alloweth They therfore should now sin greeuously against the iustice maiestie of God they should draw themselues into Gods wrath hardē y e heart destroie the soule of the other yea ◅uē opē a gap wide doore vnto the whole church to sin who seing such foreslacking of iudgment would take boldnes vpō hope to find repentance time inough They that giue anie further time vpon pitie or anie other fleshlie reason cōdemne the Lord of cruelty rashnes who giueth no further time after publike reproofe exhortation despised So that to y t ◅eaden ◅ule of proceeding to excommnnication with a leaden heele whē the sin is thus ripe I oppose this golden rule to remooue sinne out of the church with the wings of a Storke the wind vnder their wings yet first that the Epha be lifted vp betwixt the earth the heauē that the sin be publikly seene publiklie censured Now for this same new found cēsure of suspension which they these Reformists would bring in exercise in stead of excommunicatiō or as they pr◅tend as a preparatiue to excommunicatiō wherby they may first be shut out from the holiest of all out of the chancel where the Priest by sole authoritie raigneth so by degrees proceed to excommunication to shut him out of the church also if he repent not what doth this their wisdome pi◅ie but comdemne the Lord of follie crueltie or rather shew forth their owne presumption follie y t thus forsake condemne the waies of the Lord as vnequall by bringing in following their owne waies as more equall How can these forgers th◅se coyners of religion seeme sue to cast out the heape of humane traditions as contrarie such as cannot be ioined vnto or with the Testament of Christ yet bring in these forgeries of their owne for so I may iustlie cal them from whencesoeuer they haue deriued them if not from the booke of God But least I be noted of preiudice to find fault with the thing I know not to condemne before I haue conuinced let vs in a word or two see how thi◅ timber of these accordeth to the rest of the building and vpon vvhat socket or foundation yt standeth This suspension we find to be a publike seperation putting away of some opē offendor vnworthie receauer frō the Table of y ◠Lord by the Pastor before excōmunication he yet being held a member of their Church cōmunicating with thē in praiers cōtributiō c. Heere I must not be vnderstood of the yonger sort which are not as yet admitted to the Table of the Lord the seed of the faithful of thē called Cate◅umenoi but of such as haue beene partakers therof and are vnder the censures of the Church Let vs now see how lawful yt is for the whole Church but especiallie for anie one mēber as of his owne sole authoritie to shut out such members from the Table of the Lord before or otherwise then by excommunication That this may be done let vs see wh◅t the Table of the Lord is The Apostle thus defineth yt The cup of blessing which we blefs◅ is yt not the communiō of the blood of CHRIST the bread which we breake is yt not the communion of the bodie of CHRIST because we manie are one bread one bodie for al participate of one bread Heere we see this Table or Sup◅ of the Lord a liuelie and most comfortable s◅mbole of our communion with CHRIST as also ech with other in Christ excellently shewing vnto vs the meanes mauer of our redemption to stir vs vp vnto thankfulnes to reioice in our God praise his name therfore to the generall strengthning of all our faithes and to the mutuall binding vs together in all holie duties and loue c. Here we see the Table of the Lord to be publike free open alike cōmon to all Saints ech one hauing a like interest necessity vse comfort therof the least as wel asmuch as the greatest CHRIST hauing alike died paied one and the same ransome for them all that they all might haue a like interest in him feed and feast through one and the same Spirit faith hope ioy in him Which interest power ioy c. no mo◅tall man not the whole Church much lesse any member therof no nor hell gates shalbe able to plucke from the least member of CHRIST whiles he remaineth and abideth in the body A most vnnaturall part were yt in the mother to plucke away the brest from the child wherby yt should be nourished but though y e mother might do this murther her owne child without blame yet the whole Church cannot driue away or keep out the least of these mēbers frō any publike action of the Church much les◅e seperate them frō this heauēly comfort free publike cōmunion whiles they remaine members of CHRIST are not cut off from his body Further seing this Table is called The communion of the body blood of Christ as also the communion of the whole church who can keepe back any such