Justification of Separation from the Church of England, Treatise · Section 126
One shift more Mr Bernard makes, from which he must be put, and that is, that the Patron chuseth for the people a fit man, whom the Mr B.Bishop finding fit by examination, ordeyneth, and that this is a lawfull calling.pag. 319.
To let passe, that the Patrons vsually choose not for the people,Answ. but for themselves, and their own profits, and pleasures, which though it be apparant to all men, is (not without cause) winked at by the Bishops, considering how, and by what meanes they procure their own choise, I answer first, that the patron doth not chuse for the people, that is, as the people did chuse in the Apostles tymes. For the people then made choise of such, as were before private persons, but by their election to be ordeyned into office: where the Patron chuseth a Clerk, who is in office already, and ordeyned by the Bishop before the Patron make choise of him. The Bishop doth at the first make him a Minister at large, and not of any particular Church, and so sends him, as it were, to graze vponupon the Commons, till afterwards he be found by, or rather find, some Patron, which by his presentation makes a gap, and lets him into some vacant Vicarage, or Parsonage, there to minister accordingly. But admit in the 2. place, that the Patron stood in the room of the people to choose for them, I would demaund, who set him there? or where the scriptures do eyther teach or approve of any such A…urney-ships in the matters of religion, & of Gods worship, as you make by telling vsus in one place that the officers do make professiō of faith; in another, that they censure offenders; & here, that they chuse Ministers for the people. If som one mā in a parish had …nta…l…d to him and his heyres for ever, the power of appoynting housbands to all the women in the parrish, the bondage were intollerable, though in a matter of Civile nature: how much more intollerable then is the spirituall bondage of the parrish assemblyes vnderunder the imperious presentations of those Lord patrons, whose Clerks they must receive, and submit vntounto, whither they wil or no? Great is the sin of the people, which loose this †Gal. 5. ….liberty, greater of the Patrons, which engrosse it, but the greatest of all is that for the Ministers, which by their doctrine, & practise, confirm both the one and the other in their iniquity: all three conspiring together in this, that they alter the ordinances, and commaundements of Christ by his Apostles, and so both *Deu. 4. …. Rev. 22. 18▪ 19.diminish of his institution, & adde of …heir owne devise.
Now as the forenamed scriptures (like a gratious charter given to this spirituall corporation, the Church, by the King thereof, Iesus Christ) do clearly plead the peoples liberty, and power of the choise of their Ministers, so will I adde vntounto them certayn Reasons, to prove this order, and ordinance to be of morall, and perpetuall equity.
The first is bycause the bond between the Minister, and peopleI. is the most streyt, and near religious bond that may be, and therefore not to be entered but with mutuall consent, any more then the civill bond of mariage between the housband, and wife.II.
It makes much both for the provocation of the Ministery vntountoAct. 20. 2… 29. Iob. 10. 9. 12. 13. Act. 6. 1—5. all diligence, and faithfulnes: and also for his comfort in all the tryals, and temptations which befall him in his Ministery, when he considereth hovv the people, vntounto whom he ministreth, have committed that most rich treasure of their soules (in the Lord) yea I may say, of their very faith, & ioy, to be helped forward vntounto salvatiō,2 Cor. 1. 24 to his care, and charge, by their free, and voluntary choise of him.
It much furthers the love of the people to the person of theirIII. Minister, and so consequently, their obedience vntounto his doctrine, and government, when he is such a one, as themselves in duety vntounto God, and love of their own salvation, have made choise of: as on the contrary, it leaves them without excuse, if they eyther perfidiously forsake, or vnprofitably vse such a mans holy service, and ministration.IIII.
Lastly it is agreable to all equity, and reason, that all free persons, and estates should choose their own servants, and them vntounto whom they give wages, and maintenance for their labour, and service. But so it is betwixt the people, and ministers: the people a free people, & the Church a free estate spirituall, vnderunder Christ the King▪ the Ministers the Churches (as Christs) †Rom. 15. 31. 2 Cor. 4. 5. & 1. Cor. 9. 14.servants: & so by the Churches provision …o live, and of her, as “1 Tim. 5. 18.labourers to receive wages.