Propositions and Principles of Divinity Disputed, Section 75
PRINCIPLES TOVCHING THE HOLY FVNCTIONS OF THE CHVRCH, THAT ARE DEPRAVED, AND RETAINED ONELIE IN name in the Romiſh counterfayt Church. LXXV.
1 FIrſt of all, this ſhamefull errour hath taken roote in that Romiſh falſe-Church; namelie, that they count the holie functions of the Church amongſt Sacraments: vponupon the number of which functions alſo, they thē ſelues cannot agree.
2 This which falſlie they call the Sacrament of Order, ſome do deuide into the higheſt and the loweſt orders: others more arrogantlie, vntounto the ruling and gouerning, or into the miniſtring & ſeruing degree; not altogether without reaſon (becauſe ſome of them are vnderunder the authority & ſubjection of others) yet by a vain & friuolous diſtinctiō ſeeing they hauehave taken away (as ſhall be ſhewed) the things thēſelues, and do onelyonly retain the names, that therby they may cloak thēſelues vnderunder the coūterfeit ſhew of antiquity
3 This ruling order, they attribute vntounto their Biſhops, (whereof alſo they make diuers degrees) and their Elders, vntounto whome alſo they do aſsigne their rulers, called their Arch-elders, the reſt they containe vnderunder the name of the ſeruing order.
4 Others do make the Eccleſiaſticall Lordſhips and juriſdictions to be aboue the orders themſelues: and ſo they make the higheſt orders to be Prieſts, Deacons, and Subdeacons: the reſt which are of the inferiour order, they name Oſtiaries, or doore-keepers, Readers, Exorciſts, and Acolythes, or ſuch as in times paſt attended vponupon the Miniſters: of theſe we will ſpeake ſeuerallie, laying down this foundation, that none of theſe functions are found in the Romiſh falſ-Church, but onlie in name.
Concerning Biſhops.
5 Nowe, as touching Biſhops; ſeeing that by the ordinaunce of God a Biſhop, Paſtor, and Elder (we ſpeak now of thoſe Elders that labour in the woorde) are the one and the ſame in reſpect of their function: whereas in the Romiſh counterfeit Church, to be a Biſhop, and to bee an Elder, are altogeather diuers things: ſo that there are manie Biſhops there, which neither are, nor neuer were Elders, (whome they call Prieſts) and on the other ſide, there are manie and almoſt infinite Elders, which neither are, nor euer ſhall be Biſhops: it followeth that amōgſt them, there are no Biſhops of Gods ordinaunce.
6 Seeing that none by Gods word is called a Biſhop in reſpect of his fellow brethren, (which are al aequall among themſelues) but in regard of his own flock which he ouerſeeth, as the reſt of them doe theirs; amongſt whome hee which ſeemeth to bee moſt meete to moderate the whole number of the brethren, is choſen to be ouer them, not in regarde of anie degree or preheminence, but onelie for orders ſake: Mans wiſdome, (as wee hauehave ſpoken in the Principles laſt going before) brought this order, which was onlie an order of place amongſt them which were aequall, into ſuperiority and preheminence; which preheminence notwithſtāding was tied within the boūds of certain lawes leaſt it ſhould grow into plaine tyrannie.
7 But this humain Biſhoprick in the Romiſh coūterfeit Church, not onlie vntying, but breaking a ſunder, & caſting cleane away all theſe bonds, grew into manifold tyrannie.
8 Now, howe far this falſe and counterfeit Biſhopricke differeth both from that which was ordained by God, and alſo frō the other of mans inuentiō, which by ſteps was cō uaied into the Church, theſe things following do ſhewe.
I In that ſome are promoted vntounto this dignitie, by a fained kinde of election, with the chapters of Cannons, as they call them, hauehave wholie wreſted vntounto themſelues: Others treading and deſpiſing all Cannons and order, doe come by the ſame, through moſt ſhamefull and abhominable briberie.
II In that, as the ſoldiers in times paſt, deuided the garments of Chriſt beeing crucified; ſo doe theſe falſe Biſhops with their chapters, openly without all ſhame, deuide the goods of the poore amongſt themſelues.
III In that, contrary vntounto the manifeſt & ſo often repeated prohibition of Chriſt, hauing caſt from them the diſpenſation of Gods myſteries, they hauehave ſo farre intangled themſelues with Ciuill gouernment & affairs, that ſome of them hauehave vſurped all kind of temporal gouernment, fraudulentlie obtaining the ſame, either by deceiuing Common-wealthes and Cities, or by ſeducing, as the Phariſes did vnderunder colour of Religion the vnwarie and vncircumſpect heirs to bequeath vntounto them their poſſeſsions, which neither the one could giuegive, nor the other lawfully receiue: Other of them, doe beare rule ouer Princes, and euen ouer Kings themſelues.
IIII And what ſhould hinder them to do this, who ſtick not to beare rule ouer the verie ſoules and conſciences of men, and to abrogate the very expreſſe law of God, as often as they thinke good.
