yet when Iames was slaine they did choose nome into his Roume or the Roume oft any other off the Apostles when they died So that yt is plaine that this office is abolished Which beinge playne off the Apostles must be likewise vnderstood off the Euangelistes who serued and mynistred vnto them and were after a sort ther vicairs and deputies For as it doth appere in the Actes This was the office of the Euangelistes to accōpany the Apostles whom they when they had gathered any company off a churche together and must needes depart left behind them beinge instructed by them in what sort ād order to stablishe the churche who hauinge set the churche in order and prouided pastors and Elders to gouerne yt left it ād followed the Apostles againe So they as Emperors and Generalles when they had ouercome any citie left as it were some chiefe captaines behinde them vntill thinges could be brought to a better stay and that ancientes and elders as certen perpetuall garrisons were set ouer them for the Apostles were appointed to cōquere and to ouercome The Euangelistes to establishe and set in order The elders to mainteine and preserue the churche of god Therfore this office off the Euangelist must needes cease seinge the Apostleshippe is ceased allreadie As for the Prophetes office althoughe it consisted in expoundinge the scriptures yet seinge it was ioyned with extraordinary gyft off foretellinge thinges to come necessary for the primitiue churche but now no more in vse yt can not be doubted but that the office ys ceased as well as the gyft wherupon we may conclude That seinge as Saint Paule witnessethe onely Apostles Euangelistes Prophetes Pastors and Doctors were geuen by Christ to the edifyinge off the churche and the work off the ministery That the three first ceasinge there remaine only Pastors and Doctors perpetuall and ordinary ministers off the word In deede sometymes the lord extraordinarily in a confused state where is no place off ordynary callinge stirreth vp as be did in our tyme as yt were certen newe Apostles to lighten the world agayne with the light off the gospell And Eusebius maketh mencion off some who saith he with a heauenly zeale off followinge the Apostles went preachinge the gospell to the Indians But I speake off the Ordinary state off the churche suche as oures ought to be after so many yeeres Therfore Sainct Paule in the xij to the Romans speakinge off this state makethe no mencion off Apostles Euangelistes or Prophetes but only off Teachers and exhorters callinge Pastors Exhorters as it shall appeere hereafter Neither was i◠needfull that they should continewe any longer in the churche no more then it is needfull after the platforme be drawen that the master builder tarie any longer but that there be carpenters and workmen to builde and raise the worck as he hathe appointed And it seemethe that our Sauior Christ in the stablishinge off his kingdome followed a kind off order not diuers from that which is vsed by earthly kinges and princes Who at the daie off ther coronacion and for a certen time after make many officers for diuers and sondry vses who serue not only for a solemnitie pompe and shewe but also to great vse and seruice for that time but when thinges are set in order and the kingdome stablished are vsed no longer So Christ our lord and king when as beinge ascended into heauen he was as it were inuested into his kingdome created Apostles and suche other officers which should set his kingdome in order and appoint and ordeine a certen ordinary state for the gouernment and administracion off it which being so established and set in order Those offices should cease and the kingdome should be gouerned as they had appointed Therfore theris no cause why we should think the loue ād care off our Sauior towardes his churche to be diminished for this cause or that he dealethe not bountifully and liberallie with vs no more then subiectes for the like cause haue occasiō to suspect ther kinges good will and fauor to be chaunged towardes them For these thinges are but for a certeyne time and perteine to the beginninge off the kingdome which time seemethe necessarilie to require some other kinde of order then all the rest that followeth Therfore to cōtinewe the same similiritude after he was crowned-kinge he scattered in great aboundāce spirituall giftes off knowledge prophesyinge healinge and other graces as gold and siluer amonges his people All the conduites ranne with sweet and most pleasant wyne All the pipes and cockes ranne with rose water and other sweet and plesant waters But allthoughe he geueth vs dailie all thinges liberally and plentifully yet he geueth vs not dailie a Largesse as at the tyme off his coronacion Therfore we ought to be content with that liberalitie which the lord shewethe vnto vs and not to looke to haue allwais alike The same reason is off the perpetuall mynisters off the word with whom he would haue vs to be contented and not to wishe for the first and those which were extraordinary and apointed to serue but for a tyme For as some thinge was geuen more liberally and extraordinarilie to the extraordinary tymes off the churche So we are sufficiently prouided for off all thinges which belonge to the continuall and necessarie vse off the churche Therfore beinge content with this meane estate and condicion Let vs vse that which is giuen vnto vs and seeke not for offices which serued but for a tyme in the perpetuall gouernment off the churche nor wil he extraordinary functions in an ordinary state Wherfore we ought to haue Pastors and Doctors appointed in our churche and not to reteine still the extraordinary office off preachers which yet I reproue more sparingly for the respect I haue to many worthie men who haue labored with some fruite after this sort for I see that some by the negligence off those who ought to haue prouided meete Pastors for the churches for the loue they had vnto the gospell thought it lawfull for them in these tymes to take vpon them this Apostolicall or Euangelicall kind off office and embassage wheras rather they owght to haue vrged the full and perfit reformacion off our churche and to haue striuen by the word off god that euery church might haue bene prouided off a fit Pastor And that the Lordes heritage might be no more left barren and vntilled left that at the last the Lord be angry with vs and take it from vs and let out his farme to other that will dresse it better But iff there be any which please them selues to muche in this gadding abroade thorough out the churches and will contend they may do so by the example off the Apostles and Euangelistes let them shew vs the signes off ther Apostleship as Saint Paule did to the Corinthians Let them proue that they are indewed with those Apostolicall gyftes off knowledge and vnderstanding tonges healinges doinge off
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
