may giue them selues to lust the sooner 18 It was ordayned that none eyther B or Elder shoulde goe from citie to citie Therefore if a Minister haue the charge of a flocke committed vnto him to the ende to feede it if God place men to the ende to haue them there imployed if flockes in daunger haue neede of continuall watche if the Ministers duetie to his flocke requireth all that trauayle that he can performe if he can not be fruitfullie profitable vnto them without continuall residence if his residence be as strictlie required as theirs vnder the lawe if he cannot be a paterne vnto them without he be resident if they can not follow him nor know him if he be absent if he cannot bee alwayes readie to feede his flocke vnles he be there if he cannot take heede to them feede them and watche ouer them without his presence if Satan be the authour of nonresidencie if his absence abridge Gods loue to them and comfort from him selfe if absence be an hinderance to the louing familiaritie that shoulde bee betwixt him and them if they haue interest in him continuall neede of him if he may no more be absent then the priestes dwell from the Temple if the Councell of Nice did vpon good grounds forbid it if absence bee like to the practise of an harlot if it be not lawfull to goe frō place to place then is nonresidence vnlawful and the practize thereof contrarie to the worde of God The bellie for which nonresidencie is defended and practized hath no eares therefore it is that they heare not these euident soundes yet haue they verie little to say for it so grosse is the error thereof so much as hath any shew of reason is here set downe and answered 1 Obiection Two parishes may bee vnited why then may not one haue charge of them both before when they be two Answere Because one shephearde may keepe one flocke though it be great but he can not keepe two being very little and going in diuers pastures agayne one man may haue so many flockes as he can lead in and out euery Sabboth to the exercises of religion which is very playne that he cannot doe to more then one Congregation 2 Obiection Parishes were deuided by men as especially by Denis the Monke Pope of Rome Aunswere That is vntrue for the Apostles deuided the Church into Congregations and placed Elders ouer euerie one of them as the whole course of the Actes and Epistles of the Apostles prooueth and Whitgift confesseth page 250. Therefore these mistes notwithstanding nonresidencie must needes be vnlawfull and certainly those that haue any sparkle of conscience feare of God or loue to their flockes will neuer defende it much lesse enter into the practize of it CHAP. 4. IT belongeth to the Church to make choise of those officers which Christ would haue placed in the same T. C. 2. booke 1. part pag. 193. Ecclesiast Discip. fo 40. Whitgift confesseth it pag. 164. They denie this as their denying of all the arguments that be brought for it doeth prooue Whitgift pag. 154. 166. c. and their practize of allowinge patrons and also being such them selues doeth euidentlie declare If the former be proued true then the latter must returne to Antichrist which is thus declared 1 That which was the continuall and constant practise of the Church in the time of the Apostles that same is to be followed for euer which appeareth by this that the ordinances giuen from God by Paule 1. Tim. 6. 14. are enioyned to bee kept vntill Christ come to iudgement But it was the cōstant and the continuall practize of the Churches them to haue a stroke in the choyse of their owne ecclesiasticall officers Act. 1. and 26. where the Apostles presented two to the peoples liking whereof God was to be prayed vnto to make one an Apostle Act. 6. 3. where the Church is willed to choose their Deacons and Act. 14. 25. where they gaue their consent in the choosing of their Elders by the stretching foorth of their handes Therefore it belongeth to the church to thoose their owne Church-officers 2 If the people had an interest in their liking of their teaching Leuites which were of the tribe of Aaron then much more must the people now for there was greater likelihood that they were sent of God then any of the common sorte of men But the former is true as appereth by the maner of the setting of them aside vnto that office in the lawe Therefore must the latter needes be true also 3 That which partayneth vnto all ought to be approued of all the Congregation But euery Ministerie in the Church pertayneth to all the congregation Therefore authoritie to approoue of them pertayneth to all the congregation 4 That election which is most effectuall to bring the people to obedience is of all other the best and to abridge it is vnlawfull But election by common consent is most effectuall to bring the people to obedience when they shall see him teache or rule whome they them selues haue chosen Therefore election by the Church is the best and all other kindes of elections vnlawfull 5 That election whiche procureth greatest reuerence of the people to their Teachers and Rulers is meetest and all others vnlawfull But for the people to consent in the election of their Gouuernours procureth greatest reuerence in their heartes towardes them Therefore election by the people is the best and all others be vnlawfull Testimonies of the ancient writers 6 The Minister should be chosen the people beeing present in the eyes of all and should be by the common iudgement and testimonie approoued worthie and fitte c. Therfore this is the lawfull vocation by the word of God where those which are chosen bee appointed by the consent and approbation of the people For which also hee bringeth diuers authorities out of the Scriptures 7 That is truely and certainlie a diuine election of a Bishop which is made by the whole Church 8 Let the people haue authoritie to choose their Clarkes and Ministers 9 They runne speaking of the life of the Clarkes to Bishops suffragans certaine times of the yeare and bringinge some summe of money they are anoynted and ordayned being chosen of none and afterwarde the Bishop without anie lawfull election is chosen in huggermuger of the Canons or Prebendaries onely without the knowledge of the people 10 In the Oration of the death of his Father approueth the election by the people at large and confuteth them that would hinder it 11 When he appointed Eradius to succeede him sayeth it was the approued right custome that the whole church should eyther choose or consent vnto their Bishop 12 Antimius choosing a Bishop without the peoples cōsent filled all Armenia with sedition 13 Why did Peter cōmunicate the election with the Disciples least the matter should haue turned to a
can espye the enimie and giue warning aforehande howe to resiste him but he that is able to teache c. Therefore none may be admitted into the ministerie but he that is able to teache c. 8 He that leadeth him selfe and his people into hell may not be admitted into the ministerie Hee that is not able to teache and conuince the gainsayer leadeth him selfe and his people into hell Mat. 15. 14. Therefore he that is not able to teache c. may not be admitted into the ministerie 9 He that preacheth not but holdeth his peace murdereth 10 He that preacheth not is not sent and so he begetteth no fayth in man 11 In that S. Paule requireth that a Bishoppe should bee wise he barreth those that vnder the name of simplicitie excuse the follie of ministers 12 We condemne all vnmeete Ministers not endued with giftes necessarie for a shephearde that should feed his flocke Therefore if a Minister must teache vnto his people all that Christ hath commaunded if none may be made ministers but conditionally if they be qualified with giftes meete for the same if vnpreaching Ministers can not be made without the manifest breach of the commaundement of God if they may not be made ministers whom the Lorde refuseth to haue if euery minister must haue a treasurie well furnished and be able to bring foorth of it when need requireth if euery minister must haue skill to see the enemie and to giue warning aforehande howe to resiste him if vnlearned ministers draw their people to hell after them if he that preacheth not be a murtherer if he be not sent and so doe no good if he be barred from the ministerie lastlie if hee bee condemned as not to be in such a place then must it needes followe that none many be receyued into the ministerie but such as be able to teache the trueth and to conuince the gainsayer Many are the argumentes that be alleadged to this purpose and many moe may be alleadged for the whole course of the scriptures tende therevnto the testimonie of all sortes of writers is very plentifull for this purpose yea of the verie Canon lawe as the authour of the Abstract hath learnedlie prooued and yet doe not our Prelates rest in the same but haue sett them selues though in a sillie maner against it in this sorte that followeth 1 Obiection There must be reading in the Church therfore a reading ministerie Whitgift pag. 252. Answer By that reason we must haue an officer for euerie particular action for there must be breaking of bread in the Church and powring of water but it followeth not that therefore there must be one whose office must bee onely to breake bread or to powre water 2 Obiection It is better to haue readers then none for preachers can not be had for euery congregation Answere It is not better for if they had none they would seeke for him that they should haue whereas now they that haue a reader onely think them selues in case good inought but if there be such wante of preachers why are so many of the most diligent and able ones turned out 3 Obiection It is impossible to haue Preachers euerie-where and such as can be had must be taken Answere Sometimes you say all is well and is it now impossible that our state should obey the Lordes ordinaunces this is the greatest disgrace to it that can be and yet it followeth not for no necessitie may warrant vs to violate the decrees of the highest 4 Obiection It were vncharitablenes to turne them out that bee bare readers for so they their wiues and children might begge Answere This is to sell mens souls for morsels of bread shall we rather feare the begging of three or foure then the damnation of 1000. but they may bee otherwayes prouided for they neede not begge many of them may returne to their occupations againe So that all these obiections notwithstanding the conclusion remaineth sure which is grounded vppon so many certaine and vnmoueable foundations The Churche ought not to be gouerned by Commissaries and Officialls and Chauncellors 1 They which are no Elders of the Church haue nothing to doe in the gouernement of the same 1. Tim. 5. 