The Ministry of the Church of England, Questions
…EVEN QVESTIONS which have ben propounded to divers of the M…inisters of these assemblyes, with request that they would aunswer them directly and s…ncerely from the Scriptures. Which also still is desired at theyr hands.
… WHether the Lord Iesus Christ have by his last Testament given vntounto and set in his Church, sufficient ordinary offices, with theyr calling, vvorks, and maintenance, for the administration of his …oly things, and for the sufficient ordinary ins…ruction guydance and service of his Ch…rch, to the end of the world, or no?
2. Whether the offices of Pastors, Teachers, Elders, Deacons and Helpers, be those offices appoynted by Christ in his Testament, as aforesaid? Or whether the present ecclesiasticall offices of Archbishops, Lordbishops, Su…raganes, Deanes, Subdeanes, Prebendaryes, Channcelors, Priests, Deacons or half Priests, Archdeacons, Subdeacons, Commissa…yes, Officials, Doctors, Pro…tors, …egisters, Scribes, Apparitors, Parsons, Vicars, Curates, Stipendaryes, Dagrant preachers, Chapleynes or howse priests, Canons, Petticanons, Gospellers, Epistlers, Chaunters, Virgerers, Queristers, Organ-players, Churchwardens, Sidemen, Collectors, Clerks, Sertans, and the rest now had in these Cathedrall and parishionall assemblyes, be those offices appoynted by Christ in his Testament, as is aforesayd, or no?
3. Whether the calling and entrance into these ecclesiasticall offices last aforesayd, theyr administration, and maintenance, now had and reteyned in England, be the maner of calling, administration, and maintenance, which Christ hath appoynted for the offices of his Church aboue named, or no?
4. Whethere very true visible Church be not a company of people called and separated out from the world and the false worship and wayes thereof by the word of God, and ioyned together in fellowship of the Gospell, by voluntary profession of the faith and obedience of Christ? And whether the ecclesiasticall assemblyes of this land be such, or no?
5. Whether the Sacraments [being seales of rightuoesnes which is by faith] may be administred to any other then the faithfull and theyr seed, or in any other Ministery and maner thē is prescribed by Iesus Christ the Apos…le and high Priest of our profession? And whether they be not otherwise administred in the Cathedrall and parishionall assemblyes of England at this day?
6. Whether the book of common prayer with the feasts, fasts, holy dayes … prayers and leiturgy, prescribed therein and vsed in these assemblyes, be the true worship of God commaunded in his word, or the devise and in…ention of Man, for Gods worship and service.
7 Whether all Churches and people (without exception) be not bound in religion onelyonly to receyv ād submit vntounto that …, vvorship, and order which Christ as Lord and King hath given ād appoynted to his Church▪ Or whether any man receyv and joyne vntounto another, devised by man, for the service of God? And consequently, whether they which ioyne to the present ecclesiasticall Ministery, vvorship, and order of these Cathedrall and parshionall assemblyes, can be assured by the word of God they ioyne to the forme… ordeyned by Christ, and not to the latter … by …, for the … and service of God?
¶Let him that readeth, consider.