rule ouer the people off god that ther be no violence nor tyranny vsed or suche like as comonly is vsed in that state which degenerating from the gouernment of a fewe off the best commeth to a fewe off the richest but that they adioyne also to ther owne authoritie especially in matters off great waight as in choosinge or deposinge off any Ecclesiasticall Officer or in suspendinge or excommunicatinge any man the consent and agreement off all the people For we reade it to haue bene thus done eueÌ„ froÌ„ the Apostles tymes vntill that Discipline was corrupted as appereth in the Actes off the Apostles written by Sainct Luke and the Ecclesiasticall history off the primitiue churche So that in this respect yt seemeth that the churche is gouerned rather by all then by a fewe And therin to resemble that state off gouernment wherin the coÌ„minaltie is the chiefe Which societie must needes be gouerned by a heauenly ordre for it is the best state off all wheras all these thre meete in one kind off gouerment as both Plato thought and Aristotle and the other chiefe and excellent Philosophers that state I say wherin all the cytezins obediently submit them selues to god which coÌ„mandeth as kinge and monarche and the assembly which decreeth by his will and authoritie where also the assembly decreeth no weighty matter without the coÌ„sent and approbacion off the rest off the churche and people Neither is this the maÌ„ner of gouernment off parish churches onely but the same is also kept where more churches are either for that they be nighe togeether or because they are all subiect to the same Magistrate or for ther coÌ„mon proffit and commodty ioyne togeether and make as yt were one body For off this sort also be all the assemblyes which are gathered for the gouernment off the churche both those which are called Conferences and Synodes wither they be lesse Synodes suche as they were wont to haue twise a yeere in euery prouince or greater which are gathered to geether by the authoritie off any one whole kingdome free state or common wealthe or ells off mo kingdomes and countries For the souerantie allwais reserued vnto Christ by whose word all thinges are gouerned as in a Monarchy The counsell or Assembly off Elders as in the second state off gouernment which I described before decreeth by common counsell and authoritie that which is for the wealth and commoditie off the churche the people with all good will allowing off the godly iust and honest determinacions off the Assembly or making them voide and off none effect yff they be not suche as in the last ststate wherin the people hathe to rule and gouerne Off which Assemblye both Conferences and Synodes of both sortes althoughe many thinges might be said very necessary and profitable for the vse off our churche to which nothing could be more profitable then these assemblies being so vsed as they are apointed to be vsed by the word off god and vsed by other purer and better reformed churches as contrariwise nothinge doth more hurt then these Synodes visitacions and conuocations which are come into ther places which as we vse them are full off infinitie abuses wherin almost no other thiÌ„ge is talked of or detreed but of square cappes copes aÌ„d surplises what fashioÌ„ the ministers gowne and cloke must be off an such like trifles yet seing this hangeth off that which hathe bene allready spoken off the gouernment off particuler churches and the more full handling off those thinges may be taken out of the lerned writinges of some off our daies which haue lately writeÌ„ touching this matter passinge this thus briefly ouer let vs returne againe to the assembly and coÌ„pany off Elders which seing I haue declared both to haue bene instituted by our Sauiour Christ and to be very necessary for the preseruacion off the churche because that therby controuersies are ended offenses are taken away the churche being purged is deliuered from the feare off the punishement off god the Sacraments are kept holie and vndefiled fynally all thinges are done seemely and orderly as the Apostle coÌ„mandeth to be done in the churche off god By what subtelty off Satan and negligence of our selues are our churches bereaued off so singuler aÌ„d heaueÌ„ly a benefit can any maÌ„ deny but that Christ hath thus apointed that this assemblie should thus gouerne in his churche iff ther be any man that can deny it Let hym tell vs what the meanyng ys off thes wordes Tell the Assembly in the xviij off Matthew or what keyes that is to say what power off openinge and shutting off heauen off bindinge or losinge sinne our Sauiour speaketh off in that place Or what that Assembly off Elders is which Paule in his Epistle to Tymothy speaketh off or what Elders they be that he speaketh off in the chap. following And Peter likewise in his Epistle who they be that to the Corinthians he calleth gouernours To the Thessalonians Rulers and Ouersers And who they be whom the Apostle to the Hebrews saith to be set ouer the congregation vnto whom he willeth them to be obedient and to submitt them selues And who they be also whom Sainct Luke in the Actes calleth the Elders off the churche off Hierusalem and off Ephesus wold they haue vs proue that it is necessary Let them teache vs contrary to that which our Sauiour Christ hath geuen vs warning off that yt is not necessary that offenses should arise or ells shewe some better meanes how to redresse them or take away when they be risen then that which our Sauiour hath appoynted which is to be exercised by the Assembly Let them shewe it to be a needles care to kepe the Sacramentes impolluted and vndefyled or iff they confesse yt to be needfull let them teache vs some better way to do yt by then that which our Sauiour Christ hath taught vs allready For I think ther is no man off any sound Iudgement that will say That which we vse nowe is fytter for this purpose that is to say that one Bishopp and he not oftentymes by him selffe but by his Chancellor and he by his Surrogaâ—e should take hym so selffe all this authoritie alone rule as he listeth in steade off a lawfull Assembly off Elders who by common counsell and authoritie should gouerne the church For as I declared before the Bishop tooke vpon him the office off Deacons that they being taken away he might distribute the church goods all alone and how after also takinge vppon him tâ—e office off the Elders when he had likewise thrust ouâ— them he tooke vpon him alone all the care off the churche So here also he hath abolished the whole Assembly that he alone may be asked Counsell off he alone may haue knowledge iudge and determyne off all matters For he spreadeth him selffe ouer all the body euen as the eye which S. Paule speaketh off in the first to the Corinthes For as the eye will haue no
for the kinde affection which I beare to that churche in which I haue bene bothe borne and browght vp and therfore loue most deerelie for goode causes euen as the Apostle saith to liue and die togither I thought yt I saie my dewtie to desire and beseche this Churche earnestlie and carefullie to thincke off this so greate a benefyte whereby yt maie be established for euer And most earnestlie to exhorte and admonishe yt to abolishe that popishe tyrannye which yet remayneth in the gouernment thereoff and to restore againe the most holie pollicie offâ—◠〈◊〉 the churche which our Sauior Christe hath 〈◊〉 vnto vs and to feare lest that the lorde will punishers and will be reuenged off vs iff we contynewe still to despise his discipline But forasmuche as there be many who because they delight rather in a faire owtwarde shewe then the trew symplicitie off the Gospell striue and contend to retaine still this Popishe Hierarchie and conterfaite manner off gouerning the churche blaming that order for many causes which we persuade vnto This whole controuersie is fullie and at large to be disputed of that when they vnderstand the goode cause that we haue to repriue the one and require the other they maie ioyne togither with vs in earnest praiers vnto god and humble suyte vnto hir maiestie That this Popishe tyrannie being at the last vtterlie abolished and cleane taken away In place theroff a better and more holie gouernment of the churche accoding to Goddes worde maie be established Which cause I purpose so to handle that fyrst drawing out the right paterne and platforme off the lawfull pollicie and gouernment off the churche as Christe and his Apostles haue lefte it vnto vs togither their withall I will note our faultes and errors in euerie pointe that by this comparison the trewthe maie more clerelie shine and appeare fyrst therfore seing we haue not to doe with such as reiecte all discipline off the Churche that yt maie be better vnderstode what it is whereoff we dispute I will declare what the lawfull discipline off the churche is I call therfore Ecclesiasticall Discipline the pollicie off the Churche off Christe ordeyned and appointed off God for the goode administracion and gouernment off the same That I make here God the Author off discipline wherupon yt followeth that we haue to fetche the rules thereoff from no other fountaines but from the holie scriptures had nede be more fullie proued because it is denied by many who dare affirme that there is no precepte geuen touching this matter but contend that it is wholy lefte vnto iudgement of the magestrate and off the churche first then let theÌ„ tell vs whie they denie that god hath thus carefullie prouided for Christiane Churches and whie they affirme yt to be lefte free for vs to rule it as we lifte seing that in the olde churche off the Iewes All thinges which perteined not onlie to the gouernment off the cyuile state but also off the Ecclesiasticall for althoughe with them god was Author of bothe yet he wold haue them distinguished the on from the other were so diligentlye and exactelie destributed and bothe commanded by god and commended to writyng by Moses that yt was expresslye forbidden that Nothing should be added vnto yt nor taken from yt For yt appreareth manyfestlye that that exacte paterne off Discipline came not fyrst from Moses but from God by this that Moses testifieth so often that the lorde had apointed the maner off creating and ordeining Ecclesiasticall officiers and and there power and authoritie who aso allwaies readie to punyshe the transgressors off his ordinances with most grieuous plages and punyshementes There is a notable historie in the ninthe off NoÌ„bers off certeine vncleane persons who thincking yt no sufficient cause whie they shold not eate the Passeouer with the rest off Israell because they were polluted with touching off a deade bodie which thei must needes doe seing there died dailie some emonghest them as off necessitye yt commeth to passe in so greate a multitude went to Moses and Aaron desiring that they might not be secluded from that solempne communion off the churche But what doth Moses in this case what taketh he vpon him Surelie nothing at all but referreth the cause wholie vnto God by whose answere they were forbidden to eate the Passouer with the rest off Israell and were put off vnto the next moneth Off which cause properlie belonging to this Discipline which we handle and referred to God yt maie be clearlie vnderstoode That Moses in all the gouernment off the churche did nothing by his priuate authoritie but onlie deliuered vnto them that which the lorde had commanded which thing also Moses him selfe doth plainlie testefie by his often repeating off these wordes As the Lord had commanded And this is that faithfulnes which the Apostle to the Hebrewes commendeth in him that he ruled not the howse off God by his owne will but by the authoritie off the Lorde the master off the howsholde And how preciselie ys yt commanded in the Tabernacle that all should be made after the fashoÌ„ and paterne which had bene shewed by the Lorde in the Montaine neyther so long as kinges were in any tollerable state Any eyther kinges or priestes toke vpon them any suche authoritie to appointe matters belonging to the churche but all thinges were ruled and gouerned according to the will and authoritie off god For whereas in the fashion and buiding off the temple and in the offices off the leuites and off the Singers certeine thinges were somewhat otherwise appointed by danid and Salomon then they had bene commanded by Moses That chaunge and alreracion was not made by the authoritie off Dauid and Salomon as kinges but by the will off God himselfe who apointed yt so by his Prophetes as appeareth in the Chronicles Therfore also the fashion and paterne of the teÌ„ple after it was ouerthrowne was so exactelie drawne out by Ezechiell that the newe temple might he builled againe according to the paterne off God shewed by his Prophete Wherfore also Erra and Nehemiah exacte all there reformacion to the paterne off Moses Dauid and Ezechiel Seing then so stable and certeine a rule off gouerning the churche contynewed vnto Christe the lawes and ordinances were appointed by god him selfe and that it was accompted wicked and vnlawfull for any man boldlye to haue taken any thing in hand in these matters and that suche as did so eschaped not the grieuous punishement and vengaunce off God whie doe they now at the last deliuer god off this care or rather spoile the churche off hir patrone and defender by whose gouernment yt might be preserued and who sitting in the sterne at the helme yt neuer feared any stormes or tempestes but was allwaies safe in all daunger And how absurde and vnreasonable a thing is it then especially to thincke the loue and care off God to be demynished towardes his churche when
