Declaration of Ecclesiastical Discipline out of the Word of God, Tract (3 of 5)

Declaration of Ecclesiastical Discipline out of the Word of God · Tract (3 of 5)

p. 83For who knoweth not that the office off the Magiſtrate eſpecially conſiſteth in thos thinges which belong to our life and to our goodes / and hath not to doe with the holie ceremonies / but only to ſee by his authoritie that it be adminiſtred by them / by whom / and in what manner it ought to be by the word off God / but that he admyniſtred nothyng hym ſelffe:Rom. 13.Rom 13 And agayne who knoweth not that the Byſhoppes Office p. 84is bounded and limited with ſpirituall matters and cure off ſowles / and hath no charge off the common wealth / nor off the ſtate off this life?Heb. 5.1. & 13.17.Heb 5:1Heb 13:17 Or that the Magiſtrates are carefull for the body and thinges belonginge therunto / The Biſhoppes of the ſowle and that which apparteineth vntounto the ſoule? And that the Magiſtrates are carefull for this fraile and britie life / but the Miniſters off that bleſſed life which endureth for euer? Therfore ſeinge the Lord God vnderunder the lawe beinge about to plant the prieſthoode as a tree hard by the Mgiſtrate his neighbors grownd / knowinge well what the nature off this tree was (namely that it enlargeth and ſpreadeth out his rootes farr abrod as the figg tree or the olyue tree doth / and therfore was to be ſet furder off leſt that any contention or ſtriffe ſhould affterward ariſe) ſeuered yt by a moſt greate diſtance / and greater then the ſpace off ix feet which Solon commanded in ſuch like trees / from the Mageſtrates grownd that lay hard by / let godly Magiſtrates diligently take heed / beinge admoniſhed both by the ordinance off the moſt wiſe god / and the example off the Roman Empire / that they ſuffer the Biſhoppes to chalenge nothinge vntounto thē with in ther ground / nor ſecretly ſo roote them ſelues with in the ſame / that they be afterwardes compelled (as we reade many Emperors hauehave done) to ſtriue with them for ther owne right and patrimony. And ſeinge God hathe punyſhed the tranſgreſſion off this his law touchinge the diſtinction off the two eſtates / in a noble prince and godly otherwiſe / why do we not feare that he will ſhew the like punyſhement in the like fault off the Biſhoppes?Iohn 6.15.John 6:15 And ſeing Chriſt hym ſelfe did refuſe the kingdome being offered him / nor would handle the leſt eyuill matters / no not to agree brethren therby / Seinge the Apoſtles would not ioyne any other office thoughe it were off the ſame kind with ther owne / Luk. 22. Act. 6.Luke 22Acts 6no not the charge p. 85off the poore and widows / that they might beſtowe them ſelues wholy and attend vponupon ther owne / ſeinge this agreethe better with the kingdom off Chriſt / and the other with the kingdomes off this world / what iuſt excuſe can they lay for this ambition and buſyinge off them ſelues / or why do they ſtorme ſo when we call them frō the ciuill courtes to the churche / from the Iuſtices benche / to Moſes chaire / from a kingdome and a lordſhipp / to a Biſhoprick and miniſterie.

We reade in the holy hiſtory that Azariaz the highe prieſt caſt out kinge Vzzrah out off the holy place / and that worthelie / becauſe the lawe ſo commanded.2. Chro. 26. Levit. 13.46. 2. boke off his Eccleſiaſt. Hiſtor.2 Chr 26Lev 13:46Lev 13:2 And Sozomenus telleth that when Theodoſius themperor would hauehave gone vp to the highe part off the temple / Ambroſe for badde him / becauſe as he ſaid / that was the Biſhops place / and com̄anded him to ſit belowe with out the chancell. whiche I do not reherſe to this ende that I do allow off thoſe ſuperſtitious and proud ſeparations off the biſhopps from other mē / but ſeing this ther inordinate deſire off catching to them ſelues / to ſtirr vp kinges and magiſtrates to a iuſt care of maintaining ther owne right / and in like manner to bownd and lymit them within there chancelles and quyres / and commande them to keep them ſelues with in ther bondes and limites / and to know alſo ther barrs and ranges. And iff they had carefully ſeene to to it when this plage beganne firſt to creepe in / ſurely the ambition off churche men had neuer come to that vnſpeakable pride that we hauehave ſeene it at / that they might glory off the power off both eſtates / and as we vſe to ſpeake off both the ſwordes / off a triple crowne / off treading vpō the Emperors neckes and ſuffering kinges to hold ther ſtirruppes. But ſeing they loked not vntounto it neither regarded it / at the laſt when the Apoſtles wer dead / who as in old tyme that noble worthy Gedeon / deſired not any vnlawfull p. 86kingdome or Lordſhipp in Iſraell / and ther naturall children deſyred lickwiſe no ſuche thing / At the laſt I ſay / this baſtard Abimelech roſe vp: that ambitiouſly ſought an vnlaufull kingdom / and named hymſellffe bobothe a father and a kinge: but it is to be hoped that ſame end and the like deſtruction will come vponupon this Tyrant that in old tyme came vponupon Abimelech / for I doubt not but Ioathans parable is as it wer an orackle vttered againſt this ambicion:Iudg. 9.10.Judg 9:10 And it is alltogither to be hoped / that as the empyre is weakened and allmoſt brought to nothinge by hym / wherby he hathe obteined this infinite and princely power and authoritie / ſo it will one daie come to paſſe that he ſhalbe deſtroyed againe by the empyre.

But wold to god / that only the Bramble off Rome had deſyred this kingdom and lordſhipp:Iudg. 9.8.9.10, 11. &c.Judg 9:8Judg 9:9Judg 9:10Judg 9:11 and that our olyue trees alſo and our figg trees and our vynes had not left ther fatnes and ther ſweetnes and moſt excellent fruit / for the deſyre off lordſhipp and gouernment. For the preaching off the goſpell is in deed moſt ſweet ād pleaſaunt fruit: and with this ther new wine they reioyſed both god and men: as alſo with the oyle off the goſpell more precious then any balme / and off ſweeter and more fragrant ſmell / then that which was poured vponupon Aarons hedd. For we complaine that euen or biſhoppes hauehave gotten this lordſhipp into ther handes: and finde great want / and long for / thos excellent fruites againe off that wyne / and thos figgas / and Olyues / which in old tyme the church was wont to gather off ther Biſhopps. And ſurely I am afrayd that we wiſhe and longe for them in vayne / and leſt that they beinge delighted now with an other kind off fatnes and off ſweetnes / that is off Riches and Honor / hauehave allready begonne to neglect and deſpiſe the other / and will ſo contynew to deſpiſe yt. p. 87But the Lord will ſee to thes thinges / who off his good will / will prouide for his churche / either by them iff they will come to the firſt root and ſtock againe / or ells without them / yff they continew to neglect and deſpiſe the ſame (But paraduenture I hauehave beene to longe in this part / beinge moued both with the vnworthines off the thing and the daunger off the church.

Now ſeing as I ſuppoſe yt is ſufficiently proued that the office off a Biſhopp is lymited in the adminiſtration off heauēly and ſpirituall thinges / let vsus particulerly declare the ſeuerall partes off this office. Which conſiſt partly in teaching and interpretinge off the word off God / and partly in making praiers for the church. For thes two are ſo lincked togither / that they may by no meanes be ſeparated. For he that takethe cure off teachinge the churche / hath layd vponupon hym alſo the prayinge for the church. And contrariwiſe the office off prayinge and makinge ſolemne and publique praiers for the church in reſpect off his office / can / nor ought to be commited to no man / but to hym that hathe power allſo to teache the churche. For we read that thes two wer allways ſo ioined and knit togither / that he that off office did the one / was bound to the doinge off bothe. Neyther hauehave thes at any tyme bene ſeuered or drawen a ſonder.

So the Prieſtes vnderunder the law wer bound to bothe: as Moſes expreſſely declarethe in the bleſſing off Leui. They ſhall teache ſaythe he Iacob thy iudgmentes and Iſraell thy law: They ſhall put incenſe before thy face and bourne offeringe… vponupon thy aulter / For / that praier and Supplication was ſhadowed vnderunder the law by burninge off parfume and incenſe / It ys playne by many other p. 88other places and namely by Dauid who without queſtion in the 141.Luk. 1.10.Luke 1:10 pſalme alludeth hereunto: and the firſt off Luke wher it appereth that all the church vnderſtood it ſo:Apocalip. 8.3 4. 1 S…uel. ….2…. wherunto alſo S. Iohn alludeth in his reuelation. Lickwiſe alſo the Prophet Samuel anſweringe the people that deſired him that he would pray to god for them / God forbidd ſaithe he that I ſhould offend againſt God in ceaſinge to pray for yow / for I will alſo teache yow the good and perfit way. declaringe ther by both / to belonge to his dutie / So then in the Prieſthood and the Propheſie two off the cheifeſt offices in the Iewiſhe churche (which our Biſhopps do reſemble / iff we compare the Paſtors with the Prieſtes / and the Doctors with the Prophetes) Thes two offices off teachying and prayinge were ioyned togither.

