man be appoynted to any Ecclesiasticall office But he that is called to a certen churche wher to to exercise it And why do we not accordinge to this example call home the Priestes to the Arcke off the Lord and the leuites to the appointed cities Ther remaineth somewhat that lickwise perteineth to all that beare office in the churche That is that they so execute them that they may not be accused for neglectinge or pretermitinge ther duties For in the church what so small a charge is there which we ought not to studie with all faithfulnes laboure and diligence to make florishe to beautifie and adorne seinge we haue the Angelles for lookers on to see how we vse and behaue our selues in the execucion theroff and the Lord him selfe a most liberall rewarder off the one parte yff we do it well and contrariwise a most seuere Iudge and Auenger iff we do it not accordinge to our dutie For that which the Apostle coÌ„mandethe to geue Archippus warrninge off That he should diligently see to his office which he had receyued off the Lord is to be extended also to all thos that beare any charge or office in the church off God and euery one ought to thincke it to perteine to them selues which the same Apostle admonisheth Tymothie off that is That they discharge ther dutie and make knowne ther ministerie by all meanes yea further all that are called to any office or gouernment in the churche must vnderstand that the same hange he ouer ther headdes which the Apostle declareth that he was afraide off iff being called therunto he should not preache the Gospell For ther is none so litle a charge in the howse off god wheroff one day most streight Accompt shall not be asked In vayn then shall men dreame off pardons dispensacions and priuiledges All shal be called to Accompt to declare with what faithfulnes and diligence they haue done ther dewties They shal be â—e compelled to aunswer ther most deadly enemyes that off them selues shal be readie to accuse them for not hauing discharged ther dutie And the accompte shal be made in the greatest and most solemne assemble that euer was for seing that it appeare the by the parable off the taleÌ„tes comÌ„itted to the seruantes that a most streight accompt shal be asked off the lest gift off god that we receyne in this world how muche streighter do we thinck it wil be for theÌ„ that haue receeyued gouerment in the churche and iff he shal be so hardly delt with that neglecteth one taleÌ„t that he hath receiued They that beare greatest offices in the churche and vpon whos faithe and credit in discharging off them the saluacion theroff dothe in a maner depend how carefully ought they bothe day and nyght to thinck off dischardging this dewty hauinge so great a reckoninge to make not off one Talent but off the churche which our Lord Iesus so deerely loued that for loue theroff he vouchsafed to come froÌ„ the highest heauens into thes lower partes off the earthe to redeeme it and purchase it not with gold or siluer as saithe Sainct Peter but with his precious bludd But I do otherwise then I was purposed that am fallen to threatninges and exhortacions wheras in the beginninge I only purposed to declare what ought to be doone and what we do not And yet ther be so great faultes committed in this behalff that it seemuch nothinge can be greuously and vehemently enoughe spoken against them For the chiefe charges off the churche ar not only left vndischarged for negligence but dispensacions and priuiledges are granted that exempt ministers from the necessary doinge off ther dewty and geue Pastors leaue off this condicion to leaue ther flocke and ther churches yff they leaue an other in ther place to read seruice vnto them And for them that will goe to the vniuersitie by an ordinary lawe it is lawfull to be absent three yeeres and the realt with a litle mony may purchase the like dispensacions in the Archbishops court and market Off the saÌ„e sort also be thos bulls that are bought in the same market that geue ycence off heaping so many churches or as they call them Beneficies to gether which Faculties as they call them besides the intollerable couetousnes wher with also for some mennes diligence in this behalffe is ioyned extreeme need and pouertie off a great nomber off other as commonly it commeth to passe wher a fewe men rake all vnto them selues bringe in aâ—so into the churche a necessitie off neglectinge off dewty seinge yt is impossible that one should be able to serue more churches and thos often tymes the lenght off the whole land a sonder In which horrible destroyinge off the churche and neglectinge and for sakinge the Lordes flock streyinge in the
yt were made and appointed off God especially in this age and in thes daies wherin all thinges ar so corrupted that the most part followinge the pleasures off this life ar smally carefull for the right vse off spirituall giftes wher off notwithstandinge the Apostle would haue no man ignorant And allthoughe many wer able to iudge in other charges who ar meete and vnmeet how fewe be ther that could make triall and assay off a minister that could examyn his gifftes and make due searche and triall what godlines what lerninge or what ability he were off to edefy the churche And suerly iff all men were so taught off god that they could know and iudge off thes thinges then in deed we should neede no certein choosen men who by ther spirituall wisdome and discretion should gouerne and direct the Iudgementes off the people we should not then need to feare the chosinge off any vnworthy or vnable to edifie the churche ther would be no daunger off confusion and vproares Thes in deed should be the bancketes that they commend so highly that ar the dayntier the more ther be that bringe ther dishes to it and the Gosyppe feastes which they praise so muche which when they can prepare for vs we ar so fare off that we would not sit downe beinge bidden that with great thanckes to the host that so should receyue vs we would take great pleasure in the vse off so so exquisite daynties and preferre them before the most deyntie feastes off the Syracusians and such a table before that golden table off the sonne that Herodotus doth mencion But seinge thes thinges ar rather to be wished then hoped or loked for let vs keep that ordre which I haue described beinge most agreable to the decrees of the Apostles to edificacion the chiefest and most sacred lawe off discipline and furthest off from confusion and tumultes which is that the ecclesiasticall counsell when neede shal be prouide fitt men for the churche in euery function and office examin and trie them diligently and carefully then choose them after publishe and make knowne ther election vnto the church and last off all beinge allowed by the church lay ther handes vpon them and so stablishe them in ther place and callinge by ther authoritie But paraduenture I haue taried longer in this part then needed seing we ar not troubled with the lightnes and confusion off populer elections but with lordshipp and tyranny which I cannot se may continue with the safety off the church which it hath already allmost ouerthrowne so that speedie remedy is to befound lest we lament to late the ruine off our decaying church Now as for Elections ther must allwais goo before them a due profe and triall off the worthynes off the partyes that ar to be chosen For that which the Apostle to Timothe commandeth concerninge Deakons That they also be fist examined and then iff ther be no other cause to the contrary admitted to ther deaconshipp doth plainlie proue that examinacion owght to be had before that election and choise be made to any ecclesiasticall office and function for which cause also S. Paule doth no lesse declare the maner how to proue and trie a bishoppe or ministers then to examin the Deacon and ther is the same ende ād vse off examinaciō in all which is That no charge be cōmitted to an vnfit man or not able enoughe for the office wherby it might come to passe that both the church should want hir needfull and necessary helpes and that the holie offices should be prophaned Therfore the churche ought to choose no man but whom they knowe before to be chosen off God for it standeth vppon the gouerment off his house whos keies it is vnlawfull to commit vnto any to whom the Sonne and heyre that great steward off the house off Dauid vpon whose shoulder the master off the house hath laid the keies hath not thought good to credit and commit them vnto But God chooseth no man to any office whom therwith all he doth not indewe with meet giftes for the discharginge off it for otherwise how should he aske accōpt off doinge the office off him whom he compelled to beare and take it vpō him knowinge him vnmeet and vnable for it Therfore no man is sent oute off god without worthie giftes into any parte off his gouerment but for the burthen and function that he laieth vpon him he ministreth also strenght and force to beare it And this is the meaninge off the often repeatinge in the booke off Iudges off that sentence The Spirit off the Lord came vpon him and he iudged Israel ād many suche like examples are to be founde in the olde Testament off Moses and Iosua off the Prophetes Esay and Ieremy and many other whō when the Lord ment to vse in any the lest charge off his churche he therwith all endeweth them with worthy giftes for the good execution theroff And in the new Testament our Sauior Christ him selfe tooke not vpō hī to deale in the mediator his office before he had receiued the holy ghost wherby he might be furnished withmeet giftes for the full discharge and execution off it For so Esay expressely Prophesithe off him The pirit off the Lord is vpon me therfore he hath anoynted me he hath sent me to preach the Gospell vnto the pore c. Out off which place whe see that fyrst he receyued the Spirit or euer that office and embassage was enioyned him and that he was anoynted before he came to the wrestling and exercise So lickewise the Apostles allthoughe they had beene taught by our Sauior him selfe the most heauēly schole master that could be for three yeeres and more and had after a sorte receyued the holie ghost by his breathinge vppon them yet because they had a great battell to fight and muche trauell to be taken and many daungers to aduenture into he geuethe them warninge that they enter not into the listes rashly and vnprouided but commandeth them yet to tary and waite for the promise off the father and more plentifull guiftes off the holie ghost Hither also belongethe the ceremonies vsed in bothe the Testamentes in ordinacion or consecracion as we call it For what ells doth that anoyntinge off the priestes kinges and Prophetes declare But thos guyftes wherwith they who were anoynted were endewed by the holie ghost for the execucion off ther offices To this also the layinge on off handes in the newe testament is to be referred which declareth that the Lord had laid on his handes before and giuen them worthi gyftes for the places they were called vnto But what do I trauelinge so carefully in this behalfe doth not nature it selfe and reason and common experience teach vs this when some ar sett ouer the citie and cōmon wealth that they are choosen counsellors whom greate lerninge and long life and diligēt obseruacion and experience it selfe hath taught that worthie and hard knowledge off
