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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A00283	A briefe and plaine declaration, concerning the desires of all those faithfull ministers, that haue and do seeke for the discipline and reformation of the Church of Englande which may serue for a iust apologie, against the false accusations and slaunders of their aduersaries.	Fenner, Dudley, 1558?-1587, attributed name.; Fulke, William, 1538-1589, attributed name.; Travers, Walter, 1547 or 8-1635, attributed name.	1584 (1584)	STC 10395; ESTC S111889	54,423	158

Gentiles And least ye should vnderstand the multitude in that place for the multitude of the Apostles It followeth in the 22. verse Then it pleased the Apostles and Elders with the whole Church to chuse certaine men c. By which scripture we learn that the Synode consisteth principally of Pastours Elders Teachers and men of wisdome iudgement and grauitie as it were of necessary regents For although the whole multitude came togeather yet the Apostles and Elders came togeather to enquire and consider of the matter in controuersie the multitude heard and for their better instruction and modestye submitted their consent vnto the determination of the Apostles and Elders All mens reasons were hearde For there was great disputation but the authoritie of Gods worde preuailed good order was obserued So after the matter was throughly discussed by the godly arguments alledged by Peter and Barnabas Paul the controuersie was concluded by the sentence of Iames to whom that prerogatiue was graunted not of singular authoritie but for orders sake And this place doth admonishe vs to intreate some what of the preeminence of one Elder or pastor aboue the rest We confesse that in euery assemblye or company some one of necessitie must haue this prerogatiue to order and dispose the same with reason or els great confusion is like to follow But this preeminence is onely of order and not of authoritie as to propound matters to be decided to gather the reasons and consent of the rest and so to conclude c. As we see in this place Iames did of whom also we reade that he had this preeminence Act. 21. 18 c. And we maye gather the same Gal. 2. 9. 12. Not that Iames had greater authority in his Apostleship then Peter or Paule or Iohn or anye other of the Apostles But because he was chosen of the rest to haue prerogatiue of order which some one must haue in euerye assembly and such was the prerogatiue at the first which was graunted sometime to the bishop of Rome sometime to some other bishops to be president or prolocutor in the generall counsels being chosen therto for the time by consent of the rest as the prolocutor is chosen in our conuocatiōs that are called with parliaments Therfore as it were an absurd thing for our prolocutor in our conuocation to take vppon him to be a controller of the whole synode to challenge that office to him and to his heires for euer so vnreasonable is the authority that the Pope claimeth ouer generall counsels One therfore is to be chosen by consent to be as it were the prolocutor or moderator of order but not of authoritie in euery assembly whose prerogatiue must so be tempered that in al thinges tirannie be auoyded Which we see by experience easely crepeth in vpō proud natures to whome if you graunt an inch they wil be ready to take an ell according to the Prouerbe But let vs return to the authority of the sinode which cōsisteth in deciding determining such maters as cānot otherwise in perticular churches be cōcluded either because they cōcerne the cōmō state of al churches or because they lacke sufficient authoritie in some one church First therefore the lawfull Synode hath to consider if anie controuersie of doctrine do arise that it be determined by the word of God for in the controuersie of binding the Gentiles to the obseruations of the ceremoniall lawe was a matter of faith and doctrine Secondly it hath to determine of the vse of the ceremonies not of will without reason or grounde of scripture but vpon necessary causes of auoiding offence and similitude of superstition of bearing with the weak of order and comelinesse and edification So did the Synode of the Apostles and Elders command for a time abstinencie from meate offered to Idols otherwise lawfull in it selfe for offences sake and for auoyding of all pollution of Idolatrie Act. 6. 20. 29. and forbearing the weaknesse of the Iewes in abstinencie from eating of bloud of strangled which was forbidden by God before Moses time to teach that Childishe age of Gods people to abstaine from cruelty as in Gen. 9. 