yet when Iames was slaine they did choose nome into his Roume or the Roume oft any other off the Apostles when they died So that yt is plaine that this office is abolished Which beinge playne off the Apostles must be likewise vnderstood off the Euangelistes who serued and mynistred vnto them and were after a sort ther vicairs and deputies For as it doth appere in the Actes This was the office of the Euangelistes to accōpany the Apostles whom they when they had gathered any company off a churche together and must needes depart left behind them beinge instructed by them in what sort ād order to stablishe the churche who hauinge set the churche in order and prouided pastors and Elders to gouerne yt left it ād followed the Apostles againe So they as Emperors and Generalles when they had ouercome any citie left as it were some chiefe captaines behinde them vntill thinges could be brought to a better stay and that ancientes and elders as certen perpetuall garrisons were set ouer them for the Apostles were appointed to cōquere and to ouercome The Euangelistes to establishe and set in order The elders to mainteine and preserue the churche of god Therfore this office off the Euangelist must needes cease seinge the Apostleshippe is ceased allreadie As for the Prophetes office althoughe it consisted in expoundinge the scriptures yet seinge it was ioyned with extraordinary gyft off foretellinge thinges to come necessary for the primitiue churche but now no more in vse yt can not be doubted but that the office ys ceased as well as the gyft wherupon we may conclude That seinge as Saint Paule witnessethe onely Apostles Euangelistes Prophetes Pastors and Doctors were geuen by Christ to the edifyinge off the churche and the work off the ministery That the three first ceasinge there remaine only Pastors and Doctors perpetuall and ordinary ministers off the word In deede sometymes the lord extraordinarily in a confused state where is no place off ordynary callinge stirreth vp as be did in our tyme as yt were certen newe Apostles to lighten the world agayne with the light off the gospell And Eusebius maketh mencion off some who saith he with a heauenly zeale off followinge the Apostles went preachinge the gospell to the Indians But I speake off the Ordinary state off the churche suche as oures ought to be after so many yeeres Therfore Sainct Paule in the xij to the Romans speakinge off this state makethe no mencion off Apostles Euangelistes or Prophetes but only off Teachers and exhorters callinge Pastors Exhorters as it shall appeere hereafter Neither was i◠needfull that they should continewe any longer in the churche no more then it is needfull after the platforme be drawen that the master builder tarie any longer but that there be carpenters and workmen to builde and raise the worck as he hathe appointed And it seemethe that our Sauior Christ in the stablishinge off his kingdome followed a kind off order not diuers from that which is vsed by earthly kinges and princes Who at the daie off ther coronacion and for a certen time after make many officers for diuers and sondry vses who serue not only for a solemnitie pompe and shewe but also to great vse and seruice for that time but when thinges are set in order and the kingdome stablished are vsed no longer So Christ our lord and king when as beinge ascended into heauen he was as it were inuested into his kingdome created Apostles and suche other officers which should set his kingdome in order and appoint and ordeine a certen ordinary state for the gouernment and administracion off it which being so established and set in order Those offices should cease and the kingdome should be gouerned as they had appointed Therfore theris no cause why we should think the loue ād care off our Sauior towardes his churche to be diminished for this cause or that he dealethe not bountifully and liberallie with vs no more then subiectes for the like cause haue occasiō to suspect ther kinges good will and fauor to be chaunged towardes them For these thinges are but for a certeyne time and perteine to the beginninge off the kingdome which time seemethe necessarilie to require some other kinde of order then all the rest that followeth Therfore to cōtinewe the same similiritude after he was crowned-kinge he scattered in great aboundāce spirituall giftes off knowledge prophesyinge healinge and other graces as gold and siluer amonges his people All the conduites ranne with sweet and most pleasant wyne All the pipes and cockes ranne with rose water and other sweet and plesant waters But allthoughe he geueth vs dailie all thinges liberally and plentifully yet he geueth vs not dailie a Largesse as at the tyme off his coronacion Therfore we ought to be content with that liberalitie which the lord shewethe vnto vs and not to looke to haue allwais alike The same reason is off the perpetuall mynisters off the word with whom he would haue vs to be contented and not to wishe for the first and those which were extraordinary and apointed to serue but for a tyme For as some thinge was geuen more liberally and extraordinarilie to the extraordinary tymes off the churche So we are sufficiently prouided for off all thinges which belonge to the continuall and necessarie vse off the churche Therfore beinge content with this meane estate and condicion Let vs vse that which is giuen vnto vs and seeke not for offices which serued but for a tyme in the perpetuall gouernment off the churche nor wil he extraordinary functions in an ordinary state Wherfore we ought to haue Pastors and Doctors appointed in our churche and not to reteine still the extraordinary office off preachers which yet I reproue more sparingly for the respect I haue to many worthie men who haue labored with some fruite after this sort for I see that some by the negligence off those who ought to haue prouided meete Pastors for the churches for the loue they had vnto the gospell thought it lawfull for them in these tymes to take vpon them this Apostolicall or Euangelicall kind off office and embassage wheras rather they owght to haue vrged the full and perfit reformacion off our churche and to haue striuen by the word off god that euery church might haue bene prouided off a fit Pastor And that the Lordes heritage might be no more left barren and vntilled left that at the last the Lord be angry with vs and take it from vs and let out his farme to other that will dresse it better But iff there be any which please them selues to muche in this gadding abroade thorough out the churches and will contend they may do so by the example off the Apostles and Euangelistes let them shew vs the signes off ther Apostleship as Saint Paule did to the Corinthians Let them proue that they are indewed with those Apostolicall gyftes off knowledge and vnderstanding tonges healinges doinge off
ther is no cause why any man should feare that sentence as yf it were this thunderbolt which I haue described But as there hath bene fault into muche lightnes and rashenes and pronouncinge so heauy sentences without iust cause so ther hath bene no lesse fault in this that by negligence this wholesome seuerytie when iust cause and occusion requireth is not executed For that meanes being taken awaye which the Lord would haue exercised in his church and wherby offences are to be prouided for and the whole authoritie translated from the consistorye and company off the Elders to the Bishop and his court where the Pastor must come to pleade yff he will hart from the coÌ„munion suche as are to be put back by the word off god the holie mysteries off god are with great lycence and without any punishement daily prophaned the holie thinges are prostituted and set open to Adulterers fornicators drunckerds and all kinde off vicious and sinfull liuers and which our Sauiour forbiddethe precious stoÌ„nes are cast before hogges and swine And the holie mysteries not only prophaned by taking awaie off this means wherby they might be kept from thes pollutions and propanacioÌ„s but the churche also is brought into an vndoubted dauÌ„ger For asmuche as it is to feared lest that the rest off the body be infected with the same contagion and euen they them selues who be suche heape and doble their condeÌ„nacion for that they dare take in hand to be so bold tho come in suche sort vnto the lords table For besides that the worship and seruice off god is preserued and kept chast pure and vndefiled by this seueritie the whole churche also and euen the parties them selues who are giltie are best by this meanes prouided for And that the church is thus preserued the Apostle plaiÌ„ly sheweth wheras willing them to cast out the leauen he geueth them warninge that the whole lumpe is sone sowred with a litle leauen And that this also doth apperteine to the benefit and safety off the gilty parties S. Paule sheweth noting this to be the end off deliueringe the incestuous man vnto Satan that his sowle might be saued in the daie off the Lord. And againe where he saith that they ougt to be contented with that correction which had bene done lest that peradueÌ„tur the partie should be swallowed vp with to muche greefe Wherby we see that this a medicine rather then a deadly punishement a sharpe aÌ„d bitter medicine in deede But we must remember that no remedy is so greuous as that which is most healthfull and holesome Seinge therfore excoÌ„munication hath so profitable necessarie â—od holesome vses in the churche let it be restored to vs agayne and established in suche sort as ys described by the word off God Let the holie Sacramentes off god be carefully kept from all pollucion and and prophanacion Let the leauen be purged and cast out off the churche that we may be a newe lump as we are vnleauened and sweet breade as the Apostle witnesseth Let vs procure diligently the helth off those membres which be in daunger that we enter not lame and maimed but whole into that life which by the word off God we hope for Let the Angell off God therfore be set at the gate off Eden that with his sharpe and glistering sword he may keepe back all polluted and vncleane persons from tastinge or touching off the tree off life Let the safety off the churche be procured and sought for by this kind of purgation and the amendemeÌ„t off suche as goe astray by these remedies sharpe in deed and vnpleasant but holesome notwithstanding and proffitable Thus in those two kindes or sortes all manner off kindes off Ecclesiasticall discipline aÌ„d remedyinge off offences is conteined onles some man think good that that execration be added which S. Paule denounceth and threatneth in the first to the Corinthians and the last chap. against all those who loue not the Lord Iesus and to the Galathians against suche as preache any other Gospell which S. Iude oute off Enoch semeth to thunder against all the wicked Which iff any man so take and referr to excommunication Saint Iohn seemeth to allude to the necessary vse off excoÌ„munication in the church were as it semeth out off Zachary who had prophesyed that in the kingdome of Christ ther should no more be any Cananite in the Land he declareth that in this cyty which he describeth in the xxij chap. ther should no more be any accursed thing as also in the xxj chap. and xxvij ver and the 22. chap. the 25. ver he alludeth to the same thing wheras he say that no prophane or abhominable thing no doggs inchaunters fornicators â—c shall enter into the cyty But that semeth to be more then a Medicine and to be rather a sentence off deathe and a threatning off the last Iudgement without hope off forgyuennes And some think yt agreeth rather to the vices them selues then to any certen