The Ministry of the Church of England, Section 7
¶Mr. H. his letter: Section, 7.
DOth the vvord enioyne the Minister to preach deligently? So by our … he is expresly charged at his ordination to do: and forbidden to teach any thing as required of necessity vntounto salvation, but that vvhichwhich he is persvvaded may be concluded and proved by the Scripture: Yea it commaundeth him vvith all faithfull diligence to banish and drive avvay all erroneous and straunge doctrines that are contrary to Gods vvord. Doth the vvord authorise him to administer the Sacraments? So doth our Lavv. Doth the vvord requier that the minister should not onelyonly publikly teach, but also oversee and look to the peoples conversation, exhorting, admonishing, reproving, and comforting them asvvell privately as publikly? Even so doth our Lavv. Lastly, doth the vvord authorise the minister to execute the censures and discipline of Christ? Our lavv doth also commaund the same. So that (although many to vvhom the execution of these things appertayne do grievously fayle in the practise thereof, yet you see) the office vvhichwhich the Lavv inioyneth to the Minister, is the same in substance vvith that vvhichwhich the vvord layeth vponupon him.
Aunswer to Section, 7.
THis is then Mr H. his proof, by which he would perswade vsus that theyr Priests have the same office in substance with the Pastors appoynted in the word, because the Law of the land requireth of theyr Priests the performance of such things as the word of God requireth of Pastors. But this is no sufficient proof.
For first, if he look into the Popes pontificall and Canons he shall fynd they require also of theyr Priests and Bishops to preach diligently, to administer the Sacraments, to oversee theyr flock, and to execute the censures and discipline: And consequently if his reason were good, the most popish priests and Bishops should have the same office in substance with the Pastors described in the word. Which doubtles he will not affirme: or if he do let him take heed least with Mr Giffard he prove himself a Schismatick from the Church of …ome, from whence they have derived theyr ministery, and yet pretend as if they made departure from that Church.
Secondly, he should have remembred, that distinction is to be made between an office, and the actions or dutyes of an office. For it often commeth to passe, that many performe the actiōs of an office, who yet have not the office or substance thereof, as he calleth it. To offer incense was a duty belonging to the*Exod 30. 7. 8. Deut. 33. 10. 2 Chron. 26. 18. priesthood in the tyme of the Law. Corah, Dathan, Abiram, men famous in the Congregatiō, …zziah also a king, they take censers and put incense therein to offer it to the Lord: Yet hadfNum▪ 16 40. 2 Chro. 26. 19 20. vvith Heb. 5 4. they not therefore the substance of the Priests office, but were punished and made examples to all such as should afterward attempt to do the dutyes of the ministery, being not lawfully called and sett in those offices which Christ hath appoynted therevnto. The administration of Baptisme likewise is a duty belonging to the*Mat. 28. 18. 19. Ioh. 1. 25. 26. 33. 1 Cor. 1. 14. 16. 175. 1. ād 3. 5. 6. 9. vvith Ephes. 4. 11 12. Ministery of the Gospell: Yet women in ENgland do administer it, yea and aregBook of common prayer: in Private Baptisme. by the Law allowed so to do in case of necessity (as they call it): Yet I suppose Mr H. will not say that women therefore have the substance of the Ministery: of whom the Scriptureh1 Cor. 14▪ 34. 35. 1 Ti. …. 12. saith, it is a shame for them to speak in the Church, and therefore doth not permitt it vntounto them, but requireth of them to keep silence. So far is it from accounting or allowing them to have the substance of the Ministery, howsoever the Lawes of men allow them to performe some action… thereof. The same may be said of theyr Deacons, who iBook of ordering Priests and Deacons:by the Law are appoynted also to administer Baptisme, and (having a licence) to preach the word. Yet have not their Deacons therefore the substance of the Pastors office, though they performe some of the dutyes thereof. By this then is evident that his reason is of no waight to prove that their Priesthood is the same in substance with the Pastors office, because by Law such dutyes are required to be done of it, as by the word are enioyned to the other. As is sayd, an office is one thing, and the actions or dutyes of the office another. Besides that it seemeth, the Law at first supposing their Priesthood to be a lawfull office of Ministery, did therefore enioyne it those dutyes to be performed thereyn: Whereas now it being found to be vnlawfull, and altogether vnheard of in the Churches of the Gospell, neyther the injoyning nor the executing of those dutyes can make it of vnlawfull to become lawfull before God any maner way.