V To bee ſhort in that, if it pleaſeth them for faſhions ſake, to performe any thing that ſeemeth to hauehave any affinitie with the office of a Biſhoppe, that muſt conſiſt not in the diſpenſation of Gods word, but partly in their diſguiſed and masking Biſhoplie apparell, and croſsing with the ſigne of the Croſſe, partlie in the defending of their ſuperſtitious and curſed Idolatrie, as in anointing, in vſing that ridiculous ceremonie of confirmation as they call it; in the conſecration of Temples and Altars, in the wicked ordination of their ſacrifices: Brieflie, it conſiſteth in the godleſſe rites of their Idolatrous worſhip.
VI. And this forſooth is that true and vndoubted Apoſtolicall ſucceſsion, whereby the true Catholick Church may be diſcerned in deede from the falſe.
Touching Elders.
9 By the ordinaunce of God, which was carefullie obſerued in the Church, as long as the ſame was rightlie gouerned: there were choſen others alſo, called according to the cuſtome of the Hebrues by the common name of ELDERS: whome PAVLE doth alſo call Gouernours, who being men of approued godlines, were joined vntounto the nomber of Biſhops, Paſtors, or Elders, (for theſe three are all one) by whoſe common direction and authoritie, ſinners were admoniſhed, or brought vnderunder the Eccleſiaſticall cenſures: and by whome the meere Eccleſiaſticall cauſes which had riſen, were decided: and the ciuill contentions alſo (as it is likelie, before there were anie Chriſtian Magiſtrate) were, according to the Apoſtolicall doctrine, brotherlie & friendlie taken vp, without anie debating of the matter, as it is vſuall in ciuill courts.
10 This then was the Chriſtian Presbyterie, or Elderſhippe: But in the Romiſh falſe-Church, they came in the place of the Elders that ought to hauehave attended vponupon the worde; whoſe eſpeciall and principall calling, is not to declare that Sacrifice of Chriſt; nor as PAVLE commaundeth to teach, to rebuke, improue and exhort the people out of the Scriptures of God: but whollie to ouerthrow the verie foundation of Chriſtianitie, by that horrible and blaſphemous Sacrifice, wherby they beare the world in hand that they in verie deede do offer Chriſt himſelf vntounto his Father for the quicke and the deade, to mocke God and men, by their ſingings, which are either ridiculous, or patched together out of Gods word, miſerablie torne in peeces, or els full of horrible impietie, being alſo ſung in mockery of the Church, in a ſtrange, and (for the moſt part) a barbarous tongue: to burne incenſe vntounto Idols, to adminiſter Baptiſm, (which they pollute a thouſand waies) in a ſtrāge tongue alſo, & that for money, to change the holy Supper of the Lord into moſt deteſtable Idolatrie: Brieflie, not to feede the poore people, but to flea them, and pill them moſt vnnaturallie, by exacting a continuall tribute both of the liuing and of the dead. This (I ſay) is the charge, & this is the calling, both of their Curates, and of the reſt whome they call beneficed men; and alſo of their maiſterleſſe hounds, who liuing by their dailie wages, doe, (as hungrie Dogs) ſmell out the kitchin of theſe fat maſtiffes, and hire out themſelues to ſupply their roomes.
11 Now as to the other Elders, whome we ſaid to bee eſpeciallie called Gouerners, they hauehave vtterlie aboliſhed euen their names, and hauehave placed in their ſteed the Officiall, (as they call him) being the Biſhops Vice-gerent, the Promoter, as they call him, and brieflie the Procurators of that which they name their Eccleſiaſticall Court, wherein Ciuill cauſes (for the moſt part) are handled, & that with greater brablement and ſturre, than in any ciuill court beſide: and wherein the cauſe of matrimonie is decided, not by Gods law, but according vntounto their rottē Canons: briefly, where all the lawes of God & men, are moſt impudentlie put to ſale.
And therfore there is no holie Elderſhip or Presbyterie, and no Elder in the falſe Romiſh Church, ſaue only in name.
Concerning Deacons.
12 It is cleare and out of controuerſie, vntounto all thoſe that are conuerſant in the reading of the word, and in the ſtorie of the purer Church, that the Deacons, by the ordinaunce of the Apoſtles, had the charge of the Church-goods, wherein they were alſo ſubject vntounto the ouerſight of the Paſtors. But in the falſe Romiſh Church, wherein they hauehave adjoined ſubdeacons vntounto their Deacons, what is it I pray you to be a Deacon? Forſooth, to be diſcerned from the Prieſt ſaying Maſſe, by a coat without ſleeues, to ſtand anſwering the Prieſt at his right, or at his left hande, (if the Maſſe be to be chanted or ſung, otherwiſe Deacons hauehave nothing to doe there:) when hee ſecretlie muttereth ſome things to himſelf, to chaunt the Epiſtle, as they call it, and to reade a peece of the Goſpell: to reach the Cup or Chalice vntounto the Prieſt, being to make merrie therwith alone: brieflie, to carie about the baſen, wherein they doe receaue the money that is offered by the poore miſerable ſheep, to bee deuided onelie amongſt the wolues themſelues. And who I pray you do exerciſe this Miniſterie? euen they, who though they bee ſacrificing Maſſe-prieſtes themſelues, doe yet for the names ſake, play the part of a Deacon and Sub-deacon in this Comedie. But what is become in the meane time of the goods of the Church, belonging vntounto the poore? Surelie this whole praie (excepting Hoſpitals, which Cities and Townes are bound to maintaine vponupon their owne charges) beeing ſhared and torne in peeces amongſt the wolues themſelues, is publicklie, without all ſhame, beſtowed vponupon the maintenāce of dogs and horſes, of whoores and baudes, vponupon dycing and carding, and all kinde of luxuriouſneſſe, vnleſſe it bee that couetouſnes dooth deuoure vp ſome portion of it, or that it be ſpent vponupon the maintenance of Ciuil diſſentions amongſt themſelues, or vponupon the perſecuting of the godlie.
