y t he retaineth it among the ordinary gifts secondly in that he tyeth and lymitteth it to be moderated and ruled by the proportion of faith thirdly in that he commaundeth the Prophet to abyde in that calling fourthly in that immediately after he diuideth it into the office of the Doctour and Pastour all which can not agree with the giftes of foretelling things to come For that is not ordinary not alwayes limitted not alwayes to be retayned neither is it common to the Doctour and the Pastour therefore it must needes be thus expounded in this place as we haue sayde so that the meaning is hee whom God hath called sincerely to interpret his worde to the profit of his people let him abyde in that function For albeit that worde is wanting in the Greek text yet either that or some other of the like force must necessarily be vnderstood as the Greeke Scholiast and other writers doe well note But what is ment here by The proportion of faith To omit the opinions of men I take it to be the same which the Apostle before named The measure of faith and the meaning to be as if he shoulde saye he that is lawfully called by the church truly and purely to expound the Scriptures to the edification of the hearer let him abide therein according to the proportiō or measure of his gifts which are giuen him to occupie and exercise in faith for God hath giuen to some more to some lesse yea and somtimes blesseth him that hath lesse more than him that hath more Therefore euery man being called must abide therin and occupy his proper talent and gift with all diligence and faith to the edification of his owne flock Whereby we may plainly see what a Prophet is A Prophet is a member or minister of the Word of God which abideth in the true sincere interpretation thereof to the edification of his own peculier flock So Paul chargeth y e bishops at Ephesus to do Act. 20. The word trāslated office signifieth here all other ordinary functions besides the Pastor and Doctor In deede it is sometimes taken in scripture generally for all Ecclesiasticall functions sometime applyed to the ciuill Magistrate but that it is not so taken here it is manifest by the disiunctiue proposition either of whose partes cannot by any rule of reason comprehend both Wherefore as the Prophet hath to handle the Word so y e officer hath to handle not it but other necessary dueties wherein he must also continue with diligence and fidelity Let vs proceed to the seueral branches Or he that teacheth on teaching These wordes as they shewe the office of the Doctor wherein he must bee continually occupied not breaking in vpon any other ciuill or Ecclesiasticall calling so they may teach vs together what a true Doctor and Teacher is howe to define and distinguish him from all other ministers in the Church A Doctor or Teacher is a Prophet which truely soundly and reuetently expounding the Canonicall Scriptures continueth in teaching true doctrin to his own people for the establishing of their minds in the truth If any doubt of y e trueth hereof he may as well doubt of the Scriptures them selues out of the which euery part hereof is drawne For the Apostle here calleth the Doctor a Prophet that he must interpret y e canonical scriptures it appeareth first by the fourth of the 1. of Pet. Let him that speaketh speake as the words of God Secondly because who knoweth not that the Scriptures are giuen of the holy ghost and are sufficient to teach all trueth and that the Churche is built vpon this doctrine Lastly Christe sendeth vs to the Scriptures which witnesse of him and teacheth by them the trueth and confuteth errors Therfore the Doctours must onely expounde the canonicall Scriptures not the Apocripha or any mans writinges For the Lord will haue nothing brought into his holy assembly but that which he hath appointed And therefore albeit there were greate corruption in the Synagogues of the Iewes yet the histories of the Acts of the Apostles declare that nothing was read and expounded in them but the Law and the Prophetes not so much as the Caldie paraphrast For as the Prophetes might not in calling the people together blow any trumpets but those which were made and set apart for that purpose by the commaundement of God Numb 10. 28 so ought not the Ministers of God to expound or read openly in the congregation any writings but onely the Canonicall Scriptures which the Lorde hath set apart and sanctified for that vse That he must doe it properly purely and reuerently appeareth by Peter before cited hee must speak as the wordes of God Paule testifieth y t he spake as concerning Christ as of sincerity as of God as in the sight presēce of God 2. Cor. 2. 