And do not the Apoſtles in the goſpell wher they leaue the miniſtringe to the pore / profeſſing that they did it to this purpoſe that they might more frely geue thē ſelues wholy to ther office / do they not limit ther office with thes two partes off preaching and Praier?1. Timot. 2. Paule alſo in his epiſtle to Timothe doth manifeſtly referre praier to the office off a Biſhoppe:1. Timot. 3. wheras geuinge order off ſtabliſſhinge the churche off Epheſus hauing declared the forme off publique praiers / after ſheweth at large / what man̄er off man he ought to be. Therfore ſeing it is plaine by the perpetuall vſe off the ſcripture that thes two belong both to one and the ſame office / They cannot in any ſort be drauen a ſonder: and an vnlawfull diuorcement it is / when as our miniſters (I ſpeake off thos Curates that are vnable to teache) are off this condicion ordeined to the miniſterie / that they reade ther ſeruiſe and preſcript praiers / out off the booke: but that they be not ſo bold to teache or interpret without newe and eſpeciall authorite graunted to that purpoſe.

p. 89But ſome men will ſay / They are not able to interpret the ſcriptures / Surely iff yt be ſo / they are well and worthely and by the commandement off god forbidden to interprete yt / But that is not well / that they are not al ſo forbidden to reade the praiers: ſeing that thes two / preachinge and praier which are bothe but one office / are torne and drawē a ſonder cōtrary to the ordinannce off God / and a certen new and lame myniſtery is brought into the church / by the boldnes off men. Thus therfore hauing deſcribed the whole dewty and office off Biſhoppes / let vsus come to that which is proper and particuler / in ther eletion and ordination.

The Election therfore off Biſhoppes (that I may be gyn̄ ther) becauſe the whole ſafety of the church is in daunger in that actiō) ought to be ioyned with moſt erneſt praier to god / that it would pleaſe him to direct the iudgemēt off the chooſers which his holy ſpyrit / to prouide a worthy and an able Biſhopp for his church / and not ſuffer them being ledd away by any blind affection to be deceyued with ſo dangerous an error. For hither both the reaſone which I hauehave allready brought and eſpecially the example off … Sauior Chriſt him ſelffe doth leade vsus / whom Sainct Luke reherſethe to hauehave ſpent the whole might before the chooſinge and declaringe off his Apoſtles / in ſupplicacion and praiers / which alſo the ſame Luke reherſeth to hauehave bene practized by the Apoſtles in the election off Mathias.Luk. 6.12.13.Luke 6:12Luke 6:13 Act. 1.24.Acts 1:24Which all men vnderſtand ought to be neceſſarilie reſtored againe / that obſerue and marck the ſucceſſe and fallinge out off our elections / farr otherwiſe taken in hand.

But I truſt I ſhall not need to take much paines in ſo cleere a matter: Therfore I will go forward and declare what a one he ought to be / who ſhold be choſen a Biſhopp / It is allready plaine enoughe by that which hathe p. 90bene ſaid that in the chooſinge off a Biſhopp the eſpeciall care and reſpect ought to be off his learninge / ſeinge he is choſen to teach and interpret the word off god vntounto others: althoughe alſo ther ought to be no common and ordinary but a ſinguler and chiefe reſpect in examyninge his manners as beinge ſuche whos ſmalleſt faultes for the high place wherin they are / can by no meanes be hidden and couered. Seing that the miniſters off the word off God as Chriſt warneth the Apoſtles / are like vntounto cyties that are vponupon the mountaynes. Therfore ſeinge they muſt dwell in the eyes off men and in the fayreſt light / and as our Sauior Chriſt ſaith in the ſame place / be put as it wer vponupon candel ſtickes that they may gyue light vntounto other / It is meet that there holines off life / godlines and moderat cōuerſacion ſhould ſhine like lightes a monges men / whervppon the Apoſtle Paule ſetting furth in Timothe a lawfull miniſter off the word / declareth that he ought to be ſuch / as may be an example / or glaſſe and a patterne to all the faithfull in louelove / …n chaſtitie / and in all the order off his life.Math 5.14.15.Matt 5:14Matt 5:151. Timoth. 4, 12.1 Tim 4:12

And ſure good cauſe it is he ſhould be innocent / that aſketh other mē accompt off ther life: ſeinge nothing is more iuſt then that he that teacheth other ſhould firſt inſtruct hym ſelffe / and that callinge other men from ſhame / he hould keep hym ſelffe free from any ſpott or blemiſhe. For what a ſhame is it / when the ſick man may ſay to hym that wolde help him / Phyſicion heale thy ſelfe: or when thos thinges are caſt in a mans teeth which Paule vpbraydeth the Iewes with all / thow that teacheſt an other teacheſt not thy ſelffe and thow that preacheſt a man ſhould not ſteale ſtealeſt thy ſelffe / And againe the name off God is blaſphemed amonge the gentils for your cauſe.Rom. 2.21.…. &c.Rom 2:21 Therfore ſeing that they are ſet in ſo highe a pla… that the example off ther integritie not only edifieth the churche but alſo glorifieth god therby. And contrarywiſe ther faultes and errors do geue occaſion to ſtraungers p. 91to ſpeake euill off the Lord whom they preache / and the goſpell which they publiſhe abrode / and to the faithfull that are weake / to whom the leſt fault that they make is as it wer a law / wherby they thincke they may lickwiſe offend with out reproofe / and ſeinge herein they hurt by ther example no leſſe / yea a great deale more then by the fault it ſelfe / a great diligēce and ſinguler care is to be had off the life and manners off him who is to be choſen a biſhopp. But ſeinge the office off a Biſhop conſiſteth chifely in this / that they publiſhe / preach / and interpret all the goſpell / eſpecially thos giftes are to be reſpected which are proper and peculier to that office / to the executinge wheroff he is to be choſen / therfore he is to be examined how well he hath been exerciſed in the holie ſcriptures / and whither he be able fruitfully / and to edifyinge / to cōmunicate with the churche that which he doth godlilie vnderſtād. No vnſkillfull or vnlerned man may be called to the ſtearing off this helme / vnleſſe we would hauehave the ſhipp not only to be in daunger / but willingly to runne vponupon the r… kes: But what is he (onleſſe he wer cōſpired agaīſt the ſafety of the church and of the ſon̄es off god) that would cō mit the church which god redeemed with his blud that he might adopt vsus to be his ſonnes / an this nobleſhip fraighted full off worthies to any but to ſome moſt conninge and expert pilote and maſter.

Therfore ſuche con̄ing Pylotes and gouernours ar to be choſen ād ſet to the ſtearinge off the ſhipp / who ar able to diſcerne the diuers face and chaungeable contenaunce of the heauēs / that ar able to for ſeeſtormes and tēpeſtes / that can guid ther ſhip by the north ſtarr / and finallie whom thos heauenly muſes hauehave taught the vnknowne pathes ād wais of the ſea / and that which is in the Poet.

From ſmoky ſtorme & fluddes that ſwell,

Kepe of the ſhipp & guide it well.

But the word of god is the only ſtarr wherby this life is p. 92Our eies muſt be bent vponupon this heauen and fyrmament wherby ſtormes and tempeſtes are much more certenly fore ſene then by the other / This is the helme off our life which who ſo euer hath not lerned to ſteare and gouerne / he may well be put to ſome other ſeruice / but let hym not come into the ſterne and iff he he do / let him be put out aagaine. For it is very good reaſon to requyre off an Artificer knowledge off that art which he profeſſeth / to require off a Captain… and a Generall / knowledge and ſkill off war fare and chieualty / off a phyſicion / that he know how to mayteyne the health and to recouer them that are diſeaſed.

And vnderunder the law the Lord apointed his prieſtes that they ſhould be ſuche as might be able when they wer aſked / to anſwer out off the law off God. Which wer adorned not only with the diademe and myter but with thos xij.Exod. 28.…0.Exod 28 Iewelles and precious ſtones which Moſes for ther lightſome clerenes and perfit beauty calleth Vrrim and Thummim: by meanes wheroff they aſked off the Lord in all affaires: by which two names ſometymes all the prieſthood is ſignified / to teach vsus that he that hath not them / hath nothing.Deut. 33.8.Deut 33:8 And that ther is no prieſthood with out Vrim and Tummim. To whom ſeinge the Biſhoppes as parteininge to to this matter hauehave ſucceded / although they had put on Aarons tunicle Ephod or Diademe / yet iff thos ſtones ſhyne not in ther breſt / wherby (as Ennius. ſaithe) men being doutfull of there matters what to do / may be certefied / that they take not waight… thinges raſſhly in hand / we acknowledge no ſtock nor ſucceſſion off the Prieſthoode / nor all the reſt off the garmentes off Aaron. And ſeing we hauehave now in thes tymes no other meanes to be certified off the will off god beſides his writtē word and the holy ſcriptures: And ſeing it is ſure that this word is come in place off the Arck / p. 93the Sanctuary / the breſtplate off Iudgement / and all the other ceremonies off off the old law / euen as thos in old tyme wer neceſſary for the prieſtes / So now is the vnderſtandinge and knowledge heroff for the miniſters off the word off god. Therfore the Apoſtle Paule warneth Timothe that a biſhopp ought to be able to teache. Wheras declaringe that he ought to be ſuche / he ſpeaketh not off it as off ſome helpe or ornamēt / but as off the nature / matter and ſubſtance off a Biſhop….

And that we may more full… vnderſtand what the force off the word is and how many thinges are conteined vnderunder it / he declareth it more at large in his epiſtle to Titus / ſainge / a Biſhopp ought to beſuche a one as holdeth faſt the faithfull word according to doctrine / that he may be able alſo to exhort with holeſome doctrine / and reproue them that ſpeake againſt it. But how is it poſſible that he ſhould be able to exhort with ſound doctrine vnleſſe he hath firſt lerned that ſound doctrine him ſelffe out off the holie ſcriptures? And by what meanes can we conuince thos that ſpeak againſt it / but by the ſcriptures as it is reherſed in the Actes that Apollos did?Act. 18.26. 2. Timot. 4.2. 2. Timoth. 3.16. 1. Peter. ….23. 1. Peter 2.2.Acts 18:26Acts 18:22 Tim 3:161 Pet 2:2 Finally how ſhall he be able to do that which Sainct Paule commandeth Timothe / namely to enſtruct / to teache to reprehend / reproue / and exhorte but by the Scripture? which as the ſame Apoſtle in an other place teacheth Timothe are able to furniſhe the man off god that is to ſay the miniſter off his word to do all thes thinges according to his dewty. And ſeing Sainct Peter witneſſethe that we are begotten againe into a new life by this ſeed and being borne are noriſhed and grow vp by this milk / how can it be that any man with out this ſeed ſhould gett children vntounto god / or noriſhe and bring vp ſuch as ar begotten off other.Pſal. …0….105. The kingly Prophet Dauid doth witnes / that he knew not which way to go yf this lampe did p. 94not ſhine allwais before hī to direct him in the right way.

