hee describeth no other minister but the bishop Therefore there ought to be a bishop in euery congregation 2 S. Paules bishopps and his deacons were appoynted to one place as appeareth both in the description of them and the practize of the Apostles But the deacons were in euery congregation which appeareth Phil. 1. 1. Actes 6. â— that office being needfull euery where and in that it continued so longer then the office of bishops Athanasius Apol. 2. Ierome Contra Luciferianos c. Therefore there ought to be a byshop in euery congregation 3 That which Paule enioyned to Titus is also to be practized alwaies in the like case But he commanded him to ordaine Elders in euery citie Tit. 1. 5. which are expounded in the next verse to be bishops Therfore there must be a bishop in euery congregation 4 Euery Church should haue her Communion table and euery Church her bishop 5 Where there was found any worthy to be a bishopp there a bishopp was appointed and where there was not to furnish both bishop and preaching elder he meaneth the doctor there the Apostles made a bishop and left the elder 6 If a bishop run into a slaunder and manye bishops cannot suddenly be gathered his cause shal be heard of twelue bishops c. 7 If an elder be accused he may call sixe bishops from the places hard by 8 Stories make mention of bishops of little townes as Solicus bish of the village Cuman Mares bishop of a small towne called Solicha Gregory bishop of a smal citie called Nazianzum The bishop of a Castle 9 A minister that is to say a bishopp and a little after the Apostle doth plainly teach that a minister and a bishop is all one and vpon Titus a bishopp and a minister are the same and ad Occanum with the ancient fathers bishopps and Elders were all one 10 D. Barnes in his sixt article sayth I will neuer beleeue neyther can I euer beleeue that one man may by the law of God be a bishop of two or three cities yea of a whole countrie for that it is contrary to the doctrin of S. Paul who writing to Titus commandeth that he shoulde ordayne a bishop in euery towne 11 It is pitie to see howe farre the office of a bishop is degenerated from the originall in the Scripture it was not so in the beginning when bishops were at the best as the Epistle to Titus testifieth that willeth him to ordaine in euery citie c. They know the primitiue Church had no such bishops as we haue vntill the time of Siluester the first Therefore if a bishopp and a minister be all one if bishops were to be where Deacons are who were in euery congregation if Paule enioyned Titus to ordayne bishops in euery city and if euery church had her bishop a long time after the Apostles as appeareth by the testimonies of Councels Histories and learned writers both olde and newe then must it needes follow that there ought to be a bishop in euery congregation CHAP. 11. FOr the further reuealing of the trueth God hath ordayned that there shoulde be in the Churche Doctors whose office is to be employed in teaching of doctrin and is an office different from that of the Pastour The latter part of this proposition is the thing which especially they doe deny which is thus prooued to be true 1 Those whiche the Apostle in speaking of distinct officers doe distinguish one from another are seuerall distinct one from another But the Apostle distinguishe the Pastoure and teacher one from another Rom 12. 7. 8. and Ephes 4. 11. euen as hee distinguisheth man and woman Gal. 3. 28. See the Greek of them both Therefore the office of pastour and Doctor are distinct one from another 2 As are the gifts that adorne offices so are the officers themselues for the execution of the office consisteth in the employing of the gifts But the gifts of the pastour and Doctor are diuers as appeareth 1. Cor. 12. 8. and by experience for some hath an excellent gift in doctrine and not in application and others excel in application and exhortation that are verye meane in deliuering of doctrine Therefore the office of a pastor teacher are distinct one from another 3 Those that are to take a diuers course in teaching are diuers and different in their functions for els why should they be enioyned to take a diuers course But the pastor is to take one course the Doctor another for the one is to direct himselfe principally to exhort and the other to attend vpon doctrine Rom. 12. 7. 