Declaration of Ecclesiastical Discipline out of the Word of God — Walter Travers

Declaration of Ecclesiastical Discipline out of the Word of God · Walter Travers

But off the canon lawe (Which ſuerly I doubt not to affirme to be the very fountaine and ſpringe from whence all the reſt off the Corruptions do flow) that popiſhe prieſtes / womē / Archdeacons / and Chauncelers with ther Officialles / Commiſſaryes and the reſt off that Traſhe / do bringe ther impure handes and neuer ſanctified vntounto God / to do his holie ſeruice / to preache his word / to handle and diſtribute his facred myſteries / to order and gouerne his churche / And nothinge ſeare any puniſhement off this ther boldnes and moſt vnworthie prophanacion off the holie offices? That Ionathan / the Leuites ſhamefull example in ſeekinge a Maiſter / or as we call yt / in gettinge the good will off a Patrone is taken to be followed? That Dauid and Salomons example in callinge the Prieſtes and Leuites to ther cyties and townes / and the Apoſtles in ordeininge no eccleſiaſticall officer but vntounto certen churches / is neglected and contemned. And laſt off all / that Thes wicked and intollerable faculties / Prerogatiues / Priuiledges / and diſpenſacions tha… I hauehave ſpoken off at ſuffered in our churche? Are all thee I ſay to be countid trifles / or certen light faultes and tollerable errors? For my par e ſuerly I thincke as allſo I ſuppoſe all they will do that will were this by the word off God as by the gold ſmythes ballance) that ther is neuer a one off theſe light and ſmall to be eſteemed / but that they ar all heynous treſpaſſes / and matters off Treaſon / to be examined and iudged off in the higheſt courtes. Therfore in the name off God / let vsus not ſeeke to bringe this holie doctrine off reforminge our diſcipline into hate and diſpleaſur / vnderunder a ſhew that yt is a newe / and a falſe pretēce that all innouaciōs ād chāges are dangerous / but rather abrogating thes moſt vniuſt and vnrighteous lawes / diſpenſacions / and (as I may well call them) pardones and indulgencies / at the laſt / let vsus call agayne that maner off gouerninge the churche and that diſcipline (being now loſt) which the Lord him ſelfe by his embaſſadors and Apoſtles hathe apointed.

Thus hauinge deſcribed and layd out the lawfull vocacion off all thoſe which occupie any publique place in the churche / let vsus now come to the partes and members of the ſame: which eſpecially are two / wherin the right maner off geuinge thes offices doth conſiſt / that is In election and ordinacion: which is ſo properly called. Election is the appointinge by the Elders the reſt off the churche allowing it / off a fitt man to the bearinge off ſome office in the churche. And as for Election that it is neceſſary to the geuinge off any off thes offices / it may appeare euen off that that S. Paul ioineth it with examinacion and trial / and diligently warneth Timothie that he lay not on his handes vponupon them that be vnworthie but only vponupon thos that after a iuſt triall beinge had are found meet and choſen.1. Timoth 3.10. 1. Timoth. ….…2. That ſame is proued alſo by the continuall vſe off the Apoſtles who by the iudgmēt and authoritie off the churche apointed Biſhopps to teache / and Deacons for the orderinge off the Treaſury off the churche. For Chriſt hath not choſen any certen hous or famyly (as it was in old tyme vnderunder the law wherin the gouernment off the churche ſhould all wais remaine. He gaue herein no right off Petigree / ſtock and blood / no miniſters by inheritance but he would hauehave the iudgement left free vntounto his churche / and the offices theroff to be gyuen by choyſe and worthines. Off which election for aſmuche as it was ſo neceſſary for the ſtate off the churche / that without yt the churche it ſelfe could / not longe continew: Our Sauior Chriſt was very carefull / and therfor declared particularly and diſtinctly all thinges which apperteined to the orderyng theroff. For he hath perfectly and diligently ſhewed bothe who owght to chooſe / and to whom eſpecially this care ought to belonge / and what ought to be followed / and regarded in choſinge off eueryevery one. For althoughe this queſtion and controuerſy off the choſers hathe beene diuerſly diſputed off by lerned men / yet allmoſt all off them cōſen in this / that ther muſt be moe to deale therin and that ſo great and ſo wayghtie a charge and belonginge to the eſpeciall and ſinguler commodytie or diſcomoditie off the wholl churche ought not be committed to the authoritie off any one but be ordered and ruled by the iudgement and conſent off many.

And this is the generall opynion off all thos that euer diſputed lernedly and wiſely in this cauſe: from which I thinck no man can diſſent but the Papiſts and they that hauehave ſucceded them in that authoritie which they moſt vnuiſtly and not without open iniury and tyranny doe vſurpe. For the Biſhopps that challeng this power vntounto them ſelues by ther meere authoritie and ther owne only Iudgment and aduiſe to apoint the officers off the churche / cannot challenge this by any right or law off God / but exerciſe a very tyranny thoughe indeed longe agoe browght into the churche / which leſt I may ſeeme to hauehave ſaid with out cauſe / and to hauehave condemned them with out hearinge them to ſay what they can / let them ſhew forth / from whom and by what right this infynit power and authoritie is come into ther handes. yff they ſay they hauehave ſucceded by inheritance vntounto the Apoſtles / and therfore hauehave receyued yt off them / allthoghe I ſhould graunt them the firſt / the ſecond yet is diſprouued by moſt manyfeſt teſtimonies and examples of the appoſtles them ſelues. For let vsus ſee iff euer the Apoſtles in any election did challendge this power and authoritie vntounto them.

Sainct Luke writeth off thre elections holden by the appoſtles / the fyrſt / in the fyrſt off the Actes wher a new Apoſtle is choſen. The ſecond in the ſixth / wher the Seacons: the third in the fourtenthe wher the Elders ar appointed in eueryevery church. For althoughe the Apoſtles did not chooſe Matthias But left it to the Lott which ſhould declare the Lordes will and counſell therin / becauſe this was proper and peculier for that office off Apoſtles / that / they ſhould not be choſen off men nor by men But immediatly from the Lord him ſelfe / yet in ſettinge forth two / ther is a certene kind off choiſe and election.

But what is ther in all this actiō / that either Iames whome ſome ſay to hauehave bene Biſhopp at Ieruſalem or P…er / or any off the other Apoſtles doth take vntounto him ſelfe? For althoughe that Sainct Luke declareth that Iames was preſent heere / yet we reade not that he was cheefe ther or tooke vponupon him (as he was Biſhoppe) authority to appointe an Apoſtle / Or ells thos two / off whom one ſhould be choſen by the Lott / But contrawiſe we ſee that he challenged no more to him ſelfe then either Andrew or Philipp / or any other off the reſt off the Apoſtles. In deed Peter as Proloquutor propoundethe all the matter and purteth vp as yt wer this grace vntounto the churche off choſinge an Apoſtle. And he him ſelf declareth what one they ought to chooſe and what eſpecially in ther election they ought to reſpect and regard.

But vſed no particuler or ſpecial autoritie in chooſinge / the word foreign They ſett forthe.Actet. 1.23. Which is off the plurall nomber vſed by Sainct Luke in that place dothe manyfeſtly declare and proue. Therfore in this firſt and ſolemne election off the Apoſtles / ther was nothinge done or ſaid / from whence this infynite power and authoritie may be deriued vntounto the Biſhoppes: But contrariwiſe ſeinge Iames taketh nothinge to him ſelffe nor Peter nor any other off the reſt / nay ſeinge all the Apoſtles togeether doe nothinge heere off ther owne authoritie / nor chooſe whom yt pleaſethe them / It is ſure and manifeſt / that That Biſhopp that will not take him ſelfe greater then an Apoſtle / or then all the Apoſtles / can by no right challendge to hym ſelffe any ſuche power or priuiledge in gyuinge and apointinge the offices off the churche.

But Let yt be that this election for the choice off Mathias and the great office and callinge wherevnto he was choſen / had ſomewhat ſinguler and extraordinary and let vsus ſee the next / that is the election off the Seacons written by Saincte Luke in the ſixthe chapter off the Actes wherin ik is ſo farr off that Peter or Iames or any other off the Apoſtles challenged any thinge aboue the reſt vntounto them ſelues in chooſinge off them / that contrariwiſe ther was nothinge done but by the common conſent and agreement off them all. For Sainct Luke dothe expreſſly declare that the multitude off the diſciples we called togeether by the twelue: that the chooſinge off Seacōs was propoūded by the twelue: and that the election beinge ended the praiers were made and handes laid on by the twelue. For allthoughe they did not all call them to geether / nor propounde the election nor make the praiers / yet ſo expreſſe a ſpeakinge as Sainct Luke vſeth heere / That the tvvelue called the diſciples together, and the words off the plurall nombre which he vſethe in eueryevery place off this hiſtory do manyfeſtly proue that nothing was done heere by the priuate commandement or counſell off any / but that cōtrariwiſe all thinges paſſed by the com̄on conſent and authoritie off all the Apoſtles Therfore in this ſecond and moſt ſolemne election bothe for the preſence off all the Apoſtles and multitude off the diſciples / They take the repulſe againe and can not obteyne this immeſurable and princely authoritie in the churche which they ſeeke to hauehave.