Therfore ſeing the Miniſters off the word are commaunded to lead vsus in the right way / They ought to be Torch bearers and to cary this light kindled in ther hand which may firſt geue light vntounto them ſelues / and after alſo to thoſe off whom they hauehave receiued charge to leade them in the wais off god. And off this office off leadinge / guiding / and geuing light / come thoſe worthy names and titles wherby they are called in the ſcriptures ſtarrs off the heauē / the ſalt off the earthe / the light off the world / and guides off the blynd and ſuch like.Apocalip. 1.20. Mat. 5.16. Luk. 6.39.Matt 5:16Luke 6:39 But onleſſe thes ſtarres do ſhyne / and onleſſe a gret deale off light be firſt gathered into theſe Sonnes as there was in the firſt creation when the Sonne was created to rule the day / iff I ſay the ſonne yt ſelffe be not firſt lighted and kindled / It cannot ſhyne to others / nor ſhew the way by that light it hathe not:Mat. 5.13.Matt 5:13 ſo likewiſe yff the ſalt be vnſauery wherwith ſhall a manſeaſon yt. The like may be ſaid off thes who are guydes of the blinde:Mat. 15.14. Luk. 6.39.Matt 15:14Luke 6:39 For as our ſauior ſaithe / if the blind lead the blind they muſt both fall into the ditche.

And that we may more ſurely be perſwaded off this doctrine / Let vsus conſider ſome other names and titles (for it wer an infinite thinge to gather all) wherby ther office and dutie is declared. Sainct Paule ſaithe that the myniſter is the Stewarde off god:1. Cor. 4.2.1 Cor 4:2 And addeth in the ſame place / A diſpoſer off the myſteries off god Therfore bothe he ought to geue meat to the lords houſhold in dew time / and the houſhold muſt aſke thes Miſteries off the ſteward: As the Egyptians when they came to the kinge in the famyn wer ſent by him / to his highe ſteward that had the diſpoſinge off the corne. As it is alſo expreſſely ſaid by Malachy the Prophete / That the lippes off the prieſt keepe knowledge / and the lawe ſhalbe aſked at his mouthe.M…lach. 2.7. Therfore this ſteward ought to be ſuche an other as Ioſeph was: that hath gathered togither great ſtore of corne / and filled his barnes and granaries / and p. 95ſtored the ſtore houſe off his breaſt longe before with thes victualles / that he may miniſter to the neceſſitie ād famin off the people.Mat. 13.…2.Matt 13:2 And this is that ſcribe which the lord him ſelffe doth witnes to be made ready for the kingdome off god / that is for the prechinge off the Goſpell: that is able to bringe out off his ſtore hous / as the houſhold ſhall hauehave neede bothe newe ſtore and old.

To the Epheſians S. Paule ſaith / that the paſtor and the Doctor wer geuen off Chriſt / to the buildinge off his body as it wer off the temple off god / that this moſt noble frame and more meruelous thē the moſt beautifull frame off this world might the builded.Ephe. 4.12Eph 4:12 But he that cannot tell how to handle the tooles and inſtrumetes that he ſhould occupy for his buildinge / what his he able to doe worthie the precious foundaciō wherupon he buildeth. The ſame Paule as he calleth the the churche the Building of God / ſo he calleth it his huſbādry:1. Cor. 3.6.1 Cor 3:6 which allthoughe it receiueth encreaſe of the only bleſſinge off god / yet ther be ſom ſeruantes ſet to plant it and to water it / in reſpect of which wateringe / in other places alſo they are compared to the heauen and to the cloudes and the doctrine with the raine and with the dewe.Deut. 32.….Deut 32 But iff thes cloudes be ſuch as S. Iude ſpeakethe off / Clouds without water: Epiſtle. 12.and this Heauen / ſuch a one as the lord treatnethe in the lawe to his people whē they ſhall offend hym / harder then any yron or ſteele / how ſhall the field or herytage off the lord floriſhe or bring fourth fruit?Levi. 26.… But becauſe it wer an infinit thīge to gather all the names off miniſters which ar immunerable / let vsus leaue the reſt and conſider only the name off a Paſtor and Shephard. For how many thinges are conteined vnderunder this one nāe of a Sheppard / how infinit a care and wonderfull knowledge off diuers and ſondry thinges / namely that he keepe the flock day ād night euē with the daunger of his life frō the wolues (wheroff S. Paule diligētly warneth the biſhoppes off the church of Epheſus / Act. 20.28.29.Acts 20:28Acts 20:29that they p. 96feede the ſheepe / rule them with the ſhepehooke / call thē by name / and leade thē out to the holeſome paſtures / ād ſweet run̄ynge ſtreames / and after bringe them to the fold againe / which that Archpaſtor and chefe ſheppard did fully and thorowly parforme.Ioh. 20.4.9.11.16. Ezech. 34.4. Zachar. 11.16.John 20:4John 20:9John 20:11John 20:16Ezek 34:4Zech 11:16 Furthermore what lerninge were yt needefull to hauehave to do thoſe thinges / which Ezechiel and Zacharie require off the Paſtors? namely / to ſtrengthen the weake / to heale the ſick and diſeaſed / to bind the broken / and wind vp thos that ar bruſed to ſeek thos that are loſt and to brynge home againe to the fould thos that goe aſtraie. Therfore no man may be choſen to be Paſtor or ſheppard off the lordes flock but he that is endewed with thes diuers and manifold giftes whos voyce may be inſteade off a ſheephooke to rule his ſheepe: at the hearing wheroff they may go in and out: that knoweth what feadinge and what waters is fitteſt for the flock: and fynallie that perfectly vnderſtandeth how to helpe and heale the weake and diſeaſed.

Neither let any man here complaine that I am more ſeuere and rigorous then needethe / ſeing that which Paule requireth is nothing leſſe / that is to ſay to teache in ſound doctrine / to raiſe vp thos that faynt / to cōuict thos that reſiſt / to ſtrenghten thos that ſhake and are fallinge / to breake the prowd and ſtubburne / to allure the godly by hope of reward to all vertue and honeſty / and to terrify the wicked from ſynne / by menacinge and thretninges.

For / for the firſt point that is off doctrine / what a man (thinck we) ought he to be / that ought to vnderſtand that he be able to teache thos miſteries / 1. Pet. 1 12. 1. Tim. 3.16.1 Pet 1:121 Tim 3:16meruaillous to the Angelles themſelues / and vnknowen in the worlde not longe agoe / off god manifeſted in fleſhe / iuſtified in ſpirit / receyued vp in glory / and ſo forth as Paule moſt notably reherſeth / and which (he declareth) that the good p. 97miniſter off Chriſt ought to teache vntounto the churche. Furthermore who but a lerned man / and well taught and brought vp in the ſchoole off Chriſt / is able to diſcerne betwene ſound and corrupt doctrine? and to geue that as moſt holeſome foode and pleaſaunt waters vntounto the flock / and that alſo fitly aceordinge to the varietie of diuers times? and of the other part to knowe and perceiue in tyme / and wiſely to auoide / falſe and corrupt opynions or fooliſhe and vaine queſtions which as the Apoſtle ſaith like gangrenes doe freat to the ruyne off the churche.2. Timoth. 2.17.2 Tim 2:17 And doth it not require a merueilous great diligence and ſinguler knowledge in the holie ſcriptures to preſcribe all orders and degrees off men what they ought to doe / what is fitt for eueryevery one and what eueryevery mans dutie is? to declare the dewty off kinges and magiſtrates / to ſhewe the obedience off ſubiectes / to preache the law / the goſpell / repentaunce / faith which S Paule in Timothes perſon / preſcribeth all miniſters to preache / and in the perſon off the Auncientes off Epheſus / wherin takinge to witnes that he had done ſo / exhorteth them to followe hym and to do the like?Actes. 20.17.Acts 20:17 How hard a matter it is to ſtay thos that are fallinge / by the comfort off the promiſes / to refreſhe and eaſe thos that ar weary and heauie laden / to raiſe vp them that are beaten downe to the ground / as it were from the graue againe? Thes thinges had neede off a heauenly kind off cun̄inge and knowledge / and off that learned tonge wherby Eſay witneſſeth that he refreſhed thos that trauayled and wer weary.Eſai. 5.4.Isa 5:4

But that I be not to long in this matter / and that I omitt both many other thinges / namely thos devine and merueilous ſecreates off the election off the faithfull and reprobacion off the vngodly / how great is that one thinge / to be able to anſwer whē he is aſked in all matters / what the lords will and pleaſure is / and to be as it wer the oracle off the church / which it is not poſſible any man ſhould be able to doe / with out a great and excellent knowledge off the word off god (which only is left to vsus in ſteade off the Sainctuary / off the Arke and orakle off god vnderunder the lawe) no more then it was poſſible p. 98to execute the prieſthoode with out Vrim and Thummim, Therfore ſeinge ther is ſo great art required to the gouernment off the churche / and ſeinge as it is ſaid by one in an other caſe that it is a pece off worck that had need off many taklinges / helmes / and oares / no man ought to hauehave the guidinge heroff committed to him but he that is expert and cōninge: neither is it meet to ſet a boateman or a ſkoller to it. Who by reaſon off his ignorance in the ſtarres / iff he were in the middeſt off the Sea / cold not tell wher aboutes he were / but ſhold be compelled to crie as it is in the Poet.