brought to nothinge by hym wherby he hathe obteined this infinite and princely power and authoritie so it will one daie come to passe that he shal be destroyed againe by the empyre But wold to god that only the Bramble off Rome had desyred this kingdom and lordshipp and that our olyue trees also and our figg trees and our vynes had not left ther fatnes and ther sweetnes and most excellent fruit for the desyre off lordshipp and gouernment For the preaching off the gospell is in deed most sweet ād pleasaunt fruit and with this ther new wine they reioysed both god and men as also with the oyle off the gospell more precious then any balme and off sweeter and more fragrant smell then that which was poured vpon Aarons hedd For we complaine that euen or bishoppes haue gotten this lordshipp into ther handes and finde great want and long for thos excellent fruites againe off that wyne and thos figgas and Olyues which in old tyme the church was wont to gather off ther Bishopps And surely I am afrayd that we wishe and longe for them in vayne and lest that they beinge delighted now with an other kind off fatnes and off sweetnes that is off Riches and Honor haue allready begonne to neglect and despise the other and will so contynew to despise yt But the Lord will see to thes thinges who off his good will will prouide for his churche either by them iff they will come to the first root and stock againe or ells without them yff they continew to neglect and despise the same But paraduenture I haue beene to longe in this part beinge moued both with the vnworthines off the thing and the daunger off the church Now seing as I suppose yt is sufficiently proued that the office off a Bishopp is lymited in the administration off heauēly and spirituall thinges let vs particulerly declare the seuerall partes off this office Which consist partly in teaching and interpretinge off the word off God and partly in making praiers for the church For thes two are so lincked togither that they may by no meanes be separated For he that takethe cure off teachinge the churche hath layd vpon hym also the prayinge for the church And contrariwise the office off prayinge and makinge solemne and publique praiers for the church in respect off his office can nor ought to be commited to no man but to hym that hathe power allso to teache the churche For we read that thes two wer allways so ioined and knit togither that he that off office did the one was bound to the doinge off bothe Neyther haue thes at any tyme bene seuered or drawen a sonder So the Priestes vnder the law wer bound to bothe as Moses expressely declarethe in the blessing off Leui. They shall teache saythe he Iacob thy iudgmentes and Israell thy law They shall put incense before thy face and bourne offeringe◠vpon thy aulter For that praier and Supplication was shadowed vnder the law by burninge off parfume and incense It ys playne by many other other places and namely by Dauid who without question in the 141. psalme alludeth hereunto and the first off Luke wher it appereth that all the church vnderstood it so wherunto also S. Iohn alludeth in his reuelation Lickwise also the Prophet Samuel answeringe the people that desired him that he would pray to god for them God forbidd saithe he that I should offend against God in ceasinge to pray for yow for I will also teache yow the good and perfit way declaringe ther by both to belonge to his dutie So then in the Priesthood and the Prophesie two off the cheifest offices in the Iewishe churche which our Bishopps do resemble iff we compare the Pastors with the Priestes and the Doctors with the Prophetes Thes two offices off teachying and prayinge were ioyned togither And do not the Apostles in the gospell wher they leaue the ministringe to the pore professing that they did it to this purpose that they might more frely geue thē selues wholy to ther office do they not limit ther office with thes two partes off preaching and Praier Paule also in his epistle to Timothe doth manifestly referre praier to the office off a Bishoppe wheras geuinge order off stablisshinge the churche off Ephesus hauing declared the forme off publique praiers after sheweth at large what man̄er off man he ought to be Therfore seing it is plaine by the perpetuall vse off the scripture that thes two belong both to one and the same office They cannot in any sort be drauen a sonder and an vnlawfull diuorcement it is when as our ministers I speake off thos Curates that are vnable to teache are off this condicion ordeined to the ministerie that they reade ther seruise and prescript praiers out off the booke but that they be not so bold to teache or interpret without newe and especiall authorite graunted to that purpose But some men will say They are not able to interpret the scriptures Surely iff yt be so they are well and worthely and by the commandement off god forbidden to interprete yt But that is not well that they are not al so forbidden to reade the praiers seing that thes two preachinge and praier which are bothe but one office are torne and drawē a sonder cōtrary to the ordinannce off God and a certen new and lame mynistery is brought into the church by the boldnes off men Thus therfore hauing described the whole dewty and office off Bishoppes let vs come to that which is proper and particuler in ther eletion and ordination The Election therfore off Bishoppes that I may be gyn̄ ther because the whole safety of the church is in daunger in that actiō ought to be ioyned with most ernest praier to god that it would please him to direct the iudgemēt off the choosers which his holy spyrit to prouide a worthy and an able Bishopp for his church and not suffer them being ledd away by any blind affection to be deceyued with so dangerous an error For hither both the reasone which I haue allready brought and especially the example off 〈◊〉 Sauior Christ him selffe doth leade vs whom Sainct Luke rehersethe to haue spent the whole might before the choosinge and declaringe off his Apostles in supplicacion and praiers which also the same Luke reherseth to haue bene practized by the Apostles in the election off Mathias Which all men vnderstand ought to be necessarilie restored againe that obserue and marck the successe and fallinge out off our elections farr otherwise taken in hand But I trust I shall not need to take much paines in so cleere a matter Therfore I will go forward and declare what a one he ought to be who shold be chosen a Bishopp It is allready plaine enoughe by that which hathe bene said that in the choosinge off a Bishopp the especiall care and respect ought to be off his learninge seinge he is chosen to teach and
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
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
remaine Then we should not haue had at this day so great coÌ„tencion for ther filthy garmentes But it hathe come to passe by the ignoraunce off the priestes when they wer nor able to Iudge according to the lawe what wer cleane and what were vncleane and thought that the leprosy had not spred it selffe vppon the garmentes that they haue not condemned them to be burned but to be washed only the filthe wheroff no art or conninge off the fuller is able to washe away But this in the way off digression yet I trust not vnprofitablie Now let vs retourne to our purpose and conclude that for suche causes as haue bene alledged we ought to obey the Apostles decree touching thes Novices and grene kinghtes and not admit them to ministerie off the word And thes are thos thinges which are required off a fit Bishopp and which especially the posers and examiners ought to haue respect vnto For wheras the old CanoÌ„s require that he be off a certen age surely the choosers ought wisely to consider off it for it is not allmost possible but by the singuler and especiall grace off off god that youthe should be so well ordered and gouerned that the want off yeeres appere not in some youthfull trick or â—oy that may dishonest the sacred office notwithstandinge seing the Apostle geueth no precept nor commandement touchinge age yea rather forbiddethe any man to condemne and despise Tymothi and Titus for ther youthe godly and lerned yonge men are not to be kept back from this office For somtymes thes first fruites are consecrated to god and then comonly they are more holie then the rest off the lompe And as the Poeth saithe Some tymes on yong mens heades doth grow the hoary heare Before by nature yt be tyme for them such crowne to weare That is to sey They haue hoarie heares off godlines and holines yea and somtimes also hoary knewledge as it appereth in certen notable examples off Daniel Thimothy and Titus and some other which are worthie examples for yonge men to follow often times also they are more inflamed and set on fire with that heauenly fire off the zeale off god then other And I know not howe but thes first fruties off the spirit are oftentimes more holie and thes first begotten guiftes off the holie ghost are more stronge and mightie And thus muche off the particuler election off bishoppes and ministers Now let vs beginne a newe and speake of ther ordinatioÌ„ I said before that all the offices of the churche are to be ordeined and apointed to certen places and persons wher and amoÌ„ges whom ther may exercise ther office But the orderinge off bishopes hathe this thiÌ„g particuler in our times for wheras in times past this was coÌ„mon to them with the rest off the ancieÌ„tes that was for a singuler respect aÌ„d especiall occasioÌ„ off that time that off ther apointinge and ordinacion to a certen place and flock which they ought diligently to defend and loke vnto certen profit and coÌ„modities do depend wherof they may liue and wherby they may be susteined and norished wheroff I shall need to speake more at large that all men may vnderstaÌ„d that they are bound by the coÌ„mandement off god to performe this dewty to ther bishoppes and ministers and that I may represse the couetones of some meÌ„ which haue neuer enoughe And first off all we must remeÌ„bre here that which was proued before that bishops