17. That he must be diligent continue in teaching the generall law prooueth it Last of al y t he must do it to his owne people the word it selfe prooueth for there is a necessary relation betweene y e Teacher and the learner the Doctor and the disciple Howe can hee teach except hee haue disciples howe can those be his Disciples which doe neither heare him nor learne of him The reason why he must doe it diligently to plant and establish his disciples mindes in the truth is because we are very dull to conceiue and learne and although lecture be vpon lecture doctrine vpon doctrine here a little and there a little yet we shal remaine ignorant and proceede slowly if the truth be not soundly beaten into our heades Againe because by this meanes the Pastor shall haue more time in exhorting and applying his exhortation to the present necessity of his people But if any say is this al to teach y e truth to his people by expounding y e scriptures must he not also confute errors stop the mouth of the aduersary No doubt he must But we must acknowledge here the wisedome of the holy ghost which meaneth heere by teaching the trueth the confutation also of errour for the rule of trueth is also the rule of falshood For as light expesseth darknesse so truth falshoode and who is better able to confute errors then hee that knoweth the true meaning of the word Thus you see what a true Teacher is and wherein his whole function consisteth There remaineth nothing but to giue him his schollers and to set him on worke for as the Doctor must continue in true sound and pure doctrine so his schollers must search diligently according to the example of the noble men in the Actes 17 whether his doctrine be true or not whether it bee soundly and purely gathered oute of the word or not As he is reuerently to handle the Word so they must reuerently receiue it as from the mouth of God The next braunche or speciall which Christe hath giuen to his Church is the gift of exhortation else-where called the Pastor who as
A fruitfull Sermon vpon the 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. verses of the 12. Chapiter of the Epistle of S. Paule to the Romanes Very necessarie for these times to be read of all men for their further instruction and edification in things concerning their fayth and obedience to Saluation GOD IS MY HELPER AT LONDON Printed by Robert Walde-graue 1584. The chiefe heades of the Sermon AN interpretation of the beginning or enteraunce page 2. VVisedome and discretion obtayneth credite and auoydeth suspicion page 3. English ministers must imitate it either voluntarily or by compulsion page 5. The ministerie is a grace page 6. It must not be abused this water must not be stopped page 7. The persons commanded all goe generally page 9. Magistrate people minister must come vnder it to approoue their consciences and stop the aduersaries mouth page 9. 10. The law and two applications page 10. 11. 9 c. The exposition and excellencie vvorthinesse and profit proued out of the 3. of Numbers pag 11. c. God nor onely did institute it but punished the breakers as Azaria Vzza Corah page 14. It serueth vnder the Gospell 1. Cor. 7. page 15. Obiection aunswered so ordaine I in all Churches 1. Cor. 7. therfore euery one must keepe it none breake it page 16. He vvisheth for this lavv page 17. The vvant is the cause of all disorder in the land euils page 18. The contrary to the lavv is pride ambition pag. 19. Brasen vvall page 19. Ambitiō hurteth both the cōmon vvealth Church It is the cause of discord in the church page 20. Diotrephes page 21. Scribes Pharises page 22. Iames and Iohn mooue their mother page 22. Preach to add affliction page 22. It hurteth common vvealth page 23. Histories diuine Moses Ioshua ibidem Humaine in England 24. Exhort to mortifie them ibidem Exhort magistrates to roote out euill and to establish the lavv page 25. 26. As the Lorde hath delt c. the exposition page 27. 28. c. The abuse tendeth to the hurt of the bodye it is shevved in the naturall body page 28. 29. It is applyed to our Church page 29. Ignorant ministers dishonour God page 30. Discredite the Gospell confirme aduersaries incorage rebels page 31. All magistrats must looke to it and ministers page 32. The similitude containing fovver 1. Cor. 12. page 33. First rule many members 1. Cor. 12. what a member is hovve named nothing vvanteth page 33. 34. Applied to the Church vvhich vvanteth her members euery perticular hath but tvvo members the pastour and the sheepe page 34. She hath too much by Archb. Lordbish as is novv espied page 37. Tvvo rules distinction of gyftes 1. Cor. 12 page 30. Ob. ans in person distinguished applied and shewed in our Church desired to be refourmed page 39. 40. 3. Rule one head vnion he the vine the cause of vnion Christ by the ministerie of these vve are lead to the vnitie of faith to haue triall rule gouernment for and in Christ not by Pope Archb. or Bish. page 41. 43. Appeal to their honors pag. 45. Protestation of the author and in the name of the Godly brethren of their loue tovvards her maiesty page 45. Euery member must serue others page 46. There must be loue to performe duties pag. 46. To approue and like one of another pag. 47. The maimes of our Church greate and no man lamenteth them pag. 49. A speciall lavve appertaining to some pag. 50. The rule knovvne pag. 51. Perpetuall and not to be broken pag. 51. A commandement to keepe them pag. ibid. They are giuen of God Ephes. 4. 1. Cor. 12. 