A full and plaine declaration of Ecclesiasticall Discipline owt off the word off God and off the declininge off the churche off England from the same Imprinted M.D.LXXIIII To the godly reader grace and peace from God the father and from our Lorde Iesus Christ IF off longe tyme and euen almoste from the beginninge off the vvorlde vve had not fully knovven and tried the frovvardenesse off mannes nature no doubt all men vvould take it as a thinge incredible that any one could be foūd vvhich vvould refuse or not moste desyrously embrace so svvete and holesome discipline off Christ as both is propounded to vs in his vvorde and set forth in order in this present book VVhich as beinge simply considered it is merueilous so truly seemeth a great deale more straunge if vvee vvay hovv easely men are brought to admit that ciuile discipline vvhereby the commodities off this present life are kept allthoughe hard and confirmed vvith more seuere punishmentes But iff vve turn our eyes to the ouer hard and cruel slaughter off the Popishe Discipline and marke a litle vvith vvhat quietnes and patience it vvas born surely it must needes not make vs vvonder but be astonished For vvhat foolishnes is it so mutch to care for this frail and britle life as not onely to admit but oftē times vvillingly to desire all seuerity off discipline euen thoughe it be as great as that off Lycurgus vvas and to be so backvvard cither in gettinge or keeping off that life vvhich allvvaies shall indure as not to yeld to the most moderate and best tempered discipline off all that euer vvere And iff this blindnesse off men vvere pardoned vvhich notvvithstanding at the lēght shall most certenly be punished that it bothe loueth more and folovveth vvith greater diligence the commodities off this inconstant life then of that vvhich shall abide for euer vvhat madnesse shall it be thought that vve haue so quietly and easely borne that cruel boutchery off the Popishe discipline vvhereby bothe body and soule haue miserably been tormented and so hardly or not at all to suffer this most souuerein medicine for our vices For the lavves off Discipline vvhich vve there felt vvritten off the Romā dragon as it vvere vvith bloud vve may here try by our Sauiour Christ the Apostles vvrittē as one would say vvith milk And this either ignorance of the vvorld iff it knovve not these thinges or pride iff it refuse a knovvne benefit or other peeuishnesse peruersity vvhat soeuer maketh almost al good mē to feare lest the iust God beinge angry that his fatherly and gētle rod is cōtemned and taking vp his rod off yrō and iustice those churches that remaine vvhich are very fevve be altogither broken brused into litle peices euen vvholy as it vvere into smale cromes VVhich thinge as it maketh me pensiue for all churches generally vvhere the Apostles discipline hath no abiding so for thee O England to vvhō being bound both by commune duty off a cytisen and by publike mynistery vvhich somtimes I exequuted I confesse that I ovve all kind off great and speciall duty yt maketh me mutch to doubt and to be very careful I speake nothinge off that vnreuenged and vnpurified shedinge off giltlesse bloud vvhiche vvas committed in the reigne off Queene Mary especially against those vvhich both vvere then the autours off that murther and vvhose mindes thurst and handes itche ro commit the like vvickednes againe onely I admonishe that off the riuers thereoff vvhiche run̄e and ouerflovve in all places euē the least drop might be the destruction off a great and most mighty kingdome Therefore to let these and other thinges passe vvhiche are not novve to be spoken off those bandes off vices vvhihe haue proceded partly from the absence off th' Apostles Discipline partly from the presence off the counterfait thereoff vvhich remaineth vvith vs synce Popery haue vveakened our churche vvith seidge off fourtene yeres togither and shortly vvill destroy the same except against those battering peices and cānons off vices vve speedely set the trēche truly brasen vvale off the Apostels Discipline And I vvould to God thovv hadest kept some meane there in iff there can be any meane in Sinninge and by thrustinge avvay the Discipline beinge offered hadest not more greiuously prouoked the vvrathe off God against the. For the former thinges althoughe they vvere heynous yet because they came off ignorance might the rather obteine some pardon novve vvhen she hathc made her selfe knovven vnto vs beinge iniuriousliy handled and suffringe violence it is greatly to be feared off vs lest povvringe out her complainctes into the bosome off her heauēly father from vvhō she cometh she kindle that vvrathe against vs vvhere vvith all England onles it speedely repent may shortly be set on fyre The thinkinge off these thinges doth often dismay me and vvhen I greedely seeke after bothe hope off the health off England and reasons vvhereon to gather hope they dryue as it vvere all hope out off my breast And that so muche the more because these many yeres not onely the exceadinge great patience and longe suffringe off God striuinge vvith our hardnesse and greedinesse off sinne that neuer resteth hathe put to flight our priuy ennemyes scattered their companyes brought to nothinge their snares layed for vs bothe at home and abroad but also that God hathe eft soones heaped nevve benefites vppon vs or at least vvas ready to haue heaped iff vve had been so ready to receiue as he to gyue and had not suffered the opportunities vvhiche vvere offered vs or rather put into our mouthes to haue slidē frō vs In these so many so great so oulde and as it vvere harde houldlinge diseases althoughe I bee almost ouercome bothe vvithe dispeire off recoueringe the former health and feare off losinge that vvhiche vve haue yet ceasse I not novve and then to lift vp my minde so throvven dovvne and to aduance it to the hope off a better estate off thinges Off vvhiche the foundations beinge laied in the mercy off God vvhich hathe no ende I cherishe and confirme the same by certeine signes vvhiche I haue obserued to that purpose For callinge to minde the former tymes vvhen I see that mercy off God to haue shined forthe and vve not onely not thinckinge off it but almost vvith generall consent off all men criynge out to the contrary to haue gyuen vs light in the holesome doctrine off the Gospell novve in the leaninge or rather affection off the greatest part off Gospellers bothe highe and lovve tovvardes discipline if I persvvade my selfe that one day it shall haue place amongest vs I ought to seeme not to haue done it rashely As for that that our most Excellēt Prince and some off the cheiff counseillers off the Realme vnto vvhome our common vvealth is cōmitted haue hytherto been smale fauorers off Discipline althoughe it seeme to reache as it vvere euen at the throat off our church yet becavvse all men vnderstande that it
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
for the kinde affection which I beare to that churche in which I haue bene bothe borne and browght vp and therfore loue most deerelie for goode causes euen as the Apostle saith to liue and die togither I thought yt I saie my dewtie to desire and beseche this Churche earnestlie and carefullie to thincke off this so greate a benefyte whereby yt maie be established for euer And most earnestlie to exhorte and admonishe yt to abolishe that popishe tyrannye which yet remayneth in the gouernment thereoff and to restore againe the most holie pollicie offâ—◠〈◊〉 the churche which our Sauior Christe hath 〈◊〉 vnto vs and to feare lest that the lorde will punishers and will be reuenged off vs iff we contynewe still to despise his discipline But forasmuche as there be many who because they delight rather in a faire owtwarde shewe then the trew symplicitie off the Gospell striue and contend to retaine still this Popishe Hierarchie and conterfaite manner off gouerning the churche blaming that order for many causes which we persuade vnto This whole controuersie is fullie and at large to be disputed of that when they vnderstand the goode cause that we haue to repriue the one and require the other they maie ioyne togither with vs in earnest praiers vnto god and humble suyte vnto hir maiestie That this Popishe tyrannie being at the last vtterlie abolished and cleane taken away In place theroff a better and more holie gouernment of the churche accoding to Goddes worde maie be