member as still remaineth in the body of CHRIST in his Church without depriuing him of this cōmuniō of CHRIST of the Church and so of life for except they ◅ate the flesh of the Sonne of man and drinke his blood they can haue no life in them But these men keepe them from the body blood of CHRIST from the communion of CHRIST and of the Church therfore also frō life yt self and so in seeming to correct him lightly they kill him out right for more then this can they not do by this orderly excōmunication which they hold so rigoious Such as shall cauil at these words Except ye shall eate the flesh of the Sonne of man c. saijng that I popishly abuse the place let them cauil though I acknowledg that many thowsands that neuer attained y e symbole of the supper yet do feed of that body blood of CHRIST by faith vnto eternall life yet this I say that such as by censure are put backe from the Table of the Lord are cut from the communion of CHRIST of his Church and so from life For if he haue not communion with Christ and his Church he can haue no life he cannot be both thus s◅perate from their communion and haue yt together They that pluck away the seale cancell the deed but they pluck away the seale of the couenant in that for his sin they debarre him from this comfortable communion which is yet more then the seale in that yt bringeth such present effect and comfort Therfore they as far as man can doe cut him from Christ his couenant by this their idol suspension Now then hauing thus shut him out of their cōmunion how should they hold him in ythauing thus cut him off from Christ and the bandes that should bind him to Christ to the Saints how can they hold him a
this Chapter to proue that the Church of Chriâ—… ought to be built in all things according to the wil of Chrift as he hath set downe in his TestameÌ„t othérwise yt caÌ„ neither be said his howse nor y e builders therof or builded therin his faithfull seruantes See how before I wist or would I am drawne into particulars as into a whirlepoole bottomles gulph of knowledg whiles I thought but to haue drawne but a litle water at the brinke in the shallow vessel of my vnderstanding and crazed memory which though they be no way able to breake vp these vnmeasured depthes or orderly to deliuer but that litle God giueth me to see in them yet I doubt not but many infallible Arguments may from this Chapter be drawen without any violence or wresting to proue the necessity perpetuity of that forme order of building gouerning Christs Church which he by his Apostles hath set downe in his Testament Now let me proceed to confirme this Proposition by other reasons drawen from other places of scripture As yt hath beene shewed that there can be no true building without that only true foundation expresse patterne of the Apostles practice in Christs Testament that all other foundations formes buildings builders are deceitful false and wil not abide the fiery trial or stand in Gods sight so if we consider the manner how the holy Ghost instructeth vs in other places vz. 1 Cor. 12. Epâ—…es Rom. 12. vve shall there see the coÌ„gruence necessity perpetuity of the order gouernmeÌ„t which Christ hath in his TestameÌ„t prescribed We there reade this his Church compared to an â—…umane body which consisting of diueâ—…s members must of nâ—…cessitie haue them duly placed and knit together in their â—…ight order srame We reade there that as God createth fashioneth placeth and knitteth together the membâ—…rs of this our earthly bâ—…die without taking couÌ„cel of one or another so in like wisdome power he createth prepareth ordereth disposeth coÌ„mingleth coÌ„tempereth al the members of this his heauenlie bodie according to the rules of his Tâ—…stament by the manifestation of the spirit in euerie one But now â—…uen common sense teacheth how far the wisest man vpon earth is from being able to make vnto mans bodie the least mâ—…mber therof euen but one haire white or blacke much lesse to knit the members together by iointes sinewes in their due place function How theÌ„ can dust and aâ—…hes imagine to make vnto the spirituall bodie of Chriâ—… new straÌ„ge members knit them as straÌ„gely together by new iointes and synewes We reade in theâ—…e chapters that the ministers officers appointed by our Sauiour Chriâ—…t in his TestameÌ„t are the principal meÌ„bers of this publike bodie of the Church his ordinaÌ„ces lawes there set downe the iointes and sinewes wherby the members are fitly knit vnto the whole bodie euen as the curtaines of the tabernacle by their strings and hookes But now as no mortal man can make fashion dispose or knit together these humane members of a naturall bodie