O Syrs we know no eaſt nor west.

wher Sonne doth riſe or goeth to rest.

It wer more meet to ſet heere to the gouernmēt off the ſhip the con̄ingeſt maſter that euer was who lookinge to the word off god in ſteade off the north ſtarre may bring it with ſtreight and direct cuurſe to the hauen. Further it is alſo to be conſidered in this queſtiō / that the caſe is touchinge the gouernmēt off the churche / off feedinge of the flock off the lord / of keping Hieruſalē the citie off our god / off building the temple off god / off the body off Chriſt / then the which ther is nothinge more to be eſteemed in heauē and earth. That we may the rather determin / that ſuche a flock that hath as many goulden fleeces in it / as ther be ſheepe / ought to be committed to the keepinge off none / but off a moſt con̄inge / painefull and diligēt man / and as it wer an other Iacob.Geneſ. 3….38.39.40.41. Luk. 15.10.Gen 3:38Gen 3:39Gen 3:40Gen 3:41Luke 15:10 For who is he that wer able to anſwer the Lord for the loſſe off the leſt ſheepe off this flock? At whos bringinge to the fould againe after it hath wandred and gone aſtray / ſeinge the Aungelles are ſo gladd off and reioyce / iff it wer loſt would they not in a maner Lament / and would not heauē and eaathe put vponupon them mourninge apparell for the ſame? yff then we commit this flock vntounto a ſhepphard / that not only ſeketh not the loſt ſheepe / nor bindeth not that which is brokē / but cānot if he would / howe many would be loſt / and how greatly do we thinck that the lord off the flock will eſteeme ſo great a loſſe? What would he ſay not only to the ſhepherdes p. 99but to his ſtewardes that had ſet ſuch a one ouer his flock.Ezec. 3….6.Ezek 3:6 Surely all ther Iudgement is pronounced by Ezechiel / namely that both the watchemen / that geue not warninge off the enemyes / and the cytie alſo that ſeteth ſuch watch men ouer them / ſhalbe bothe taken and periſhe togeether:Mat. 15 14 Luk. 6.39.Matt 15:14Luke 6:39 and by our Sauior Chriſt ſayinge / that if the blynd leade the blynd / both ſhall fall into the ditche.

Therfore ſeinge the Biſhopp muſt ſpeake and preache off ſo heauenly matters by reaſon off his office / Seinge he is ſet ouer the gouernment off the church off god / Seing that vndoubted daunger hangeth ouer the head both off the miniſter and churche iff ſuch a one be choſen to rule that is not able / and ſeinge off the other part / all this fitnes and abilitie conſiſteth in holie knowledg off the ſacred doctrine and vnderſtandinge off the word off God / I thinck it is ſufficiently proued that no man ought to be admitted Biſhopp ot miniſter who is not godly and lerned.

And iff any hauehave bene o…herwiſe by error admitted / to be put oute againe.Math 5.13. Luk. 14.34 35. Zach. 13.5.Matt 5:13Luke 14:34Zech 13:5 For ſo our Sauior Chriſt hath allredy pronounced that the vnſauery ſalt is to be caſt out off the dores / and the Prophet Zachary propheſied that it ſhould come to paſſe in the kingdom off CHRIST that they ſhould willingly geue ouer that office againe freely openly profeſſinge / that they are in deed not Prophetes but huſbandmen: and that from ther you…h vp they had neuer beene ſchollers vntounto the Prophettes / but Neathearedes. Porters ſhepherdes / ſeruinge men and ſuche like.

Which ſeinge yt is ſo manifeſt and confirmed by ſo many Teſtimonyes off the Scripture that yt can not be denyed / I merueile that euer yt could come to paſſe in a Chriſtian churche / that ſo clere and expreſſe commandementes off God / ſo proffitable for vsus and neceſſary for the ſaluacion off the churche / ſhould be broken and tranſgreſſed. But they are not only broken / and that commonly and ſo offten / that for one fyt miniſter / a man may find a nomber off vnfit and vnlerned / but excuſes and pretēces are ſought to defēd this p. 100fault with all / as iff in manner it wer lawful to do ſo: And the moſt hainous crymes that can be wanteth not there lawer and counſell to pleade for them They ſay that yt is euill in deed / but a neceſſary euill / and muſt needes be ſo nor can not be otherwiſe / ſeinge ther be not ſo many lerned men as ar able to ſuffice for all the kingdom: So that the people muſt either want alltogether a miniſter or ſome muſt needes be admitted althoughe they be not fitt and able. It ſhould ſeeme by this defence that all thos that wer lerned and fitt were allready placed throwout the churches: which how trew it is / It may be ſeene in both the vniuerſities / wherin ther be many bothe off excellent godlines and lerninge / which neither are called to the miniſterie / nor neuer ſhalbe on leſſe they go for it / ſeke ambiciouſly after it / buye it and bargayne for it.

But let vsus put the caſe they wer all placed abrode and that yet ſtill many churches wanted miniſters: They aſke vsus heere what is to be done? I anſwere: Surely euen that which our Sauior Chriſt commandeth his diſciples to do wher the harueſt was great and the laborers wer fewe:Math. 10.38.Matt 10:38 That is to ſay That we praie the Lord off the harueſt that he would ſend out laborers into his harueſt. For eueryevery man may not be ſent into the Lordes feeld to reape his corne becauſe the harueſt is great / But the Lord him ſelffe is to be deſired and praied that he wold hauehave a care off his corne and prouide harueſt men: who ſettethe no man to do his work that is not fit and able for it. Therfore iff we be towched with trew compaſſion for the lordes harueſt fearinge leaſt iff any ſtorme come / it may ſuſteine ſome damage / let vsus not be caried awai with a foliſhe pitie / to prouide for yt / as we think beſt: (for what wer this ells / but to blame the lord / as negligent / and not carefull enoughe for his affaires) but let vsus keepe that meane and meaſure which our Sauior hath preſcribed vsus) which is to commend vntounto the Lord his owne harueſt by our earneſt praiers.

And as all men muſt pray for it. So the Magyſtrate to whom god hathe committed this charge is bound to prouide workmen / as ſone as is poſſible: They muſt erect ſchooles and p. 101collrdges: finde and mainteine teachers and readers / that the youth may be taught and made fitt for this work: finally they muſt beſtowe all ther care / thought / ſtudie and labor vponupon this that this golden harueſt may with all poſſible ſpeed be prouided for / to pray to god that he woold ſend out workmen / for to praie to god that he wold ſend out workmen / and not to doe the diligence for that place and callinge wherunto thow art called / that they may be ſent / is not to praye / but to moke and tempt the lord.

Therfore ſuche order is to be taken wher by in thes dayes the lorde doth ordinarily ſend out his workemen / or ſuche order beinge allredy well taken / is diligently and carefully to be looked vntounto / that it be not neglected. And ſurely it is not to be doubted / but the lord will bleſſe our praiers and our endeuors / and ſent out fit worck men into his harueſt. But in the meane time vntill all may ſufficiently be prouided for / As it was practized in the Apoſtles tyme / men muſt come to the next churches wher the word off god is preached: and to thoſe places wher the churches are allready eſtabliſhed / vntill ſuche tyme as moe may beſett in order / which thinges iff they wer not ſo cleere and manifeſt / and iff we had not ſo certen a rule to followe herein / yet what neceſſitie is that / which ought to make vsus breake the expreſſe commandement off god / to ſet him ouer the church whom the lord hathe forbidden? Is ther (as off all other thinges) a tyme alſo to ſynne? or may we do any thinge againſt the good will and pleaſur off God vnderunder pretence to helpe and edifie the churches / and are we not rather bownd to obey that euerlaſtinge and moſt holy law: that no euill is to be done that good may come off it / and ſeeke for that that is good and honeſt by iuſt and lawfull meanes.Rom. 3.8. Deut. 16.20.Rom 3:8Deut 16:20 Althoughe in deed the churche is not holpen by this meanes? but rather much hindered / wher that as / iff they wer ſufficiently prouided for allready / they care not / nor thinck any more off prouiding fit and worthy miniſters and preachers off the word off god.

But to the end we ſhould not thinck but that they wer p. 102carefull for the churche / they hauehave founde out a merueilous way / wherby appointing readers to reade ſome part of the ſcripture / and the praiers and the reſt off the ſeruice / they ſhould be thought notwithſtanding to make meet miniſters and preachers off the word off god. For they hauehave made certen homilies off the creation / off prouidence / off the dewty off the magiſtrat / off the obedience off the ſubiect / and other thinges / which they thought needefull / which they charge them to reade to the people at certen times / ſuppoſing that by this meanes / they remedy that euill off admitting thos that be vnworthy / which they ſay is ſo neceſſary. A meruelous ſtraunge remedy and neuer hard off in the churche in the Apoſtles tyme / and which not only amendethe not the fault but maketh it greater / and moſt like to the pece that our Sauior Chriſt ſpeaketh off in the goſpell wherby the rent is not amended but made a great deale worſe.Mat. 9.16.Matt 9:16 For who may arrogate this vntounto hym to hauehave his writinges reherſed read and propounded vntounto the church / Is not this proper to god onlie that his worde be reade in the churche / and ought not the voice off god alone to ſound and to be hard in the church?

