Ministrie and a purpose to giue themselues over vnto that worke They haue in some good measure for none hath them in perfection all those graces and gifts that Paul to Timothie requires to bee in Bishops and Elders They are so judged and esteemed to bee of other Ministers and well grounded Christians and of those people which submit vnto their Ministrie who accepting of them and their Ministrie as sent of God desiring and yealding themselues to liue vnder them as is fitting for Christians And they resolving to guide and governe them as becometh spirituall leaders and guides Such calling and entraunce as this haue many of our Church-officers more then this in substance and effect is not appointed by Christ Those defects and errors which over and besides many time they yeald vnto in their calling entraunce and administration are not of that nature and qualitie that they make anullitie thereof or make it a fals and Antichristian calling entrance or administration The maintenance they liue by as it is no where in speciall appointed of Christ so is it no where in generall or speciall forbidden In the yealding wher-of vnto the Ministers they fulfill the Testament of Christ in giving of their temporall things for spirituall in giving hire to the Labourers c. and do not therin breake any parts els therof hee having no where forbiden any such manner of maintenance but left it indifferent to giue money or fruits In fruits to giue the twentith the twelfth the tenth the eighth of the increase according ether to their estate or the necessitie of the Ministers wherein the Magistrate hath authority to rule and define who hath in his hand the power of mens temporall estates or the Church if the Magistrate leaue vnto them the free vse of their owne Temporalties Nether is the tenth required to be giuen by the Magistrate or yealded to bee given by the Church to the maintenaince of the Ministers any more ceremoniall or Iudaicall in regard of the number then in regard of the matter Nether did their any Ministery lie so much in the quantity of the thing given as in the very gift and offering it selfe So that by the same reason that you make it vnlawfull for Ministers to be maintained by tithes you make it vnlawfull for them to haue any kinde of maintenaunce from the Church there having bin a Ceremonie in the very matter it self as much as in the quantitie or number For not onely their giving the tithe of their increase but also the very giving of their increase it selfe out of that consideration was ceremoniall The fourth Demande Whether every true visible Church of Christ bee not a companie of people called and seperated out from the worlde and the fals worship and waies therof by the word of God and joined together in the fellowship of the Gospell by voluntarie profession of the faith and obedience of Christ I answer 1. That every true visible Church of Christ is such a people 2. That yet not withstanding they bee such they may in their infirmitie and ignorance walke in some of the waies and practice some parts of the fals worship of the world not withstanding their said seperation conjunction and profession 3. They may in time become the true visible Churches of Christ which at the first were not in the said manner and forme called seperated and joined together but forced and constrained against their will by the sword of the Magistrate 4. Many of those Churches in our kingdome from which you seperate as they now stand are such a companie of people so called seperated and joined together though in all three there may bee some kinde of defects and wants The fift Demande Whether the Sacraments being the seales of righteousnes which is by faith may be administred vnto any other but to the faithfull and their feed or in any other Ministrie or māner then is appointed by Iesus Christ the Apostle and high Priest of our profession And whether they be no otherwise administred in our Cathedrall Parishionall Churches in England 1. I graunt that the Sacraments ought to bee administred onely to the faithfull in outward profession and their seed and in no other Ministrie or manner then is appointed by Christ 2. In many of our Churches at the least they are administred in no other manner from and by no other Ministry then Christ hath appointed nor to no other persons 3. Every error and defect in some part of the matter and forme and ministrie a rising of ignorance or infirmity maketh not the Churches fals Churches except you hould That no true perticuler Church can erre which is a more grosse opinion then that of the Papists The sixt Demande Whether the booke of Common Praier with the feasts fasts holy daies stinted Praiers liturgie prescribed therin vsed in theis Assemblies be the true worship of God commaunded in his word or the deuise invention of man for Gods worship service 1. Though it should bee graunted that the booke of Common praier in all the parts and percels therof is not the true worship of God but containeth in it some