established Which cause I purpose so to handle that fyrst drawing out the right paterne and platforme off the lawfull pollicie and gouernment off the churche as Christe and his Apostles haue lefte it vnto vs togither their withall I will note our faultes and errors in euerie pointe that by this comparison the trewthe maie more clerelie shine and appeare fyrst therfore seing we haue not to doe with such as reiecte all discipline off the Churche that yt maie be better vnderstode what it is whereoff we dispute I will declare what the lawfull discipline off the churche is I call therfore Ecclesiasticall Discipline the pollicie off the Churche off Christe ordeyned and appointed off God for the goode administracion and gouernment off the same That I make here God the Author off discipline wherupon yt followeth that we haue to fetche the rules thereoff from no other fountaines but from the holie scriptures had nede be more fullie proued because it is denied by many who dare affirme that there is no precepte geuen touching this matter but contend that it is wholy lefte vnto iudgement of the magestrate and off the churche first then let theÌ„ tell vs whie they denie that god hath thus carefullie prouided for Christiane Churches and whie they affirme yt to be lefte free for vs to rule it as we lifte seing that in the olde churche off the Iewes All thinges which perteined not onlie to the gouernment off the cyuile state but also off the Ecclesiasticall for althoughe with them god was Author of bothe yet he wold haue them distinguished the on from the other were so diligentlye and exactelie destributed and bothe commanded by god and commended to writyng by Moses that yt was expresslye forbidden that Nothing should be added vnto yt nor taken from yt For yt appreareth manyfestlye that that exacte paterne off Discipline came not fyrst from Moses but from God by this that Moses testifieth so often that the lorde had apointed the maner off creating and ordeining Ecclesiasticall officiers and and there power and authoritie who aso allwaies readie to punyshe the transgressors off his ordinances with most grieuous plages and punyshementes There is a notable historie in the ninthe off NoÌ„bers off certeine vncleane persons who thincking yt no sufficient cause whie they shold not eate the Passeouer with the rest off Israell because they were polluted with touching off a deade bodie which thei must needes doe seing there died dailie some emonghest them as off necessitye yt commeth to passe in so greate a multitude went to Moses and Aaron desiring that they might not be secluded from that solempne communion off the churche But what doth Moses in this case what taketh he vpon him Surelie nothing at all but referreth the cause wholie vnto God by whose answere they were forbidden to eate the Passouer with the rest off Israell and were put off vnto the next moneth Off which cause properlie belonging to this Discipline which we handle and referred to God yt maie be clearlie vnderstoode That Moses in all the gouernment off the churche did nothing by his priuate authoritie but onlie deliuered vnto them that which the lorde had commanded which thing also Moses him selfe doth plainlie testefie by his often repeating off these wordes As the Lord had commanded And this is that faithfulnes which the Apostle to the Hebrewes commendeth in him that he ruled not the howse off God by his owne will but by the authoritie off the Lorde the master off the howsholde And how preciselie ys yt commanded in the Tabernacle that all should be made after the fashoÌ„ and paterne which had bene shewed by the Lorde in the Montaine neyther so long as kinges were in any tollerable state Any eyther kinges or priestes toke vpon them any suche authoritie to appointe matters belonging to the churche but all thinges were ruled and gouerned according to the will and authoritie off god For whereas in the fashion and buiding off the temple and in the offices off the leuites and off the Singers certeine thinges were somewhat otherwise appointed by danid and Salomon then they had bene commanded by Moses That chaunge and alreracion was not made by the authoritie off Dauid and Salomon as kinges but by the will off God himselfe who apointed yt so by his Prophetes as appeareth in the Chronicles Therfore also the fashion and paterne of the teÌ„ple after it was ouerthrowne was so exactelie drawne out by Ezechiell that the newe temple might he builled againe according to the paterne off God shewed by his Prophete Wherfore also Erra and Nehemiah exacte all there reformacion to the paterne off Moses Dauid and Ezechiel Seing then so stable and certeine a rule off gouerning the churche contynewed vnto Christe the lawes and ordinances were appointed by god him selfe and that it was accompted wicked and vnlawfull for any man boldlye to haue taken any thing in hand in these matters and that suche as did so eschaped not the grieuous punishement and vengaunce off God whie doe they now at the last deliuer god off this care or rather spoile the churche off hir patrone and defender by whose gouernment yt might be preserued and who sitting in the sterne at the helme yt neuer feared any stormes or tempestes but was allwaies safe in all daunger And how absurde and vnreasonable a thing is it then especially to thincke the loue and care off God to be demynished towardes his churche when
vocacion and calling But how litle we are afraide thereoff and how in this behalfe that Discipline is neglected in establishing whereoff God hath trauailed so carefully it is to to manyfest whereas popishe priestes take in hande to be mynisters off the Gospelâ— whereas women and mydwiues administer baptisme emonghest vs and ChauÌ„cellors Archedeacons Commissariers and such like deale in the discipline and gouernment off the churche without any lawfull calling For as for popishe priestes I speake off those who doe take the ministerie vpon â—hen without any newe calling allowing off or appointing them thereunto but only stand vpon the right off those horrible orders whereby they were ordeined to sacrifice for the quicke and the deade that is to saie to abolyshe the sacrifie off our Sauior Christe who can denye but that this there shameles boldenes is cleane contrarie to the most iust and equall lawes which the Lorde hath made touching the necessitie off vocacion For althoughe they be anoynted and greased and haue receyued power off there Bishoppes to sacrifice for the quicke and the deade yet I denye that oile and that power off sacryfycing to be any sufficient warraunt for them to be ministers off the Gospell and off the Sacramentes This is a prophane oyle and can geue no man authoritie to dispose the mysteries off god The ministers off God are anoynted with an other kinde off oyntmeÌ„t which Christe him selfe made and prepared sending out his Apostles to preache the Gospell and to baptise those which should beleue wherewithall seing they are not anoynted why are they suffred to preache the Gospell with prophane mowthes or to touche the holy misteries with vncleane and polluted handes But some man will saie They haue receyued the laieing on off handes and were ordeined as euerie man thowght then to minister the seruice off God. I confesse indede that handes were laide vpon them neyther doe I muche stand vpon yt what or whose handes they were but I denie that euer they werâ— chosen to a lawfull ministerie or that handes were laide vpon them to this ende yea rather contrarie they were laide on them for an ende that is most contrarie to the ministerie off the Gospell so that by no meanes this can be accompâ—ed the lawfull office off a trewe