so much lesse can he make anie other members serue in the places of the true natural meÌ„bers or by anie meanes place fasteÌ„ and knit these as by ioints and sinewes vnto and in a mans bodie What vse should a man haue of an eie of glasse a nose of waxe an hand of brasse a foot of wood what congruence coherence proportion sympathie feeling compassion should these haue with the other members what learning or art can knit these by iointes sinewes vaines artures or draw one the same â—…kin ouer them as a couering or fasten yt vnto them as vnto or together with the true and natural members Yf mans wisdome cannot 〈◊〉 this in a fraiâ—…e humane bodie of earth and clay what possibilitie theÌ„ is there to bring this to passe in the spiritual bodie of Christ what communion what commixture can there be betwixt heauen earth betwixt light and darknes betwixt spirituall carnal things how theÌ„ is yt possible to knit or make agree the earthly darke carnal diuised members and lawes of man to the heauenlie lightsome spiritual bodie of Christ Yea albeit this could be supposed to be brought to passe then which nothing caÌ„ be more fonde theÌ„ to imagine more wicked then to attempt vvhat kind of strange and monstrous bodie should â—…hey now make vnto Christ by knytting vnto him strange members such as belong not to his bodie Yf an humane bodie should haue growing vnto yt anie other then the true members that belonge vnto a man were not â—…uch a creature to be held a monster and not a man As for example if yt had manie heades in steade of one if yt should haue feete like a Beare a mouth as a Lion the rest like a Leopard c. who that had anie sight or sense could take esteeme this for the natural bodie of a man muchlesse for the comely beawtiful amiable bodie of Christ or of his Bride were not this to be liker vnto the bodie of Antichrist that Beast of that whore that monster what then iâ—… the presumption reb ellion furiâ—… of those Prelates that dare enterprise not onlie to cast away the true and naturall members but in the place of them to plant these adulterate monstrous members and that as they would make themselues and others beleeue in the bodie Church of Christ. Againe what an astonishment madnes hath inuaded and possessed these learned reforming Priests that confesse the want of al Christs true members I meane such officers as he hath ordeined for the building and gouerning his Church that complaine likewise of the vnlawfulnes and antichristianitie of these members which now grow vpon this bodie and gouerne the same and yet discerne not themselues to be of these moÌ„strous antichristian members euen the ministerie mouth of that Beastâ—… hauing the same orginal shape and forme with them being all come out of one smokie forge c yea and for all this mistake that beastlie bodie of the harlot their Church that beareth groweth vnto and consisteth of these members for that heauenlie bodie that true spowse established Church of Christ as though Christs bodie Christs Church could grow vnto and consist of these false members or be said built and established without the true members What strange paradoxes are these yet are they euen the forwardest positions they can be drawen vnto But we are taught in these scriptures that Christs bodie consisteth not neither can his Church be built with such strange Antichristian meÌ„bers or with anie other then those which he hath there prescribed for the gathering the Saints into one for the worke of the ministerie and for the edification of the bodie of Christ c. From which Scriptures infinitie reasons if we would enter into particulets might be drawen to prooue the necessitie congruence and perpetuitie of these officers ordinances there prescribed to the ministerie gouernment and
were shewed them they would in this presumptiō of their heartes rather run on headlong vnto death in this their headstrong course then by repentāce turne into the waies of life that they might be saued For besides the manifold errors of ech of these factions which haue beene shewed in part mark I besech you into what present mischief and ineuitable dāgers ech course leadeth all that hold the same vnto The one side that holdeth with Docter ROBERT SOME THAT the baptisme deliuered in the Church of Rome was a true Sacrament not only therby inclose themselues in schisme by such violent deuiding in ◅uch hostile maner from the true Church yea and euen therby conclude against the Church of England that yt is not a true Church because there is but one true Church through the world as ther is but one God one Spirit one CHRIST CHRIST cannot stand an head to two so diuers and contrarie bodies as