persons as also the Apostle denounceth theÌ„ not against certeÌ„ men but generally against the wicked and reprobate Althoughe the primitiue churche pronounced this sentence euen against certeÌ„ meÌ„ as Socrates declareth in his history that Nestorius was accursed by the churche men which curse saith he we Christianes are wont to call the sentence that is pronounced against a blasphemer when as iff it were grauen vpon some pilleâ— we publishe this sentence to all the world Which iff we take in this sense yt semeth so to answer to excommunication as Destruction Which the Hebrews call Abaddon doth answer to that excision and cutting of whiche they call careth Which hath bene spoken off before Touching which Destruction the Hebrew interpretours confesse that they knowe not certenly what it is yet they do proue plainly that it is an other kind off punyshement distinguished from the other and off more greeuous and certen destruction And let thus much suffise to haue bene spokeÌ„ of the chiefe and soueraigne authority off the Assembly off the Elders in the gouernment off the churche wherby we may see by which of the three states of lawfull gouernmeÌ„t which are wher one is soueraigne or more or all the churche is gouerned For asmuche as the state and kind off gouernment is esteemed off the soueraigne whither he be one moo or the commynaltie Therfore for asmuch as all thinges are ordered and gouerned by the authority off certen chosen men who are cheife in the congregation in godlines and vertewe we may call the gouernment off the churche Aristocratie that is that gouernment and state wherin a fewe off the best do beare the rule or rather Theocratie that is the gouernment off god seing that they haue no authoritie to do any thing but by the word and commandement off god But these chosen aÌ„d picked out meÌ„ do so exercise this authoritie that they do well vnderstaÌ„d they execute no ciuill nor politique gouernment but that they so
it throwglie and with diligeÌ„tlie considereth how small frute hath groweÌ„ off so long trauaile and labor in the preaching off the gospell Out off this CaÌ„non lawe came all that romyshe Hierarchie primates Archbishoppes Lord Bishoppes Chancellors Achdeacons and there seruantes Officialls Commissaries and therest off that Trashe by whom the churche as it were taken prisoner is now off long tyme kepte in prison and bondage From hence commeth also that romische courte wheron a most shamefull markete off vnlawfull and wicked dispensacions and all gainful meanes off destrouing the churche is kepte wold to God that we had rather suffred the papistes when they were cast out to haue gone awaie with there bagge and baggage and that we had not had so greate a desire to be enriched by these spoiles and praies This is not beleue me to he enriched with the Iewells off the Egyptians but to be infected with there boyâ—es and soares These eare ringeâ— and Egyptian ornamentes which we haue gotteÌ„ are fytter to make a golden calfe with then to adorne and beautifie the tabernacle off god Therfore let vs send them backe againe froÌ„ whence they come and at the last take in hand an earnest and sincere reformacion off the churche Let vs abrogate and abolishe the authoritie off this Canon lawe then the which there is nothing lesse canonycall and which is the fyrst and greatest faulte in our discipline and the fountaine and originall off all the rest and Let this be the fyrst article off the newe reformacion that all thinges be exacted as nere as maie be vnto the worde off god That our particular lawes grownde vpon this foundacon and let so much be admitted for Ecclesiasticall discipline as may be confirmed by the voice and authoritie off God him selfe And thus muche let yt suffice generally to haue spoken what discipline is Now let vs devide the rest off this treatise as almost all politique doctrine is wont to be deuaded into two partes whereoff the fyrst declareth that which belongeth vnto them who bare any office or haue any charge in the churche the other part brieflie toucheth the dewtie off the rest off the bodie off the churche For as the Apostle saith all the bodie is not one membre nor all axe not Prophetes or Doctors but there is a certeine diuersite and dinstinction off Offices as off members wherby the whole bodie is preserued All which diuersitie and difference is deuided by the Apostle into two sortes who in the Epistle to the Corrinches calleth some Fellovve helpers and laborers naming the rest off the churche by the name off Sainctes Thus allso the Apostle to the Hebrewes deuideth the churche into those who had the ouersight and into the rest off the Sainctes Now to speake fyrst off the former part it is to be vnderstoode that to the bearing off any ecclesiasticall office there is a certeine vocation and calling to be vsed which a man owght to waite for being necessarie to the taking vpon him off any charge what soeuer which manner off apointing to an office wither we call it Creation or Assignacion or as the ecclesiasticall writers doe most vsually Vocacion It is the apointement off God to the bearing off some office in his churche in suche sorte and maner as he hath ordeined for euerie officer to be apointed by Which calling to the Bearing or the excuting off any ecclesiasticall charge and function hath all tymes bene holdeÌ„ so necessarie that no man hath bene thowght to exercise any lawfull authoritie therin who had not fyrst off all in his owne conscience wytnesse off the calling off God thereunto and after also off the churche apointing him according to Goddes decree and ordinaunce For that sentence off the Apostle is generall that no man owght to take this honor vnâ—o him but he that is called thereto as was Aaron For this doctrine off the necessytie of a Vocaâ—on and Calling did not so once growe ouâ— off that noble rodde off Aaron togither with the Almandes that yt fell afterwardes also from the tree togither with them but this AlmaÌ„d three off Aaron sette and planted by the witte and labor off Moses florisheth euen to this daie So that we maie yet gather this doctrine off yt which is muche more precious then any Almondes or other frute what soeuer Nere to the same place in Moses is rehersed also a notable iudgement off God whereby yt semeth that the lorde ment to ratefie this lawe off the necessitye off Vocation for euer wherein we see that neyther the heauens could abyde to loke vpoÌ„ nor the earthe to beare so shameles boldnes but the one melting consumed with fire such as without a calling would take vpoÌ„ theÌ„ the priesthoode and the earthe gaping and opening it selfe swallowed theÌ„ vp aliue which owght to be a lesson to vs for euer not only as Moses writeth that not man burne incense before the lorde but only they which are off the stocke off Aaron and are thereby called thereunto but also that no man be so bolde as to peruert or alter that order which God hath established in his churche and to arrogate vnto hiÌ„ that honor which he hath by no right or lawfull calliÌ„g obteined Hitherto beloÌ„geth also that which is writteÌ„ off Peres vzzach that is to saie off the breache which the lorde made in vzzach who was stricken sodainlie to deathe only for that beyonde the bondes off his calling he put to his hand and held vp the arcke of God which shaked and was readie to fall which was lawfull only for the Leuites to touche So the the Lord did no more spare Vzza attempting beyonde his vocacion to touche the arke althoughe his entent and purpose were neuer so good then he had pardoned before Aarons kinsmen But if we require yet witnesses of greater authoritie we may reade that king vzziah was stricken with the leprosie for that being not content with his kinglie office he wold haue taken vpon him the Priestes office also Thus the lorde hath ratified and sealed vp this parte of discipline with most grieuous aÌ„d fearfull punyshement and the same not once but oftentimes executed to this entent that this lawe might for euer be off such authoritie in the churche that no man should euer dare to be so bolde and hardie as to breake yt Wherefore seing that god neuer forgaue or lefte vnpunished this faulte in any degree state or person but punyshed the leuites and euen Aarons owne howse and familie SathaÌ„ and Abyram also being Princes off tribes yea Vzziah being a king and that so sharpelie and seuerelie so greate punishemeÌ„t in such personages fire from god the earthe opening hir mowthe Sodaine death and the most fylthie disease off the leprosie owght to stricke such a feare into our hartes that we suffer not sacred functions and offices to be prophaned by voloÌ„tarie officers aÌ„d such as take them vpon them without any lawfull
voice of his father whereby being declared the Beloued sonne of God in whome only the father was well pleased he might be sent out to goe off his embassage ▪ he had disputed indeede once before with the Doctors in the Tēple but that was no full execuciō off any publique office but as yt were a certeine florishe ād plaieng at wasters whereby he prepared him selfe vnto a full combate and a greater battel Lykewise did the Apostles who did not thrust them selues in to the churche without his cōmanmandement and apointment but waited for that voice Goe preache the Gospell and baptize those which beleue The same modestie appeared in the Bishoppes of the primitiue churche so lōg as it cōtinewed vncorrupted and in goode estate for after as they were not afraide to enter into the churche by fraud and doceyte so being once entred in they behaued them selues in yt with like faithfullnes and modestie that they entred in whie doe we not therfore bridle this posting and spurring for the mynisterie and contenting our selues with the godlie and zealous desire off our mynde and our laboure and studie to prepare our selues thereunto flee and avoide this shamefull ambicion These so notable and worthie examples let vs esteme as a lawe made against Ambicion which yff we shal be so bolde as to transgresse let vs assure our selues that one daie in a most solempne courte and assemblie we shal be charged with Ambicion Neyther only in the office off a Bishoppe but in all other Ecclesiasticall charges this woyng off places and offices owght to be estemed vnmette and vnworthie for the modestie off any Christian man and how muche better were yt to send backe againe this laboring for offices and sutorlike care vnto Rome from whence yt came For as muche then as greate fruite ys lost by this ambicious seking for offices and honor which they reape who are fully persuaded off there calling and off the wille off God appointing them thereunto Seing also the examples off our Sauior Christe off his Apostles off the purer and primitiue churche doe call vs from yt and exhortethe vs to all sobernes and modestie and that hereby greate wrong is done vnto God whose authoritie is not waited for and that bothe the Lordes ordinaunce and our owne proffitte and commoditie calleth vs backe from this hunting after places and and offices Let vs at the lengthe amende the custome which we haue that to come flocking from all partes to that place where orders as we call them by a popishe name are geuen by the bishoppe to seke and sewe for them to bring letters off Lordes or Iustices or some other off our frendes in our commendacion and fauoure Fynally Let vs amend whatsoeuer yt is whereby a lawfull calling may be corrupted and stained and now at the Lengthe which we owght to haue done long agoe Let vs decree according to the worde off God that no man hereafter sewe for any calling in the churche Let euerie man more shamefastlie and modestlie offer his labour and diligence Let all men kepe them selues at home and there abyde and wayte for the voice off God and authoritie off those who are chosers to the taking vpon him off any ecclesiasticall charge or function There do yet remaine certaine thinges to be spooken off ecclesiasticall officers touching the execucion off that office wherunto they be called Off which the first is that the vocacion wandre not freely wher it listethe but be ioined with a charge off some certeine place and churche For yt is not here as yt is in the profession off the arts that we should esteeme thes orders as certein commendacions and the churches allowinge off any mans worthines as it is in them that by the Iudgment and authoritie off the vniuersities are preferred to the profession off the liberall sciences or off the cyuall law or phisick or any other such like For they haue none apointed them whom they should teache or heale or geue counsell vnto or wher they should exercise ther profession but as they see it commodious