The Ministry of the Church of England, Summary – Errata
A few positions briefly conteyning the summe of the cause and treatise following.
1 THat Iesus Christ is King and Lord of his Church: and that all which look for salvation by him are bound to yeeld obedience to him, as in all other things which he hath commaunded, so also in his ordinance of Ministery, Worship, and Government prescribed in his Testament, and no other. Mat. 28. 19. 20 1 Tim. 6. 13. 14. 15 16. vvith Heb. 5. 9. and 12. 28. 19. 29. Ioh. 3. 36. Gal. 1. 8. 9. and 3. 15. 1 Cor. 12. 5. and 14. 37. 38. Act. 3. 22. 23. and 5. 31. Esa. 60. 12. Rev. 22. 18. 19.
2. That Christ as head and …ord of his Church hath given vntounto it for the instruction guydance and service thereof, the offices of Pastors, Teachers, Elders, …eacons and Helpers, together with rules for theyr entrance, administration, and maintenance. Ephes. 4. 11. 12. 15. 16. Rom. 12. 7. 8. 1. Cor. 9. 14. and 12. 28. Act. 6. 2—6, and 14. 23. 1 Pet. 5. 1. 2. 3. 4. The epistles to Timothy and Titus.
3. That the Primitiue Churches were by the Apostles planted in this way and order, as being the onelyonly true way and order appoynted by Christ, and to be observed to the end of the world. Rom. 12. 7. 8 1 Cor. 12. 28. and 14. 37. Act. 6. 2. 6. and 11. 30. and 14. 23. and 20. 17. 28. Phil. 1. 1. Col. 2. 5. 1 Pet. 5. 1. 2. 3. Iam. 5. 14. Tit. 1. 5. &c. 1 Tim. 3. and. 5. and 6. 13. 14. vvith Rev. 22. 18. 19. Mat. 28. 20.
4. That synce the tyme of the Primitive Churches thus planted, Antichrist that man of sinne (as was foretold) hath made departure from this way and order of Christ, not onelyonly in other poynts of doctrine, but also in the Ministery, …orship, and Government of the Church. Wherevpon is come to passe, that in stead of the former offices appoynted by Christ, hauehave crept in the Locusts of Antichrist, Archbishops, Lordbishops, Archdeaeōs, Chauncelors, Commissaryes, Parsons, Vicars, Priests, and the rest of that …ort, together with theyr new and straunge entrance, administration, and maintenance. 2 Thes. 2. 3. 4. 7—12. Rev. 9. 1—11. and 13. 11—18. and 14. 9. 10. 11. and 18. cap. 1. Tim. 4. 1. 2. 3. compared vvith the Scriptures alledged in the former positions.
5. That the Nations of the earth, and this among the rest, have ben made drunk with this cup of Babels fornications: Whereof whosoever drunketh, God hath threatned they shall also drink of the cup of his wrath. Rev. 17. 1—5. and 18. 3. 4. 2 Thes. 2. 10. 11. 12. Rev. 14. 9. 10. 11.
6. That this nation hath (to the prayse of God, and honour of her Maiesty) ben purged from many of the abominations and false doctrines of Babylon aforesaid, but not from the Prelacy and other Ministery, worship and government of the Church by Archbishops, Lordbishops. Archdeacons, Commissaryes, Priests, Parsons, Deanes, Prebendaryes, Canons, etc. … is evident by theyr present estate: and by these reasons follovving.
First, if all the false ministery, worship, and tyranny of Antichrist wers in all other places of the world abolished, yet so long as this Prelacy and other Clergy and worship aforesaid remayneth in this land, Antichrist that sonne of perdition were not vtterly consumed: As the Scripture testifyeth he shalbe by the light of the Gospell before Christs comming at the great day. 2 Thes. 2. 3. 8. vvith Rev. 14. 6. 7. 8. and 18. 19. and Ierem. 50. and 51. cap.
Secondly, the Churches of Antichrist cannot be compleet in all the Canonicall functions, Prelacy, and Ministery of Antichrist, if they have not the functions, Prelacy, and Ministery of Archbishops, Lordbishops, Archdeacons, Priests, and the rest now had and retayned in the Land. This is proved by the Popes Canons and Pontificall, and by theyr Church constitution.
Thirdly, the Churches of Christ may be compleet in the whole ministery, worship, and government appoynted by Christ to his Church, and yet be alway and altogether without the present ministery, worship, and goverment by Archbshops, Lordbishops, Archdeacons, Priests etc. now had and retayned in this Land. This is proved by the constitution of the Primitiue Churches planted by the Apostles: Which (the Scripture showeth) were compleet in the former, and yet never had nor knew these latter. Rom. 12. 7. 8. Ephes. 4. 11. 12. 13. Act. 14. 23. and 20. 17. 28. 1. Cor. 12. 28. Col. 2. 5. Phil. 1. 1. Tit. 1. 5—9. 1 Tim. 3. and 5. cap. and 6. 13. 14. 1 Pet. 5. 1. 2. 3. 4. 12.
Fourthly, if that which is had in this Land were the true Ministery, worship, and government ordeyned by Christ in his Church, then ought all the Churches of Christ vponupon earth to vse the same (Mat. 28. 18. 19. 20. 1 Tim. 6. 13. 14. 1 Cor. 4. 17. and 12. 5. and 14. 37. Iude. ver. 3. Rev. 22. 16. 17. 18. 19.): But even the Prelates themselves and theyr Proctors confesse it is and may be otherwise. VVhitg. in the preface of his last book against T. C. Also the Aunsvver to the Abst…act: pag. 58.
Finally, if that which is had in this Land were the true Ministery, worship, and government appoynted by Christ to his Church, then might it be found in the word of God: But that can it not. If any be otherwise mynded, let them show the severall offices, entrance, administration, and maintenance of the Prelacy and other Ministery of these assemblyes out of the Scriptures and Testament of Christ.
If they speak not according to this vvord, it is because there is no light in them. Esa. 8. 20.
The treatise following (conteyned in two letters) is divided into ten Sections.
The first section beginneth, pag. 1.
The second pag. 5.
The third pag. 17.
The fourth pag. 44.
The fift pag. 59.
The sixt pag. 79.
The seventh pag. 86.
The eight pag. 94.
The ninth pag. 106.
The tenth pag. 116.
¶ERRATA.
Pag. 4. lin. 7. for (dare) read, deare. Pag. 28. lin. 30. for (the he is) read, that he is. Pag. 111. lin. 43. for (what the people) read, what know the people. These and any other faults escaped in the printing, I pray thee (gentle Reader) correct with thy yen.