devises and inventions of man yet the true worship of God not withstanding is prescribed in it 2. So much of it as is vsed in many of our Churches is the true worship of God and in effect commanded in his word 3. Those devises and inventions of men with the feasts fasts holy daies therin prescribed though they should be graunted to be sinnes and corruptions in our Churches such as ought not to be conformed vnto such as we ought rather to seperate frō our Churches then ether by subscription conformity or any other meanes to approue yet are they not of that nature that the simple vse of any or all of them doth destroy the very being of those Churches which vse them making them fals Churches and such as wee may haue no spirituall communion withall no not in the best things The seaventh Demande Whether all people and Churches without exception be not bound in Religion onely to receive and submit vnto that Ministry worship and order which Christ as Lord and King hath given and appointed to his Church Or whether any may receiue joine vnto another devised by man for the service of God And consequently whether they that joine to the present ecclesiasticall Ministery worship and order of the Cathedrall and Parishionall Assemblies can bee assured by the word of God that they joine to the former ordained by Christ and not to the latter devised by man even the man of sinne for the worship and service of God 1. I graunt that wee are bound in Religion to do that which is specified in the first part of your question 2. To joine with our eccleasiiasticall Ministrie worship and orders at least in those Assemblies whether Cathedrall or other when and where all things are not performed according to the rigour of our lawes is not to joine with a Ministrie and worship devised by that man of sinne but though not in all the specialties and formalities therof with such a Ministrie and worship as is required and instituted of God 3. They which joine to the present ecclesiasticall Ministrie worship and order of the Cathedral or Parishionall Assemblies in those things which are performed therein according to the true intent and meaning of our lawes though some things bee done not warrantable by the word yet they may bee assured by the word of God that they joine to the substance of that Ministrie worship and order which Christ as Lord King hath given and appointed to his Church At least they may bee as well assured therof by Gods word as any that joine with the present ecclesiasticall Ministery worship and order of the Assemblies of those of the Seperation can bee assured by the same word that they joine to that forme which is ordained by Christ
more the vphould the Ministery of iniquitie and intisse vnto their stolne waters and hid bread 4. That our Church assemblies are not true visible Churches of Christ vnseperated from the worlde not joyned together in Communion of the Gospell by voluntary Profession of the faith and submission to the Gouerment of Christ but standing in bondage vnto Antichrist The very rehearsall of which reasons is answer sufficient he being notable to proue any of theis assertions but either by the Assumption it selfe that they are brought to proue or one by another circularly Contrarily I affirme 1. That ther is no ordinary Ministeriall office that Christ hath giuen vnto his Church for the worke of his Ministery but our Ministers either haue or by our lawes ought to haue the same 2. That it is a Ministery as opposite for the substaunce therof to the Ministery of Popish Priests Deacons as light is opposit to darknesse 3. That the Pope left not such Priests and Deacons as ours are nor hath any such in his Kingdome But that our Priests and Deacons haue bene vnder God and the Prince the principall Persons that haue driuen the Pope and his Priests and Deacons out of the Realme That it is devilish for any to say that they are devilish except they can proue it by better reasons That they that haue the best gifts doe not intice any to stolne waters or hidden bread or to vphould any Mistery of iniquitie Except the Gospell of Iesus Christ and the true and onely meanes of salvation bee the Mistery of iniquitie 4. That our Church Assemblies being such as by the lawes of the land they ought to bee are so far forth seperated from the world joyned together in the communion of the Gospell by the voluntary profession of faith c. and freed from Antichrist as is sufficient to make them true visible Churches of Christ notwithstanding that many things may bee wanting to the full and desired perfection of them And I doubt not but wee shall bee far more able at any time by reason out of Gods worde to proue theis points then ever M. Iohnson will bee to proue the contrary And yet it were easie to proue any thing by such a jugling Method of Reasoning as M. Iohnson hath gotten For hee can proue you the 1. Reason by the 2 the 2. by the 1. The 3. by the 1. and 2 the 1. and 2. by the 3. The 4. by the 1.2 3. and every of them by the 