17. These Chauncellours Commissaries and officialls are no Elders in the Church whether we expounde Elder for a minister and him also that is assistant vnto the minister in ouerseeing the Church or for a minister onely as they do for none of them be ministers and if they be they doe not rule in this respect that they are ministers Therefore the Church ought not to be gouerned by them 2 They that must gouerne the Church of God must haue a warraunt for their so doing from Iesus Christ the head of the Church But Chauncellors c. haue no warraunt so to doe from Iesus Christ the head of the Church Therefore the Church ought not to be gouerned by them 3 Those whose names office and practize be deriued frō Antichrist may haue nothing to doe in the gouuernement of the Church for who will suffer his wife to be gouuerned by the master of a brothelhouse But the names offices and practize of Chauncellours officialles and commissaries be such which is plaine by this that they haue their grounde in that filthie dunghill the Cannon lawe Therefore they may haue nothing to doe in the gouernement of the Church 4 They that being inferiours doe proudly tyrannize ouer their superiours ought not to rule the Church of God for it is meete it should be ruled by modest humble and orderlie men But such are they for being inferiours to the ministers of the worde as our aduersaries doe confesse and is plaine also by the cannon lawe they crowe ouer them as if they were their slaues and if they doe not so they can doe nothinge Therefore they ought not to rule the Church of God 5 They that liue by the faultes of men are not fitt to rule the Church of God for they will rather increase offences that their gayne may increase then orderlie lessen them as experience also prooueth But such are all Chauncellours commissaries and officialls Therefore they ought not to rule the Church of God Therefore if Chauncellours commissaries and officialls be no Elders of the Church if they haue no warraunt from Iesus Christe the head of the Church if their names offices and practize be deriued from Antichrist if their office compell them being inferiours to tyrannize ouer their superiours if they liue onely by the faultes and offences of men then it must needes followe that the Church of God ought not to be gouerned by them CHAP. 7. EVerie officer of the Church must bee ordayned by the laying on of the handes of the Eldershippe T. C. 2. booke 1. part pag. 274. Discip. Eccle. fol. 53. They say it ought to be done by the Bishop alone Whitg pag. 196. their daily practize doeth likewise shewe it The former is prooued
and be absent from them as their dispensations and practize doe prooue 2 That one minister may haue a Soueraingtie and Lordship ouer his fellowe ministers which both beeing disprooued the former assertion will remaine still sure 1 One man may not haue moe charges then he is able in any measure to discharge No man is able in any measure to discharge the duetie that is belonging vnto moe flockes then one seeing he can not preache vnto them both in season out of season Therefore no man may haue moe charges then one 2 That which maketh an open entrance to the enimie to spoile can not be lawfull for one to haue moe charges then one maketh an open entrance for the enimie to spoyle for the wolffe watcheth to deuoure whilest the shepheard is absent Therefore no man may haue moe charges then one 3 That which hath neyther precepte nor president for it eyther in Gods worde or any approoued writer but onelie from Antichrist is vnlawfull But such is the hauing of moe charges then one Therefore it is vnlawfull 4 That which declareth a minister to be more desirous of the fleece then to profite the flocke that same is vnlawfull But such is the hauing of mo charges then one for were it not for the gaine they would thinke one a burden as heauie as they could beare Therefore it is vnlawfull 5 All the reasons that be alleadged in the thirde chapter against nonresidence are forcible to this purpose for if hee may not be nonresident he may not haue mo charges vnles he be willing to be quartered that euery charge may haue a piece of him He reckoneth them among theeues and their action to be theeuerie condemned by that commaundement Therefore if one man cannot in any tollerable measure discharge mo charges then one if to haue mo maketh an open entrance to the enimie to spoyle if it haue neyther precept nor president for it but onely in the kingdome of Antichrist if it declare the practizers to be more desirous of the fleece then to feede the flocke if all the reasons that condemne nonresidencie be against it lastlie if it be plain theeuerie then must it needs follow that one may not haue two or mo charges Their obiections such as they be are set downe in the 3. chapter and the aunsweres vnto them The seconde proposition that they holde is thus One minister may haue a soueraigne authoritie Lordship ouer his fellowe ministers which is thus disproued 1 They that haue their commission indifferentlie giuen them without difference betweene one and another are of equall authoritie and may not be one ouer another But such is the commission of all Gods ministers indifferentlie as appeareth Mat. 28. 19. 20. Therefore they are of equall authoritie and may not haue anie dominion one ouer another 2 That which Christ hath directlie forbidden that maye not in any case be allowed but is euer vnlawfull But Christ hath directlie forbidden that one minister shoulde haue dominion ouer another Matth. 20. 25. Luke 22. 25. Therefore one minister may not haue superioritie or dominion ouer another 3 They that may not be Lordes ouer the people of God may much lesse be Lordes ouer the Ministers for the Ministers bee in respect of the ministerie aboue the people But a Minister may not be Lordly ouer Gods people as is testified by him on whom they would father the greatest lordlines 1. Pet. 5. 3. Therefore one minister may not be Lord or haue superioritie ouer another 4 It is ordayned and is equall and right that euery mans cause bee hearde where the faulte was committed and it is meete to handle the matter there where they may haue both the accusers and witnesses of the faulte which sheweth that euerie minister had authoritie ouer his owne flocke and no other to meddle 5 Bishops wheresoeuer they be in all the worlde are equall to our Bishops or parishe ministers and preachers of none it can be sayde one is Lorde another is seruaunt whatsoeuer belongeth to the Church belongeth equallie to all sauing that some are of better giftes then others howebeit such giftes cause no inequalitie or lordship in the church 6 In the Apostolike Church the Ministers of the Worde were none aboue another and were subiect to no heade or president c. 7 The honor of a Bishop being taken from the rest of the ministers and giuen to one was the first step to papacie 8 Christ did most feuerilie forbid vnto the Apostles and their successors primacie and dominion 9 Equall power and function is giuen to all ministers of the Church and that from the beginning no one preferred him selfe before another sauinge onely that for order some one did call them togither propounded the matters that were to be consulted off and gathered the voyces Therefore if all Ministers haue their commission indifferentlie giuen vnto them if Christ haue forbidden that one Minister should haue dominion ouer another if no Minister may exercise dominion ouer Gods people if authoritie to handdle controuersies belonged to euerie seuerall Congregation if a Bishoppe and parishe minister bee all one if in the Apostles time no minister was aboue another if the superioritie of one aboue another was the firste steppe to the papacie lastlie if they haue equal power and function from the beginning then must it needes followe that no minister may haue superioritie or exercise dominion ouer another Their obiections herevnto so many as are worthie anie answere be these 1 Obiection Christ Matth. 20. 25. forbiddeth onely ambition and not dominion as Musculus expoundeth it Answere Musculus his iudgement appeareth in the 6. and 7. reasons the place is expounded against superioritie by Caluin Bullinger Zwinglius Gualter Hemingius c. But let it bee so expounded that dominion is ambition because it causeth a man to aspire aboue his fellowe ministers 2 Obiection The Greeke worde signifieth rule with oppression which is the thing that is forbidden Answere That is not so for Luke 22. 25. vseth the single verbe Keurieuem whiche signifieth simplie to rule The sonnes of Zebedeus desired not to oppresse but to rule which desire he reprooued 3 Obiection Christ sayeth not no man shalbe so but hee that will be so desiring it Answere But Luke sayth Let the greatest be as your seruant and therefore that is but a sillie shifte So that their assertions being ouerthrowen and their obiections aunswered it remayneth that wee prooue yet more directlie that the Lorde hath ordayned that there should be a Bishoppe resident ouer euerie Congregation which is proued thus 1 If a Bishop and Minister be all one then must there be a Bishoppe in euery Congregation for euery man will confesse that euerie Congregation ought to haue a minister But a Bishoppe and a Minister is all one as appeareth by this that Saint Paule describeth not one qualitie for the Bishopp but it is also the qualitie of
Connterp pag. 11 Matth. 21. 25. 26. Math. 28. 20 Cyprian in sermone de baptismo Christi Cyprian de prescrip aduersus hâ—ret Cyprian li. 1. Epist. 8. The conclusion The first proposition The second proposition Reason for the first proposition Ioh. 1. 23. 25. Numb 16. The coÌ„clusion The conclusion The 2. proposition reasons for the proofe of it That the name of archb may be giuen no man 1. Pet. 5. 4. Heb. 13. 20. Actes 3. 15. 5. 31. Hebr. 12. 2. Obiections for the name of Archb. and answeres thereunto VVhitegift page 318. That the office of an Archb. is vnlawfull The conclusion Obiections for the office of the Archb. and answeres thereunto The conclusion The 3. proposition reasons for it Act. 1. 20. Councel Calced ca. 6. art 15. Concil Vrbanum test Grat. di 70. Ierom ad Nepotian The conclusion Our assertion Their assertion Concil Ni. canon 15. Conc. to 2. Theod. lib. 1. cap. 19. The conclusion Our assertion Num. 8. 9. Cyprian booke 1. epist. 3. Ambrose epist 82. Ierome ad Ruffinum Ad Nepotianum This is right our English fashion Nazianze Augustin Basil. epi. 58 Chrisost. in Act. 1. Concil Ni. teste Theo. The same Conc test hist. tripart lib. 2. Conc. constan test tri par hist. lib. 9. cap. 14. Concil car tag can 1. Conci Toletan test dist 51. Concil Gabil can 10. Iusti. in co Carol. magnus dist 63. sacroruÌ„ canonum Lodouicus Caro. filius Platina in vita Adriani secundi The coÌ„clusion T. C. secoÌ„d booke 1. part pa. 212. The 1. proposition The 2. proposition The 1. proposition is thus prooued August lib. de past Gregor 1. epist. 33. Ierome ad Oecumen Confes. Heluet. The 2. proposition is thus prooued Theodoret. booke 5. ca. 23. 4. Concil Carthag cap. 23. Cyprian li. 1. epist. 4. The coÌ„clusion The conclusion Reasons against the 1. propofit Hooper vpon the 8. commandement The conclusion The 2. propositioÌ„ that they holde and reasons against it Cyprian li. 1. Epist. 3. Luther aduertus pap c. Museul lot com de minist verbi Idem vpon 2. Thes. 2. Conf. Helu cap. 17. Idem ca. 18. The conclusion A Bishoppe should bee in euerie congrega Ignat. ad Philadel Epipha li. 3. tom 1. haere 75. 2. Concil Cartha to 1. cap. 10. 3. Concil tom 1. ca. 8. a Euseb. li. 5. cap. 16. b Theodo lib. 5. cap. 4. c Socrat. 4 26. d Quest. 16 dilt â—0 Ierome ad Euagâ—um Acts monumentes fol. 216. Hooper vpon 8. com pag. 90. The conclusion Igna. ad Tral Tertul. de Bapt. Ierome contra Lucif Ambr. vpoÌ„ 1. Tim. 5. Possidon in vita Augu. Socrat. libr. 5. cap. 22. Bucer de regno Christ. P. Mar. vpoÌ„ Rom. 12. Idem 1. Cor. 12. Caluin Institut lib. 4. cap. 3. se. 8. The conclusion Reasons prouing elders as necessarie vnder a Christian Magistrate as in the Apostles time The firste propositioÌ„ 6. Concil Con. ca. 16. Concil va Can. 4. Chrisost. vpon Act. 6. Bulling decad 5. ser. 2. Bucer de re Christi 14. P. Mart. Rom. 12. Caluin in li. 4. ca. 3. s. 9 Beza confe cap. 5. se. 23. Igna. ad Philadel The conclusion The proofe of the firste propositioÌ„ The second propositioÌ„ See the answere to D. Bridges pag. 132. CoÌ„fe Heluet Tigur Bern. Gene. Polo Hun. Scotl. ca. 18. Caluin in li. 4. ca. 3. s. 8. P. Mart. Rom. 3. Bucer de re Christi 15. M. Whitak against Duraeus Obiection against the perpetuitie of the Eldership and answeres to the same The 3. proposition Can. App. cap. 80. Conc. Cal. cap. 3. 7. 4. Concil Cart. ca. 20. Caluin in lib. 4. ca. 11. sect 9. Beza confe cap. 5. sect 32. 42. P. Martyr vpon 10. 13. Bucer vpon Matth. 5. The conclusion Obiections for ciuil of fices in Ecclesiasticall persons The conclusion Suspention warranted by the word being vpon such grouÌ„ds as the word setteth down The conclusion The proofe of the firste proposition The conclusion The proofe of the secoÌ„d proposition Cyprian li. 3. epist. 10. Epist. 14. Epist. 19. Tertul. Apo cap. 39. Augu. lib. 3. cont epist. permen Ierom. ad Demetriad epist. 1. Bucer de regno Christ. lib. 1. cap. 9. P. Martyr in 1. Cor. 5. Caluin in stâ—t lib. 4. cap. 11. se. 6. Cha. 12 se. 6 See Abstract page 165. The conclusion The conclusion of the whol book a Chap. 1. b Cha. 10. and 11. c Chap. 4. d Chap. 7. e Chap. 10. f Chap. 10 g Chap. 1â— h Chap. 13 i Chap. 14. k Chap. 17 l Chap. 18. m Chap. 19
ouer them bring hither and slea them before me Luke 19. 27. The whiche fearefull sentence that we may auoide let euery one of vs ae may stande with our seuerall callings carefully endeuour to aduaunce this kingdome here whiche among other assurances giuen vs from the Lord shalbe a testimonie vnto vs that we shall haue part in that glorie which shalbe reuealed hereafter Nowe concerning the order of this booke to direst thee good Reader vnto thy further instruction in the pointes therof Thou hast in euery chapter diuers proofes out of the holy worde of God whiche must bee the things wherewith thou mayest safely informe thy conscience theÌ„ shalt thou finde also argumentes drawen from reason rightlie ruled by the same word lastly because our aduersaries charg vs that we desire a thing not knowen vnto the olde writers nor agreed vpon among the newe thou hast here the witnes of them both in so plentifull and vniforme wise as may plainly declare that all godly learned men of all times haue giuen testimonie vnto the trueth of it The most of the things that are here expressed I acknowledge to be gathered out of the bookes that haue bin published and are extant purposelie concerning this argument as may appeare in the seuerall points wherein thou art sent vnto them Nowe least eyther thou shouldest bee deceyued with a diuers impression or thinke me to misalleadge the authours I am to shew thee what bookees I haue followed The 1. booke of T. C. twise printed I follow the latter of Ecclesiasticall Discipline I followe the Latine printed 1574. and the last booke of D. Whitgift which containeth all the former in it The rest as I take it haue beene but once printed and therefore carrie no doubt in them If thou be satisfied herewith giue God the glory and promote the cause by prayer all other good means that thy calling may affoord and pray for vs that we may neuer shrinke nor be ouerthrowen by the strength of them that fight against it A Table of Discipline the particular heads whereof are handled in the seuerall Chapters according to the number wherewith they are noted as followeth The Discipline of the Churche is the order that God hath prescribed in his wordâ— for the ruling of the same cap. 1. The offices and officers of whiche are to bee considered in Generall the calling whereunto to wit to A certaine office Chap. 2. Execute his office faithfully Chap. 3. how it muste be by Election whiche must be done by The people chap. 4. Examination chap. 5. Consent onely to a man fit for the place chap. 6. ordination By whom it must be by the eldership Chap. 7. The maner how by publik praier with the people cap. 8. laying on of hands chap. 9. Particular the officers offices Simple by theÌ„selues Bishops Pastours chap. 10. Doctours chap. 11. Deacons or church seruants Ouerseers chap. 12. Distributers chap. 13. Compound the Synode Ecclesiasticall what Be the parties Pastours Doctours and Elders chap. 14. Is the authoritie thereof chap. 15. wherein it consisteth in placing and displacing chap. 16. CeÌ„sures by VVord chap. 17. deed Suspention cap 18. Excommunication cap. 19. A DEMONSTRATION of Discipline CHAP. 1. The diffinition of Discipline containeth this proposition holden by vs. THE worde of God describeth perfectly vnto vs that forme of gouerning the Church which is lawfull and the officers that are to execute the same froÌ„ the which no Christian Churche ought to swarue Admonition in the Preface Ecclesiasticall discipl fol. 5. T. C. first booke pag. 26. Counter-poyson pag. 8 Discourse of gouernment pag. 1. c. The assertion of the BB. and their adherents THe word of God describeth not any exact forme of Discipline neither are the offices and officers namely particularly expressed in the Scriptures but in some points left to the discretion and libertie of the Churche Whitgift in preface and page 84. to the answere to the Abstract pag. 33. The proofe of the former is the disproofe of the latter which is thus declared 1 These things write I vnto thee c. out of which place I reason thus That end which Paul respected in writing vnto Timothie doth the holy ghost direct all Ministers vnto for euer for it must be kept 1. Tim. 6. 14. But he wrote to direct him in the establishing and building of the Church Therefore that worde must direct Ministers for euer and consequently they neither may adde to nor take from it but gouerne it onely by the rules that be there prescribed 2 Euery house ought to be ruled by the orders of the skil full wise and carefull housholder onely But the Churche is the house of God and God is such a housholder Therefore the Churche ought to bee ruled by the orders of God onely which are no where to be had but in his word 3 That which teacheth euery good way teacheth also how the Church must bee gouerned But the worde of God teacheth euerie good way Pro. 2. 9. therefore it teacheth how the Church must be gouerned 4 We cannot glorifie God but by obedience to his word in all that we doe we must glorifie God 1. Cor. 10. 31. Therfore in all that we doe there must be obedience to the word and consequently in gouerning his Church 5 If meate and drinke bee not sanctified vnto vs but by the word and prayer then much lâ—sse is any thing holy which is done in the gouernment of the Church besides the worde But the former is true by the testimonie of the Apostle 1. Tim. 4. 5. therefore the latter must be true also 6 All lawfull things are of faith Rom. 14. 23. All lawfull things that are of faith haue a warrant from the word for the worde is the foundation of faith therefore all things lawfull haue their warrant from the worde and consequently euery lawfull action in the gouernment of the Church 7 Either hath God left a prescript forme of gouernment for the Church vnder the new Testament or he is lesse carefull for it now then hee was vnder the lawe for his care is in guiding it But hee is as carefull nowe for his Church as hee was then Therefore hath hee left a prescript forme to gouerne it 8 Hee that was as faithfull as Moses left as cleare instruction both for the building of faith and gouernment of the Churche as Moses did But Christe was as faithfull in Gods house Heb. 3. 2. therfore he left as cleare instruction for them both as Moses but Moses gaue direction euen for euery particular as appeareth in the building of the Tabernacle and order of the Priesthood Therfore hath Christ also giuen particular direction for the gouernment of the Church 9 If the worde of God haue described sufficient Ministers and Ministeries for the building of the Church and keeping it in good order then is out assertion true But it hath set downe sufficient for doctrine exhortation ouerseeing