4. Such ceremoniall constitutions are but temporall and so long are to be reteined as the cause continueth for which they were made So that if weaknes cease or be turned to obstinacie they are no longer to be reteined Also for order and comelinesse and best edification the Synode hath to determine what shall be obserued in particular charges as of the time place and forme of preaching and praying and administring of the sacraments For who shoulde be able to know what order comelines and edification requireth according to Gods worde but they that be Teachers and preachers of the same vnto al others For it is absurde that they shoulde bee taught by such in these small thinges as ought to learne the truth of them in all matters This authoritie therefore cannot be graunted vnto any Ciuill Christian Magistrate that without consent of the learned Pastours and Elders yea against their consent of whom as in some respect hee is a feeling member he maye lawfully make ceremoniall Constitutions whereby the Church muste be gouerned in meere Ecclesiasticall matters It is ou●e of all controuersye that before there vvere anye Christian Magistrates for wee will not speake of SERGIVS PAVLVS proconsull of Cyprus because hee was but a Lieuetenaunt of the Romane Emperour this authoritie was proper vnto the Synode Which authoritye vvee knovve to bee graunted to the Church by oure Sauioure CHRISTE practized by his Apostles continued by their successours three hundred yeares before there was anye Christian Emperours for wee receiue not Phillip for a Christian Emperour and long time after there were Christian Emperours euen as long as anye puritie continued in religion vntill both Emperours and Synodes were thrust out of all lawfull authoritie which they ought to haue in the Church by the tyrannie of Antichrist But wee finde not in the Scripture this authoritye graunted by Christe to Ciuill Magistrates which in his and his Apostles tyme were not nor anye promise that when they were the Synode shoulde resigne it vnto them Therefore it remayneth that it bee shewed by them that defende that this absolute authoritie is in the Ciuill Magistrate by what spirite or reuelation or Scripture if there be anye that wee know not For we woulde bee gladde to learne howe this authoritie was translated from the Church in which it was once lawfullye vested vnto the Ciuill Christian Magistrate Therefore vntill this maye bee shewed by sufficient warraunt of GODS holye worde vve holde that the Synode of euerye Prouince hath authority to decree concerning ceremoniall orders of the Church Whereof some may be generall to al congregations some particular to certaine Churches For as it were to be wished that all places might bee brought to one perfection So it is not alwayes necessarye that they be like in all thinges The

¶ A BRIEFE and plaine declaration concerning the desires of all those faithfull Ministers that haue and do seeke for the Discipline and reformation of the Church of Englande Which may serue for a iust Apologie against the false accusations and slaunders of their aduersaries GOD IS MY DEFENDER AT LONDON Printed by Robert Walde-graue 1584. A praeface to the Christian Reader THE holy Prophets hauing oftentymes * but searched vvhen and at vvhat time the foreseeing spirit of God declared vnto them the manifold afflictions and troubles of the church to come haue therevpon entered into great lamentations for the same And haue not onely vvept and fasted them selues * but haue compiled for the church vvhole bookes of lamentations therein instructing them what vvay to take for appeasing the fierce wrath of God breaking out against them VVhich dutie in semblable maner should novv long agoe haue beene done of vs did not the hope vvee conceiue in the middest of manye tempestes confirme vs in such expectation of her maiestie and her most honourable counsell as that according to their clemencie tovvardes the poore ministers and their families but most especially according to their holye and zealous care vvhich ought to abound for the cleane driuing out of the Cananites and planting hedging pruning and continuall preseruing of the Lord his vineyard from Foxes yea little Foxes this ciuill vvar as a man may say of the church vvherein so much of that bloud * vvherof Paule speaketh is powred to the grounde shoulde by their holie and iuste authoritie fully bee ended Now vvhen as vve at this time are subiect almoste vnto all the afflictions vvhich can come vnto a church blessed of God vvith such a christian and happie regiment as to the prophane scoffing of the * Hammonits at the buylding of the church as at a vval vvhich a Fox