4. and all 4. by that question which here they are brought to proue THE FIFT REASON EXAMINED Fr. Iohn NOne may heare or haue any Spirituall communion with those Ministers which Minister the holy things of God and worke vpon the Consciences of men by vertue of a fals Spirituall calling Such are the Ministers of the Church Assemblies of Englande Ergo None may heare or haue any Spirituall communion with them Answere This Argument which here hee brings against our Ministery is the very same with the 2. For by a fals Spirituall calling hee meanes a calling proceeding from the Apostasie of Antichrist The Preposition for brevitie sake hee proues by fiue and thirtie places of Scripture And yet who soeuer shall pleas to take the paines to examine them shall finde that nether severally nor joyntly they proue the same The Assumption wheron the whole weight of the controversie leaneth hee proueth onely by the first Argument wherby hee proued the Assumption of the 2. Reason viz. Because they doe it by vertue of their Ministery receaved of their Prelats from their Spirituall Authority which is vsurped and Antichristian And this is all this witnesse hath to say and all the answer it needeth Onely hee wandreth into certaine objections and queries grounded vpon some supposed defences of some of our Ministers Vnto which I will though I neede not giue a breif answer from point to point Obj. Some say they preach not by vertue of their Ministery taken from the Prelats but by vertue of some other calling and Authority Ans I knowe none hauing receaued ordination from the Prelats that neede deny that they preach partly by vertue of the Ministery which they haue taken from them Noe though they hould the calling of Prelates vnlawfull For what is the Ministery which they haue taken from them for the substance therof But after a triall of their gifts a libertie and leaue graunted vnto them to preach the worde of God and administer the Sacraments in such Congregations as they shall bee called vnto Obj. Why will such seeme to renounce that calling receaued of the Prelats and yet blame vs for doing the like Ans They may acknowledge a further calling then that of the Prelats and yet not therin renounce the calling receaved from the Prelates but rather ratifie the same For the Prelats being learned divines and having approued of their gifts and by words and letters Testimoniall giuen libertie to execute the Ministery of the Gospell they doe not therby thrust them into a Ministery but they leaue them to bee further called or chosen either by the people or those Patrons vnto whose fidelitie the people haue committed this charge And therfore this acknowledging of a further calling maketh nothing to the justification of the proude ignorant schism of this Persons Obj. If they preach by virtue of another calling how then stande they Ministers of that Church wher noe other is alowed and how impose they themselues vpon any of their Parishe Assemblies seing the lawes of the land allow onely the Prelacie Priesthood and Deaconry a foresaide Ans Though this should be graunted which hee in his ignorāt simplicitie doth suppose that some amongst vs hauing bene ordained by the Prelates did exercise our Ministery by virtue of another calling and though the law of the land alow noe other yet especially so long as they are permitted to execute their Ministery by those in Authority though it bee by virtue of another calling they are to bee reputed Ministers of that Church that hath vse of their Ministery Obj. How also herein can they avoide to bee both intruders and hipocrits intruders in taking vpon themselues a publique office in that Church against the publique lawes and constitutions therof hipocrits because they pretend in shew one thing to the Prince and State and yet performe another indeede Ans All theis inferences are vpon a fals supposition yet if there were any such Persons they could noe more therin bee said to bee intruders and hipocrits then they of the Seperation are For though the publique lawes should bee against any other calling yet so long as they take an office by a good calling they cannot bee said to intrude themselues Nether doe any such amongst vs if ther bee any such pretend in shew any more then they doe indeed performe for so far forth as any differ in iudgement from the publique lawes of the State they are ready to professe it being called thervnto and they practis