The laſt is the election off Elders written in the fourtenth off the Actes which was heeld not by all the Apoſtles but only by Paule and Burnabas. wherin althoughe they two ruled all the actiō and did moderate and gouerne the Iudgment off thoſe that gaue the voices / yet that they vſed no power and authoritie off ther owne in electinge the Elders off the churche euen that one word foreign (Choſinge by liftinge vp off the handes off the people) doth manyfeſtly declare. Therfore the Biſhopps receyued not this authoritie by inheritance from the Apoſtles whoſe elections I hauehave declared to hauehave beene furtheſt off from this lordly authoritie. For ſo they had bene taught off Chriſt that his kingdome was notlike the kingdomes off this world / wherin ſome one hathe the chiefe authoritie / to whome the reſt ought to obey and whom they call ther Lord an maſter.Math …0.2….26.27. But he had appointed …oir greateſt or greater then his fellowes / they had lerned that he was only king / to whom all ought to be obedient / and that they ought to lyue togeether like fellows in equall place and degree one with an other.

But they flee from the Apoſtles to the Euāgeliſtes And that fauour they could not get off the Apoſtles / they hope to atteyne by them: therfore they fetche the begynninge off this power and authoritie from Tymothie and Titus / loff whom they ſay the one was biſhop at Epheſus and the other in Candy. And Timothie (ſay they) was commanded that he ſhould not lay on his handes to raſhly vponupon any:2. Timothe. 45. which commandement had bin in vayne iff the election off miniſters had not beene in the Biſhopps handes. But I aſke them how they proue that Tymothe was biſhoppe at Epheſus: For I thinck they will not bringe me that ſubſcriptiō To Tymothe firſt choſen biſhoppe off Epheſus, In the ſubſcription of the ſecond epistle to Timothe.much leſſe Euſebius authorite) the Author wheroff is vnknowne and off no great credit which alſo is not ſett at the end off the firſt epiſtle againſt the moſt manifeſt teſtimoni off the Scripture which callethe Tymothie not a Biſhoppe but an Euangeliſt for ſo Sainct Paule expreſly calleth hym in the ende off his ſecōd epiſtle vntounto him:2. Timoth. 45. Act. 16.17.18.19.20. Act. 19.22.20.4. 2. Corint. 3.11. Rom. 16.21. And the whole hiſtory prouethe that it cannot be that he could hauehave taried long at Epheſus / who followed Paule trauelinge throughe ſo many churches and ſerued him in his iourny / whom Paule himſelfe doth witnes in mani places to hauehave beene an eye witnes off his afflictions whome he ſent ſome tymes to Epheſus / namely when he went into Macedonia / ſometymes to Corinth / witneſſinge that he did the lordes worck / euen as he him ſelfe / As alſo to the Rom. he calleth him his follow laborer / as one that labored to gee…her her with him in plantynge and orderinge off churches.2. Timoth. 4.11. and laſt …ff all that ther may be no way to eſcape In the end off the ſame Epiſtle wherin he is called a Biſhop / he ſendethe for him from Epheſus to Rome / which ſuerly he would neuer hauehave done yff he had beene appointed Biſhopp ther / or one off thos elders whom Paule in the twentieth off the Actes ſent for to miletum and exhorteth to contynuall watche and ward. And Paule hym ſelfe writeth that he willed him to tary at Epheſus / not that he had ordeined him biſhopp ther.1. Tim. 1.3.

A like obiection they make out off the Epiſtle to Titus wher it is written that Paule left him in Creta that he ſhould appoint Elders in eueryevery towne.Titus 1.5.

But it may lickwiſe be annſwered that the Apoſtle ſaithe not that he ordeineth him Biſhopp off the churches off Creta / But only that he leaft him in Creta: namely ſo longe vntill he had ſett ſuche thinges in order / as Paule beinge otherwiſe called away could not tarry to do / and had appointed Elders in eueryevery citie: which apperethe by this that he commanded hym when thos thinges wer done to come to him to Nicopolis into Macedonia. Lickwiſe in an other place he writeth that Titus was gonn into Dalmacia:3. Tit. 3.12. ſo that yt is cleere enoughe that Titus had no charge off any certen place or church.2. Timo. 4.10. Therfore ſeing I thinck yt is ſufficiently proued that Titus and Tymothie were Euāgeliſtes and not Biſhoppes / how doeth that make for the Biſhoppes which we ſee by ther Epiſtles was granted vntounto thē. For I thinck they will not compare them ſelues with the Euangeliſtes or affirme them ſelues to be off equall authoritie with them: which iff they ſhould / they might be eaſelie confuted as after in dew place ſhalbe declared.

But that we may put the caſe that Timothie was Biſhopp at Epheſus / and that we may freely graunt that what ſo euer may apperre to hauehave beene lawfull for him / to be lawfull alſo for them: Let vsus ſee now what the Apoſtle graunted to Timothie. For ſoothe ſay they that he might chooſe off his owne authoritie the officers off the church. Let vsus then ſee whether it be ſo or not. And here is firſt to be noted that they do yll geue that vntounto Election which perteyneth not to Election But to Ordinacion. For the laying on off handes was not wonte to be vſed in chooſinge off any Officers off the churche / But in ordeininge off him.

Then that we graunt them this alſo / That election hereby is ſignified / I ſay that ther Tyranny and Lordly authoritie is by no place more confuted then by this which they bring for them ſelues / which that yt may more cleerly appeere I muſt firſt take away a certen falſe expoſicion which they bringe off this place / that after I may the more eaſyly convince them by the true and naturall meaninge theroff.

Heere ſay they Tymothie is warned that he lay not his handes to haſtely vponupon any nor communicate with other mens faultes / namely with thers ſay they / who allthoughe they be vnworthy / ſeeke to enter into the miniſtery. An interpretacion very vnfytt either for the wordes off the Apoſtle or for thoſe tymes. Will they confeſſe that euen in thos tymes this ambicion had crept into the churche / that as now a dayes ſo then alſo they went vntounto the Biſhop for order and layinge on off handes? for otherwiſe / what other men̄s fault is this / wherwith the Apoſtle warne the Tymothi that he pollute not him ſelfe? for what fault can this bee. Not to be fitt to taky vponupon him an eccleſiaſticall function. But herein is the fault / that he that is giltie to him ſelfe off his owne vnworthines / deſirethe notwithſtandinge to take that vponupon him which he is not able to be are with out great offence.

But who will ſay that ſo ſhamfull Ambicion raigned in the churche in thos daies / which many yeeres after was borne and brought vpp at Rome? And iff the church had then been ſteyned with this blott / would not Paule expreſly hauehave forbidden this Ambition? ſeinge that he would hauehave a biſhoppe to be blamles and prouided by all meanes that he ſholde not ſwell and wax prowd / Therfore this is off ſmaller waight then it may be allowed and the meaninge off this place is farr otherwiſe. nam y this: That Paule foreſeyng longe before that greeuous wolues not ſparing the flock would ryſe vp euen off the Elders off Epheſus them ſelues / and that Tymothie was but off equall authoritie with the Elders in gouerninge off the churche and chooſinge off others into the ſame place and degree / and that they that were ſuche wold chooſe to b… Elders / and lay ther handes on ſuche as wer like them ſelues / he warneth Timothy that he do nothing raſhely in this behalffe / neyther iff any ſuche thing happen althoughe other like neuer ſo well off it / yet he ſhall not ſuffer him ſelfe to be led away by ther authoritie to the allowynge off it / but iff he could not keep others by his counſell from ſo doinge / at the leaſt he ſhould keepe hym ſelff pure and innocent for ſo he addeth emphatically. Keepe thy ſelf pure & communicate not vvith other mens faultes.

And this is the true and naturall meaninge off this place / wher by yt appeareth that the Apoſtle not only grauntith him no princely authoritie / for then he would not hauehave warned him to keepe him ſelfe pure from allowynge any ſuche Election / but hauehave commanded him off his meer authoritie to hauehave hindered and ſtayed yt / and to hauehave made the choiſe of the reſt off no effect / by his negatiue voice but contrariwiſe that he was off ſo equall authoritie with the reſt off the Elders / that iff they had choſen one vnfyt in ſome reſpect / yet he could not off his owne meere authoritie hauehave put hym back nor done any more in this matter / thē any off the reſt. And that he could only take heede vntounto him ſelfe / that he allowed not any vnripe or vnworthie Iudgmētes off other officers. Therfore ther is no cauſe which they ſhould make Tymothie the Author off this ambition and tyranny.

