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

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

Neceſſitye off Diſciplyne.

THe manner off gouernment in all humaine ſocieties / is off greateſt force and power either to the preſeruacion or ouerthrowe off the ſame for there is no common wealthe be it neuer ſo ſmall / no not a howſe that can be preſerued without ſome certeine manner off gouernment and diſcipline. And thoſe Kingdomes and common weales hawe alwaies moſt notablie floriſhed and longeſt continewed / which firſt off all were ſette in goode order off gouernment / and afterwardes kepte the ſame without any alteracion or chaunge. As contrarywiſe the diſtruction off greateſt commō weales and moſt floriſhing ſtates hauehave follwed / where either the order of gouernment was yll apointed in the beginning / or ells being well begonne / was afterwardes / altered and neglected for Pollicie / gouernment / and goode lawes / are in citye or any common wealthe what ſoeuer / as the helme is to the ſhippe / the wreſt to the Inſtrument / Order to an Armye / and as the ſowle is to the bodie.

Hereoff yt came that Athens which was ſo famous a citie after it could no lenger holde / and ſtere this helme / was toſſed with eueryevery waue and ſtorme / and in the ende periſhed and was ouerthrowne. And hereby alſo that auncient cytie of Lacedemon chaunging the ſeuere lawes off Lycurgus chaunged alſo hir eſtate / euen as a ſong is chaunged by altering the tyme and note in which it was firſt ſette. Hereby the Romaines commonwealthe or Armye rather / after that they lefte the ſeueritie off the lawe off Armes / and warlyke diſcipline whereby they did allwaies more preuaile then by might and power / loſt alſo there auncient glorye and renowme. And to conclude / Hereoff cometh that we ſee now euerye where ſo many townes fallen to ruyne / and lying lyke the deade carkaſes off the cities which ſome tymes they hauehave bene / becauſe that by chaunging there olde gouernment by litle and litle / at the laſt the whole ſtate was loſt / and went away as the ſowle from the bodie.

And euen as the monumentes off the Greeke and Lattin wryters doe witneſſe theſe thinges to hauehave chaunced to many common weales and other ſocieties and companyes / euē ſo we reade in the holye hiſtories that the churche (which is a certeine ſocietie and companye off ſuche as profeſſe the trewe ſeruice off God) with no leſſe daunger neglected the diſcipline and order / which God there moſt louīg and wiſe lawegeuer had apointed them to be ruled bye yea to there muche greater loſſe and puniſhement / for that (beſides thoſe incommodities which are wont to chaunce vntounto others bye chaunging goode lawes) They alwaies founde by experience / that the lorde God there lawe geuer was redie to puniſhe and reuenge the contempte off his diſcipline and order. for to paſſe ouer the puniſhement off God vponupon the churche off the Iewes / whoſoeuer doth diligentlie and attentiuelie reade the hiſtorie off the Chriſtiane Churche / ſhall well vnderſtand that the calamitie off the former times in which the Churche laye Deade as it were by the ſpace off manye yeres came off no other cauſe / then off the contempte off the moſt holeſome and moſt holie Ordinaunces wherupon yt was grownded by our Lorde and Sauiour Chriſte / that it might hauehave endured for euer. Therfore it is a wonder te ſee (whereas our mercifull God off his vnſpeable goodnes and by a ſinguler myracle / euen now off late within the memorie off our fathers hath raiſed vp the churche as it were out off the graue againe / by the voice off the Goſpell) that ſo fewe are carefull for the maynteining and preſeruing off this life / and that being content as it were to be in goode healthe by preaching off the goſpell / they care not for diſcipline / whereby this healthe maye be the better preſerued / and alſo the ſtrengthe and beawtie (which was loſt by former ſicknes) be recouerd and gotten againe.

And ſurelie / it is greatelie to be feared / leſt that they (if they goe thus on ſtille and continewe to contemne ſo neceſſary an ayde) fall againe into the calamities off the former tymes / and leſt that theſe later tymes become worſe and more miſerable then the former. But I am moſt off all afraide for our Churche off England / which by the ſpace off ſo many yeres as it hath alreadie embraced the Goſpell / not onlie thincketh not off inſtituting a lawfull Diſcipline therin / but in a manner vſeth only that / which it hath receyued from the Papiſtes / nor will not be perſuaded to receyue and imbrace that Diſcipline which Chriſte and his Apoſtels hauehave lefte vntounto vsus: whoſe ſtate hitherto hath bene this vntill the tyme off king Henry the eight his reigne / for a long ſpace before / it had lien deade and as it were without any life. Then at the lengthe by the greater fauoure and grace off God towardes vsus / diuers notable men roſe vp / who / as Elias and Elizeus raiſed vp the children which were deade / So they likewiſe by moſt earneſt praier and cheriſhyng yt by all meanes gotte at the laſt ſome life into yt / ſo that at the lengthe / yt beganne as it were to wexe warme and neeſe: and by certeine articles off ſounde doctrine / to ſhewe ſome tokens off a Churche reuiuing againe.

And after wardes / in the tyme of Edward the ſixthe a prince off ſinguler hope and towardnes in all godlynes and vertewe / was fully reuiued / and recouereed not only hir life / but alſo hir healthe againe. But our churche being thus recouered / was contented with phyſicke onlie and goode diette for hir healthe / and vſed no exerciſe to gette hir colour and ſtrengthe againe / for althoughe many did exhorte to aboliſhe that popiſhe tyrannye which then was ſtill remayning in the pollicie off the Churche / and to place in ſteade theroff a iuſt and lawfull manner off gouernment according to the worde off God / (wich thing eſpecially that famous man Marten Bucer being then a ſtraunger in England / did in that booke which he wrote of the Kingdome off Chriſte) yet could not Englād be browght to leaue that forme of gouernīg the churche / wherunto it had bene accuſtomed vnderunder Poperie / but deuided and ſeparated aſonder the doctrine and diſcipline off the Goſpell / twoe thinges / which bothe by there owne nature / and alſo by the commandement off God are to be ioyned togither. But foraſmuche as healthe can not long be kepte and preſerued without due and moderate exerciſe / not long after / namelie in thoſe moſt cruell tymes off Queene mary / it fell ſicke againe / that it was not onlie in daunger off deathe but in a manner paſt all hope to recouer againe. And ſurelie euen then our churche had out off doubte bene vtterlie deſtroied (as in deede it was browght all to aſhes) onleſſe that heauenlie Sonne Ieſus Chriſte had quickned yt being more then halfe Deade / and raiſed yt vp like a Phenix out off the aſhes againe: And excepte our moſt noble Queene Elizabeth had riſen vp as a mother in Iſraell / to trauell with and bring forthe our churche againe.

But this newe byrthe hath not as yet bene any more happie towching the reſtoring of diſcipline then were the former tymes. Therfore I thowght yt my dewtie / euen for the kinde affection which I beare to that churche in which I hauehave bene bothe borne and browght vp and therfore louelove moſt deerelie for goode cauſes (euen as the Apoſtle ſaith toa2. Corr. 7.3. liue and die togither) I thought yt I ſaie my dewtie to deſire and beſeche this Churche earneſtlie and carefullie to thincke / off this ſo greate a benefyte / whereby yt maie be eſtabliſhed for euer: And moſt earneſtlie to exhorte and admoniſhe yt to aboliſhe that popiſhe tyrannye / which yet remayneth in the gouernment thereoff / and to reſtore againe the moſt holie pollicie off… … the churche / which our Sauior Chriſte hath … vntounto vsus / and to feare / leſt that the lorde will puniſhers and will be reuenged off vsus / iff we contynewe ſtill to deſpiſe his diſcipline.

But foraſmuche as there be many who (becauſe they delight rather in a faire owtwarde ſhewe / then the trew ſymplicitie off the Goſpell) ſtriue and contend to retaine ſtill this Popiſhe Hierarchie and conterfaite manner off gouerning the churche / blaming that order for many cauſes / which we perſuade vntounto / This whole controuerſie is fullie and at large to be diſputed of: that when they vnderſtand the goode cauſe that we hauehave to repriue the one / and require the other / they maie ioyne togither with vsus in earneſt praiers vntounto god / and humble ſuyte vntounto hir maieſtie / That this Popiſhe tyrannie being at the laſt vtterlie aboliſhed and cleane taken away / In place theroff a better and more holie gouernment of the churche accoding to Goddes worde maie be eſtabliſhed.

Which cauſe I purpoſe ſo to handle that fyrſt drawing out the right paterne and platforme off the lawfull pollicie and gouernment off the churche / as Chriſte and his Apoſtles hauehave lefte it vntounto vsus / togither their withall I will note our faultes and errors in euerie pointe / that by this compariſon the trewthe maie more clerelie ſhine and appeare / fyrſt therfore ſeing we hauehave not to doe with ſuch as reiecte all diſcipline off the Churche / that yt maie be better vnderſtode what it is whereoff we diſpute / I will declare what the lawfull diſcipline off the churche / is.