for them selues go to thos places which they thinck fyttest for them or iff they thinck good sit idle at home But the ministers apointement ought not to be suche that hauinge receiued as it were the commendacion and allowance of lerned men they should after provide a place for them selues as they thought most commodious or ells sit idle all ther life tyme at vome iff they list For thes admissions and allowances off studentes are geuen vnto thē as honors and rewardes which haue no more labor hanginge vpon thē then they list and iudge to be profitable for them But thes honors are suche that men are rather chareged then preferred by them and indeed rather to be esteemed burthens then honors whose nature is suche that as gardaynshipppz are graunted not for his cause who is chosen but rather for theirs who haue neede off their care helpe and labor So that iff ther be no suche in the churche ther is no cause off apointinge any to ecclesiasticall charges Therfore the Apostles did at no tyme appoint mynisters or deacons that afterwards should prouide them selues churches wher they should teache or whos treasury they should ouersee or ells be idle if they would but they ordeined deacons Pastors and Elders as the necessytie off the churche did require Thus we reede in the sixth off the Actes that when the state off the churche off Ierusalem did require the Apostles ordeined deacons ouer the treasury off that churche to see the orderinge off it and the prouision for widowes and pore folkes Thus also Paule and Barnabas in the xiiij off the actes ordeined elders in euery churche and neyther lefte the churches as orphanes with out any to care and prouide for them neither apointed any elders but vnto suche certen chuches as had need off them So also Sainct Paule expressely commandeth Titus whom he hade left in Crete to set the churches in order that he should appoynt Elders in euery citye that is to say wher ther was any churche or nomber off thos that beleeued And for this same cause I thinck ther is scarcely any wher in the holy scriptures mencion made off Elders and Deacous wher together with all is not mencioned the name off the churche place or cytie wher in they did exercise ther office Thus Paule in the Epistle to the Philippians maketh mencion off ther Bishoppes and Deacons Thus also also Sainct Luke writethe in the Actes Sainct Paule sent for the Elders off Ephesus and that the churche off Antioche sent vnto the Aoostles and Elders at Ierusalem aboute the question off Circumcision And also in Saint Peter writinge to the churches wchich wer scattered in Pontus and Galatia in the fifte chapiter I exhort saithe he the Elders which ar amonges yow that is to say the Elders which are set ouer your seuerall churches And in the same place he
commendeth also vnto the Elders the flocks which ar amonges them that is to say to euery one off them ther owne flockes wherby yt may appeere that they were set ouer certen flockes And these be not only the examples off the Apostles but the lawes which they geue vs and the commandementes which they left vs to ordeyne Elders and Deacous in the churche as the necessitie and state theroff shall require And sure I cannot tell how he can thinck him sellfe to haue receyned any office who with out doinge any man wronge may sitt idle iff he list Offten tymes the auncient Sinodes made decrees against thes idle orders that leaue a man so free bindinge him to no certen charge That no man should be ordeyned an elder as they vse to speake yt without a title that is to say without a churche And suerly iff all wer not confused and trobled in the Discipline off our churche we could neuer beare so notable disorder that suche kind off allowinges should be esteemed lawfull ministeries which ar then only Mynisteries off the churche when they that ar thus commended and allowed off haue gotten a churche that will vse ther labor and who in the meane tyme eyther do nothinge or ells goe about as they lift in all the realme as roges and masterles seruantes seekinge some mayster that will hyre them and vse ther Labor Suche tymes in deed ar spoken off in the stories off the Iudges wher Ionathan the Leuite wantinge a highe place and an aulter went rouinge to let out his seruice to any that would hyre hym but it is added in the same place that ther was then no kinge in Israell But this great confusion was taken away afterward by Dauid and Salomon and euery one accordinge to the ancient prescripcion off Moses and Iosus wer appointed ther proper seates townes and cynes â—o occupy them in Therfore whie do we that lyue vnder the kingdome off CHRIST our true Salomon who hath sett all this in very Good order whie do we I say suffer the churche to be stayned with so notable a spott and ordeyne not accordinge to the word off God that no no man be appoynted to any Ecclesiasticall office But he that is called to a certen churche wher to to exercise it And why do we not accordinge to this example call home the Priestes to the Arcke off the Lord and the leuites to the appointed cities Ther remaineth somewhat that lickwise perteineth to all that beare office in the churche That is that they so execute them that they may not be accused for neglectinge or pretermitinge ther duties For in the church what so small a charge is there which we ought not to studie with all faithfulnes laboure and diligence to make florishe to beautifie and adorne seinge we haue the Angelles for lookers on to see how we vse and behaue our selues in the execucion theroff and the Lord him selfe a most liberall rewarder off the one parte yff we do it well and contrariwise a most seuere Iudge and Auenger iff we do it not accordinge to our dutie For that which the Apostle coÌ„mandethe to geue Archippus warrninge off That he should diligently see to his office which he had receyued off the Lord is to be extended also to all thos that beare any charge or office in the church off God and euery one ought to thincke it to perteine to them selues which the same Apostle admonisheth Tymothie off that is That they discharge ther dutie and make knowne ther ministerie by all meanes yea further all that are called to any office or gouernment in the churche must vnderstand that the same hange he ouer ther headdes which the Apostle declareth that he was afraide off iff being called therunto he should not preache the Gospell For ther is none so litle a charge in the howse off god wheroff one day most streight Accompt shall not be asked In vayn then shall men dreame off pardons dispensacions and priuiledges All shal be called to Accompt to declare with what faithfulnes and diligence they haue done ther dewties They shal be â—e compelled to aunswer ther most deadly enemyes that off them selues shal be readie to accuse them for not hauing discharged ther dutie And the accompte shal be made in the greatest and most solemne assemble that euer was for seing that it appeare the by the parable off the taleÌ„tes comÌ„itted to the seruantes that a most streight accompt shal be asked off the lest gift off god that we receyne in this world how muche streighter do we thinck it wil be for theÌ„ that haue receeyued gouerment in the churche and iff he shal be so hardly delt with that neglecteth one taleÌ„t that he hath receiued They that beare greatest offices in the churche and vpon whos faithe and credit in discharging off them the saluacion theroff dothe in a maner depend how carefully ought they bothe day and nyght to thinck off dischardging this dewty hauinge so great a reckoninge to make not off one Talent but off the churche which our Lord Iesus so deerely loued that for loue theroff he vouchsafed to come froÌ„ the highest heauens into thes lower partes off the earthe to redeeme it and purchase it not with gold or siluer as saithe Sainct Peter but with his precious bludd But I do otherwise then I was purposed that am fallen to threatninges and exhortacions wheras in the beginninge I only purposed to declare what ought to be doone and what we do not And yet ther be so great faultes committed in this behalff that it seemuch nothinge can be greuously and vehemently enoughe spoken against them For the chiefe charges off the churche ar not only left vndischarged for negligence but dispensacions and priuiledges are granted that exempt ministers from the necessary doinge off ther dewty and geue Pastors leaue off this condicion to leaue ther flocke and ther churches yff they leaue an other in ther place to read seruice vnto them And for them that will goe to the vniuersitie by an ordinary lawe it is lawfull to be absent three yeeres and the realt with a litle mony may purchase the like dispensacions in the Archbishops court and market Off the saÌ„e sort also be thos bulls that are bought in the same market that geue ycence off heaping so many churches or as they call them Beneficies to gether which Faculties as they call them besides the intollerable couetousnes wher with also for some mennes diligence in this behalffe is ioyned extreeme need and pouertie off a great nomber off other as commonly it commeth to passe wher a fewe men rake all vnto them selues bringe in aâ—so into the churche a necessitie off neglectinge off dewty seinge yt is impossible that one should be able to serue more churches and thos often tymes the lenght off the whole land a sonder In which horrible destroyinge off the churche and neglectinge and for sakinge the Lordes flock streyinge in the
mountaines and wandringe in the woodes with out a guyde which he him selfe spared not to spēd his life for to bring yt into the way againe we are in no part inferior to the Papistes them selues Is this then our discipline is this that order which some men often tymes praisinge in wordes desire nothinge less in deed Is this the gouernment and administracion off our churche and yet no man may be suffred freely to speake for the reformaciō of the churche and restoringe againe of the pure and perfit gouernmēt of the Apostles Seinge thes are most manifestly contrary to the example off our Sauior Christ and off the Apostles Seinge they threaten the certeyne ruyne and ouer throw off the churche Seinge they do not only shake but turne vpward the pillers off the same Haue we not Good cause to be moued bothe for the Glory off God and the saluacion of the churche to requyre more holye ordinaunces and a better gouernment off the same Can any man esteeme thes light matters and off small waight that the sacred Lawes off God are openly violated and broken with oute any shame that the churche which Christ hath redemed with his bludd is neglected That ther is no regard had off discharginge off dewties That a man taketh to hym selfe which the Aungelles dare not and that the Archbishopp dare geue the Pastor leaue contrary to the expresse commandement off God to forsake his flock or graunt him suche priuiledges wheroff that same dothe necessaryly follow which no Archangell may challendge to him selff Or shall thos thinges also which I haue handled from the begynninge to this place be esteemed small faultes to ground Ecclesiasticall discipline not vpon the word off God and the will off the Lord Iesus But off the canon lawe Which suerly I doubt not to affirme to be the very fountaine and springe from whence all the rest off the Corruptions do flow that popishe priestes womē Archdeacons and Chauncelers with ther Officialles Commissaryes and the rest off that Trashe do bringe ther impure handes and neuer sanctified vnto God to do his holie seruice to preache his word to handle and distribute his facred mysteries to order and gouerne his churche And nothinge seare any punishement off this ther boldnes and most vnworthie prophanacion off the holie offices That Ionathan the Leuites shamefull example in seekinge a Maister or as we call yt in gettinge the good will off a Patrone is taken to be followed That Dauid and Salomons example in callinge the Priestes and Leuites to ther cyties and townes and the Apostles in ordeininge no ecclesiasticall officer but vnto certen churches is neglected and contemned And last off all that Thes wicked and intollerable faculties Prerogatiues Priuiledges and dispensacions tha◠I haue spoken off at suffered in our churche Are all thee I say to be countid trifles or certen light faultes and tollerable errors For my par e suerly I thincke as allso I suppose all they will do that will were this by the word off God as by the gold smythes ballance that ther is neuer a one off these light and small to be esteemed but that they ar all heynous trespasses and matters off Treason to be examined and iudged off in the highest courtes Therfore in the name