Now let vsus examin alſo the example off Titus whom they do trewly affirme to hauehave beene commanded to appoint Elders in eueryevery citie / but I ſuppoſe no man will thinck that Paule graunted more to Titus / then eyther he and Barnabas / or then all the reſt off the Apoſtles tooke vntounto them ſelues neyther iff he had graunted / is it like that Titus being a yonge man and his ſcholler and as it wer his ſonne / would hauehave vſed it? For as the Iewes ſay in a cōmon prouerbe / it is enoughe for the ſeruāt to be like his maiſter / which ſayinge allſo Chriſt him ſelfe alloweth when he ſaid that the diſciple is not aboue his maiſter:Luk. 6.40. And that it owght to be enowghe for the ſcholer iff he be ſuche as his maiſter is. But I hauehave ſhewed allredy what both Paule and all the reſt off the Apoſtles did. Neither is it …ike that Titus did otherwiſe ordeine Elders in eueryevery towne then Paule did in eueryevery churche: eſpecially ſeing Paule doth expreſſly warne him to appoint them as he had commāded / for I ſe no cauſe whithis may not aſwel bee referred to all the maner off ordeininge of thē as to that which followeth. Therfore that at the laſt I may cōclude all this matter The Euāgeliſtes ar no more Patrōes for this matter then the Apoſtles wer / neyther is ther any the leſt deed or word off eny off them wherby this tyranny may be allowed. Therfore let them confeſſe as the thinges in deed That this miſchife was borne and bred at Rome: which after together with the empier ſpred it ſelfe ouer into all landes.

But all the queſtion off the choſers off Eccleſiaſticall officers is not yet thus ended: For all thoughe I hauehave concluded owte off the worde off god / that one man can not vſurpe this power without tyranny / yet here ariſe new pleas and controuerſies / And it is doubted whether this be equally to be permitted vntounto all / or only vntounto certene choſen men that exerciſe ordinarie Iuriſdiction in the churche. As for me when I conſider both the holy ſcriptures and the exāple off the beſt reformed churches / I thinck it moſt agreing with / the will off God that that Senate and counſell which exerciſethe ordinary authoritie in all the affaires off the churche and whom for the ſame cauſe the Apoſtle calleth leaders and ouer ſeers / and exhorteth the church to obey them an ſuffer it ſelffe to be ruled by thē / ſhold alſo hauehave moſt a doe in this buſynes / to gouerne the Electiō and to guyde and direct the iudgmēt of the reſt of the churche with ther wiſdōe and authoritie.Heb. 13.7.17. 1. Theſſ. 5.12.

Neither do I bring in heere any Oligarky or tyrannous rule off a few and reteyne ſtill the ſame tyranny in the churche / chaunginge only the perſons. For I would not that the iudgment off the reſt off the churche ſhould be contemned and neglected or that the counſell or elders off the churche ſhould off ther owne authoritie ſett one ouer the churche whom they liſt againſt the churches will / but that the Elders goinge before / the people alſo follow / and hauinge hard and vnderſtorde ther ſentence and decree / may either by ſome outward token or ells by ther ſylence / allow it iff it be to be liked off / or gayne ſay it iff it be not iuſt and vpright: And not only gayne ſay yt / but iff iuſt cauſe of ther diſlikinge may be brought make it alltogether voyde and off none effect / vntill at the laſt a meete one may be choſen by the authoritie and voices off the Elders / and allowed off by the conſent and approbacion off the reſt off the churche / So that herein ther is no cauſe to cōpleine that by the bringing in off the rule of a fewe / the maieſty off the wholl church is diminiſhed. we read in deed that it was ſome what otherwiſe practized in the ſixth and fourthēet off the Actes / ād that the people had the chiefe power and authoritie in thos elections: but that me thinck was done for a ſpeciall cauſe which doth not in like maner belonge vntounto vsus / neither ought to be referred to the ordinary and perpetuall gouernment of the church. For as in cōmon welthes not only ſuche wher the people is to be made ſoueraigne / or a few / but alſo euē wher the kingdome of one is to be eſtabliſhed before it be confirmed all the power is in the peoples handes / who of ther free will chooſe magiſtrates vntounto them vnderunder whos autoritie they may after be gouerned: and afterwardes not all the people / but only the magiſtrates choſen by them adminiſter and gouerne the affaires off the common wealthe / So it cometh to paſſe in the eſtabliſhinge off the churche: So that when as yet ther were none ſet ouer them / all the authoritie was in all mens handes: but after that they had once geuen the helme into the handes off certē choſen men / this power no lenger belonged vntounto all / but only to thos who wer choſen by them to ſteare and gouerne the churche off god.

As for the election off Seacons / ther was yet an other eſpeciall reaſon / why yt was meet that they ſhould hauehave beene choſen all the churche. For when the Grecians murmured againſt the hebrues and complained that they had wronge / for that in the diſtribucion which was dailie made for the help off the poore ther widowes were not dewly regarded / It was need full, that they to whom this charge was to be cōmitted ſhould be choſen by all the company / that all occaſiō off complayninge and ſuſpicion might be taken away. therfor / that which once extra ordinarilie was done by the people for certen ſpeciall and particuler cauſes and reſpectes / ought not to be referred to the perpetuall / certē / ſtable / and ordinary maner of gouerninge the church. Althoughe euen in this election the Apoſtles reſerued vntounto themſelues the chiefe authoritie of …yinge on of hādes and allowing or diſſalowinge the iudgmentes and voices off the people / which power and authoritie ſeinge in the very tyme off the Apoſtles thē ſelfes and that by ther allowynge / yt was trāslated to the Eccleſiaſticall conſell and the Elders that had the ordinari gouernment as after in dew place ſhall appere / whi ſhall I not thinck that the power alſo of examininge and doinge of other thinges that perteine to the electiō is to gether with the other translated vntounto them. Therfor keepinge the right libertie off the churche I conclude oute iff the word off god and the examples off the Apoſtles / That no thinge be done not only againſt the god will theroff / or vnknowinge to the ſame / but alſo not with out the conſent and approbation off it. But we muſt keepe alſo the iuſt authoritie off the elders / that they goe before the people in the election: that they try and examin thos that a…e to be choſen / that they iudge off ther worthines / and publiſhe vntounto the church / whom they hauehave thought mee…e and worthie / that beinge allowed by the conſent off a… / they may bey receiued / for thus the wholl body off the churche is b…ſt preſerued when eueryevery part and membre doth his office / when the eyes do ſee and leade the waye and the other partes ſuffer them ſelues to beled and guided in the way. But the Elders in elections as alſo in all the reſt off the gouernment off the churche / ar as E…es vn…o the reſt: and leade and direct them that either through ignorance / or beinge blinded with ther owne deſires they ſlyde not in the way. For which cauſes I ſaid they ar called gouernors / Ouer ſeers and Elders. And how ſhall the people be able to iudge off the diuers giftes off the Spirit off god? to choſe this man to gouerne / that to teache and an other to ouerſe the treaſury off the churche: for as thes be diuers offices / ſo to diſcharge them well they had neede to be indewed with diuerſe guiyftes off the holie ghoſt that be choſen therunto: as after ſhalbe declared more at large in ther ſeuerall offices.

But eueryevery man is not able to iudge off thes diuerſe guyftes which ar fitt for what purpoſe / and at yt were made and appointed off God: eſpecially in this age and in thes daies / wherin all thinges ar ſo corrupted that the moſt part followinge the pleaſures off this life / ar ſmally carefull for the right vſe off ſpirituall giftes / wher off notwithſtandinge the Apoſtle would hauehave no man ignorant / And allthoughe many wer able to iudge in other charges who ar meete / and vnmeet / how fewe be ther that could make triall and aſſay off a miniſter / that could examyn his gifftes and make due ſearche and triall what godlines / what lerninge / or what ability he were off to edefy the churche. And ſuerly iff all men were ſo taught off god that they could know and iudge off thes thinges / then in deed we ſhould neede no certein chooſen men / who by ther ſpirituall wiſdome and diſcretion / ſhould gouerne and direct the Iudgementes off the people: we ſhould not then need to feare the choſinge off any vnworthy or vnable to edifie the churche: ther would be no daunger off confuſion and vproares.

Thes in deed ſhould be the bancketes that they commend ſo highly / that ar the dayntier the more ther be that bringe ther diſhes to it / and the Goſyppe feaſtes which they praiſe ſo muche:Elections made by the people where eueryevery man geueth his voice, are compared by ſome … ba…ket … where e…ry man bringeth his diſh…: which is ſo much the dainter the more there be that come vntounto yt. which when they can prepare for vsus / we ar ſo fare off that we would not ſit downe beinge bidden that with great thanckes to the hoſt that ſo ſhould receyue vsus we would take great pleaſure in the vſe off ſo ſo exquiſite daynties: and preferre them before the moſt deyntie feaſtes off the Syracuſians / and ſuch a table / before that golden table off the ſonne that Herodotus doth mencion. But ſeinge thes thinges ar rather to be wiſhed then hoped or loked for / let vsus keep that ordre which I hauehave deſcribed beinge moſt agreable to the decrees of the Apoſtles / to edificacion / the chiefeſt and moſt ſacred lawe off diſcipline and furtheſt off from confuſion and tumultes: which is that the eccleſiaſticall counſell when neede ſhalbe / prouide fitt men for the churche in eueryevery function and office / examin and trie them diligently and carefully / then chooſe them / after publiſhe and make knowne ther election vntounto the church / and laſt off all beinge allowed by the church / lay ther handes vponupon them and ſo ſtabliſhe them in ther place and callinge by ther authoritie.

But paraduenture I hauehave taried longer in this part then needed: ſeing we ar not troubled with the lightnes and confuſion off populer elections / but with lordſhipp and tyranny: which I cannot ſe may continue with the ſafety off the church which it hath already allmoſt ouerthrowne / ſo that ſpeedie remedy is to befound leſt we lament to late the ruine off our decaying church.