I call therfore Eccleſiaſticall Diſcipline, the pollicie off the Churche off Chriſte ordeyned and appointed / off God for the goode adminiſtracion and gouernment off the ſame.what diſcipline is. That I make here / God the Author off diſcipline (wherupon yt followeth that we hauehave to fetche the rules thereoff from no other fountaines but from the holie ſcriptures) had nede be more fullie proued / becauſe it is denied by many who dare affirme that there is no precepte geuen touching this matter / but contend that it is wholy lefte vntounto iudgement of the mageſtrate and off the churche. firſt then let thē tell vsus whie they denie that god hath thus carefullie prouided for Chriſtiane Churches / and whie they affirme yt to be lefte free for vsus to rule it as we lifte / ſeing that in the olde churche off the Iewes / All thinges which perteined not onlie to the gouernment off the cyuile ſtate but alſo off the Eccleſiaſticall (for althoughe with them god was Author of bothe / yet he wold hauehave them diſtinguiſhed the on from the other) were ſo diligentlye and exactelie deſtributed and bothe commanded by god and commended to writyng by Moſes / that yt was expreſſlye forbidden / that Nothing ſhould be added vntounto yt nor taken from yt? For yt appreareth manyfeſtlye that / that exacte paterne off Diſcipline came not fyrſt from Moſes / but from God / by this that Moſes teſtifieth ſo often that the lorde had apointed the maner off creating and ordeining Eccleſiaſticall officiers / and and there power and authoritie / who aſo allwaies readie to punyſhe the tranſgreſſors off his ordinances with moſt grieuous plages / and punyſhementes.

There is a notable hiſtorie in the ninthe off Nōbers / off certeine vncleane perſons who thincking yt no ſufficient cauſe / whie they ſhold not eate the Paſſeouer with the reſt off Iſraell / becauſe they were polluted with touching off a deade bodie / which thei muſt needes doe ſeing there died dailie ſome emongheſt them as off neceſſitye yt commeth to paſſe in ſo greate a multitude / went to Moſes and Aaron / deſiring that they might not be ſecluded from that ſolempne communion off the churche. But what doth Moſes in this caſe? what taketh he vponupon him? Surelie nothing at all but referreth the cauſe wholie vntounto God / by whoſe anſwere they were forbidden to eate the Paſſouer with the reſt off Iſraell / and were put off vntounto the next monethmonth. Off which cauſe properlie belonging to this Diſcipline which we handle and referred to God / yt maie be clearlie vnderſtoode / That Moſes in all the gouernment off the churche did nothing by his priuate authoritie / but onlie deliuered vntounto them that which the lorde had commanded: which thing alſo Moſes him ſelfe doth plainlie teſtefie / by his often repeating off theſe wordes / As the Lord had commanded. And this is that faithfulnes which the Apoſtle to the Hebrewes commendeth in him / that he ruled not the howſe off God by his owne will / but by the authoritie off the Lorde the maſter off the howſholde.Hebr. 3.3.

And how preciſelie ys yt commanded in the Tabernacle that all ſhould be made after the faſhō and paterne which had bene ſhewed by the Lorde in the Montaine?Exodus 25, 40. neyther ſo long as kinges were in any tollerable ſtate / Any / eyther kinges or prieſtes / toke vponupon them any ſuche authoritie to appointe matters belonging to the churche / but all thinges were ruled and gouerned according to the will and authoritie off God. For whereas in the faſhion and buiding off the temple and in the offices off the leuites and off the Singers / certeine thinges were / ſomewhat otherwiſe appointed by danid and Salomon then they had bene commanded by Moſes That chaunge and alreracion was not made by the authoritie off Dauid and Salomon as kinges / but by the will off God himſelfe who apointed yt ſo by his Prophetes as appeareth / in thea2. Chro. 8.14.29. & 25. Chronicles. Therfore alſo the faſhion and paterne of the tēple after it was ouerthrowne / was ſo exactelie drawne outbEzechie. 40. & 41. & 42. by Ezechiell that the newe temple might he builled againe according to the paterne off God ſhewed by his Prophete. Wherfore alſo Erra and Nehemiah exacte all there reformacion to the paterne off Moſes / Dauid / and Ezechiel.

Seing then ſo ſtable and certeine a rule off gouerning the churche contynewed vntounto Chriſte / the lawes and ordinances were appointed by god him ſelfe / and that it was accompted wicked and vnlawfull for any man boldlye to hauehave taken any thing in hand in theſe matters / and that ſuche as did ſo / eſchaped not the grieuous puniſhement and vengaunce off God / whie doe they now at the laſt deliuer god off this care / or rather ſpoile the churche off hir patrone and defender / by whoſe gouernment / yt might be preſerued / and who ſitting in the ſterne at the helme yt neuer feared any ſtormes or tempeſtes / but was allwaies ſafe in all daunger. And how abſurde and vnreaſonable a thing is it / then eſpecially to thincke the louelove and care off God to be demyniſhed towardes his churche when he hath teſtified yt with a moſt certeine and vndoubted teſtemony / that is to ſaie / by the ſendyng off his onlie begotten ſonne to take awaie our ſinnes / and as the Prophete off God / to declare all the Lordes will and coūſell towardes vsus / and to rule the churche by his owne authoritie. For this is that Prophet like vntounto Moſes / who ſhold plainelie and perfectlie declare vntounto vsus of God all thinges which doe belonge vntounto our dewtie / whome we ought to heare and to obeye / as the holie ghoſte by the mowthe off Peter hath expounded that promiſe / and by that heauenlie voice which teſtefied off him from heauen that he was the deare and onlie begotten ſonne off god / in whome the father was well pleaſed and commanded vsus to heare him.aArtes 3.22. bMatth. 17.5.But how ſhoulde we thincke him to be like vntounto Moſes / yff he either hath wholy omitted / or not ſo clearlie and perfectelie (as farr as was needfull for vsus ſhewed and declared / this doctrine off the manner off gouerning the churche being ſo neceſſarie / and which Moſes hath ſo diligentlie and faithfullie declared.

Thefore we muſt conclude iff we acknowledge Chriſte to be that Prophette / that he hath fullie and perfectlie declared vntounto vsus / whatſoeuer was nedefull for the gouernmēt off the churche: excepte we will robbe hī of ſome parte off his Propheticall office / or preferre a ſeruate be he neuer ſo faithfull / before the only begotten ſonne / and as yt were Eliezer before Iſaac in his fathers howſe / which ſurelie they doe / who thincke the ſeruante to haur omitted nothing in this behalffe / that the heire hath omitted all:cEliezer, was Abrahams ſeruant whoſe faithfulnes is ſhewed in that 24. off Geneſ. and that Moſes lefte all thinges perfecte / but Chriſte eyther beganne them not / or did not fyniſhe that which he beganne. Now whereas I affirme that Chriſt hath lefte vsus ſo parfecte a rule and Diſcipline / I vnderſtand yt off that diſcipline which is common and generall to all the churche / and perpetuall for all tymes / and ſo neceſſarie / that without yt this whole ſocietie and company and Chriſtiane common wealthe / cannot well be kepte / vnderunder there Prince and king Ieſus Chriſte. And ſurelie we muſt nedes / either confeſſe that Chriſte hath lefte vsus ſuche an order to liue by or ells ſpoile him off his kinglie office. For what doth more belong vntounto the name office and dewtie off a king / then to geue lawes vntounto his cytezens and ſubiectes▪ and to make ſuch decrees and ordinaūces wherby all the partes off his kingdome maie be mainteined. The Papiſtes indeede denie it / and diſpute againſt vsus and cōtend that it is lawfull for there highe prieſte to rule and order the churche off God as he liſteth: but we who doe deteſt and abhorre this blaſphemous voice and according to goddes worde aknowledge and confeſſe Chriſte to be the only king off the churche. how can we ſaie / either that he neglected ſo greate and ſo neceſſarie a point off his Kinglie office / or that he hath left yt vsus to order as we pleaſe.

But yff there be any whoſe ſpeache is ſo contrarie to it ſelfe / that they graunte Chriſte to be the King and lawe geuer off the churche / and yet will ſaye that either he made no lawes touching tht gouernment off his people / or fewer then were needfull: Let them conſider how litle they differ from the Papiſtes in this poincte / and how vnhonorably and vnreuerently they ſpeake off Chriſte our Lorde. For yff he hath not ſet in order the whole ſtate off his kingdome / iff he hath not apointed officers / and declared the dewtie and authoritie off euerie one / yff he hath not apointed what ſhoulde be the order off courtes and off Iuſtice / iff he hath taken no order how the controuerſies off his ſubiectes maie be ended: he hath leſſe prouided for his churche / then not only Moſes did for the Iewes / but then Lycurgus / Solon / Numa / and other lawegeuers off the gentiles / prouided for there cities and common weales. Which yff we confeſſe / what ſhall become off that famous kingdome which the Prophetes ſette out with ſuch pompe and glorie / what ſhall become off that ſepter off Iuſtice and that ChariottePſal. 45.7.5. wherein Dauid deſcribeth him ſitting in the middeſt off the church. Which althoughe we graunte properlie to belong to the kingdome off Chriſte in heauen affter th…s life / yet are thoſe Prophecies not ſo wholy to be referred therunto / but that they hauehave alſo ſome relacion to the begynning off his kingdome in this life.