off God let vs not seeke to bringe this holie doctrine off reforminge our discipline into hate and displeasur vnder a shew that yt is a newe and a false pretēce that all innouaciōs ād chāges are dangerous but rather abrogating thes most vniust and vnrighteous lawes dispensacions and as I may well call them pardones and indulgencies at the last let vs call agayne that maner off gouerninge the churche and that discipline being now lost which the Lord him selfe by his embassadors and Apostles hathe apointed Thus hauinge described and layd out the lawfull vocacion off all those which occupie any publique place in the churche let vs now come to the partes and members of the same which especially are two wherin the right maner off geuinge thes offices doth consist that is In election and ordinacion which is so properly called Election is the appointinge by the Elders the rest off the churche allowing it off a fitt man to the bearinge off some office in the churche And as for Election that it is necessary to the geuinge off any off thes offices it may appeare euen off that that S. Paul ioineth it with examinacion and trial and diligently warneth Timothie that he lay not on his handes vpon them that be vnworthie but only vpon thos that after a iust triall beinge had are found meet and chosen That same is proued also by the continuall vse off the Apostles who by the iudgmēt and authoritie off the churche apointed Bishopps to teache and Deacons for the orderinge off the Treasury off the churche For Christ hath not chosen any certen hous or famyly as it was in old tyme vnder the law wherin the gouernment off the churche should all wais remaine He gaue herein no right off Petigree stock and blood no ministers by inheritance but he would haue the iudgement left free vnto his churche and the offices theroff to be gyuen by choyse and worthines Off which election for asmuche as it was so necessary for the state off the churche that without yt the churche it selfe could not longe continew Our Sauior Christ was very carefull and therfor declared particularly and distinctly all thinges which apperteined to the orderyng theroff For he hath perfectly and diligently shewed bothe who owght to choose and to whom especially this care ought to belonge and what ought to be followed and regarded in chosinge off euery one For althoughe this question and controuersy off the chosers hathe beene diuersly disputed off by lerned men yet allmost all off them cōsen in this that ther must be moe to deale therin and that so great and so wayghtie a charge and belonginge to the especiall and singuler commodytie or discomoditie off the wholl churche ought not be committed to the authoritie off any one but be ordered and ruled by the iudgement and consent off many And this is the generall opynion off all thos that euer disputed lernedly and wisely in this cause from which I thinck no man can dissent but the Papists and they that haue succeded them in that authoritie which they most vnuistly and not without open iniury and tyranny doe vsurpe For the Bishopps that challeng this power vnto them selues by ther meere authoritie and ther owne only Iudgment and aduise to apoint the officers off the churche cannot challenge this by any right or law off God but exercise a very tyranny thoughe indeed longe agoe browght into the churche which lest I may seeme to haue said with out cause and to haue condemned them with out hearinge them to say what they can let them shew forth from whom and by what right this infynit power and authoritie is come into ther handes yff they say they haue
interpreters wheroff ar so defyled why do some complaine that both other myschifes ar spronge of this reformacion which we require and especially this that the Papistes being offended with our contencion are further estraunged from embracinge the gospell For what is it that may more further ther saluacion then iffthes offences be taken away wherat they stumble and ar hindered Off which so shamefull disorder as ther be many causes so I allwayes esteemed that the greatest and most waightie That we leauinge this exact maner off tryenge and examininge which the Lorde hath commanded vs to obserue and followe in this behalfe keepe only I cannot tell what shadow and image off yt which we receyued from the Papistes The receiuinge off which one error to followe the fancies off men in steade off the certen lawes off god hath brought in as vsually yt doth infinite other wherby it cōmeth to passe that the most worthy order and degree is most vnworthely prophaned that the church like the popishe sanctuaries is full off vile and vicious persons off all sortes and the gospell euill spoken off by the enemies For wheras certen men haue authoritie that euery one off them twise a yeere may giue orders to whom and to how many they list and that so great a multitude off suters come to them at the tyme off geuing off orders howe is yt possible that one man in a day or two should be able to proue and to examyn so many sewters beinge all for the most part vnknowne to him how can he take any assay or make any triall either off Iudgment in religion or off ther honestie in conuersacion For to subscribe is a small matter with them that thinck it the point off a wise man to dissemble that dispence with them selues to do any thing that they may distroy the church therby and whom Euripides hath perswaded to sweare with the tonge and to keepe the mynd vnsworne Neither is that excuse that is brought for those off vnhonest life any thinge more sufficient which is wont to be made by the testimonialles which commonly the suters beinge vnto them seinge the Apostle expressly warnethe Timothe that he be not brought by other mens Iudgmentes to lay handes to sone vppon any man But iff other do it rashly yet he should keep him selfe free and vnspotted from any such fault Althoughe euery man knoweth what waight thes testimonialles ar off seinge some off fauor commend ther kinsfolkes and Allies vnto the Bishopp by ther lettres or others whom they would gratifie by ther authoritie other some euen for couetousnes and hopinge to deuide the pray with them that by ther meanes obteyne the benefice For the couetousnes off some Patrons is to to well knowne who for ther owne gaine sake wil couenant with him with whome they may for leaste and sometyme iff they haue any seruant in the house that can read because the matter may be more easylie gon throwgh with such a one who would be very willinge to geue the greater parte off his benefice iff he obteine yt by his maisters commendacion and authority to chaunge his vile and base estate with some more honest and liberal condicion they writee for him to the Bishop who hauinge this testimoniall either for negligence or often tymes to curry fauor with suche men doth easylie adimit hym Therfore ther must be a triall off ecclesiasticall officers that all dishonesty may be taken away from that most worthy order and degree that ought to be a patterne and example to all other which beinge done order would be takē that here after before Electiōs ther be a dew ād iust proofe and triall had of thos that are to be chosen that we may exactly keep and follow the Lordes Canons ād decrees in this behalfe in keepinge wherof other churches at this day florishe and haue done now a long tyme And thus muche off Election now let vs come to ordinacion Ordinacion is a settinge a part off the partie chosen vnto his office and as it were a kind of inuesting him into it For after the election a certen order and ceremonie is wont to be vsed wherby the parties chosen enter as it wer anto the possession off ther office Now this ordination as we call it consisteth especially in two ceremonies Namely in praier wherunto also I referre the declaringe off his dewty and laying on off handes For the gospell is content to haue the ministers theroff inuested and ordeined by thes most simple ceremonies nor hath any need off that carefull and curious consecracion off the lawe with which the priestes and Leuites were consecrated And as for praiers S. Luke telleth that when Paule and Barnabas were commanded by the holie ghost to be separated for the worck off God the breethren praied for thē before they were sent out to go on ther message Lickwise also the Apostles praied for the deacōs which the people had chosen that the lord would blesse this newe chamberlainshippe as it were to his honor and the profit of his churche that he would ēdew the parties chosē with worthy gyftes and able thē for the worthy execution of ther office For ther is no doute but the Apostles applied ther praiers to the tyme ād state of the churche ād that as before in the election of Matthias so now also in the admissiō and allowance off the Deacons they praied as the present occasion off the busines did require which was then to be done The other ceremony is the layinge on off handes in praier time vpon the heade off the chosen for so it seemeth that it was wont to be vsed as a thinge belonginge vnto praier that bringing in the chosen before God and as it were presentinge thē vnto him the praiers off the church might be kindled ād be the more zealous ād vehemēt and that it was wōt to be vsed to this end yt apearethe bothe by other places wher menciō is made therof in the scriptures ād also in the 19. off Mathew whē he tellethe that children were brought to Christ that he might lay his handes on thē and pray for them as also in that place of the actes which I named before wherin it is repeated that the Apostles praied laying on ther handes vpō the Deacōs which were chosē by the church But this is a generall ēd Ther be other proper ād peculier vses of it wheroff the first perteineth to the partie chosē the secōd to all the church The partie chosē was warned by this ceremony that he was seperated ād set apart to the worck off god as appereth in the 13. off the act and that he was taken out off the rest of the people to the doinge off that office as it were by the hand off god him selfe wherby he might vnderstād that it was no longer in his owne power to do what he list but that god had called him to his worke off whome he should haue a plētiful reward if he did
Sainct Peter saithe an euerlastinge crowne off glory This is therfore the dewty off a Bishopp which I will not here curiously enquyre how faithfully they execute seinge they be bownd to no speciall charge but content with a generall ouersight off the Dioces haue exempted them selfes from the necessary charge off rhe Bishoppes dewty Let vs rather see wither I haue iustly compassed in the whole office off a Bishopp in the handlynge off Religion and the seruice off god For it is an old opinion and receiued off long tyme that Bishoppes are not so lymited with doinge off the seruice off God But that they may also handle the thinges off this liffe and gouerne both at once the church and the common welth Heroff yt comethe that our Bishoppes are Iustices off peace and haue authoritie to see the Queenes peace kept and to cast the breakers off yt into prison and bondes That they haue authoritie to heere pleas and also to Iudge off in ther courtes pleas off willes and Testamentes and other cyuill thinges Heroff also it is that the same titles off state and honor that are geuen to the noble men are geuen to them wheras Archbishopes are saluted by the most honorable and Princely title off Grace An other is called Bishopp off the order off the garter An other Counte Palatine And all off them honorable Lordes whervpon some are displeased that the Chauncelorshipp off this realme The Presidentshipp off york and suche like honorable offices which were wont in popery to be there 's are now geuen to horable Lordes off cyuill estate And complayne off yt as thoughe they had wrong offred them Therfore they do vniustly and with out any cause and contrary to ther dewty desyre and vsurp thes thynges or ells I haue not done well to enclose all the office off a Bishopp in the administracion off heauenly and spirituall thinges wheroff let vs se whither is to be thought That that is ould and auncient yt may sufficiently enoughe appere by this that such Ambition and busyinge off them selues is forbidden by the old Cannons yea furder the greuous complaynt off some off the old farthers touchinge this matter are knowen well enoughe and to be found in ther writinges who partly invey and sharpely reproue them that brought in this confusion partly lament that by that meanes they were called from ther owne particuler dewty which also we here saye some off ours do complaine off and confesse that they haue only one houre in the weeke to thincke off preachinge And