should destroy to the conspiracies of the Arrabies and those of Ashod to the false * charges of sedition contempt of all good lavves and proceedinges like to that of Sanballat yea to the * prophetes them selues vndermining nay reuiling displacing and grieuouslye afflicting the Godly and learned ministerie so consequently plaging the Church vvith that plague vvherby * the priestes may mourne because there is no offering and the people perishe euen the yong men vvith the famine of hearing the vvorde of God preached when I say we are subiect to al these vvee can thinke of no vvaye for reconciling the brethren at variance after a most sure holy vnion of both their forces for a couragious setting vpon the common aduersary then the certaine peaceable and reasonable vvay following VVhich is that vvhereas both by bookes alreadie written and by treatizes latelye and novv published it may appeare vve seeke that vvhich at the least in the iudgement of all true Christians hath no small probabilitie as vve iudge necessitie of trueth out of the scriptures it maye please her most excellent maiestie and their honours to appoynt on both sides the best learned most Godly moderate men to debate all differences of vvaight betweene them and vs. So that first vpon sufficient consideration the questions to be debated be vvithout all ambiguitie set downe the reasons of both sides vvithout all out-goynges shortly and plainely deliuered in vvriting each to other that after vpon sufficient examination the reasons of both be continuallye confirmed and resolued till eyther by the euidence of truth one part yeeld vnto the other or the folly and madnes of those vvhich gaynesay it do in equall iudgement become manifest in regarde of the contradictions and absurdities vvhereto they shall bee dryuen by the force of Gods vvorde VVhich vvay though it shoulde come naked vnto vs can not well be refused but beeing richly attyred vvith all robes and ornaments vvhich the scripture giueth vnto the Synodicall assemblyes for such conferences as namely that there bee * much searching of the trueth by sufficient reasoning vvithout all by matters quarrels euasions and colours vvhatsoeuer that there be much * order vvhen the spirite of euerye prophet shall be subiect vnto the spirits of the other prophets the iudgement of al shalbe sufficiently heard vvithout stopping of free sufficient answere without Lordly carrying away of the matter with no substāce of reason vvhere no authoritie pregnancie of vvit plausible perswasion of mans vvisedome shall turn the truth aside but al shal stand in the * euident demonstration of Gods spirite lastly that there be * peace without all bitternes reuilinges suspicions chargings of men dead aliue wherby affections are mooued iudgement blinded and men driuen as vvith a mighty streame from the loue of the truth vvhen it commeth thus adorned vve thinke that vvhich we labor to procure to be so honorable * not only before God but also before men that none can iudge othervvise of it then vve doe For if any shall obiect that the graue authoritie of Archbishops Bishoppes shall receiue a checke whilest they are brought to deale with those whome they iudge fewe young vnlearned and not comparable to them selues or that it is a challenge not much vnlike the Papistes or lastly that it shall be preiudiciall to the estate of gouerment established It maye please their wisedomes vvho are to bee iudges to consider what vvee haue to aunsvvere vnto these things which if they haue the truth of God his word containe the safest best way in such cases tend to the full quieting of all and the remoouing of the plagues vvhich are vppon vs and are like dayly further to come euen from the cōmon aduersary VVe may boldly yet most humbly vppon our knees requyre them before God and all his elect Angels no● to cast it away VVherfore for the first let vs grant the great difference vvhich they make of yeares and learning yet the speech of Elihu giueth them sufficient answere that this vnderstanding is not tyed to such outvvard respectes but to the * reuelation of Gods spirit and to accept in such cases the persons of men or to giue titles is but to prouoke God to destroy vs. Yea let the memorable examples of * Ezechias and the priestes of the Apostles in their counsels of * Paule in his Epistles and euen of * Peter in yeelding to the challenge of some not so well instructed mooue them vvho not onely not refused the Leuites Elders but accepted the people in some maner to be heard to speake and to authorize their determinations and writings at least let their own opinion that in interpreting the scriptures and deliuerye of doctrine we are equall vvith them persvvade them not to refuse those vvho if they coulde straine their consciences to subscribe to the Archbish. articles they would gladly receiue them to be the Ambassadors of Iesus Christ. As for the fevvnes it may bee if the ignorant ministers the varietie of other