Pastor From whence they are as farre off as the Priestes off Israell who were apointed by Ieroboam to sacrifice to the calues were from that lawfull calling wich the priestes had which were at Hierusalem So that the same Ordring and institucion can by no meanes serue to geue one man at the same tyme twoe offices so diuers and contrarie betwene then seâ—ues For thus all the offices off all Kingdomes and common wealthes are distinguished the one from the other and seuered by the diuers endes they are apointed vnto Thus they are called Senators and Councellers who are chosen to geue councell Iudges who are apointed to giue iudgement and suche like So likewise in the churche one is apointed for teaching an other for disposing the goodes off the church and euery office is distinguyshed from other by the forme and maner off his creacion and calling By which reason also the Apostle to the Hebrewes proueth that the Priesthoode off Chrâ—ste differeth froÌ„ the Priesthoode off the Lawe for saith he in these wordes The Lord svvare and vvill not repent thou art a priest for euer after the order off Melchiscdech Christe is ordeined priest after the order off Mechisedeche but the priestes off the lawe are ordeined after an other order namely off Aaron Christe for euer They only for the small tyme off this shorte life Christe with an othe They without any othe wherby it appareth that his priesthoode is farre other yea muche more nobleaÌ„d excelleÌ„t theÌ„ theirs was Which axacte maner off disputing of the Apostle iff we followe and compare the institucion off trew a ministers which is conteined in these wordes off our sauior Christe Proach the Gospell and baptize those which beleue with the orders off the popishe priestes whereby they are ordeined to sacrifice for the quicke and the deade Shall yt not appear more cleare then the light that these twoe offices are not only diuerse but cleane contrarie the one to the other For what Agrement is there betwene a Pastor and a Prieste betwene the Gospell and a Sacrifice or rather what maie be more contrarie to the preaching off the Gospell then this newe sacrifice off the masse for the quicke and the deade The preaching off the Gospell in deede is a swete sauour vnto god aÌ„d surely a very acceptable sacrifice is yt vnto him when as the ministers off his gospell slea our olde man as a sacrifice with the sharpe edged sworde off his worde neyther can any oblacion more please him theÌ„ when that the coÌ„cupisceÌ„ces and affectioÌ„s off our fleshe being mortified and killed we are offred vpon his aulter but it is so fare off that any sinne should be taken away by this sacrifice that as muche as we geue vnto yt in this behalfe so muche we detracte froÌ„ the trewe sacrifice off our only prieste Iesus Christe But saie they the supper off the Lorde is ment by this sacrifice and so by that the whole ministerie Some Papist indeede maie saie thus that vaunteth the masse for the Lordes supper but we who according vnto goddes worde rest our selues in the only sacrifice off Christe and casting all other hope aside flie from the wrath off god vnto the only aulter off the crosse off Christe Let vs confesse as we beleue that ther is nothing more contrary to that holy supper then there Idolatrous masse and nothing more against the commemoracion off the deathe off Christe then this newe aulter which they haue erected against the aulter off Christe Seing then there is so greate contrarietie and not difference alone betwene the offices and betwene the thinges whereunto they are apointed It is plaine and manifest that no man by the same ceremony and order can be assigned to the bearing off two offices so contrarie in themselues And that popishe Priestes are not to be suffred to serue the churche off God without a newe examinacion approbacion election and calling How and when they are to be admitted yt shall after he declared where occasion shall serue to speake off putting backe from the mynisterie suche as be nouices in the faith But I haue taried to long in this pointe off popishe Priestes now there folleweth to adde somewhat in this place touching women and midwiues who without any coÌ„mandement of God or rather contrary to his expresse worde take vpon theÌ„ that parte off the office off the minister To baptize children in case off daunger off there liues and of dying without baptisme otherwise which notwithstanding I wold suppose not nedefull to be done the error being so absurde and manyfest yff we had yet learned after so many yeres wherin by the greate goodnes off God his holie worde is
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
mountaines and wandringe in the woodes with out a guyde which he him selfe spared not to spēd his life for to bring yt into the way againe we are in no part inferior to the Papistes them selues Is this then our discipline is this that order which some men often tymes praisinge in wordes desire nothinge less in deed Is this the gouernment and administracion off our churche and yet no man may be suffred freely to speake for the reformaciō of the churche and restoringe againe of the pure and perfit gouernmēt of the Apostles Seinge thes are most manifestly contrary to the example off our Sauior Christ and off the Apostles Seinge they threaten the certeyne ruyne and ouer throw off the churche Seinge they do not only shake but turne vpward the pillers off the same Haue we not Good cause to be moued bothe for the Glory off God and the saluacion of the churche to requyre more holye ordinaunces and a better gouernment off the same Can any man esteeme thes light matters and off small waight that the sacred Lawes off God are openly violated and broken with oute any shame that the churche which Christ hath redemed with his bludd is neglected That ther is no regard had off discharginge off dewties That a man taketh to hym selfe which the Aungelles dare not and that the Archbishopp dare geue the Pastor leaue contrary to the expresse commandement off God to forsake his flock or graunt him suche priuiledges wheroff that same dothe necessaryly follow which no Archangell may challendge to him selff Or shall thos thinges also which I haue handled from the begynninge to this place be esteemed small faultes to ground Ecclesiasticall discipline not vpon the word off God and the will off the Lord Iesus But off the canon lawe Which suerly I doubt not to affirme to be the very fountaine and springe from whence all the rest off the Corruptions do flow that popishe priestes womē Archdeacons and Chauncelers with ther Officialles Commissaryes and the rest off that Trashe do bringe ther impure handes and neuer sanctified vnto God to do his holie seruice to preache his word to handle and distribute his facred mysteries to order and gouerne his churche And nothinge seare any punishement off this ther boldnes and most vnworthie prophanacion off the holie offices That Ionathan the Leuites shamefull example in seekinge a Maister or as we call yt in gettinge the good will off a Patrone is taken to be followed That Dauid and Salomons example in callinge the Priestes and Leuites to ther cyties and townes and the Apostles in ordeininge no ecclesiasticall officer but vnto certen churches is neglected and contemned And last off all that Thes wicked and intollerable faculties Prerogatiues Priuiledges and dispensacions tha◠I haue spoken off at suffered in our churche Are all thee I say to be countid trifles or certen light faultes and tollerable errors For my par e suerly I thincke as allso I suppose all they will do that will were this by the word off God as by the gold smythes ballance that ther is neuer a one off these