that is so say ministers ought to geue theÌ„ selues continuallie to praier and to the administracion off the word and not suffer them selues to be called from doing that ther dewty by any office be it neuer so honorable either in the church or in the coÌ„mon wealthe For thes idle bellies that wildo none of ther dewty ought also to haue no dewty done to theÌ„ againe but they are rather to be delt with as Paule coÌ„mandeth the Thessalonians to deale with thos that liue disorderly that is say that They that labor not shold not eate But and if they be suche as do ther dewtie and refuse to deale with the affaires off the coÌ„mon welche the handlung wher off might be honorable vnto theÌ„ for the churches cause how great wrong wer it to suffer suche men to be pore an needie and compelled â—o seeke ther liuinge by some haÌ„die crafft or occupatioÌ„ wherby they should be no lesse hindred froÌ„ doing ther duties then by the honorable charges of the coÌ„mon welthe And seiÌ„ge they ar day aÌ„d night carefull for the churche and setting all other thinges a side wholie thinck how they may defend it and promote the saluacioÌ„ theroff what can be more iust or equall then that they againe should not be neglected off those for whose cause they take so great paynes For who did euer as S. Paule notably handlethe this matter to the CorinthiaÌ„s goe to warfare of his owne charges who plaÌ„tethe a vineiard and eatethe not of the fruit therof or who feedeth a flocke and eatethe non off the milck off it But the churche hathe many mortall enemyes and continuall warre with them without any peace or truce and the bishops be they that take vpon them and susteine thes enmyties for the churches cause and striue to ther very great daunger for the saluacion theroff with most mighty princes and potentares as S. Paule callethe them and the monarche and prince off this world For how often thinck we euen for this cause are they assaulted because ther defend the churche how many dauÌ„gers do they put them selues into and with what fiercnes thinck we dothe the enemies pursue theÌ„ knowing that many ar preserued by there life Therfore they that wold suffer this ther souldier or captaine to die for hunger were they not worthie to fall into the handes off ther enemies And what vineiard is ther so painfully trimmed and dressed off the husband man as the churches are dressed of there husbaÌ„d meÌ„ how carefull are they in plantinge what paines take they in pruninge and culting oft aÌ„d other suche like toile and labor if theÌ„ being so well dressed it should not norishe the husbaÌ„d maÌ„ that dressed it might they not worthelie coÌ„plaine off it as the lord by the prophet Esay after an other sorte complainethe off his vine Seinge also ther is nothinge more reasonable then that the shepherd should feede off the milke of his flock should not those shepeherdes be fedde which the milke and clothed with the flece aÌ„d wolle of there flockes who susteine for the flockes cause the assaultes of most greeuous wolues and watch fortheÌ„ day and night suffring the parching heate and chillinge cold for ther cause who feede theÌ„ ouersee theÌ„ and seeke theÌ„ and often tymes put ther life in extreame danger to defend them Nether are these thinges spoken and grounded only vpon humaine and naturall reason or handled according to mans Iudgment only but this is Goddes ordinaunce and appointment and groundeth
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
continency frugalitie and all moderacion off life but only that I would haue them receiued as the embassadores off Christ for the honor off ther master honestly aÌ„d liberally that we put not theÌ„ downe to the meany to eate with the shepherdes and hired seruantes nor forget those that labor in the Lordes worck as Moses gaue the Iewes warniÌ„ge towchinge the Leuites seing we sit all of vs by the blessinge of the Lord quietly and in peace euerie man vnder his Oliue tree and vnder his vine aÌ„d gather in our hauest and our vintage seinge I say we enioy thes coÌ„modities we ought not to deale couetously sparingly and niggardly with them but louingly liberally and bountifully that they may liue honestly and coÌ„modiously off ther labors that they may norishe and mainteine ther house and familie that they may prouide them selues suche necessary helps as they stand in need off for ther vocation and callinge yea and furder that they may be able to releiue and succor the pore and â—eedy for this is the right waie to preserue the ministerie that bothe it become not vile and conteÌ„ptible thorowghe poueâ—â—y and misery neither that it wax wanton an prophane by great excesse and abundance For as it is a shame for the churches to see ther minister in miserie thoroughe neede aÌ„d necessitie so it is to be feared leste they wax wantoÌ„ by to great pleÌ„ty aÌ„d riches For surely it was a right heauenly voyce and spoken as an Oracle off the maner off gouerninge the church which the story of the primitiue church reherseth was hard from heauen in the time off Constantine the great that godly Emperor that is to say that the churche was poisoned with riches For so it came to passe that they fell froÌ„ labor to idlenes from teÌ„perancie to excesse and wantonnes from the meane estate off bishopes and ministers to affect and desire to imitate aÌ„d follow the magnificence and maiesty off lordes and princes hereof come the ther siluer aÌ„d gilted Crosiers wherby they imitated the sceptres off kinges heroff they got them myters as kinges haue ther crownes hereoff also because the noble men kept great traines of seruaÌ„ts that they might be the beter able to serue the comon wealthe in tyme off need they wold also haue ther traines and began to be delighted and to take pleasure in an vnprofitable nomber off seruantes and waitinge men to adorne and set out ther cuphordes with siluer vessell and plate off gold to array theÌ„selues in costly apparell for now a dais a man may see them that weare soft apparell not only in kiÌ„ges courtes as our Sauior Christe saide but eueÌ„ in the church to be called honorable lords to sit at the right hand off kinges and princes to send them giftes and presentes to bid theÌ„ to ther bancketes and bothe seeke and mainteine ther honor and estimation by a certen courtly pompe and shewe This condicion I not only wishe not to our Bishoppes but iudge it and esteeme it alltogether intollerable and by no meanes to be suffered as a meanes to hindre there labor and diligence in ther office as a meanes to make them wanton lascyuious and proud and agreathe not with that meane estate that ought to appere in Bishopps but is most contrary bothe to the ordinance and also to the examples off Christ our Sauior and off his Apostles Neither in my Iudgmenâ— may any church be esteemed well enoughe reformed that euen in this behalffe doth not obey to the expresse commandement off god and take away all this vaine pompe and shewe and make the Bishoppes be content with the meane estate off ther place and callinge making them able to bidde the pore to ther table and the banished for Christs sake but not to bidd kinges and princes calling them the seruantes and Ministers off Christ and not honorable lordes beinge carefull that they may be suche as may shine in godlines learninge modesty temperaunce continencie and all example of good life not with gold and siluer with traines and trompes off meÌ„ and lordly port and courtly state off honor Thes are the right ornamentes off Bishoppee wherby they may procure to theÌ„ selues an honest report with credite aÌ„d authority in the church off god to there ministerie wherbie also they mvy preserue and mayntene the same Therfore let vs not take to muche pleasure in the outward beautie and faire shewe off this pompe and glory but let vs see iff ther be any vse and proffit off it desyre rather that which is proffitable for others then that which seruethe only for avaine shewe For as the Poet saithe Seeke not the thing that faire is to eye But rather that the cyty may liue by But the church liueth not by this pompe and shewe nor hathe no neede off it but off godlines lerninge symplicitie and modesty by which thinges Christ would haue his kingdome enlarged And I pray yow how do this moue the mindes off men to goe to the church with a great traine off men before him and after him as the Bishoppe that Eusebius speaketh off in the seuenth boke off his ecclesiasticall historie to goe to the pulpit with officers afore him makinge Roume for my lorde to preache in a Rochet and a faire square cappe leaninge opon a quishion off clothe off gold Thes thinges may delight the eyes for a tyme and the outward senses take pleasure in this vaine shewe but I see not how the miÌ„d is more easilie taught beaten downe or raised vp againe by this meanes For it must be a certen heauenly power ioyned with a pure lerned and simple interpretation off the scriptures which must work thes thinges which are Iewells more meet to shyne in a pulpit than siluer or gold Plinie shewinge the cause off the fruitfulnes off the Roman feeldes in times past more elegantly in deed then truly Then saithe he when the fieldes wer tilled by Emperors it is like that the earthe reioysed to be plowed with a share bearing a lawrell garlond vpon it and to be tilled off such a plow man who had before triumphed More pretilie I say then truly for that it is better for tilliÌ„ge off the earthe that the ploughe share be sharpe then that it be crowned with a laurel garlond and that the ploughe man be diligent rather then suche a one as had entred the citie in greate pompe and triumphe Which also the same Author correctinge him selffe addeth after in the same place sayinge Or ells this might haue beene the cause off the fruitfulnes off the feeldes theÌ„ That thos worthie Captaines and Emperors handled ther seedes as carefully as ther battelles and were as diligent ouer ther fieldes as ouer ther tentes Or ells this That all thinges speede more happilie which are done by them who are honest and vertuous because they be also done more painfully and with greater trauell which surely me thincketh is the very cause off the fruitfulnes off the lordes field And that then