52. Graces giuen tvvo notes cōcerning them 1 Euerye calling must haue a grace pag. ibi 2 The giftes are the graces of God pag. ibidem Proportion of Fayth vvhat it is pag. 53. A prophet vvhat pag. 56. Office hovv taken pag. 56. A Doctor vvhat pag. 57. The proofe of euery part pag. 57. Canonical Scriptures only to be read in the Church pag. 58. A Doctor must teache purely and continually to his ovvne Schollers pag. 59. An obiect concerning the doctors office pa. 60. The aunswere pag. 60. Pastor vvhat pag. 60. Of all the parts pag. 61. Note the vvisdome mercy of God pag. 64. These gifts giuen in the day of Christes coronation pag. 65. Deacon vvhat and the proofe pag. 65. Elder vvhat pag. 67. They must be obeyed pag. 68. They are necessary ibid. To preuent offences ibid. Difference betvveen the elder the deacon pa. 69. Shewer of mercy what 70. Many dye and perish for lack of these offices pag. 71. Good statutes inacted but because they are besides the word they doe no good pa. 72. VVant of al these the cause of al euils pag. 72. The fruit of this gouernment 73. Enemies to the realme to the common wealth ibid. Secrete deuises against all good might bee easilye knowne ibid. Prodigall maintainers of popish honour pag. 74. Preuented conspiracies ibid. Good lawes should be kept ibid. Pastours Doctours more fruitfully discharging their duties 75. Their duties ibid. Reasons to prooue that the offices appointed in the primatiue Church are perpetuall pag. 77. They are sufficient pag. 78. The conclusion pag. 79. The parts and order of the Sermon These sixe verses necessarily inferred of the former contain a perpetuall lawe touching the gouernment of Christes Church the cōtinual keeping wherof as it is the safetie of the body so the breach of it is the destruction therof The same is eyther Generall appertayning to all the members of the Churche declared by two familiar argumentes One of the contrary vnto the law for the clearer vnderstanding therof vers 3. ioyned in the same sentence with the Lawe The other of a similitude wherein as in a glasse wee may see the trueth and necessitie of this law taken from the naturall disposition of the bodie vers 4. 5. Or it is speciall belonging only to publike persons that is eyther to 1. Prophetes the disposers of the worde and secrets of God whom he diuideth either into 1. Doctors as in the latter end of the 7. verse 2. Pastors as in the beginning of the 8. verse 2. Officers occupied aboute other necessary duties diuided into Deacons Rulers Attenders on the po A Godly Sermon made vpon the 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. and 8. verses of the 12. Chapiter of the Epistle of S. Paul to the Romanes 3 For I say through the grace which is giuē vnto me to euery one that is among you that no man presume to vnderstand aboue that which is meet to vnderstand but that he vnderstande according to sobrietie as God hath delt to euerye man the measure of faith 4 For as we haue many members in one body and all members haue not one office 5 So we being many are one body in Christ and euery one one an others members 6 Seeing then that we haue giftes that are diuers according to the grace that is giuen vnto vs whether we haue prophecie let vs
prophesie according to the proportiō of faith 7 Or an office let vs wait on the office then hee that teacheth on teaching 8 Or he that exhorteth on exhortion he that distributeth let him do it with simplicitie he that ruleth with diligence he that sheweth mercy with chearefulnesse THese sixe verses necessarily inferred of the former containe a perpetuall Lawe touching the gouernement of Christes Church the continuall keeping whereof as it is the safety of the bodie so the breache of it is the destruction thereof The same is either generall appertaining to all the members of the Church declared by two familiar argumentes One of the contrarie vnto the law for the cleerer vnderstanding therof verse 3. ioyned in the same sentence with the law The other of a similitude wherin as in a glasse we may see the trueth necessitie of this law taken from the natural disposition of the bodye verse 4. 5. Or it is speciall belonging onely to publique persons that is to Prophetes the disposers of the word and Secreates of God whom he deuideth either into Doctors as in the latter ende of the 7. Uers. Pastors as in the beginning of the 8. verse officers occupied about other necessarie duties diuided into Deacons Rulers Attenders on the poore This generall law thus inferred necessarily vpon y e former exhortation as a most readie way and ordinarie meane whereby to haue certaine experience and triall what the good acceptable and perfect wil of God is teacheth the duetie and way of all Christians wherin they ought to walk continually without wearinesse The giuer whereof is not man but God For albeit Paule writ those wordes and this Epistle to the Christian sainctes at Rome yet he was but onely the pen man of the Lordes inditement or as Moses was the writer of the Lordes lawe and commaundement For he saith not I by mine owne authoritie or by any gift and grace in me but I saye thorough the grace that is giuen to me meaning no doubt that grace of his Apostolical authoritie which he being a blasphemer had receiued of God to publish by word and writing his will and counsel to the Gentiles that their faith religion might not be groūded builded vpon the weake sand of humaine traditions but vpon y e commandemēt of Christ the strong rocke and euerlasting foundation Where it is said I say it is all one in effect as if he should say I commaund For this Uerbe Lego in Greeke as also the Hebrue verb equiualent to the same