Discipline Which Christ Hath Prescribed for the Government of His Church, Chapter 2
CHAP. 2.
EVery officer in the Church, must be placed in some calling warraunted by the worde of God, and some congregation must hauehave neede of such a one, before he be called to any function. Wherein are these propositions.
1 No calling is lawfull in the Churche,The first proposition. but that whiche is directly warraunted out of the word, vntounto him that executeth it.
The BB. and their adherentes thinke otherwise, as their practize in ordeyning Archbysh. L. Byshops, Deanes, Archdeacons, Chauncellors, officialls, &c. doth plainly declare.
2 The name and office of an Archb.The second proposition. is contrary to the word of God.
3 No man may be ordeined vntounto any office in the Church, vntill there be such a place void as he is fit for: T. C. 1. booke, page 61.
They thinke otherwise, as their making of so many ministers at once proueth, and as is holden, VVhitgist page 222.
1 The first is prooued thus:Reason for the first proposition Iohn. 1. 23. 25. If Iohn was constrayned to prooue his ministerie out of the Scriptures when the Priests accused him; then is no calling lawfull, that hath not his warrant in the word, for if any be priuiledged, the extraordinarye ministers (whereof he was one) are specially excepted: But he prooued his ministery by the word, as appeareth by his aunswere vntounto them, in the 23. verse. Therfore no calling is lawfull in the Church, that hath not his warrant in the word.
2 The callings vnderunder the Gospell must hauehave as good warrant as they had vnderunder the law, because the light of the Gospell is (at the least) as cleare as that of the law: But there was neuer any lawfull calling vnderunder the lawe (excepting those that were by miraculous manner confirmed from heauen) whiche had not his directe warrant out of the worde. Therefore no calling is lawfull in the Churche, whiche is not directly warranted in the word.
3 If Corath Dathan and Abiram (though they were Leuites) were punished for that theyNumb. 16. had no warrant for that which they presumed to take in hande, then is euerye lawfull calling, both in generall warranted out of the worde, & particularly layde vppon the parties from the Lorde: But the former is true, as the historie teacheth vsus: Therefore must the latter needes be true also.
4 That which giueth comfort vntounto a man in the time of his troubles, must hauehave a warraunt out of Gods worde: But euerye lawfull calling giueth comfort vntounto a man in the time of his troubles: Therefore eueryevery lawfull calling hath a warrant out of Gods word.
5 That which helpeth Gods people forward in godlines, must hauehave a warraunt out of Gods word: for God hath promised a blessing to his owne ordinance onelyonly: But eueryevery lawfull calling in the Churche, helpeth Gods people forward in godlines: Therefore euerie lawfull calling hath a warrant out of Gods word.
Therefore if Iohn did prooue his calling out of the Scriptures;The conclusion if euerye calling vnderunder the lawe, was warraunted out of the Scriptures; if Corath, &c. were punnished for enterprising that which they had no warrant for, out of the Scriptures; if comfort in troubles commeth onelyonly from the Scriptures; and lastly, if eueryevery helpe to godlines is warraunted in the Scriptures; then, &c.
They confesse all these reasons to be true, but do denie that the Archbish. L. B. &c. be distinct ministers from others. VVhigift page 303. which we holde T. C. 1. booke page 438 & prooue it thus.
1 Those thinges that hauehave diuers efficient causes, are diuers: Our BB. and the ministers of the worde hauehave diuers efficient causes, for the one is the ordinance of God, the other the constitution of humane pollicie, as themselues doe confesse: Therefore they are distinct ministers from others.
2 A diuers forme maketh diuers things: the minister… of the word, and the L. Byshops hauehave diuers formes: for their ordination (euen in the Church of England) is diuers, seeing one L. B. may ordaine a minister: But there must bee three to ordaine one of them: Therefore they are distinct ministers.
3 Members of one diuision are distincte one from another: the L. BB. and ordinarie ministers bee members of one diuision: for vsually the ministers be diuided into the rulers, & them that are to be ruled: therefore they are distinct ministers.
4 The things that hauehave diuers effects, are diuers in them-selues one from another: the L. BB. and other ministers hauehave diuers effects; for the one effecteth rule and gouernement, the other subiection and obedience: Therfore they are diuers and distinct ministers.
