reuerenced and obeyed yet this is to be noted that this authority doth not stretch it selfe to any Churches saue only to those which ioyne themselues together in this kinde of gouernment or rather in this subiection And therefore a councell which is gathered out of all the Churches of some countrie or parte of the world cannot impose lawes vpon the Churches of other countries yea if in an oecumenicall councell any one Church should refuse to ioyne it selfe with the rest the lawes of that councell should not builde that one Church for councels haue no authoritie but ouer those Churches from the which they haue authority Sect. 2. Of whom councels may and ought to consist SEcondly we are to see of whom these councels ought to consist the answere is of men whom the common consent of the Churches ioyned together vnder this common gouernment doth in respect of the excellencie of their giftes to wit of zeale godlines wisdom learning experience faithfulnesse boldnesse diligence and such other graces requisite in this behalfe iudge fit for this purpose Here we haue two questions to answere The first is whether that any besides the ministers of the word ought to be of these councels the second is whether that a councell may conueniently consist wholly of those who are not ministers of the word For answere of both these questions we confesse that the ministers ought to be accounted most fit to be admitted into consultation of these waighty matters for that they ought not only to know the state and condition of the particular churches better the any other it being their calling and office to looke vnto them but also to be endued with more excellent giftes then are to be expected vsually in others yet these councels may lawfully according to the word of god coÌ„sist of others Yea the constitutions or decrees of such councels are no lesse to haue the force reuerence and obedience of ecclesiasticall lawes then if they had been made by a councell consisting wholly of ministers For it is in the power of the Churches which do consociatâ— themselues in this manner to delegate their authority to whom they will of what calling or condition soeuer he be For although the knowledge and care of the state of the Church and all other graces haue in corrupt times bene appropriated to the ministers the people being accounted ignorant and prophane idoles neither able nor worthy to deale with ecclesiasticall matters much lesse to iudge deterâ—ine and aduise of mattâ—rs of great importance yet we learne out of the worde and see it ratified by experience that the spirite of GOD and all spirituall graces do as well belong and are as often as plentifully yea some times in greater measure granted to other Christians then to the ministers of the word So that the ministers of the worde cannot challenge to themselues authority and abilitie to be the only doers in this action but must admitte into their company and consultation those of the people that are iudged fitte for this purpose yea although there be a sufficient nomber of ministers able to performe whatsoeuer is required in this behalfe yet it is diuers waies inconuenient that councels shoulde consist wholly of them For first we knowe that a great parte of these lawes do concerne the ministers themselues and the performance of their duties and functions wherein if there be any generall negligence want or ouersight and errour which is no straunge thing as they knowe who are acquainted with the histories and state of the Church who shal lay open the faulte make lawes for the redressing of it For although it may be supposed that they wil doe it of their owne accord yet it standeth not with their wisdome who haue the choosing of fit men for these councels to commit the matter wholly to them especially whenas the amending of the errour is against the credite commoditie or ease of the ministers yea it is not agreeable to any reason that they should appoint to themselues the duties and worke which they ought to doe and correct whatsoeuer is amisse therein for we know that most of all those corruptions wherewith the Church hath bene polluted and defaced these many ages haue bene both brougâ—t in and continued by the meanes of these councels consisting of ministers onely Besides this reiecting of the whole Church as vnfit to aduise any thing for their owne good is both iniurious to God who especially in this time of the Gospell poureth foorth his spirite with a full and indifferent hand on all his seruants that call vpon him so that his graces bestowed on the Church are as the oyntment which being poured vpon Aarons head ran downe euen to the skirtes of his garments and also reprochfull to the Church as being destitute of all spirituall wisdome and vnderstanding Lastly the excluding of all the people from councels maketh the lawes enacted by them to be vnwillingly receaued for that the ministers taking all the authoritie into their own handes doe easely incurre the suspition of tirannizing ouer the Church whereas the lawes would be readely obeyed without murmuring or repining if that some of the people had a hand in the making of them As touching the second question although a councell gathered about ecclesiasticall matters might lawfully consist wholly of those who are not ministers of the word yet it is seldome conuenient that this shoulde be put in practise for first the ordinary