Now as for Elections / ther muſt allwais goo before them a due profe and triall off the worthynes off the partyes that ar to be choſen. For that which the Apoſtle to Timothe commandeth concerninge Deakons / That they alſo be fiſt examined and then (iff ther be no other cauſe to the contrary) admitted to ther deaconſhipp / doth plainlie proue that examinacion owght to be had before that election and choiſe be made to any eccleſiaſticall office and function / for which cauſe alſo S. Paule doth no leſſe declare the maner / how to proue and trie a biſhoppe or miniſters / then to examin the Deacon: and ther is the ſame ende ād vſe off examinaciō in all / which is: That no charge be cōmitted to an vnfit man or not able enoughe for the office / wherby it might come to paſſe that both the church ſhould want hir needfull and neceſſary helpes / and that the holie offices ſhould be prophaned. Therfore the churche ought to chooſe no man but whom they knowe before to be choſen off God: for it ſtandeth vppon the gouerment off his houſe / whos keies it is vnlawfull to commit vntounto any / to whom the Sonne and heyre that great ſteward off the houſe off Dauid vponupon whoſe ſhoulder the maſter off the houſe hath laid the keies / hath not thought good to credit and commit them vntounto.

But God chooſeth no man to any office whom therwith all he doth not indewe with meet giftes for the diſcharginge off it: for otherwiſe / how ſhould he aſke accōpt off doinge the office off him whom he compelled to beare and take it vpō him / knowinge him vnmeet and vnable for it. Therfore no man is ſent oute off god without worthie giftes into any parte off his gouerment / but for the burthen and function that he laieth vponupon him / he miniſtreth alſo ſtrenght and force to beare it. And this is the meaninge off the often repeatinge in the booke off Iudges off that ſentence. The Spirit off the Lord came vponupon him and he iudged Iſrael: ād many ſuche like examples are to be founde in the olde Teſtament off Moſes and Ioſua / off the Prophetes Eſay and Ieremy and many other / whō when the Lord ment to vſe in any the leſt charge off his churche / he therwith all endeweth them with worthy giftes / for the good execution theroff.Exod. 3.11.12. & 4.11.12. Deu. 34.9. Eſai 6.5.7 8. Iere. 1.5.6.7.8.9.10. Eſa. 61.1. Luk. 4.21.

And in the new Teſtament our Sauior Chriſt him ſelfe tooke not vpō hī to deale in the mediator his office / before he had receiued the holy ghoſt wherby he might be furniſhed withmeet giftes for the full diſcharge and execution off it. For ſo Eſay expreſſely Propheſithe off him / The pirit off the Lord is vponupon me, therfore he hath anoynted me, he hath ſent me to preach the Goſpell vntounto the pore, &c. Out off which place whe ſee that fyrſt he receyued the Spirit / or euer that office and embaſſage was enioyned him: and that he was anoynted before he came to the wreſtling and exerciſe. So lickewiſe the Apoſtles allthoughe they had beene taught by our Sauior him ſelfe (the moſt heauēly ſchole maſter that could be) for three yeeres and more / and had after a ſorte receyued the holie ghoſt by his breathinge vppon them / yet becauſe they had a great battell to fight / and muche trauell to be taken / and many daungers to aduenture into / he geuethe them warninge that they enter not into the liſtes raſhly and vnprouided / but commandeth them yet to tary and waite for the promiſe off the father and more plentifull guiftes off the holie ghoſt. Hither alſo belongethe the ceremonies vſed in bothe the Teſtamentes / in ordinacion or conſecracion as we call it. For what ells doth that anoyntinge off the prieſtes / kinges / and Prophetes declare But thos guyftes wherwith they who were anoynted were endewed by the holie ghoſt for the execucion off ther offices? To this alſo the layinge on off handes in the newe teſtament is to be referred / which declareth that the Lord had laid on his handes before and giuen them worthi gyftes for the places they were called vntounto.

But what do I trauelinge ſo carefully in this behalfe? doth not nature it ſelfe and reaſon and common experience teach vsus this: when ſome ar ſett ouer the citie / and cōmon wealth / that they are chooſen counſellors / whom greate lerninge and long life and diligēt obſeruacion and experience it ſelfe hath taught that worthie and hard knowledge off gouerninge the common wealthe: Ought not I ſay dailie experiēce teache vsus that we preferre not them that ar vnworthy to honors and offices? Therfore ſo muche the more ought we to be aſhamed off our moſt greeuous fault in this behalfe that ſuffer euen the moſt vnworthy to take vponupon them the moſt waighty callinge off the miniſtery: and ſett open the church dores to eueryevery baſe Artificer that leapethe from his ſhopp bord / to the plowman that leaueth his ſhare / to youge ſchollers in grāmer and Philoſophy / that ar nothinge more conninge in heauenly thinges then Artificers and huſband men: finally to minſtrells and harpers / to noble and gentelmens ſeruantes / to Neateherdes Shepherdes and porters and ſomtimes not only to vnlerned men but alſo men off moſt filthy life and conuerſacion / choſinge into that moſt waightie office lerned an vnlerned / good and bad / worthy and vnworthy / with out any chois or difference: which how lawfully it is done / yt ſhall after appere. Here only becauſe the vſe off examinacion is / that vnable men be not admitted to any office in the church / I ment generallie te note / how greeuouſly and againſt the expreſſe commandement off God / we offend in this behalffe / and to deſyre and beſeeche them that hauehave authoritie to amend thes thinges in the name off God / who will not ſuffer vnpunyſhed the trangreſſion off his holie Ordinaunces: and in the behalfe off the church to whoſe deſtruction and decay ſuche thinges are daylie cōmitted / that we de not with Ieroboam make cōmon this worthy and ſacred office with moſt vile and vnworthy perſons / that we neglect not the vſe off examininge / and holy ordinaunce off god / that we deſtroy not the churche / bringinge this ſweepe into the churche / but that rather decreeinge accordinge to the word off god / that vnworthy men be not preferred to Eccleſiaſticall functions / we may bothe hereafter keepe out ſuche / and alſo thruſt out thos that by deceuinge off men and falſe commendaciō ar crept into the church allreedy / and compell them to leaue ther places.

But let vsus retorne from whence we hauehave digreſſed and follow the maner off examynacion / declaringe it as fare forthe as it is generall and perteyneth to all the offices and functions off the churche. For as eueryevery office hath his ſeuerall guyſtes / which ar neceſſary to the dew execucion off it / So certen thinges ar to be requyred and looked for in eueryevery ecceſiaſticall office: which as I hauehave obſerued out off Sainct Paule ar chiefly two: wheroff the faſt is that they be fownd and ſincere in the faithe / The ſecond / that they be with out reprehenſion in life and maners As for requyringe religion in a miniſter / I need not to geue any reaſon off it / ſeinge that they ar chooſen to be teachers and interpreters off the ſame. And for Deacons the Apoſtle expreſſly warneth Tymothe that they be ſuche as hauehave the miſtery off faithe (which after in the ſame chapter he callethe the miſtery off godlynes and declareth what it is) in a pure conſcience.1. Timoth. 3. … 1. Timoth. 3.…. …t. …1. So lickewiſe all the Apoſtles moniſhe the churche off Ieruſalem / that they ſhould chooſe ſeauen Deacons from amonges them ſelues. It is not needfull in this place to declare what they ought to thinck off religion which is a large matter / and would require a ſeuerall treatiſe for it ſelfe: yet notwithſtanding it is wel enoughe knowen vntounto all men and briefly comprehēded in that place off Paule which I ſpake off before / and it is no hard matter / to know what they thīcke off the true knowledge / and worſhip off God / ſeinge they make profeſſion off the ſame that the church dothe / wherunto they ordeine thēſelues. And iff it were needfull they might delare ther iudgmēt particularly in eueryevery point beinge demāded.

And yet here is not any common or vulgar knowledge ād zeale of religiō to be required / but ſpeciall and ſingular aboue other men. For ther is no ne ſo ſmall a functiō in the churche / that doth not as it were exempt thē out off the nomber off other men / and ioyninge them as it were neerer to God / doth lay a neceſſitye vponupon them beinge placed in higher degree / to ſhine and geue example vntounto others and ſtire them vp by ther meanes / to all vertewe and godlynes. Therfore the Apoſtles when the Deacons were to be choſen / required that they ſhould be men full off wiſdome and the holie ghoſt.

As for the examination off maners / the Apoſtle him ſelfe hathe declared it ſo particulerly / that no man can be deceiued herin / whereas he geueth warninge that they be not infected with couetouſnes or dronkennes or any other more greeuous or infamous cryme / but that they be off good report and honeſt eſtimacion with all men / and ſuche as all men can witnes off them that they hauehave liued a good and an honeſt life,1. Timoth. 33.8. 1. Timoth. 3.7. Act. 6.3. 1. Timoth. 3.4. yea it is further alſo to be conſidered how they hauehave brought vp ther children and how they hauehave gouerned ther priuate families for therin wiſe men will obſerue many thinges / wherby they may be able to iudge whither they be meet to take vponupon them any publique charge or no / for he that ſhall ouerturne aſkuller or a payer off Oares in the Temmes / who will thinck him meet to gouerne the Queenes barge: or ſome great veſſel vponupon the ſea? This is therfore that law off God / which towchinge the examinaciō and triall off eccleſiaſticall offices / the Lord him ſelfe hathe geuē vntounto the church and hath commanded that it ſhould allways be kept and obſerued. In kepinge wheroff ſurely bothe the eſtimacion and ſafegard off the church conſiſteth. For by this meanes the church ſhall hauehave bothe neceſſary helpes for hir vſe / and worthy ornamentes for hir eſtimacion wher by both all occaſion off euell ſpeakinge ſhould be taken from hir enemyes that are allwais ready to deface hir for the leaſt occaſion / and the name off God / by meanes off the church ſhould be glorified before all men.