8. Therefore the office of pastour and Doctor be distinct offices the one from the other 4 The Ecclesiastical stories especially speaking of the Church of Alexandria doe vsually make a difference betwixt the bishopp and the Doctor 5 Cathedrall Churches haue yet som shew thereof left in them who besides the bishopp haue also one that readeth a Lecture in diuinitie 6 If the distinguishing of them make more for the buylding of the Churche then the vniting of them then are they to be distinguished and not made all one But the former is true as appeareth by this that hardly is a people broght to a sounde knowledge of godlines by him that instructeth in doctrine continually as hardly are wee stirred vp to a zealous care of our duetie though we be exhorted continually which both shoulde bee with lesse continuance if one man were to performe all Therefore they are to be esteemed distinct offices not parts of one office which one is to perform Therfore if the Apostle Paul distinguisheth them one from another if God do vsually be-bestow doctrine and exhortation vpon seuerall persons wherein eche is found to excell and to be no bodie in the other if the pastor be commanded to take one course in teaching and the Doctor another if Ecclesiasticall stories doe vsually distinguish them if Cathedrall Churches haue yet some steps left of the distinction if to distinguish them maketh more to the building of the Churche then to vnite them then must it needs follow that the office of pastour and Doctour be distinct and different the one from the other CHAP. 12. EVery congregation ought to haue Elders to see into the maners of the people and to be assistaunt vnto the ministers in the gouernment Ecclesiastical T. C. book 1. pag. 174. Disc. fol. 120. which they denie VVhitgift p. 627. their practize in keeping them out of the Church but it is prooued to be true by these reasons following 1 That which the Apostles established in euery congregation ought still to continue seeing the Churche must bee ruled by the same lawes that it was ruled by then and needeth as great furtherance now as it did then But the Apostles established Elders in euery congregation Act 14 23. which cannot be vnderstood of preaching Elders onely considering
to he is to be called T. C. 1. book page 38. Disci Ecclesiast fol. 46 They thinke one may do it as appeareth by the book of ordering c. VVhitgist page 134. 135. and their slight passing it ouer thorow the Archdeacons hands The former is prooued and the latter disprooued thus 1 Those that are to ordayne must haue particular knowledge of the parties to bee ordayned or else they breake the rule prescribed them 1. Tim. 5. 22 which cannot be without examination But the Eldership is to ordayneeuerye Churche officer as shall appeare in the Chap. of Ordination Therefore it belongeth to the Eldership to examine c. 2 The matter of greatest importance in the gouernement of the Churche must be done by the most able gouernours of the same The approouing or disproouing of Churche officers is the matter of greatest importance because the consequence of ruling well is the best or ill the worst and the Eldership is the Senate of most able gouernours in the Church as shall appear in the Chap. of Eldership Therefore the Eldership is to examine c. 3 The way whereby a mans insufficiencie is best espyed and his abilitie discerned is the fittest to examine them that are to be admitted But by the eldership consisting of diuers his insufficiencie is best espyed and his abilitie best discerned for the common prouerbe telleth vs that many eyes do see more then one Therefore it belongeth to the Eldership c. 4 They are to examine Church officers that are least subiect to be blinded with partiallitie But the Eldership is least subiect to partiallitie both for that they be many who are not so easily ouer ruled by affection or fauour as one as also and that especially for that it being the Lords owne ordinance as shall appeare we are to perswade our selues that his spirit shal guyde them Therefore it belongeth to the Eldership c. 5 The way that was vsed in the Apostles time in examining is of vs to be folowed vnles some reason out of the word to perswade the conscience can be alleadged to the contrary which none haue euer yet done But many vsed in the Apostles time to examine as appereth in chosing out one to be in the place of Iudas Act. 1. 22. 