authority wherewith the ministers are endued in that they are the teachers and gouerners of the people although it be not sufficient to make lawes yet it requireth that they shoulde vsually beare the greatest sway in making those humane lawes whereby the Church should be gouerned yea by this meanes it commeth to passe that the lawes haue greater force and authoritie among the people then when they come from men otherwise meerly priuate Yea the state of many Churches is so that fewe men of other callings besides the ministers of the word giue themselues to the studie of the word of God or haue sufficient knowledge for this purpose thinking that it doth belong to ministers onely to know the manner of the worshippe of God and of the gouernment of his Church And if we doe suppose a flourishing state of a Church wherein knowledge doth abound not onely in the ministers but also among the people so as they are able to giue a sounde iudgement and good aduise in these waightie matters yet the ministers ought not to be excluded for if the people doe abound with knowledge it is like yea necessarie that the ministers be much more filled with all spirituall vnderstanding and wisedome yea it is seldom seene that others know the state of the Church and of the people which in making these lawes is chiefly to be regarded so wel as the ministers do who are coÌ„tinually exercised in looking vnto theÌ„ Sect. 3. Of the necessarie coniunction of particular Churches vnder the gouernment
many and so to conclude this point and specially the first edict which the first king made and that by the immediate motion of the spirit of God because this is most for the purpose of the matter in hand We read 1. Sam. 11.17 that whenas Saule was to call the people together to battaile he gaue foorth such a peremptorie commaundement as neuer any of the Iudges or Elders did For taking a couple of oxen and deuiding them into peeces he sent them to all partes of the land with this message that whosoeuer did not follow him to battaile so shoulde it be done to his oxen Whereupon the people came roundly as one man for that as the text noteth the feare of the Lord that is of this greate power which the Lord had giuen to the king fell vpon them Saule might haue said with Dauid I am yet a tender and newe king and haue many enemies wherefore it is not meete that I shoulde exasperate the people by threarning them but it was the will of God that the people shoulde see in the beginning to what a kinde of power they had â—â—â—mitted themselues Sect. XII THus much of the power or authority of this kingdome the second part of the doctrine of it is the maiesty of it the fundamental lawes of the kingdom belonging therunto The maiesty of the kingdom is the great glorie and excellency wherein it far passeth other kindes of gouernment and for the which it is much more highly esteemed It was procured by these meanes First by that exceeding great power wherof we haue spoken for whereas the whole administration of all thinges is in the handes of one there the good estate of all men publikely and of euery one particularly doth depend on him whereby it commeth to passe that all mens eyes are set on him yea all men doe honour praise and admire him in whom they see great authoritie and riches and whose wisedome is more conspicuous then any others besides Secondly this kingdome was maiesticall by the first originall of it which it had not from man but from God This law is written Deut. 17.14 When thou hast possessed the land and sayest I will haue a king to raigne ouer me thou shalt make him king whome the Lord thy God shall choose and so the euent proued for the state of this kingdome in generall came from the people to whome also it belonged solemnly to acknowledge him whom God did appoint but the nomination of the particular man on whom this honour should be bestowed came from God who appointed first Saul with his posterity and afterwardes Saul being reiected Dauid and his seed By the which meanes God did choose all the kinges in Israel although he did immediately by his owne voyce onely appoint the first three to wit Saule Dauid and Salomon For euen as the fire wherewith the sacrifices were burnt although it were nourished euerie day by the priest putting fresh wood vnto it and so preserued by the same meanes wherby other fire is kept yet be cause at the first it came downe from heauen miraculously was therfore counted holy and wonderfull euen so was this kingdom because at the first it came from God although afterwardes it were continued by naturall and ordinarie propagation Hence it is that this kingdom is called the kingdome of Iehoua 2. Chro. 13.8 The badge and seale of this diuine originall of this kingdome was that holie vnction whereby these kinges were by the prophets of God solemnly in the name of God inaugurated and therefore the signe being put for the thing signified this annointing betokeneth the holinesse of it insomuch that when the king of Israell is as it were to be painted forth in the natiue colours of his maiestie he is called the annointed of the Lorde Thus 1. Sam. 24.7 God forbid saith Dauid that I should lay my handes on Saule seeing he is the annoynted one of GOD. And 2. Samuell 1.14 hee saith to him who had helpt kinge Saule to kill himselfe Howe was it that thou diddest not feare to put out thy hande to kill the Lordes annoynted The third