distributing and ordering of euery particular Church or generall Synode Therefore is our assertion true 10 That gouernment which the Apostles taught planted is expressed in the word of God But the Apostles taught and planted Pastors and Teachers for instruction Elders for ouersight and Deacons to distribute and that vniformely in euery Churche as appeareth by their writinges and practises Therfore a certaine forme of gouernment is expressed in the worde 11 Euery lawfull office and action in the building of the church is from heauen Mat. 21. 25. 26. Euery thing that is in the ordinarie building from heauen is reuealed in the word Therefore euerie lawfull office and action is reuealed in the worde 12 If God continued in regarde of the substaunce the Church administration as well as the thinges to bee administred then is the forme of Discipline described in the word But the former is true as appeareth by the particulars for Priestes Pastors for teaching Leuites or Doctors of the law Teachers for rulers of the Synagogue Elders for Leuiticall lookers to the treasurie Deacons for the Sanedrim the Eldership therefore the forme of gouernment is prescribed in the worde 13 Euery wise King that is carefull for his subiectes setteth downe lawes for the gouernment of the same and will haue them tyed to none other But Christ is such a King vnto his Church Therefore hath hee prescribed lawes vnto his Church which none therein can alter or disobey and consequently the certaine forme of gouernment of the Church is described in the worde 14 That which the Ministers must teach the people to obserue is set downe in the worde of God for they may teache nothing but that which is there Math. 28. 20. But they are to teach them to obserue and bee obedient vnto the particular forme of the Church gouernment Therefore the particular forme is set downe in the worde 15 Euery gouernment consisteth in the gouernours matter whereabout they are to be imployed and maner of doing it But in the worde are described all these particulars as it is shewed in the ninth reason Therefore the worde prescribeth a prescript forme of gouernment 16 The Christian religion shal find that out of this scripture rules of all doctrine haue sprong and that from hence doth spring and hither doth returne whatsoeuer the Ecclesiasticall discipline doth containe 17 Wee may not giue our selues the libertie to bring in any thing that other men bring of their will we haue the Apostles for authours which themselues brought nothing of their owne will but the Discipline which they receiued of Christ they deliuered faithfully to the people 18 It is adulterous it is sacrilegious whatsoeuer is ordained by humane furie that the diuine dispositon shoulde bee violated Therefore if Timothie was written vnto that he might be directed by the worde in disposing of the Churches if the lawes of God only being the housholder must bee followed in the Church his House if the worde of God teach vs in euerie good way whereof the gouernment of the Churche is one if God must be glorified in the ruling of his Churche which cannot be but by obedience to his worde if nothing be lawfull but that which is of faith warranted by the word if God haue shewed himselfe as carefull for his Church vnder the Gospell as vnder the law if Christ was as faithful to giue direction as Moses if in the worde bee described sufficient Ministers and Ministeries to build vp the Churche if that gouernment which the Apostles taught and practized be in the worde if euery lawfull office and action man ordinarie building be from heauen reuealed thence by the worde if God continued the same forme in respect of the substance in the time of the Gospell that was vnder the laws if euery wise carefull King doe set downe lawes for the direction of his subiects if the Apostles haue taught vs to obey that which Christe commaunded if both the gouernours matter of gouernment and maner of doing it bee set downe in the word if all that pertaineth to Ecclesiastical Discipline spring from the scriptures if wee may bring nothing into the Discipline of the Churche but that which the Apostles haue deliuered vs. Lastly if that bee adulterous and sacrilegious that is not according to the worde then it muste needes followe that God doth describe perfectly vnto vs out of his worde that forme of gouernment which is lawfull the officers that are to execute the same from the which it is not lawfull for any christian Churche to swarue And contrariwise that is a most vntrue assertion to say that the officers and offices are not particularly expressed but left to the discretion of the Churche The reasons that they alleage against this are in effect none and their obiections to these reasons not worthie to bee mentioned CHAP. 2. EVerie officer in the Churche must bee placed in some calling warranted by the word of God and some congregation must haue neede of such a one before hee be called to any function Wherein are these propositions 1 No calling is lawfull in the Churche but that which is directly warraunted out of the worde vnto him that executeth it The BB. and their adherents thinke otherwise as their practise in ordeyning Archbishops L. Bishops Deans Archdeacons Chauncellours Officials c. doth plainly declare 2 The name and office of an Archb. is contrarie to the word of God 3 No man may be ordained vnto any office in the church vntill there be such a place voide as he is fit for T. C. 1. booke page 61. They thinke otherwise as their making of so many Ministers at once prooueth and as is holden Whitgift page 222. 1 The first is prooued thus If Iohn was constrained to prooue his Ministerie out of the scriptures when the Priestes accused him then is no calling lawfull that hath not his warrant in the worde for if any bee priuiledged the extraordinarie Ministers whereof he was one are specially excepted But hee proueth his Ministerie by the worde as appeareth by his answere vnto them in the 23. verse Therefore no calling is lawful in the Church that hath not his warrant in the worde 2 The callinges vnder the Gospell must haue as good warrant as they had vnder the lawe because the light of the Gospell is at the least as cleare as that of the lawe But there was neuer any lawfull calling vnder the law excepting those that were by myraculous manner confirmed from heauen which had not his direct warrant out of the word Therefore no calling is lawfull in the Churche which is not directlie warranted in the worde 3 If Corath Dathan and Abiram thoughe they were Leuites were punished for that they had no warrant for that which they presumed to take in hand then is euerie lawfull calling both in generall warranted out of the word and particularly laid vpon the parties from
the Lorde But the former is true as the Historie teacheth vs Therefore must the latter needes be true also 4 That which giueth comfort vnto a man in the time of his troubles must haue a warrant out of Gods worde But euery lawfull calling giueth comfort vnto a man in the time of his troubles Therefore euerie lawfull calling hath a warrant out of Gods word 5 That which helpeth Gods people forward in godlines must haue a warrant out of Gods worde for God hath promised a blessing to his owne ordinance onlie But euery lawfull calling in the Church helpeth Gods people forwarde in godlines Therefore euerie lawfull calling hath a warrant out of Gods worde Therefore if Iohn did prooue his calling out of the Scriptures if euerie calling vnder the lawe was warranted out of the scriptures if Corath c. were punished for enterprising that which they had no warrant for out of the scriptures if comfort in troubles commeth onely from the scriptures and lastly if euery help to godlines is warranted in the scriptures then c. They confesse all these reasons to bee true but doe denie that the Archbish. lord Bish. c. bee distinct Ministers from others Whitgift pag. 303. which wee hold T. C. 2. booke pag. 438. and proue it thus 1 Those thinges that haue diuers efficient causes are diuers Our BB. and the Ministers of the worde haue diuers efficient causes for the one is the ordinance of God the other the constitution of humane pollicie as themselues doe confesse Therefore they are distinct Ministers from others 2 A diuers forme maketh diuers things the Ministers of the word and the Lord Bishops haue diuers formes for their ordination euen in the Church of England is diuers seeing one Lord Bishop may ordaine a Minister But there must be three to ordaine one of them therefore they are distinct Ministers 3 Members of one diuision are distinct one from another the L. Bishops and ordinarie ministers bee members of one diuision for vsually the Ministers bee diuided into the rulers and them that are to bee ruled therefore they are distinct Ministers 4 The things that haue diuers effects are diuers in them selues one from another the L.BB. and other Ministers haue diuers effects for the one effecteth rule and gouernment the other subiection and obedience Therefore they are diuers and distinct Ministers 5 They that be imployed about diuers thinges are diuers one from another The L.BB. and the ordinarie Ministers be imployed about diuers things for the one is exercised in generall view of many congregations and the other in the particular direction of one Therefore they bee distinct Ministers 6 That which is perpetuall and that which may be taken away by men are distinct one from another The office of the Minister is perpetuall Ephes. 4. 13. and the Bishops may be taken away as themselues doe confesse Therfore they are diuers and distinct Ministers Therfore if the Ministers of the worde and Lord BB. proceede from diuers causes if they haue their being by diuers formes if they be members of one diuision which in nature cannot bee one if they produce diuers effects if they bee exercised about diuers subiectes Lastly if the one bee perpetuall and the other but for a time then must it needes follow that they are diuers and distinct Ministers one from another The name of an Archbishop and also the office that he executeth is contrarie to the worde of God First the reasons that prooue it vnlawful to giue the name vnto any man in the church are these 1 No man may haue the name giuen him which is proper to our Sauiour Iesus Christe But the name of Archbishop is proper vnto our Sauiour Iesus Christe as appeareth in the places quoted therefore no man may haue the name of Archb. giuen vnto him 2 If the name of Pope be therefore odious because of that Antichriste who is intituled therewith then must also the name of Archbishop when it is ascribed vnto any mortall man for so much as it is the title of a speciall member of that kingdome of Antichrist But the former is true euen by their owne confession Whitgift pag. 300. Therefore must the latter be true also But they obiect diuers things against this for the proouing of the name Archb. to bee lawfully giuen vnto some men which together with their answeres doe brieflie followe 1 Obiection Clemens alloweth of those names as Polydor reporteth lib. 4. cap. 12. Answere Polydor is but the reporter and M. Iewel hath prooued euidently against Harding that Clemens is counterfeite and worthie of no credite Obiection Erasmus saith that Titus was an Archbishop Answere He spake as the times were wherein hee liued but that proueth not that he helde him one in deed no more then our naming of the Archbishop of Canterbury when wee speake of him proueth that wee like and allow his authoritie 3 Obiection Anacletus saith that Iames was the first Archbishop of Ierusalem Answere He is forged as our answeres to the Papists haue shewed but a witnes of better credite calleth him only a Bishop Euseb. lib. 2. cap. 23. and Simon bishop after him lib. 3. ca. 22. And Iraen saith lib. 4. ca. 63. that the Apostles ordained Bishops euerie where making no mention of Archbishop 4 Obiection The Councell of Nice Canon 6. mentioneth a Metropolitan Bishop Answere That proueth nothing for it was only as much as to say the Bishop of the chiefe citie Secondly the reasons that prooue the office of the Archbishop vnlawfull be these 1 Euerie Ministerie that is lawfull must be of God The office of the Archbishop is not of God for that he is not described in the worde and them selues confesse that hee is of humane pollicie Therefore the office of the Archbishop is vnlawfull 2 That Ministerie whose originall is vnknowen hath no warrant from Gods worde and consequently is vnlawfull The originall of the Archb. is vnknowne as they confesse Whitegift pag. 351. Therefore it is vnlawfull 3 That office which is needles in the church is also vnlawfull to bee exercised in the same The office of the Archbishop is needlesse for the Ministerie is perfect without it as the Apostle proueth Ephes. 