23. and fit men for Deacons Act. 6 5. wherof the gouernours especially were some for that they were to ordayn vpon knowledge as is said in the first reason Therefore it belongeth to the Eldership c. 6 They whose testimony the people may best credit are to examine them that are to be admitted But the people may best credite the iudgement of a company of able and sufficient men which the Eldershipp rightly established must needes be Therefore it belongeth to the Eldership c. 7 Examination belongeth vnto them which may most perswade the people of his sufficiency so procure gretest reuerence vnto him in his place But the examination by the Eldership is such Therefore it belongeth to the Eldership c. Therefore if they that are to ordain must examine if it be a matter of grerest waight in the gouernment of the Churche they the most able to dispatch it if by them his sufficiency or insufficiency be best found out if they be hardliest carried away with affection or parciallitie if the examination was suche in the Apostles time if the people may in reason giue most credit to the examination that is by such if that kinde of examination perswade the people best of his sufficiencie and procure him greatest reuerence in his place then must it needs folow that it pertaineth to the Eldership to examine those that are to bee admitted to any office in the Church There is nothing obiected against this that hath any shew of reason in it and therfore it were needles to set any thing downe CHAP. 6. BEfore consent be giuen to any man vnto any calling in the Churche it must appeare by sufficient tryall and due examination that he is quallified with those giftes that the worde of God requireth in one of that place Discipl Ecclesiast fol. 44. T. C. 2. booke 1. part page 368. and in many other places They gainsay this in two points first in mainteining their reading ministery secondly in gouerning the Church by their commissaries and officialls which both shal be ouerthrown if we prooue these two propositions following to be true by the worde of God No man ought to bee receiued vnto the ministery but such as be able to teache the trueth and conuince the gainsayers The Churche ought not to be gouerned by commissaries officialls and chauncellors 1 He that may be receiued into the ministery must be able to teach the people whatsoeuer Christe hath commaunded Matth. 28. 20. Onely he that is able to teache the trueth and conuince the gainsayers can teach the people whatsoeuer Christ hath commanded Therefore none must be receiued into the ministery but such as be able to teach c. 2 That which is to be done conditionally may not be done if that condition be not kept Men are to be receiued into the ministery conditionally that is if they bee vnreproâ—â—eable Tit. 1. 5. 6. Therefore if they be not such as bee there discribed they may not be receiued and consequently none may be receiued but such as be able to teach c. 3 That which cannot be done without the manifest brech of Gods commandement may not be done at all To receiue any that be not able to teach is a manifest breach of Gods coÌ„maundement 1. Tim. 3. 1. Tit. 1. 9. Therefore no man ought to be receiued into the ministerye that is not able to teach c. 4 They whome the Lorde refuseth to be his ministers may not be receiued into the ministery for the ministery being the Lords haruest we may admit none to labour therein but onely such as he hath giuen liking of by the rules of his worde The Lorde refuseth to be his ministers all those that cannot teach Hosea 4. 6. Therefore such as are not able to teache may not be receiued and consequently none may be receiued but those that be able to teach c. 5 He that may be admitted into the ministery must be able to deuide the word of God aright 2. Tim. 2. 15. Onely he that is able to teach and conuince the gainesayers can deuide the worde of God aright Therefore none may be admitted into the ministery but he that is able to teach c. 6 He that may bee admitted into the ministery must haue a treasury furnished with olde thinges and newe and must be able to bring it forth as occasion shal serue Matth. 13. 52. Onely hee that is able to teache c. is such a one Therefore onely he may be admitted c. 7 He that can espy the enemy and giue warning aforehand how to resist him may be receiued into the ministery Ezek. 33. 7. None can espy the enemie
A DEMONSTRATION OF the trueth of that Discipline which Christe hath prescribed in his worde for the gouernement of his Church in all times and places vntill the ende of the worlde ¶ Wherein are gathered into a plaine forme of reasoning the proofes thereof out of the scriptures the euidence of it by the light of reason rightly ruled and the testimonies that haue beene giuen therevnto by the course of the Churche certaine hundreths of yeares after the Apostles time and the generall consent of the Churches rightly reformed in these latter times according as they are alleaged and maintained in those seuerall bookes that haue bin written concerning the same MATTH 21. 38. The husbandmen said among themselues this is the heire come let vs kill him and let vs take his inheritaunce LVKE 19. 