especially beeing ioyned to the infinitiue Mood without an article is often vsed in that sense importing not a bare saying or affirmation but as here of necessitie it must seeing the Apostle sheweth not what hath beene is or shall be but what ought to be a flat law and commaundement So that for a more plaine demonstration of the truth it maye be thus expounded and resolued for I Paule by the authoritie of my Apostleship beeing a singular grace receiued by the free gift of God giue vnto euery one of you this generall lawe in the name of him whose Apostle I am inuiolablie and perpetually to be kept euen to the comming of Christ. Thus the Apostle maketh his enterance vnto the law with great wisdome and singular discretion for in that he sheweth his law not to proceede from himselfe or any other mortal man but onely from the lord of hostes whose apostle he was it doth not onely purchase great reuerence credite vnto it but also remoueth al iust occasion of enuy wherof he might haue bin suspected of vsurped authority wherwith the enemies of y e gospell might haue charged him if he shold not thus haue dō But now considering this law is his who only is the lawgiuer which is able to saue destroy no man can iustly contemne it or think it of small importance Also seeing the minister heereof was called and commaunded of this lawgiuer to write and preach it no man can safely enuy and contemne him or suspect him arrogantly to haue vsurped any vnlawful authority ouer the Romans or the Church of God Nowe then if Paul who was not in any spirituall gifts necessary for his calling inferior to the cheefe Apostles thought it a necessary point of wisdome and Christian duety both in respect of him selfe and of the Church here else where plainly to declare as wel who was this lawgiuer as the authour of his function and Apostleship how much more necessary deare brethren ought you to thinke it is for the Ministers in our time whose giftes in comparison of Paules are very fewe and small to let vs see both the authour of their doctrin and laws and also of their particuler function For if they commaund vs any thing hauing not receiued it from this Law-giuer by whose spirite wee must liue in all obedience of his will why shoulde we obey Nay why may we not cast it from vs as a vayne and fond tradition of man Againe if they cannot shew vs the authour of their Ministery and the grace they haue receiued for the godly and acceptable discharge thereof why may we not iustly iudge them to be either prowd vsurpers of vnlawful functions inuented of man or couetous intruders of them selues into the lawfull callings for the which they are vnmeete I would all those which haue any publique place in the Churche of England seeing they will not voluntarily follow this wisdome of Paul might be compelled by the godly wise Magistrates to shew the proof of their ministerie out of y e word and the gifts which God hath giuen them meete for the discharge of their calling For thē I assuredly perswade my selfe that the Lord iniustice and mercy would so direct their sword that it would cut off not onely the head shoulders armes legges and all the rotten members of popish religion but also shred of from the true Church of God and the beloued spouse of Christe all ignoraunt idle wicked and hurtfull hirelings with all the reliques of Antichristian vsurped power which nowe to the greate and present perill of the Lordes Uineyarde do occupy the place and roome of most faithfull and painfull work-men But a fitter place for this matter shall be offered hereafter It is not to be omitted that Paule tearmeth his Apostolical function A grace giuen of God For herein he giueth the Romans vs in them to vnderstand that if they shall reiect or lightly regard his function and the precepts he giueth to euery one of them by the vertue thereof That then they openly shew thēselues reiectors or light esteemers not onely of him his word but also of the grace and gift of God which after this manner appeareth in him for their saluation The which cogitation might breede in them a reuerent opinion of his person being the Ambassadour of Christ a godly care diligently to receiue and louingly imbrace the grace of God giuen him and by him offered vnto them
O damnable boldnesse O couetous Patrons that for gaine present such vnworthy men to the Bishops O foolish men that will commend thē whom they ought to dispraise O miserable Bishops that by laying on of their handes lift vp those into Moses chaire who ought rather to bee thruste to the tayle of the plow What doth more dishonour God discredite the Gospell confirme the aduersaries of the truth and incourage the rebell in his treason then this ignorance and impietie of the Ministers For I beseech you tell me can the honour and praise of Gods wysdome be commended by the folly and ignoraunce of his Minister Can the inestimable treasure and riches of the gratious Prince be seene in the beggerly nakednesse of an vngratious and base Ambassador Can the aduersaries of the grace of Christe by looking vppon an idoll which hath nothing but a shew of that it is not bee diswaded from the worshippe of Idolles Can hee bring men from errour which can teach no truth Can hee that is trayterously affected to Magistracie