which they haue iff at any tyme they haue gotten wrongfully into ther handes the patrimony off the churche For they must either restore it againe that the churche may be prouided for off worthy teachers or ells make them selues giltie off the losse and destruction off so many soules as by there meanes are destitute off a minister and shall perishe in ther ignorance But seing this place hath bene handled now fullie enoughe as I suppose let vs conclude that which I purposed in the begin̄inge namely that the churches ought the prouide for the ministers and that in suche measure that they be not hindred from doinge there dewties either by neede and pouerty or by welthe and aboundance That they be not despised thorowghe neede and necessitie nor waxe wanton by excessiue riches As for that point by what meanes this ought especially to be done we must vnderstand that which was cōmanded in the lawe touchinge the geuinge the tēthes to the priestes and Leuites bindeth not vs precisely to the payinge of tēthes For this was a politique lawe off the Iewes which bindeth vs only generallie that we also prouide for them which labor in the Lordes work But as we are not necessarylie bounde to vse that way off prouision for them So iff it be commodious for any country either because the people are allreadie accustomed vnto it or for some orher ciuill and politique respect yt may be vsed so that we remember that which hath bene shewed before That the ministers must honestly and liberally be prouided for with oute ther takinge off any suche paines as may hindre the doinge off ther dewtie And seing the Lord would not suffer the Leuites and Priestes to the with drawinge off them from doinge ther dewtie to goe about the feeldes and see that euery man pay ther tithes and to see it brought home how muche lesse ought the worck off the ministerie to be hindered by doing this busynes But also besides this discommoditie It is a base and a vile thing for them to vewe euery mans feelde lest they be deceyued and to knowe the nombre and encrease off euery mans flocke or cattell and off other thinges wheroff by the custome off our realme the tenthes are paide especially seinge he shal be forced sometymes to striue with peuishe and couetous men for his right which in suche a man especially in suche a case were a shamefull and vnworthie thinge Therfore iff we thinck good to keepe still the tenthes and to pay the Ministers off them the magistrate must prouide for this by his authoritie that they may be free from all thes troubles that they may wholie bestowe them selues in readinge meditating and expoundinge off the Scriptures and at one word in doing off there dewtie And to see that so doing they may be honestly and liberally prouided for For thus we reade that the godlie and noble kinge Ezechias did who brought to passe by his authoritie first that the Priestes were prouided for as yt was commanded in the lawe Then also he tooke suche order That ther tithes growinge to a great quantitie and store should be so laide vpp and reserued as might be most commodious for the priestes And howe meete wer it for Christian princes and for the perpetuall praise off ther godlines in the churche to followe the example off Ezechias in this behalffe who not only brought to passe by his authoritie that as I said before the priestes and Leuites should be prouided for as it was commanded by the lawe but also had a especiall care that That which was liberallie giuen might be deuided to those to whom yt apperteined Therfore he built barnes and granaries for the better commoditie off the priestes and finally appointed certen men by whose meanes the Leuites who were scattered throwgh owt the kingdome were prouided for Suche Auncetors and so worthy patterns and examples off godlines and all kind off vertue let Good Princes set before them to followe and not only not spoile the Ministery them selves or suffer it to be robbed off others but liberallie accordinge to the commandement off our Sauior Christ see it mainteined and prouided for thorowghe owt ther kingdome nor suffer that That which was once geuen to this ende be prodigallie spent and wasted in courtly Pompe excesse and wantones nor bestowed vppon noble mens seruantes nor other innumerable sortes off vngodlie and intollerable abuses by sacriledge and the churche robbery but that yt be faithfully ordered and bestowed vppon Religion the seruice off god and publishinge off the word off god thorowghe out the kingdome and the maintenance off the sacred ministerie Thus they shall proue them selues to be suche kinges and Queenes as Esay prophesied off who should norishe cherishe and defeund the churche like foster Fathers and nurces Thus therfore hauinge ended this pointe off the Liuinge off Bishoppes or Mynisters Let vs go forward to the next which is touching ther garmentes and appparell which apparell being off ij sortes that is to saye either belonging to deuine seruice or which seruethe in the common and dailie vse off life I finde nothing written or commanded in in the gospell off either off them but only that which is generallie commannded touchinge modestie sobernes and honest conuersacion with all men which as yt may be referred to the diet and houshold stuffe and to all other partes off ther life So also to ther garmentes and apparell But a certen kinde forme and fashion off apparell either in dailie vse off liffe or ells in deuine seruice is no where commannded in the Gospell Neither yet vnder the lawe was any thing prescribed to the Leuites and Priestes for ther daylie wearinge in what apparell or garmentes they should daylie goe In deede in the diuine seruice which they did in the tabernacle off the Temple such thinges are diligentlie and exactly prescribed and set forthe accordinge to the dispensacion off the old Testament But in thes our tymes wherin by the grace off God we haue the trewth yt selffe and the bodie in Christ our Sauior we haue no lenger neede off figures and shadowes Thes thinges were but for a certen tyme which so long as God would haue kept he left the forme and fashion off ther apparell plainly set forthe in his law adioining therunto the punishement off deathe iff any man should trangresse the lawe therin But this difference off apparell in diuine seruice doeth no more belōg vnto vs thē the offring vp off sacrifice and the kepinge off other ceremonies off the lawe Neither vnder the lawe perteined it to any but only to suche as ministred in the tabernacle and temple and not to the rest off the Leuites who were scattered throwgh out Iury and preached the word off god in the Sinagoges How much lesse ought the Interpreters off the gospell vse those veiles and shadowes in thes daies wherin as the Apostle saithe we behold which open and vncouered face the glory off god And iff
it had bene needefull to haue bene vsed ther is no doubt but that Christ would haue warned his Apostles off yt especially seing that these thinges were before so at large set out vnder the lawe For it is not to be thought that Christ was lesse diligent in shewinge how god would be worshipped vnder the Gospell then Moses in shewing the same vnder the lawe Or that Moses being a seruant was more faithfull in the administracion off the Lordes house then Christ the Sonne and heire in his owne fathers howse Therfore to binde the Mynisters to any certen fashion or forme off apparell hath no grownde off any precept off the gospell or commādement out off the word off god They are therfore the inuencions off men and off what men but euen off suche which haue soughte to paint and adorne with these colors the shame off ther wherishe idolatrie ād superstition For as iff they had bene ashamed off the simplicitie off the gospell which they ought rather to haue had in reuerence and in honor They thought good to follow what so euer had any shewe or ostentacion in any Religion and thought it to be vsed to the setting forthe off the gospell Thus they take out off the lawe allmost all ther massing apparell by a folishe and ridiculous imitation that hauing an alter and a priest they might not want apparell for the stage As for the surplice it is notable which is written off hope Siricius who fetcheth the cause and originall off yt from Christ and prouethe that we ought to vse a lin̄en garmēt at deuine seruice be cause Christ was buried in a winding sheete A notable reason surely why we should vse the surplice in our churches but peraduēture they are ignorant off ther owne antiquities and the surplice is to be thought rather to haue bene borowed by them off certen Egyptian monckes who vpon the skinnes which they vsed to weare for there apparell did weare lynnen garmentes from whence also the name off Surplice seemeth to come Such like reasons are to be founde in there wrightinges but to let passe these trifles it is to be lamented that euen amonges vs who professe the Gospell there were some that when the whole papacie was to be consecrated and this Rome to haue been vowed to destruction accordinge to the vowe and curse off the citie off Hiericho who being deceiued with the faire and glitteringe shewe off the Babylonishe garmentes brought them as Acan did into the tentes off Israell For why do they commande a cope and surplice to be vsed in diuine seruice or a Tippet and a Square Cappe to be worne dailie but because they thīk it is of some authority with the people and bringeth some estimacion to ther office and to ther persons ād is thought to be of great force to make a mā seeme to be graue ād off authoritie For thes be the best reasōs which they are wont to bring wherby they would signifie both that thes ij sortes off apparell are not commanded for Religions sake and that the abusing off them heretofore cannot nor ought not to take away the right vse off them which belongeth to comlynes and order to which ende contrary to the Apostles mind they wrest that place off S. Paule That all things are to be done orderly in the church But iff they perteine only to a decency and comlynes what needeth any commandement to be giuen to a minister to vse dailie the tippet and the square cappe and a Priestes gowne and at devine seruice the cope and the surplice seing a minister who is sett ouer the gouernment off the churche and by the Apostles rule ought to be suche a one as not only is able to vse him selffe honestlie in euery thing but also suche as keepeth his familie in order and ought to be an example off all modesty and honest comlines to his flock who suerly iff he be meet for suche an office and worthie to handle the word off god will take heede that he doe not dishonest his worthy office by vile and vnhonest apparell But seing they make no worthie ministers but readers and seruice saiers yt was needfull they should appoint them what cappe they should weare and howe the sleeues and collers off ther gownes should be made and suche like Althoughe they atteine not this decency and comlines which they pretend for often times ther is nothing more filthye and vnhonest then this kinde off apparell And iff any can vse a comely square cappe he can vse also a rounde cap which is as comely and so muche more as it is fitter for his heade thē the square Therfore ther is no cause to prescribe this apparell to