these two Churches would seeme to be Now they confessing the Church of Rome to be a true Church do hereby acknowledg themselues both in schisme a false Church Besides that they vtterlie subuert the whole Testament of CHRIST by bringing a new ministrie and new manner of administration into the Church c. The other side that denijng the Church of Rome or any couenant or seales to belong vnto her doe also deny that any outward baptisme is there deliuered and doe therby affirme al the people that now are in our knowen parts of the world to be vnbaptised which receaued none other then that baptisme and then seing there is no lawfull minister to baptise this people for none vnbaptised may be a minister or baptise neither haue an vnbaptised p◅ople power to elect or ordeine a ministerie amongst them Of this can no rule president or example be shewed in the scriptures but all to the expresse cōtrarie especially since al extraordinarie offices haue ceased and so must all the building of CHRISTS Church and the worke of the ministerie cease vntill some second Ihon Baptist or new Apostles be sent vs downe from heauen except peraduenture they after their long trauel bring vs forth some new Euangelist and sure if they make a new ministery they must also make a new Gospell and confirme yt with new miracles Well thus we see the error danger of both these waies neither of which lead vnto life therfore neither to be followed We may not followe the first sort of guides least they lead vs back againe to EGIPT SODOME BABILON from vvhence we were escaped or rather wherin we are by them still detayned We may not commit our selues to the other guides least we be not led forward toward persection but deluded with their doublings and windinges as in a maze alwaies going alwaies learning yet neuer the further on our way or neerer our iournaies end neuer taught or brought to the acknowlegment and right practise of the truth What then is to be done in this distresse surely euen this when men are at their wits endes to flee vnto God for councel and direction whose word if we el◅uate as our lodestar we shall no doubt by the light therof Gods gracious Spirit blowing vpon the sailes of our faith safely saile through all these difficulties euen with a straight course to the free and sincere practise of the Gospel neither striking against the rockes of poperie nor falling vp on the shelues quicksandes of Anabaptistrie For he that is ascended vpon high hath not left his house destitute of councel and direction ◅or all affaires and occasions in all times and estates whatsoeuer but hath in his word left most perfect rules and absolute lawes for all things So that though he for the iudgmēt of the world the trial of his seruants the manifestatiō of his owne power bring his seruants into Babilon yet knoweth he how to preserue and deliuer his seruantes without either iustifijng of Babilon with D.R.S. his disciples or re◅ming of Babilō with these learned priestes of the time and their followers and hauing brought them forth to lead them forth to Sion and to reare vp the decaied tabernacles of Dauid that were fallen downe without vsing one stone of Babel in the worke for a corner or for a foundation So then we now being fallen into found in that general defectiō apostacie wherof we were warned by our Sauiour Christ his Prophets Apostles yt remaineth that vve search the scriptures vvhether we can there find any presidentes of any such times and see whether we can there fetch any better direction then these learned men abouesaid haue giuen vs in this case We reade in the time of Ezechiah that the kingdome of Israe◅ had a long time remained in schisme apostacie hauing forsaken that true Temple and erected vnto themselues new Temples new Altars n◅w ministerie c. neither could by any warnings threats or corrections be r◅claimed Yet such of them as left their false vvorship and returned to the true Temple to vvorship God there were receaued and admitted to the passouer without either gathering correcting or repeating the circumcisiō they had receaued in y ◠time of this their schisme and apostacie The like we reade to be done in the times of Iosiah of Ezra of N◅hemiah whē they had yet longer cōtinued in their schisme and idolatrie vpon their returne out of their dispersion captiuitie vnto the Lorde And yet no doubt to those men in these times and in this estate could the circūcision they there receaued shal I speake according to the times say be no true sacrament or rather leaue that traditional word which engendreth strife rather then godly edifying say be no true seale of the couenant of Gods fauour vnto them being added to their