Therfore leſt the name off God and his holy Goſpell may be euill ſpoken off for our cauſe / leſt the churche want the neceſſary helpes which yt needeth for the preſeruacion theroff / a carefull heed is to be had herein / to whom the charge off admyniſtringe off yt is to be committed / which triall and examinacion ſeinge yt is ſo plainly deſcribeth by the Apoſtle / yt is meruell how that ther be eueryevery where ſo many withe vsus both corrupt in doctrine and defiled in life and conuerſacion. For how many Papiſtes be ther now a dayes / that euen fiften yeeres after the reformacion off religion / occupy the place of miniſters in the church / partly being left in thos churches which before in tyme off Popery they vniuſtly held / partly alſo entred in our tyme and ſince the prechinge off the Goſpell? How many alſo be ther admytted to the gouernment off the church off moſt wicked life and vngodly behauior? Therfore ſeing the Papiſtes openly declare that they ar greuouſly offended herewith / neither can be brought to eſteeme that to be the true religion off God / whoſe preachers ar ſo vnhoneſt and the interpreters wheroff ar ſo defyled / why do ſome complaine that both other myſchifes ar ſpronge of this reformacion which we require / and eſpecially this that the Papiſtes being offended with our contencion are further eſtraunged from embracinge the goſpell? For what is it that may more further ther ſaluacion then iffthes offences be taken away wherat they ſtumble and ar hindered? Off which ſo ſhamefull diſorder as ther be many cauſes / ſo I allwayes eſteemed that the greateſt and moſt waightie / That we leauinge this exact maner off tryenge and examininge which the Lorde hath commanded vsus to obſerue and followe in this behalfe / keepe only I cannot tell what ſhadow and image off yt which we receyued from the Papiſtes. The receiuinge off which one error (to followe the fancies off men in ſteade off the certen lawes off god) hath brought in (as vſually yt doth) infinite other: wherby it cōmeth to paſſe that the moſt worthy order and degree is moſt vnworthely prophaned / that the church like the popiſhe ſanctuaries is full off vile and vicious perſons off all ſortes / and the goſpell euill ſpoken off by the enemies.

For wheras certen men hauehave authoritie that eueryevery one off them twiſe a yeere may giuegive orders to whom and to how many they liſt / and that ſo great a multitude off ſuters come to them at the tyme off geuing off orders / howe is yt poſſible that one man in a day or two ſhould be able to proue and to examyn ſo many ſewters beinge all for the moſt part vnknowne to him? how can he take any aſſay or make any triall either off Iudgment in religion / or off ther honeſtie in conuerſacion? For to ſubſcribe is a ſmall matter with them that thinck it the point off a wiſe man to diſſemble / that diſpence with them ſelues to do any thing that they may diſtroy the church therby / and whom Euripides hath perſwaded to ſweare with the tonge and to keepe the mynd vnſworne.

Neither is that excuſe that is brought for thoſe off vnhoneſt life any thinge more ſufficient which is wont to be made / by the teſtimonialles which commonly the ſuters beinge vntounto them: ſeinge the Apoſtle expreſſly warnethe Timothe that he be not brought by other mens Iudgmentes to lay handes to ſone vppon any man / But iff other do it raſhly / yet he ſhould keep him ſelfe free and vnſpotted from any ſuch fault / Althoughe eueryevery man knoweth what waight thes teſtimonialles ar off / ſeinge ſome off fauor commend ther kinſfolkes and Allies vntounto the Biſhopp by ther lettres: or others whom they would gratifie by ther authoritie: other ſome euen for couetouſnes / and hopinge to deuide the pray with them that by ther meanes obteyne the benefice: For the couetouſnes off ſome Patrons is to to well knowne / who for ther owne gaine ſake wil couenant with him / with whome they may for leaſte: and ſometyme iff they hauehave any ſeruant in the houſe that can read / becauſe the matter may be more eaſylie gon throwgh / with ſuch a one (who would be very willinge to geue the greater parte off his benefice iff he obteine yt by his maiſters commendacion and authority / to chaunge his vile and baſe eſtate with ſome more honeſt and liberal condicion) they writee for him to the Biſhop / who hauinge this teſtimoniall / either for negligence / or often tymes to curry fauor with ſuche men / doth eaſylie adimit hym. Therfore ther muſt be a triall off eccleſiaſticall officers / that all diſhoneſty may be taken away from that moſt worthy order and degree / that ought to be a patterne and example to all other. which beinge done / order would be takē that here after before Electiōs / ther be a dew ād iuſt proofe and triall had of thos that are to be choſen: that we may exactly keep and follow the Lordes Canons ād decrees in this behalfe / in keepinge wherof other churches at this day floriſhe and hauehave done now a long tyme. And thus muche off Election, now let vsus come to ordinacion. Ordinacion is a ſettinge a part off the partie choſen vntounto his office / and as it were / a kind of inueſting him into it. For after the election / a certen order and ceremonie is wont to be vſed / wherby the parties choſen enter as it wer anto the poſſeſſion off ther office. Now this ordination as we call it conſiſteth eſpecially in two ceremonies: Namely in praier (wherunto alſo I referre the declaringe off his dewty) and laying on off handes. For the goſpell is content to hauehave the miniſters theroff inueſted and ordeined by thes moſt ſimple ceremonies / nor hath any need off that carefull and curious conſecracion off the lawe with which the prieſtes and Leuites were conſecrated.

And as for praiers / S. Luke telleth that when Paule and Barnabas were commanded by the holie ghoſt to be ſeparated for the worck off God:Act. 13.9. the breethren praied for thē before they were ſent out to go on ther meſſage. Lickwiſe alſo the Apoſtles praied for the deacōs which the people had choſen / that the lord would bleſſe this newe chamberlainſhippe as it were / to his honor and the profit of his churche:Actes. 6. that he would ēdew the parties choſē with worthy gyftes and able thē for the worthy execution of ther office. For ther is no doute but the Apoſtles applied ther praiers to the tyme ād ſtate of the churche / ād that as before in the election of Matthias / ſo now alſo in the admiſſiō and allowance off the Deacons / they praied as the preſent occaſion off the buſines did require which was then to be done.

The other ceremony is the layinge on off handes in praier time vponupon the heade off the choſen: for ſo it ſeemeth that it was wont to be vſed / as a thinge belonginge vntounto praier: that bringing in the choſen before God / and as it were preſentinge thē vntounto him / the praiers off the church might be kindled ād be the more zealous ād vehemēt. and that it was wōt to be vſed to this end / yt apearethe bothe by other places wher menciō is made therof in the ſcriptures / ād alſo in the 19. off Mathew / whē he tellethe that children were brought to Chriſt that he might lay his handes on thē and pray for them / as alſo in that place of the actes which I named before wherin it is repeated that the Apoſtles praied / laying on ther handes vpō the Deacōs which were choſē by the church. But this is a generall ēd.Act. 13.3. Ther be other proper ād peculier vſes of it / wheroff the firſt perteineth to the partie choſē / the ſecōd to all the church. The partie choſē was warned by this ceremony / that he was ſeperated ād ſet apart to the worck off god as appereth in the 13. off the act. and that he was taken out off the reſt of the people to the doinge off that office as it were by the hand off god him ſelfe / wherby he might vnderſtād that it was no longer in his owne power to do what he liſt / but that god had called him to his worke off whome he ſhould hauehave a plētiful reward if he did finiſhe and perfect it / and off the other parte a iudge ād a reuēger if he did cōtemne and neglect it.1. Timoth. 4.14. Therfore S. Paule ſtirring vp Timothe to the diligēt diſcharge of his dewtie / in all partes maketh menciō off layinge on of hādes / warning him that he neglecte not that place and calling which he was called vntounto for to propheſie by the layinge on off the handes off the Elders / Furthermore ther is yet an other vſe off this ceremony which belongeth to the confirminge and ſtrenghtning off him that is choſen: who was admonyſhed therby to remember that the ſame hād was allways ready to helpe to eaſe his burden and to beare him vp that had laid it vponupon hym / that being aſſured to hauehave been called to his office off god / he might execute yt with great corage being terrified with no feare or daunger. The ſecond vſe and cō moditie hereoff that perteyneth vntounto the churche is / that they ſeinge this authoritie to be off god / and the partie ſet ouer them in his name / ſhould acknowledge and lerne to reuerence thos that hauehave care and charge ouer them / and to be obedient vntounto them in ſuch thinges as perteine vntounto ther office.