be dailie worne for decencie and order But they say the Ministers must be distinguished from other men and that they may be knowne off ther parishiners and church This is euen as great a reason as the other For iff they did set suche a shepheard ouer the sheepfolde off god who were able as well with his voice as the sheppherd with his hooke and staffe to rule his sheepe who were able also to heale the sicke and diseased and to bringe home againe suche as wander and straie out off the waie finallie iff they set a right sheppherd ouer the flocke the sheepe would knowe him by his voice and would not need to haue any marke by his apparell to knowe him Therfore allthoughe this reason might be off some force for hirelinges yet it cannot be of any force for meete and worthie ministers And wheras they alledge also Order and decencye for there surplice I would knowe whie yt should seeme more comelie and decent for a Minister that be should preache or praie in a surpl ce then in a gowne .. In white raiment then in black apparell For as for the coloure me thinketh black to be more comely for him and for the fashion me thinketh a long garment reaching downe to the foote sholde be more honest and seemelie Further more do they not see that Simplicitie liked our sauior Christ that the Gospell is in a maner shadowed and couered by these vayles and figures that by this meanes the waie is made open to bringe in many other moo ceremonies for as good respectes as these be do they not also think that we perceiue that nothing ells is sought by this which they call comelines and order but only a conformitie with Papistes and a superstitious decency as also in vsing the signe off the crosse in baptisme the rounde cake in the Lordes supper and many other suche ceremonies and not that seemely order which the Apostle commandeth For iff the simplicitie and nakednes off the gospell misliked them why did they especially clothe it with popishe apparell seing we ought to be so muche the furder off and to abhorre ther doinges by how muche we are in greater daunger off them then off other heretiques because they liue amonges vs For which cause also
the Lord commanded that greater seueritie should be vsed against them off the land off Canaan then against Idolaters off other nacions and cuntries But they saie further that men should be admonished that they are nowe vsed to an other ende then they were by the Papistes and that the abuse cannot take awaye the right vse off theÌ„ and althoughe the popishe priesthoode be a most greuous leprosie yet the apparell which they vsed iff yt be washed againe may be applied againe to our vse but I say that off all the leprous garmentes they haue chosen the filthiest and most polluted and suche as cannot be washed nor made cleane againe by anie art or conning off the fuller For seing it is manifest that Popishe Priestes receiued ther orders by the puttinge on off a surplice and square cappe and that they vsed the coope euen to the singinge off masse who is he that hathe lerned by the lawe off god to distinguishe and discerne betwene sore and sore betwene holie and vncleane and vnderstandethe not and euen seethe with his eies that the leprosie was spredde vpon thes garmentes and that they are polluted and vncleane not only by the contagion off the leprous man but euen by ther owne disease And therfore by the lawe not to be washed but to be burned nor to be purged with water but to be consumed with fier Seinge then it is so and that this lawe off prescripte apparell off ministers hath no grownde not only off no scripture but also off no sownde Iudgment and reason a merueile it is to see howe earnestly and with great contencion yt hath bene defended and mainteined And it makethe me afraide to remember the bitternes of thos daies the churches bereaued of there ministers and most faithfull Pastors and Doctors driuen from there places the troble that came in the vniuersities for this cause and the most toward youth both for godlines and lerninge driuen out off ther colledges finally the commandementes off god transgressed that the preceptes off men might be established But they haue made me to longe in a matter off small waight who do so earnestly vrge these trifles as iff they were matter off great waight and were grounded off the commandement off God But seinge yt appereth manifestly as I suppose by that which I haue said that yt is farre otherwise Let vs conclud that noe certeine kinde forme or fashion off apparell is to be prescribed to ministers neither to be dailie worne nor yet in seruice tyme and that they are only to be admonished that they shewe them selues sober modest and honest both in ther apparell aÌ„d in all the rest off there life and conuersation which iff some shall neglect to doe and beinge admonished by there breethren doe not amend yt let theÌ„ be corrected by the magistrate And thus muche generallie off Bishopps that is to say off ministers Now it followeth to declare the diuers sortes and kindes of them and to shew what euery one hath proper and peculier to hiÌ„ selffe There be therfore two kindes and sortes off Bishopes the one off Doctors the other off Pastors For these are not to be confounded as iff one and the selfe same office were signified by two names as some haue supposed For seinge the Apostle in the iiij to the Ephesians doth seuerally reherse all the ministers off the church which Christ hathe geuen and appointed to the edifyinge theroff and distinguisheth Apostles from Prophets and Prophetes from Euangelistes I do not see why we shold not think also that Pastors and Doctors as they are distinguished and seuered by name to be so also in office and duty which also appereth more manifestly in the xij to the Romans wher they are distinguished not only by names but also by giftes proper to seuerall offices Therfore these are diuers and sundry offices how neere so euer they seeme to be togither Now to proue that only Doctors and Pastors be Bishopps and that no man ells as it hathe bene saide here to fore may or ought to minister the word off god in the church needeth a longer proofe But seing it cannot be doubted that the Apostle rehearseth in the iiij to the Ephesians all the offices and functioÌ„s which haue any thinge to doo with the worck off the ministery and by which Christ would haue his church builded vp and seing that those offices off Apostles Euangelistes aÌ„d Prophetes are ceased as also they were geueÌ„ only to to serue for a tyme and not for the perpetuall gouerment off the churche It is manifest that ther remaine no other Bishoppes or ministers off the word off god but only Pastors and Doctors But that it may the more clerely be shewed that those other offices serued but for a time let vs more at large consider the nature and condition off euery one off them And first for the Apostles office what it was it apperethe by the word off our Sauior wherby he ordeineth them to the Apostleshipp namely This that they should go preache the Gospell in all the world and baptize those which beleue So that an Apostle was not bound to preache the gospell to any one and certeine prouince nacioÌ„ or country but to the whole world So lickwise Christ before his departure commended not to peter and by him to the rest off the Apostles any certen sheepe off some certeÌ„ grownd or pasture but all his flock For as our Sauior Christ had geuen theÌ„ merueilous giftes off the Spirit So he would haue them beare greater offices He assigned them not a fewe acres to plowe and till or a litle feelde not some small porcion off his vyneiard and inheritaunce to dresse but euen all his feeld his whole vyneiard and inheriâ—aunce Suche off all the disciples off Christ ther were only xij to whome afterwardes were added Paule and as some think Barnabas who as certeyne chiefe capitaines should bring the world vnder subiection to the kingdome and Empire off Christ And as Maister builders who should drawe out and describe the patterne and platforme off all the churches and lay the fyrst foundacions and groundes Which so great a charge beinge laid vpon them excellent giftes were also geuen them wherby they might be able to beare and vphold so great a burthen For they were endewed with a merueilous knowledge off heauenly thinges and diuers straung tongues and languages as is yt rehersed off the xij Apostles in the Actes and as Paule testifiethe off him selffe to the Corinthes Furthermore there were many other thinges proper and peculier to this office as that they should be witnesses off the Lordes resurrection that they should be immediatly called and appointed by CHRIST and otherlike Which seing they can be in no man now adayes yt is playne and euident that the Apostleshipp is ceased and that this worthy and excellent office ys no longer remaininge in the churche wherupon the Apostles who did choose Matthias into Iudas place beinge voyd
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
thought to haue brought into the churche off god with out his word off our owne authority so many newe offices and functions as into how many partes and membres this one office is deuided Touchinge those thinges which besides this are faulty in the Election and Ordinacion off Pastors they haue bene spoken off in other places before neither is it needfull to repeat the same againe Therfore to conclude all this treatise off Bishoppes takinge away extraordinarie functions and offices and abolishing the pompe and tyranny off the Lord Bishoppes Let vs esteeme the office off a Bishopp and minister as yt is declared vnto vs in the word off god Let vs remembre that this is a seruice and Ministery not off the affaires off this life But off the holie word off god Let this most neceessary office amonges all other offices that be in the earthe both for the seruice and Religion off God and for the saluacion off man be ordeined and established thorowgh out this Realme Let an Assay be made that they which beinge vnmeete for the office being put out godlie learned and worthye men be chosen therunto who discharging ther offices faithfully may be sufficiently prouided for concerning the necessaries off this life as the Lord hath commanded Let vs fetche the manner and fashion off our examininge choosinge and ordeininge out off the Scriptures Let Doctors be appoynted to teache and Cathechize the rude and ignorant Let Pastors be ordeyned to Mynister the Sacramentes and to applye the generall Docrine to the particuler vses and occasions off the churche That faultes beinge amended and reformed accordinge to to the right lyne off the word off God a iust and lawfull ministerie suche as the Lord hath appointed may be established amonges vs That Christ powringe his blessing vpon