lawe tending to the maiestie of this kingdome was that it was not any vncertaine and moueable state but constant and fixed in one place it was tyed first to one tribe namely to the tribe of Iuda that by God speaking by the mouth of Iacob the first founder of this nation for in his sonnes it began to be deuided into many tribes and families and so came into the forme of a people the prophesie iâ— written Gen. 49. The rod shall not depart from Iuda nor a law giuer c. Secondly it was tyed to one and the same familie to wit to the house of Dauid for euer and went by hereditarie right and succession in lineall discent so that continually the sonne succeeded the father The which lawe although it was established in the like gouernementes in other places yet it coulde seldome take place for any long time by reason of the want of right successours But it was heere kept in continuall force and that by the marueilous prouidence of God who as he promised did alwaies giue to Dauid his seruaunt a sonne of his owne loynes to sitte vpon his throne The which prouidence of GOD may especially be noted in the straunge preseruation of Ioas from the cruell handes of that monster Athalia 2. King 11.3 By this meanes it came to passe that this kingdom was both naturall and in processe of time ancient yea after a sort immortall For the first we need not doubt but that there was an exceeding great loue and reuerence of this king wrought in the mindes of the people whenas they sawe that he had not obtained that place by ambition faction force of armes or any other sinister or violent meanes but was euen borne vnto them and by nature or rather by God the ruler and desposer of all naturall causes appointed and distinated to that calling Yea also in time by this hereditarie succession the kingdome became of great antiquitie which addeth much to the maiestie of meane thinges much more to those which in many other respectes are excellent Euen as men doe ascribe a kinde noâ— onely of reuerence but euen of religion to okes and other trees which haue a long time kept their standing for so in continuance of time they take so deepe roote and gather such strength as that they cannot be moued whereas at the first they may easely be shaken downe so kingdoms continuing long in the same stocke become firme and maiesticall whereas being often transplanted they are weake and contemptible and doe often fall euen in the beginning Thus fell Abimelech his kingdome and euen this kingdome was sore shaken in the defection of the ten tribes because the memory of Ierobaal grandfather to Abimelech a priuate and base man and of Isai the father of Dauid was not cleane worne away and therefore they said
the first lay vpon them that straight and perfect kinde of discipline which afterwardes they vse whenas by reason of their riperyares they are more capable of it Yea this continuall growth of the Church was shewed by Ezech. 4.1 vers 3.4.5 by the rising of the waters to his anckles knees loynes and head Sect. 2. Of the diuers stateâ— of ecclesiasticall gouernment WE find in the worde of God three kindes of Church-gouernment the first of these was in force before the giuing of the lawe the second in the time of the law the third in the time of the gospell The first we may fitly resemble vnto the first infancy of a childe being newly borne in the which although there be all the faculties of the soule and body yet they cannot as yet doe their functions and therefore can hardly be discerned or distinguished So in this first state there are all the partes of Chuch-gouernment although they doe not so plainly appeare as in the other following there was a ministerie of the worde although ioyned or rather confounded with the ciuil gouernment for both the offices lay vppon the first borne in the family The worde of God was in small measure and seldome reuealed the same was confirmed by diuers sacraments and also strengthened by censures against the disobedient But all these things were little practized as also the number of professours was very smale For this time was the first infancie of the Church from which it was continually to growe on to perfection Next vnto this succeedeth the manner of gouernment vnder the lawe instituted by God by the ministerie of Moses being much more perfite then the former euen as is the childhoode to the infancie so that nowe all the faculties do their seuerall functions and may easely be perceaued in themselues and distinguished from the other The worshippe of God greatly inlarged and the number of those that serue God encreased to many millions the will of God so plentifully and largely reuealed that it was of necessitie committed to writing least that it should be forgotten many sacraments to confirme the truth of it against vnbeleife sharpe and seuere censures appointed for offendours and yet this is but the childhoode of the Church â—al 4.1 is so farre yea much more exceeded in perfection of the third as it doth exceede the former The third is in the time of the gospell wherin the Lorde doth as it were put the last hand to the gouernment of his Church bringing it to that perfecton which should continue to the end of the world Now is the number of those who serue God encreased aboue measure in so much that the Church must enlarge her tentes and receaue all the nations of the earth comming to dwell with her Esa. 54.1.2.3 and