3. But furthermore, doth not the Law of the Land requier these same things of theyr Archbishops also? And have they therefore the substance of the Pastors office? How then will it be true whichlD. VVhitg Last book against T. G. pag. 137. some of them hold and write, that a Bishop is superior both in office and gifts to a Pastor? or asmDefence of eccles. discipl. against Bridges. pag. 88. 89. others of them have proved by divers reasons against Bridges that Archbishops and Lordbishops are neyther Pastors nor Teachers: Nay moreover, thatnAdmon. to Pa…li. …. 2. they rob Christs Church of lavvfull Pastors, and that these theyr offices be Antichristian, Divelish, and contrary to the Scriptures? Or if the Archbisshops have the Pastors office among them, what is become then of all the rest of the Ministers of the Land? For by this meanes there should be but two Pastors in the Land, seyng there are but two Archbishops. Or if the Lordbishops be the Pastors, then are there but twenty fower Pastors or thereabout in the Land: and what be the offices then of theyr inferior Priests? Or if the inferior Priests be the Pastors (as seemeth by this writing to be intended) then what office in the Church have theyr Lordbishops, Archbishops, Archdeacons, ād the rest of the Clergy among them? Which is needfull to be considered seingoDefence of eccles. disc. against Bridg. pag. 101. themselves have written (according as the truth is) that our Saviour Christ hath appoynted in the *Note that the speach is not of the temporary and extraordinary offices of Apostles, Prophets, Evāge lists, vvhichwhich are ceased: neyther of the Civill Magistracy, vntounto vvhichwhich every soule (even the Apostles, if they vvere on earth, ā … therefore much more all other vvhatsoever) ought to be subiecct. Rom. 13. 1. But the speach is onelyonly of ecclesiasticall persō … and that, onelyonly in the ordinary guydance of the Church.ordinary guydance of the Church no office to be exercised by any one * ecclesiasticall person, greater then the office of the Pastors: and hath also made these all equall in every respect of ministery, iurisdiction, and power. Whereas it is far otherwise in the Prelacy of theyr Archbischops, Lordbishops, and the rest, having and exercising iurisdiction and power over the inferior priesthood and ministery of the land.
Fourthly although the word of God lay the dutyes aforesaid vponupon the Pastors of the Churches of Christ, yet it requireth them not at the hands of this Priesthood or any other false ministery whatsoever. Therefore is it not materiall though the lawes of all the nations vnderunder heaven should enioyne these dutyes vntounto them: so long as the word of God (which is the word of truth and onelyonly rule of religion) requireth them not at theyr hand. Iesus Christ theqMat. 28. 18. 19. 20. Ephes. 4. 11. 12. 1 Cor. 12 5. 28. 1 Tim 3. cap. and 5. 17. and 6. 13. 14. Lord and King of his Church, as he gave vntounto it the holy things of his word, prayer, Sacraments, etc. so hath he also given his own Ministers for the administration thereof according to his Testament. At the hands of Antichrists priesthood or any other false ministery he requireth it not: But rather vntounto all such herPsal. 50. 16. 17. saith What hast thou to do to declare myne ordinance, that thou shouldest take my covenant in thy mouth seing thou hatest to be reformed and hast cast my words behind thee? AndsEsa. 1. 1…. agayn to such he saith, Who requireth these things at your hands? If Iupiters priest (of whom wetAct. 14. 13 read in the Acts of the Apostles) or if Mahumets priests now in Turkey should by the lawes of theyr nations be enioyned and therevpon should execute the ministery of Gods word, Sacraments, and censures: would it follow therefore that such priests had the substance of the Pastors office? And why then should this priesthood of Antichrist have more priviledge then those, seing the word of God hath layd these dutyes no more vponupon it then vponupon the other, but hathvPsal. 119 21. 128. Re…. 9. 3. and 14. 9. 10. 11. left them all with theyr followers and adhere…ts vnderunder the curse.
Fiftly, let him tell vsus whether by this reason of his, theyr …umbe dogs, vnpreaching Ministers, substitutes, non residēts, and such like among them must not be accoounted also to have the substance of the Pastors office: seing they have all of them one and the same priesthood, and seing the Law at theyr ordination enioyneth the same things to them all … ▪
Sixtly, where he saith theyr Priests are enioyned at theyr ordination to preach the word, administer the Sacaments, and exercise discipline: If it be asked, by whom they are ordeyned hereunto, he must aunswer, by the Prelate a Lordbishop or his Suffragane (for so besides theyr practise it is required by the law he alledgeth): And then must he eyther bring warrant for this from the Scripture (which can not be done) or els he is even in this respect never a whi… the nearer. For (vv) if they speak not according to the Law and Testimony, the light is not in them. But to let passe theyr entrance and ordination till fitter occasion hereafter: let vsus in this place a litle observe theyr dawbing and deceitfull hiding of most filthy abominatiōs vnderunder these generall termes of preaching the word, ministring the Sacraments, aud executing the censures aud discipline.