And this is the right vſe off that layinge on off handes which is vſed in the ordering off miniſters. Which being left and forſaken / the Papiſtes and we that with out any iudgment keep ther fond and fooliſhe Traditions vſe an other ſorte which was neuer practized in ordeininge off the Officers off the churche / But in geuing off the giftes of the holie ghoſt to all thos that beleeued and were baptized: not that Ordinary laying on off handes (the vſe wheroff ought allwais to remaine in the church / but that which was extraordinary and ſerued only for a certen tyme and ſeaſon. For by cauſe the Apoſtles. when they as the ſtewardes off God did diſtribute the holy ghoſt / that is to ſay the diuers and manifold giftes off the ſpirit to them that embraced religion vſed this ſigne and as it wer this ſacrament off laying on off handes / Thes Ioly fellowes who notwithſtandinge that power off geuinge the holie ghoſt was ceaſed / kept ſtill the ſigne / ād laying ther handes vpō the prieſtes / bad them receyue the holy ghoſt which no man gaue them / no nor cold geue them onleſſe yt were extraordinarilie / this beinge proper to thoſe tymes and to the apoſtles only, neither do they conſider that this ceremony is farr vnlike the other which they vſed to the ordeininge off the officers off the churche / for this was wont to be vſed in thoſe dayes all moſt to all the faithfull / The other to thos only that had ſome charge in the church / and that when they gaue the guiftes off the holy ghoſt extra ordinarilie:Act. 19.2.5. Act. 8.17. This was nothing ſo as may plainly appere out off the places which I hauehave named aboue both off Paule and Barnabas and alſo off the Deacons.

And as for Paule that he had receyued the holy ghoſt and was endewed with thos extraordinary guyftes before that handes were laid vponupon him on this ſort / It may be proued by that / that Chriſt had appered vntounto him from heauen and made him a worthie veſſell to beare his goſpell into all partes / ſo that ſtreight way he preached in the ſynagoges and declared Chriſt to be the ſonne off god.Act. 9.16.20. As for Barnabas Sainct Luke doth plainly witnes that he was full off the holy ghoſte (wherby I vnderſtand the extraordinary guiſtes) and off faithe whome alſo before he teſtified to hauehave bene one off thoſe that firſt profeſſed the Goſpell / ſo that the laying on off handes which followed in the xiij.Act. 11.24. Act. 4.36. off the actes was no geuinge off new giftes / but as the holy ghoſt ſpeakethe in that place a ſeparacion and ſetting a part / and as it wer a conſecracion / to the goinge aboute off a great worcke and taking vponupon him a more trauellſome charge and office.

As for the Deacons we read that the Apoſtles when they wer to the choſen / gaue warninge that they ſhould chooſe mē full of wiſdome and off the holy ghoſt / wherby I doubt not But that they ſignified / that they ſhould chooſe off them that wer qualified with thos ſinguler and diuers gyftes and that the churche accordinge to ther preſcription / did chooſe the Deacons from emonges thos thre thouſand which Sainct Luke had ſpoken off before. Therfore that the Biſhopp in ordeininge off eccleſiaſticall officers and layinge his handes vponupon them / biddethe them receyue the holie ghoſt hath no ſhadow or ſhew of any practize off the Apoſtles / but is a Popiſhe rite and ceremony foliſhly at the firſt ād with out any foundacion off the ſcripture inſtituted by them / or who ſo euer were the authors off it / off an imitacion off that which is not in deede / But which they thought to be: And after receiued by the authors of our diſcipline (by ther leaue) with no great Iudgment / and yet kept in the church with as litle.

Ther remainethe yet one thinge in this matter off Ordinaciō to be declared / which is to whōe the right and authority off ordeining belonges. A pointe not ſo hard to be declared as that which hath allready beene handled off Election / Seinge that ther can be found no example where any one / or the whole churche hauehave vſed this authoritie in all the holy ſcriptures. Neyther any precept or commaundement / wherby either the Biſhoppes or the people ſhould thinck the right hereoff to perteine vntounto them. For as for that place off Paule to Tymothe which allwais they obiect againſt vsus. Take heed thovv lay not thy hands raſſhly vppon any, I truſt it is ſufficiently anſwered allredy / and declared how that in thos wordes ther is nothing graunted to Timothe aboue his fellowes / And that he was warned only to take heed off him ſelfe that he were not ledde away by other men / or ſhould thinck that iff he did anything raſſhly yet might be excuſed by the example and authoritie off others. But contrarywiſe we reade eueryevery where that in all ordinations ther were mo that layd on ther handes / or if one did it yet all this matter was ruled by the authoritie off the counſell off the church. Thus the Docters and Prophetes off Antioche ordeined Paule and Barnabas in the xiij. off the Actes: lickwiſe the xij.Act. 13.1. Actes 6.6. Apoſtles in the ſixthe off the Actes laid ther handes vponupon the Deacons that were choſe by the churche.

And leſt we ſhould doubte to which off the ordinarie offices off the church the Apoſtles had left this power and authoritie Sainct Paule declareth that yt was the Elders that laid ther handes vppon Timothe.1. Timo. 4.14. Off which patrimony left by the Apoſtles / the Biſhoppe in deed (ſuche a one I meane as Paule deſcribeth in his firſt Epiſtle to Timothe and the third chapter / and in the firſt to Titus) is fellow heyre with others / and ſucceded in ſome part as after more largely ſhalbe declared when I handle the authoritie off the Elders: But to be ſole and only heyre / they ſhall neuer proue by any right off the Teſtament or the will of the Teſtator / nor that this poſſeſſion is occupied by them without moſt vniuſt fraud and open violence and wronge.

Therfore ſeinge as I proued hitherto therbe many and greeuous faults in our diſcipline / ſeinge the moſt holy lawes off god / left vntounto vsus by the Apoſtles for the gouernment off his kingdome are violated and broken / Seinge the fancyes off men and the pleaſures off ſeruantes are preferred aboue the cōmaundement of Chriſt the king / Seinge the churche is ſo deſtroyed which he redeemed by his blud / the holie offices prophaned / and all thinges mingled and confounded to geether / Let vsus at the lenght earneſtly and carefully think to amend thes thinges / let vsus in deed obey his preceptes and lawes / whome in wordes we acknowledge to be our kinge: Let the churche and the good eſtate and eſtimation theroff be deare vntounto vsus. By fetchinge the diſcipline off the church frō mē and from the Canon law / we do wronge to Chriſt our Prophet and our prince / and open a ſpringe and founteine off errors in the churche. Let vsus therfore ſtopp thos pittes and go to the founteine off the word off god. As ſubiectes let vsus depend vponupon the will off our king: And let vsus make this firſt the moſt waightie law in the reformaciō of our diſcipline / that nothinge be doone in it beſides his word and commandemēt / and that all thinges be framed to this good will and pleaſure. So that if he hath forbiddē any man to enter into the church / to take vpō him any publique perſon therin or execute any office / but vntounto which he is choſen and called by him / iff he hathe greeuouſly puniſhed the tranſgreſſors off this law who deſpiſing his commandement and goinge without the bandes that they were compaſſed with / breake into other mēs ground and hauehave beene ſo bold to prophane the holie charges with ther defiled handes / let vsus ſee and be carefull that ther be no ſuche thing emonges vsus: and at the laſt let vsus commaund thence Popiſhe prieſtes / women that baptize in ſecret / chauncellors / Archedeacons and ther ſeruantes the Commiſſaries / and Officialles and the reſt off that traſhe that take vppon them the adminiſtringe of diſcipline / to leaue off / and do ther owne buſines / and ſuffer thes thinges to be executed by thē that are called therunto by the lawfull apointment of god.

Ther is great fruit and cōmoditie that commeth by a lawfull calling: Let vsus take heed therfore that we looſe it not by ambitiō and bribery. Chriſt hath cōmitted a certen prouince to be gouerned by his embaſſadors / And whō he callethe to any office he apointeth wher and amonges wwhom to execute it: why then do ſo many go wandringe and ſtraying amonges vsus? Why do we graunt ſo loſe embaſſages? why do we cōmit an office to any man / whō we apoint not wher ād amonges whō to execute it (eſpecially ſeinge thes wandringe and vnſtable charges / are wont to bringe infinit euill after thē. But if any man hath an office comitted vntounto him / if his citie / place ād church be aſſigned wher to exerciſe it / let hī diligētly performe which he hathe taken in hand: And iff he do it not willinglie / let the magiſtrat compell hym to amend his dewty / or lette him be put out off his office.

And for thos faculties and diſpenſacions that exempt ſuche as will purchaſe them from this neceſſary doinge off ther duty / let vsus take away and aboliſhe / as hauing firſt proceded from Antichriſt him ſelfe / and yet not with out great offence receyued emonges vsus / and decree accordinge to the word off God that who ſo euer is choſen to any eccleſiaſticall office ſhall carefully and diligently look vntounto it / as one that is to geue accompt off the execution theroff in that noble and famous day off the comminge off Chriſt. In elections / taking away the vſurped tyran̄y off the Biſhoppes and all that confuſion which I hauehave declared / wherby dew triall and examinatiō is hindered / let the lawful chooſers hauehave ther right reſtored to thē againe: Let ther be diligent and exact examination had off thos that ar to be choſen: Let offices be geuen for worthynes and not for other reſpectes / leſt bothe the holy offices be prophaned / and the churche wanting hir neceſſary helpes and ſtayes fall to the ground: laſt off all Let vsus reſtore the right and trew vſe off Ordeining ād laying on off handes / and aboliſhe and take away this falſe and forged abuſe theroff. Thus farr hauehave I handled thos thinges that ar to be amended out off the word off god in this parte / which equally belongeth to all the offices off the church. Now followeth the next part which declareth what is proper and peculier to eueryevery one: which alſo hath merueilous need off correction and amendement.