his owne Ordenance and apointment as the Apostle noteth thes to be the endes off the ministery the work off the ministery may be done The bodie off Christ which is the churche may be edified and buylded vp and the Saintes may be fitly orderly and proportionally ioined and knit together one with an other Thus now hauinge finished one part off ecclesiasticall functiōs and charges namely that which consisteth in the dutie off a Bishoppe and the Ministerie off the worde Let vs come to that which remaineth and concerneth deacons But to the ende we may hereī also orderly procede first I say that Sainct Paule in his first epistle to Timothy and thyrd chap. and in the other places before alledged off me to the same ende calleth all those Deacons which do exercise any office or or charge in the churche not belonging to the Ministery off the word For ther be also other offices besides the ministery off the word needfull for the preseruacion off the churche Which what they be we shall see hereafter But iff they were not necessary for the preseruatiō off the whole body Surely Iesus Christ the most wise ruler and gouerner off his churche would neuer haue appointed them yff then this other ordre off Deacons be so necessary why do we want it wholie in our churche deforminge the body no lesse yea a great deale more by so notable want off those partes that are necessary then by the superfluitie off those which are not off the body as hath bene allready before shewed For let them not here speake off there Chauncelors whom I haue allready proued to haue no lawfull place in the church nor off the churche wardens off whom I shall speake more hereafter For I say we want and require Ecclesiasticall Deacons who accordinge to the ordinaunce off god are lawfully chosen created and ordemed to there offices not ciuill and politique men who by the authoritie off the Magistrate deale in some suche matter but what these be we shall see hereafter more at large Here I cannot sufficiently wonder at the boldnes off the braine off man who thus altereth and peruerteth wholie the lordes gouerment in his owne house appointinge some besides those which are appointed by him to the rulinge off his house and putting out those as iff the church off god had no neede off ther labour whō the Lord him selffe had apointed fynally licensing them selues in the lords matters to set downe and take away to adde and diminishe what they list and to rule ād dispose all thinge according to ther owne will and fantasy Thē the which seing ther cā be nothinge more against the honor off our Sauior let vs at the last learne to be modest and to be ruled by his word let vs suffer him to rule his owne house by his owne authoritie and restore againe to the churche those offices and functions which he hath thought meete and profitable for it But that thes thinges may be the better vnderstood and that we proceede the more orderly forewarde As I shewed in the former parte first what was ordeined off God wherby it was easie to vnderstād what was superfluous or to muche So I must likwise doe in this part that yt may be the better vnderstood what we want and what is to to be supplied in this behalffe There be therfore ij sortes off Deacons as they are deuided by Sainct Paule in the xij to the Romans The one sorte are called distributers who also in the sixte off the Actes are properly called Deacons The other ouer seers who also in other places are called Elders and Gouernors off the church Those therfore who are properly called Deacons are officers off the churche sette ouer the bestowing and distributing off the churche goodes and treasurie How great cause there was off institutinge this office in the churche it appereath in the sixth off the Actes wher the the Apostles who in the beginninge administred the treasury off the churche when they perceiued that they were not able to serue bothe that is to saye the preachinge off the word and the caringe for the pore gaue ouer this office to be Treasurers any more and propounded yt to the churche that ther might be a seuerall office appoynted for this charge that might take vppon them the prouidinge for the poore To whome should be giuen what so euer was bestowed for the reliefe off the needy that they might after dispose yt according as euery one had neede That the poore might not be dispised in the church off God whom he declareth to be so deare vnto hym and that all complaintes being taken awaie euery thing might be orderly and honestly gouerned in the house off god Therfore the Treasury off the church whither yt be in daily offringes or in rentes and reuenuews appoynted to that ende is to be cōmitted vnto the Deacons The hospitalles and houses which are appointed for the reliefe off straungers and off the poore are to be ruled by them fynally what other suche like thing ther is belongeth to the office off Deacons In olde tyme in deede in the prymitiue churche this Treasure was committed to the Bishoppes because all men trustinge
to ther conscience whom they thought to haue a speciall care off yt hoped that all thinges wold be more faithfully ordered for the benefit off the churche and maintenance off the poore But they wheras they ought rather to haue followed the example off the Apostes and to haue requested that they might geue them selues to preaching and praier and that they would choose some other to take that charge vppon them did not only suffer them selues to be entreated to take yt But also did vnfaithfullie behaue them selues in disposing the poore mens boxe that at the last they ceased to be Almners any more or distributers vnto others and as yff they had bene the poore men gaue all vnto them selues concerning which matter the Deacons iff we had any ought to deale with the Bishoppes in the behalffe off the poore whose charge is committed vnto them by the churche and enter an action against them for recouering this mony againe to requyre againe ther siluer vesselles and the golden plate wherwith they haue so gorgeously garnished and adorned ther cuphordes and pleade against them that all that belongeth to the poore by whose pouertie they haue waxen riche by whose want and neede they are become full and welthy Therfore seinge the office off a Deacon is so necessary yt may seme a merueile how the churche could suffer that the poore and the straungers who for Christes cause ought to be most deere vnto vs shold want ther Gardyanes and Tutors We haue brought in other Collectors gatherers and church wardēs into ther roume But yt were better that we had none suche at all then that by them so necessarye an office should be abolished For seinge the charge requirethe both a singuler wisdome simplicitie and integrity why shold ther not be choise made as in the other offices off the churche triall had that the wisest may be chosen by the churche and as the Apostle Sainct Peter speakethe suche as be full off the holie ghost and off wisdome Why are not handes laid vppon them that they may knowe that they deale in the Lordes busines Why are they not praid for that they may haue grace to discharge there duty Fynally why had they rather that they should be cyuill then Ecclesiasticall Officers this therfore is the charge and office off Deacons In whose Election and ordynacion seing ther is nothing ells partyculerly to be considered besydes that which hath bene Generallie spoken off all heretofore Let vs come to the Elders which are the second kind and sort off Deacons Elders therfore are Deacons who are appoynted to take heede off the offences that arise in the churche Therfore in well reformed churches euery one off them haue ther warde and as yt were there watche to looke vnto off that porcion off the churche in which they may most fytlye serue Wherin iff any thinge be done otherwise then ought to be that shall deserue iust reproufe yff yt be priuatly committed He Goeth vnto the partie and admonisheth him priuatly for his fault accordinge to the word off God exhortinge him that he do so no more but iff openly he certifiethe the counsell or consistory off the churche lest the faulte off one man be spred to the destruction off all the rest For although after a sort yt is all mens duty to bringe him into his waye which goeth astray yet better and more diligent heed is takē that offences arise not in the churche when euery part off the churche shold haue ther watchmen assigned to them to whose office especially it should belonge to marke ouersee and obserue all mens manners Wheras otherwise ther are many faultes which may easilie escape those who haue not a carefull eye ouerthem For which cause Saint Paule to the Thessalonians attributeth admonitions and reprehensions specially vnto the Elders which notwithstanding afterwardes in an other sorte he declareth to belonge vnto all the faithfull Therfore those Elders be such as those officers off the Athenienses were who had charge to see the lawes kept or as the Censors off Rome who exacted and examined euery citezens life accordinge to the lawes So they marke and obserue euery mans manners and they them selues doe admonishe men off the lighter faultes and bring the greater to the Consistory Finally they take heede by all meanes lest God be offended with the churche by reason off some mans fault and see that thinges be done honestly godly and comely in the churche off God. Therfore yff ther come into there warde any strangers from other places to inhabit whose Religion is not yet knowne They certifie the Ministers that they may haue meanes to talke with thē before they come to the Lordes supper So lykewise iff ther be any children to be baptized they admonishe the minister of it ād finallie off all suche thinges which do belonge to the good and semely gouerment off the churche that the minister shold vnderstand theroff Furder more also in the administration off the Lordes supper for the better commoditie off the churche they helpe the pastor and take heede that none come vnto the lordes supper whose Religion and honestie is not knowen and with whome the ministers haue not delt withall before and other suche like things which allthough they be not all expresly mencioned in the Scriptures yet seing it belongethe not only vnto Order and to comelines But also to the profit and commoditie off the churche that some shold be set ouer thes matters suche as emonges the Iewes were those who were called Cheeff off the Synagoge and seing the Scripture mencionethe no other Elders to whome the charge off these thinges should apperteine I thincke it plaine enoughe that these thinges by the worde off god ought to be referred to the office off Elders And as for that part off there office off taking heede to offences who can doubt that That charge properly apperteineth vnto the Elders seing that they are saide also in the Scriptures to rule to ouersee and to gouerne For this ouersight can haue but two partes only wheroff the first perteinethe to Doctrine and Religion the other to life and māners Seing then that two kindes off Elders are expressly named by Saint Paule wher off the first sort are occupied in preachinge and Doctrine Iris necessary that the other should haue charge off manners and conuersacion which part only remaineth And hitherto the example off the primitiue churche doth leade vs which for asmuche as they were next to the Apostles time might best vnderstand to what vse Elders had bene appointed in the church by them But how the primitiue churche tooke those degrees off the Apostles both Ecclesiasticall histories doe witnes ād reformed churches which in our tyme haue reformed them selues according to there example doe sufficiently declare Therfore seing the office off Elders was apointed in the churche off our Sauior Christ by his Apostles and seing it is so proffitable ād necessarie for the same haue we not