become a loyall subiect and neuer heare his Pastour prooue by the word of God that all must be subiect not onely for feare but for conscience sake Finally can the carnal minded man and the blasphemouse Atheist be perswaded that Christe is the redeemer of the worlde whose Ministers these be Therefore as all Christians are priuately to looke vnto them selues their giftes and callinges that they tye and bind their iudgement and affection to the measure of that faithfull grace they haue receiued so all Magistrates are by the swoord of their authoritie which they beare not in vaine to keepe and hold their Christian subiectes within the compasse of their limittes Now followeth the last reason of the generall law For as we haue many members in one bodye and all members haue not one office so we beeing many are but one body in Christ euery one one anothers members This last reason taken from the mutuall disposition of the body is by the Apostle applyed not onely to the Saintes at Rome but also generally to the whole Church of CHRIST which as it teacheth an vnitie of bodie a multitude of members vnder one heade a variety of duties and a diuersitie of gifts so it sheweth manifestly that this destinction in the body wherof ariseth the gouerment of the whole making for the safety of the whole and euery part is most necessary most profitable and therefore perpetuall and immutable In consideration whereof I will laye out the partes more plainly least any shoulde take vppon him through presumption a greater charge then he can sustaine or the measure of his gifts permit and the rather for that there are in these two verses 4. similitudes albeit at the first vewe there seemeth to bee but one The first is as we haue in one naturall body many mēbers so wee haue in one catholique Church many members The second as all members of the naturall body haue not one office so all the members of the Church haue not one office The thirde as many members in the natural body haue one head wherein they are so many members in the Church haue one head wherin they are The fourth and last as in a naturall body euery member is anothers so in the Church euery member is anothers Al which particuler similitudes are necessarily collected out of the Apostles words in the 4. and 5. verses as you may plainly see The same similitudes though not in the same wordes yet to the same purpose our Apostle vseth in the twelfth Chapiter of the first Epistle to the Corinthians saying As the body is one and hath many members all the members of the body which is one though they be many yet are but one body euen so is Christ that is the church of Christ. Hee prosecuteth it farther as wee shall hereafter see But first let vs somewhat more diligentlie consider according to these foure similitudes of the state condition and regiment of the Churche of Christe heere in earth for hence arise foure most excellent and worthie rules touching the spirituall gouernment of the misticall body of Christ. The first is this There must be and ought to be in the church of Christe manie members The first similitude teacheth this the 12. to y e Corinthians doth conclude and determine it for the body is not one member but many againe if they were all one member where were the body but now there are many members yet but one body therefore there must be manie members in the Church By a member he meaneth such a part of the body as hath receiued from the heade some particular and necessarie gifte fit to helpe and benefite the whole body and euery member thereof as it appeareth by the last similitude and by the enumeration of the parts immediatly following Now if you aske me howe manie members there be in the bodie what they be and howe they bee named and called and what be their duties and callings the Apostle him selfe will aunswere plainly in the next verses and perfectlie and fully determine all these questions saying These members are either Doctors to teach Pastors to exhort Elders to rule Deacons to distribute Attenders vppon the poore straungers and the sicke or else the people and Saints which are taught exhorted ruled and receiue almes and releefe These are al no mo no fewer So the necessity of y e relation plainly prooueth these are such as are able to execute performe any duty belonging to the perfect building vp and adorning of the mystical body of Christ as shall hereafter appeare more at large in the particular handling of euery seuerall office Now I beseech you let vs iudge indifferently of y e body of y e Church of England whether it be perfect or no hauing no wāt of any necessary mēber nor any part vnnecessary For if nature lack any one be it neuer so base if it be but one toe she is sory she is grieued she lamēteth she iugeth her self maimed yea she wold redeem it w t the perill of loosing the rest such is her loue and desire to appeare in her beautye and perfection The Church of God in England deare Christians which is the beloued spouse of Christ which desireth to appeare most beautifull and perfect in the eyes of her louer shee wanteth her Pastours Teachers Elders Deacons and her Attenders vppon the poore therefore she hangeth downe her head for heauines her eyes bee bleared with teares her cheekes be defiled with the water of her eyes her heart is heauy with sorrow her bones are withered with drinesse her whole body is cloathed in sackcloth she lyeth in caues and dennes beeing almost ashamed to shew her face hauing so deformed and maymed a body Which ought to be as bright as the Sunne and as fayre as the Moone yea of ten thousand the chiefest Againe on the other side if nature do espie in the body anye superfluous member