light and small to be esteemed but that they ar all heynous trespasses and matters off Treason to be examined and iudged off in the highest courtes Therfore in the name off God let vs not seeke to bringe this holie doctrine off reforminge our discipline into hate and displeasur vnder a shew that yt is a newe and a false pretēce that all innouaciōs ād chāges are dangerous but rather abrogating thes most vniust and vnrighteous lawes dispensacions and as I may well call them pardones and indulgencies at the last let vs call agayne that maner off gouerninge the churche and that discipline being now lost which the Lord him selfe by his embassadors and Apostles hathe apointed Thus hauinge described and layd out the lawfull vocacion off all those which occupie any publique place in the churche let vs now come to the partes and members of the same which especially are two wherin the right maner off geuinge thes offices doth consist that is In election and ordinacion which is so properly called Election is the appointinge by the Elders the rest off the churche allowing it off a fitt man to the bearinge off some office in the churche And as for Election that it is necessary to the geuinge off any off thes offices it may appeare euen off that that S. Paul ioineth it with examinacion and trial and diligently warneth Timothie that he lay not on his handes vpon them that be vnworthie but only vpon thos that after a iust triall beinge had are found meet and chosen That same is proued also by the continuall vse off the Apostles who by the iudgmēt and authoritie off the churche apointed Bishopps to teache and Deacons for the orderinge off the Treasury off the churche For Christ hath not chosen any certen hous or famyly as it was in old tyme vnder the law wherin the gouernment off the churche should all wais remaine He gaue herein no right off Petigree stock and blood no ministers by inheritance but he would haue the iudgement left free vnto his churche and the offices theroff to be gyuen by choyse and worthines Off which election for asmuche as it was so necessary for the state off the churche that without yt the churche it selfe could not longe continew Our Sauior Christ was very carefull and therfor declared particularly and distinctly all thinges which apperteined to the orderyng theroff For he hath perfectly and diligently shewed bothe who owght to choose and to whom especially this care ought to belonge and what ought to be followed and regarded in chosinge off euery one For althoughe this question and controuersy off the chosers hathe beene diuersly disputed off by lerned men yet allmost all off them cōsen in this that ther must be moe to deale therin and that so great and so wayghtie a charge and belonginge to the especiall and singuler commodytie or discomoditie off the wholl churche ought not be committed to the authoritie off any one but be ordered and ruled by the iudgement and consent off many And this is the generall opynion off all thos that euer disputed lernedly and wisely in this cause from which I thinck no man can dissent but the Papists and they that haue succeded them in that authoritie which they most vnuistly and not without open iniury and tyranny doe vsurpe For the Bishopps that challeng this power vnto them selues by ther meere authoritie and ther owne only Iudgment and aduise to apoint the officers off the churche cannot challenge this by any right or law off God but exercise a very tyranny thoughe indeed longe agoe browght into the churche which lest I may seeme to haue said with out cause and to haue condemned them with out hearinge them to say what they can let them shew forth from whom and by what right this infynit power and authoritie is come into ther handes yff they say they haue
in glory and so forth as Paule most notably reherseth and which he declareth that the good minister off Christ ought to teache vnto the churche Furthermore who but a lerned man and well taught and brought vp in the schoole off Christ is able to discerne betwene sound and corrupt doctrine and to geue that as most holesome foode and pleasaunt waters vnto the flock and that also fitly aceordinge to the varietie of diuers times and of the other part to knowe and perceiue in tyme and wisely to auoide false and corrupt opynions or foolishe and vaine questions which as the Apostle saith like gangrenes doe freat to the ruyne off the churche And doth it not require a merueilous great diligence and singuler knowledge in the holie scriptures to prescribe all orders and degrees off men what they ought to doe what is fitt for euery one and what euery mans dutie is to declare the dewty off kinges and magistrates to shewe the obedience off subiectes to preache the law the gospell repentaunce faith which S Paule in Timothes person prescribeth all ministers to preache and in the person off the Auncientes off Ephesus wherin takinge to witnes that he had done so exhorteth them to followe hym and to do the like How hard a matter it is to stay thos that are fallinge by the comfort off the promises to refreshe and ease thos that ar weary and heauie laden to raise vp them that are beaten downe to the ground as it were from the graue againe Thes thinges had neede off a heauenly kind off cunÌ„inge and knowledge and off that learned tonge wherby Esay witnesseth that he refreshed thos that trauayled and wer weary But that I be not to long in this matter and that I omitt both many other thinges namely thos devine and merueilous secreates off the election off the faithfull and reprobacion off the vngodly how great is that one thinge to be able to answer wheÌ„ he is asked in all matters what the lords will and pleasure is and to be as it wer the oracle off the church which it is not possible any man should be able to doe with out a great and excellent knowledge off the word off god which only is left to vs in steade off the Sainctuary off the Arke and orakle off god vnder the lawe no more then it was possible to execute the priesthoode with out Vrim and Thummim Therfore seinge ther is so great art required to the gouernment off the churche and seinge as it is said by one in an other case that it is a pece off worck that had need off many taklinges helmes and oares no man ought to haue the guidinge heroff committed to him but he that is expert and coÌ„ninge neither is it meet to set a boateman or a skoller to it Who by reason off his ignorance in the starres iff he were in the middest off the Sea cold not tell wher aboutes he were but shold be compelled to crie as it is in the Poet. O Syrs we know no east nor west wher Sonne doth rise or goeth to rest It wer more meet to set heere to the gouernmeÌ„t off the ship the conÌ„ingest master that euer was who lookinge to the word off god in steade off the north starre may bring it with streight and direct cuurse to the hauen Further it is also to be considered in this questioÌ„ that the case is touchinge the gouernmeÌ„t off the churche off feedinge of the flock off the lord of keping HierusaleÌ„ the citie off our god off building the temple off god off the body off Christ then the which ther is nothinge more to be esteemed in heaueÌ„ and earth That we may the rather determin that suche a flock that hath as many goulden fleeces in it as ther be sheepe ought to be committed to the keepinge off none but off a most conÌ„inge painefull and diligeÌ„t man and as it wer an other Iacob For who is he that wer able to answer the Lord for the losse off the lest sheepe off this flock At whos bringinge to the fould againe after it hath wandred and gone astray seinge the Aungelles are so gladd off and reioyce iff it wer lost would they