But they ſay thes ar holie meditations to good manners taken out off the ſcriptures and written by great and worthy men: why then do they not reade alſo the holy meditations off Auguſtin / Chryſoſtome and other great men? why not alſo the ecceſiaſticall hiſtory which conteineth infinite examples off ſinguler vertue for men to follow? By which meanes at the laſt the lord ſhalbe pulled out off his throne / that (as we ſawe it come to paſſe in that egyptiacall darcknes off popery) men may ſit in his place. What then ſay they / ſhall we take awaye al interpretation off the word off god? ſhall only the writinges off the Apoſtles and prophetes be read / and ſhall not the holy doctrine be more fully expounded: Shall ther be no exhortations nor reprehēſions as the times off the church ſhall geue occaſion? yes verely: for I hauehave declared aboue / that ſuche a one is to to be choſen miniſter / that is able to exhort with ſownd doctrine and to conuince thos that ſpeake againſt it / and doe ſuppoſe this to be the eſpeciall dewty off a lawfull Paſtor p. 103to applie the word of god to this churche / as time and occaſion ſhall ſerue / but to bring in other writinges into the churche which cōteine either generall doctrine / or holie meditatiōs / and are not applied to the ſpeciall vſe off the churche as beinge ſuch which are common to all churches and to all times / I thinke it is no more lawfull / thē to tranſlate the glory off god vntounto men. And if they declare the creation of the world in ther homelies / the dewties of all ſortes and degrees off mē / why do they not rather declare it out of Moſes and the writinges of the Prophetes and Apoſtles / then oute of ther booke off homelies? Therfore a worthy Biſhop or miniſter is to be choſen that can interprete the holie ſcriptures / and applie it as occaſion ſhall ſerue to the vſe and neceſſitie of the churche: not a reader to rehearſe other mens ſayinges and writinges by whos ignorance the church of god may be in daunger of there ſaluacion.

They hauehave found out alſo an other remedy for this diſeaſe which is as ill as the diſeaſe it ſelfe: They geue them leaue to go to the vniuerſitie / and to tary there for three yeres that after they hauehave bene diligently occupied for that time in the readinge / hearinge / and meditatīge of the ſcriptures / They may returne againe better furniſhed for the teachinge of the church. But what ſhalbe come of the miſerable churches in the meane tyme if they be left as ſhippes without takle and furniture / and without a gouernor for the ſpace of thre yeres fletyng vponupon the Seas? It is not to feared that they ſhalbe drowned or broken / or ouerwhelmed or ſynke / beinge ſubiect to ſo many daungers of Pirates / of rokes / of gulfes / ſwallowes / ſandes / ſtormes and tempeſtes? And why are they wiſe to late in this point / and do not rather ſend them firſt to the vniuerſitie to learne / before they begyn to teache? And what an after wit is this to appoint hī to teache who muſt after learne euen in the pulpit? Trew it is we can neuer ſufficiently profit in the ſcriptures / and that the beſt lerned of all ought continuallie and diligently to reade and ſtudie them / wherby they may encreaſe ther ſtrenght and abilitie for the diſcharge of there dewties / as we reade that both S. Paule exhorted Timothie to doe / and it appereth by the parchementes he ſent for to Rome that he did ſo him ſelfe.1. Timot. 4.13. 2. Timo. 4.13.

But this is it that I reproue and find fault with all / that they admit ſuche to the office off a Biſhop / that is to ſay vntounto the miniſtery and expoundinge off the word / who are alltogether vnmeete / who vnderſtand not the ſcriptures / and who take vponupon them the place to teache / before they hauehave lerned. The lord contrariwiſe wold hauehave his will perfectly p. 104knowne to his Prophetes before he ſend thē out to propheſie in his name. Which is ſet forth in the third chap. of the propheſye of Ezechiel and the x. of the reuelation of S. Iohn vnderunder a prety ſimilitude of eatinge / concoctinge and diſgeſtinge the booke and turninge it in a manner into ther owne ſubſtance and bloode.…ſ…. 9.4. So alſo the Prophet Dauid witneſſethe that he layd to his eare to vnderſtand the parable before that he went aboute to ſing it and play it vponupon the inſtrument in the hearinge of all eſtates of people: declaringe therby that men ought firſt thorowly to vnderſtand that which they will take vppon them to vtter vntounto others. But this is the nature and propertie of that which is euill / That being once let go it cannot be ſ…aide but dayly breedeth and bringeth furth many other euilles.

Therfore let vsus returne vntounto the wais of the lord and be obedient to his moſt iuſt and holie lawes and ordinaunces: and decree that no man be admitted miniſter or Biſhopp who is not ſo well ſtudied in the holie ſcriptures before / that he is able alſo to vtter it bothe purely ād ſincerely and faithfully to the profit and edification of the churche. For it is not ſufficiēt that he be not dombe in the church / but he ought alſo reuerētlie to handle the holy ſcriptures / and as S. Peter giueth warninge ſo v… ter them as the word and oracles of god / that (as S. Paule warnethe Timothy he may ſhewe him ſelfe a worckman that needeth not be a ſhamed of his labor.…. Peter, 4.…. …. Timot. ….19. 2. Corr. 3.1…. 2. Timot. ….…3 Not ſuche as the ſame Apoſtle writeth to hauehave beene amonges the Corinthes that build ſtrawe / and ſtubble (which the Lord will conſume to ther loſſe) vponupon the precious foundacion / but in a word / that they may rightly deuide the worde of truthe.

Neither am I purpoſed / here to appointe any manner off makinge of ſermons / but generallie to declare that doctrine is to be referred to the edifyinge of the churche / and that the holie ſcriptures are to be expounded ſimplie / and ſincerely / and vttered with reuerence. For ſome to ſhew them ſelues to the people to be lerned / ſtuffe ther ſermons with diuers ſentences out off Philoſophers / Poets / Orators / and ſcholemen / and of the auncient fathers / Auguſtine / Hierome and others / and thes often times reherſed in greek or latin: by which pieces ſomtime ill fauoredly pached togither / they ſeeke and hunt for commendation / and to be eſteemed lerned of the people / which alſo ſome doe that are vnlerned: I call them vnlerned touchinge the knowledge of the ſcriptures / who takinge vppon them to teache and hauing not ther mindes well practized p. 105with the word off god / no nor as the Apoſtle ſaithe ther ſenſes well exerciſed / but allwais hauehave bene occupied in readinge ethnick writers / they bring forth to the people off that ſtore which they hauehave gathered to gether / and play rather the Orators and Philoſophers then Prophets and interpreters off the holie ſcripture.Heb. 5.19.Heb 5:19

Other ſome vſe I know not what ſtraunge kind off interpreting / and peruert the trew and naturall ſence off the ſcriptures with allegories / and fooliſhe and old wiues tales / which Paule admoniſheth Timothie and Titus / are to be auoided.1. Timo. 1.4. Tit. 3.9.Titus 3:9 Therfore a great care and reſpect ought to be had herein that the partie which is to be choſē / be firſt heard ſpeake by the choſers that they may knowe how he expoundeth the ſcriptures before they admit hī to the miniſterie off the word and the office off a Biſhopp. And thus much for the learinige off him that is to be choſen miniſter:

Now let vsus go foreward to other thinges. For the Apoſtle thought it not enoughe that a miniſter ſhould be able to teache / who for the merueilous care that he had off the church / took great heed that ther wer no daunger ſecretly hid in ſome parte that might hurt the churche / eſpecially in that which this building ſtaid vppon as a piller. Therfore he geueth warninge to take heed / that a Biſhopp and miniſter be no new vpſtart in religion / newly drawen out off Idolatry and ſuperſtition: which when it cometh to paſſe muſt needes be ioyned with great damage and loſſe off the churche. For when a miniſter or teacher off the word off god doth fall / who as I hauehave ſaide is as it were a piller off the church / or ſome off the moſt chifeſt beames wheron the building doth ſtay / It muſt needes be that they which ſtay vponupon him being ſhaken with the ſame wind ſhold fall to togither with it.

Therfore our maſter Builder wiſely and conningly forbiddeth to vſe thes yonnglinges and ſtartvppes to the buildlnge off the houſe off god / as grene wood which hauehave not yet ſwett out ther moyſture / nor are ſeaſoned by the weather / ſo that it is to be feared leſt that they might be occaſion by ther ſhrincking / off the ruin and falling off the buildinge.1. Timoth. 3.6.1 Tim 3:6 Therfore p. 106they prouide yll both for the churche / and alſo for the parties them ſelues to whom being ſuche they geue this office / that receyue into the miniſterie ſuch as ſcarcely are crept out off ſuperſtition and Idolatry and make them captaines and guydes in the campe off the lord off hoſtes / that are ſcarcely to be receiued for ſould yers: and prefere to the higheſt dignities off the Chriſtian common wealthe / thos with are ſcarcely made free from the intollerable ſeruitude and bondage off Popery. Wherupon it commeth often tymes which Dionyſius Halicarnaffeus witneſſeth to hauehave happened to the Romain common wealthe) that we ſee vncleane cappes in the higheſt places: And many (as Socrates in Plato complainethe off Athens) take in hand the gouernment off the church / who hauehave yet ther ſeruantes heare growinge ſtill in ther mindes: that is to ſay whos ſeruile and ſlauiſhe condicions do ſtill remaine.

And ſuerly we aboue others hauehave more cauſe to complaine off ſo ſhamefull an abuſe / who perceiue at the laſt / to our great coſt / how great a matter it is to hauehave neglected this holie wiſdome off the Apoſtle: For iff any thing ells / ſurely this hathe bene a great hinderance to the eſtabliſhing off diſcipline in our church / That thes new vpſtartes in religiō being peeferred to the miniſterie and to the higheſt places / wer lothe to be brought from that kind off life wherunto they had bene off longe tyme accuſtomed: Being acquainted with a profitable and gainfull prieſthoode / they abhorred the meane eſtate off the miniſterie: being delighted with the pompous ſhew off the ambitious Hierarchie and prelacy off the Romiſhe church / they cold not away with the ſeueritie and rigor off the reformed Religion. And hauinge vſed many yeeres / ſo many ceremonies and trifles ād all that ſtagelike ſhewe off the Papacy / which ſeemed to thē to cary a goodly gloſſe off maieſty and honor they deſpiſed the ſimplicitie off the goſpell.