27. Those mine enemies which would not that I shoulde raigne ouer them bring hither and slea them before me ¶ TO THE SVPPOSED GOuernours of the Church of England the Archbyshops lord Byshops Archdeacons and the rest of that order MAnie and most euident haue our declarations bin concerning the truth of that gouerment which Christ hath prescribed in his word for the ruling of the Church which we haue manifested vnto you both by our writinges speches as occasion hath bin offered neuer hath any one of you taken in hand to saye any thing against it but it hath made his eyes to dazzle as the clearest sun-shining wherby he hath beene driuen to wander hyther and thyther groping for euasions and yet coulde not escape but hath fallen into infinite most monstrous absurdities and blasphemous assertions as by their writinges yet extant it may appeare so forcible is the trueth to amaze the gainesayers thereof and so pregnant is falsehood to beget and bring forth thousands of absurdities and euery one worse then other And will you still continue in your damnable and most deuellish course Haue you solde your selues vnto Sathan to fight for him vntill you be dampned in Hell with him Haue you morgaged the saluation of your soules bodies for the present fruition of your pompe and plesure is it because you see not what you should do It may be so for many are so blinde that they grope euen at noone day but me thinkes it can hardly be so vnlesse you be they that haue eyes and see not for the cause hath bene by the blessing of God so managed that many ploughmen artificers and children do see it and know it are able by the worde of God to iustifie it and condemne you to bee aduersaries vnto the gospell in resisting it But you think that gouernment not so needfull your fault but small if it be any in continuing your course begon The necessitie of the thing is many wayes apparant both in that it hath so plentiful warrant from Gods owne worde as the course of this booke doeth euidently declare and also in that the gospell can take no roote nor haue any free passage for want of it and the greatnes of your fault appeareth by this that in so doing you are the cause of all the ignorance Atheisme schismes treasons poperie and vngodlines that is to be founde in this land which we challenge to prooue to your faces if we may indifferently be heard and whereof in the meane while we will giue you a taste for the first it is cleere that you are the causers of that damnable ignoraunce wherein the people are so generally wrapped for that you haue from time to time stopped the streams of knowledge in those places where the Lord in mercie bestowed the same and in stead of able and painefull ministers haue pestered the Churche eyther with presumptuous proude persons that are esteemed learned and take no paines to bring the people vnto the knowledge of Iesus Christe or which is the greatest nomber such ignorant asses and filthy swine as are not worthy to liue in a well ordered common-wealth and that you are the cause of all atheisme it is plaine for one may as in deede many doe professe it and you saye nothing to him for it If the most filthy liuer will fawne vpon you and bribe your seruants you will not onely fauor him but assiste him against any godly minister or other but if any that feare God refuse to come vnder the leaste of your popish ceremonies he shal be molested till his pursse be empty or else by your tyrannous dealing hee haue made shipwrack of a good conscience And are not you the cause of all schismes that make a hotch-pot of true religion and poperye and so giue some an occasion to fal into this course and others into that And it is as cleare that you are so farre the cause of all treasons as without you they had not bin for if euery Church had had hir gouernement according to Christs institution our yong gentlemen and studentes had not bene for want of teaching and carefull ouersight made a prey vnto the seducers and consequently to those practises which haue broght the bodies of so manie vnto Tyborne and their soules into hell and who but you be the cause of poperye whilest you vse them so well let them doe what they list yea and keepe them in office and authoritie vnder you yea whiche more is giue them such offices as none that is not popish can execute I speake not of the ignorance which by your means raigneth euery wher which as they confes is the mother of their deuotion and you are the wretched fathers of that filthye mother whereby you muste needes bee grandfathers at the least to al kinde of popery And who can without blushing denie you to be the cause of al vngodlines seeing your gouernment is that which giueth leaue to a man to be any thing sauing a sound Christian For certainly it is more free in these dayes to be a papist anabaptist of the family of loue yea anye moste wicked one whatsoeuer then that