4. 13. Therefore the office of an Archb. is vnlawfull 4 If all the gifts needfull for the prefecting of the church be appropriated vnto other Ministeries then is his Ministerie vnlawfull But all the needefull giftes are appropriated vnto Pastours Doctours Elders and Deacons whereof he is none Therefore his office is vnlawfull 5 That office is vnlawful which none may lawfully giue But none may lawfully bestowe the office of an Archbishop because none can giue any new gifts to adorne him withal Therefore his office is vnlawfull This reason beeing vsed of all founde diuines against the Pope is of the same value against the Archbishop 6 If the office of an Archbishop bee lawefull then it is either in respect of his
excellēcie aboue other men or the place whereof he is aboue other places But neither of these haue euer been neither hereafter can bee Therefore that office is vnlawfull Therefore if the office of the Archbishop be not of God if the originall of it bee vnknowne if in the Churche it be needlesse if all the giftes that God hath bestowed vppon his Ministerie bee appropriated vnto those Church officers whereof he is none if none may lawfully bestowe such an office vpon any if it can neither bee incident vnto any one man for his excellencie nor his place for preheminence then must it needes follow that his office is vnlawfull Caluin in his Institut booke 4. cap. 11. sect 7. alleadgeth diuers reasons to this purpose and Beza in his booke of Diuorcements stretcheth the same to all the inferiour officers vnder him saying Officials Proctours Promotours and all that swinish filth now of long time hath wasted the church So doth Peter Martyr vppon the Rom. 13. speaking against ciuill Iurisdiction in Bishops doth by the same reasons condemne it in their substitutes But this being the corner stone of their building they labour to support it with many props the most speciall wherof are these 1 Obiection Cypran saith lib 1. Epist. ad Cornelium Neither haue heresies and schismes risen of any other occasion then of that that the Priest of God is not obeyed neither one Priest for the time and one Iudge for the time in steede of Christ thought vppon to whome if the whole brotherhood woulde bee obedient according to Gods teaching no man woulde mooue any thing against the Colledge of Priests Answere This place is alleadged for the Pope and the answere that M. Iewel and others make to it serueth our turne onely let this be noted that Cyprian speaketh of the people at Rome that had receiued another Bishop besides Cornelius who was an heretike for all the course of his writings condemneth this superioritie It is expoounded by M. Iewel booke 1. sect 4. diuision 5. of euery Bishop and so is it by M. Nowel against Dorman booke 1. pag. 25. and also by M. Foxe tom 1. fol. 93. See T. C. in his 1. replie page 98. c. 2 Obiection The authoritie of the Archbishop preserueth vnitie Answere Cyprian lib. 4. Epist. 9. saith that vnitie is reserued by the agreement of Bishoppes that is of Ministers one with another 3 Obiection It compoundeth cōtrouersies that els would grow to many heades without any speciall remedie Answere Cyprian lib. 1. Epist. 13. saith that the plentifull bodie and companie of Elders are as it were the glewe of mutuall concord that if any of our company be authour of heresie the rest should helpe 4 Obiection Ierome vppon Tit. 1. saith that in the beginning a Bishop and Priest meaning a teaching Elder were all one but when men began to say I am of Paul I am of Apollo c. It was decreed that one shoulde bee chosen to beare rule ouer the rest Answere From the beginning it was not so the saying of Tertul. contra Prax. is fit for this that is true whatsoeuer is first and that is false whatsoeuer is latter and Ierome saith in the place alleaged that this authoritie is by custome and not by any institution of God if it had been the best waye to take away diuisions the Apostles in whose times the controuersies did arise would haue taken the same order 5 Obiectiō Caluin saith that the Apostles had one among them to gouerne the rest Answere That was not in superioritie but for order to propound the matters gather the voyces such like which is meete to be in euery well ordered meeting but his authoritie is no more ouer the rest then the speaker in the Parliament hath ouer the other knights and Burgesses 6 Obiection Paul was superior to Timothie and Titus Answere Paul and they had diuers offices whereof the Apostles office was the chiefe the like is to bee saide of Timothie and Titus hauing superioritie ouer the other Ministers for that they were Euangelists a degree aboue ordinarie Ministers Therefore if the place alleaged out of Cyprian make nothing for the Archb. if vnitie be not preserued by him but by the Bishops among themselues if his authoritie make nothing to the taking away of controuersies if it bee meerely inuented by man and not from the beginning if it bee by custome and not by any ordinaunce of God if neither one Apostle ouer the rest nor any of them ouer the Euangelistes nor of the Euangelists ouer the Pastours and Teachers will serue to proue their authoritie then must it needes followe that it is vtterly vnlawfull No man may be ordained vnto any office in the Church vntill there be such a place voide as hee is fit for T. C. booke 1. pag. 61. Whitgift pag. 222. 1 As was the 12. place for Matthias so is a certain church to euery Church officer But Matthias was not ordained vnto the place of an Apostle vntill Iudas by hanging himselfe had made it voide Act. 1. 20. Therefore may none be ordained vnto any office in the Church before the place where he may be imployed be destitute of such a one 2 As the Apostles did in planting of the churches so must it be done in the building thereof for euer But they ordeined neither Pastour Teacher Elder or Deacon butto some certaine church that had need thereof Therfore may none be ordained vnto any office vntill a place be voide that hath need of him 3 Those thinges that be of one beginning continuance and ending cannot bee one before or after another But a Minister and the execution of his Ministerie in a lawful standing be so for they be relatiues and haue reference one vnto the other Therfore a Minister ought not to be ordained before there be a Ministerie whereunto he is to be allotted 4 If none ought to be called to be a shepheard that hath no flocke of sheepe to keepe neither any watchman that is not allotted to some place to watch then may none bee ordained to any office before there be a place void for him for Ministers are in this sense tearmed shepheards and watchmen But the former is true as euery simple man can easilie perceiue Therefore the latter is true also 5 To doe contrary to the precepts and practise of the Apostles is vnlawfull But to ordaine any officer without a certaine place wherein he may bee imployed is contrarie to the precepts and practise of the Apostles as it appeareth Tit. 1. 5. Act. 14. 23. Therfore to ordaine any officer of the church without a certaine place whereunto he is to be allotted is vnlawfull 6 It was ordained that no Elder Deacon or any other Ecclesiasticall officer should be ordained a Apolelymenos that is loosely or let at randone but as afterwarde is expounded specially in a Church citie or towne 7 The ordination that is made without a title let
and the latter disprooued by these reasons following 1 As Churchofficers were ordayned in the Apostles time so must they be continually for they did lay the plot according wherevnto the Church must bee built vnto the ende but they were ordayned in the Apostles time by the layinge on of the handes of the Eldershippe Actes 6. 6. and 13. 3. Therefore the Church-officers must be ordained by layinge on of the handes of the Eldership 2 Church-officers must be ordayned by them that haue warrant from the worde to assure the parties ordayned that they are called of God Onely the Eldershippe hath such a warraunt 1. Tim. 4. 14. Therefore they ought to be ordained by the Eldership 3 Many of the sentences alleadged before out of Councells Emperours lawes histories and sounde writers both olde and newe for election not to be by one but by diuers speake also of ordination and so are forcible to this purpose 4 Euagrius came to the office of a Bishoppe vnlawfullie because onely Paulinus ordayned him contrarie to the tenure of many Cannons whiche prouide that they should not be ordained but by all the Bishoppes of the prouince or at the least by three 5 When a Bishop is to be ordayned c. one Bishop shall pronounce the blessing and the rest of the Bishops with the Elders present shall all lay on their handes 6 When a Bishop was to be ordayned the Bishops adioyning did ordayne him Therefore if Church-officers were ordayned in the Apostles time not by one but by the Eldershippe consistinge of manie if they be to ordayne that haue warraunt out of the worde to assure the parties ordayned that they are called of God if ordination by one Bishop be vnlawfull and contrarie to many canons of Councells if the Bishops Elders were to laye on their hands lastlie if the Bishops adioyning were to ordayne then must it needes followe that Church-officers are not to be ordayned by one man but by the laying on of the handes of the Eldership But they fight harde against this because it striketh at a maine pillar of their kingdome their chiefe groundes be these 1 Obiection Paule and Barnabas ordayned Elders where is no mention of any Eldership Aunswere They are saide to ordayne because they being the chiefe procured it so is Ioshua 5. 