5 They that be imploied about diuers things are diuers one from another: The L. Bb. and the ordinary ministers, be imployed about diuers things, for the one is exercised in generall viewe of many congregations, and the other in the particular direction of one: Therfore they be distinct ministers.
6 That which is perpetuall, and that which may be taken away by men, are distinct one frō another: The office of the minister is perpetuall, Ephes. 4. 13. and the Bb. may be taken away as themselues do confesse: Therefore they are diuers, and distinct ministers.
Therefore if the ministers of the worde,The Conclusion and L. Bb. proceed from diuers causes; if they hauehave their being by diuers formes; if they be members of one diuision, which (in nature) cannot be one; if they produce diuers effectes; if they be exercized about diuers subiectes: lastly, if the one be perpetuall, and the other but for a time, then must it needes followe, that they are diuers & distinct ministers one from another. The name of an Archb. and also the office that he executeth, The 2. proposition & reasons for the proofe of it.is contrary to the vvord of God.
First,That the name of archb. may be giuen no man. the reasons that prooue it vnlawfull to giuegive the name vntounto any man in the Churche, are these.
1 No man may hauehave the name giuen him,1. Peter. 5. 4. Hebr. 13. 20. Actes 3. 15. 5. 31. Hebr. 12. 2. which is proper to our Sauiour Iesus Christe: But the name of Archb. is proper vntounto our Sauiour Iesus Christe, as appeareth in the places quoted: Therfore no man may hauehave the name of Archb. giuen vntounto him.
2 If the name Pope be therefore odious, because of that Antichrist, who is intituled therwith, then must also the name of Archb. when it is ascribed vntounto any mortal man; forsomuch as it is the title of a speciall member of that kingdom of Antichrist: But the former is true euen by their owne confession. VVhitgift page 300. Therefore must the latter be true also.
But they obiect diuers things against this,Obiections for the name of Archb. and answers therevnto for the proouing of the name Archb. to bee lawfully giuen vntounto some men, which together with their answers do briefly follow.
1 Obiection Clemens aloweth of those names,Whitgift page 318. as Polydor reporteth, lib. 4. cap. 12.
Ansvvere Polydor is but the reporter, and M. Iewell hath prooued euidently against Harding that Clemens is countefeite, and worthy of no credite.
2 Obiection Erasmus sayth that Titus was an Archbishop.
Ansvvere He spake as the times were wherein he liued: but that prooueth not that he helde him one in deed, no more then our naming of the Archb. of Canterburye, when we speake of him, prooueth that we like and allow his authoritie.
3 Obiection Anacletus sayth that Iames was the first Archb. of Ierusalem.
Ansvvere He is forged (as our aunswers to the papists hauehave shewed) but a witnes of better credit calleth him onelyonly a bishop, Euseb. lib. 2. cap. 23. and Simon bishop after him, lib. 3. cap. 22. & duplicate page duplicate page Iraeneus saith lib. 4. cap. 63. that the Apostles ordayned bishops eueryevery where, making no mention of Archb.
4 Obiection The Councell of Nice Canon 6. mentioneth a Metropolitan bishop.
Ansvvere That prooueth nothing, for it was onelyonly as much as to say, the Bish. of the chiefe Citie.
Secondly the reasons that prooue the office of the Archb.That the office of Archb. is vnlawfull. vnlawfull be these.
1 EueryEvery ministery that is lawful, must be of God: The office of the Archb. is not of God, for that he is not described in the worde, and themselues confesse that he is of humane pollicie: Therefore the office of the Archb. is vnlawfull.
2 That ministery whose original is vnknown, hath no warrant from Gods worde, and consequently is vnlawfull: The original of the Arch. is vnknowne as they confesse; VVhitgift page 351. Therefore it is vnlawfull.
3 That office which is needles in the church is also vnlawful to be exercised in the same: The office of the Archb. is needlesse, for the ministery is perfect without it, as the Apostle prooueth, Ephes. 4. 13. Therefore the office of an Archb. is vnlawfull.