How much better therforr were it and fitter for the edification off the church / iff thes beames had bene ſuffered to hauehave ſwett out ther iewſe and moyſture and had not beene p. 107occupied ſo greene in the buildinge off the houſe off god / wherby they threaten ſome feare off fall and ruyne? we leaue not ſo eaſylie our acquaynted kind off life: eſpecially iff it be ioyned with idolatry and ſuperſtition which is borne togither with vsus and which we ſuf with our nurſes milke. The remēbraunce and longing for off our old kind off life commeth often to our myndes / ſo that it is needfull to vſe great labor and diligence to the chaunginge off the wholl ſtate off off our life.Deut. 1….12.1….Deut 1:12Deut 1:1 Therfore the Lord commanded in the law that iff any man had ſaued the life off a woman off any off the idolatrous nacions being taken priſoner in the warre and had a mind to marry her / being conuerted to the faithe / that he ſhould graunt hir firſt a certen tyme to bewaile hir country / hir parentes and hir frindes and ſee that ſhe ſhould ſhaue hir hedd and pare hir nayles / and put off the garment that ſhe was taken and finallie that he ſhould firſt ſuffer her in a manner to be buried touching her former life / and to be raiſed vp againe into a new life and profeſſion / and as it were to be new borne againe off other parentes and in a new country / before he ioyned him ſelffe with her or toke hir to be his wife / how muche more ought they that are to be made maiſters and teachers off a new religion (eſpecially hauing bene prieſtes and teachers of idolatrie before) to hauehave beene ſuffered firſt to hauehave bewailed ther olde liuinges eaſe profit and cōmodities? For how often thinck wee do they remembre the cōmodities off ther former life? And how often ther old eaſe / pompe / and eſtimacion with no leſſe longing for / then iff it were for ther country and for ther parētes? And as for ther heare it is rather to be let grow then to be ſhauen / for this they were accuſtomed to.

But the garment they were taken in ſhould hauehave been chaunged and ther raueninge nailes pared wherby they were wont to / take and ſcrape on eueryevery ſide vntounto them ſelues: finaly we ſhould hauehave let thē firſt in a māner to hauehave died / that after as it wer by a newe birth they might hauehave beē borne againe off newe parētes and in an other contry. For if he hathe bene at any time not only an idolater / but alſo maſter ād a teacher p. 108off it / muche more hede is to be taken in this caſe / and ſo much the more carefully and painfullie muſt he be clenſed and purged / how muche more fowly he def…led him ſelffe with all kind off filthe and vnclennes: for ſo the law off god doth comaund waſhing and clenſinge to be vſed accordinge to the kinde off the pollution and vncleanes. For he is more eaſelie purified and clenſed that had only touched the veſſell or garment off an vncleane perſon then he that was infected with leproſy / for the leprous man euē after the diſeaſe was healed / yet was he not ſuffred to enter in…o his tent / for ſeuen daies.Nombe. 12.14. Le…i. 14, 8. And after when it appered manifeſtly that he was recouered yet was he ſhauen / waſhed / and purified.

But what more fowle and ſhamefull leproſy can ther be then that popiſ he prieſthood? So that in this caſe / we ought to vſe no leſſe labor in clenſinge and purging then in the other yea ſo muche more / by how much the leproſy off the mind is greater then the leproſy off the bodie. Therfore this leprous prieſt allthoughe he were cured and healed / yet is he to be ſeperated from other men / and to be ſhutt vp for a tyme / both for the ſhame off ſo filthy a diſeaſe / and for feare it breake not out againe to the daunger off others. Af…er / iff it appere in deede that he is recouered he muſt put off his clothes and be waſhed / ſhauen and purged by ſacrifice.

Off which ſo diligent purginge and clenſinge / the papiſtes thē ſelues put vsus in mind wheras they (to honor ther prieſthoode when they diſgrade any off ther prieſtes) make him put off his cope or veſtiment / his ſurples / or albe / his ſquare cupp and his other garmentes / that were polluted with leprouſy / they pare his nailys and raſe his crowne leſt peraduenture ther ſhould ſome infection yet ſecretly lie hid in thos places wher his diſeaſe firſt appered: This ther diligence and labor / we ought to hauehave followed in the conuicted Popiſhe prieſthoode / and hauehave taken all the garmentes from yt / and not only waſhed them ſeing the leprouſy had ſpread it ſelffe euen vponupon them / but as the law preſcribethe to hauehave burnt them.Le…. …5.52

The nayles theroff ſhould hauehave beene pared and (which thing p. 109only we did as we ought) the crowne raſed leaſt that any moiſture or fatnes off that oile might remaine. Then we ſhould not hauehave had at this day ſo great cōtencion for ther filthy garmentes. But it hathe come to paſſe by the ignoraunce off the prieſtes (when they wer nor able to Iudge according to the lawe / what wer cleane and what were vncleane / and thought that the leproſy had not ſpred it ſelffe vppon the garmentes) that they hauehave not condemned them to be burned / but to be waſhed only: the filthe wheroff no art or conninge off the fuller is able to waſhe away. But this in the way off digreſſion / yet I truſt not vnprofitablie.

Now let vsus retourne to our purpoſe: and conclude that for ſuche cauſes as hauehave bene alledged / we ought to obey the Apoſtles decree touching thes Novices and grene kinghtes: and not admit them to miniſterie off the word. And thes are thos thinges which are required off a fit Biſhopp / and which eſpecially the poſers and examiners ought to hauehave reſpect vntounto.

For wheras the old Canōs require that he be off a certen age / ſurely the chooſers ought wiſely to conſider off it: for it is not allmoſt poſſible / but by the ſinguler and eſpeciall grace off off god / that youthe ſhould be ſo well ordered and gouerned / that the want off yeeres appere not in ſome youthfull trick or …oy that may diſhoneſt the ſacred office: notwithſtandinge ſeing the Apoſtle geueth no precept nor commandement touchinge age / yea rather forbiddethe any man to condemne and deſpiſe Tymothi and Titus for ther youthe / godly and lerned yonge men are not to be kept back from this office. For ſomtymes thes firſt fruites are conſecrated to god and then comonly they are more holie then the reſt off the lompe. And as the Poeth ſaithe.

Some tymes on yong mens heades, doth grow the hoary heare:

Before by nature yt be tyme, for them ſuch crowne to weare.

That is to ſey / They hauehave hoarie heares off godlines and holines / yea and ſomtimes alſo hoary knewledge as it appereth in certen notable examples off Daniel. Thimothy and Titus p. 110and ſome other which are worthie examples for yonge men to follow / often times alſo they are more inflamed and ſet on fire with that heauenly fire off the zeale off god then other. And I know not howe / but thes firſt fruties off the ſpirit are oftentimes more holie / and thes firſt begotten guiftes off the holie ghoſt are more ſtronge and mightie. And thus muche off the particuler election off biſhoppes and miniſters.

Now let vsus beginne a newe and ſpeake of ther ordinatiō / I ſaid before that all the offices of the churche are to be ordeined and apointed to certen places and perſons / wher and amōges whom ther may exerciſe ther office.1. Timot. 5.17.18. But the orderinge off biſhopes hathe this thīg particuler in our times (for wheras in times paſt this was cōmon to them with the reſt off the anciē tes / that was for a ſinguler reſpect ād eſpeciall occaſiō off that time) that off ther apointinge and ordinacion to a certen place and flock which they ought diligently to defend and loke vntounto / certen profit and cōmodities do depend / wherof they may liue and wherby they may be ſuſteined and noriſhed: wheroff I ſhall need to ſpeake more at large that all men may vnderſtād that they are bound by the cōmandement off god to performe this dewty to ther biſhoppes and miniſters and that I may repreſſe the couetones of ſome mē which hauehave neuer enoughe.

And firſt off all we muſt remēbre here that which was proued before / that biſhops that is ſo ſay miniſters ought to geue thē ſelues continuallie to praier and to the adminiſtracion off the word:Act. 6.4.Acts 6:4 and not ſuffer them ſelues to be called from doing that ther dewty by any office be it neuer ſo honorable / either in the church or in the cōmon wealthe. For thes idle bellies that wildo none of ther dewty / ought alſo to hauehave no dewty done to thē againe / but they are rather to be delt with as Paule cōmandeth the Theſſalonians to deale with thos that liue diſorderly that is ſay / that / They that labor not ſhold not eate.2. Theſ…. 1.… But and if they be ſuche as do ther dewtie / and refuſe to deale with the affaires off the cōmon welche (the handlung wher off might be honorable vntounto thē) for the churches cauſe / how great wrong wer it to ſuffer ſuche men to be pore an needie / and compelled …o ſeeke ther liuinge by ſome hādie crafft or occupatiō wherby p. 111they ſhould be no leſſe hindred frō doing ther duties / then by the honorable charges of the cōmon welthe. And ſeīge they ar day ād night carefull for the churche / and ſetting all other thinges a ſide wholie thinck how they may defend it / and promote the ſaluaciō theroff / what can be more iuſt or equall / then that they againe ſhould not be neglected off thoſe for whoſe cauſe they take ſo great paynes.1. Cor. 9.…1 Cor 9 For who did euer (as S. Paule notably handlethe this matter to the Corinthiās) goe to warfare of his owne charges? who plātethe a vineiard and eatethe not of the fruit therof? or who feedeth a flocke and eatethe non off the milck off it? But the churche hathe many mortall enemyes and continuall warre with them without any peace or truce / and the biſhops be they that take vponupon them and ſuſteine thes enmyties for the churches cauſe / and ſtriue to ther very great daunger for the ſaluacion theroff with moſt mighty princes and potentares / as S. Paule callethe them and the monarche and prince off this world.Eph. 6.1…Eph 6:1 For how often thinck we euen for this cauſe are they aſſaulted / becauſe ther defend the churche? how many daūgers do they put them ſelues into and with what fiercnes thinck we dothe the enemies purſue thē / knowing that many ar preſerued by there life? Therfore they that wold ſuffer this ther ſouldier or captaine to die for hunger / were they not worthie to fall into the handes off ther enemies? And what vineiard is ther ſo painfully trimmed and dreſſed off the huſband man / as the churches are dreſſed of there huſbād mē? how carefull are they in plantinge? what paines take they in pruninge and culting oft / ād other ſuche like toile and labor? if thē being ſo well dreſſed it ſhould not noriſhe the huſbād mā that dreſſed it / might they not worthelie cōplaine off it / as the lord by the prophet Eſay after an other ſorte complainethe off his vine?Eſai. …. Seinge alſo ther is nothinge more reaſonable then that the ſhepherd ſhould feede off the milke of his flock ſhould not thoſe ſhepeherdes be fedde which the milke / and clothed with the flece ād wolle of there flockes who ſuſteine for the flockes cauſe the aſſaultes of moſt greeuous wolues / and watch forthē day and night / Act. 10.…Acts 10ſuffring the parching heate and chillinge cold for ther cauſe / who feede thē ouerſee thē and ſeeke thē and p. 112often tymes put ther life in extreame danger to defend them.