3. saide to circumcise which was the Leuites office so saye wee The Queene hath made a lawe and yet not she alone maketh any 2 Obiection Though it were so then yet is it not so required nowe no more then the cōmunitie in the Apostles time Answere There was no more communitie then for they that thinke otherwise are in that point Anabaptistes then is to be required now so that instance maketh for vs. 3 Obiection Examples are no generall rules to bee followed Answere Examples not contrarying any rule or reason of the Scripture be to be followed as if they were commaundementes so that notwithstanding any thinge alleadged to the contrarie it remayneth vpon the former groundes most stedfast that it belōgeth to the Eldership to ordayne those church officers that are to be imployed in the publike seruice of god CHAP. 8. THE ordayning of Church-officers must be done with humble prayer of the Eldership the congregation Discipl Ecclesiast fol. 50. Their vnreuerent beginning and proceeding therewith in a corner is contrarie to this whiche is condemned by the proofe of our assertion by these reasons 1 We are to behaue our selues in these actions as they by whom we haue direction to doe them haue set vs an example But the Apostles Elders when they ordayned church-officers did alwayes commende the action to God by prayer togither with those congregations ouer whiche they placed them Actes 6. 6. and 14. 23. Therefore the ordayninge of Church-officers must bee done by humble prayer of the Eldership and congregation 2 The greater the action is that is in hande the more carefull must they be that haue it in hande to humble them selues by prayer for the Lordes assistance therein but the ordayning of Church-officers is an action of moste weightie importance Therefore they that haue it in hande which be the Eldershipp to ordaine him and congregation to receyue him ought to humble them selues in earnest prayer before hande 3 They that shall haue part in the comfort or discomfort of the action are to ioyne togither in prayer vnto GOD for the better euent and against the worse But the Eldershippe and people shall both haue part in the euent of the action Therefore they are to ioyne togither in humble prayer before hande c. CHAP. 9. CHurch-officers must bee ordayned by layinge on of handes in this they agree with vs concerning the ceremonie it selfe albeit neyther in the parties by whō nor on whom it must be conferred The profit of this ceremonie appeareth in the reasons following 1 That which stirreth vp euerie partie to pray with more feruencie is profitable to be vsed But such is this ceremonie for it affecteth the ordeyners when they feele him for whom they pray and the ordeyned when he feeleth a calling and charge from God as it were sensiblie comming vppon him and the congregation when they see him separated frō the rest by whom they shall reape much comfort or griefe Therefore the vse of it is very profitable 2 That which helpeth forward the partie ordayned in his care to walke with a good conscience in his calling is profitable to be vsed Such is the imposition of handes for both it declareth vnto him that he is separated of God for that purpose and also giueth him hope that his hande who allotted him therevnto will alwayes assist him in the course of that calling Therefore it is of a profitable vse 3 That which worketh a more acknowledgment of Gods ordinance in the heartes of the people is profitable to be vsed Such is the layinge on of handes for it declareth vnto them that the Lorde hath placed him in that callinge ouer them Therefore it is profitable to be vsed Therefore seeing the ceremonie of the laying on handes is forcible to increase the feruencie of euery partie when they pray seeing it assureth the callinge to the partie ordayned and giueth him an argument of good hope for the blessing of God vpon him in the course of the same and seeinge it procureth a more perswasion in the people that hee is allotted vnto them from the Lord him selfe it is euident that it is not a vaine and idle ceremonie as many doe imagine but of good and profitable vse in all ordinations CHAP. 10. THe Lorde hath ordayned that there should be one Bishopp or Pastor at the least president ouer euery congregation who are of equal authoritie in their seueral charges and in the generall gouernement of the Church T. C. 1. booke page 22. and 2. booke 1. part page 515. They mainteyne contrarie vnto this these two 1 That one may haue two or moe charges
23. which can not be vnderstoode of preachinge Elders onelie considering that the scarcitie of them was such as Paule was constrayned to sende Timothie and Titus to great cities whiche he could hardlie spare as hee often testifieth Therefore there ought to be such Elders as are onely to assiste in gouuernement in euery congregation 2 Those which God hath ordayned to helpe forwarde the building of the Church ought to bee in euery congregation vnles it may appeare that some cōgregation needeth not so much helpe as Christ hath appointed But Christ hath ordained Elders in the Church for the helping forwarde of the building of the Church 1. Cor. 12. 28. Therefore such Elders ought to be in euery congregation 3 That whiche being wanting the bodie can not be entiere that same must be in euery congregation But the Elders can not be wanting and the church be an entiere body Rom. 12. 8. which euery congregation should be Rom. 12. 4. Therefore there ought to bee such Elders in euerie congregation 5 If the worde of God doe describe such Elders in the church then ought they to bee in euerie congregation whiche is cleare by this that euery Congregation hath neede of them as well as any and that euery congregation must haue all the other officers of the church and that euery congregation is of equall dignitie in the bodie of Christ But the word of God describeth vnto vs such Elders 1. Ti. 5. 17. Therfore they ought to be in euery congregation 5 There is no Church that can stande without hir Eldership or Councell 6 It belongeth onely to the Bishop to baptize and the Elder Deacon may not doe it but vpon the bishops licence 7 Neither Elder nor Deacon haue right but vppon the Bishops commaundement so much as to baptize 8 Elders fell awaye thorough the ambition of the teachers 9 Valerius the bishop did contrarie to the custome of the Apostolicall churches in appointing Augustin to preach being but an Elder 10 After that Arrius was conuicted of heresie it was decreed that Elders should no more preache 11 The number of the Elders of euery Church ought to be encreased according to the multitude of the people 12 Speaking of the Elders that were to assist the minister he lamenteth that it is so fallen out of the church that the name doeth scarse remaine 13 Certaine of the people were ioyned with the pastour in the gouernement of the Church because the pastour was not able to doe all him selfe 14 There were Elders that did assist the Minister in the gouernement of the church c. 15 Whitgift confesseth that in the primitiue Churche they had in euery Church certaine Seniors pag. 638. Lett it then appeare out of the worde to satisfie the conscience how it may be left out 16 If the platforme set downe to Timothie and Titus bee for all Churches then must Elders be in all for these Elders are there described But it is a platforme for all Churches that to the ende of the worlde 1. Tim. 6. 14. Therefore they ought to be in euery congregation 17 That which is contayned in euery Ministers commission to teache and practise must be in euerie congregation but the ordination and practize of that office is in euery ministers commission Matth. 28. 20. or els they ordayned Elders without warrant from Christ which none dare affirme Therefore there must be Elders in euery congregation 18 Wheresoeuer a Bishop must be there must also the Elders be which appeareth by this that where the one is described there is the other also But a Bishoppe must be in euery congregation as I haue prooued sufficiently in the 10. chap. Therefore there ought to be Elders in euery congregation 19 If the Apostles laboured for vniformitie in the least things and established in all Churches one order then must there bee Elders in euery Congregation for they were in some as all men doe confesse But the former is true as not onely the viewe of their practize declareth but also the Apostles expresse wordes Thus I teache in all Churches Therefore the latter is true also that in euery Congregation there must be such Elders Therefore if the Apostles established Elders in euery congregation if Christ hath esteemed their helpe needefull to further the building of his Church if without them a congregation can not be entiere if the worde of God saye that they ought to be in the Church if it was continued so long after the Apostles time and bee approoued by the testimonie of manie verie learned both old newe writers confessed by the greatest aduersarie vnto them if they bee within the compasse of euerie ministers commission if they are to bee wheresoeuer a Bishop must be if the Apostles established vniformitie euen in the meanest things then must it needes followe that there ought to be such Elders in euery congregation as are to assiste the Minister in the gouuernement of the same They confesse it was so in the Apostles time but seeme to saye somewhat that it can not be vnder a christian Magistrate thus 1 Obiection God hath giuen the soueraigne authoritie ouer his Church to the christian Magistrate which these Elders would abridge Answere No more then the Eldership abridged the souueraingrie of Dauid oner Israell for his gouernement is temporall and theirs spirituall 2 Obiection Gualter vpon the 1. Cor. 5. denieth it to bee needfull vnder a christian Magistrate Answere Gualter denieth excommunication vnder a christian Magistrate hee is as partiall in this argument as Whitgift 3 Obiection The Prince hath the authoritie that the Elders had Answere That is no truer then to saye the Prince hath authoritie to preache the worde c. for these be thinges that his high authoritie must see done but he may doe none of them him selfe But there be many reasons which may bee alleadged to prooue that they are at the least as necessarie vnder a christian Magistrate in these dayes as they were in the time of the Apostles as namely these 1 The lesse able that Ministers are to direct their people in the wayes of godlines the more neede they haue of the assistaunce that God hath allowed them in his worde But Ministers are nowe lesse able especially vnder Christian Magistrates when men are ouertaken with ease and peace whiche quench good things then they were in the time of the Apostles Therefore there is as great if not greater neede of Elders nowe then was in the time of the Apostles 2 If christian Magistrates be to maintayne the order that Christ hath set downe for the gouernement of his Churche then must there be Elders in it vnder a christian Magistrate for Elders are appoynted of Christ 1. Cor. 12. 8. But christian Magistrates are to maintaine the order that Christ hath sette downe for the ruling of his Church Isai 49. 23. Therefore there must be Elders in the church vnder a
