which are shewed after to be fullie grounded vpon the worde of God In the meane time this I adde for his further satisfaction It being necessarie to be directed in these matters from God it must needes be that God hath left vs this direction in his worde otherwise he must confesse there are necessarie truthes not written in the worde but this popishe opinion of vnwritten verities is worthilie reiected of all professors of the gospell long agoe For we can not nowe say to anie as Dauid said to Abiathar take the Ephod 1. Sam. 23.9 and aske of the Lord we haue no other Ephod nor other Vrim Thummim left vs from the Lord whereby we may be certified of his good pleasure in anie thing but onely the bright glistering pure light of his H. Scriptures wherein as in the brest of our hye priest Iesus Christ we may see and reade the will of God for our direction Nowe that we neede in these matters to be directed by God appeareth by this that of our selues wee can not by any natural vnderstanding attayne to this knowledge For the naturall man comprehendeth not Act. 7.20.21 the spirituall things of God For which cause Moses a man otherwise of great giftes of nature and of studie as one in whose face the grace of God appeared and who had bin brought vp in all the learning and knowledge of the Egiptians and that by such excellent masters and meanes as were meete for him that was respected in his education as graūd-childe to the King of Egipt yet stoode he in neede to be instructed of God in as small matters concerning the outward guydance of his church as are any mencioned in the declaration and much smaller Further also the Apostle affirmeth that the thinges he wrote to Timothie hee wrote them that he might knowe 1 Ti. 3.14.15 how to behaue him self in the Church which is the house of the liuing God 2. Tim. 4.5 And if Timothy an Euangelist one of whose ministerie the Prophetes had spoken before 1. Tim. 1.18 one that had receyued the faith from his ancestors 2. Tim. 1.5 whō the Apostle for the likenes he had of his Apostolical spirit calleth his naturall sonne stood notwithstanding in need to be informed by writing from the Apostle 1. Tim. 1.2 howe he should behaue him self in the church and that in so many particulars as he instructeth him in sure it must needes be cōfessed to be necessarie for all other to be taught also by writing which is the most certayne way of instruction howe they ought to behaue themselues in the same If it were not needfull to be taught by the Apostles howe a man should behaue him selfe in guyding the house of God why did the Apostle write to Timothie to this ende to direct him in that he had to doe in the Church And if it were needefull for Timothie why is it not as necessarie for all others This reason mouing the Apostle to write of this matter to Timothie no doubt did cause him likewise for the same ende to write to Titus of the like matters And if so excellent personages vnderstoode not what to doe nor howe to behaue them selues in the Church for that which appertayned to them in the administration of it without certaine direction in writing concerning it from the Apostles I can not thinke but the like direction should be needfull for all those who haue anie charge in the church When Nadab and Abihu sonnes of Aaron the high Prieste Leui. 10.2 had bin consumed with fire from before the Lorde for misgouerning them selues in an outwarde thinge concerninge their Ministerie in a matter as it might seeme to fleshe and blood of small importance Moses tolde Aaron his brother that this was so come to passe according to that the Lorde had saide Leui. 10.3 I wil be sanctified in those that come neare vnto me glorified in the sight of all the people meaning thereby that God had forewarned the Priestes that if they misbehaued thē selues in their ministerie he would glorifie him selfe in their examplarie and grieuous punishment Which being so surelie the fault and punishement can not be small nor to be despised if anie of those who come neare to the Lorde to stande and minister before him in the time of the gospell shall misgouerne them selues in their charge Therefore necessarie it is and that moste necessarie that there bee direction for them in the worde of GOD. And thus much also to this point In the next section which the replier maketh of the declaration it is gathered of the former sentences that wee are to searche the Scriptures that we may finde that order whiche is left in them for the guydance of the Church The first thing the Replyer reproueth in this section is that it is saide The gates of hell shall not preuayle against the foundation before mencioned Who may easilie satisfie him self for this obiection because the meaning of the Declaration was not to alleadge those wordes as spoken of that it intreates of it being apparant to be meant of the Church buylded vpon the Prophetes and Apostles Christ Iesus being the foundation-stone thereof somewhat otherwise then he hath taken it who expoundeth it of Christ him selfe but by these wordes although vsed in that place to another ende it declareth the sure stedfastnes of that doctrine which was a litle before mencioned whiche being as the declaration intendeth and as it is in deede a part of the heauenlie trueth of the worde of God whiche can not fayle in any part of the same it was trulie spoken also of the matter