Nether are theſe thinges ſpoken and grounded only vponupon humaine and naturall reaſon or handled according to mans Iudgment only / but this is Goddes ordinaunce and appointment:1. Cor. 9.9 Deut. 25.41 Cor 9:9Deut 25:4 and groundeth vponupon that lawe which forbiddeth to muſſel the oxe that treadethe out the corne. For god in making that lawe had not ſo great reſpect to oxen and beaſtes as he had to men: For he teacheth vsus therby that the ploughe man may confort him ſelffe in his trobleſome labor with the hope off fruit: And that the harueſt man ought to be partaker off his hope: And finallie that eueryevery man ought to liue off his labor.1. Corr. 9.13. Yea futher the Apoſtle plainly addethe that as they that miniſtred the holie thinges vnderunder the lawe did liue alſo off the holie thinges / and they that ſerued the Aulter / wer partakers of the offeringe off the aulter So the lord did alſo appoint it that they which preache the Goſpell ſhould alſo liue off the Goſpell.

1. Timoth. 5.13.1 Tim 5:13And in the fift chap. off his firſt Epiſtle to Tymothy he alledgethe both thes Teſtimonies: that off the lawe / and this off the Goſpell in the ſame place to proue / that the Elders that do rule well are to prouided for: for ſaithe he / it is in the Scripture / Thow ſhalt not muſſel the oxe that treadethe out the corne: and againe / The worckman is worthie off his wages. For ſo the Euangeliſtes do reherſe / that The Lord when he ſent out his Apoſtles to preache the Goſpell and cōmanded them not to be carefull for ther meate or apparell / tolde thē that the workmā is eueryevery were worthy off his hire:Mat. 10.10. Luk. 10.7.Matt 10:10Luke 10:7 and Therfore into what cyty ſo eueryevery they ſhould enter / iff ther were any man worthie / he cōmandethe them to goe to his houſe and to tarie there / vntill they departe / vponupon which ordinaunce off god in the old lawe / and off Chriſt in the new Teſtament the Apoſtle growndinge / ordeined in the churche off the Galathians that he that was inſtructed in the word off God / ſhould communicate all his goods with hym by whom he had beene inſtructed.Galat. 5.6.Gal 5:6 Galat. 5.7.8.Gal 5:7Gal 5:8And further addethe (as one that did forſee the manifolde pretences wherby couetous men notwithſtandinge p. 113this lawe would goe aboute to defraude them and mock the Lord) that the lord cannot be mocked: declaring that it ſhall come to paſſe that iff they doe not ſowe to the Spirit / but ſowe all ther ſeed to the fleſhe / they ſhould not looke at all to reape euerlaſting life off the ſpirit / but corruption and deſtruction off the feeld off the fleſhe wherin they had ſo plentifully ſowed and ſcattered. wheroff I thinck it is manifeſt that the Biſhopp ought to be liberally prouided for by the churches / leſt they be compelled moſt iniuriouſly by reaſon off ther neede and pouerty to diſtract ther ſtudies / and to be hindered in the doinge off their dewty by exerciſing off other occupacions: which cannot be otherwiſe / (iff they neede) ſeinge they / as well as other men / are commanded by the Apoſtle / to noriſhe and to loke to ther familie / and as well as other to be eſteemed infidells by the Apoſtles precept / iff they prouide not for ther owne / eſpecially for ther owne houſhold.1. Timoth. 5.8.1 Tim 5:8

And allthoughe it be not eaſie to ſet a certen rate how they ſhould be prouided for / by reaſon off the great diuerſitie off times and perſons / yet generally it may be ſaide that we ought not to deale with them ſparingly couetouſly / and pinchingly / but contrariwiſe friendly / gently and liberally. For iff we hauehave receiued the goſpell off Chriſt with that mind we ought / we will alſo make muche off the miniſters off the ſame / which mind and affection Paule him ſelffe teſtifiethe that the Galathians had towardes him / who ſaithe that he was receiued off them as an Aungell off God / yea as Ieſus Chriſt him ſelffe: So that they wer ready to hauehave beſtowed ther goodes / yea (iff it had bene poſſible) to hauehave plucked out ther owne eies to hauehave dōne him Good. Therfore it is plaine enoughe off that which hathe bene ſaide that Biſhoppes that is to ſay the myniſters / ought to hauehave an honeſt reaſonable and comodious liuinge to mainteine them / that they may more freely applie them ſelues to ther vocation and callinge.

But this heauenly / holie / and moſt righteous lawe / as it is tranſgreſſed by the pompe and ſuperfluecry off a fewe / So muche more by the want and neede off a great nombre which p. 114ſurely is ſo great / that I am aſhamed to ſpeake off it: yet It muſt needes be ſpoken / and the diſeaſe diſcloſed and freely declared what and how great it is / that we may think and be carefull to prouide ſome ſpeedy remedye allthoughe I am afraide that the diſeaſe allready be ſo great / that in vayne may we ſeeke for remedy and geue Medycine to that which is paſt remedy / which Hyppocrates forbiddethe. For what remedy may be founde in ſo trobled and confuſed a ſtate / wher yt wantethe not muche that the miniſters go a begginge / as in times paſt the Popiſhe Prieſtes wer wont to do? And they that are charged in many places with the cure off the churche are allmoſt in worſe condicion then any hired ſeruanntes then ſhepherdes / or laboringe men? who beſides ther meate and drinck / hauehave ſome thing geuen them to cary home towardes the noriſhment off ther howſe and famylie / wheras the Teachers off many churches / hauehave ſcarcely to finde them meate and drinck.

The cauſe off which ſhamefull beggery / is a certen prophane vngodlines / ioyned with an vnſatiable couetouſnes / wherby many neglectinge Religion / the ſeruice off god and the ſaluation off men / looke to ther owne proffit only and rake to them ſelues all that they can with out reſpect off right or wronge. So that they had rather all Religion were baniſhed / that all opynion off worſhipping and fearing god were aboliſhed / that all faithe in Chriſt and hope and looking for euerlaſtinge life were forgotten amonges men / then to mainteine it with any penny off thers. Yea further they will not only geue nothinge to the mayntenance off the Miniſterie / (which beinge in good eſtate / the other fonamed vertues doe floriſhe / and likewiſe fall awaie by the ruine theroff) But moſt vniuſtly ſcrape vntounto them ſelues that which was liberally geuen by others / and ſpoile the churche / robbing hir off hir goods. For how many churches be there which ſomtimes wereable to hauehave mainteined ſufficiētly and honeſtly a godly and lerned man to teache them the goſpell / which nowe are ſcarce able to finde a reader and ſeruice ſaier / p. 115by reaſon that thos goodes are taken away by impropriation as they call it / (that is to ſaie by an improper and no right title) and diſtributed into many partes: wherin we ſhewe our ſelues more barbarous / couetous / and vngodly / then all nacions hauehave done from tyme to tyme / which hauehave allwais bene carefull and are to this day / for mainteininge amonges them the manner that god ought to be ſerued by / and with all to keepe and mainteine ther prieſtes.

So we reade in Geneſis that Pharo prouided for the Prieſtes off Egypt.Geneſ. 47.…2. 1. King. 18.19.Gen 47:21 Kgs 18:19 And in the ſtory off the kinges / that Ieſabell prouided for the Prieſtes off the groues and that with ſuche louelove care and affection / that foure hundred off them were noriſhed at hir table. And Pharo when the reſt off the Egyptians for famyn were compelled / to ſell ther flockes and droues and euen ther landes and poſſeſſions for corne / vntill that ar the laſt all the country by this means was come into the kinges handes / he ſuffered not the prieſtes to ſell theirs neither would he encreaſe his treaſure by ther loſſe and hinderaunce / But contrarywiſe ordeined that they ſhould be prouided for / geuinge them euen that which was his owne. So likewiſe all other nacions and kingdomes prouide for ther prieſtes and Religious men and think that god would be greuouſly offended with them iff they ſhould neglect them.

And we ſee how beneficiall and liberall Papiſtes were to the mainteininge off Idolatrie and ſuperſtition / for yt ys allmoſt incredible what coſt they made vponupon there Idolatry and that ſhewe and ſhadowe off Religion / which they had / And how coſtly and ſwete odors they beſtowed as it were vponupon the deade corps off Chriſt? But we forſake him aliue and raiſed vp againe. So that it is to be feared / that he will one day vpbraide vsus with his pouerty / and need / and complaine that we left him naked / hungry thirſty and forſaken without helpe or ſuccor. But he is not only forſaken / beinge naked / But euen robbed off that apparell which he hathe: So that yt apperethe that ſome men thought to crucifie hym p. 116againe when they thus parted his garmentes amonges them and caſt lottes for his coate. But allthoughe ther be many waies off ſpoilinge / yet me thinck none more greuous then impropriation / (the only name wheroff / declarethe how litle right ther is in it) which is the tranſlatinge and the alienatinge off the goodes off ſome churche / to an other that hathe no right vntounto them.