false worship idolatrie schisme apostacie obstinacie contempt This I think wil be easily graunted of all handes For Gods couenant is no longer made or continued with any Church or people then they remaine in his faith and obedience yet you sce this circumcision thus receaued not to be reiterate when they came vnto the true faith Wherby we are euidently taught both that such baptisme as is deliuered in the false Church is no true seale of Gods couenant cōmonly called a true sacrament yet also that such outward washing or baptisme deliuered after their supe◅stitious maner in that idolatrous place ought not vnto such to be repeted as afterward forsake the false Church and ioine vnto the Church of God Thus me thinkes this hard difficult knot is euen with a trise vn done when we take the true light right way vnto yt Which whiles these learned Doctors diep diuines as they in their stile and banner write themselues haue labored by the light of their owne pregnāt wittes to vnlose they haue the further encombred themselues intangled their miserable followers For what cause
abhominations which haue beene recited from the beginning of this treatise To conclude though they remaine presumptuously obstinate in all these horrible transgression◅ if by any this their shameles ass◅rtion namely that they hold the foundation to saluation be with neuer so playne proof of scripture denied and they louingly admonished and exhorted against such they whe◅ their viperous tongues powre out all the venome of their railings reproches slaunders and most shameles lies wherof their owne festered consciences accuse them in their pulpyts priuie meetings machinating deuising against them as against open professed enemies and all because they reproue them of their counterfait walking which they cannot nor dare not in any Christian and peaceable maner enterprise by the word of God to approue iustifie But as you haue heard how they generally vse esteeme y ◠word of God so let me briefly shew you what kind of CHRIST they preach you Generally and verbally they hold confesse him in both his natures verie God verie mā to the word of their redemtiō saluatiō as the papistes also doe though somwhat diuersly stumbling contending rather about wordes then about any material difference whē they are pressed For CHRIST they wil consesse their only redeemer fully sufficiently to haue wrought their saluatiō though by by stumbling at the phrase of some scriptures they will ioine vnto him their owne beggerie workes merites c. Both of them generally and verbally cōfesse CHRIST in his 3 offices viz. to be their only King Priest Prophet but when yt cōmeth to the practise obedience then they both with one consent send an embaslage after him saying that we wil not haue this man to reigne ou◅r vs Cause the holy one of Israel to cease from vs let vs breake his bandes cast his cordes from vs this is the heire come let vs kill him and let vs take his inheritance c. I know our english priestes wil haue many fine floorishes to hide this treacherie as that they acknowledg him their only Priest Mediator to haue with that one oblation of his owne pretious bodie once offred fully satisfied the iustice appeased the wrath of his Father Yea they acknowledg him to be the verie first fruites sanctifier of the whole heape clothing all his with his righteousnes that he is entered into the heauens into the v◅rie throne of God there offreth vp the praiers maketh intercession for all them Likewise that he is heire and King ouer al both mē Ang◅ls that he hath in this his or rather oure flesh vanquished al our enemies Satan sin death hel triumphed ouer them in that his crosse that he is ascended vp on high sitteth at the right hād of God frō whence he shal come to iudge the quick y e dead And for his proph◅cie y t he is the end of al prophecies to whome they were directed the fulnes and fountaine of al wisdome whome we ought to heare and how by that his heauenly word he begetteth vs to life euerlasting c. These many other comfortable true doctrines they can doe deliuer touching the offices of CHRIST but all these you must vnderstand I pray you obserue wel for so shal you cleerly espie their error deceit are still but what CHRIST hath done in his owne person for his elect here is not one word spoken what he doth in his elect how he teacheth sanctifieth ruleth them by the scepter of his word how he is a King Priest Prophet heere on earth exerciseth the offices here in his Church amongst his seruantes the Saints how he is their pastour their teacher their King how he feedeth reigneth in SION yea maketh all his children kings priests prophets Kings in y t he hath