Attestation of Many Learned Godly and Famous Divines, Chapter 4
CHAP. IIII. The publike conſent of many late, yet excellent Churches, heerein with vsus.
NEvertheles yet I will not ſpare to adde heerevnto alſo certain publike voyces of moſt famous Churches. The Cōſeſtion of the Bohemian Churches hath theſe words,“Bohemie. Confeſſ. cap. …. Animarū Curatoribus & ſingulis Eccleſiaſticis Cōmunitatibus (ſive parvae ſint ſive magna) Claves concreditae ſunt & conceſſae. Sic Dominus dixit Eccleſi…s, Amen dico vobis, quacunque ligaveritis in teria, erunt ligata in coelo: & quaecunque ſolveritis in terra, erunt ſoluta in coelo. Et mox, Nam vbi duo aut tres congregati fuerint in nomine meo, ibi in medio eorum ſum. The Keyes (that is, Eccleſiaſtical governement) are given in truſt and graunted to the Paſtors and to every Eccleſiaſticall Communaltie (that is, ordinarie Congregation) whether they bee ſmal or great So the Lord ſaid to the Churches: Verily I ſay vntounto you. Whatſoever you binde in earth ſhalbe bound in heaven: and whatſoever you looſe in earth, ſhalb… looſed in heaven. And by and by▪ For where two or three ſhalbe gathered togeather in my name, there am I in the middeſt of them.
The Helvetian Confeſsion ſaith;Helvet. confeſs.. prior Artic, 17. Quae cùm vera Dei Electio ſit, Eccleſiae ſuffragio & Sacerdotis manuum impoſitione rectè comprobatur. Which when it is Gods true Electiō it is rightly approoved by the Churches voyce-giving, and the laying on of handes of the Miniſter.
The Genevian Liturgie ſetteth downe expreſlie,Genev. the peoples conſent to be neceſſarie both in their Calling of Miniſters, and Excommunication of impenitent offenders. Beza alſo witneſſeth the ſame vſe in the Elections at Geneva. and likewiſe in other places where there are free Churches. Saith he,“Bez. de grad. Miniſt▪ cap 11. Presbyters heere are choſen not without the knowledge and conſent of the people. So every where in other free Churches (according to the condition of the place) the like choice is made. Elswhere alſo he ſaith of the ſame thus:†Annotat in Act. …4 2…. Habemus nos Dei benefic…o certas nostrae vocationis notas, legitimo ab Ecclesijs nostris & vita & doctrinae testimonio ernati, & ab ȳſdemelects, ac demurn etia… in nostro ministerio confirmats. Cus Domia… (vt ſpero) e…ectis tum furibus, tum mercenarijs benedicet. Wee have by Gods goodnes… certain notes of our Calling, having good teſtimo…e from our Churches both for our life and doctrine and being by them Choſen and Confirmed alſo in our Miniſterie, Which I hope the Lord will bleſſe, when hee will ca… out both theeves and hirelings.
According to this order out of queſtion the Savoyan Churches,Savey. and the French alſo generally are conſtituted.French. Which the French Liturgie doth likewiſe prove.
The Churches of Scotland (before the late wofull breaking off from their former conſent) did approove the ſame publike Order of the Churches of France and Geneva aforeſaid.Scottiſh.
Alſo the publike Order ſet forth in the Low countreis conſenteth herewith.Belgi…. The Synod of Middelburgh Anno 15…1. decreeth thus of the Choſing of Miniſters:“Arti…. Electio ſit penes Eccleſiam, & fiat per ſuffiagium in templo publicè. Let the Election of the Miniſters bee in the power of the Church, and let it be done by voyces publikely in the Temple. Afterward they determine thus: Nulla Eccleſia, nullus Minister, Nullus Senior, nullu… Diaconus vllum …abeat primatum ſuper alterum. No Church, no Miniſter, no Elder, no Deacon may have any kinde of primacie above other.Chap 4.
The Synod of Tilleburgh in Naſovia Anno 1582,Naſſon. receaveth theſe Points for them ſelves alſo: as Zepperus ſheweth in the end of his Politia Eccleſiaſtica.
There is a publike Order publ…ed in Middelburgh Anno 1602. (agreeing withall the former) which touching the Choſing of Miniſters ſaith thus: The partie as choſen with the free conſent of the Miniſters, Elders, and the whole Congregation to be ordayned, is to frame his Sermon. &c. Touching Depoſing of them thus: By the like authoritie as he was elected, he is to be Depoſed. Touching Excommunication thus: It is ordayned that nothing be attempted in that behalfe without the determination of the whole Congregation.
Wherevnto the Churches vnderunder the Palſgrave do agree,Palatin. in whoſe publike Catechiſme thus we read.“In the end of part. …. The Church (by the commandement of Chriſt & his Apoſtles) vſing the Keyes ought t…o drive the wicked from this Supper, till they ſhall repent and change their maners. Which Vrſinus (the approved interpreter therof) doth ſhew to be with the peoples free conſent, as“pag. 41. before out of Vrſmus wee obſerved.
Finally,Other churches. this ſame is allowed by thoſe Churches alſo which follow Luther according to Chemnicius teſtimonie of them“pag. 47. before alleaged:Chap. 5. where at leaſt he ſignifieth that many of them do allow it. Which many other churches beſides do alſo, whō here I name not.
Hitherto I have truly and plainly declared, as touching theſe later times) who they are who have ben our Maiſter▪ & Teachers in this matter of the Church conſtitution & governement, viz. that it ought to bee alwayes with the peoples free conſent. Verily now it appeareth, I hope, that we neede not bee aſhamed either of theſe noble lights of Religion, or of this doctrine which manifeſtly wee have learned and receaved from ſuch worthies.