Thus therfore hauing fyniſhed that part wherin I hauehave fully and at large handled thos thinges that perteyne equally vntounto all that beare any office in the church / It followeth to ſhew how many ſortes off them ther be and what eueryevery man hath cōmon with other / or proper or peculier vntounto him ſelffe. Off eccleſiaſticall offices therfor ſomme are ordinary and perpetuall in the church / and ſome are extraordnary which were vſed for a tyme but ceaſed afterwardes to be vſed any more. For in the fyrſt age off the church / by the great goodnes of god towardes his people that was but then yong and tendre / many diuers heauenly gyftes were giuen. Which after when the church had growen ſtrong and the goſpell had been ſufficiently confirmed with thos mirackles / wer no lenger giuen: but a certen firme and ſtable order was ſet to gouerne the churche by for euer. Which were / rather as Sainct Paule calleth them gyftes and Graces / then ordinary offices off the churche / No man I thinck can doubt but that they are ceaſed / ſeinge the gyftes are geuen no more.

The queſtiō is ſomwhat harder off the office of Apoſtles / Euangeliſtes and prophetes / which all ſeinge they are occupied in preachinge off the word I will deferre to proue they alſo are ceaſed / to that place wher I deinde all thos that hauehave charge to interpret the word off god into two ſortes: Therfore in the meane ſeaſon omittinge the extraordinary I will begynn with the ordinary offices off the church / wheroff ſeinge ſome be ſimple / and others ſome compounded / I will in the firſt place more fully and at large as the matter it ſelffe requirethe ſpeake off the firſt firſt and more ſimple part whence alſo the latter dothe wholy ſpringe. Therfore all the perpetuall and ordinary offices off the church that are ſymple / are conteined in the holi ſcripture / in thes two names off Biſhopps and Deacons: for all thoughe the wordes them ſelffes are not ſo exactly or as I may ſay ſo curiouſly obſerued / as alſo it was not needfull they ſhould / yet the ſomme and effect off this deuiſion is eueryevery wher reteined. So Sainct Paule in his firſt Epiſtle to Timothe / …. Timo. 3.inſtructinge his ſcholler / how to frame and ſett in order the churche off Epheſus (for the office off an Euangeliſt which Timothy bare) comprehendeth all the offices and functions off the church in Biſhopps and Deacons.

So alſo the ſame Apoſtle writinge to the Phillipiās whos church to as allready eſtabliſhed and ſet in order / Paule (and as followeth) To the Saincts vvhichwhich are at Philippi withe the Biſhoppes and Deacons / &c. In which place vnderſtandinge hy the name off Sainctes / the faithful and as it were the citezens and body off the church / vnderunder Biſhopps and Deacons he conteinethe the gouernours ād thos to whom any publique charge in the church is committed. Somewhat otherwiſe in the xij.Rom. 12.6.7. to the Romans / but to the ſame ſence / he deuideth eccleſiaſticall offices into propheſing (which is ther office whom he calleth Biſhopps in the two places afore named) and Deaconſhipp which diſtribution is alſo kept by Peter in the fourthe of his former epiſtle.1. Petr. 4.11. But that keeping ſtill the name off Deacon, he vſeth the word ſpeache for propheſyinge.

This therfore is the true diuiſion off eccleſiaſticall offices / diſtributed by Chriſtes chiefe Apoſtles into thes partes: wherby yt manifeſtly appereth that in a perfecte and well eſtabliſhed church ther be both partes as it wer the right ſide ād the left ſide off the body / and that neither off them can be wantinge with out the great deformity and miſſhapinge off the whole. As alſo off the other part ther ought to be no office / no charge or functiō in ther church / which is not as it wēr a mēber off one of thes ij. partes / and inſeperably ioined with the reſt of the body / by which forme and paterne off the Apoſtles / iff we ſhould examin the Romane churche (I meane that Romane church that fell from hir firſt ſimplicity) and that liuelie image off the beaſt which is deſcribed by Sainct Ihon / framed and faſhioned hir ſelfe after the fourme and patterne off the Romane Empire / as is declared by Clement / by other occaſions in his Epiſtles / what need hauehave wee heere off a heauēly kind off ſurgery to cut off the ſuperfluity off ſo many and vnneceſſary and needles partes / what wenns and what blemiſhes / wer to be cut off and cured in this behalffe?Apocalip. 13.11. 1. Epiſtle. But ther appereth no leſſe deformity in the want of thos partes which are naturall ād neceſſary / ſeing that in the romane church / one whole parte that is off Deacons is wanting. Off both which ſo notable deformities / I would our church wer free / and that ther wer nothinge in our metropolitane and other mother and cathedrall churches / that did imitate the ſuperfluity off needles partes and mēbres / for in the other deformitie in wantinge neceſſary partes we ar nothing inferior to the Papiſtes them ſelues / for the Deacons are alike wanting in them both: as after more plainly ſhall appere when I come to that place.

Now let vsus examin particularly the ſeuerall offices: And firſt off all let vsus ſpeake off the Biſhopp. The name off a Biſhopp cōminge off the greek word foreign doth ſignifie a watchman or a ſcoutwatch who is appointed to watche in the campe or citie and to declare the comminge off the enemy: which name allſo all thoughe yt be ſometyme gyuen to the Magiſtrat for that care he ought to hauehave off the people ſubiect vntounto him / yet oftner and more properly to the chieff charges off the church / and to thos that are as it were the watche off the cytie off god / to keepe it not frō fire and ſword which mortall enemyes can bring againſt it / but from that euerlaſting fier and thos fyry dartes as the Apoſtle calleth them / wherby moſt mighty ſpirites and moſt deadly enemyes off the church / go about day and night to enflame the cytie with all.Act. 26.28.Eph. 6.16.

But ſeinge that euen off thes / ſome by ſpeciall othe are more ſtreightly bound to cōtinuall watche and ward / namely they to whom are cōmitted thos holy ſiluer trompettes to declare to all men all the word and commandedement off god / the com̄inge off the enemyes / to thes properly and ſpecially is gyuen in the third off the firſt to Tymothi / the firſt to Titus and other places the name off Biſhopp or wachmam. So that in old tyme this was rather a name off labor then off reſt / off burden then off honor / off buſines then off eaſe. Now a Biſhop (iff we will trewly declare what he is) is the miniſter off the churche in heauenly thinges and ſuch as perteine vntounto god. For this / I thinck good to follow the wiſdome off the Apoſtle in declaringe the office off a prieſt vnderunder the law:Heb. 5.1. ſeing that biſhoppes in the new teſtament hauehave ſucceded as touching the gouernment off ſuch thinges / to the prieſtes off the law. As for that I encloſe all the office off a Biſhopp in deuine ſeruice I ground vponupon the ſame place off the Apoſtle who giueth no more to the prieſtes / whoſe office was nothing leſſe honorable then the Biſhopes in this behalffe / yea had a greater ſhew off maieſty and honor in certene pointes / in reſpect off thos tymes which had need off ſuche thinges. So the Apoſtle conteineth the office off Timothe although he were an Euangeliſt / in the gouerment / and adminiſtracion off the houſe off god / which is the churche:1. Timot. 3.15. And to omytte many other places to this ende / the Apoſtle to the Hebrues cōprehendeth all the charge off the Elders in the cure off ſoules.Heb. 13.17,

And what greater and more ſufficient witnes can we hauehave in this mater then off Chriſt our Sauior and our kinge who throwghly knewe the nature off his kingdome / and had appointed to what vſe to put eueryevery one / how often doth he declare that his kingdome is not off this world / but off an other and more heauenly nature / and ſuche as parteineth to the procuringe off the ſaluacion off men / wherin for aſmuche as his whole embaſſage / and charge which he receyued off his father did cōſiſt / he was wholy occupied therin / his doingt and meditation was allwais vponupon it / he medled not him ſelffe with the thinges off his world:Luk. 9.58. & 12.13.14. & 21.25.26. Iohn 18.36. but day and night had his charge before his eyes and exerciſed him ſelffe therin: warning alſo the Apoſtles that they ſhould not hope to obteine the glorious ſhew and honor off this world / ſeinge his kingdome was off an other nature: yt rulethe the affections / yt gouernethe the troubleſome mocions off the mynd / it morateth inordinate luſtes / and bringeth eueryevery mā to the doinge of his duty / yt lifteth and raiſeth vp againe thos that were fallen and beaten to the ground / it confirmeth thos that are ſick and weake with the grace mercy and goodnes off god: it bringeth men from receiued errors wherby they were caſt hedlong into all daunger an miſhiefe / to the true honoringe and worſhipping off god: he tould them that he would vſe ther labor to theſe endes: They ſhould keep his foulds and feed his flock and his lambes:Math. 4.19. Iohn 21.15.16.17. This ſhould be ther race to runne in / Thes ther liſtes wherin they ſhould exerciſe them ſelues / wherin iff they behaued ther ſelues with praiſe and commendation they ſhould look for as Sainct Peter ſaithe an euerlaſtinge crowne off glory.