it is applied vnto Of the word foundation he taketh occasion to set downe the 1. Corinth 3. ver 10.11.12.13.14.15 where mencion is made of the foundation Christ Iesus and of buylding vpon it straw or stubble which he sayth they doe that vrge anie outwarde order of ecclesiasticall gouernement as matter of saluation After where it is saide in the declaratiō vpon former proofes that we ought therefore diligentlie and reuerentlie to searche the holy Scriptures to finde what the order is whiche GOD hath appointed for his Church he answereth with scoffing reprochefull speaches without any iust matter of rebuke And in the ende of his replye to this section because it is said in the declaration we are to search in Gods worde that order by which God would haue his Church directed in all thinges appertayning to the saluation thereof He replyeth that this were to condemne all the Churches where this order hath not bin obserued which eyther if it be necessarie to saluation could not be the Churches of God without it or if it bee not necessarie it is saith he vnnecessarie to saluation then our Church may remayne gouuerned as it is without either being deformed maymed or no church as some affirme whō he nameth as in reproch For answere to these thinges and to begin where he leaueth
barre of Iron till such time as by the iust iudgement of God the state of that people became worse and worse falling from one degree of sinne to another till at last they denied the Prince of life crucified the Lorde of glorie Then the Lord in part reiected them for their vnbeliefe brought in the Gentiles that beleeued But till that time the Lord acknowledged them for his euen as a Father doeth his childe notwithstanding he be maymed or deformed Which comparison the Replier without cause is offended at Heb. 12.13 this being an vsuall thing in the scriptures to resemble sinnes and offences to imperfections deformities of the body For which cause the Euangelist Matthewe mentioning the healing of bodilie infirmities by our Sauiour Christ noteth that therein as being a visible euidence of th' other was fulfilled that whiche was written by the Prophet Esaie saying He tooke our infirmities and bare our diseases vpon him Matt. 8.17 Likewise also the Apostle exhorting to holy exāple of lyfe sayth Make straight steppes vnto your feete that that which is halting be not turned out of the way but may bee healed rather And howe long sayeth Elias to Israel doe you halte betweene two Jf God be God followe him 1. Kin. 18.21 and if Baal be god followe him I adde further which toucheth the matter yet more neare The Apostle compareth the Church vnto a body 1. Cor. 12.27.28 and the particular persons of it to the partes and members of a body and the guydes of the Churche and such as haue publique charge in it to the more noble and principall partes of it whereof Christ our Sauiour is the onely head As therfore the body is blinde that wanteth eyes to see withall lame maymed or deformed whereof the shoulders armes handes or other principall partes are wanting or displaced and disordered so that body of a Church can not be said to be perfect entier wherein there are not Ministers of the worde who by the light thereof may direct the people in the wayes of God or Elders that may discouer descrie euery matter that may threaten anie daunger to the body or Deacons who may distribute liberallie according to that is in their handes for the reliefe of the poore Nay I doubt not to say the necessarie vse of these offices being considered that no body naturall hath so much wante of any of these as the body politike of the church hath of the other Therefore I see no iust cause why this comparison should greatlie offende him A man maye liue in deede many yeares with such wantes and imperfections none of those partes being necessarie for life but shal liue a heauie and vncomfortable life because hee wanteth partes that are necessarie for many great vses whereby a Man may liue the better and more comfortably as being preserued in health in strength and in beautie which thing they well discerne of who wanting by anie occasiō such partes vse a hand or a legg of woode or helpe the imperfections of other partes as well as they can So likewise a church may liue and be the Church of God whilest the faith of Christ as the breath and spirite of life is in it but wanting these offices or in place of these which God hath made and are the natural partes of the body hauing a supplie and helpe such as Man hath deuised shall so liue as one neither hauing beautie in the sight of god and his holy Angelles nor force and health to performe in good order the actions belonging to it but pineth wasteth away with discomfort one part decaying after another till in the ende the spirit of life the doctrine of the Gospell in the iust iudgement of God forsaking it leaue a dead corps vppon the ground to warne and admonish other Churches by such example to be carefull in time of the meanes whereby thorough the blessing of God vppon his owne holy ordinances according to the promise he hath made in the vse of them not of anie humane deuise to like purpose bee it neuer so pollitique and reasonable to flesh and bloud they may be in health strength beautie and honor preserued and mainteyned for euer There remayneth yet to aunswere his misapplying of the wordes of the Apostle