bee poore reprocheth God that made them Prou. 17. 5. 3 Obiection It ouerburdeneth the parrishe to prouide for the nourishment of so many church-officers Answere It is not necessarie that they should prouide for any moe of them sauinge those that are exercised in the ministerie of the worde vnlesse any of the rest may neede the liberalitie of the Church 4 Obiection It bringeth in a newe popedome and tyrannie into the Church Answere It is blasphemie to tearme the gouernement of Christ so because we refuse the tyranny of the pope shall we therefore doe what we list and not yeelde obedience to the scepter of Christ. 5 Obiection It is a kinde of Donatisme to chalenge such authoritie ouer Princes Answere And it is flatterie to suffer princes to doe what they liste this is the obiection of Gualter who is a professed enemie to discipline 6 Obiection It taketh away princes authoritie in causes Ecclesiasticall Answere No more then it did from Dauid in his time not so much as the Bb. doe nowe for the prince requireth but this to see the Church well ordered which the Eldership alloweth and craueth 7 Obiection It transformeth the state of the common wealth into a meere popularitie and will alter the gouernement thereof Answere It neyther transformeth nor altereth any thing in it for let it be shewed what damage would come by this discipline to any Magistracie from the Princes throne to the office of the headborow 8 Obiection It will breede contention and partialitie in iudgement Answere Where can be greater contention then the Bb. maintaine for their kingdome or greater partialitie then in them to their kins folkes seruauntes Sycophants c. 9 Obiection It will bee contemned and so good order neglected Answere None euer deserued more contempt then the Bb. and their officers doe for all their pompe but God whose ordinance it is will procure sufficient awe vnto it marke howe these obiections stande togither in the 4. it was tyrannie and here it is too contemptible these be contrary 10 Obiection All alterations be daungerous Answere Neuer where we change from the obedience of Antichrist to the seruice 〈◊〉 the liuinge God was it euer daungerous to amende thiâ—â—amisâ—e by that course whiche is described of God if it were let the particular of it appeare this might well haue bin Steuen Gardiners reason for poperie in the time of King Henrie the eight The Church must be gouerned onely by the rules of gods worde this is in effect the proposition of the first chap. whervnto all those reasons there alleadged may be referred there is aduouched generally the certayne groundes of the whole Discipline against the imagined libertie left to the Church here is affirmed the particular direction of the Church gouuernement by the authoritie of the Eldershipp to proceede according to the rules of Gods reuealed will and not by that cursed and monstrous cannon lawe which is made manifest vnto vs by these reasons 1 All gouernours are to execute their authoritie by the same warrant from which they haue it But the gouernours of the Church of God haue their warrant to bee gouernours onelie from the worde 1. Cor. 12. 28. Therefore they must gouerne the church onely by the worde 2 The Church is to be gouerned by that which the Ministers may teache vnto the same for they are taught to the ende that they may obey and so be gouerned by the same But the Ministers may teache nothing but the worde of God 1. Cor. 11. 23. Therefore the church is to be gouerned onely by the worde of God 3 That which maketh the Church obedient vnto Christ must be the direction whereby it is to be gouerned Only the worde of God maketh the church obedient vnto Christe Therefore it is to be gouerned by the rules of Gods word 4 Euery kingdome or housholde must be gouerned onlie by the lawes of the King or orders of the housholder The Church is the kingdome and house of God and his worde is the onely lawe that he hath giuen for the same Therefore it must be gouerned onely by the worde of God 5 That which was ordayned to destroy the church of god can not be a good rule to gouerne the same by But such is the canon lawe for it was ordayned to strengthen the kingdome of Antichrist Abstract Therefore it can not bee a good rule to direct the church by and consequentlie it must be gouerned by the worde for no other rule is offered vnto vs but the one of these twaine 6 That whiche was inuented by the Dragon that persecuteth the woman and her childe that same cannot be good for the Church which is that woman But such is the cannon lawe for it was inuented by Antichrist whiche is that Dragon Therefore it can not be good for the rulinge of the church and consequentlie c. 7 That which strengtheneth the power of darkenes and ignorance can not be good to guide them that must walke in light and knowledge But the cannon lawe strengtheneth the power of darknes and ignorance for it increaseth poperie as appeareth by this that there is scarce an officer towards it in these dayes of knowledge but he is a papist Therefore it cannot be good to guide the church of God 8 That which destroyeth the church of God can not bee good to rule the same But the cannon lawe destroyeth it for it crosseth euery faithfull Minister in the discharge of his duetie and euery good christian walking in the wayes of godlines and nippeth in the head euery good action as experience teacheth vs Therefore it cannot be a good rule to gouuerne the church by 9 That which hath bredd moe trayterous papistes in England then the Seminaries at Rome and Rhemes that same can not be good to gouerne the church of God But such is the cannon lawe for it hath kept out Discipline nourished ignorance and fostered superstition and poperie in all estates of people that neuer came at those Seminaries Therefore it can not bee a good rule to gouuerne the Church of God by 10 That which nourished the hope of Antichrist to return hither againe can not bee good to direct in the gouernment of the church But such is the cannon lawe for it keepeth the cages for those vncleane birdes as Archb. and L. Bb. seas Arches Cathedrall churches c. Therefore it can not bee a good rule for the direction of the church 11 That which all the Churches haue cast off as vnfit for the gouernement of the Church can not bee good for the same But all the churches that haue forsaken the pope yea they that haue not receyued the discipline of Christ wholie haue cast off the cannon lawe Therefore it can not bee good for the same 12 Yea we our selues mislike it as appeareth by a statute made vnder Ed. 6. Therefore if gouernours are to rule by the same authoritie whereby they are gouernours if the Church must be gouerned by
the Church be more then any one can perfectlie discharge if the Apostles founde them selues vnfit for two offices of like nature if we iustlie reprooue the papistes for their two swordes if a Magistrate may not preache if they may not meddle with worldlie offices nor be tutours to Orphans but attende onely vnto the ministerie of the worde c. if they may neither vsurpe nor take being offered any ciuill office if they be to be distinguished to seueral persons or els one hindereth the other lastlie if none bee able to execute both then must it needes followe that Ecclesiasticall officers may not beare ciuill offices and consequentlie the office of the church-gouernement is meere Ecclesiasticall Their obiections herevnto be these 1 Obiection It countenanceth and maintayneth religion to haue ciuill authoritie Answere It is in deede the papistes reason for their two swordes which M. Caluin confuteth Institut booke 4. cap. 11. sect 9. 2 Obiction It is good to punish vice by corporall punishment that Gods worde may be the better obeyed Answere It is good to preache Gods worde to men that they may obey their Prince for conscience sake may the Magistrate therefore preache we may not doe euery thing that is good but onely that which is agreeable to our callings 3 Obiection Eli and Samuel were both Priests Iudges Answere They were extraordinarie for God separated those two offices in Moses and gaue the one vnto Aaron so was Eliahs killing of the false prophetes Christes whipping of the buyers and sellers out of the Temple 4 Obiection Peter killed Ananias therefore Bishops may haue prisons Answere It was by his worde onely and not by any ciuill punishement if they can doe the like Peters example will serue their turnes if not then must it bee with the former extraordinarie CHAP. 16. THe placing and displacing of Church-officers appertayneth vnto the Eldership This is prooued in the 7. chap. and their obiections are there aunswered for the first part which is the placing but the latter part is to be cleared by some moe reasons because the Bishops doe displace the best Ministers at their pleasure which is prooued to be a most wicked action by these reasons 1 Those that are called vnto the ministerie by the Lorde from heauen and out wardlie by the meanes of men so long as they are blameles in doctrine and conuersation 1. Tim. 3. 