For ſeing his kingdome / in this life differeth from the other by reaſon and certeine reſpecte only / and is not altogether off an other kinde / ſo that the thinges which are here begonne ſhall then be fully accompliſhed: There is a certeyne proporcion to be conſidered here / and all thoſe prophecies are after a ſorte alſo to be expopounded off this kingdome. As / where yt is propheſied that in the kingdome off Chriſte all thinges ſhalbe ordred by perfecte Iuſtice and equitie / that all his ſubiectes ſhalbe obedient and full off heauēly knowledge / that there ſhall be no Cananyte in all the lande / that the gentiles ſhalbe ſhutte out off the citie off god / and ſuche other thinges which the prophetes moſt worthelie and notablie hauehave ſett out:Eſaie. 32.1.4. & 35.5.6.7.8.9. Zachar. 14.21. we muſt vnderſtand / that all theſe thinges after a certeyne manner are to be referred alſo to his Kingdome in this life / and declareth that the gouernment of this Kingdome of his churche here / owght alſo to be iuſt and equall / that the faithfull who are his ſubiectes / owght not to be brutiſhe and ignoraunte / but as conning in heauenly matters and as full off that knowledge as maie be: That men off vicious lyfe and geuen to all ſinne and wickednes / are to be caſt out and banyſhed from the churche / and the temple off god / to be kepte as nere as is poſſible free and cleane from all pollutions and prophanacions. Furder alſo / they are conuicted by the whole hiſtorye off the Goſpell and by the writinges off the Apoſtles / by which it appeareth / that he hath lefte vntounto vsus fully / all thinges which were nedefull for the adminiſtracion off gouernment off his kingdome. For howe oftē talked he with his diſciples touching this kingdome?Luk. 9.58. How often did he declare what maner off kingdome yt was? namelie that yt was no kingdome off this werlde / that it handled not the buſynes and affaires off this life but ſuche only as parteine to the mynde and conſcience.Luk. 12.13.14. Luk. 21.25.26. Iohn 19.36 Math. 18.15.15.17. How often did he declare / what his officers ſhould be / nāely no gracious nor honorable Lordes / but miniſters off the churche? How exactelie did he apointe the order off his courtes and iuſtice that no thing more could be required to a right gouernmēt / and lawfull pollicye? yea / euē a litle before that he went from his / diſciples how earneſtlye and how carefully cōmēded he the charge off his kingdome vntounto them? how greate authoritie gaue he them to ſhutte or open heauen? and (ſo greate was his care for the dewe adminiſtring off his kingdome) euen then when he toke his triumphant chariotte / wherewith he was after caried into heauen / that ſitting there / he might enioye his kingdome / euerlaſtinglie) how carefully and how long (euen for the ſpace off fortie daies togither) did he talke with his diſciples touching his kingdome? For theſe are thoſe charges and commandements which S. Luk / and S. Mathewe doe write that he gaue to his Apoſtels and Embaſſadors off the adminiſtracion and gouernment off his empire:Act. 1.2.3.4. Math. 28.20. and whereoff he commāded them to giuegive his ſubiectes warning to kepe them with all dewtie and reuerence.

And after he was ſette in his kinglie throne / doe we not ſee how he prouided all thinges which were neceſſarie not only for the firſt foundacion off the church by meanes off Apoſtels and prophetes / but alſo for the preſeruacion off it foreuer by Paſtors and Doctors?Ephe. 4.8.10.11. But that I be not longer then is needefull in ſo cleare a matter / how cam yt to paſſe that there was one order forme and diſcipline off all the churches which were founded by the Apoſtels / excepte they receiued the paterne from Chriſte him ſelfe / which they thowght not lawfull to alter and chaunge.

And S. Paul ſeing he had no more receyued this parte touching diſcipline from the Apoſtels / then the reſt off …he Goſpell (for he had eſtabliſhed many godlye churches many yeres before that he had conferred with them off his doctrine) from whence I ſaie receyued he all that forme and order off eſtabliſhung the churche by / excepte he were taught off Chriſte by reuelacion as well concerning this / as concerning the reſt off the Goſpell? But I will ſhut vp all this matter touching the originall off diſcipline / that it commeth from god / and is therfore vnchaungeable and perpetuall and common to all churches / with that earneſt charge which S. Paul geueth Timothie touching the keping and manteining theroff.1. Timoth. 6.13. who hauing tawght his ſcholer all the order off ruling the howſe off God which is the churche / I charge the (ſaithe he) in the ſight off that God which quickneth all thinges / and Ieſus Chriſte who made that worthie confeſſion before Pontius Pilate / that thow kepe theſe preceptes without blāe or reprofe euen to that notable cōming off our lorde Ieſus Chriſte: and ſo forth as the Apoſtle with moſt earneſt wordes doth charge him. Off which place / I gather / firſt that allmightie God and our Sauiour Ieſus Chriſte are the authors off that diſcipline which S. Paule had taught in that epiſtle. foraſmuche as they are noted to be the punyſhers and auengers off all thoſe who ſhall breake yt. I note furder alſo that this order off diſcipline is conſtaunte and vnchangeable: which may neyther be broken for any mans power or authoritie / nor altered for any mans fauour: ſeing that it is not only called a commandment / but is geuen alſo with ſuche a charge: Tymothie being warned before the allmigtie God / and our Sauior Ieſus Chriſte / to beare him ſelfe therin without blame and reprofe. Laſt off all that yt is no commandment belong…ng to any certein tyme / but perpetuall / and perteyning to all tymes and ſtates off the churche. Seing yt is ſo expreſſelie commanded that it ſhould be kepte vntounto the comming off our lorde Ieſus Chriſte. But how blame worthie were many afterwardes / and how fowlie ſtained with the tranſgreſſion off this holie cōmandment: for at the laſt / Satan that conning workman to doſtroie the churche / hauing made them to forgette this earneſt charge off the Apoſtle / and hauing laide to the walles off the churche thoſe twoe engines off Couetouſſnes and Ambicion / which deſtroye aſwell churches as cyties / did caſt downe the ſtrong holdes whereby it was mayntened and preſerued.

But what did theſe ſo greate Patrones and Protectors? how grieuouslie did they punyſhe not only the necligence off men but there ſinfull and vnfaithfull wickednes? The ſtories doe teſtifie / how that by litle and little with the corruption off Diſcipline / Doctrine alſo beganne to be corrupted vntill that at the laſt / they were bothe allmoſt cleane taken awaie and the churche aboliſhed. For they knowe not I ſaie plainelie they knowe not / who being content with the doctrine off the Goſpell neglecte diſcipline / that the diſpoſicion and nature of theſe two / is like the diſpoſicion off twoe ſiſters who are twines: or off thoſe brotherne off whome Hypocrates ſpeaketh: who beganne to be ſicke together / and to amende togither / ſo that fot the naturall inclinaciō and diſpoſiciō of the one towardes the other / they were affected one with the others healthe and infirmitie. Wherefore / ſeing that god of his infinite goodnes gathered togither againe our churche in theſe daies / and that trewe doctrine as the elder ſyſter is recouered / let vsus not hinder hir (as hir nature is iff ſhe be not hindred) to affecte alſo diſcipline with hir healthe that as it beganne to be ſicke togither with doctrine / yt maie be alſo recouered togither with yt.

And let vsus be moued with the remembraunce of the former calamities / to the reſtoring againe of a pure gouernment off the churche excepte we eſteme it not to hauehave the almightie god and our Sauior Ieſus Chriſte readie to punyſhe vsus and to be reuenged on vsus for the neglecte off his diſcipline / and to knowe at the laſt to our greate perill and daunger / how neceſſarie it is for the churche and how acceptable vntounto god.

But whie doe I ſaie leſt we knowe at the laſt / ſeing that we hauehave alreadie proued not many yeres ſince / by the banyſhement and fliing off ſubiectes / by ſ… ſo crewell burnyng and murdryng off our brethren and horrible waſtyng of our churche / how greatlie the former reformacion being not ſincere as it owght to hauehave bene / diſpleaſed our Lorde and God. But to returne to that from whence I hauehave digreſſed / I thincke it plaine and manifeſt by that which hath bene ſaid which I purpoſed to proue in the beginning: that is to ſaie / that the rule and paterne off diſcipline / is not to be drawne from the ordinaunces and fantaſies off men / but from the worde off god. which thing / as it hath long tyme preſerued puritie and ſinceritie in thoſe churches wherin all thinges are reformed according to goddes worde / So all the corruptions which are in our churche this daie / ſpring from no other heade / then this / that we hauehave followed popiſhe dreames and fantaſies as moſt ſtickyng ſyncks and chanells leauing the pure fountames off the worde off God. For I ſee and perceyue / that the maſter Builders off our churche in repairing off yt againe were ſo wholy bent vntounto the doctrine / that they neuer thowght off Diſcipline and ſo reteined yt ſtill almoſt wholie ſuche / as it was amongheſt the Papiſtes. whereupon it cōmeth that all the gouernmēt of our churche is not takē out of Goddes worde but out off the cannon lawe and decrees off Popes. Which / wither it were done by reaſon off the ignoraunce off thoſe daies or off negligence / or for ambicion and vaine glorie or becauſe they thought that popiſhe diſcipline might be tollerated for a tyme / or for what purpoſe ſoeuer / Surelie no man can doubte / but that yt was to the greate hindraunce and diſcommoditie off the churche / which knoweth it throwglie and with diligētlie conſidereth / how ſmall frute hath growē off ſo long trauaile and labor in the preaching off the goſpell. Out off this Cānon lawe / came all that romyſhe Hierarchie / primates / Archbiſhoppes / Lord Biſhoppes / Chancellors Achdeacons / and there ſeruantes Officialls / Commiſſaries and thereſt off that Traſhe / by whom the churche as it were taken priſoner / is now off long tyme kepte in priſon and bondage. From hence commeth alſo that romiſche courte / wheron a moſt ſhamefull markete off vnlawfull and wicked diſpenſacions / and all gainful meanes off deſtrouing the churche is kepte, wold to God / that we had rather ſuffred the papiſtes when they were caſt out to hauehave gone awaie with there bagge and baggage / and that we had not had ſo greate a deſire / to be enriched by theſe ſpoiles and praies.