in the 3. of the former epist to the Corinthians concerning the laying of stubble and strawe vppon the foundation which he sayth is done by those who holding Christ and the doctrine of the Gospell will vrge a necessitie of the outward regiment of the Church in all Ecclesiasticall matters Wherein howe iustlie hee chargeth such as seeke a further reformation of our charge may appeare by that whiche hath bin sayde alreadie and is further to be made playne by the rest of this treatise Wherin euery parte of the doctrine set downe in the declaration being sufficienlie proued by the worde of God the day will witnes for vs that wee haue layde vpon the most riche and precious foundation nothinge but fine golde of Ophir and siluer refined seuen times in the furnace On the other parte the same light will make manifest their worke that vpon Christ the corner stone layde in Syon elect and precious laye thinges altogither vnsuteable to it matter of no value and whose ende is to bee consumed with fire Of this sorte is the administration of holy thinges as Baptisme and the censures of the Church by Women lay men such as are Chauncelours Commissaries Officialls and such like the confusion of both powers ecclesiasticall and ciuill in persons called to the ministerie and preaching of the worde of God In Ecclesiasticall matters so immoderate a power as that one man at his pleasure should make Ministers should giue out and call in agayne licenses to preache should suspende excommunicate and doe what he list in the church which is the house of the liuing God Of like sorte are confirmation with laying on of handes in signe of grace increased the crosse in baptisme in signe of seruing like a good soldiour of Christ the wearing and bearing in publike administration of Albe Surplesse Coape pastorall staffe commonlie called the Crosier staffe These and a number of such like worse then some of these which some laye vpon the foundation if they be their golde siluer it may be well said nowe as was sometime The golde of Syon is turned into drosse hir fine siluer is like the base cure which a man being abused shall laye vp for a time vnder many lockes and esteeme it as some great treasure but after discouering th' abuse he will cast awaye in displeasure and indignation with the drosse of the furnace The Lorde burne out the drosse till it be pure and take away all the base mettall but with the fire of his gracious worde if it please him and not with that the Prophete speaketh of that the Iudges of Syon may bee restored as at the first and their Councellours as
of later yeares and of meane vnderstanding that could not discerne so palpable a repugnancie betwene the epistle it selfe and such a subscriptiō This then being all the profe that the replyer for this present notwithstanding his importunate and vnseasonable beating vpon this cause is able to make to prooue the office of an Archbishop the Reader may perceyue what authoritie it ought to haue in the conscience of any Christian man the best euidence witnes that can be produced for the maintenance of it being a razed rolle and a suborned witnes and as they speake in Westminster hall A knight of the Post euen suche another as the Bishop of Roomes proctours would haue proued his vsurpation and vniust authoritie by if the Fathers of that time in Africke had not discouered his fraude and follie Thus we see what cause he hath to breake so often into this matter for any thing he can prooue by this euidence But if this fayle him to proue Bishops and Archbishops to haue bin in the primitiue Church he hath another sure argument that can not disappoint him There were Pastours and Teachers in the primitiue church the Declaration sayeth Elders also and Deacons but sayeth the Replier the office of a Bishop or Archbishop is in substance the office of a Pastour or Teacher so as Bishoppes or Archbishops in the substance of their office are Pastours or Teachers in the Church and as hee addeth in the next page before such as haue bin Deacons too For answere herevnto I denie that they are either Pastors or Teachers for the reasons folowing Such offices as may not be executed by vertue of the forme of ordination of Pastors and Teachers but require another forme of ordination diuerse from it doe themselues differ in substance from the offices of Pastours and Teachers For thus the Apostle to the Hebrewes Heb. 7.16.17.21 proueth the priesthoode of our Sauiour Christ to be diuers frō the Leuiticall priesthood because the forme of ordination differed the one being without an othe and for a time the other with an othe and for euer But the offices of Bishops and Archbishops are such as by vertue of that calling of Pastours and Teachers can not be exercised but require a further particular forme of ordination diuers from the other as appeareth by the booke of their consecration Therefore the offices of Bishops and Archbishops are in substance diuerse from the offices of Pastours and Teachers Agayne All Pastours and Teachers are by bonde of their office and calling to preache the worde with all faithfull diligence Luke 12. 