10. can not be displaced without hainous wickednes against the manifest will of God But such are the Ministers that the Bishops doe daily displace as they confesse them selues when euen in their sermons they iustifie their doctrine in saying that they differ onely in outwarde rites and as their greatest enimies will saye when they are asked of such mens liues Therefore they can not bee displaced without great wickednes 2 Those that are carefull to discharge the duetie of Gods Ministers both in teaching and giuinge example to their flockes can not be displaced without great impietie Such are these Ministers that are daily displaced as appeareth by this that they preache more diligentlie then any other and that they followe not the course of the worlde in adding liuing vnot liuing but many of them being as woorthie for their giftes as the worthiest liue poorelie rather then they will want the comfort of a good conscience Therefore they can not be put to silence without great sinne 3 To depriue Gods people of their spirituall comfort is a grieuous and horrible wickednes To put such to silence as are before mentioned is to depriue Gods people of their spirituall comfort which if anie man will denie all the godlie where such a one dwelleth shall tell him hee lyeth Therefore to displace such Ministers is a haynous and horrible wickednes 4 That which giueth occasion to the weake to stumble fall away from the Gospell is a haynous and horrible sinne But such is the displacing of those Ministers as appeareth by this that many doubt whether that which he hath taught be true whom the professors of the Gospell doe displace and by this that many who had made good beginnings by the discontinuance of their Teachers doe fall away Therefore to displace those Ministers is a haynous and horrible sinne 5 Those whose labours God doeth blesse can not bee displaced without fighting against God and consequentlie great impietie But such are the Ministers that the Bb. doe daily displace as all that loue the Gospell in euery countrie can witnes Therefore to displace them is great impietie 6 That action whiche giueth the common enimie iust cause to reioyce and hope to get the victorie is a haynous horrible offence But such is the displacing of those Ministers as appeareth in euery countrie where such Ministers are displaced and such enemies doe dwell Therefore to displace such is a haynous and horrible offence 7 That action that causeth the doers thereof to bee esteemed enimies to the Gospell must needes be a haynous sinne But such is the putting of those Ministers to silence for it maketh the people that haue any loue to religion thinke that they are not of God in so doing for say they hee that loueth Christ can not crosse the course of the Gospell as these men doe Therefore the displacing of them is a haynous sinne 8 That which letteth in more wickednes at once then the diligent preaching of the worde could driue out in diuers yeares must needes be a haynous sinne But such is the displacing of these Ministers for prophaning of the Saboth and all disorder commeth into a congregation the same day that such a Minister that hath long laboured against it is displaced as experience in such places prooueth Therefore to displace such ministers is a haynous sinne 9 That which interrupteth the course of the Gospel without warraunt eyther from Gods worde or the lawes of the lande is a haynous and horrible sinne Such is the displacing of those Ministers as is prooued in all the writinges on our side and lastlie in the answere to D. Bridges therefore to displace such Ministers is a haynous and horrible sinne Therefore if the Ministers that be vsuallie displaced bee called of God if they discharge the duetie of good ministers both in doctrine and life if the displacing of them be to depriue Gods people of their spirituall comfort if it giue occasion to some to doubt of the Gospell and to fall away if God giue a blessing vnto their labours if the displacing of them giue the enimie matter to reioyce and hope to ouercome if it cause the displacers to be esteemed enimies to the Gospell if it let in more wickednesse in one day then preachinge can throwe out in many yeeres if it interrupte the course of the Gospell without warrant eyther from the worde of God or lawes of the lande then must it needes followe that the displacing of those Ministers is a most haynous and horrible sinne against the Lord. CHAP. 17. THe Eldership is to
togither 1. Cor. 5. 5. Therefore it may not be done by one man 3 That which hath neede of greatest aduice and greatest authoritie may not be done by one man but such is the matter of excommunication being the denouncinge of that against a man which he will most hardlie beleeue and beinge the waightiest point of discipline Therefore it may not bee done by one man 4 Those must excommunicate that are to deale in the other partes of Discipline as shall appeare in the reasons following and as I thinke no man will denie But the other partes of Discipline are exercised not by one but by the Churh as hath bene prooued Therefore not one but the Church is to excommunicate 5 As it was ministred among the Iewes so must it be in the Church for euer which appeareth by this that it is translated vnto vs from them as the Greeke word Synedrion being by a corrupt imitation called Sanedrim by the Rabbins doeth import and had nothing ceremoniall in it But it was executed among them by the Church and not any one Ioh. 9. 22. Therefore the Church is to excommunicate and not one man 6 Cyprian sayeth he would neuer doe any thing in his charge without the counsell of his Elders and coÌ„sent of the people 7 The Elders and other Church-officers haue as well power to absolue as the Bishop 8 For so much as absolution belongeth vnto all I alone dare not doe it 9 If there be any that haue committed such a fault that he is to be put away from the partaking of the prayers of the Church c. There doe beare rule certayne of the most approoued auncients or Elders of the Church which haue obtayned this honor not by money but by good report 10 It helpeth much to make the party more ashamed that he be excommunicated by the whole church also in his bookes of Baptisme against the Donatists often 11 The Elders haue interest in other censures of the Church and the Church it selfe in excommunication 12 S. Paule accuseth the Corinthians for that the whole Church had not excommunicated the incestuous person 13 The Elders had the gouuernement in excommunication 14 It is very daungerous to permit so waightie a matter to one man and therefore that tyrannie may be auoyded this censure executed with greater fruite and grauitie the order that the Apostle there vseth is still to be obserued 15 Hee sheweth that it partayneth not to one man that it is a wicked fact that one should take the authoritie to him selfe that is common to others that it openeth a way to tyrannie taketh from the Church their right and abrogateth the Ecclesiasticall senate ordayned by Iesus Christ. 16 The Bishops when they excommunicated of themselues alone did it ambitiouslie contrarie to the decrees of godly cannons See Bucer against Gropper and vpon Ephes. 4. De animicura also Zuinglius in Ecclesiast 17 It is plentifullie forbidden euen by that filthie puddle the cannon lawe and therefore it must needes bee a haynous sinne when it findeth faulte with it Therefore if excommunication be to be executed by the commaundement of Christ of the Church if S. Paule enioyned it vnto the church if it haue neede of greatest aduice and authoritie if it belong to them that may execute the other partes of Discipline if it was so executed amonge the Iewes if to absolue be as well in the Elders power as the Bishops if Cyprian durst not doe it alone if it was the action in Tertullians time of the most approoued Elders if to bee by the whole church helpeth much to make the partie more ashamed if the whole church haue interest in it if the whole Church at Corinth was reprooued for not doing it if it bee to waightie a matter for one man if the executing of it by one ouerturneth the order appointed by Christ bringeth in tyrannie maintayneth ambition and lastlie be forbidden by the cannon lawe it selfe then must it needes followe that it belongeth not vnto one man to excommunicate but vnto the Eldershippe and that with the consent of the whole Church Their obiections herevnto in defence of their owne practise be these 1 Obiection The right of excommunication was in Saint Paule and not in the rest Answere He gaue onely direction in that as in all other matters which he wrote of vnto them but if they had not throwne out the incestuous person he had remayned still vnexcommunicated for all that which S. Paul had sayde vnto them 2 Obiection Christ gaue Peter and euery Apostle power to binde and lose in earth and in heauen which interpreters expounde by Matth. 18. 15. Answere That power was of denouncing Gods iudgements or pronouncing his mercie in preaching and not of this action they are expounded one by another because of the ratifying of them both in heauen alike 3 Obiection Paule did excommunicate Hymeneus and Philetus Answere That is being moderator of the action he pronounced it not that he did it alone The same aunswere is to be made vnto the Fathers as Ambrose c. who are saide to excommunicate Therfore vpon these grounds of Scriptures Fathers CouÌ„cels Emperours Lawes Histories newe Writers and cleare light of reason I conclude that Christ hath prescribed vnto vs an exacte and perfect platforme of gouerninge his Church at all times and in all places which is this that there ought to be no ministers of the worde but Pastours Teachers whiche are to be called by the people and ordained by the Eldership are of equal authoritie in their seuerall congregations must with all faithfull diligence imploye theâ—selues in the ministerie of the worde and Sacramentes that there are to bee in euery Congregation certaine Elders whose office is to ouersee the behauiour of the people and assist their pastour in the gouernement of the Church also Deacons who are to be imployed only in receyuing and bestowing the liberalitie and goods of the Church to the reliefe of the poore and other necessarie vses Lastlie that there must be in euery Congregation an Eldership of Pastour Teacher if they can haue any and Elders who are in common to see that the Church bee well gouerned not onely in maintayning the profession and practize of the worde in generall but also in admonishing reprehending or separatinge from the Lordes Supper them that walke offensiuely and lastlie in excommunicating them that by no other meanes can bee reclaimed So that all and euery gouernement contrarie or besides this whether in parte or in whole swarueth froÌ„ that order which Christ hath set downe in his worde and therefore is vnlawfull FINIS Omnia tum liceant non licet esse bonum 1. Tim. 3. 14. 15. Pro. 2. 9. 1. Cor. 10. 11. 1. Tim. 4. 5. Rom. 14. 23. Heb. 3. 2. Rom. 12. 5. 6. 7. 1. Co. 12. 28 Ephe. 4. 11. c. See