This is therfore the dewty off a Biſhopp / which I will not here curiouſly enquyre how faithfully they execute / ſeinge they be bownd to no ſpeciall charge but content with a generall ouerſight off the Dioces / hauehave exempted them ſelfes from the neceſſary charge off rhe Biſhoppes dewty. Let vsus rather ſee wither I hauehave iuſtly compaſſed in the whole office off a Biſhopp in the handlynge off Religion and the ſeruice off God. For it is an old opinion and receiued off long tyme / that Biſhoppes are not ſo lymited with doinge off the ſeruice off God / But that they may alſo handle the thinges off this liffe and gouerne both at once the church and the common welth. Heroff yt comethe that our Biſhoppes are Iuſtices off peace / and hauehave authoritie to ſee the Queenes peace kept and to caſt the breakers off yt into priſon / and bondes. That they hauehave authoritie to heere pleas / and alſo to Iudge off in ther courtes / pleas off willes and Teſtamentes and other cyuill thinges. Heroff alſo it is that the ſame titles off ſtate and honor that are geuen to the noble men / are geuen to them: wheras Archbiſhopes are ſaluted by the moſt honorable and Princely title off Grace / An other is called Biſhopp off the order off the garter: An other Counte Palatine: And all off them honorable Lordes whervpon ſome are diſpleaſed that the Chauncelorſhipp off this realme / The Preſidentſhipp off york / and ſuche like honorable offices / which were wont in popery to be theres / are now geuen to horable Lordes off cyuill eſtate: And complayne off yt as thoughe they had wrong offred them. Therfore they do vniuſtly and with out any cauſe / and contrary to ther dewty / deſyre / and vſurp thes thynges / or ells / I hauehave not done well to encloſe all the office off a Biſhopp in the adminiſtracion off heauenly and ſpirituall thinges:In the cannons which are called the Apoſtles canons, the 6.80. ād 82 and Confil. Carthag. 3. Canon. 18.19.20. wheroff let vsus ſe whither is to be thought.

That that is ould and auncient / yt may ſufficiently enoughe appere by this / that ſuch Ambition and buſyinge off them ſelues is forbidden by the old Cannons / yea furder / the greuous complaynt off ſome off the old farthers touchinge this matter are knowen well enoughe and to be found in ther writinges / who partly invey and ſharpely reproue them that brought in this confuſion / partly lament that by that meanes / they were called from ther owne particuler dewty: which alſo we here ſaye ſome off ours do complaine off / and confeſſe that they hauehave only one houre in the weeke to thincke off preachinge: And that in a manner wonne by force out off the importunitie off cliētes: whom Terēcies menedemus worthely would merueyle / at to ſee thē to hauehave ſo much leyſure from ther owne buſines / that they may look to other mens.

But this that is now ſo amplified and growen that it is become intollerable / and no leſſe daungerous for them ſelues then for thee church / ſprange at the firſt as all moſt all other miſchiefes hauehave done from begynninges that were not ſo euill. For firſt off all this buſines was w holie pryuate / and controuerſies were frely giuen ouer to the Biſhoppes by the conſent off the parties / who truſtinge there conſcience / thought by this meanes to hauehave the beſt iſſue off ther matter / After it grewe / by the Authorytie of Princes: who partlie off a good mynd but not warie enough / and off a deſire to adorne and beutifie the churche / partly alſo becauſe they them ſelues were hindered with warres and externall buſines / gaue authority to Biſhoppes to correct euen ſuche with ciuill puniſhment as ſhould troble the churche.

Laſt off all it ſo infinitely ſpread out her bowghes by the couetouſines and ambicion off the Biſhoppes / that ther was no honorable office in the ciuill ſtate which they did not partly begg / partly receyue willingly and with great thanckes being offered / till they had myngled the churche and the comon welth / ciuill and eccleſiaſticall matters / and cōfounded the kingdome and the biſhprick to gether. But as that which god hath ioyned no mann can ſeperate So we may not thinck that any mā can ioyne or couple to gether that which he hath ſeuered and deuided a ſonder. And iff it be vnlawfull to altor and change the boundes that our fathers hauehave ſett / how much leſſe is it laufull to change thoſe boundes and lymites that the Lord hathe bounde vsus with all / and wherby he would hauehave vsus ſeuered and deuided from others / and by this deceit to encreaſe Patrimonies and poſſeſſions.Prouerb. 12.28. For that ther is a great difference betwene the cyuill magiſtrat and them that hauehave charge off eccleſiaſticall matters / That ſufficiently dothe proue / that wheras firſt off all both powers were confounded togither in Moſes / The lord leauing him only the charge off the common welth / committed the gouerment off the churche to Aaron his brother. And ſet ſo great diſtance betwene them bothe / that the kingdome could not on…y not be gouerned by the highe prieſt him ſelfe / but alſo by none off the ſame familie / name / or trib / Nor contrary wiſe the prieſthood / off any off the kinges ſtock or off the royal b…ud / houſe / or tribe / and fynally off none but a Leuite / So they were diuided a ſonder not only in ther owne perſons / but alſo by families and by tribes: which diſtinction and difference was allwais diligently obſerued by all that came after / vntil king vzziah being puffed vp with pride as it is expreſly noted in the holy hiſtory vſurped the prieſthood and burnte incenſe in the temple off god.2. Cron. 26.16. But he wēt not away ſcotfree with his pride / but being ſodenly ſtricken with the leprouſy was made an example for all ages to take heed off the like boldnes / to confounde and mingle thos to gether which the Lord did deuide and ſet a ſonder.

But ther was no prieſt for many yeres after that medled him ſelfe with the gouerment off the kingdome / vntill firſt Ariſtobolus moſt vnaduiſedly after the retourne from Babylon / ioyned the kingdome and the prieſthoode / the myter and the crowne togither.Euſeb. 8. boke. of his preparation to the goſpell. For wheras we read that Elias / Samuel / and Daniel / exerciſed both offices / It was alltogither extraordinary / neither ought to be drawne to the ordinary and perpetuall gouernment off the church. All thoughe vnderunder the law many thinges wer done by the Prieſtes which cannot be now done by Biſhoppes. And they wer put to many thinges to which yt wer not lawfull that the Biſhoppes vnderunder the Goſpell ſhould be applied which was in reſpect off the publique law / wheroff they wer as well keepers and interpreters as off the morall / beinge made and gyuen by the ſame lord / ſo that it was needfull to vſe them to many thinges whereunto ours may not neither ought not to be put.

As for the Goſpell what can be cleerer then the difference that it maketh in this caſe: wheras our ſauior him ſelffe off whoſe example we ought to lerne / refuſed to deuide the herytage betwene the brethren as a thing not belonginge to his officeLuk. 12. / and offten tymes he reprouethe and repreſſethe the like deſyer off the Apoſtles deſyring and longyng after ſuche thingesMath. 20.26. Luk. 22.25. Mark. 10.41. / he deteſted all this lordinge and exerciſyng off domynion togither with the titles off princes and honorable perſonages and ſuch like titles and names: profeſſinge freely that thes honors wer ciuill and wordly and therfore to be ſought for at other mens handes: which they ſhould not thinck might begotten at his handes that had no ſuch like thing in all his kingdome: By whom they wer called indeed to greater offices / greater I ſay and more honorable in reſpect off trew honor / allthough not for the outward ſhew.

And this the Apoſtles wer taught not only by the preceptes and voyce off ther maſter / but after alſo by ther owne experience / that this ſpirituall charge to be well done can be ioyned with no other / ſo that they gaue ouer off them ſelues / euen the charge off the pore with is an eccleſiaſticall office and ſo neere off kindred vntounto the other / that it ſeemed they might well hauehave ſtode togither / and lymited ther office in he ſeruice off God alone.Act. ….

And iff it be ſo that the miniſters off the word off god ought not to be charged with prouiding for the widowes and for the poore / that being free from any other charge / they might wholy beſtowe them ſelues vppon ther owne / how much leſſe lawfull is yt / that they ſhould be called away from ther owne office and dewty to do worldly thinges and belonging to the ciuill Magiſtrat. For thus thow doſt not only gather hinderances vntounto thy ſelffe / to hindre thē that thow do not thy duty / otherwiſe then either good ſouldiors or conninge wreſtlers are wont to doe / but alſo doſt wronge vntounto an other into whoſe ground and poſſeſſion thow breakeſt in by force / which thing ſeinge the Apoſtle in the xij.1. Timot. 2.4. 1. Corr. 9.24.25.26. Rom. 12.3. off the Romans chargeth with ambytion and … buſines euen in eccleſiaſticall offices / whe… … …ligently from this being wiſer then we ought to be / exhorteth vsus to a Chriſtian like modeſty / and to be ſoberly wiſe / how muche more ſhall he be giltie off the ſame cryme that mingleth and confoundeth togither thinges ſo farr different and diuers off nature.

Declaration of Ecclesiastical Discipline out of the Word of God, Tract (2 of 5)