which subscribe some doing it vvith this limitation some vvith that some holding their former iudgement as not gaine sayd by their subscription some lamenting their slip in that behalfe vvere deducted the nūber of the one vvoulde not so greatly surmount the other As for the challenge of the Papistes knit vp vvith the consideration of the estate the difference may be considered in the matter and maner Concerning the matter they make it in the substaunce of religion vvhich hath in diuers assemblies abroad and at home beene disputed resolued and novv publikly maintayned for our true holy faith VVe in maters concerning the gouernment of Christ of great moment indeed yet neuer thus handled nor vrging the alteration but perfection of the estate of the Church further good of the common wealth vvhilst by this means amongst many other things of great importance the ignorant ministery by it poperie by popery rebellion should be auoyded vvhich by the other are most manifestly bred nourished Concerning the maner they call it to a sudden and tumultuous reasoning vvhere the readiest vvit the best memorye the moste filed speech shall carry avvaye the truth at least maruailously moue the vngrounded harers VVe require that where both sides may vpon mature sufficient deliberation be beard vvithout any of these shewes and the matter deliuered vnto her maiestie their Hh and vvhomsoeuer they shall chuse to receiue and examine the allegations of both sides So that it neede not be communicated vnto the people vntill the manifest light of truth appeare first vnto them And if this so safe and reasonable an offer cannot be liked in the respect of the last obiected consideration vve thinke it impossible but the persons vvhich desire a vvay so sound peaceable and dutifull shall recouer this fauor that vvith safety of their consciences they shall exercise their ministery vvith that libertie vvhich is meet for those vvho shall be tyed in all thinges to haue especiall regard to the peace of the Church and publique orders VVherefore most christian Reader vvhen thou shalt by these sevve take knovvledge of these things pray vnto God for vs and as thy place is solicite and further so iust a cause to this ende onely that Christes kingdome may be perfectly established the consciences of al the godly quieted and the happy regiment of her maiestie honored vvith much peace ioye and quietnesse at home FINIS ¶ A LEARNED DISCOVRSE OF ECCLESIASTIcall Gouernement prooued by the worde of God THE Churche of God is the house of God and therefore ought to bee directed in all thinges according to the order prescribed by the Housholder himselfe Which order is not to bee learned else-where but in his Holy worde The first of these principles or propositions is the very worde of the holy Ghost vttered by Paul The seconde followeth necessarily of the first The thirde is a manifest trueth beleeued of all them that acknowledge the scripture of God to bee a perfect rule of all our life and able to make the man of God perfect prepared to all good workes This foundation being surely layde against which the gates of hell cannot preuayle wee ought diligently and reuerently to searche the holie scriptures that wee may finde what order our sauiour Christe our onely housholder hath set foorth in them by which he woulde haue his house or church to be directed in al things appertaining to the eternall saluation of vs men his vnprofitable seruants Nowe we finde in the scriptures that our sauiour Christe ascending into Heauen was not vnmindfull of his Church on earth but ordayned an holy ministerye of men to the building vp of the body of Christ in vnity of faith and knowledge We finde also that as the offices are diuerse of this ministery so they are not generall vnto all the Church but as order and necessitye require for executing of their office distributed and limitted vnto certaine places or particuler Churches according to the diuision of Regions Cities and Townes For we reade that Paule and Barnabas ordeyned at Derbe Lystra Iconium Antiochia c Elders by election in euery Churche with Prayer and fasting and so commended them to the Lorde in whome they beleeued Also Paule left Titus in the Ile of Creta that he shoulde ordaine Elders in euery City as hee had appointed Concerning the diuers offices of the Ministery wee are taught by Saynte Paule Rom. 12. 