accordingly there is â— most perfect gouernment appointed by Christ the true nature whereof will the more easely appeare if we compare it with the former from the which it doth differ as doth the ripe age of a man from his childhoode so that nowe the church may truly say When I was a childe I vnderstoode spake and did as a childe but nowe I haue put away childish things The ground of this difference is the comming of Christ in whome all the treasures of the will and wisdome of God were both hid â—nd reuealed to the Church The shadowes and ceremonies vsed before were made of no vse and insteede of them the trueth it selfe came in place Nowe are all the misteries of our saluation vncouered the shadowes being driuen away by the appearing of the sonne of righteousnesse The graces of the spirite are nowe as it were with a full hand poured on those which beleeue which God kept in store till this time that by the plentifull pouring of them out he might celebrate the glorious mariage of Christ with his Church Hereof doth the whole difference arise we knowe that the worshippe of God is either outward consisting in bodely actions or inward in the obedience of the hart this doth the Lorde require the other is not acceptable vnto him but as it proceedeth from this fountaine The outward worshippe will easely be performed although it haue most streight conditions annexed vnto it as we read Mica 6.6 where withall shall I come before the Lorde will he accâ—pt thâ—usands of rams c. but inwarde and spirituall worshippe is not onely hard but also impossible to be performed without the grace of God as being cleane contrary to our nature And therefore it pleased God in a tender regard which he had to his Church vnder the lawe in respect of the weaknes of it to appoint vnto them more of that outward worshippe and to accept their spirituall seruice although it were in smale measure but contrarily nowe vnder the gospell he reâ—uireth a great measure of spirituall worshippe and enioyneth little of the other This distinction is made by Christ Iohn 4.21.23 the time commeth when neither at Ierusalem nor on this mount you shall worshippe my father but in spirite and truth This is also that newe couenant whereof Ioel speaketh whenas God shall poure his spirite vppon all flâ—sh not but that the faithfull vnder the lawe both had the spirite of God and also performed vnto him spirituall worshippe without the which the other is but abhominable vnto him but yet not in so great measure as nowe in the time of the gospell Hence it is that the whole worshippe of God vnder the lawe was verie glorious in outwarde appearance for this end to purchase obedience and reuerence at the handes of the people Which is contrary to the simplicitie of the gospell for nowe the whole worshippe of God is base and contemptible in outward appearance but mighty in the power of the spirite as we read 1. Cor. 14. if all prophecie and there come in one that beleeueth not or one vnlearned he is rebuked of all men and is iudged of all and so are the secretes of his heart made manifest and so he will fall downe on his face and worshippe God and say plainely that God is in you indeed the which appeareth by the great abundance of spirituall grace in the time of the gospell but vnder the lawe the priestes were not so indued which that measure of spirituall graces but in steed of them they had outwarde helpes to purchase reuerence to the worde of GOD and to themselues amongst the people the temple for outward magnificence most glorious the holy places had in high accounte of all men the priestes separated from the rest of the people in many respects and for the same end the high priest was adorned with glorious robes that so he might the more excell But nowe none of these meanes are in vse onely the powerfull simplicitie of the gospell is insteed farre aboue all The Church then had but a smal measure of knowledge in comparison of these times and accordingly were they taught but nowe the Lorde
remoued Yet the Church had this puritie in some measure in the dayes of the religious kings of Israell who did cast out of the Church all reliques monumentes and shadowes of corruption And likewise in diuers places since the time of the Gospell especially in these last daies wherein it hath pleased God to bring his Church out of that sinke of Antichristianisme and to reueale the right way and manner of his seruice Yea churches as they haue a small beginning from the which they rise and a state vnestablished wherein they continue for some space of time so also they may at lengh attaine to a perfect state whereunto they doe daily growe and whereat they ought continually to aime It is then attained vnto whenas all those ordinances which Christ hath appointed for the gouerning of his Church are fully established all the ecclesiasticall functions and all those meanes whereby the Church is to be edified in the obedience of the faith being vsed so farre forth as humane infirmitie doth permit For although we both prophecie gouerne teach exhortobey and practise onely in part in this life 1. Cor. 13. yet the wants that are in the particular actions of men do not make an imperfection in the church So that when there is no office of the Church wanting none negligently executed but that he that exhorteth laboureth in exhortation the teacher in doctrine he that distributeth in simplicitie and he