iust cause now to complaine that our church wanteth so worthy an office do not the slaunders off our aduersaries who are ready to take all occasions to speak euill off the Gospell require suche watchemen to watche and see that offences rise not in the churche doth not the shamefull wickednes off men require suche Censors And can this noble lawe off doinge all thinges orderly and comely in the churche off God want those any longer who shold haue a care to see it kept That all thinges come not to confusion and be turned vpside downe Therfore let Elders be restored to our churche againe which are both necessary helpes for the safetye and preseruation off yt and worthy ornamentes for the estimation off the same Let vs obeye the Lordes Commaundement touchinge the ordeyninge off Elders yff either the safety or estymacion off the church be deare vnto vs or yff we haue any care off doinge our duty vnto god As for election and Ordynacion off them seing yt may be taken out off those Generall rules which I haue giuen before and doth not requyre any thinge to be speciallie spoken in this behalffe Let vs conclude this matter and together with all euen the whole treaty which hath bene handled concerninge the symple charges and offices off the churche besech ing God our most mercifull father that yt may please him to haue mercy off our churche and that as he hath raised yt in a maÌ„ner from the deade and oute of the graue againe So he would also vouchsafe to adorne and beautyfy yt being raised vpp That yt may please hym to take awaye the deformyties off yt cutting off that which is superfluous and supplyinge that which wantethe To encrease hir beauâ—y and ornamentes and to Poolishe and perfect her with his most freshe and lyuely colors To restore trewe Discypline againe To abolishe the Canon lawe that only they which are called may bare office in the churche That Ambition may be repulsed and put back That the the lawes off lawfull Election and ordynation may be kept Fynally that a lawfull Mynistery may be established thoroughout the Realme which may continewe for euer That Deacons may be made for the poore and Elders to admonishe such as goe astray And last off all that as he hath most mercifully allready begonn in our church all thinges which he hath most wisely appoynted to the glorifyinge off his name and preseruinge off his churche So yt may please hym of like grace and fauour to perfect and finishe his worck emonges vs And thus much off those offices and charges off the churche whiche we call symple It followeth now to speake off the Consystory or Councell off the churche Whereoff allthoughe ther be no newe or speciall Eelection and ordynacion because yt consisteth off suche as are allredy called to the former offices yet I thought Good euen for this cause to distinguishe them from the former for that here no one man hath any office or authothoritye to do any thing as in the former But ther is one office off all which they all do execute in common together For the Consistory or Councell off the churche is the company and Assemblye off the Elders off the churche who by common Counsell and authoritye do rule and gouerne the same Vnder the name off Elders I do meane only Pastors Doctors and those who are by proper named called Elders For I see not what ground yt hath that some would also haue Deacons to be off this company For seing that Sainct Paule calleth this assembly the company off Elders It followeth that they must be Elders who be off this assembly But the name off Elders is no wher in the Scriptures that I can remember attributed vnto Deacons But only vnto Pastors Doctors and suche as are properly so called To proue that Pastors and Doctors be Elders I neede not cite many places which are infinite where they are so named As for them who are specially called by this name That one place in the xij off the Romanes may sufficiently proue Where the Apostle distinguishinge the office off a Deacon into two partes geueth to those only the name off Elders and gouerners calling the other by an other name This Consistory therfore consisteth of these three ordres Pastors Doctors and Elders which is called by S. Paule the Assembly off Elders as also by the same Apostle they are all called by the name off Elders in an other place In the xviij off Mathew our Sauior calleth them by the name of the churche because they rule aÌ„d gouerne church matters vnder the name and authority off the churchr So likewise the name off all the assembly by Moses is geuen to the Elders off the Iewes that is to say vnto certein chosen and picked out men who were assigned by all the congregation to the gouernment off the affaires Thus plainly it is taken in the viij of nombres wher the Lord appointeth that the Congregation shall lay handes vppoÌ„ the Leuites But I think no man will say that this is to be vnderstoode off all the congregatioÌ„ that so many thousandes should laie there handes vpon them as are rehersed to haue bene then in the host off Israell but the Elders and princes only as Aben Ezra doth rightly interprete yt Which is to be noted the rather because some will haue the wordes off our Sauior to be expounded off all the churche wher as accordinge to the manner off speakinge which the Hebries vse the Consistory or counsell off the churche is called the church where also it is to be obserued that togither with the name the thing it selfe is translated from the Iewes vnto vs That looke what a Counsell the Iewes vsed for the gouernment off the churche we ought to vnderstand by this name that suche a one is apointed by our Sauior to be in our churche Therfore in the same place he attributeth to this Counsell the chiefe gouernment off all churche matters that all such thinges as cannot otherwise be agreed and ended be at the last brought vnto them and ended by ther auâ—horitie and iudgement And iff there shold be any off so desperate boldnes that should dispise the authoritie off this Assembly off Elders Our Sauiour Christ pronounceth hym to he as an ethnik or a publycan assuringe suche a one that his stubburnnes and rebellion shall not escape vnpunished Wherfore he graunteth vnto them chiefe authoritie accordinge to his word to forgeue or retaine synnes which the Doctors off the church are wont to call the keies off heauen because that heauen is in a manner set open for them to enter into whome they haue thus accordinge to god his word forgyuen there synnes as contrarywise it is shutte and barred against them whose sinnes they doe retaine And seing that God hath giueÌ„ to our Sauiour Christ all power in heauen and in earth and that the keye off the house off Dauid which is the church off god is geuen to him
not that that vncleanes wherwith they were polluted by doinge ther necessary dewry to ther frendes and neigbours in burying off them shold be so great that they therfore should be forbidden to eate off the Passeouer with the rest off the church But Moses askinge counsell off god what was to be done in this case Aunswer was made that they shold not eate the passeouer with the rest off ther brethren and a lawe made for euer after touchinge that matter That those kinde off vncleane persons shold not eate the passeouer with the rest of Israell in the first monethe but sholde tarie to eate yt in the second moneth Out off which places we haue many thinges to gather which belonge to the discipline off the churche And first off that which is in the xij off Exodus That no vncircumcised person shold be admitted to eate the passeouer no allthoughe they were Iewes and by nature borne heires off the couenaunt and off the promises but that open profession off trew Religion was necessarilie required as well off Iewe as off straunger before they were admitted to eate off the passeouer Off this I saie we learne that now no maÌ„ ought to be admitted to the Lordes table and to the holie communioÌ„ but he that is knowen by his open profession to be off trewe Religion for Asmuche as the body excelleth the shadowe and the Trewth the figure So muche more carefully ought we to take heed that the Sacramentes wherin we haue the truthe and the body it selffe be not communicated with vncircumcised and vncleane persons So that diligent Inquisicion is to be had off euery man what saythe he holdeth and how he serueth God lest we communicate them with any who professe not the same trewe Religion off Christ Which was so well taken heed vnto in the primitiue churche that Eusebius reportethe in his Ecclesiasticall history that a Romaine Emperour named Philippe who fâ—rst became Christian off all the Emperours and fyrst submitted the romaine Empire vnto Christ desyringe to coÌ„municate with the rest off the churche was not admitted therunto by the Bishop off that churche for that he was yet suspected for diuers causes before that he had openly made profession off trewe Religion And in those our daies in these churches which haue receyued the Doctrine off the Gospell and trewe discipline together as in olde tyme no man was suffered to eate off the Passeouer beinge either a straunger or a hyred seruant onlesse he had his part in the lambe So likewise in the holie Communion off the Lordes supper Christ the trewe paschall lambe is communicated onely to suche as farre as men can iudge by there outward profession vnto whome Christ hym selffe belongethe Now theÌ„ seing we haue a lawe touching this matter off no lesse waight then theyrs why do we suffer yt to Remayne in the book off the gospell as in a scabbard and suffer the edge off yt to wax dull now fyften yeeres together why do we communicate the holie Sacramentes with