4 If all the giftes needful for the perfecting of the Church, be appropriated vntounto other ministeries, then is his ministery vnlawful: But al the needful gifts, are appropriated vntounto pastors doctors, elders & deacons, whereof he is none▪ Therefore his office is vnlawful.
5 That office is vnlawful, which none may lawfully giuegive: But none may lawfully bestowe the office of an Archb. because none can giuegive any newe giftes to adorne him withall: Therefore his office is vnlawfull.
This reason being vsed of all sounde diuines against the pope, is of the same valewe against the Archb.
6 If the office of an Archb. be lawfull, then it is eyther in respect of his excellencie aboue other men, or the place whereof he is aboue other places: But neyther of these hauehave euer bene, neyther hereafter can be: Therefore that office is vnlawfull.
Therefore if the office of the Archb.The conclusion be not of God; if the original of it be vnknown; if in the Church it be needlesse; if all the gifts that God hath bestowed vppon his ministery be appropriated vntounto those Church officers, whereof he is none; if none may lawfully bestow such an office vponupon any; if it can neyther bee incident vntounto any one man for his excellencie, nor his place for preheminence: then must it needs follow, that his office is vnlawfull.
Caluin in his Institut. booke 4. cap. 11. sect. 7. alleadgeth diuers reasons to this purpose, and Beza in his booke of diuorcements, stretcheth the same to all the inferiour officers vnderunder him saying: Officials, proctors, promotours, and all that swinish filth, now of long time hath wasted the Churche. So doth Peter Martyr vppon the Rom. 13. speaking against ciuill Iurisdiction in Byshops, doth by the same reasons condemne it in their substitutes.
But this being the corner stone of their building, they labour to support it with many props the most special whereof are these.
1 Obiection Cyprian sayth, lib. 1. Epist. 3. ad Cornelium, Obiections for the office of the Archb: and answers thervnto.Neyther hauehave haeresies and schismes risen of anye other occasion, then of that, that the prieste of God is not obeyed, neyther one priest for the time, and one iudge for the time in the stead of Christ thought vponupon, to whome if the whole brotherhood woulde be obedient according to Gods teaching, no man woulde mooue any thing against the College of priests
Ansvvere This place is alleaged for the pope and the answere that M. Iewel and others make to it, serueth our turne: onelyonly let this be noted, that Cyprian speaketh of the people at Rome, that had receiued another bishop (besides Cornelius) who was an haeretike; for all the course of his writings, condemneth this superioritie. It is expounded by M. Iewel, booke 1. sect. 4. diuision 5. of eueryevery bishop: and so is it by M. Nowell against Dorman, booke 1. page 25. and also by M. Foxe, tom. 1. fol. 93. See T. C. in his 1. reply page 98. &c.
2 Obiection The authority of the Archb. preserueth vnitie.
Ansvvere Cyprian lib. 4. Epist. 9. sayth that vnitie is reserued by the agreement of bishopps, that is of ministers, one with another.
3 Obiection It compoundeth controuersies, that els would growe to many heades without any special remedie.
Ansvvere Cyprian lib. 1. Epist. 13. sayth that the plentifull body and company of Elders, are (as it were) the glewe of mutual concord, that if any of our companye be authour of haeresie, the rest should helpe.
4 Obiection … Ierome vponupon Tit. 1. sayth that in the beginning a bishop and priest (meaning a teaching Elder) were all one: but when men began to say, I am of Paule, I am of Apollo, &c. It was decreed that one shoulde be chosen to beare rule ouer the rest.
Ansvvere From the beginning it was not so: the sayinge of Tertull. Contra Prax. is fitt for this: that is true whatsoeuer is firste, and that is false whatsoeuer is latter: and Ierome sayth in the place alleaged, that this authority is by custome and not by any institution of God; if it had bene the best way to take away diuisions, the Apostles (in whose times the controuersies did arise) would hauehave taken the same order.
5 Obiection Caluine sayth that the Apostles had one among them to gouerne the rest.
Ansvvere That was not in superioritie, but for order to propound the matters, gather the voyces and such like; which is meete to be in eueryevery wel ordered meeting: but his authority is no more ouer the rest, thē the speaker in the Parliament hath ouer the other knightes and Burgesses.