giuē them his word into their hearts mouthes wherby as w t a sharpe two edged sword they cut off sin fight against al errors wherby they reigne ouer their owne affectiōs subdue y t flesh cast downe euerie imagination that is exalted against the knowledg of God bring into captiuitie euerie thought to the obedience of Christ wherby they vnpartially censure iudge cast out al maner of sin as yt ariseth apeareth amongst them binding their rulers in chaines and their nobles in fetters of yron executing vpō them the iudgments that are writtē yea therby condemning euerie weapon tongue that shal arise in iudgment against the truth This is the heritage of the Lords seruants this honor shalbe to al his Saintes Priestes he maketh them in y t he annointeth them with his owne holy spirit wherby they both offer vp their praiers praises through him vnto God their owne bodies soules as liuing sacrifices vnto him daily which is their reasonable seruing of God Prophets he maketh them in that he reuealeth his truth vnto them cōmandeth them to witnesse yt spread yt forth in all places to his glorie One word of these heauenly effects in amongst them of their dutie obedience loue and faithfulnes they owe ought againe on their parts to performe vnto him they al this while shew not and how without this there is no comfort or benefit to be expected or receaued by Christ without this faith loue obedience none can haue him a King vnto thē to rule defend them none can haue him a Prophet to teach instructe them none cā haue him a priest to sanctifie blesse them none can haue him a Sauiour But al they that either acknowledg not the Lord Iesus Christ or obey not vnto his eternal Gospel but withhold the truth in vnrighteousnes shalbe punished with euerlasting perditiō from the presence of the Lord from the glorie of his power when he shal come to be glorified in his saintes to be made meruailous in al them that beleeue But alas how is yt possible y ◠they should know or see this beautie of y e King in Sion whiles they remaine in Babilon how is yt possible that they should teach this submission obedience vnto Christ Iesus when they themselues remaine the bondseruants sworne soldiours of Antichrist in such maner as hath beene rehearsed How then in this estate should they stand the faithfull ministers of Christ or preach him sincerely Can there be any accord betwixt C◅rist Antichrist can they both reigne together in one Church or these men stand ministers vnto both at one time If Christ be their King vvhere is then his honour where is his obedience CHRIST reigneth ouer none but his owne seruantes and them he ruleth by the scepte◅ of his holy word but heere with them his scepter is wrested ou◅ of his hand and a Scepter of reed giuen him the canons of the pope
distribute not to gouerne The third point in this cauilling questiō is to know where these officers aboue said practised that gouernmēt in an equalitie without superioritie in one aboue an other It hath beene euen now shewed how this gouernment belongeth is committed to the whole bodie how their office consisteth to teach the Church how to practise yt to see yt obserued by al in due order and not ambitiously to assume yt wholy into their owne hands For the rest though there be a communion in the Church yet there is no equalitie The Church knoweth how to giue honour reuerence vnto their Elders especially to them y t labor in the word doctrine The Church of CHRIST is taught to obey submit vnto their leaders to acknowledg them that labour amongst them that are set ouer them in the Lord to admonish them and to hold those in superabundant loue for their worke sake The Elders also amongst themselues know how to giue honour one vnto another by going before yet al this without preiudice to themselues that giue or detrimēt to him that receaueth yt without the losse of the least iote of their owne libertie or puffing him vp or setting him in anie vnlawfull authoritie They giue yt to his labor diligence vertue and desert which ceassing they straight withdraw their praise in the stead therof vse exhortation admonitiō yea if need be censure All the parts of mans bodie are not alike esteemed and vsed we haue much more care and tendernes ouer the eies then of the hands or feet yet may not the eye heerby refuse to doe seruice and attend to the hand or foote in all their busines and affaires neither may yt disturbe the least member of the bodie in their peculiar office functiō or intrude into their place The eye guideth directeth the hand shewing how yt ought to doe the worke the hand againe washeth wipeth and doth all louing helpe yt may vnto the eye Both eie hand euerie other