that in a manner wonne by force out off the importunitie off clieÌ„tes whom TereÌ„cies menedemus worthely would merueyle at to see theÌ„ to haue so much leysure from ther owne busines that they may look to other mens But this that is now so amplified and growen that it is become intollerable and no lesse daungerous for them selues then for thee church sprange at the first as all most all other mischiefes haue done from begynninges that were not so euill For first off all this busines was w holie pryuate and controuersies were frely giuen ouer to the Bishoppes by the consent off the parties who trustinge there conscience thought by this meanes to haue the best issue off ther matter After it grewe by the Authorytie of Princes who partlie off a good mynd but not warie enough and off a desire to adorne and beutifie the churche partly also because they them selues were hindered with warres and externall busines gaue authority to Bishoppes to correct euen suche with ciuill punishment as should troble the churche Last off all it so infinitely spread out her bowghes by the couetousines and ambicion off the Bishoppes that ther was no honorable office in the ciuill state which they did not partly begg partly receyue willingly and with great thanckes being offered till they had myngled the churche and the comon welth ciuill and ecclesiasticall matters and coÌ„founded the kingdome and the bishprick to gether But as that which god hath ioyned no mann can seperate So we may not thinck that any maÌ„ can ioyne or couple to gether that which he hath seuered and deuided a sonder And iff it be vnlawfull to altor and change the boundes that our fathers haue sett how much lesse is it laufull to change those boundes and lymites that the Lord hathe bounde vs with all and wherby he would haue vs seuered and deuided from others and by this deceit to encrease Patrimonies and possessions For that ther is a great difference betwene the cyuill magistrat and them that haue charge off ecclesiasticall matters That sufficiently dothe proue that wheras first off all both powers were confounded togither in Moses The lord leauing him only the charge off the common welth committed the gouerment off the churche to Aaron his brother And set so great distance betwene them bothe that the kingdome could not onâ—y not be gouerned by the highe priest him selfe but also by none off the same familie name or trib Nor contrary wise the priesthood off any off the kinges stock or off the royal bâ—ud house or tribe and fynally off none but a Leuite So they were diuided a sonder not only in ther owne persons but also by families and by tribes which distinction and difference was allwais diligently obserued by all that came after vntil king vzziah being puffed vp with pride as it is expresly noted in the holy history vsurped the priesthood and burnte incense in the temple off god But he weÌ„t not away scotfree with his pride but being sodenly stricken with the leprousy was made an example for all ages to take heed off the like boldnes to confounde and mingle thos to gether which the Lord did deuide and set a sonder But ther was no priest for many yeres after that medled him selfe with the gouerment off the kingdome vntill first Aristobolus most vnaduisedly after the retourne from Babylon ioyned the kingdome and the priesthoode the myter and the crowne togither For wheras we read that Elias Samuel and Daniel exercised both offices It was alltogither extraordinary neither ought to be drawne to the ordinary and perpetuall gouernment off the church All thoughe vnder the law many thinges wer done by the Priestes which cannot be now done by Bishoppes And they wer put to many thinges to which yt wer not lawfull that the Bishoppes vnder the Gospell should be applied which was in respect off the publique law wheroff they wer as well keepers and interpreters as off the morall beinge made and gyuen by the same lord so that it was needfull to vse them to many thinges whereunto ours may not neither ought not to be put As for the Gospell what can be cleerer then the difference that it maketh in this case wheras our sauior him selffe off whose example we ought to lerne refused to deuide the herytage betwene the brethren as a thing not belonginge to his office and offten tymes he reprouethe and repressethe the
it yeldeth the best fruite and as it were a golden haruest when it is diligently carefully and painfully labored and tilled when ther is a greate and a carefull heede taken off the seedes when the churches are looked vnto with as great diligence as the campe and armie is watched in the feeldes And finally wheÌ„ they are labored by honest men For neither doeth the grownde respect the lawrell garlonde vpoÌ„ the ploughe share nor whither the plowe man weareth riche and costly embroidred garmentes but would haue him painfull laborsome diligent and full off trauell neither dothe the church looke for this outward pompe and shewe in her bishopp but for faithe diligence labor good and precious seedes honest busy and painfull handes and had a great deale rather haue hir husband man godl y lerned and diligent then mitred and Rocheted Whervpon it cometh to passe that when the feelde off Rome was plowed and tilled by Seranus and Cincinnatus and suche like worthie men and the church by Paul and Peter and suche like The encrease was very plentyfull but now as farre as we are gone from there example and paines takinge so much are our churches behinde and inferior to the feeldes off Ephesus and Antioche Therfore it is the deuty off all godlie bishoppes who desire to serue the churche and to be well esteemed in it rather for ther godlines and learninge then for this pompe and shewe seing they haue allready declared that the gospell is dearer vnto them then all the commodities off this life that iff they will discharge ther dewty they wold better fynishe and make perfect that which they haue allreadie well begonn and euen willinglie for the rest off the gospell which yet we want touching discipline once againe leaue and forsake that pompous state and dignitie and be more carefull for the glory off god the saluacion off the churche and keepinge a god conscience vnto them selues then for keepinge or mainteininge this false shewe off honor and glory and the vaine names off titles and dignities and retourne againe to the worcke off the ministerie and not as in a sence somewhat diuerse froÌ„ this the Apostle warnethe the Galathians finishe in the fleshe which they haue begonne in the spirit I knowe in deede how hard it is to perswade them which haue once tasted off this sweet inchaunting cuppe but seing bothe the commandement iff god ther owne callinge and vocacion and the proffit and commoditie off the churche doth require yt It becommeth them for the godlines they are off and for the life they haue spent in the professinge off the Gospell to leaue all for CHRIST and the Gospelles cause and to follow him wither he calleth and leadeth them and as they in a maner first taught and preached vnto vs the doctrine off the Gospell So they would be the first Authors to bring in the Discipline off the Gospell and vse ther estimacion credite and authoritie not to the ouerthrowing off the trewth off God but to the establishing and preseruing off the same But yff there be any for I cannot but hope well off many especially off thos who haue seene other reformed churches but I saie iff ther be any who either for couetousnes for ambicion or because they thinck this lordly state tollerable in Bishoppes will by no meanes be perswaded to rest and quiet them selues in that meane estate which becommethe the men off God they are to be compelled euen against ther willes and to be forced to retourne againe to the first and right institution off Bishoppes And surely iff we serche the fountaine and originall off thes great riches we shall find that they neither in the beginning Gott this wealth by any right nor yet keepe yt to this day not only because they do no duty off a Bishopp or Mynister But also because they wrongfully vsurpe that which belongeth vnto other For a great part off ther Goodes is that which in the beginninge was geuen for the reliefe off the poore which was committed as an almes vnto the Bishopp which as yt apperethe by the old cannons he should distribute by his advise and the consent off the company off the Elders But after when they had abolished the power and authoritie off the Elders and ruled all thinges alone accordinge to ther owne conscience They made them selues those pore men and tooke almes to ther owne vse and so grew riche and welthie by the want and necessitie off others An other part which they haue belongeth to the mynisters off other churches which was vnited to the Bishopprickes by Impropriations besides proxies and other tolles and fees which they take off the ministers Therfore what right haue they to vsurpe that as there owne which was geuen in tymes past for the maynteyninge off ministers in other churches Therfore when they haue restored to the pore and to other ministers that which is ther owne iff yet they haue more then is meete for a Bishop let them bestow it off other ther pore fellowe ministers who in many other places want necessaries by reason off the pouerty off the churches which they serue that at the last being content which an honest and reasonable liuinge they may retourne againe to thâ—r originall and first beginninge Thes wordes off diminishinge the pompe and welthe off Bishoppes as it displeasethe some who thinck that some credite and authoritie is gotten to the gospell therby So it pleaseth verie well thos that think this will be profitable for them and do allreadie gape for this praie and hope for this grea inheritaunce For thei thinking that we seeke only that the bishoppes might be put downe waite for the like praie by ther puttinge downe as they had sometimes at the ouerthowe off â—he abbais For as for Religion they care nor what become off it so they may waxe welthie by sacriledge and robbery And would not stick iff it were possible to crucifie Christ againe that they might cast lottes for his coate and deuide his garmeÌ„tes amonges theÌ„ For this our age hathe many suche souldiours many suche as Denis the king or rather the tyranne off Syra cusa was who think that a golden growne is not fit for God neither in sommer neither in winter and yet that it will serue them well at all tymes and seasons But iff they marck diligently what I saie they shall well perceiue that I fauor not in any respect there couetousnes and greedie desyre For I speake not heere off spoilinge the Bishoppes or robbing the goodes off the church and geuinge them away to most vnworthie men but rather that the neede off a great nombre may be relieued by the aboundance and excesse off a fewe that hospitalles may be mainteined and prouided for and which is the chiefe that the ministery may be established aÌ„d mainteined thorowe ought the realme so that by thes wordes they haue no occasion to hope or looke for any thing but rather to feare they loose not that