2. Tim 2.3 Act. 6. But Bishops and Archbishops stande not bounde by bond of their calling to preache it for which cause either they leaue it altogither or preache seldome and vpon high and solemne dayes and then onely at their pleasure when they preach and not by any bond of their calling Therefore Bishops and Archbishops are not in their offices Pastours and Teachers Further all offices that are the same in substance are of like and equall power Therefore if the offices of Bishops Archbishops be the same in substance with Pastours and Teachers then is their power one and equall with theirs at the least in Ministerie of spirituall grace as also in worde they pretende them to be That they are not equall appeareth in that no Pastour nor Teacher may doe sundrie thinges which are esteemed by them selues to be and some of them in deede are in their due administratiō ministeries of spirituall grace For Cōfirmation is saide to be a meanes of increase of spirituall grace and strength Absolution is a ministerie of spirituall grace as testifying and assuring the absolued in the worde of the great King of Kings that his sinnes are forgiuen him Ordination to the Ministerie is also a ministerie of spirituall grace not onely in regarde of the office but also of the encrease of grace bestowed vpon such as are duelie ordayned to it the Lorde him selfe authour of the calling giuing according to his promise to such as in faith thereof and in obedience to his good pleasure yeelde vnto it such increase of grace as the newe charge by the will of God layde vpon him and vndertaken in hope of Gods assistance doeth require In all which ministeries Pastours and Teachers whom yet GOD putteth in trust with the worde and message of reconciliation and life and with his holy Sacramentes the seales of God to giue further assurance of the same may not deale by vertue of such their calling but onely Bishops and Archbishops Therefore their power and ministerie being so diuers th' offices them selues must needes also differ Moreouer all Pastours and Teachers are to be ordained to the attendance vpon a certen particular Church and congregation or Parishe as we vse most to call it For so the Apostles Paule and Barnabas did and the rest T it 1. So Paule gaue charge to Titus to ordeine them and so were all they ordained of whom we reade in the holy Scriptures Which also the verie ende vse nature and relation they haue to the Church where they are to serue doeth declare Therefore it is saide to all the Elders of Ephesus Actes 20.28 that they should looke to that Churche whereof the holy Ghost had made them Bishops or Ouerseeers so to all the Elders of the Churches of the Iewes dispersed 1. Pet. 5.2 that they should feede the flocke of God whiche depended vpon them Which point also some of the auncient Coūcels esteemed so materiall as they decreed the ordination which was not to the certaine charge of some particular congregation should be voyde and of none effect But this being so necessarie in all Pastours and Teachers is cleane contrarie in Bishops and Archbishops For their ordination is not to anie particular Church but to a whole Dioces or Prouince And if before such ordination they had charge of any particular Church or were beneficed as the most common speach is such benefices are then voyde and they discharged by law so as they are to be giuen to another So incompatible the true duetie and office of a faithfull Minister of the worde is in lawe esteemed to bee with the office of a Bishop or Archbishop I might adde also that Pastours and Teachers as all other functions Ecclesiasticall deale onely with ecclesiasticall matters such as agree to their seuerall kindes and places For our Sauiour testifieth his kingdome not to be of this worlde Iohn 18.36 And from the beginning to the time of our Sauiour since the Priesthoode bestowed vpon Aaron the two powers haue bin in the ordinarie gouernement of Gods people by the Lords owne ordinance sundred not onely in persons houses and kinreds but in their tribes so as none of the tribe of Juda might exercise the Priesthoode but onely they that were of the tribe of Leui and the tribe of Leui was to cōtent themselues with the seruice of the Tabernacle and were neyther to
holy ministeries which our Sauiour ordayned but other humane deuyses and creatures of Popes Archbishops and Bishops Which yet if it doe not content him I may saye further that this office of Elder continued in suche sorte as he affirmeth the other to haue done For what were the Ciuilians Doctours and Proctours Chauncelors Commissaries Officialls and the rest of that traffique Officers and Retaylers to the great Marchaunts of soules Archbishopps and Bishods who notwithstanding they were lay men did administer the censures of the Church without any due and ordinarie ecclesiasticall calling in deede at the appointment onely of their Lordes and Maisters the Bishops to a foule profanation of the holy censure of the Church whether it bee done in Babylon or in Syon For this iniquitie also is to be founde euen in the Church of God Yet in their administration the office of the Elder is as much and a great deale more to bee seene then true and lawfull Pastours Teachers and Deacons appeare to haue continued in such tagge and ragge as were in the popishe church But the trueth is that all Euangelicall charges and the Gospell it selfe was deteyned in vnrighteousnes and the free right and originall nature vse and benefite of these offices ceased and was interrupted for a time as the like hath come to passe in other such wastes and desolations of the Church as in the