that ruleth in diligence he that sheweth mercy in chearfulnesse and whenas the people do by these meanes lead a godly and a christian life agreeable to their profession then is there a perfite state of a Church The which although as hath bene heretofore noted it can hardly be attained especially of Churches consisting of great multitudes of professours yet we are to doe our endeauour committing the successe of our labours to the blessing of God to whom nothing is hard or impossible yea who doth so blesse and prosper them that labour in the building of his church farre aboue their owne expectation that they shall see such fruite of their laboures which would seeme impossible to be brought to passe by the meanes of any man Sect. 3. Of the flourishing estate of a Church THe Lorde in mercy is yet more gratious to his Church and graunteth that in many places it should haue not onely a perfect but also a flourishing estate the which is to be considered in these things First when as the Church doth consist not of a smal company of beleeuers but of great multitudes professing the name of Christ praising him calling vpon him and seruing him the which no doubt is a happie thing and most earnestly to be wished In this respect the Churches in these daies do flourish as it is to be hoped that they will doe more and more For this is the time wherein the Lorde hath appointed that the fulnesse of the gentiles shall come in and not onely a fewe here and there but euen whole countries kingdomes and nations submit themselues to the obedience of the gospell Of the great number of beleeuers it cometh that there are in the Church many notable examples of godlinesse and of all spirituall graces yea greater varietie of them then is to be found in small congregations although vsually it commeth to passe by the malice of Sathan and the corruption of men that multitude maketh confusion in the Church and can hardly be brought to the due order of a Church as we are to consider hereafter Secondly the florishing estate of a Church consisteth in the abâ—ndâ—â—ce of the graces of Gods spirite whenas knowledge wisdome the giftes of teaching and all other which make for the building of the Church are plentifully poured vpon it when as that commeth to passe which the prophets foretolde of the times of the Gospell that the spirite of God should be poured vpon all flesh the which as it was accomplished in the primitiue Church on the which the Lorde did immediatly and extraordinarely pourefoorth all the graces of his spirite in such plentiful manner as was neuer in the Church before not shal be till the Church be perfected at the appearing of Christ So now the hand of the Lord is not shortened but he doth still continue this mercie to his Church although after a diuerse manner for now we are not to looke for the extraordinarie giftes of prophecie speaking in strange tongues working miracles and such like by the which the primitiue Chuâ—ch was most glorious and did florish in most wonderfull manner for these serued onely for the first planting of the Church neither are we to looke either for the like measure of giftes â—r for 〈◊〉 graces of knowledge wisdome the giftes of interpretation teaching exhorting or any other immediatly from God as they had For this also was proper to those times in the which because it was not meete that the building of the Churcâ— shoulde not goe forward till men had attained these giftes by ordinary meanes therefore it pleased God immediatly to supply their wantes But now these are not attained but by ordinarie meanes and yet the Lorde doth oftentimes graunt them to his Church in such abundance and in so great measure as that they doe make a flourishing estate of a Church A speciall note whereof in this behalfe is when there are many endued with those excellent giftes of knowledge and wisedome whereby the whole Church may be furnished with wise and learned teachers This is to be looked for in those places and countries which God hath blessed with a long and continuall peace So it is Act. 9.31 The Churches had peace throughout Galatia Iurie and Samaria and were edified and did goe on in the consolation of the holy spirit For euen as for the building of that glorious temple the Lord did giue a long time of peace in the daies of Salomon so doth he also when it pleaseth him to haue a flourishing Church in any place Yea for a flourishing estate in the giftes of his spirit there is in these daies required abundance of learning and of men endued with singular giftes both of nature and indâ—stry For God doth sanctifie these for the edifying and beautifying of his Church Hereof it was that the Churches of Corinth Alexandria changed their subtile and learned Pâ—ilosophers into most excellent diuines But especially they of Corinth did flourish notably in a wonderful abundance of all graces aboue al other Churches whereof we reade that they had the giftes of prophecie tongues interpretations yea and all other as the Apostle witnesseth 1. Cor. 1.6 and that in greate measure In regarde whereof the Apostle saitâ— 1. Cor. 4.8 That they were enriched and did raigne as kinges without him Neyther are these graces bestowed onely vpon the teachers and rulers in the Church but in this flourishing estate they are euen as that pretious oyntment which being poured vpon Arons head did runne downe to the skirtes of his garmentes So that