not in a maner Lament and would not heaueÌ„ and eaathe put vpon them mourninge apparell for the same yff then we commit this flock vnto a shepphard that not only seketh not the lost sheepe nor bindeth not that which is brokeÌ„ but caÌ„not if he would howe many would be lost and how greatly do we thinck that the lord off the flock will esteeme so great a losse What would he say not only to the shepherdes but to his stewardes that had set such a one ouer his flock Surely all ther Iudgement is pronounced by Ezechiel namely that both the watchemen that geue not warninge off the enemyes and the cytie also that seteth such watch men ouer them shal be bothe taken and perishe togeether and by our Sauior Christ sayinge that if the blynd leade the blynd both shall fall into the ditche Therfore seinge the Bishopp must speake and preache off so heauenly matters by reason off his office Seinge he is set ouer the gouernment off the church off god Seing that vndoubted daunger hangeth ouer the head both off the minister and churche iff such a one be chosen to rule that is not able and seinge off the other part all this fitnes and abilitie consisteth in holie knowledg off the sacred doctrine and vnderstandinge off the word off God I thinck it is sufficiently proued that no man ought to be admitted Bishopp ot minister who is not godly and lerned And iff any haue bene oâ—herwise by error admitted to be put oute againe For so our Sauior Christ hath allredy pronounced that the vnsauery salt is to be cast out off the dores and the Prophet Zachary prophesied that it should come to passe in the kingdom off CHRIST that they should willingly geue ouer that office againe freely openly professinge that they are in deed not Prophetes but husbandmen and that from ther youâ—h vp they had neuer beene schollers vnto the Prophettes but Neathearedes Porters shepherdes seruinge men and suche like Which seinge yt is so manifest and confirmed by so many Testimonyes off the Scripture that yt can not be denyed I merueile that euer yt could come to passe in a Christian churche that so clere and expresse commandementes off God so proffitable for vs and necessary for the saluacion off the churche should be broken and transgressed But they are not only broken and that commonly and so offten that for one fyt minister a man may find a nomber off vnfit and vnlerned but excuses and preteÌ„ces are sought to defeÌ„d this fault with all as iff in manner it wer lawful to do so And the most hainous crymes that can be wanteth not there lawer and counsell to pleade for them They say that yt is euill in deed but a necessary euill
the glory off god vnto men And if they declare the creation of the world in ther homelies the dewties of all sortes and degrees off meÌ„ why do they not rather declare it out of Moses and the writinges of the Prophetes and Apostles then oute of ther booke off homelies Therfore a worthy Bishop or minister is to be chosen that can interprete the holie scriptures and applie it as occasion shall serue to the vse and necessitie of the churche not a reader to rehearse other mens sayinges and writinges by whos ignorance the church of god may be in daunger of there saluacion They haue found out also an other remedy for this disease which is as ill as the disease it selfe They geue them leaue to go to the vniuersitie and to tary there for three yeres that after they haue bene diligently occupied for that time in the readinge hearinge and meditatiÌ„ge of the scriptures They may returne againe better furnished for the teachinge of the church But what shal be come of the miserable churches in the meane tyme if they be left as shippes without takle and furniture and without a gouernor for the space of thre yeres fletyng vpon the Seas It is not to feared that they shal be drowned or broken or ouerwhelmed or synke beinge subiect to so many daungers of Pirates of rokes of gulfes swallowes sandes stormes and tempestes And why are they wise to late in this point and do not rather send them first to the vniuersitie to learne before they begyn to teache And what an after wit is this to appoint hiÌ„ to teache who must after learne euen in the pulpit Trew it is we can neuer sufficiently profit in the scriptures and that the best lerned of all ought continuallie and diligently to reade and studie them wherby they may encrease ther strenght and abilitie for the discharge of there dewties as we reade that both S. Paule exhorted Timothie to doe and it appereth by the parchementes he sent for to Rome that he did so him selfe But this is it that I reproue and find fault with all that they admit suche to the office off a Bishop that is to say vnto the ministery and expoundinge off the word who are alltogether vnmeete who vnderstand not the scriptures and who take vpon them the place to teache before they haue lerned The lord contrariwise wold haue his will perfectly knowne to his Prophetes before he send theÌ„ out to prophesie in his name Which is set forth in the third chap. of the prophesye of Ezechiel and the x. of the reuelation of S. Iohn vnder a prety similitude of eatinge concoctinge and disgestinge the booke and turninge it in a manner into ther owne substance and bloode So also the Prophet Dauid witnessethe that he layd to his eare to vnderstand the parable before that he went aboute to sing it and play it vpon the instrument in the hearinge of all estates of people declaringe therby that men ought first thorowly to vnderstand that which they will take vppon them to vtter vnto others But this is the nature and propertie of that which is euill That being once let go it cannot be sâ—aide but dayly breedeth and bringeth furth many other euilles Therfore let vs returne vnto the wais of the lord and be obedient to his most iust and holie lawes and ordinaunces and decree that no man be admitted minister or Bishopp who is not so well studied in the holie scriptures before that he is able also to vtter it bothe purely aÌ„d sincerely and faithfully to the profit and edification of the churche For it is not sufficieÌ„t that he be not dombe in the church but he ought also reuereÌ„tlie to handle the holy scriptures and as S. Peter giueth warninge so vâ—ter them as the word and oracles of god that as S. Paule warnethe Timothy he may shewe him selfe a worckman that needeth not be a shamed of his labor Not suche as the same Apostle writeth to haue beene amonges the Corinthes that build strawe and stubble which the Lord will consume to ther losse vpon the precious foundacion but in a word that they may rightly deuide the worde of truthe Neither am I purposed here to appointe any manner off makinge of sermons but generallie to declare that doctrine is to be referred to the edifyinge of the churche and that the holie scriptures are to be expounded simplie and sincerely and vttered with reuerence For some to shew them selues to the people to be lerned stuffe ther sermons with diuers sentences out off Philosophers Poets Orators and scholemen and of the auncient fathers Augustine Hierome and others and thes often times rehersed in greek or latin by which pieces somtime ill fauoredly pached togither they seeke and hunt for commendation and to be esteemed lerned of the people which also some doe that are vnlerned I call them vnlerned touchinge the knowledge of the scriptures who takinge vppon them to teache and hauing not ther mindes well practized with the word off god no nor as the Apostle saithe ther senses well exercised but allwais haue bene occupied in readinge ethnick writers they bring forth to the people off that store which they haue gathered to gether and play rather the Orators and