time of some of the Iudges in the raigne of Manasses and in the captiuitie the ordinarie offices and dueties were interrupted and God extraordinarily preserued his people All these things were for a time Luke 20.9 as the inheritance in the parable of the Gospell in the handes and possession of vniust and rebellious seruauntes But nowe the Lorde sendeth out his seruauntes and demaundeth of his seruauntes that fruite seruice and honour whiche is due vnto him with a part whereof he will not be satisfied but will haue all his rightes and regalities prerogatiues and offices restored vnto him or els will punishe them as rebells and vniust with-holders This is the answere I make to this poynt whiche the Replyer bolteth out in ceasing by de facto not de iure and when he hath done replyeth to it with an idle questiō if they were once where they haue bin hidden or banished all this whyle or if they were dead and buried c. not worth anie answere Another reason why the order vsed in the primitiue Church should not be restored nowe in the reformed Churches is because they haue no Bishops nor Archbishops whom he affirmeth to haue bin in that time yea and ordayned by the Apostles to haue authoritie ouer them in the Regions and Cities limited to them Whiche superiour and olde standardes to displace sayeth hee to bring in yonge and inferiour Seignours as they who hauing seene the olde temple did also see the laying of the foundation of the newe So would it make a mans harte throbbe and bleede to see howe the beautie of the Church is vaded hir ornamentes spoyled her body haled vnder pretence of reforming This argument needeth no long aunswere to it hauing bin sufficientlie shewed before that it is a vanitie to thinke that such offices as Archbishops and Bishops nowe beare ouer the Churches and the Ministers of the same to haue bin in that time Here it may suffice as it is but affirmed with a word of his without any maner of profe so to denie it with another vpon the reasons before alledged As for his weeping to see the old standards pulled downe and the Church spoyled of her ornamentes if hee meane hereby the manours and royalties that are in other mens handes whō can he blame for it more then such as care not howe the successours doe so they may aspire to the dignitie they couetouslie and ambitiouslie seeke and labour for If hee meane not those braunches but the trees them selues from whence they growe let him consider the bitter fruite they haue borne and the vnwholesome shadowe they haue cast from the first roote they tooke and especiallie of late he shall haue no cause to weepe to see the axe making readie to be layde to their rootes His harte should rather bleede to see in the garden of God anie trees wherein vncleane birdes make their nestes and vncleane beastes take their reast and from whence the cleane are driuen for feare of annoyance and which suffer no fruite or heauenly plante to growe vnder them or neare vnto them Then would he praye with the watchmen of whome Daniell writeth Dan. 4.11 Cut downe ô Lorde these great and noysome trees whiche are strong to euill and not to good Many a fayre tree hath the Lorde plucked vp and in time it is to bee hoped that he will doe the like to these For our Sauiour hath saide Euerie plante that my heauenly Father hath not planted shal be rooted vp Mat. 15.13 His harte bleedeth to see the goodly leases that are drawen from Church-liuings the great Lordshippes that are gone from the Cleargie and Cathedrall Churches and peraduenture some other giftes to see the dispensations whiche seeme to threaten the carying away of an I le and an Earldome from some who would fayne enioye them still But whose harte is mooued with compassion of the people of God whiche is in deede his trewe church to see the worde of God daily taken from them and they left as a flocke of sheepe vpon the moūtaynes without their shephearde to see the Preachers forbidden to preach the Gospell to see the church kept as in captiuitie vnder a reading and lordlie ministerie that neyther teache the people them selues nor suffer other that would to teache them to see goodlie assemblies which haue made heauen and earth to ringe and resounde agayne with the prayses of God scattred and distolued to see the places like Eden the garden of God before the storme layde wast and desolate as the desert places to see the zealous people of God running as in a drought to finde a spring of sweete waters where they may quenche their thirste and faynting in their soules for want of it so many fountaynes being stopped and sealed vppe they that haue the bowells of Christ in them are to be moued with these things As for matters of griefe here mentioned the matter is not so great so that things be done by due order and with consideration of sufficient maintenance of those which God hath appoynted for the worke of the ministerie of all the ordinances of God and the edification and comfort of his people Hitherto in this section the Replyer hath discoursed of the former sorte of reasons of this section which is of the causes confirming the order set downe in the Declaration Nowe he proceedeth to the other argument remayning which is of the great fruite and benefite of this order in the Churches which haue receyued it and the want of the same in suche as haue not yet restored it agayne Wherein first scanning