in some points of their ministery to swerue from some observances which the lawes require The Argument therefore will not follow from the qualitie of the ministery except hee can proue that our Ministery is in all our Assemblies in all respects aimswerable to our lawes 2. The Preesthood which the law admitteth is not called Sacerdotius but Presbyteratus and the Priests are not called Sacerdotes or sacrificers but Presbyters as sufficiently appeares by our orders in Latin Therefore the Law doth not intende any true and proper Priesthood but onely boroweth the name to expresse an office of another kinde 3. To bee Persons Vicars Stipendaries Chaplins c. is not to haue a diuers kind of Priesthood or deaconry or Ministery as hee foolishly conceiteth onely varietie of Tytles is giuen to the same kind of Ministery in diuers persons in respect only of a diuers kinde of maintenaunce or dependance for Parsons are such as haue all tythes in kinde Vicars such as haue only the smaller Tyths the other being impropriated by the Magistrate for other purposes Stipendaries are such as are maintained by the voluntary Contribution of their Churches or by some such like meanes Chaplins are such as depend vpon great men The Ministery of all which If they duly execute the same is one and the same even that and noe other for substance which is proper to true Pastors and Teachers Fr. Iohn The Assumption is prooued by their 7. Arguments following The. 1 Arg. The Pastors and Teachers spoken of Eph. 4.11 haue their offices callings administration and mainetenaunce ordained by Christ in his Testamente Eph. 4.8.11.12 and Rom. 12.7.8 Act. 14.23 and 20.17.28 Heb. 5.4 Col. 4.17 1. Thes 5 12.13.14 1. Pet. 5.1.2.3 Reu. 2. and 3. and 22.18 1. Cor. 14.1 and 5.4 and 9.14 and 11.23 and 12.28 Gal. 6.6 But the Prelates Priests Deacons of the Church of England haue not their offices Callings Ministration and Maintenaunce ordained by Christ in his Testament Ergo. They are not Pastors and Teachers spoken of Eph. 4.11 The Assumption appeareth by their Constitution and practice in as much as their offices of Prelacie Priesthood and Deaconry their calling and entraunce according to their Pontificall Their choyse of their people whoe stand themselues vnder Antichrist and vnseperated from the worlde and are noe true visible Churches of Christe Their Ministration by their owne and other Popish Canons Artes Iniunctions and booke of Common prayer their maintenaunce by Tyths Lordships c. were neuer ordained by Christ for his Ministery but diriued from Antichrist and his Apostasye as hath bene proued by vs in diuers treatises Answere 1. The Proposition is not true except hee vnderstand by offices Callings and administration the Substantial or Essentiall parts therof Otherwise those very Pastors and Teachers ther spoken of may haue diuers accessary parts of their offices callings and administration not ordayned by Christ in the newe Testament Nether is it true Yf by maintenaunce hee meane any speciall kind of maintenaunce It is to be graunted in generall That Ministers are to haue sufficient maintenaunce and the texts a ledged for that proues noe more and therfore that which they proue is nothing to the purpose As little to the purpose are the other Texts for it will not follow from any force in them but that there may bee sundry accidents cleauing as parts to the offices calling and maintenaunce of true Pastors and Teachers which Christ neuer ordained 2. Concerning the Assumption 1. whether Prelates haue their office calling c. ordained by Christ is besids the present question Except M. Iohnson can proue that they are ordinary Ministers of our Church Assemblies which I am sure hee cannot 2 Soe many of our Ministers whoe in the booke of ordination are called Priests and Deacons as in all points concerning the substaunce of their Ministery are qualified according to the intent of the lawes haue their offices callings administration and maintenaunce for the substaunce therof ordained by Christ And yet I deny not but ther may be some accidentall defects or Superfluityes in and a bout them all yet such as doe or cannot be proued to destroy the nature and substance of any of them 3. All that is brought to proue the Assumption is falce and as much if not more controuersal then the Assumption it selfe For 1. hee can neuer proue that either the practis of all our Ministers is in all things according to that Constitution or their constitution according to their practis or either of them answerable to the strict termes of the law in all points 2. Hee can neuer proue that either in their constitution or practis or by the law they are in proper speech either Priests or Deacons only hee presumes them to be such because through some libertie of speech vsed in the lawes they are termed such Though it should bee graunted that our people stand vnder some kinde of observances and offices which in their owne nature and first originall are in some kinde Antichristian Yet they are of such a nature that divers worthy Martyrs of Iesus Christ that haue with stood Antichrist vnto blood haue stood vnder as much as wee And therfore such a manner of standing vnder Antichrist cannot be said to overthrowe though it may somwhat staine the Ministery of Christe But howsoeuer hee herein shamefully begs the question in the naked affirming without any prooffe That all in this kingdome are vnder Antichrist 4. Though for avoyding further controuersie that should be graunted him that some parts of our ministratiō by the Canons c. was neuer ordayned by Christ Yet at the least the maine principall and Essentiall parts therof performed according to the Canons and booke a foresaid are ordayned by Christ yea by M. Iohnson himself Nether hath hee proued or euer can proue That that part of our ministration by our Canons and booke a foresaid which Christ hath not ordayned If any such bee is of that nature and qualitie that it necessaryly destroyeth or maketh a nullity of the other parts of their Ministery which vse them 5. Though Tythes and Lordshippes and manners in perticulers bee not ordayned by Christ for the maintenaunce of Ministers yet they are as much ordayned as any other particuler or speciall kind of maintenaunce It is the will of Christ that the Ministers of the Gospell should liue of the Gospell i. should bee manietanied for their Ministery sake by them to whome they preach the Gospell But in what particuler manner that maintaynaunce should bee raysed hee hath noe wher defined and therfore left it to the discretion of Christian Magistrates or Churches 6. Wheras for the proofes of theis maine pointes hee referreth vs to the generall Tytles of certaine Treatises formerly published hee might as well send vs as they say to seeke a needle in a bottle of hay and why doth hee not in all other points of this booke as well as in the is send vs to the saide Treatises
seeing hee saith nothing throughout this in effect that hee hath not all ready saide in some one or other of his former bookes Fr. Ioh. pag. 8. The Ministery of Pastors and Teachers spoken of Eph. 4.11 The 2. Arg. is the ordinary and perpetuall Ministery giuen by Christ to his Church and such as the Princes of the Earth nether may nor ever shall bee able to abolishe seing Christ hath appoynted it to continue to the end of the worlde But the Prelacie Preesthood and Deaconrye of the Church of England is not the ordinarije and perpetuall Ministery giuen by Christ to his Church but such as the Princes of the Earth may and ought to abolish out of their Dominions Rev. 17 16 1. Tim. 2.2 Rom. 13 4. with 1. Kin. 23.3 deu 12.2 Psa 72.1 Therfore the Preesthood Prelacie and deaconrye of the Church of England is not the Ministery of Pastors and Teachers spoken of Eph. 4.11 Answere Idenye the Assumption Vnderstanding by Prelacie Preesthood and deaconrye The ordinary Ministery of our Church Assemblies against which hee propounds to himself to Dispute And aunswer That it is the ordinary and perpetuall Ministery giuen by Christ to his Church and such as the Princes of the Earth are bounde by Gods Lawes to maintaine and protect by their Authoritie And if their bee any corruption in and aboute the same which they ought to abolish that yet they are accidentiall and personall and not soe Essentiall as that they doe Distroy the Ministery The places of Scripture anexed to the Assumptiō for the proofe therof are all abused and profaned for not on of them doth any way soe much as colourablye proue either of the Clauses in the Assumption but only they proue in generall That the Idolatry and Idolatrious Ministery of Antechrist is to be abolished Soe that the man in his symplicitie takes it as graunted That our Ministerye is such an Idolatrious Ministery which is the maine matter in Controuersy and in effect the generall question of his whole booke Fr. Iohn pag 9. The Office of Pastors and Teachers ordayned by Christ in his Testament The. 3. Arg. are such as did or could stand with the offices of the Apostels Prophetes and Euangelists But the offices of the Prelates Priests or deacons of the Church of England are not such as did or could stand with or vnder the offices of Apostles Prophets and Euangelists which if any deny let him shew the Countrary by the Scriptures Light hath no fellowship with darknes nor Christ with Antichrist And suppose the Apostles were a liue in their Persons and were in England It were worth the knowing whether they and the ordinances giuen by them should giue place to the Prelates and their Canons and whether they should be suffred to preach c. without subscribing and conforming Their Canons vrge all vpon paine of Excommunication ipso facto Therfore they are not the Pastors and Teachers ordained by Christ in his nue Testament Answere 1. What a shamelesse man is this to affirme That our Ministery nether did nor could stand with the offices of the Apostles c. and for proofe therof bid vs If we deny it shew the contrary by Scriptures Doth not the burden of prouing by the very lawe of Common Reason ly vpon the accuser If I should in like manner reproch his Ministery say it is a Ministery that standeth vpon Sorcery witch croft and Coniuration and for proofe therof bid him If hee deny it shew the countrary by Scripture were I not worthy at least to bee laughed out of the Scholes This is a sufficient justification of our Ministery that such Malitions aduersaries therof whoe woulde seeme soe expert in the Scriptures are no better able by Scripture to proue their vnchristian accusation 2. It is true that light