Philosophers then Prophets and interpreters off the holie scripture Other some vse I know not what straunge kind off interpreting and peruert the trew and naturall sence off the scriptures with allegories and foolishe and old wiues tales which Paule admonisheth Timothie and Titus are to be auoided Therfore a great care and respect ought to be had herein that the partie which is to be choseÌ„ be first heard speake by the chosers that they may knowe how he expoundeth the scriptures before they admit hiÌ„ to the ministerie off the word and the office off a Bishopp And thus much for the learinige off him that is to be chosen minister Now let vs go foreward to other thinges For the Apostle thought it not enoughe that a minister should be able to teache who for the merueilous care that he had off the church took great heed that ther wer no daunger secretly hid in some parte that might hurt the churche especially in that which this building staid vppon as a piller Therfore he geueth warninge to take heed that a Bishopp and minister be no new vpstart in religion newly drawen out off Idolatry and superstition which when it cometh to passe must needes be ioyned with great damage and losse off the churche For when a minister or teacher off the word off god doth fall who as I haue saide is as it were a piller off the church or some off the most chifest beames wheron the building doth stay It must needes be that they which stay vpon him being shaken with the same wind shold fall to togither with it Therfore our master Builder wisely and conningly forbiddeth to vse thes yonnglinges and startvppes to the buildlnge off the house off god as
vpon that lawe which forbiddeth to mussel the oxe that treadethe out the corne For god in making that lawe had not so great respect to oxen and beastes as he had to men For he teacheth vs therby that the ploughe man may confort him selffe in his troblesome labor with the hope off fruit And that the haruest man ought to be partaker off his hope And finallie that euery man ought to liue off his labor Yea futher the Apostle plainly addethe that as they that ministred the holie thinges vnder the lawe did liue also off the holie thinges and they that serued the Aulter wer partakers of the offeringe off the aulter So the lord did also appoint it that they which preache the Gospell should also liue off the Gospell And in the fift chap. off his first Epistle to Tymothy he alledgethe both thes Testimonies that off the lawe and this off the Gospell in the same place to proue that the Elders that do rule well are to prouided for for saithe he it is in the Scripture Thow shalt not mussel the oxe that treadethe out the corne and againe The worckman is worthie off his wages For so the Euangelistes do reherse that The Lord when he sent out his Apostles to preache the Gospell and cōmanded them not to be carefull for ther meate or apparell tolde thē that the workmā is euery were worthy off his hire and Therfore into what cyty so euery they should enter iff ther were any man worthie he cōmandethe them to goe to his house and to tarie there vntill they departe vpon which ordinaunce off god in the old lawe and off Christ in the new Testament the Apostle growndinge ordeined in the churche off the Galathians that he that was instructed in the word off God should communicate all his goods with hym by whom he had beene instructed And further addethe as one that did forsee the manifolde pretences wherby couetous men notwithstandinge this lawe would goe aboute to defraude them and mock the Lord that the lord cannot be mocked declaring that it shall come to passe that iff they doe not sowe to the Spirit but sowe all ther seed to the fleshe they should not looke at all to reape euerlasting life off the spirit but corruption and destruction off the feeld off the fleshe wherin they had so plentifully sowed and scattered wheroff I thinck it is manifest that the Bishopp ought to be liberally prouided for by the churches lest they be compelled most iniuriously by reason off ther neede and pouerty to distract ther studies and to be hindered in the doinge off their dewty by exercising off other occupacions which cannot be otherwise iff they neede seinge they as well as other men are commanded by the Apostle to norishe and to loke to ther familie and as well as other to be esteemed infidells by the Apostles precept iff they prouide not for ther owne especially for ther owne houshold And allthoughe it be not easie to set a certen rate how they should be prouided for by reason off the great diuersitie off times and persons yet generally it may be saide that we ought not to deale with them sparingly couetously and pinchingly but contrariwise friendly gently and liberally For iff we haue receiued the gospell off Christ with that mind we ought we will also make muche off the ministers off the same which mind and affection Paule him selffe testifiethe that the Galathians had towardes him who saithe that he was receiued off them as an Aungell off God yea as Iesus Christ him selffe So that they wer ready to haue bestowed ther goodes yea iff it had bene possible to haue plucked out ther owne eies to haue dōne him Good. Therfore it is plaine enoughe off that which hathe bene saide that Bishoppes that is to say the mynisters ought to haue an honest reasonable and comodious liuinge to mainteine them that they may more freely applie them selues to ther vocation and callinge But this heauenly holie and most righteous lawe as it is transgressed by the pompe and superfluecry off a fewe So muche more by the want and neede off a great nombre which surely is so great that I am ashamed to speake off it yet It must needes be spoken and the disease disclosed and freely declared what and how great it is that we may think and be carefull to prouide some speedy remedye allthoughe I am afraide that the disease allready be so great that in vayne may we seeke for remedy and geue Medycine to that which is past remedy which Hyppocrates forbiddethe For what remedy may be founde in so trobled and confused a state wher yt wantethe not muche that the ministers go a begginge as in times past the Popishe Priestes wer wont to do And they that are charged in many places with the cure off the churche are allmost in worse condicion then any hired seruanntes then shepherdes or laboringe men who besides ther meate and drinck haue some thing geuen them to cary home towardes the norishment off ther howse and famylie wheras the Teachers off many churches haue scarcely to finde them meate and drinck The cause off which shamefull beggery is a certen prophane vngodlines ioyned with an vnsatiable couetousnes wherby many neglectinge Religion the seruice off god and the saluation off men looke to ther owne proffit only and rake to them selues all that they can with out respect off right or wronge So that they had rather all Religion were banished that all opynion off worshipping and fearing god were abolished that all faithe in Christ and hope and looking for euerlastinge life were forgotten amonges men then to mainteine it with any penny off thers Yea further they will not only geue nothinge to the mayntenance off the Ministerie which beinge in good estate the other fonamed vertues doe florishe and likewise fall awaie by the ruine theroff But most vniustly scrape vnto them selues that which was liberally geuen by others and spoile the churche robbing hir off hir goods For how many churches be there which somtimes wereable to haue mainteined sufficiētly and honestly a godly and lerned man to teache them the gospell which nowe are scarce able to finde a reader and seruice saier by reason that thos goodes are taken away by impropriation as they call it that is to saie by an improper and no right title and distributed into many partes wherin we shewe our selues more barbarous couetous and vngodly then all nacions haue done from tyme to tyme which haue allwais bene carefull and are to this day for mainteininge amonges them the manner that god ought to be serued by and with all to keepe and mainteine ther priestes So we reade in Genesis that Pharo prouided for the Priestes off Egypt And in the story off the kinges that Iesabell prouided for the Priestes off the groues and that with suche loue care and affection that foure hundred off them were norished at hir table And Pharo