6. Also 1. Cor. 12. 28. and Ephes. 4. 11. Where we reade that God hath ordained in the ministery of his Church these seuerall offices Namely Apostles Euangelistes Prophetes Pastors Doctours Gouernoures and Deacons Also men indewed with the giftes of healing of powers or myracles and of diuerse tongues Of these offices some were temporall seruing onelye for the firste planting foundation of the church amonge the Heathen some are perpetuall pertaining to the nourishing and building vp the Church for euer Of the former sort were Apostles Prophets Euangelists men endued with the graces of powers of healings and of diuerse tongues Of the latter kinde are doctors Pastors Gouernours and Deacons The Apostles were ordained by God and sent foorth immediatly by Christ hauing a generall Commission to spread the Gospell ouer all the worlde Which worke when they had accomplished that office ceased Such were the 12. Apostles Paule and Barnabas c. And for this cause the Apostles appointed Mathias in the place of Iudas according to the Scriptures permitting neuerthelesse the election vnto God by casting of Lots that the number might bee full for the first planting of the Churche But when Herod had slaine Iames the brother of Iohn with the sworde they chose no man to succeede in his place because they had no warrant of Gods worde but the holy ghost as he sawe it was expedient for the Church afterward separated Paul and Barnabas which liued at Antioche as Prophetes and Teachers to the worke whereto hee had called them The Prophets were suche as were indued with a singular gifte of Reuelation in the interpretation of the Scriptures and applying them to the present vse of the Church of whome some also did foreshewe of thinges to come as Agabus Also there were in euery City that Prophecied to S. Paul as he passed by them that bonds and afflictions were prepared for him at Hierusalem This office being in the number of them that were ordeyned for beautifying the Gospell in the first publishing thereof it ceassed with that singuler and extraordinary gift to bee an ordinarye function of the Church The Euangelists were such as were stirred vp of God to assist the Apostles in their ministerye of generall charge in planting the Gospell and confirming the same by their preaching but inferiour in dignity to the Apostles Such was Philip that firste preached the gospel in Samaria Whither Peter and Iohn were sent by the Apostles to conferre vnto

Archipresbyter Archiepiscopus Archiepoimen and suche like do properly agree For as the Apostle calleth our Sauiour Christe in this place the chiefe Pastor So in the second Chapiter the 25. vers he calleth him both the Pastor and Byshop of our soules Wherefore as he onelye is oure chiefe Pastour or Archiepoimen so is hee also our onelye Archbyshoppe And that the name of Archipresbyter or chiefe of Elders pertayneth tono mortall man may bee seene by this place where Saint Peter that excellent and high Apostle who if anye man coulde might as well as anye haue challenged that name durste not call him selfe other then Sunpresbyteros a fellowe Elder no not when hee sought authoritie to him selfe by that name to be bold to exhort the Elders of the Church But least any man shoulde thinke wee staye onely in names and tearmes which are not so greatlye materiall let him consider that Sainte Peter expresly forbiddeth the Elders to exercise Lordship ouer their seuerall congregations how much more ouer their fellowe Elders Which thing also our Sauiour Christ precisely forbiddeth when there was a contention among his Apostles about the prymacie The kings of the nations haue dominion ouer them and they that beare rule ouer them are called gratious Lordes or beneficiall but you shall not be so Also Math. 20. 25. and Mark 10. 41. vpon the ambitious request of the sonnes of Zebedy and the disdaine of the other against them The Princes of the Gentiles exercise Lordship ouer them and they that be great exercise authoritie ouer them but it shall not be so amongst you but who so will be great amongst you let him be your Minister and he that will be first among you let him be your seruaunt The same thing he taught by his example when hee washed his Apostles feet and commanded them to shew the like humilitie one towarde an other which were all brethren which he their Lord and maister shewed towards them Also Math. 23. 