This is not (beleue me) to he enriched with the Iewells off the Egyptians / but to be infected with there boy…es and ſoares. Theſe eare ringe… and Egyptian ornamentes which we hauehave gottē / are fytter to make a golden calfe with / then to adorne and beautifie the tabernacle off god. Therfore let vsus ſend them backe againe frō whence they come / and at the laſt take in hand an earneſt and ſincere reformacion off the churche. Let vsus abrogate and aboliſhe the authoritie off this Canon lawe / then the which there is nothing leſſe canonycall / and which is the fyrſt and greateſt faulte in our diſcipline and the fountaine and originall off all the reſt: and Let this be the fyrſt article off the newe reformacion / that all thinges be exacted as nere as maie be vntounto the worde off God. That our particular lawes grownde vponupon this foundacon / and let ſo much be admitted for Eccleſiaſticall diſcipline / as may be confirmed by the voice and authoritie off God him ſelfe. And thus muche let yt ſuffice generally to hauehave ſpoken / what diſcipline is.

Now let vsus devide the reſt off this treatiſe (as almoſt all politique doctrine is wont to be deuaded) into two partes:Diuiſion of diſcipline. whereoff the fyrſt / declareth that which belongeth vntounto them / who bare any office or hauehave any charge in the churche: the other part brieflie toucheth the dewtie off the reſt off the bodie off the churche. For as the Apoſtle ſaith / all the bodie is not one membre / nor all axe not Prophetes or Doctors but there is a certeine diuerſite and dinſtinction off Offices as off members wherby the whole bodie is preſerued.1. Corrint. 32.19.29. All which diuerſitie and difference / is deuided by the Apoſtle into two ſortes / who in the Epiſtle to the Corrinches / calleth ſome / Fellovve helpers and laborers naming the reſt off the churche / by the name off Sainctes. 1. Corrint. 10.15.16.Thus allſo the Apoſtle to the Hebrewes deuideth the churche / into thoſe who had the ouerſight / and into the reſt off the Sainctes / Now to ſpeake fyrſt off the former part / it is to be vnderſtoode / that to the bearing off any eccleſiaſticall office / there is a certeine vocation and calling to be vſed / which a man owght to waite for / being neceſſarie to the taking vponupon him off any charge what ſoeuer:Heb. 13 24. which manner off apointing to an office wither we call it Creation / or Aſſignacion / or as the eccleſiaſticall writers doe moſt vſually Vocacion It is the apointement off God to the bearing off ſome office in his churche / in ſuche ſorte and maner as he hath ordeined for euerie officer to be apointed by.

Which calling to the Bearing or the excuting off any eccleſiaſticall charge and function / hath all tymes bene holdē ſo neceſſarie / that no man hath bene thowght to exerciſe any lawfull authoritie therin / who had not fyrſt off all in his owne conſcience wytneſſe off the calling off God thereunto / and after alſo off the churche apointing him according to Goddes decree and ordinaunce.Hebr. 4.5. For that ſentence off the Apoſtle is generall / that no man owght to take this honor vn…o him / but he that is called thereto / as was Aaron.

For this doctrine off the neceſſytie of a Voca…on and Calling / did not ſo once growe ou… off that noble rodde off Aaron togither with the Almandes / that yt fell afterwardes alſo from the tree togither with them / but this Almād three off Aaron / ſette and planted by the witte and labor off Moſes / floriſheth euen to this daie: So that we maie yet gather this doctrine off yt / which is muche more precious then any Almondes or other frute what ſoeuer.

Nere to the ſame place in Moſes / is reherſed alſo a notable iudgement off God whereby yt ſemeth that the lorde ment to ratefie this lawe off the neceſſitye off Vocation for euer:Nomb. 17.…. wherein we ſee that neyther the heauens could abyde to loke vpō / nor the earthe to beare / ſo ſhameles boldnes / but the one melting conſumed with fire ſuch as without a calling would take vpō thē the prieſthoode / and the earthe gaping and opening it ſelfe ſwallowed thē vp aliue. which owght to be a leſſon to vsus for euer / not only as Moſes writeth / …. Samuel. ….that not man burne incenſe before the lorde but only they which are off the ſtocke off Aaron / and are thereby called thereunto / but alſo that no man be ſo bolde as to peruert or alter that order which God hath eſtabliſhed in his churche / and to arrogate vntounto hī that honor which he hath by no right or lawfull callīg obteined. Hitherto belōgeth alſo that which is writtē off Peres vzzach / that is to ſaie off the breache which the lorde made in vzzach who was ſtricken ſodainlie to deathe / only for that beyonde the bondes off his calling he put to his hand and held vp the arcke of God which ſhaked and was readie to fall / which was lawfull only for the Leuites to touche.

So the the Lord did no more ſpare Vzza attempting beyonde his vocacion to touche the arke / althoughe his entent and purpoſe were neuer ſo good / then he had pardoned before Aarons kinſmen. But if we require yet witneſſes of greater authoritie / we may reade / that king vzziah was ſtricken with the leproſie / for that being not content with his kinglie office / he wold hauehave taken vponupon him the Prieſtes office alſo.2. King. 15.5. Thus the lorde hath ratified and ſealed vp this parte of diſcipline with moſt grieuous ād fearfull punyſhement / and the ſame not once but oftentimes executed to this entent / that this lawe might for euer be off ſuch authoritie in the churche / that no man ſhould euer dare to be ſo bolde and hardie as to breake yt.

Wherefore / ſeing that god neuer forgaue or lefte vnpuniſhed this faulte in any degree / ſtate / or perſon but punyſhed the leuites / and euen Aarons owne howſe and familie / Sathā and Abyram alſo being Princes off tribes / yea Vzziah being a king / and that ſo ſharpelie and ſeuerelie:Nomb. 1… 32.35. ſo greate puniſhemēt in ſuch perſonages / fire from god / the earthe opening hir mowthe / Sodaine death / and the moſt fylthie diſeaſe off the leproſie / owght to ſtricke ſuch a feare into our hartes / that we ſuffer not ſacred functions and offices / to be prophaned by volōtarie officers / ād ſuch as take them vponupon them / without any lawfull vocacion and calling. But how litle we are afraide thereoff / and how in this behalfe that Diſcipline is neglected in eſtabliſhing whereoff / God hath trauailed ſo carefully / it is to / to manyfeſt / whereas popiſhe prieſtes take in hande to be myniſters off the Goſpel… / whereas women and mydwiues / adminiſter baptiſme emongheſt vsus / and Chaūcellors Archedeacons / Commiſſariers / and ſuch like / deale in the diſcipline and gouernment off the churche without any lawfull calling.

For as for popiſhe prieſtes I ſpeake off thoſe who doe take the miniſterie vponupon …hen without any newe calling / allowing off / or appointing them thereunto / but only ſtand vponupon the right off thoſe horrible orders / whereby they were ordeined to ſacrifice for the quicke and the deade / that is to ſaie to abolyſhe the ſacrifie off our Sauior Chriſte who can denye but that this there ſhameles boldenes is cleane contrarie to the moſt iuſt and equall lawes which the Lorde hath made touching the neceſſitie off vocacion? For althoughe they be anoynted and greaſed / and hauehave receyued power off there Biſhoppes to ſacrifice for the quicke and the deade yet / I denye that oile and that power off ſacryfycing to be any ſufficient warraunt for them / to be miniſters off the Goſpell and off the Sacramentes.

This is a prophane oyle / and can geue no man authoritie to diſpoſe the myſteries off God. The miniſters off God are anoynted with an other kinde off oyntmēt which Chriſte him ſelfe made and prepared / ſending out his Apoſtles to preache the Goſpell and to baptiſe thoſe which ſhould beleue wherewithall ſeing they are not anoynted why are they ſuffred to preache the Goſpell with prophane mowthes / or to touche the holy miſteries with vncleane and polluted handes?Math. 28.…. But ſome man will ſaie. They hauehave receyued the laieing on off handes / and were ordeined as euerie man thowght then to miniſter the ſeruice off God.

I confeſſe indede that handes were laide vponupon them neyther doe I muche ſtand vponupon yt what or whoſe handes they were / but I denie that euer they wer… choſen to a lawfull miniſterie / or that handes were laide vponupon them to this ende: yea rather contrarie / they were laide on them for an ende that is moſt contrarie to the miniſterie off the Goſpell / ſo that by no meanes / this can be accomp…ed the lawfull office off a trewe Paſtor: From whence they are as farre off / as the Prieſtes off Iſraell who were apointed by Ieroboam to ſacrifice to the calues were from that lawfull calling wich the prieſtes had which were at Hieruſalem: So that the ſame Ordring and inſtitucion / can by no meanes ſerue to geue one man at the ſame tyme / twoe offices ſo diuers and contrarie betwene then ſe…ues. For thus all the offices / off all Kingdomes and common wealthes are diſtinguiſhed the one from the other / and ſeuered by the diuers endes they are apointed vntounto.