to take away all difference and discord he hath gyuen not a Pope not an Archbishop or Bishop for there was perfect vnion before they were though they falsely beare vs in hande that these are for the mayntenaunce of peace and vnitie but Apostles Euangelistes Prophetes Pastoures and Teachers by whose ministery we may be fully lead to a perfect vnitie of faith in Christ and to the full age of the fulnesse of him So that he alone by his owne gyftes must keepe all the members of his Church in perfect vnity and by them also remooue all iarring in iudgement and all discorde in affection The which harmonie no Pope Archbishop Aungell or any other creature can make O that we might once heare this plesant soūd time of this harmony The primitiue church they heard it yea they so delighted in it that Saint Luke often repeateth it as though the very bare repetition thereof had wonderfully pleased to wit that the Apostles disciples and all continued togeather in one place with one accorde with one iudgement with one minde with one hart O heauenly harmonye vnitye before euer y e Pope or Archbishop or any such straūge calling were hatcht Therefore we are to beseech y e honorable Coūsellers to labour night day till it be graunted vnto vs y t we maye haue libertye but once to make triall and experience whether we cannot onely by the Lords gifts and by those graces which descended and came down from the heade set in time all the members of the Churche that wee may once againe heare the first song of the first Churche planted by the Apostles the which if we can as no doubt the Lorde will giue vs to doe I am perswaded as he will preferre it before all other harmonies that haue beene so we shall rest in it without wearinesse or desire of chaunge Again if all the members submit themselues to the gouernment of the heade and onely follow it then there can be neyther desire of rule nor breach of any good order But the admitting of two heads and diuers lawes as it maketh a monstrouse body so a contrary gouernmēt both which nature and good reason mislike and condemne Yea though not altogether yet in some part wee see these disorders in our Church For what else is the sole authoritie of one priuate man to rule ouer his fellow-brethren to chide them to correct them to punish them to suspende them from their office yea and that which nothing appertaineth to him to imprison them And I beseech you tell me doe they all this by the Lawes of Christ Surely deare Christians we must and will appeal vnto their honours from these vnlawfull iurisdictions if we teach false doctrine let vs in the presence of her Maiesty and them all be confuted if we haue offended we refuse no punishmēt We are called nay we are slandered of the papists and others with the diuelish sect of Puritans we are thought to beare scarce good will vnto her Maiestie Well howsoeuer men iudge of vs we are that we are by y e grace of God and for my selfe I will aunswere I am perswaded that al that be of my iudgement are of the same minde touching my loue and affection towardes my Soueraigne and gracious Prince I protest here before God his Angells and you all that to saue her Maiesties life I wold giue my right hand what sayd I Nay assuredly as the Lord liueth to prolong her life but one howre I would powre out all the bloud in my heart though it should run a thousand year And I perswade my selfe moreouer that if her Maiestie should hear and know the grounds of this doctrine we should not long pray in vain for the reformation of the Church The fourth and last rule is euery member must be one anothers member that is hauing a peculier office seruing to the benefite of all the members that by diligence and loue must be imployed for the preseruation of the whole body and not for our owne profite For euen the least and basest member is necessary and therfore not to bee neglected or to bee dispised This rule as it requireth a diligent and continuall seruice of euery member so it condemneth all idlenesse and neglect of duetye If the members of the naturall body shoulde fayle in their seuerall duties woulde we not by and by iudge that there were in them either want of loue vnto others or inability in nature and also that this defect woulde tende in the ende to the destruction of the body I am sure you will graunt it What shall wee say then of the members of our Churche which are so idle in their callinges may we not moste iustly condenme them for want of loue for loue is the bond of perfection which bindeth together the hartes of the saintes by her labour trauell she taketh in helping and releeuing them she seeketh not her owne she refuseth no paine she feareth no perill she disdaineth no basenes so y t the members and saintes of Christ may be bettered by her But alasse where is she in our Churches verely she commeth not abroade into our streetes shee sheweth