8. c. he forbiddeth all ambitious Titles of Rabbi Maister Father c. the reason hee addeth for you are all Brethren For these names agree properly to God Christ. For the greatest dignitie of an Ecclesiasticall person is a ministery and not a lordship S. Ioh. also in his third epistle sharply reprooueth Diotrephes because he was Philoproteuon one that desired the primacie in the Church Howbeit in this case we must take heede that we spoyle not the ministers of the church of al their lawfull authoritie For although these testimonies of scripture directly condemne the authoritie of one Pastour aboue an other yet neither do they set euery pastour at libertie by him selfe to do what they list without controlment nor yet doe take away the lawful authoritie he hath ouer his flocke but that imperious and pompeous dominion which is meet for ciuill magistrates and great Potentates to exercise in worldly affayres otherwise in respect of their lawfull authoritie they are called by the Apostle in his Epistle to the Hebrewes Guides such as are appoynted to ouersee the flocke with authority and vnto them submission and obedience is commaunded in the same Chapiter verse 17. Other names are applied to them in the Scripture but they bee for the moste parte more generall pertaining to all kinde of Teachers in the Church of GOD both in the time of the Lawe and of the Gospell as Seers Prophets VVatchmen Angelles Labourers Builders Stewardes and such like all which with many other serue to expresse some parte of their office as their knowledge their diligence their authority their faithfullnesse their discretion also the necessity of them the commoditie that commeth by them c. But concerning the names of Pastours as they are a speciall office in the Church this maye suffise But for as muche as we haue vndertaken so to describe a Pastour and and his office as all other offices of the Church may be described therewith wee must not staye onelye in the name but set foorth also the whole substaunce of the person For which intent it shall bee necessarye for vs to consider a Pastour or Bishop these two wayes in the proper function of his Ministerye and in gouernement with his Elders By which we shall vnderstande how this Ministerye ought to bee refourmed and restored amongest vs. As touching his office something hath beene sayde before generallye vnder the description of his seuerall names But now more particularlye wee must examine what belongeth to his charge The Pastor must be limitted to one onelye congregation of such competent number as he if hee be but one or if they be two may be sufficient to the instruction of all and euerye member of the same Church And first he may no more lawfully haue charge of two or three churches then he can be possibly in diuerse places No more then a sheephearde of whome he taketh his name may haue the leading of sundrie flockes in diuers places neither maye he be absent from his charge with better reason then a shepheard from his flocke As for substitutes or● hyrelinges will not bee allowed in this case for Pastors are substitutes of God and haue an office of credite committed vnto them therefore by no good reason may they make any substitutes in their place or commit their charge vnto an other The law of a man grounded vppon good reason alloweth not substitutes of substitutes nor committing ouer of an office of credite in temporall matters How shall God almighty then take it in good part when the flocke of Christe which he hath purchased with his own bloud shal be so greatly neglected to the endaungering of their euerlasting saluation Therfore the ordinaunce of God is that the Pastor should attend vnto his peculiar flocke That Elders should be ordayned in euery Citie Towne and other places Tit. 1. 5. and Act 14. 23. The Apostles ordeined Elders in ●uery Church of Derbe Lystra Iconi●m and Tichia and all the Congrega●●ons about Secondly the office of Pastors is ●ot onely to teach the same truth in ●heir seuerall flockes but also to ap●ye it to the time and persons of ●home they haue charge with ex●ortation and reprehension with ●onsolation of the afflicted threat ●ing of the obstinate c. This in ●we wordes is set foorth by S. Paule ●●eaking of the diuerse Gifts of God 〈◊〉 his Church hee saith Whether it ●●e hee that teacheth in his Doctrine 〈◊〉 hee that exhorteth in his exhortati●● The Doctour therefore teacheth ●ithout exhortation The Pastor tea●heth and exhorteth withall More 〈◊〉 larg he setteth forth the same offi●● in his exhortation vnto the Past●rs of Ephesus willing them to folow ●●s example whoe supplied that of●●ce vntill they were able to succeed 〈◊〉 his Place Also very breifly and yet fully hee describeth the same vnto Timothy shewing first that al his foundation must be out of the scriptures which were sufficient for all parts o● his charge