the Papistes and require not before they be admitted a syncere open and franck Confession off trewe Religion The holie Mysteries off God are prophaned The Gentles enter into the Temple off God The holie thinges are indifferently communicated with cleane and vncleane cyrcuncised and vncyrcuncised and yet we sâ—t no porters at the churche dores nor shut vpp the vncleane and polluted together by them selues Therfore Let this so necessary a part off Eclesiasticall discipline be established Let an open profession off trewe ReligioÌ„ be exacted of those who are admitted to the vse off holie thinges aÌ„d Let no longer the heauenly mysteries off God be prophaned by communycating them with the Papistes The next thing which is to be noted out off these places which I haue alledged belongeth vnto those who are in deede heires off the promises and as Saint Peter speaketh in the Actes Sonnes off the Testament and couenant made withe the Fathers but yet for some fault made are for a tyme excluded from the vse off holie thinges And hitherto belongeth that example which I alledged out off the ix off Nombres off those who were put ouer vnto the second monethe before they might eate the Passeouer Touching which kind off punishment all thoughe ther be nothing expressely mencioned and commanded in the gospell yet seing it is commanded in the fift off Matthew that he at whome a brother is offended bringing an offring to the aulter of the lord should leaue his offring there and goo first aÌ„d be recoÌ„câ—led to his brother how muche more ought this to be done wher the Anger hath bene so hote that it hath broken out into reprochefull and contumelious wordes and suche as our Sauiour manifestly declareth to be suche as the Counsell off the churche hath to deale with that is to saie That they be commanded to abstaine from the aulter off the lord vntill they be reconciled with there brother who is offended For otherwise If without reconciliacion they offer ther gift the offringe is prophaned and they that doe such thinges are giltye off great offence and for a small fauit that was made before haue nowe coÌ„mitted a great aÌ„d a hainous trespasse For so the lawe threateneth to that vncleane person that durst touche the holie fleshe aÌ„d eate of the sacrifices that he should surely pay for it aÌ„d that no other sacrifice sholde serue to take away his sinÌ„e but eueÌ„ his owne blud As also our Sauiour Christ threatneth in the gospell that they which reconcile not them selues shall surely paie for it euen to the vttermost farthing And S Paule saithe that they that drincke and eate the Lordes body vnworthely eate and drinck there owne damnation Seing theÌ„ it is so aÌ„d that the lord is so greuously displeased with the neglectinge off these dewties and prophanation off his holie misteries Seing also that those men theÌ„ selues who do thus boldly prophane them doe make them selues gilty by this meanes of more greuous iudgement and condenmnatioÌ„ this part off discipline also being no lesse necessary then the other which we want nowe to loÌ„ge time is to be restored againe and the keepinge off it to be as muche esteemed as we esteme aÌ„d set by the heauy iudgemeÌ„ts of god and his wrathe punishinge and reueÌ„ginge the prophanatioÌ„ of his holie misteries For let no man here obiect vnto me the Bishops Consistory and the Officiall and CoÌ„missarie geuinge charge from the Bishop to be recoÌ„cyled aÌ„d punishinge by the purse suche as do offend as if we wanted not those thinges that I saie we waÌ„t for all those are but toyes and trifles which seing it hath abolished the lawfull manÌ„er of taking awaie off offences apointed by our Sauiour Christ to be kept in his churche what hope can we looke for to haue any holesome remedie by these meanes off so daungerous diseases Therfore Let ther be a lawfull Counsell establyshed in the churche and Let them vse that authoritie
ther is no cause why any man should feare that sentence as yf it were this thunderbolt which I haue described But as there hath bene fault into muche lightnes and rashenes and pronouncinge so heauy sentences without iust cause so ther hath bene no lesse fault in this that by negligence this wholesome seuerytie when iust cause and occusion requireth is not executed For that meanes being taken awaye which the Lord would haue exercised in his church and wherby offences are to be prouided for and the whole authoritie translated from the consistorye and company off the Elders to the Bishop and his court where the Pastor must come to pleade yff he will hart from the coÌ„munion suche as are to be put back by the word off god the holie mysteries off god are with great lycence and without any punishement daily prophaned the holie thinges are prostituted and set open to Adulterers fornicators drunckerds and all kinde off vicious and sinfull liuers and which our Sauiour forbiddethe precious stoÌ„nes are cast before hogges and swine And the holie mysteries not only prophaned by taking awaie off this means wherby they might be kept from thes pollutions and propanacioÌ„s but the churche also is brought into an vndoubted dauÌ„ger For asmuche as it is to feared lest that the rest off the body be infected with the same contagion and euen they them selues who be suche heape and doble their condeÌ„nacion for that they dare take in hand to be so bold tho come in suche sort vnto the lords table For besides that the worship and seruice off god is preserued and kept chast pure and vndefiled by this seueritie the whole churche also and euen the parties them selues who are giltie are best by this meanes prouided for And that the church is thus preserued the Apostle plaiÌ„ly sheweth wheras willing them to cast out the leauen he geueth them warninge that the whole lumpe is sone sowred with a litle leauen And that this also doth apperteine to the benefit and safety off the gilty parties S. Paule sheweth noting this to be the end off deliueringe the incestuous man vnto Satan that his sowle might be saued in the daie off the Lord. And againe where he saith that they ougt to be contented with that correction which had bene done lest that peradueÌ„tur the partie should be swallowed vp with to muche greefe Wherby we see that this a medicine rather then a deadly punishement a sharpe aÌ„d bitter medicine in deede But we must remember that no remedy is so greuous as that which is most healthfull and holesome Seinge therfore excoÌ„munication hath so profitable necessarie â—od holesome vses in the churche let it be restored to vs agayne and established in suche sort as ys described by the word off God Let the holie Sacramentes off god be carefully kept from all pollucion and and prophanacion Let the leauen be purged and cast out off the churche that we may be a newe lump as we are vnleauened and sweet breade as the Apostle witnesseth Let vs procure diligently the helth off those membres which be in daunger that we enter not lame and maimed but whole into that life which by the word off God we hope for Let the Angell off God therfore be set at the gate off Eden that with his sharpe and glistering sword he may keepe back all polluted and vncleane persons from tastinge or touching off the tree off life Let the safety off the churche be procured and sought for by this kind of purgation and the amendemeÌ„t off suche as goe astray by these remedies sharpe in deed and vnpleasant but holesome notwithstanding and proffitable Thus in those two kindes or sortes all manner off kindes off Ecclesiasticall discipline aÌ„d remedyinge off offences is conteined onles some man think good that that execration be added which S. Paule denounceth and threatneth in the first to the Corinthians and the last chap. against all those who loue not the Lord Iesus and to the Galathians against suche as preache any other Gospell which S. Iude oute off Enoch semeth to thunder against all the wicked Which iff any man so take and referr to excommunication Saint Iohn seemeth to allude to the necessary vse off excoÌ„munication in the church were as it semeth out off Zachary who had prophesyed that in the kingdome of Christ ther should no more be any Cananite in the Land he declareth that in this cyty which he describeth in the xxij chap. ther should no more be any accursed thing as also in the xxj chap. and xxvij ver and the 22. chap. the 25. ver he alludeth to the same thing wheras he say that no prophane or abhominable thing no doggs inchaunters fornicators â—c shall enter into the cyty But that semeth to be more then a Medicine and to be rather a sentence off deathe and a threatning off the last Iudgement without hope off forgyuennes And some think yt agreeth rather to the vices them selues then to any certen persons as also the Apostle denounceth theÌ„ not against certeÌ„ men but generally against the wicked and reprobate Althoughe the primitiue churche pronounced this sentence euen against certeÌ„ meÌ„ as Socrates declareth in his history that Nestorius was accursed by the churche men which curse saith he we Christianes are wont to call the sentence that is pronounced against a blasphemer when as iff it were grauen vpon some pilleâ— we publishe this sentence to all the world Which iff we take in this sense yt semeth so to answer to excommunication as Destruction Which the Hebrews call Abaddon doth answer to that excision and cutting of whiche they call careth Which hath bene spoken off before Touching which Destruction the Hebrew interpretours confesse that they knowe not certenly what it is yet they do proue plainly that it is an other kind off punyshement distinguished from the other and off more greeuous and certen destruction And let thus much suffise to haue bene spokeÌ„ of the chiefe and soueraigne authority off the Assembly off the Elders in the gouernment off the churche wherby we may see by which of the three states of lawfull gouernmeÌ„t which are wher one is soueraigne or more or all the churche is gouerned For asmuche as the state and kind off gouernment is esteemed off the soueraigne whither he be one moo or the commynaltie Therfore for asmuch as all thinges are ordered and gouerned by the authority off certen chosen men who are cheife in the congregation in godlines and vertewe we may call the gouernment off the churche Aristocratie that is that gouernment and state wherin a fewe off the best do beare the rule or rather Theocratie that is the gouernment off god seing that they haue no authoritie to do any thing but by the word and commandement off god But these chosen aÌ„d picked out meÌ„ do so exercise this authoritie that they do well vnderstaÌ„d they execute no ciuill nor politique gouernment but that they so
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