which we should be and I could liue these twentie years any such in England yea in a Byshopps house it may be and neuer be much molested for it so true is that which you are charged with in a Dialogue lately come forth against you and since burned by you that you care for nothinge but the maintenaunce of your dignities be it to the damnation of your owne soules and infinit millions mo Enter therefore nowe at the last into the serious consideration of these things remember that one day you must be presented before the tribunall seat of Iesus Christ to be arraigned for all the soules that haue gone to hell seeing you will needes be the rulers of the Church since the gospel first appeared in this land then shall you not bee excused with this the Queene and Councell wil haue it so nor with that our state cannot beare it For it shal be sayde vnto you why do you not infourme them better of my will why taught you them not to
haue onely executed iustice vpon vs as malefactours and they perswade men that we desire a thing not warranted by the worde not heard of in the Church of God vntill within this few years nor tollerable in any christian common-weal whatsoeuer The whiche monstrous slaunders albeit they haue bene manye wayes and by many men of most worthie gifts detected and made knowne in those seuerall bookes that haue bene published concerning the same yet haue I thought it necessarie in another course to write also of it The course of my enterprise is first in respect of the fauorers of the desired reformation secondly of the aduersaries of the same the fauourers of it are also of two sorts ministers of the word priuate persons both I hope may haue profit by it Concerning the former when these wofull troubles that were renewed vpon vs by that wretched subscription that was euery where vrged did begin to increase I thought it meete to betake my selfe vnto that which I had read or might any way by studie finde out concerning the cause and collected all into a briefe sum and referred euery thing vnto some head whiche beeing euer present with me might furnish me to answere in the defence of the trueth though it were of a sodden by which thorow the blessing of God I found such profite in my seuerall troubles that I thought it a course not altogether vnprofitable for others also and vpon that occasion betooke my selfe vnto a more serious meditation about the matter and communicating the thing with diuers very worthy men I found encouragement hartening on generally by all whom I made acquainted therwith so that I trust the iudgments yea and wishes also of others so iumping with mine many ministers that loue the cause and haue not so thorowly studied it as were meet they should may reape some profit therby Now concerning priuate men that loue the cause som haue great affaires in hand and haue no leasure to read the seuerall books of this argumente some when they read are not of sufficient capacity to conceiue the force of a reason or to make vse of it to enform themselues in the grounded knowledge of the cause thereby some which is the generall falt of our religious gentlemē will take no paines to read some are poore and not able to buie the books which might let them see the cause al these I hope may finde helpe in some measure hereby Nowe concerning the aduersaries vnto the cause they are of two sortes also they that know it and they that are ignoraunt of it the former if they write anye thing against it are contented to deal in so rouing a course as may rather arise vnto great volumes then soundly to saye anye thing againste the cause Wherein D. Whitgifte but especially D. Bridges haue giuen vs an euident example and these with others of their iudgment though non in these latter dayes haue written more vnlearnedly then they of any argument of diuinity whatsoeuer are cōtented to make the world belieue if mē will be so wilfully seduced that our arguments be no arguments that they be grounded vpon false foundations that we are not able to conclude our cause in any forme of reasoning The course that is here taken I trust shall shew that they are liars the other sort of aduersaries be they that be meerly ignorant of any thing either for it or against it and perswading themselues that the sway and shew of the worlde must needs cary the truth with it do like blind bayardes boldly venture to say any thing against it and think they do wel Now of all these sorts of people I haue to request some thing I hope I shall obtaine my request at the least at the hands of some of thē The first sort of fauorers which be the ministers I intreat that as they tender the glory of God and honour of the cause which they stand in so they would