Thus they are called Senators and Councellers / who are choſen to geue councell: Iudges / who are apointed to giuegive iudgement and ſuche like. So likewiſe in the churche one is apointed for teaching: an other for diſpoſing the goodes off the church: and eueryevery office is diſtinguyſhed from other by the forme and maner off his creacion and calling. By which reaſon alſo the Apoſtle to the Hebrewes proueth that the Prieſthoode off Chr…ſte differeth frō the Prieſthoode off the Lawe / for (ſaith he) in theſe wordes The Lord ſvvare and vvill not repent, Hebr. 7.thou art a prieſt for euer after the order off Melchiſcdech. Chriſte is ordeined prieſt after the order off Mechiſedeche: but the prieſtes off the lawe are ordeined after an other order namely off Aaron: Chriſte / for euer: They only for the ſmall tyme off this ſhorte life: Chriſte / with an othe: They / without any othe. wherby it appareth / that his prieſthoode is farre other yea muche more nobleād excellēt thē theirs was. Which axacte maner off diſputing of the Apoſtle iff we followe / and compare the inſtitucion off trew a miniſters which is conteined in theſe wordes off our ſauior Chriſte Proach the Goſpell and baptize thoſe which beleue / with the orders off the popiſhe prieſtes whereby they are ordeined to ſacrifice for the quicke and the deade / Shall yt not appear more cleare then the light / that theſe twoe offices are not only diuerſe / but cleane contrarie the one to the other. For what Agrement is there betwene a Paſtor and a Prieſte betwene the Goſpell and a Sacrifice / or rather what maie be more contrarie to the preaching off the Goſpell then this newe ſacrifice off the maſſe / for the quicke and the deade. The preaching off the Goſpell in deede is a ſwete ſauour vntounto god: ād ſurely / a very acceptable ſacrifice is yt vntounto him when as the miniſters off his goſpell ſlea our olde man as a ſacrifice with the ſharpe edged ſworde off his worde: neyther can any oblacion more pleaſe him thē when that the cōcupiſcēces and affectiōs off our fleſhe being mortified and killed we are offred vponupon his aulter: but it is ſo fare off that any ſinne ſhould be taken away by this ſacrifice / that as muche as we geue vntounto yt in this behalfe / ſo muche we detracte frō the trewe ſacrifice off our only prieſte Ieſus Chriſte. But ſaie they / the ſupper off the Lorde is ment by this ſacrifice / and ſo by that the whole miniſterie. Some Papiſt indeede maie ſaie thus that vaunteth the maſſe for the Lordes ſupper: but we who according vntounto goddes worde / reſt our ſelues in the only ſacrifice off Chriſte / and caſting all other hope aſide / flie from the wrath off god vntounto the only aulter off the croſſe off Chriſte. Let vsus confeſſe as we beleue / that ther is nothing more contrary to that holy ſupper / then there Idolatrous maſſe and nothing more againſt the commemoracion off the deathe off Chriſte / then this newe aulter which they hauehave erected againſt the aulter off Chriſte. Seing then there is ſo greate contrarietie and not difference alone betwene the offices and betwene the thinges whereunto they are apointed / It is plaine and manifeſt that no man by the ſame ceremony and order / can be aſſigned to the bearing off two offices ſo contrarie in themſelues. And that popiſhe Prieſtes are not to be ſuffred to ſerue the churche off God without a newe examinacion approbacion / election / and calling. How and when they are to be admitted / yt ſhall after he declared / where occaſion ſhall ſerue to ſpeake off putting backe from the myniſterie ſuche as be nouices in the faith.

But I hauehave taried to long in this pointe off popiſhe Prieſtes: now there folleweth to adde ſomewhat in this place / touching women and midwiues / who without any cōmandement of God / or rather contrary to his expreſſe worde take vponupon thē that parte off the office off the miniſter To baptize children / in caſe off daunger off there liues and of dying without baptiſme otherwiſe. which notwithſtanding I wold ſuppoſe not nedefull to be done / the error being ſo abſurde and manyfeſt / yff we had yet learned after ſo many yeres wherin by the greate goodnes off God / his holie worde is freelie and ſincerelie preached vntounto vsus / what were the force off our Adoption in Chriſte: what were the ſtrengthe off the couenannte which God made with vsus: what the eternall and euerlaſting councell off god in CHRIſte were touching our ſaluacon: what were the vſe off the Sacramentes / and namelie off Baptiſme. For who can dowbte that this fowle error flowed into the churche from theſe heades? and that the ignoraunce off theſe thinges was the cauſe that ſome not vnderſtanding that place off Saincte Iohn / Iohn 3.5Onleſſe a man be borne againe off vvater and off the Spirite. He cannot enter into the Kingdome off God, toke occaſion thereoff to thincke Baptiſme neceſſarie to ſaluacion / and that all that were not baptized ſhold be condemned. Whereas all the Scripture / (to the Anal…ogie and proporcion whereoff this place is to be expounded) p…ainly teacheth / that the Electe are ſaued by the goode pleaſure and will off god / by reaſon off the couenante / and off there Adoption in Iheſus Chriſte:Epheſ. 1.5. That Abraham was iuſtefied before his circunciſion (which in force and effecte anſwereth to our baptiſme) and that couenaunce and the promiſes are not made by the ſacramentes / but ſealed by thē.Rom. 4.11. Which ſeale alſo / ſerueth not to the confyrmyng off the worde off god in it ſelfe / which in yt ſe…fe is moſt conſtaunte / certeine and immutable / and hath no neede to borowe credite off any thing ells / but that i… maie be confirmed in vsus / whoſe weakenes to the fulie ſtaieng and acquieting off our faithe / neded ſuche meanes to be confirmed by.

So that ſeing the lorde to hauehave ſete his ſygnet to the confyrming off our Saluacion / and to hauehave ſealed yt vp / we might the more quietlie reſt and acquiete our ſelues in his faithe and cuſtodie. As for the place off S. Iohn / wither yt be to be vnderſtoode off the holie Ghoſte the Author off this regeneracion whereoff our Sauior ſpeaketh (who as in an other place is ment by fyre / ſo maie be alſo here by water) or whither yt be ment off Baptiſme / yt / in no wiſe reſtraineth our ſaluacion to euerie ſprinckling off wa…er but to the ſacrament only. But there can be no ſacramēt without a miniſter and there can be no embaſſadge without an embaſſador.

And yf any priuate man ſhold breake breade according to the inſtitucon off Chriſte / and communicate with others to the commemoracion off his Seathe / who wold call that the ho…y ſupper off the Lorde / and not rather an vnworthie prophanacion off that moſt holie myniſter / rie? And yet althoughe yt be miniſtred by a miniſter / our entraunce into the kingdome off god is not to be geuen to the outward baptiſme / but in as muche / as by a ſacramentall kinde of ſpeaking vſuall in the ſcriptures in this kinde / That is attributed to the Sacramentes / for the certeine coniunction off the thinges ſignified with the / Signes / which indede is proper to the thinges whereoff they be Sacramentes.

Therefore there is not that neceſſytie off Baptiſme to ſaluacion which many doe ſuppoſe / that for this cauſe the holie ordinaunce off god whereby it is lawfull for the myniſters onlie to miniſter the Sacramentes / ſhould be prophaned. And I can not ſee / what other cauſe off his prophanacion they can pretend. And a man maie mervailee whie at ſuche tymes / they pu… not rather priuate men to baptize then women for ſure the faulte had bene ſo muche the leſſe. For women are further removed from this office / for whome yt is vnlawfull to take the ſame vponupon them not onlie becauſe they are preuate / but alſo becauſe they are women.1. T…moth. 2.11.12. For euen the verie ſexe is forbidden to exerciſe any publique charge or function in the churche by ſancte Paull. And is commanded to ſitte ſtill and be quiette: which quietnes and vocation theſe men will not ſuffer thē to enioie / who ſtyrre them vp / to the exerciſyng off authoritie and doing off theſe thinges ſo expreſſelie forbidden them.

But yff this were to be ſuffred / for that neceſſitie which they imagine / whie ſhold yt not alſo be ſuffred in caſe off like neceſſitie / that they ſhould miniſter the lordes ſupper and preache the goſpell? wherefore ſeing they are forbidden by S. Paul. to exerciſe any eccleſiaſticall function or authoritie / Seing it is an vnlawfull tranſgreſſion off the ordinaunce off Chriſte and an vnworthie prophanacion off baptiſme to geue leaue to women and mydwiues to exerciſe this authoritie / it were to be wiſhed / that ſome parte off the mydwiues conning were practized here to the vnburdening of our churche off this fowle error as off a ſhamefull monſter that yt trauaileth withall and that it were ordeined (which the Lord hath commanded) that they who are not choſen nor by any meanes can be choſen to goo on the Lordes embaſſadge / ſhould not abuſe any longer the place / office / and authoritie off ſo wo… thy a calling.

It remaineth now to enquire off Archedeacons / chancellors / commiſſaries / and the reſt off that ſorte who withou… any grownde off the worde off god take vponupon them authoritie …o Iudge off all ſuche cauſes as belong to the Aſſemblie off Elders to Iudge off and to gouerne the chur(+che: and to correcte and punyſhe not only the people but euen the miniſters them ſelues according to there will and pleaſure. who / I knowe not what anſwere they can be able to make for them ſelues / what letters off Order they can ſhewe: what ſignes and ſeales off there Vocacion: whereas the holy ſcrip…ures doe not onlye commytie no ſuche charge vntounto them / but maketh not a worde mencion off all this ſorte at all. For in all the Teſtament wherein our Sauior hath declared his laſt will vn…o vsus / and appointed Tutors and Gardianes for his churche / There is not one worde mencyoned off the Tutorſhippe off theſe men / but off Apoſtles / Prophetes / and Euangeliſtes who for a certeine tyme ſhould hauehave the charge off yt: After alſo off Paſtors / Doctors / and Elders / to whome this office was committed for euer.

To vſurpe then without the will off ſo worthie a Teſtator not onlie ſome parte off this charge (which notwithſtanding could not be done without the breaking off the Teſtament) but euen the the whole / and that by diſplacing thoſe who were lawfullie called therunto / and ſubiecting them to the vſurped authoritie / and ſo to breake into an other mans poſſeſſion that thow not onlie put out the right owner and maiſter / but alſo compell him to become ſubiecte and ſlaue to the / hath not only no pretence off right and equitie / but being ſo heynous and vnworthie a facte / were worthie to be corrected by the Magiſtrates authoritie. For what a confuſion is this / that the deacon leauing his proper charge off the poore / ſhould take vponupon him an other mans / and rule / not onlie the churche / but alſo the Paſtors / Doctors / and Elders to whom by goddes commandement he owght to be ſubiecte. And that euerie Canoniſe and Petifogger in the lawe ſhould vſurpe the Authoritie off Miniſters and deuines. I paſſe ouer that the moſt off them be Papiſtes / and that ſuche are ſuffred to ſitte in the ſtearne who ſhould no be ſuffred to ſitte vponupon the pompe / let this be the faulte off men and not off the lawes / I ſpeake off the thing yt ſelfe. But ſome man will ſaye / that the Biſhoppe hath this power by the worde off God: And they hauehave yt off the Biſhoppe / whoſe office and authoritie in this behalffe they execute.