hath noe followship with darknes nor Christ with Antichrist Yet ther is no light in men in this life but it is mingled with some darknesse and the best Christians that are or euer haue bene since the Apostles times may be infected with some points of Antichristianisme Many of the late Martyrs since the revealing of Antichrist were worthy lights and renoumed Christians and yet the light of many of them was mingled with more darknesse and their Christianitie with more Antichristianisme then can be founde in our Ministery 3. Our Bishops haue as good reason to make the like supposition against him and as much worthy the inquirie that were if the Apostles c. were a liue now in their owne Persons where hee liueth and should professe the Church Assemblies in Englande to be true Churches and their Ministery in generall to be a lawfull Ministery and their worship for substaunce to bee a true worship whether M. Iohnson and his Church would suffer them to be soe much as priuate members of their Society much more to preach c. 4. Though our Bishops should herein be soe impious as to advance in such a manner their owne Authority and ordinances aboue the Apostles Yet what is that to proue that the Preesthoode and Deaconry of the Ministers of our Church Assemblies who many of them in theis pointes are meere patients and esteeme of theis things as burdens cannot stand with the offices of Apostles c. doth M. Iohnson think that none of our Ministers in England would suffer the Apostles to preach in their Cures without wearing a Surplice If they might haue their owne wils or should this any whit derogate from their Ministery that the Bishops therin would not suffer them to haue their will 5. It is besids the present question and a needlesse thing to spend time in justifying the Canons herein If the Bishops therin haue gonne too far it may seeme to bee the fault of the Parsons rather then of the Prelacie it selfe and therfore to make and vrge such Canons and Traditions as are a fore saide doth not proue but that for all that the Prelacie in of it selfe might stand well enough with the offices of the Apostles c. for those offices may of themselues If their bee noe other impediment stand well one with an other which in the actions therof doe not but by accident only one overthrowe or oppugne the other Fr. Iohn pag. 9.10 The offices of true Pastors The 4. Arg. and Teachers are by the ordinaunce of Christ set in the Church and imployd in the Ministery of the word Sacraments Church Gouerment soe as they may not with their Ecclesiasticall functions receaue Cyvill offices and callings nor take vpon them princely Titles and dignities Eph. 4.11 1. Pet. 5.1 Rom. 12.2.4 Luk. 12.14 and 22.25 1. Cor. 12.5.8 1. Tim. 4.13.15.16 2. Tim. 2.4 But the officies of Prelates Priests and Deacons of the Church of England are not soe but by their owne Constitution we set in the Church and imployd in the Ministery soe as they may also receaue Cyvill offices and Callings as to be Iustices of Peace c.
deciding wherof as hee saith will end the controversies between him and vs. The first Demande WHether the Lord Iesus Christ haue by his last will and Testament given vnto and set in his Church sufficient ordinarie officers with their calling worke and maintenance for the administration of his holy things and for the sufficient ordinarie instruction guidance and service of his Church to the end of the worlde 1 I Answer directly vnderstanding by Officers spirituall officers that hee hath And that it is a Sinne herein to breake his will and testament ether by depriving the Church of any of those officers or by bringing into it any other kinde with any other kinde of calling or worke then hee hath appointed in the same 2. That not withstanding this the Civill Magistrate hath power to set over the Churches of Christ in his Dominions Commissioners and overseers which are not specially appointed by Christ in his Testament civilly to guide gouerne the Churches to maintaine those priviledges liberties offices orders that Christ hath endowed them with all against all the enemies both without and within the same 3. Concerning the maintenaunce of the Ministers Christ hath set downe no more in his Testament then this in effect That the labourer is worthie of his hire And that for their Ministration of Spirituall things the Churches that enjoy their labours ought to Minister to them of their Temporals But after what especiall manner they shall be maintained he hath for ought appeareth yet to the contrary ether left it to the discretion of the Churches if they haue the free disposition of their temporall goods in their owne hand or of the Christian Magistrate who in such cases may see what is fitter then the Churches themselues The second Demande Whether the Offices of Pastors Teachers Elders Deacons and Helpers be those offices appointed by Christ in his Testament before said Or whether the present ecclesiasticall offices of Arch-Bishops Lord-Bishops Suffraganes