not her selfe in our assemblies she appeareth not in pulpit dailie she is faine to hide her selfe in certeine corners of the Church For seeing some preache not at all some seldome some haue mo charges then is possible for them to discharge some seeke dispensations some faculties some sue for commendations some one thing some for another can we think y t they perswade thēselues to be mēbers of others seruants to other mēbers not to thēselues only thei haue hāds eies ears but they reach to themselues not to others they see for thēselues not for others they heare also but not for others Moreouer where it is saide that we are one anothers members we must know that in dispising others wee dispise our selues and hurt our selues for we depriue our owne soules of those benefites which other shoulde minister vnto vs for oure health peace We ought then rather to nourish and cherish them because we may reape great good of them But such is the blindnesse and senselesse dulnesse of many in our Church that they esteeme nothing of the members that the Lord hath giuen and ordayned for their singular commodity God hath giuen vs in great mercie Pastors and Doctours to be our eyes to lead and direct vs in the wayes of truth and holinesse Elders and Deacons to be our handes to keepe vs and hold vs in the way also to reach vnto vs those things we want Attenders vppon vs to be our feet when we are not able otherwise to goe And yet O Lorde we despise them we deride them nay that which is incredible though they be the Lordes owne gifts we will not be perswaded that they will or can do vs any good or bring anye ornament to the body The Lord for his mercye sake open our eyes that
loue such like ther are no Doctours to teach nor Pastors to exhort Nowe commeth it to passe that in a Christian Church professing newnesse of life and the doctrine of regeneration ther should be such a huge masse of old and detestable workes of coniuring witchcraft sorcery charming blaspheming the holy name of God swearing and forswearing prophaning of the Lords sabboths disobedience to superiors contempt of inferiors murther manslaughter robberies adultery fornication couenaunt-breakers false-witnesse bearing lyars w t all other kindes of vnmercifull dealing one with another Is not the cause euident we lack Elders and Gouernors of euery congregation to admonish correct suspende and excommunicate such noisome hurtfull monstrous beastes out of the house of God without respect of persons Why haue we so many poore so many feeble and weake ready to die amongst vs we want Deacons and mercifull men which should faithfully distribute to the necessity of the Saints and willingly and cheerefully attend vpon the impotent which are vnable to helpe them selues O what fruite might be reaped by these seuerall vocations if they were set vp and established in euery congregation Without all controuersies the benefites that would redound to vs and this land hereby are innumerable no tongue can expresse them For hereby her gratious Maiestie and her honourable Counsell might truely knowe within a short time by name who howe many enimies there are a very few subtile hipocrites excepted to religion the common-wealth How many obstinate malitious and traiterous Papists how many Annabaptists Libertines how many of the Family of loue how many Atheists how many vnruly inordinate walkers which thē might bee punished according to their faultes wheras now Archbyshops Bishops Archdeacons Commissaries Officialls hauing contrarie to y e word of God pulled y e rains of gouernment from y e Elders ruine destruction is feared but not auoyded Not one enimy of an hundreth is known of y e greater part yet there be moe secret enimies then y e wisest most prouident can thinck of Hereby al the secrete mischieuous deuises against her Maiesties royall person against religion the whole state might easily be tried searched out by the diligent wise search of y e Elders in euery Church whereas now did not y e Lord somtimes most wonderfully for the singular care he hath ouer her Counsel bring thē to light we should haue bene often eare now swalowed vp by these secret vnderminings of the common peace and state Hereby we should knowe certainly who be those y t so prodigally maintain suche as haue beene blouddy butchers murtherers of Gods people remaining as yet enemies to the Gospell and false harted to her Maiestie where as nowe some of them haue securely boasted as I am able to iustifie iudge you of the rest that they haue had greater reuenews being Prisoners in the Tower and other places then when they were Abbots and riche Prelates in the lande and yet no man knoweth howe they come by them nor of whome they receyue them Howe muche then thinke you is all that is bestowed this waye in one yeare you maye gesse by this annuall receypte of some one man Hereby might easily in time be preuented all secret conspiracies For whatsoeuer conspiracie were begun in any Towne or Citie it would easily in the beginning long before the flame therof bee espied of such wise and graue men as now in some congregations may and after teaching and exhorting might in many moe bee appointed and such attemptes either by ecclesiasticall censure or ciuil correction of the Magistrate bee altogether