What the Biſhoppes power is / and that the authoritie which he hath / is common alſo with him to the Paſtors and Elders / and hath no proper nor peculiar authoritie in this pointe / we ſhall after ſee in dewe place.

But let vsus put the caſe / that only the Biſhoppe had this power and authoritie graunted to him to gouerne his owne churche according to Goddes word: Is yt therefore lawfull for him to ſitte yd…e and dreamyng at home and let an other doe his off…ce abroade? But admite allſo that yt were lawfull for him to hauehave an other to doe his office: yet yt is not lawfull for him to ſubſtitute whome he liſteth in his place / but only ſome other mā in the ſame degree that he is / of and that is in equall place and authoritie with him. For neyther in olde tyme could the Conſulles off Rome leaue any man to doe there office for them but only ſuch as were off the Conſulles ſtate and dignitie: Nor now adaies can the maire off a towne leaue any Burgeſſe to execute his office for him / but onlie an Aldermen and one off the ſame degre and companie. How muche more vnmeete is it to truſt any man with the keyes off the howſe off Dauid / but onlie ſuche to whome the Sonne and Heire who is ſet ouer the gouernment off the howſe / hath commanded to deliuer them.

For how greatlie is it to be feared / leſt that they oppen and ſhutte they care not how / and order all thinges not according to the Sonne and Heires commandment / but there owne will and pleaſure: How greatelie I ſaie is it to be feared / leſt they caſt the lordes Iewells before ſwine: leſt they ſette open his holie miſteries to be abuſed by euerye one: Leſt they receyue and enterteine ſtranngers / and put out ād refuſe thē off the houſholde: fynally: Leſt they prophane and abuſe all that they take in hande? And ſuerlie experiēce teacheth vsus how greatlie they hauehave erred who hauehave put thē in truſt with the kepīg of ſo waightie thinges. For we hauehave oftē times ſene and trulie doe ſee theſe thinges to happē which I hauehave ſpoken off / that ſome off this courte for a grote or ſome ſmall dewtie wil excommunicate and as it were banyſhe out off heauen the moſt honeſt citezens off the kingdome off God / and Curſe them and caſt them headlong into Hell: And conterwiſe / accompte off enemies often times as off free men and cytezens / and ſuffer them to be partakers off all the freedomes and liberties off the citie off god. For it commeth to paſſe with them as with the hirelinges off whome our Sauior Chriſte ſpeaketh in the tenth off Iohn: who becauſe they doe not there owne office but an other mans / care not how faithfullie nor with what credite they vſe thē ſelues / but rule and order all thinges / for ther owne commoditie and pleaſure.

But hereoff I truſt we ſhall ſpeake more at large hereafter. Now to goe forwarde / Let vsus admitte bothe: That the Biſhoppe hath this authoritie / and that he may appointe whome he liſte to excute it for him: yet how can we thincke it lawfull that a man ſhould be admitted to ordinarie and perpetuall office in the churche / without a right and lawfull calling (which as after ſhalbe declared / conſiſteth in theſe twoe poyntes / fyrſt / that he be choſen / and after that he be ordeined) ſeing it is generall / and belongeth vntounto all / without exception who doe bare any office in the churche / which I laide in the begynning as the foundacion off all this diſputacion / that is to ſaie that no man take this honor vntounto him but he that is called vnyt as was Aaron?

But ſeing Archdeacons and Channcellors are apointed onlie by the Biſhoppes pleaſure / and the other vnderunder-officiers by theres / and ſeing that nothing is vſed in the apointing off them which ſhalbe ſhewed to be neceſſarie in the calling to any eccleaſticall function / Seing there is no Election / no praiers / no Ordeining / no laiing on off handes and ſuche life as bothe are wont and owght to be vſed in ſuch a matter / naie ſeing there is not ſo much as an othe geuen them without the which no office off any waite in the common wealthe is committed to any man: It muſt nedes be confeſſed as the thing it ſelfe declareth / and I hauehave proued by ſure and vndoubted argumentes / That all this rabble and company exerciſe authoritie in the churche off God without any lawfull vocacion at all or calling. Wherfore ſeing ſo many voluntarie officers hauehave without any lawfull calling taken vponupon them the gouernment off the churche / whereby as I hauehave ſhewed the wrath off god is moſt greuouſly prouoked againſt vsus / why doe we not fiftene yeres after that by the grace off God his holie Goſpell is preached emongeſt vsus / whie doe we not I ſaie in the eccleſiaſticall officers that which the Romanes did euerie fyue yeres in all degrees / that is to ſaie / whie doe we not make a ſearche and aſſaie off euerie mans calling / That Right and lawfull authorie being diſcerned from that which is vniuſt and vnlawfull / thoſe impudent officers who were choſen by them ſelues or crepte in at the backe dore / and were not called thereunto by the authoritie off God and off his churche / maie be compelled to leaue there places / and be put out off office.

Therfore let enquirie be made into euerie mans calling / Let them ſhewe how they were choſen and ordeined as the leters and ſeale off ther calling / let them rehearſe there genealogies and the race off there deſcente / let them bring there roddes and ſet them before the Arcke off God And they who cannot ſhewe the markes and tokens off there Creaciō and Election / They that cannot fetche there Pedigree from Aaaron / and whoſe roddes remaine deade before the Arcke / and neyther bloſſome nor floriſhe / let them by the moſt iuſt authoritie off the worde off God be diſplaced and put out off thoſe offices which they moſt vniuſtlie and wrongfully hauehave deſyred and vſurped And thus muche maie be ſufficient to proue the neceſſitye off a lawfull vocacion and calling.

Now let vsus ſee the / vſe / fruite / and com̄oditie off the ſame: which ſemeth to me to be ſo greate / that althoughe there were no puniſhement for the neglecte and contempte off yt / yet yt were to be taried and waited for / for the meruailous vſe and commoditie that yt bringeth with yt. For what can ſo ſtrengthen a man againſt all daungers which hang ouer hym (diſcharging his dewtie faithfully) as the remēbraunce that he is placed in that ſtanding by the cōmandement and authoritie off god / which as it placeth him / ſo it will be alwaies readie to defend him againſt the enmyties and lieng in waite off all men. For then only the conſcience is not afraide off any winde or weather / off any ſtorme or tempeſt / when as it ſtaieth yt ſelfe vponupon the lorde / and followeth him in that waie / wheren he goeth before.

Furthermore / they that are gouerned / can by no meanes better be browght to doe there dewtie ād perſuaded to doe that which they owght / then when they vnderſtād that it is the lordes will and cōmandemēt whoſe embaſſador the myniſter is. For they reuerēce only that authoritie which they knowe to be off god, hereoff we hauehave a manifeſt example in Dauid / whome it ſtaied oftētime being readie to fall / and oftentimes alſo raiſed vp againe being beaten downe to the grounde / that he came not to the kingdome by his owne ambicion / as his enemies falſelie blamed him / but by the authoritie off god who called him / and off Samuell the Prophete who by the Lordes cōmandemēt had anoynted him The maieſtie and authoritie off which creacion at the laſt ſo moued all Iſraell that is to ſaie the ten tribes which for the ſpace off ſeuē yeres were not obedient vntounto him / that they receiued him willinglie for there king / whome before they had diſdained. For this cauſe alſo S. Paule ſo diligentlie almoſt in the beginning off euerie Epiſtle calleth him ſelfe an Apoſtle and ſeruante off God.

For this cauſe alſo he taketh ſo greate paynes in his Epiſtles to the the Corinthes to proue his Apoſtleſhippe / which ſome falſe brethren ſowght to take from him / that by that meanes they might dyminiſhe his credite and authoritie with the churche. Neyther in deede was he more confirmed by any thing in his infinite perilles / trobles and labors which he bare for the Goſpells cauſe / then that he aſſured him ſelfe off the aide and aſſiſtaunce off God in the diſcharge off that dewtie vntounto which he was appointed by him. Which great fruyte and commoditie iff it maie moue vsus / let vsus tarie ād waite for the Voice of God to call vsus to beare office in his churche and let vsus firſt be aſſured moſt plainlie and manifeſtlie / that we are called thereunto by his gouernment and authoritie / Leſt that hauing entred in by the backe dore / we finde the lorde / to be puniſher and Auenger off this ambycion / the people diſobedient and vntowarde / and our owne conſciences ſhaking and trembling / not only at greate and vndowbted daungers / but at euerie bugge / and at the ſhaking off euerie leafe. Therfore the authoritie off God is to be wayted for to the taking in hand or bearing off any eccleſiaſticall office / and ſo to be waited for / that we ambiciouslie ſeke yt not by any diſceitfull or vnhoneſt meanes. And let no man boaſt here off his giftes and worthynes and in confidence thereof as a ſuter ſeke and laboure for honor. For How fytte ſoeuer he ſemeth to be for any charge and office / yet no thing is here to be taken raſhelie in hand / without the authoritie off God who will vſe in his affaires / whome it pleaſeth him.