myracles and suche like Let them bring forthe the commission off this theyr so large embassage to all churches last off all let them proue that they are immediatly called therunto off god For not only one Bishopp but all the Bishops in the world are not able to ordeine and make and Apostle seinge that as it apperethe by the Argument I haue alleadged ther office is allready ceased They cannot be Euangelistes neither seinge that they were as yt were the Legates off the Apostles who in respect off them were as Proconsulles or Presidentes For Prophetes I think they will not say they be seinge they cannot tell vs off thinges to come Besides that we reade not that the Prophetes went thus abroade thoroughe out all churches but it seemethe rather that they were wont to abyde in certen places Wherfore takinge away extraordinary callinges and vocations out off the ordinarie state off the churche Let vs follow that certeine rule which the Lord hathe prescribed Let Pastors and Doctors be assigned vnto churches who are only the ordinary and perpetual ministers of the word off god apointed to the edificacion off the chuâ—che These thinges thus set downe let vs now see what the particuler charges and dewties off these two be And first let vs speake off Doctors whose office is more symple Doctors therfore I call Bishoppes who are occupied in the symple teachinge and expoundinge off the holie doctrine and trew Religion For it semethe that this was the office off Doctors symply to teache oute of god his word what was to be thought off god and off his worshipp and seruice what off Christ what the law is what the Gospell what ys the rule off our life what the hope and expectation off the life to come fynallye what to think off euery point off Religion without those vehement speeches wherby the mindes off men are either raised vp and comforted or beaten downe and made sadd For seing that Sainct Paule dothe lymite and bound the office off a Doctor by Doctrine and attributethe to an other office To exhort he seemethe to shewe that a Doctor is as yt were the schole maister and teacher off the principles off Religion off withe office how great aÌ„d manifold vse there is in the churche off god we shall easely vnderstand iff we consider how many there be emonges vs that be rude and know not the first principles and growndes off religion Which beinge vnworthy and vnseemely for a Christian churche and for our profession off the gospell Let Teachers and Doctors be prouided suche as we haue but a fewe right and lawfull in these our dais to teache the churches and especially the rude and ignorant For allthoughe we inuent a thousand waies we shall neuer promote the edification off the churche but only by those meanes and instrumentes which the Lord hath appointed for his work For with these the blessinge of god is ioyned which is not only wantinge to those who are made by vs how goodly a shewe so euer they haue but coÌ„trariwise they haue Cursinge for Blessinge Now to retorne to Doctors againe In the primitiue churche They were set to instruct in the Doctrine off faithe and Religion suche as were rude and ignorant For so Eusebius telleth that when in the churche off Alexandria many had fled away for feare of persecutioÌ„ so that no man had the charge of Cathechizinge OrigeÌ„ beinge a yonge man and But xviij yeres off age at the request off certen worthy men toke the charge vpon hym Wherwith all thoughe in the beginninge he ioyned also teachinge off grammar aÌ„d other artes yet he afterwards vnderstoode that yt beloÌ„ged not vnto his office so to doe and therfore gaue him selfe wholie to the expoundinge off the scriptures and instructinge off suche as were ignorant in religion The whom after one Hercules succeded in the same office whom before he had taken to him to helpe hym to teache who afterward was chosen from beinge Doctor to be Pastor and Bishopp off the same churche wheroff it may be gathered that in the primitiue churche this was an ordynarie office and that before Pastors and Bishops there were other also appoynted to be Doctors whose office did consist in expounding the scriptures and cathechizinge off the ignorant But as for our Doctorshippe suche as it was in tyme off popery and as coÌ„tynueth yet still I knowe neither from whence it came nor to what vse yt seruethe For they expounde not the scriptures in any certeine churche appointed vnto theÌ„ declaringe the naturall and true sence and meaninge off the word off god they do not teache the youthe nor cathechize the ignorant but lyue idly in the vniuertsities For it is no name off any lawfull office or function in the churche no not as yt is vsed in the vniuersities but only a name and title off honor and a commendacion off a mans knowledge in diuinitie so that it rather seemeth to serue to ambicion and vainglory theÌ„ to any vse and proffit They say there was sometimes an image maker named Passo who did so engraue the image off mercurye in marble-stone that a man could not iudge or discerne whither mercury were within or without the same Suche Mercuries and Images do our vniuersities make vs whose knowledge we cannot tell whither it be within them or without them for they proue not them selues to be right Mercuries by any speache eloquence or vtterance I knowe not what a shadowe and Image off vain contemplacion this is for true and Christian Religion bestowethe the gyftes that are receiued of god to the common vse and proffit off all the bodie Therfore these Mercuries are to be apointed to churches and to be set vp in highe and lightsome places that their speache and talke and other properties may proue them to be right Mercuryes in deed For suerly it is not tollerable that they should bury the lordes treasure in the earthe aÌ„d hid his light vnder a Bushell and as it is saide off one Aspendius a harper that they should playe on ther sweete harpes as they selues may onlie heare it Therfore let these goodly lights be put on caÌ„dlestickes that as Christ commandeth they may shine and geue light not only to them selues but to all that are in the house Let this riche treasure be laid out to the banck that when the Lord commethe he may receiue his owne with aduantage that is to say let these lerned Doctors be assigned and appointed to churches 〈◊〉 expound the Scriptures to Cathechize the rude and ignorant and by the example off Dauid a better and more excellent harper Let them awake in the morning to singe and awake ther harpes togither with them and call bothe riche and pore and all degrees and orders to heare them and sing and play not to them selues only but to the churche and set out there heauenly songes and dities with most plesant tune and melody in the hearinge also off many off
eare nor hearing in the body no nose nor smellinge no handes nor fealinge fynally nothing but the Eye and seinge So the Bishop cutteth off the Deacons as the handes from the body taketh away the Elders who do necessarilie serue to smell out and vnderstand many matters abolisheth the Assembly as if he should stopp vp the eares which are apointed for the hearing off controuersies and fynallie hath destroyed the whole body whiles he will haue yt nothing but an eye neither will suffer either the Deacons or the Elders or the Assembly to do any thing but only himselfe to heare handle and deale with all manner matters But what a body is this which is nothing but an eye for as the Apostle saith The whole body is not one member but many And if ther be nothing but an eie then where is the smellinge wher is the hearinge wher be the handes and wher be the other partes Surely God made the bodie otherwise apointed to euery membre his office and function Neither can the Bishopp say vnto the Deacon no more then the Eye vnto the hand that he hathe no need off him seing we see Apostles who were the clearest Eyes which euer were had neede off the Deacons helpe Muche lesse can I say that he hathe no need off the Elders or off the whole assembly Neither durst the Byshoppes arrogate thus muche to them selues in the begynninge but by litle and lytle as Ambition and dysyre off bearinge rule did encrease in them and the care off the churche did decrease in ther fellows at the last they came to this vnspeakable pride Wherunto this was the first steppe when as the name off a Bishopp which is common to all other ministers and there fellowes as yet appeerethe in the xx off the Actes beganne to be attributed to one alone who was chosen by the rest to this end that he might propound the matters which were to be handled vnto the Assembly and gather the voices and beare as yt were that office which the Consull did in the Senate off Rome But as yet he was chosen by the rest and that not for euer but for a tyme And althoughe he had the honor off the name yet for other thinges he vsed no priuate authority neither toke vnto him selffe any more geuinge off voyces or determyninge off matters then any off the rest he contynewed still in the common care and chardge off all the Assemblie to watche ād ouer see the flock and was carefull also off his owne particuler dewty to preache ād to teache the people neither pretēded the charge off the common care which he had with the rest to make yt a cloke for his ydlenes and to liue at ease and leaue his proper and peculier charge off preaching but kept still his owne churche as his standinge vpon the wall so that yet hether to euery thing But only the Arrogatinge off the name off Bishopp vnto him selfe was tollerable But afterwardes when as by the negligence and ignorance off Bishopps and ministers there were but a fewe who were meete to handle suche matters and many were vnlerned some also idle and negligent and cared not for the churche then began this authority and charge touchinge the Discipline off the churche to be allmost wholie geuen vnto one which occasion Ambition tooke and seing the tyme to serue so fitt for the purpose hoised vp the sailes vnto honor So yt became a perpetuall office wheras before they were chosen vnto yt for a tyme And all matters were gouerned and ruled by one mans Authoritie alone and no more by the voyces off his fellowes and off the Assembly But afterward that darknes encreasinge and couering all the churche when as fewe fit Mynisters were to be found not onely in one towne or cytie But in some whole countrie or prouince the Tyranny grewe greater and encreased still and brought vnder the subiection off one man all the churches which were in a whole Dioces wheruppon the charge off a perticuler and as we will call yt a parishe churche was shaken off vnder pretence off this great burden off the ouersight off so many churches So that they left vnto them selues no more off the trew office off a Bishop and mynistery then that serued for ther honor that is they reserued only so muche that they might speake to the people wher and in what churche and when they wold Thus they vsurped all the authority off the Assembly yea ouer the Assembly ruling them as they listed chosing and putting out whom they would vntill at the last the Assemblies were cleane taken away and the churches off euery Dioces had Lordes set ouer them But ambition which as the flame or fyre goeth vpwardes still and cannot be kept with in any bandes staied not thus in Dioces and small prouinces But ascended vpp to greater from whence come our Metrapolitanes who were called Archbishopps and fyrst begann that Authoritie to be geuen them in theyr name which in deed they had vsurped before Then from the greater prouinces and Archebishoprickes they came higher to the rule off all the churches in a whole kingdome whervppon they wer called primates Then the whole churche thoroughe out the world was ruled by a Quadrumvirat that is by foure who had the chiefe charge off all the world and were called Patriarches vntill at the last Antychrist by thes staires went vpp to the throne off god and sat hym downe in the middest off the churche as Paule had prophesied and boasted him selfe as god This is the trewe hystorie off the confusion off Ecclesiasticall offices This was the cradle and the beginning off the Ambition off churche men Thus they grewe forewardes vpp and encreased wherby iff we perceyue all thinges to be so oute off ordre that the state off the whole bodye is to be feared by yt Let vs at the last geue warninge to our Prymat to our Metropolitanes and to our Lorde Bishoppes that yff they think yt a shamefull and an ambytious thinge and vnbesceminge the modesty off the seruant off Christ and off a trewe Pastor for the pope to take the Authorytye off Generall Counsells and to suffe nothing to be done nor decreed in them but what he only dothe or alloweth that I say yff they think this shamefull in the pope to doe to generall Counsells they would not plaie the petipopes in Conuocations or prouinciall Synods and takinge awaie the libertie off the Ecclesiasticall Synodes and Assemblies rule gouerne and apoint all alone by tyranny lest they seeme not to haue desyred to deliuer the churche cleane out off Bondage but only to chaunge the maister and to make it become subiect vnto them and to haue sought onelie that we should haue no forraine popes not that we should haue none at home or none alltogether and rather to haue abhorred the pope off Rome then the popedome yt selffe Let them remember at the last that they haue as great need iff they do