Theyr Priests (he saith) must preach the word. Well: but with what limits must they do this? Theyr … Statutes, and Articles will tell you. They must not speak against the Prelacy or other ministery of the Land: nor against theyr book of common prayer (though it be taken on… of the Popes portuis): nor against theyr ecclesiasticall courts of Arches, Facultyes, Commissary courts, suspensions, excommunications, absolutions, degradations, or any other theyr ecclesiasticall procedings. And may not any popish priest (I pray you) thus preach the word at …ome, being hedged in with such limits ād cautions? But what if any of our English priests do from Gods word preach against any the aforesaid abominations or the like? Will the authority of the word (which he saith they are ordeyned to preach) heare this out among them? No Uerily: But they shall by theyr lawes and Canons be suspensed, sile…ed, deprived and degraded by the Prelates, of whom they took ād vnderunder whom they execute theyr ministery. Besides that they shall be straitly imprisoned, and (if the Prelates can) be brought within daunger of theyr lives. Take for example the vsage of Mr. Udall, Mr Cartwright, Mr Field, Mr Wiburne, Mr Wigginton, Mr Lord, Mr King, Mr Chark, Mr Wight, Page…t, Fen, Proudlove, Snape, and many mo of themselves, some silenced, some deprived, some degraded, some condemned to death. That we speak nothing here*Henri Barrovv: Iohn Grenvvood: Iohn Penry: Elias, Coppin, &c. The exiled English Church in the lovv Countreyes. The prisoners for this cause in London …urrey, Norvvich, Bury, Bristovv Leycester, Northampton, Sarisbury, I…chester, Glocester, &c. of divers the faithfull servants of Christ, who (though they were not priests or had renounced theyr false calling) yet for separating from and witnessing against the abominations aforesaid, have ben some most cruelly imprisoned, some banished, some put to death. But to leave thisx2 Chrō. 24. 22. Mat▪ 25. 44. 45. 46. vntounto God who seeth and iudgeth: we proceed to the rest that followeth.
Theyr priests (he saith) must also drive away all erroneous and straunge doctrines that are contrary to Gods word. How is it then, that by law they may teach and maynteyne so many false doctrines contrary to the Scripture, as have ben mentionedyPag. 10. 11. 12. 13. before? Or how is it that they silence, imprison, banish, and kill such as speak against and labour to drive away the erroneous and straunge doctrines yet retayned among them contrary to the word of God?
Next he saith theyr Priests are likewise authorised to administer the Sacraments. Well: but by vertue of what calling? Is it not from the Prelates the Lordbishops, who have no power from Christ to give such authority? Of which morezIn Section 9. and 10 hereafter. How also must they administer the Sacraments? According to the Testament of Christ? No: but accordin to theyr own book (for so the Law requireth) with certayne stinted words for prayer, and certayne for exhortation: with Epistles and Gospels: with questions and crosse to infants in Baptisme: with other then the words of Christs institution in the Lords supper, and with kneeling thereat as when they receyved theyr maker, and other the like profanations derived from the Papists. And yet moreover the Sacraments they administer must be given not to the faithfull onelyonly and theyr seed (as Christ hath appoynted) but to the most wicked and profane in the land, even to all within the precinct of theyr parishes: … ifa1 Cor. …. 17. they that are partakers of one bread were not one body? Or as ifbMat. 7. 6. holy things were to be given to dogs, and pearles to swyne: Or cExod. 1…. 45.straungers vncircumcised were to eat of the Passeover: Or the covenant of God sacrilegiously to be violated whiles it is dMa…. …. 17.said to the open wicked (in delivering them the seales of Gods covenant) Thou art righteous: Or as if theeEzech. 13 22. wicked were to have theyr hands strenght…ed in theyr evill wayes whilst by this meanes life is promised them in theyr estate: Or finally, as if it were notf1 Cor. 1…. 21. the Table of the Lord but a table of divels, or at least that the table of the Lord were not to be regarded (as theygMal. 1. 7. said in Malachyes dayes), neyther had through faith communion of the body and blood of Christ, as the Apostles haveh1 Cor. 1…. 16. taught vsus.