Iudges 13.5.It is rehearſed in the holie hiſtorie off the iudges off what a meruoulons ſtrengthe / and mete for a Prince / Sampſon was: yet notwithſtanding iff he had not bene borne the Nazarite off the Lorde / and choſen and apointed from his Mothers wombe to deliuer the people / he owght not to hauehave ſowght vengeaunce off the Philiſtines / or to hauehave deliuered his owne countrey from there power / and gouernment / but rather / to hauehave excerciſed that greate ſtrengthe and might / as Arrius writeth that Philoctetes beſtowed his dartes vponupon birdes / and not vponupon his armed enemies. Neither had it bene lawfull for Salomon to hauehave taken in hand the gouernment off the kingdome off Iſraell / to put in practiſe that excellent and worthie gifte off wiſdome and gouernment in yt / except the Lorde had firſt choſen him to ſuccede in the princelie throne off his father Dauid / and the adminiſtracion his his kingdome.

And worthelie were Abſalon and Adoniah reiected who thinking them ſelues worthie toke that honor vntounto them: that he who was choſen by the Lorde / and thought worthie by him / might rule and gouerne. As alſo was Core in the like caſe / and the reſt off his faction: And after alſo king Vzziah deſyring honors and places / beſides the good will and pleaſure off God. For the Lorde knoweth how to rule his familie / and whateuerie man is to be put in truſt withall according to that honeſtie and credite that he knoweth euerie one to be off. So that he that reſteth not in his iudgement / but wolde hauehave and ſeketh by all meanes to procure vntounto him ſelfe more then the Lorde hath geuen him / muſt nedes accuſe him off foliſhenes or off malice / and therfore be giltie off moſt grieuous and haynons ſinne.

And let them not obiecte againſt vsus that ſayinge off the Apoſtell that He that deſireth the office off a Biſhoppe deſireth a good thing, 1. Timoth. 1.3.to proue and cōfirme this ambicious ſewing and laboring for the miniſterie / whereas yt is ſo farr off that theſe wordes ſhould kindle and enflame vsus hereunto / that contrariwiſe the Apoſtle ſemeth by theſe wordes to hauehave ſowght to bridle our haſtie deſyre. For whereas the Apoſtle ſaith / that the office off a Biſhoppe is a worthie worke / to what ende / thincke we doth he call yt ſo / but therewithall to admoniſhe vsus how hard yt is / and that it requireth a man both off ſinguler learning and godlines. For ſo yt followeth that Biſhoppe owght to be off an honeſt and blameles life / ſober / temperate liberall / meke / apte to teache / and ſo forth.2. Corinth. 2.16. And this is the worthines off the off ce off a Biſhoppe which the Apoſtle ſheweth in this place / and which he ſo meruaileth at in other places / that he thincketh no man mete to take ſo greate a charge vponupon him.

By which dignitie and worthines off the office / the Ambicion off men is rather quenched then kindled: For vnderſtanding thereby / how greate and waightie a calcalling it is / we are warned to take hede that we run̄e not raſhelie to it / but rather that we prepare our ſelues long before with all ſtudye care and diligence for the bearing off ſo greate a burthen. As for the worde foreign which ſignifieth to couette or deſire / yt is ill alledged for the profe off any ambicious ſeking off the myniſterie. Whereas the Apoſtle vnderſtandeth a godlie zeale to ſet furthe the glorie off god and to edifie his churche / which wiſheth and deſireth indeede to be made able once by the grace off God / to ſerve him and his churche in that calling: which meditateth and thinketh dailie hereupō / and exerciſeth and prepareth him ſelfe thereunto / beſtowyng wholie all ſtudie and laboure to that ende / yet notwithſtāding waiteth for the voice off God / and authoritie off the churche to call him / and by an vnripe and headie deſire / or ambicious kinde off haſtines / preuenteth not the tyme off his calling.

We reade that Chriſte our Sauior him ſelfe / althoughe he were endewed with all heauenlie wiſdome / yet laie he hidde as yt were (without exerciſing any publique office) to the thyrtie yere off his age / and taried for that voice of his father / whereby being declared the Beloued ſonne of God in whome only the father was well pleaſed / he might be ſent out to goe off his embaſſage▪ Luk. 3.23. Math. 3.17.he had diſputed indeede once before with the Doctors in the Tēple: but that was no full execuciō off any publique office / Luk 2.49.but as yt were a certeine floriſhe ād plaieng at waſters whereby / he prepared him ſelfe / vntounto a full combate and a greater battel.Math. 28.19. Lykewiſe did the Apoſtles who did not thruſt them ſelues in to the churche / without his cōmanmandement and apointment / but waited for that voice / Goe / preache the Goſpell and baptize thoſe which beleue.

The ſame modeſtie appeared in the Biſhoppes of the primitiue churche / ſo lōg as it cōtinewed vncorrupted and in goode eſtate / for after / as they were not afraide to enter into the churche by fraud and doceyte / ſo being once entred in / they behaued them ſelues in yt with like faithfullnes and modeſtie / that they entred in. whie doe we not therfore bridle this poſting and ſpurring for the myniſterie and contenting our ſelues with the godlie and zealous deſire off our mynde and our laboure and ſtudie to prepare our ſelues thereunto / flee and avoide this ſhamefull ambicion.

Theſe ſo notable and worthie examples let vsus eſteme as a lawe made againſt Ambicion: which yff we ſhalbe ſo bolde as to tranſgreſſe / let vsus aſſure our ſelues that one daie / in a moſt ſolempne courte and aſſemblie we ſhalbe charged with Ambicion.

Neyther only in the office off a Biſhoppe / but in all other Eccleſiaſticall charges this woyng off places and offices / owght to be eſtemed vnmette and vnworthie / for the modeſtie off any Chriſtian man: and how muche better were yt / to ſend backe againe this laboring for offices and ſutorlike care vntounto Rome / from whence yt came.

For as muche then as greate fruite ys loſt by this ambicious ſeking for offices and honor / which they reape who are fully perſuaded off there calling and off the wille off God appointing them thereunto / Seing alſo the examples off our Sauior Chriſte / off his Apoſtles / off the purer and primitiue churche / doe call vsus from yt and exhortethe vsus to all ſobernes and modeſtie / and that hereby greate wrong is done vntounto God / whoſe authoritie is not waited for / and that bothe the Lordes ordinaunce and our owne proffitte and commoditie calleth vsus backe from this hunting after places and and offices / Let vsus at the lengthe amende the cuſtome which we hauehave: that to come flocking from all partes to that place where orders (as we call them by a popiſhe name) are geuen by the biſhoppe to ſeke and ſewe for them / to bring letters off Lordes or Iuſtices or ſome other off our frendes in our commendacion and fauoure.

Fynally Let vsus amend whatſoeuer yt is / whereby a lawfull calling may be corrupted and ſtained and now at the Lengthe (which we owght to hauehave done long agoe) Let vsus decree according to the worde off God / that no man hereafter ſewe for any calling in the churche. Let euerie man more ſhamefaſtlie and modeſtlie offer his labour and diligence / Let all men kepe them / ſelues at home and there abyde and wayte for the voice off God and authoritie off thoſe who are choſers to the taking vponupon him off any eccleſiaſticall charge or function. There do yet remaine certaine thinges to be ſpooken off eccleſiaſticall officers touching the execucion off that office wherunto they be called.

Off which the firſt is that the vocacion wandre not freely wher it liſtethe but be ioined with a charge off ſome certeine place and churche. For yt is not here as yt is in the profeſſion off the arts / that we ſhould eſteeme thes orders as certein commendacions / and the churches allowinge off any mans worthines / as it is in them that by the Iudgment and authoritie off the vniuerſities are preferred to the profeſſion off the liberall ſciences / or off the cyuall law or phiſick or any other ſuch like.

For they hauehave none apointed them whom they ſhould teache or heale or geue counſell vntounto / or wher they ſhould exerciſe ther profeſſion / but as they ſee it commodious for them ſelues go to thos places which they thinck fytteſt for them / or iff they thinck good ſit idle at home: But the miniſters apointement ought not to be ſuche / that hauinge receiued as it were the commendacion and allowance of lerned men / they ſhould after provide a place for them ſelues as they thought moſt commodious / or ells ſit idle all ther life tyme at vome iff they liſt.

For thes admiſſions and allowances off ſtudentes are geuen vntounto thē as honors and rewardes which hauehave no more labor hanginge vponupon thē then they liſt and iudge to be profitable for them. But thes honors are ſuche / that men are rather chareged then preferred by them: and indeed rather to be eſteemed burthens then honors / whoſe nature is ſuche that as gardaynſhipppz are graunted not for his cauſe who is choſen but rather for theirs who hauehave neede off their care helpe and labor: So that iff ther be no ſuche in the churche) ther is no cauſe off apointinge any to eccleſiaſticall charges.

Therfore the Apoſtles did at no tyme appoint myniſters or deacons that afterwards ſhould prouide them ſelues churches wher they ſhould teache / or whos treaſury they ſhould ouerſee or ells be idle if they would / but they ordeined deacons Paſtors and Elders as the neceſſytie off the churche did require. Thus we reede in the ſixth off the Actes that when the ſtate off the churche off Ieruſalem did require / the Apoſtles ordeined deacons ouer the treaſury off that churche / to ſee the orderinge off it and the prouiſion for widowes and pore folkes. Thus alſo Paule and Barnabas in the xiiij. off the actes ordeined elders in eueryevery churche:Actes 14.23. and neyther lefte the churches as orphanes with out any to care and prouide for them / neither apointed any elders but vntounto ſuche certen chuches as had need off them. So alſo Sainct Paule expreſſely commandeth Titus whom he hade left in Crete / to ſet the churches in order / that he ſhould appoynt Elders in eueryevery citye that is to ſay / wher ther was any churche or nomber off thos that beleeued.Titus 1.5.