ther dewties off the helpe off Deacons as the Apostles had Let them remember that the bodye would bee destroyed yff there were no member in yt but the eye And that churche in like manner wherin no man beareth any office but the Bishopp Let them remember that god hathe so made the bodye that there is a merueilous necessary vse off the diuers membres theroff which variety off partes and members must needes be preserued yff we would haue the bodie whole healthfull and stronge Let this infinite Ambition and desyre off rule and off medlinge with euery thinge that is in the Lord Bishoppes be corrected Let the Consistorie and Assembly off the Elders being so necessarie and so profitable for all the affaires off the churche be established wherin they may haue indeede the fyrst place in respect off the worthines off ther office S that they leaue the second to the Doctors and the third to the Elders For the churche perceiue the howe hurt full a thinge yt is that they should take all vnto them selues and can beare yt no longer perceiuinge well that the shamfull prophanacion off the Sacramentes the manifold and intollerable abuses off excommunication which is the highest Iustice off the churche and other innumerable euilles flow and springe from no other fountaine then from this pride off theâ—â—â— and busy medling very hurtfull and daungerous for the state off the churche And thus muche off Ecclesiasticall officers off whom because I haue spoken more at large how they ought to be appointed for that in the appoyntinge off them Ecclesiasticall discipline dothe in a manner wholie consist I will recompense yt with the shortenes off that part which followeth which is touchinge the dewtie off all the Saintes and faithfull Vnder the name off the Sainctes are conteined all the rest off the churche which doe not exercise any publique office or function therin whose dewtie as in all other societies ys only this to suffer them selues willingly to be ruled and gouerned by those whom god hathe set ouer them whervnto there is a short but a notable and pithy exhortacion off the apostle to the Hebrevvs wherin he exhorteth them aÌ„d by them all other churches to obedience vnto them who haue the ouersight off theÌ„ that they may geue vp their accoÌ„pte of the charge off sowles which they haue taken in hand with ioye and comforte and that they maye readilie aÌ„d with good courage beare for the churches sake all suche labor grees cares and sorwes as are ioined vnto ther offices Neither let Magestrates think allthough in respect off ther ciuill authoritie the churche be subiect to them that in this behalffe they are to be exempted from this precept and commanndement off the Appostle who chargeth euery one to be subiect to those who in Lord are set ouer them for seing they ought to be carefull as well off the saluacion off the Magystrate as off others and that the sowle off the magystrate as well as of the rest is committed to theyr charge They must also as well as the rest submit them selues and be obedient to the iust and lawfull authoritie off the Officers off the churche For seinge they not onlie rule by the authoritie off Iesus Christ but in a maÌ„ner do represent his person seing they rule not as they them selues list accordinge to ther owne will but only accordinge to this word and commandement Is it not meete that euen kinges and the highest magystrates should be obedient vnto them For yt is meet that all the princes and Monarches off the world shold geue vpp their sceptres and crownes vnto him whome god had made and appointed the Heyre off his kingdome and Lord off heauen and earthe I might alledge heare oute off the histories off all times diuers examples off godlie princes who submitted them selues to the order and gouernment off the churche apointed by god Who allthoughe as touching this life they did rule and gouerne yet they despised not the discipline aÌ„d correction off the Lord I might name out off the most auncient historye and holie Chronicles off the Hebrevvs kinge Azarias who allthoughe he proudely and boldly vsurped the priesthood yet when he was stryken by the Lord with a Leprosy and was therfore cast out of the temple and seperated from the coÌ„mon society off men by the highe priest accordinge to the lawe which God had made therin He obeied the priest coÌ„mandinge according to God his word and letting his sonne rule is his steade passed the rest of his life in solitarines alone by himselfe Amonges the Christian Emperors allthoughe ther be many worthy examples which now a dayes Princes may set before them to follow yet those two which the ecclesiasticall story reherseth off Philipp the first Christian Emperor and off Theodosius conteine a singuler example aboue the rest off godlie subiection wheroff the one beinge commaunded to absteine from the Sacramentes vntill he had first professed him selffe to be a penitent for that he had committed certen faultes and had made open protestacion off his Religion for that he was suspected He willinglie obeied the Bishopp or rather the word off god And both protested openly his grefe and srowe for the synnes he had committed and professed before all the churche his faithe and Religion The other that is Theodosius being not admitted by Ambrose into the churche into the which he would haue come did likewise so willinglie obeie that prostratinge hym selffe vppon the grownd and pauement off the temple in the sight off god and his Angells and all the churche followinge the meeknes off Dauid reprehended off Nathan declared the wuÌ„derfull sorowe which he had for his wiked fact and the slaughter committed at Thessalonica by his commaundement rehersing these wordes out off the Psalme My soule did cleane vnto the pauement Therfore all the faithfull and euen the princes and magistrates them selues ought to be subiect to the word off god and to Ecclesiasticall Discipline and then is the churche in florishing estate when bothe they who beare rule do commannd according to gods word and theâ— who be subiectes do willingly obeye But the Magistrates haue this proper and peculier to them selues aboue the rest off the faithfull To set in order and establishe the state off the churche by ther authoritie and to preserue and mainteine it according to godds will being once established Not that they should rule the Ecclesiasticall matters by their authoritie for this belongeth vnto Christ alone and to hym he hath committed this charge but for asmuche as the Apostle teachethe that they are apointed off God to th end that we may lyue a godlie aÌ„d a peceable life aÌ„d that the kinges off Israell by the apointement off god had charge to see the execution off all the lawe they ought to prouide and see that the seruice off god be established as he hathe appointed and administred by suche as ought to administre the same and afterwardes preserued
Doctors Elders haue the chiefe care and charge off this commoÌ„ wealthe to see that no office want his officer and how faithfullie euery one beareth hiÌ„selfe in doinge off his office regarding all with one eye how offeÌ„ses may be auoided and how they may be remedied when they do arise As for the placinge off euery one in his degree how honest and orderly ys it wheras all do generally reuerence and respect the Assembly for their Authoritie And euery one knoweth his place and degree and lifteth not him selfe aboue his callinge But the Deacons sitting downe in the lowest Roume geue place vnto the Bishopps who sitting as Stevvards off the Lordshouse at the higher ende off the table enuie not other officers to sit together with them And the Stewards also do so know them selues to beare the same office that notwithstanding the Pastors go before and the Doctors follow after After whom next be the Elders and in the last place the Deacons sitting notwitstandinge at the Officers table As for euery mans garments and apparell howe seemely are they how meet for ther callinges and how precious aÌ„d excellent The common Araie off them all is a certen godlie and holie knowledge and profession off Religion and an vndefiled life and coÌ„uersacion wherwith being clothed as with those white garmentes which Saint Iohn mencioneth in his reuelacion they need no cloth off gold our suche like costly apparell to set them out with all Yet besides this common Aray euery one carieth the proper tokens and badges off his office For the Bishopps as the kinges stewardes in steade off ther staues haue sounde knowledge of the scriptures besides which the Pastors haue allso that mouiÌ„ge aÌ„d percinge speeche wherby they haue bothe power and authoritie to strenghten and to terrefie to comfort and to cast downe againe as the Reye off openinge and shuttinge which Eliachim great steward off kinge Ezechias house is described to beare vpon his shoulder As for the rest off the Deacons their seuerall signes and markes are Diligence Symplicitie Which so merueilous gouernment off the howse off God apointed by the most devine and heauenly wisdome seing it passethe aboue measure the ordre off Salomons house with the loue wheroff the Queene off Saba was Rauished the God off all mercy graunt that yt may muche more rauishe our most noble Queene and hir right honorable Counsellors with the love theroff then the other did the Queene off the Sowthe and hir Courtiers For then shall we bee all most happy who liue in the churche as in the court off Christ our trewe Salomon when we may allwais stand in his presence before him and heare him speake being the wisdome off his Father Then shall we confesse that king Salamon doth reigne in deede and that all thinges are trew which the Prophetes prophesied touching his kingdome when we see the churche in this ordre when we see the Ministers and officers theroff thus araied and apointed For althoughe as we saie the court is wher the king is So also the church is wher as Christ is present And allthoughe this be the cheifest end most principall To heare the voice and wisdome off Salomon yet it is not possible that he should tary any longe tyme in a place that he appoint not and set in ordre his Court according to his heauenlie wisdome It may be that in time of his progresse where he soiourneth but for a short tyme being ready by and by to depart againe that this whole ordre and gouernment off his court canÌ„ot so well be seene and appeere but it cannot be that where he is purposed to dwell and where he hath chosen a certen place to abyde and continewe in that he set not all thinges in ordre according to his wisdome meetest both for his state aÌ„d maiestie and for the perpetuitie off his reigne For which cause I am the more a fraid lest that he be come into England as into some castle in the waie off his progresse for a small tyme vnles this confusion and disordre which coÌ„monly followeth progresses be taken awaye and a certeine and sure ordre off gouerninge the churche be established for I cannot fullie reioice in the state off our churche vntill that I see both for religion sownde faithe and doctrine in Christ and for discipline a commely and meet order off gouerninge the churche which Saint paule reioised to see in the churche off the Colossians For the stable and perpetuall state and condition off the churche standethe vpon these ij pillers Wherfore I most humblie pray and beseech all men that haue any care to preserue and keepe the kingdome off Christ emonges vs to deliuer the trew seruice and worshipp off God to our posteritie that to their power euery one would seeke for this lawfull discipline off the churche which I haue described and boâ—he all seeke to furder yt with their good will and prayers and especially the ministers by preachinge and the Maiestrates by authoritie As for me I bynd my selffe as it were by this Obligation to god and to the churche that my labor and diligenc shall neuer be wanting in any thing that may helpe and furder by any meanes this reformation which our Eyes dasell and our sowles pyne away with so long looking and waiting for which yff I may once see I shall thinck that parte off any life the happiest wherin so great a benefit shall comme vnto the churche but Iff I shall neuer see yt with mine eyes yet I am glad that I haue seene the forme and patterne off it allready in my mind and left it to those that shall come after and so by the example off Dauid and Ezechiel whose condicion was not vnlyke in this behalffe and by the testimony off my conscieÌ„ce that I haue dischardged my dewty to my God and to our churche I will rest and confort my selffe herewithall in the want off that which with so great desyer I haue longed for To God alone be honor glorye a 2. Corr. 7.3 what discipline is Hebr. 3.3 Exodus 25 40. a 2. Chro. 8.14.29 25. b Ezechie 40. 41. 42. a Artes 3.22 b Matth. 17.5 c Eliezer was Abrahams seruant whose faithfulnes is shewed in that 24. off Genes Psal. 45.7.5 Esaie 32.1.4 35.5.6.7.8.9 Zachar. 14.21 Luk. 9.58 Luk. 12.13.14 Luk. 21.25.26 Iohn 19.36 Math. 18.15.15.17 Act. 1.2.3.4 Math. 28.20 Ephe. 4.8.10.11 1. Timoth. 6.13 Diuision of discipline 1. Corrint 32.19.29 1. Corrint 10.15.16 Heb. 13 24. Hebr. 4.5 Nomb. 17. â— â— Samuel â—â— 2. King. 15.5 Nomb. 1â— 32.35 Math. 28. â—â— Hebr. 7. Iohn 3.5 Ephes 1.5 Rom. 4.11 1. Tâ—moth 2.11.12 Iudges 13.5 1. Timoth. 1.3 2. Corinth 2.16 Luk. 3.23 Math. 3.17 Luk 2.49 Math. 28.19 Actes 14.23 Titus 1.5 〈…〉 1. Act. 20.17 Act. 15.2 2. epist. Peter 5.1 Iosue 22. Coloss 4.17 2. Timoth. 4.5 2. Cor. 9.16 Ephe. 4.9 1. Pet. 1.18.19 1. Timoth 3.10 1. Timoth. â— â—2 Actet 1.23 Math