quenched so that our gracious Prince her honorable Counsel the whol land might liue in much more safety and security then now they do and haue greater assuraunce of the mercifull protection of the almighty then nowe they haue Hereby all godly lawes ecclesiastical and ciuill should either vniuersally be kept of all or else the breakers come vnder such ciuill and Ecclesiasticall punishments as they should deserue which were a singuler meane to breede in the harts of the Subiectes a pure feare loue to their Prince and other Magistrates Whereas now good lawes are transgressed and no man accused the Lorde is not truely worshipped the Prince of some not in vnfained simplicie reuerenced nor with good will from the hart beloued of them Finallye heereby the Pastours and Doctors shoulde hauing a true relation from their Seniors touching y e estate of their flocke be much more fruitfully occupied in teaching and exhorting for they might with al knowledge and wisedome deliuer vnto euery one that which were fit most to draw him to God his eternal saluation Seeing therfore that the establishing of this gratious gouernment of God will bannishe chase a way all noysome beasts out of the Lords vineyearde seeing it wil be such a singular meane to preserue and maintaine the peace and securitie of the Common-wealth all estates therin finally seeing it maketh very much both for religion and godly pollicie is a most deare friend to both for the loue of your Common-wealth and the Church I beseech you all to enterteine this Christian gouernment of y e church of Christ wherof he himselfe is the authour and no man Two things remaine which I purpose to determine First that this gouernement is perpetuall secondly that it is only sufficient wherin I cannot for lack of time be long and therfore wil briefly set down the reasons of both For the first I proue thus First this speciall commaundement touching the practize exercise of these giftes besides that it is the commaundement of God drawne out of the generall law it chargeth al these officers to abide in their offices therefore they are perpetuall Secondly all these officers are called here the true members of the body of the Church therefore the Church beeing to endure to the comming of Christ these also must be of the same continuance except you will say y t Christe is pleased better with a maimed body then a perfect one Thirdly Paule commaundeth Timothie to keepe this gouernment vnto the comming of Christ. 1. Tim. 6. Fourthly all the thinges where-about they are occupied as the ignorances and errours of the minde the corruptions of the heart the vnrulinesse of men the pouertie of the saints and impotency of the poore are alwayes to be looked vnto and cared for Therfore the offices of God appointed and ordained for these purposes are perpetuall Fiftly Christe the King and gouernour of his Church must rule it till the comming of him selfe by his owne offices and lawes therefore this is perpetuall For the second First we are commaunded here to content our selues with these and to rest in them therefore these are only sufficient Secondly these doe make the man and church of God perfect to euery good work as it is in y e 4. to y e Ephesians else where therefore these onely are sufficient Thirdly if these bee insufficient then Christ can not be glorified as perfect gouernour of his Church neither his worde is such but that something may be added both which are absurd therefore they onely are sufficient if not who dare adde a member to that body which hee neither made nor can make Fourthly these functions onely are sufficient which haue all the gifts needefull for the ministery of the word and Sacramentes and for the gouernment of the Church but all these functions are sufficient for these ends therefore onely these are sufficient Fiftly if any erect new ministeries hee must either giue new gifts or assure men that they shall haue newe giftes of God but none can do thus therefore these only are sufficient Sixthly if men may adde they may detract but y e second is false therfore y e first Seeing then these things are so as hath bin set forth out of y e Word of God y t this is his order to which al ought to vow their backs euery one keeping his proper place none intruding vpon the right interest of another seing superfluous things ought to be cut off such offices as are frō Antichrist ought to be abandoned let vs euery one in our places pray to our good God that he wil pitty this his poore Church y t trueth and righteousnesse may kisse eche other that his scepter may flourish that the stiff-necks of the obstinate and the Iron siniews of the rebellious may be bowed and broken to the end these confusions that appeare euery where this pompous pride and curssed ambition enimy to all sincerity good order true religion may cease and onely the glory and victory of Christe our onely King Prophet and Priest may be established to whom with the Father and the holy ghost three persons and one eternall God be all prayse glory and honor now and for euer Amen Acts. 9. Num. 3. 38. Num. 3. 32. 4. 16. 1. Cron. 13. 9. Num. 16. 2. 1. Cor. 12. 3. Iohn 9. 1. Cor. 12. 12. 1. Cor. 12. 14. Cant. 5. 6. 1. Cor. 12. 4. 5 1. Cor. 12. 8. Ephe. 4. 11. 1. Cor. 13. 5. 1. Cor. 14. 5.