Lastly he saith theyr priests are required also to oversee they… peoples conversation, and commaunded to exercise the censures and discipline of Christ. And is it so in deed? Let him look a litle better into theyr book of ordering Priests (where they are thus commaunded) and he shall fynd the words to be iBook of o…dering … &c.these, the Prelate speaking to the Priest, Will you give your faithfull diligence alwayes so to minister the doctrine and Sacraments and the discipline of Christ, an the Lord hath commaunded, and as this Realme hath receyved the same, according to the commaundements of God, so that you may reach the people committed to your cure and charge, with all diligence to keep and observ the same. Then he that is to be made Priest aunswereth, I will do so, by the help of the Lord. Now who seeth not that these words (as this Realme hath receyved the same) do so restrayne the other words therevnto annexed, as the Priests are limited and promise no further nor otherwise to Minister the doctrine Sacraments or discipline of Christ, but as this Realme hath receyved them? And have not the popish priests at …ome or wheresoever els in any age, with like restraint, the same cōmaundement layd vponupon them? Yet I trow Mr. H. will not say, they have therefore the substance of the Pastors office. Next let vsus consider more particularly how they do and must exercise the discipline. The book showeth, so as is receyved in the Realme: that is, by presentments to the Prelates, Commissaryes, and Chauncelours courts, by citations, procurations, getting the Prelates or theyr Officals to suspend, excommunicate, absolve. dispense, give licences, give orders, degrade, deprive, and the like: and these also not according to the rules of Christs Testament, but according to theyr Romish canons and constitutions.
Let him not tell us then, that it is but the fayling of some in theyr practise to whom the execution of these things is committed, and that otherwise they have the substance of the Pastors office. They do but thus deceyv themselves and theyr followers, whiles vnderunder those generall termes of preaching the word, administring the Sacraments and discipline (which at first carry a fayre show) they cover most filthy abominations, as hath ben declared: Even hereby showing they… constitution to be part of thatk2 Thes. …. 7. 9. 10. mystery of iniquity wherein Sathan covertly worketh in all deceyt of vnrighteousnes among them that perish, because they receyv not the love of the truth that they might be saved.
Herevnto might be added (if there needed further proof) that theyr priests at theyr ordination promise to be subject to theyr Ordinary (that is, to the Prelate of the Dioces) and other chief Ministers over them (that is, the Archdeacon Chauncelor, Commissary etc.) and when they enter into a benefice do moreover sweare to yeeld canonicall obedience to the Prelates: and finally do themselves together with theyr people stand subject to theyr Archbishops, Lordbishops, and the rest of the Antichristian offices and abominations often before rehearsed. From all which the true Past…rs and Churches of Christ are free. Neyther do we here tell them of those many duty…s layd vponupon them by the Law, as to bury the dead, to Church women, to solemnize marriage, and such like which by Christ were never appoynted for duiyes of his Ministery. Hitherto then have we showed that theyr Priests have not the substance of the Pastors office prescribed in the word, as he did pretend.
Now therefore will we proceed to that which followeth, save that first I would put him in mynd of two things, which themselves have published. The one is, that D. Bridg… writing in defence of the offices of Archbishops ād Lordbishops, when he could not otherwise reliev them as he desired, flyeth vntountolBridges: in the firs… book▪ this very poynt, that in the substance of theyr office they are Pastors or Teachers in the Church. How soundly this is alledged for theyr Prelates or Priests (besides that which is spoken before) let themselves and theyr own writings be judges. The other is, that he would a litle pawse and take view of that themselves have published towching theyr Priests heretofore, for whom now he pleadeth: As for example to give him a tast, theymAda…ō to Parlia. first and 2. treatise▪ write that theyr Parsons, Vicars, Parish Priests, Stypendaryes, with the rest, came from the Pope as out of the Trojane horses belly to the destruction of Gods kingdome. Also, that the Church of God never knevv them: but that they are the Prelates new creatures. Yet see how now all of a sodepne Mr. H. would perswade us they are become Pastors, those auncyent officers wh…m Christ appoynted and the Apostles planted in the Primitive Churches of old. Are these things sutable one with another? Doth not theyr contradiction discover it self? And do not themselves proclayme to the world theyr deceytfull dawbing, theyr halting, and vnfaythfulnes? The Lord give them to lay it to hart, and to amend. Now to proceed, it followeth in his writing, thus.