And for this ſame cauſe I thinck ther is ſcarcely any wher in the holy ſcriptures mencion made off Elders and Deacous / wher together with all is not mencioned the name off the churche / place or cytie wher in they did exerciſe ther office. Thus Paule in the Epiſtle to the Philippians maketh mencion off ther Biſhoppes and Deacons.… 1.

Thus alſo alſo Sainct Luke writethe in the Actes Sainct Paule ſent for the Elders off Epheſus / and that the churche off Antioche ſent vntounto the Aooſtles and Elders at Ieruſalem aboute the queſtion off Circumciſion.Act. 20.17.Act. 15.2.

And alſo in Saint Peter writinge to the churches wchich wer ſcattered in Pontus and Galatia in the fifte chapiter / I exhort ſaithe he the Elders which ar amonges yow:2. Epiſt. Peter 5.1. that is to ſay the Elders which are ſet ouer your ſeuerall churches.

And in the ſame place he commendeth alſo vntounto the Elders the flocks which ar amonges them / that is to ſay to eueryevery one off them ther owne flockes: wherby yt may appeere that they were ſet ouer certen flockes.

And theſe be not only the examples off the Apoſtles / but the lawes which they geue vsus / and the commandementes which they left vsus / to ordeyne Elders and Deacous in the churche as the neceſſitie and ſtate theroff ſhall require. And ſure I cannot tell how he can thinck him ſellfe to hauehave receyned any office who with out doinge any man wronge may ſitt idle iff he liſt. Offten tymes the auncient Sinodes made decrees againſt thes idle orders that leaue a man ſo free / bindinge him to no certen charge.

That no man ſhould be ordeyned an elder (as they vſe to ſpeake yt) without a title / that is to ſay without a churche. And ſuerly iff all wer not confuſed and trobled in the Diſcipline off our churche we could neuer beare ſo notable diſorder / that ſuche kind off allowinges ſhould be eſteemed lawfull miniſteries: which ar then only Myniſteries off the churche when they that ar thus commended and allowed off hauehave gotten a churche that will vſe ther labor / and who in the meane tyme eyther do nothinge / or ells goe about as they lift in all the realme as roges and maſterles ſeruantes ſeekinge ſome mayſter that will hyre them and vſe ther Labor.

Suche tymes in deed ar ſpoken off in the ſtories off the Iudges / wher Ionathan the Leuite wantinge a highe place and an aulter went rouinge to let out his ſeruice to any that would hyre hym: but it is added in the ſame place that ther was then no kinge in Iſraell.

But this great confuſion was taken away afterward by Dauid and Salomon / and eueryevery one accordinge to the ancient preſcripcion off Moſes and Ioſus / wer appointed ther proper ſeates townes and cynes …o occupy them in.

Therfore whie do we that lyue vnderunder the kingdome off CHRIST our true Salomon who hath ſett all this in very Good order / whie do we I ſay ſuffer the churche to be ſtayned with ſo notable a ſpott and ordeyne not accordinge to the word off God / that no no man be appoynted to any Eccleſiaſticall office / But he,Ioſue 22. that is called to a certen churche wher to to exerciſe it? And why do we not accordinge to this example call home the Prieſtes to the Arcke off the Lord and the leuites to the appointed cities? Ther remaineth ſomewhat that lickwiſe perteineth to all that beare office in the churche. That is / that they ſo execute them / that they may not be accuſed for neglectinge or pretermitinge ther duties.

For in the church / what ſo ſmall a charge is there which we ought not to ſtudie with all faithfulnes / laboure / and diligence to make floriſhe to beautifie and adorne: ſeinge we hauehave the Angelles for lookers on to ſee how we vſe and behaue our ſelues in the execucion theroff / and the Lord him ſelfe a moſt liberall rewarder off the one parte yff we do it well / and contrariwiſe a moſt ſeuere Iudge and Auenger iff we do it not accordinge to our dutie. For that which the Apoſtle cōmandethe to geue Archippus warrninge off / That he ſhould diligently ſee to his office which he had receyued off the Lord is to be extended alſo to all thos that beare any charge or office in the church off God / and eueryevery one ought to thincke it to perteine to them ſelues / which the ſame Apoſtle admoniſheth Tymothie off / that is / That they diſcharge ther dutie and make knowne ther miniſterie by all meanes.Coloſs. 4.17. 2. Timoth. 4.5.yea further / all that are called to any office or gouernment in the churche / muſt vnderſtand that the ſame hange / he ouer ther headdes / which the Apoſtle declareth that he was afraide off iff (being called therunto) he ſhould not preache the Goſpell.2. Cor. 9.16. For ther is none ſo litle a charge in the howſe off god / wheroff one day moſt ſtreight Accompt ſhall not be aſked.

In vayn then ſhall men dreame off pardons / diſpenſacions and priuiledges: All ſhalbe called to Accompt to declare with what faithfulnes and diligence they hauehave done ther dewties: They ſhalbe …e compelled to aunſwer ther moſt deadly enemyes / that off them ſelues ſhalbe readie to accuſe them for not hauing diſcharged ther dutie And the accompte ſhalbe made in the greateſt and moſt ſolemne aſſemble that euer was / for ſeing that it appeare the by the parable off the talētes com̄itted to the ſeruantes that a moſt ſtreight accompt ſhalbe aſked off the leſt gift off god that we receyne in this world how muche ſtreighter do we thinck it wil be for thē that hauehave receeyued gouerment in the churche / and iff he ſhalbe ſo hardly delt with that neglecteth one talēt that he hath receiued: They that beare greateſt offices in the churche / and vponupon whos faithe and credit in diſcharging off them / the ſaluacion theroff dothe in a maner depend / how carefully ought they bothe day and nyght to thinck off diſchardging this dewty / hauinge ſo great a reckoninge to make / not off one Talent but off the churche which our Lord Ieſus ſo deerely loued / that for louelove theroff.Ephe. 4.9. he vouchſafed to come frō the higheſt heauens into thes lower partes off the earthe to redeeme it and purchaſe it not with gold or ſiluer / as ſaithe Sainct Peter but with his precious bludd.1. Pet. 1.18.19.

But I do otherwiſe then I was purpoſed: that am fallen to threatninges and exhortacions / wheras in the beginninge I only purpoſed to declare what ought to be doone and what we do not. And yet ther be ſo great faultes committed in this behalff / that it ſeemuch nothinge can be greuouſly and vehemently enoughe ſpoken againſt them. (For the chiefe charges off the churche ar not only left vndiſcharged for negligence / but diſpenſacions and priuiledges are granted / that exempt miniſters from the neceſſary doinge off ther dewty / and geue Paſtors leaue off this condicion to leaue ther flocke and ther churches / yff they leaue an other in ther place to read ſeruice vntounto them.

And for them that will goe to the vniuerſitie / by an ordinary lawe / it is lawfull to be abſent three yeeres and the realt with a litle mony may purchaſe the like diſpenſacions in the Archbiſhops court and market. Off the ſāe ſort alſo be thos bulls / that are bought in the ſame market that geue ycence off heaping ſo many churches or as they call them. Beneficies to gether, which Faculties (as they call them beſides the intollerable couetouſnes (wher with alſo for ſome mennes diligence in this behalffe is ioyned extreeme need and pouertie off a great nomber off other as commonly it commeth to paſſe wher a fewe men rake all vntounto them ſelues) bringe in a…ſo into the churche a neceſſitie off neglectinge off dewty / ſeinge yt is impoſſible that one ſhould be able to ſerue more churches and thos often tymes / the lenght off the whole land a ſonder. In which horrible deſtroyinge off the churche and neglectinge and for ſakinge the Lordes flock ſtreyinge in the mountaines and wandringe in the woodes with out a guyde (which he him ſelfe ſpared not to ſpēd his life for to bring yt into the way againe) we are in no part inferior to the Papiſtes them ſelues.

Is this then our diſcipline? is this that order (which ſome men often tymes praiſinge in wordes deſire nothinge leſſ in deed) Is this the gouernment and adminiſtracion off our churche / and yet no man may be ſuffred freely to ſpeake for the reformaciō of the churche and reſtoringe againe of the pure and perfit gouernmēt of the Apoſtles? Seinge thes are moſt manifeſtly contrary to the example off our Sauior Chriſt and off the Apoſtles / Seinge they threaten the certeyne ruyne and ouer throw off the churche / Seinge they do not only ſhake but turne vpward the pillers off the ſame / HaueHave we not Good cauſe to be moued bothe for the Glory off God and the ſaluacion of the churche / to requyre more holye ordinaunces and a better gouernment off the ſame? Can any man eſteeme thes light matters and off ſmall waight? that the ſacred Lawes off God are openly violated and broken with oute any ſhame / that the churche which Chriſt hath redemed with his bludd is neglected / That ther is no regard had off diſcharginge off dewties / That a man taketh to hym ſelfe which the Aungelles dare not / and that the Archbiſhopp dare geue the Paſtor leaue contrary to the expreſſe commandement off God / to forſake his flock / or graunt him ſuche priuiledges wheroff that ſame dothe neceſſaryly follow) which no Archangell may challendge to him ſelff? Or ſhall thos thinges alſo which I hauehave handled from the begynninge to this place be eſteemed ſmall faultes? to ground Eccleſiaſticall diſcipline not vponupon the word off God and the will off the Lord Ieſus?

Declaration of Ecclesiastical Discipline out of the Word of God, Tract (1 of 5)

p. 1Neceſſitye off Diſciplyne.

Neceſſitye off Diſciplyne.