But ſeinge this wholl matter off the moſt vnworthy ſpoilinge and robbinge our church is fully handled by that worthy and lerned man Maſter Bucer in that booke off his which I named in the beginninge / and ſeing that in the ſame booke / he handlethe not only impropriacions / but alſo firſt fruites which is a certen kind theroff / preſentacions / collacions / reſignations / and diuers other kind off robberies / I had rather thes thinges were ſought for in the lerned wrightinges off that worthy man / that the matter might carie more credit and authoritie with it. As for me I lament with him this miſerable ſtate of our church / which allmoſt in eueryevery place is deſtitute off fit Paſtors and miniſters / ſeing no man is willing to take that condicion wherby after he hathe taken neuer ſo great paines / he ſhal be ſcarce able to mainteine his life. Neither is it deſtitute only at this preſent tyme but it is to be feared / that it is alwais like to be ſo here after / and that the ſtudie off god his word ſhalbe neglected. For no man will willingly follow that trade off life / wherin he hathe only no hope to liue honeſtly and with ſome commoditie / but wherin (beſides the infinit trauell / and greefes that follow that profeſſion) he ſhalbe afflicted alſo with neede and pouertie.

And iff we had not rather be wiſe by our owne domage and loſſe then by other mens / ther ruyns off the churches round about vsus might ſufficiently teache vsus / how daungerous this ſpoilinge off the churches goode is / and this neglect off mainteninge the holy miniſtery. Therfore iff we prouide not otherwiſe / let vsus aſſure our ſelues that euen this fault doth threatē the vndoubted ruine off the churche / and that ſo worthy geſtes as the preachers off the goſpell cannot long tary in p. 117an In̄e / wher they be ſo ill receiued and interteined. And iff we compell them to leaue vsus / ſurely they will take away wi h them that peace and bleſſinge which they brought / and which we may truly profeſſe came into England with them. Therfore let vsus not ſo lightly eſteeme the great care that the Lord hath ouer vsus / in feeding / ouerſeinge / and rulinge vsus by his ſeruantes / leſt at the laſt he breake his ſhepherdes hooke in his anger ād caſt awaie all care ouer vsus / and go his way: and leſte that being prouoked with this thirty pence (a notable hire that we pay him) he leaue vsus and depart in his anger (as ſome times he threatned the Iewes) not caringe any more whither the broken be bound vp / or the loſt be ſought againe.Zach. 11.12 13.14.16.Zech 11:12

Therfore let vsus at the laſt amend this ſhamefull neglect off the miniſters off the word off god: and ſeinge as the Apoſtle ſaithe / they ſowe ſpirituall thinges to vsus and ſuche as belonge to euerlaſting life / let vsus not thinck muche iff they reape carnall thinges off vsus againe / and ſome commodities off this preſent life,1. Cor. 9.111 Cor 9:11 yea rather ſeinge this is a moſt gainfull huſbandry for the churche / off this ſo vile ſeede to reape thos moſt precious fruites off the Spirite / LoueLove, Peace, Ioye, Galat. 5.22Gal 5:22Long Suffering, Goodnes, Faith, Meeknes Temperance, and at the laſt that golden harueſt off life euerlaſting / let vsus ſowe plentifully and with good corage that we may reape a more plentifull harueſt.Galat. 6.9Gal 6:9 Neither let vsus now be more weried with ſowinge / whiles it is ſowinge time / then we will be weary hereafter when harueſt ſhall come / in reapinge and gatheringe moſt precious fruit into our barnes. Therfore let vsus embrace the miniſters off the goſpell with all louelove / kindnes and dutie / and that ſo muche the more liberally and plentifully / for that what ſo euer is beſtowed vponupon them euen to a diſhe off cold water / ſhall not only be muche more richely requited and recōpenſed againe but accompted euen as it had bene beſtowed off Chriſt him ſelffe.Math. 10.41.42.Matt 10:41Matt 10:42 But we ought not only to lay our clothe and ſpreade our Table for Chriſt whom we hauehave bidden vntounto vsus (as Symon the Phariſie did in S Luke) (iff we wold hauehave him know that he is well come to vsus and that weLuk. 7.Luke 7 p. 118louelove him with great affection) but alſo embrace him and kiſſe him and waſhe his feete with water / and anoint his heade with oyle / and finallie to receiue with all ſeruice and dutie ſo worthie a gueſt / as both becometh his honor / and alſo is meet for the great louelove we beare vntounto him. And this is the dewty off all men. But kinges that are wont to receiue no man off any countenaunce or eſtimation but honorablie and with great magnificence / and ther Equalles with more princely port and ſtately manner / how ought they to take heed that they be not to pinching and to ſparinge when they receiue Chriſt the Lord (the kinge off heauen and earthe / off whom they as Vaſſelles hold ther kingdomes / and lordſhippes as off ſee) nor commit any thing that may offend ſo noble and worthie a gueſt and rather be carefull that all thinges heere be magnificall / gorgeous and princely.

But I would not that any man ſhould thinck I ſay thus as iff I thought vnderunder pretence off Chriſt nothing cold be to muche that were beſtowed vponupon Biſhopes and miniſters / or that I would hauehave them made dronke with the delightes and pleaſures off this world / who ought to be an example to other men off continency / frugalitie / and all moderacion off life / but only that I would hauehave them receiued as the embaſſadores off Chriſt / for the honor off ther maſter / honeſtly ād liberally / that we put not thē downe to the meany / to eate with the ſhepherdes and hired ſeruantes / nor forget thoſe that labor in the Lordes worck / as Moſes gaue the Iewes warnīge / towchinge the Leuites / ſeing we ſit all of vsus by the bleſſinge of the Lord quietly and in peace euerie man vnderunder his Oliue tree and vnderunder his vine / ād gather in our haueſt and our vintage: ſeinge I ſay we enioy thes cōmodities we ought not to deale couetouſly / ſparingly / and niggardly with them / but louingly liberally and bountifully that they may liue honeſtly and cōmodiouſly off ther labors / that they may noriſhe and mainteine ther houſe and familie / that they may prouide them ſelues ſuche neceſſary helps as they ſtand in need off for ther vocation and callinge / yea and furder that they may be able to releiue and ſuccor the pore and …eedy / for this is the right waie to preſerue the miniſterie / that p. 119bothe it become not vile and contēptible thorowghe poue…y and miſery / neither that it wax wanton an prophane by great exceſſe and abundance. For as it is a ſhame for the churches to ſee ther miniſter in miſerie / thoroughe neede ād neceſſitie / ſo it is to be feared leſte they wax wantō by to great plēty ād riches.

For ſurely it was a right heauenly voyce and ſpoken as an Oracle off the maner off gouerninge the church which the ſtory of the primitiue church reherſeth was hard from heauen in the time off Conſtantine the great that godly Emperor that is to ſay / that the churche was poiſoned with riches. For ſo it came to paſſe that they fell frō labor to idlenes / from tēperancie to exceſſe and wantonnes / from the meane eſtate off biſhopes and miniſters to affect and deſire to imitate ād follow the magnificence and maieſty off lordes and princes / hereof come the ther ſiluer ād gilted Croſiers wherby they imitated the ſceptres off kinges: heroff they got them myters: as kinges hauehave ther crownes: hereoff alſo becauſe the noble men kept great traines of ſeruāts that they might be the beter able to ſerue the comon wealthe in tyme off need / they wold alſo hauehave ther traines and began to be delighted and to take pleaſure in an vnprofitable nomber off ſeruantes and waitinge men: to adorne and ſet out ther cuphordes with ſiluer veſſell and plate off gold / to array thēſelues in coſtly apparell / (for now a dais a man may ſee them that weare ſoft apparell not only in kīges courtes / as our Sauior Chriſte ſaide but euē in the church) to be called honorable lords / to ſit at the right hand off kinges and princes / to ſend them giftes and preſentes:Mat. 11.….Matt 11 to bid thē to ther bancketes and bothe ſeeke and mainteine ther honor and eſtimation / by a certen courtly pompe and ſhewe. This condicion I not only wiſhe not to our Biſhoppes / but iudge it and eſteeme it alltogether intollerable and by no meanes to be ſuffered as a meanes to hindre there labor and diligence in ther office / as a meanes to make them wanton / laſcyuious / and proud / and agreathe not with that meane eſtate that ought to appere in Biſhopps / but is moſt contrary bothe to the ordinance and alſo to the examples off Chriſt our Sauior and off his Apoſtles.

Neither in my Iudgmen… may any church be eſteemed p. 120well enoughe reformed / that euen in this behalffe doth not obey to the expreſſe commandement off god and take away all this vaine pompe and ſhewe / and make the Biſhoppes be content with the meane eſtate off ther place and callinge: making them able to bidde the pore to ther table / and the baniſhed for Chriſts ſake / but not to bidd kinges and princes: calling them the ſeruantes and Miniſters off Chriſt / and not honorable lordes: beinge carefull that they may be ſuche as may ſhine in godlines learninge / modeſty temperaunce / continencie and all example of good life: not with gold and ſiluer / with traines and trompes off mē / and lordly port and courtly ſtate off honor. Thes are the right ornamentes off Biſhoppee wherby they may procure to thē ſelues / an honeſt report / with credite ād authority in the church off god to there miniſterie / wherbie alſo they mvy preſerue and mayntene the ſame Therfore let vsus not take to muche pleaſure in the outward beautie and faire ſhewe off this pompe and glory / but let vsus ſee iff ther be any vſe and proffit off it / deſyre rather that which is proffitable for others / then that which ſeruethe only for avaine ſhewe. For as the Poet ſaithe /