Deanes Prebendaries Cannons Pettie Cannons Priests Deacons Arch-Deacons Doctors of Divinitie Chaplins or House-Priests Commissaries Officials Proctors Apparitors Parsons Vicars Curats Vagrant or Mercenary Preachers Church-wardens Sidemen Clarkes Sextons and the rest now had in the Cathedrall and perishionall Assemblies bee those offices oppointed by Christ in his Testament as is aforesaid or no 1. I graunt that the Offices in the first place mentionned are those very offices which Christ hath appointed that there is no Church of Christ but hath vse and need of them And that such are someway defective that want any one of them 2. That yet not withstanding they may bee true Churches that want some of them yea the chiefest of them as thos Assemblies of our owne profession in England haue for many yeares as I take it bin without ether all or chiefest of them And yet they judge themselues true Churches yea though they haue not so much as the Sacraments administred amongst them 3. Where the Civill Magistrate doth his dutie as hee ought and where the Churches haue the benifit of his help for the suppressing of sinne and the relieving of the poor and those that are in any distres which the Apostolicall Churches wanted there the want of some of theis offices may bee the better borne with all and the Church lesse defective that doth want them especially the two latter 4. I graunt that none of those offices here mentioned in the latter part excepting that of Deacons are in name those offices which Christ hath appointed some of them nether in name nor in deed some in deed though not in name Some haue the name of that which indeed they are not Some though they bee set over the Churches Yet are not indeed any proper offices of the Church Some offices here named nether in deed nor name as they are such are ecclesiastical offices but onely schoole Titles and dignities giuen to men eminent in learning for incouragement of others to study good letters especially divinitie 5. All the offices appointed by Christ to bee in his Church to the end of the world in effect and substance may be found conteined vnder some of theis though somwhat disguised with strange names borrowed from the Church of Rome and the principall most necessary are vnder some of theis For many of theis which you dispitfully cal mercenary Preachers Priests House-Priests yea Parsons Vicars Curats are in very deed and truth in office practice whatsoever they are in name The very Pastors and Teachers that Christ hath ordained ministring in his Churches according to their places and callings And those gifts which Christ had bestowed vpon them al the ordinary meanes of salvation As for theis varitie of names most of them arise from that varitie of maintenance that is in our Churches and not of their spirituall offices So that in this manner to dispute against our Churches because the Ministers therof haue such such names is as though one should dispute against the Church of the Iewes in Christs time and haue denied communion with it asking whether Priests Levites and Prophets were not those officers which God had appointed to governe the Church of the Iewes with all Or whether Scribes Pharisies Saduces Captaines of the Temple Rulers of the Synagogues Doctors of the Law Centurions Souldiers the high-Priests Servants c. were those Officers Or as if one disputing against your owne Churches or those which haue though not so fully as you would haue them interteined the same discipline with you should to warrant their seperation from you their condemnation of you as false Churches move the very same question in nature vnto you Asking you whether Pastors Teachers Elders Deacons Helpers be not those Offices which Christ hath appointed in his Testament Or whether Schismaticks Refractaries lay-Aldermen Parish Bishops Consistorians Parish Popes Proctors of spitle houses Dawbers Thackers Tailers Tinkers c. be those Officers for thus it hath pleased some to put theis odious names vpon those which bearre exercise the offices of Pastors Teachers Elders c. The third Demande Whether the callings and entrance into the ecclesiasticall offices aforesaid their administration and maintenance now had and retained in England bee the manner of calling administration and maintenance which Christ hath appointed for the Offices of the Church aboue named or no Not to stand for the avoiding of multiplicity of vnnessarie questions vpon defence of the calling entrance administration and maintenaunce of all I aunswer directly and plainly That the Calling entraunce administration and maintenance of many at the least that are called into ecclesiasticall offices is in very effect and substance the same that Christ hath appointed They are men instructed in the knowledge of good Letters especially in divinitie They haue a gift in some good measure to devide the word of God according to the necessities of the people over whom they are set They haue a desire to do Christ and his Church service in his