diligently imploy themselues in this that they may be founde able to defend the same by sounde and euident grounds out of the worde so muche the rather for that the aduersaries doe greatly triumph when they meete with one that professeth the cause and is not able to defende it and confute the gainsayers of it The secoud sort of fauourers be the priuate persons that loue the cause whom I beseech to be carefull as of all other pointes of religion of this that they growe in the knowledge of the word of God whereby they may be able vpon their owne knowledge to defend the truth and not giue the enemie any occasion to think or say that they be of that minde because such and suche ministers whom they do affect do thinke so Now concerning the former sort of aduersaries to wit they that know it I pray them to looke into their owne hearts and they shal finde they mislike it eyther because it correcteth their excessiue pompe and maintenaunce or requireth more trauaile in their ministery then they are willing to vndergo or at the least controlleth that dissolutnes of behauior wherin they willingly wallow and if it would please god to bring them to a serious meditation of this that it is the will of the mighty God before whō they must be called to giue an account whiche they doe resist they would I doubt not more carefully looke about thē And lastly for them that being ignorant of the cause speake euill of that they know not let them if they will bee admonished vouchsafe to reade this little book and wey the reasons with an vpright iudgment which shal cause thē at the least to suspend their sharpe censures which so vsually appeare in their ordinary communication concerning vs al let vs know for one day we shal be sure to feel it that the controuersie is not about goats woolle as the prouerbe sayth neither light trifling maters which may safely be folowed or reiected as in deed the enemies of this cause do confidently affirme but about no les matter thē this whether Iesus Christ shal be king or no For if none is said to be a king but he that ruleth by the scepter of his lawes then the turning out of these orders which christ hath prescribed in his word for the ruling of the Church is to giue him the tytle and denye him the authority belonging to the same and so in trueth to make him an Idol making him to cary a shew of that which he is not with the crucifiers of him to put a reede in his hand in stead of his yron rod and crowning him with thorns in stead of the crown of greatest glory which is the cause that so many Atheists spit in his face and so many godles persons do make but a iest of him but when he commeth to shew him-selfe in his glorious maiestie it shal be said vnto all these sorts of aduersaries Those mine enemies whiche would not that I should raigue ouer them
in the distributing of the goods of the Church then must it needs follow that his office is not to meddle with anye part of the ministery of the worde and sacraments but to attend onely vpon the distributing of the liberallitie of the Churche vnto them that stande in need thereof Their obiections herevnto be these two that follow 1 Obiection Phillip one of the seuen deacons did preache Actes 8. 8. therefore Deacons may preach the word Ansvvere Phillip was a deacon of the church at Ierusalem while they abode together but now he was not any more so but an Euangelist as he is euer tearmed after by vertue of which office he did preach 2 Obiection Steuen beeing a Deacon preached Act. 7. 2. Ansvver He preached not for all that is there was but his Apologie at the seat of iudgement which euery man in the like case may doe and which many of the martyrs haue done So that the former proposition beeing true vpon the groundes alleadged notwithstanding these obiections we are to proceede to the second which is this There ought to be such Deacons as are described in the former proposition in euery congregation which is thus prooued 1 That office which euerye congregation hath need of ought to be in euery congregation But euery congregation hath need of the Deacons office whiche appeareth by this that they haue poore to prouide for or els they must regarde the necessitie of others and the liberallitie of others to distribute Therefore Deacons ought to be in euery congregation 2 That which is indefinitely appointed for the good of the Church belongeth vnto euery congregatton as well as to any one But suche is the appointment of the Deacons 1. Tim. 3. 