part of the body are distinct members yet so knit and ioined together in the bodie as they do their due seruice vnto the eie ech vnto other in the whole not confounding the order of nature nor disturbing ech other in the worke The Church hath like care to see that inuiolable order and temper of the members in CHRISTS bodie dulie preserued the honor they gi◅e to one member is not the dishonor of another or hinderance of the whole bodie The Church neither doth neither may giue immoderate honour either in fastuous swelling titles of vanitie or any inordinate authoritie to anie member that would rather puffe vp the flesh then cheare vp the spirit All the gifts God hath giuen any member are to the seruice of the whole bodie he that will be greatest must be as the least he must wash the feet not haue his feete kissed of the least all superioritie is heere comprised within the bounds of Christian order modestie Humilitie goeth before and is the compagnion of honor honor is not heere conferred to lift vp the hear◅s of the greatest aboue the least but rather for their coūsaile care loue seruice vnto al yt is willingly giuen vnto such by all Ambition vainglorie are heere carfully auoided both by the g◅ers receauers who so seeketh the primacie with Diotrephes is heere ◅uggillate layd open resisted rebuked of al as that Antichrist that Lucifer y e greatest Elder of the Church the Pastor is but a seruant steward of the house not Lord of the heritage but a member not Lord of the bodie to be honored for his excellent place in the bodie giftes of God to be reuerenced for his fa◅thfulnes labour and diligence Yet this must euer be remembred his honour consisteth in his seruice his seruice belongeth vnto al so that the least member of the bodie hath like interest in him as he in the least member the l◅st member hath like libertie and f◅eedome with him in Christ though not like gifts or function of Christ. AND NOW this strange troublesome Proposition is thus proued That Christs Church can be established into no other order or gouerned by any other officers or ordinances then Christ in his Testam◅t hath prescribed that these great impediments difficulties are also remooued out of the way me thinckes yt time heere a fit occasion offred to goe in hand with the examination of the present established gouernmēt of the Church of England And heere to begin with the Antichristian authoritie of the chiefe rulers namelie the Bishops which they would beare away hide v◅der this word Superioritie of their lineage petigree original you haue aboue heard as also of their strange manner of offices and consecration and somwhat also of their power generally and from vvhence they deriued yt but let vs now a litle further consider therof First they take vpon them ech one of them to sit vpon as they call yt or to gouerne many hundred churches others of thē many thowsands one of them as Pope or Primate ouer al they make depose ministers by their absolute authoritie they make and disanul lawes th◅y ratifie or rei◅ct vvhat scriptures they list they confirme or refuse what doctrines they list they make what kind of vvorship ministration they list they chāge innovate coine alter bring in cast out what and whome they list without checke or controulement The truth of al these need no other proofe then their present estate the warrant of anie of these I am sure cannot be shewed in Christs Testament therfore I doubt not at one word to call them all diuelish Antichristiā To confute thē seuerallie were a labour both needles troblesome they being of themselues so apparantlie odious yet this brieflie in a word One man cannot stand a Bishop vnto diuers churches at one time no more then one eye can be a 1 member 2 doe the function at one time to diuers bodies 3 in diuers places no more then one candle can be put in two or mo diuers candlesticks 2 in diuers howses 3 and shew light vnto them al at one time Thus are Bishops in their office place ministerie called members yea the eye of the bodie lights and the candle of the howse the Church yt self also c◅lled the bodie the candlesticke in the scriptures No one shepheard can attend watch feed ouersee two or more flockes at one time in diuers places no watc◅ mā can keep watch in diuers Cities at one time Bishops are called shepheardes watchmen the Church a flock a citie in the scriptures Be◅ides CHRIST hath established an other quite contrarie order not one watchman or shepheard ouer manie churches but manie watchmen ouer one Church yet hath giuē power cōmanded euerie mēber to watch al litle enough Mo◅eouer yt is CHRISTS only office now to walke in the midst of the 7 goldē Cādlesticks he