There is therefore, no office of the Deacon according to Gods ordinaunce, in the falſe counterfait Church of of Rome; no Deacon, but onelie in name, vnleſſe wee had rather call al theſe forlorne wretches, by the name of Deacons than of ſacrilegious perſons, as they are in deede.
13 As to the inferiour orders (as they cal them) they are not ſo much to bee counted Eccleſiaſticall functions, (whereof we hauehave alreadie ſpoken,) as certaine exerciſes, wherby the young mē (excepting onlie the Exorciſts) that were conſecrated vntounto the church were, in times paſt, made meet, (a proof being had of their godlines and religion) to the execution of the miniſterial functions, wherof we hauehave ſpoken.
14 The office of the Oſtiaries or doore-keepers, was to attēd vpō the Church-dore, leaſt that any Catechiſt, or any who making their repentance, ſtood in the Church-porch; ſhould raſhly intrude themſelues vntounto the holy aſſembly or Supper. Now, the Readers office was, ſtanding at the desk to read ſome part of the word vntounto the people, while they ſtaied for the Sermon. The Acolythes did attend vppon the Paſtors, and vponupon the Biſhop, not onelie for honours ſake, but alſo for the performance of diuers other ſeruices if it were needfull: and euen to the end, that the Paſtours ſhould doe nothing, (as neere as could bee) without witneſſes: brieflie, that by this their dailie attendance and hearing, the young men might be made meet for the holy functions. As touching Exorciſts, the Chriſtian Church vſed them (as long as the guift of miracles continued) to the healing of thoſe that were poſſeſſed and diſtracted, or at leaſt wiſe, for the commending of them to God, by certaine peculiar prayers. But ſeeing the guift of miracles, is now ceaſed, to what purpoſe ſhould wee hauehave Exorciſts?
15 Now, becauſe it was ordained by the ancient Cannons, that no man ſhould be raſhlie admitted vntounto the eccleſiaſticall functions, who had not firſt approued his godlines and diligence vntounto the Church, in theſe ſmall offices, therefore do our good Romaniſts, of that falſe and apoſtaticall Romiſh Church, before they admit anie vntounto the higheſt orders (as they call them) which are moſt diſordered, ordaine with moſt fooliſh and ridiculous ceremonies their Clarks hauing paid their fees, euen in the one & the ſelfe ſame week, to be Dore-keepers, Readers, Acolythes, and Exorciſts: and within a ſhort while after, they preſentlie (if they pay for it) will admit them vntounto their higher orders. Now in their churches, they hauehave neither oſtiary nor reader; and as for Acolythes, they do not ſo much as know them by name. Touching exorciſm, it is partly ridiculouſly performed in Baptiſme, by all Curates or Prieſtes that are their ſubſtitutes, as though that al the children of the chriſtians were borne poſſeſſed with Deuils: and partly vſed in a wonderous jugling and deceitfull ſort, by ſome, who are indued (forſooth) with a peculiar kind of power ouer euil Spirits, (as in times paſt, when as the gifts of miracles was in force:) and that ſometimes, as it hath bene ſeene, when they hauehave ſuborned thoſe, who faigned them ſelues poſſeſſed with Deuils: though alſo they hauehave ſometimes performed it in deed, by reaſon that the Deuill did not refuſe to depart out of the bodies of men, as ouer-come by ſigning of the Croſſe, or ſprinckling of holie water, and invocation of the dead, that thereby deceiuing many a miſerable ſoule, hee might confirme them in their ſuperſtitious worſhip.
Wherefore in Poperie, there is neither Oſtiarie, Reader, Acolyth, or Exorciſt, ſaue in mockerie and in name onelyonly.
16 Wherefore alſo, there is in that Babilon, no holie order or Miniſterie in deed, no lawfull calling, and therefore no true Apoſtolicall ſucceſsion, but a meere vſurpation of the holie Miniſterie: Whence it is neceſſarilie gathered, that ſeeing the ſacred Miniſterie is a true and an eſſentiall marke of the true and Catholicke Churche, that there hath bene, and that as yet, in ſome ſort there dooth remaine a true Church held captiue in Babilon, which the Lord ſome few yeares ſince, began to bring out of the ſaid captiuitie: and it neceſſarilie followeth, that the ſaid Babilon neither was at any time, nor euer ſhalbe the Church of God.
Defended by DANIEL CHAMPHORANVS of Piedmont.