8. Therfore there must be deacons in euery congregation 3 Euery Church ought to haue their office of Deaconship 4 All the reasons or the most of them that are alleadged chap. 10. for a bishopp in euerye congregation and chap. 12. for Elders in euery congregation are forcible here vnto Therefore if there be the like neede of Deacons in one congregation that is in another if they be appointed indefinitely for the good of the Church if euery Church must haue their office of Deaconship and lastly if there be like resons to prooue thē belong to euery Church that be for bishopps and Elders then must it needes follow that there ought to be Deacons in euery congregation CHAP. 14. THere ought to be in euerye congregation an eldership consisting of a pastor or pastors doctor if there be any elders whose authoritie Christ hath ordayned to be perpetual in his church to gouerne the same onely by the rules of Gods word T. C. 1. booke page 175. Discip. Ecclesiast 123. which containeth these 3. perticular propositions defended by vs and gaine said by the BB. and their adherents 1 The Eldership ought to be in euery congregation 2 The office of the Eldership is perpetuall 3 The Church must be gouerned onely by the rules of Gods vvorde The first is denyed by them VVhitgift page 627. and by their practize in tying the gouernment of many Churches to the BB. sea it is thus prooued 1 Whatsoeuer Christe hath ordayned as a meanes to keepe men in obedience to the gospell that same must be in euery congregation for particuler men are in particuler congregations But Christ hath ordayned the Eldership for that ende as appeareth Matth. 18. 15. c. where Chrisost. expoundeth Tell the Churche that is sayth he the gouernors of the Churche Therefore the Eldershipp ought to be in euery Church 2 Where all sortes of Elders ought to bee there must be also the ioyning of their offices in one for the good of that congregation ouer which they are placed But all sorts of Elders ought to be in euery congregation as is prooued in the 10. chap. for bishopps the 12. for Elders c. Therefore there must be an Eldership in euery congregation 3 If no perticular congregation haue greater priuiledges giuen there vnto by the word of God then others haue then must there eyther be no Eldership at all which is false in that Elders are prooued to be by the worde of God in the Church or els it must be in euery congregation But euery congregation is of like priuiledge which appeareth by this that it is a perfect bodie of it selfe Therefore there must be an Eldership in euery congregation 4 The same warrant that is in the worde of God for to haue an Eldership in one place is a warrant for it in all for the word of God tyeth it not to Churches in cities but indefinitely to the church But there is warraunt for it out of the worde to be some where as appeareth by this that the Apostles are sayd to establish it make mention of it Therefore it must be in euery congregation Therefore if the Eldershipp be ordayned by Christ as a meanes to keepe men in obedience vnto the Gospell if all sorts of Elders must be in euery Church if euery congregation be of equall priuiledges lastly if there bee the lyke warraunt for it in euery Church that is in any then must it needs followe that there ought to be an Eldership in euery congregation Whatsoeuer is obiected against this that hath any shewe in it is aunswered in the 12. chap. of Elders The office of the Eldershipp is ordayned by Christ to be perpetuall and ordinarie for the gouernment of his church T. C. 1. book 177 denied by them VVhitgift 1. and by their practize in keeping it out but the trueth of it appeareth by these reasons that do follow 1 If the causes why Christe woulde haue an Eldershipp in his Churche be perpetuall then must also the thing it selfe be perpetuall But the causes are perpetuall which be to gouerne the Church by the rules of his worde and that ecclesiastically Therefore the Eldership is perpetuall 2 If Christ be the author of the Eldership left it by the Apostles to bee established in the Church then it is perpetuall for his commission giuen to the Apostles is to be obserued vnto the end of the world But Christ is the author of it as appereth both by his giuing of the gifts for the perticular members thereof the whole bodye of it as also in that the Apostles did establish it in the Church who went not frō their commission 1. cor 11. 12. Therfore the Eldership is perpetuall 3 Whatsoeuer is the commaundement of God once deliuered by him is neuer repealed againe and to be acknowledged of euery spirituall man that same is to bee receiued by the Churche of God to be perpetuall But such is the gouernment of the Church by pastors doctors and Elders and so of the whole Eldership as appeareth in that they are all mentioned in the writinges of S. Paule which are so esteemed 1. cor 14. 37. Therefore the gouernment of the Church by an Eldership is