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
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
in the same simplicitie and sinceritie vndefiled In which so worthie an office Godlie Princes now a daies may choose out of the holie history many paterns to look vpon and to followe as Dauid Salomon Ezechias Iosias Zerubabell and others whose labor was famous and notable partly in apointinge the ordre off religion accordinge to the word of god and the voice of the prophetes partlie in restoringe yt againe after it had bene decaied By religion I vnderstād not only the doctrine which we professe touching the māner off seruing god and the obteininge of our saluaciō by his sonē but also the māner of gouernīge the churche of apointing the Officers theroff off correctīge and takinge away off offences which all those most noble worthies did trewlie and according to the will off god iudge to belong to the office and dewty off the magistrate Whose worthie examples O most noble Queene Elizabeth iff as your Maiestie hath well begun̄ so yow do continewe to followe I hope surelie that for the godlie disposition theroff both your honorable nobilitie and many notable and famous men off the Ecclesiasticall degree and euen the whole Parliamēt wil be ready to furder your Graces godlie purpose which bote the scriptures do witnes to haue hapned to Dauid Salomon and other Religious Princes and famous euen for Religion and reformacions sake in the like cause And we haue also seene to haue hapned vnto your Maiestie not with out the devine and merueilous prouidence off god at the abolishing off poperie in the beginninge off your raigne Especially your Highnes right honorable Counsellers and chosen by your Maiestie vnto the bearinge off the chiefest offices in your realme wyll furder this noble enterprise who euery one will choose vnto him selffe some worthie patterne out off the godlie courtes off those noble kinges for him to followe in this behalffe and some man peraduēture Eliachim great steward off kīg Ezechias house Some other Shaphan Chan̄cellor in Iosias time other the honorable Secretaries off king Salamon And the rest some other off the godlie officers in Dauids and Salomons courts fynally all off them choosinge to them selues some suche patterns to followe in all vertue and Religion will striue which off them shall be most foreward to promote your Graces godlie decrees and purposes Seing then that all will be so ready O most noble Quene fynishe and make perfit now at the last with the readie wil and consent off all your Highenes subiectes this heauenlie worck off the seruice and Religiō off god which your maiesty hathe begōne and that not onlie by the example of these excellent and famous kinges whom I haue set before your eyes but also by the example off your Graces most noble Father Henry the viij off most famous memory and off the most godlie prince Edvvard the vj. your Highnes brother that in the same familie wherin the praise off religion and reformacion begann to florishe yt may be also perfected and finished by your maiesty For these are allmost the speciall praises off your Highnes house and progenie To banishe Idolatry and to set vp the trewe seruice off god wherby the one that is to say the abolishinge off popery we owe in a great parte to your highnes most noble Father the other that is the restoringe off trew religion first to your Highnes most worthy brother that godlie Prince Edvvard the vj. and after also to your maiesty who as yt is written off the good king Ezechias opened vnto vs againe the dores off the tēple of the Lord which had bene shut ād closed vp before erected vp his aulters againe which had bene beatē downe and lighted againe the cleere lampe off the word off the Lord which had bene put out Which Princely vertewes off your Highnes most worthy house iff your maiesty crowne with restoringe off lawfull discipline vnto the churche which yet remaineth Then shall our churche of Englād most worthelie acknowledg to haue receiued hir full libertie and perfit restoringe againe next after god only to that most noble house wheroff your Highnes is And confesse to haue founde most trew in that one famouse house off Tedder hir estate that worthy prophesie off Esay Kings shal be thy foster fathers Queenes thy Nurces which I pray God moue your Graces hart to performe to the honor off his most holy name the edifying off this our churche off England and the discharge off your Highnes dewty vnto bothe and last off all to the longe and prosperous continuance off your maiesties reigne ouer vs. Thus nowe the lawfull and trew discipline hath bene described which gouernment of the churche off Christ as off the Lords house who so euer diligently and attentiuely consider shall easilie perceiue a merueilous heauēly wisdome to shine in all the gouernmēt of the same And so muche the more merveilous then was the gouernment off the house and court off Salamon weroff mencion is made in the holie history off the kinges as he is wiser then Salomon who did appoint all the ordre and manner off the ordring off it For wither we consider the ordres and degrees off Officers or ther orderly sitting downe or the diuers ornamentes and apparell off euery one according to his diuers estate and degree we shall see that nothing could be wisely inuented nor disposed with Iudgement and reason either forthe preseruacion off the sure and safe estate off the churche or for beautifyinge and adorninge the estimacion off the same which is wanting in this gouernment For as touching the Officers what necessary office is omitted and neglected or what office needles and vnnecessary is appointed or what can be named more seemely and orderly then this appointinge off the offices That those functions ceasinge which serued but for a tyme and were vsed extraordinarily in the first yeeres off the raigne off our Sauiour Christ for the establishing off his kingdome Ordinary and perpetuall offices should be appoynted in two sortes wheroff the first is suche wheras euery man hath his seuerall charge The other where many haue but one and the same charge which they execute by common counsell and Authoritie Wheroff againe the first sort consisteth in ij kindes of Bishopps which expound and teache Religion and the seruice off god that is Pastors ad Doctors and as many Deacons that is to say Deacons Elders so called figuratiuely by names which are more generall Off whō some go watche ouer the life ād conuersatiō off all the churche And the other are carefull to helpe the necessities off wydowes straungers sick folk and generallie off all the poore so that both all the house is sufficiently prouided for aswell touchinge the purity off faithe and doctrine as the honestie and integritie off life and manners and also the neede and necessitie off every one particulerly not neglected Then the consistory or the Assembly off Elders which consistethe of the three first and cheefe Officers off the church Pastors