6 Obiection Paule was superior to Timothy and Titus.
Ansvvere Paule and they had diuers offices, whereof the Apostles office was the chiefe, the like is to be sayd of Timothie and Titus, hauing superiority ouer the other ministers, for that they were Euangelists, a degree aboue ordinarie ministers.
Therefore if the place alleaged out of Cyprian,The conclusion make nothing for Archb. if vnity be not preserued by him, but by the Byshoppes among themselues; if his authoritie make nothing to the taking away of controuersies; if it be meerly inuented by man, and not from the beginning; if it be by custome, and not by any ordinance of God; if neyther one Apostle ouer the rest, nor any of them ouer the Euangelists, nor of the Euangelistes ouer the pastours and teachers, wil serue to prooue their authority: then must it needs follow, that it is vtterly vnlawful.
Non man may be ordayned vntounto any office in the Church,The 3. proposition and reasons for it. vntill there be such a place voyde as he is fit for, T. C. booke 1. page 61. VVhitgist, page 222.
1 As was the 12. place for Matthias, so is a certaine Church, to eueryevery Church officer: But Matthias was not ordained vntounto the place of an Apostle,Act. 1. 20 vntill Iudas by hanging himself, had made it voyde, Act. 1. 20. Therefore may none be ordained vntounto any office in the Church, before the place where he may be imployed, be destitute of such a one.
2 As the Apostles did in planting of the Churches, so must it bee done in the buyldinge thereof for euer: But they ordayned neyther pastour, teacher, elder or deacon, but to some certaine Church that had neede therof: Therfore may none bee ordayned vntounto any office, vntill a place be voyd that hath need of him.
3 Those thinges that bee of one beginning, continuance and ending, cannot be one, before or after another: But a minister, and the execution of his ministery in a lawfull standing be so; for they be relatiues, & hauehave reference one vntounto the other: Therfore a minister ought not be ordained before there be a ministery whervnto he is to be allotted.
4 If non ought to be called to be a shepherd, that hath no flocke of sheepe to keepe: neither any watchman, that is not allotted to som place to watch: then may none be ordayned to any office, before there be a place void for him: for ministers are in this sence tearmed shepheards and watchmen: But the former is true, as eueryevery simple man can easily perceiue: Therefore the latter is true also.
5 To do contrary to the precepts and practize of the Apostles is vnlawfull: But to ordain any officer, without a certain place wherin he may be imployed, is contrary to the precepts and practize of the Apostles, as it appeareth, Tit. 1. 5. Act. 14. 23. Therefore to ordayne any officer of the Churche, without a certayne place wherevnto he is to be allotted, is vnlawfull.
6 It was ordayned that no Elder,Councel Calc… don cap. 6. art. 15. Deacon, or any other Ecclesiastical officer, shoulde bee ordayned a Apolelymenos, that is loosely, or let at randone (but as afterward is expounded) specially in a Church of citie or towne.
7 The ordination that is made without a title,Concil. Vrbanum test▪ Gratuum dist. 70. let it be void: and in what Churche one is intituled, let him there remaine.
8 He complaineth that ministers were ordayned,Ierom ad Nepolita… being chosen by no Churche, and so went here and there, hauing no certaine place.
9 That action, which neuer is read to be practized, but by idolators is vnlawfull: To hauehave wandring officers, is onelyonly found to be in idolaters, as appeareth Iudg. 17. 8. Therefore it is vnlawfull.
Therefore,The Conclusion if the Apostles ordayned not Mathias, vntill the place was voide; if in planting of Churches, they euer alotted officers to their proper places; if minister and ministery be of one beginning, continuance and ending; if it be with a minister, and his ministery, as with a shepheard and his flocke, that he cannot be the one, but in respect of hauing the other; if it be vnlawfull to transgresse the precepts and practize of the Apostles; if no minister in the Church, be ordained at randone; if the ordination that is without a title be voyde; if Ierome complayned of it, as a great faulte in his time; if no example be founde of it, but in Idolaters: then must it needs follow, that to ordayne any Church officer, vntill there be such a place voyd as he is fit for, is vtterly vnlawfull: & so the Bb. making of many ministers at once, and licencing of wandring preachers, is contrary to the word of God.
They will hauehave some thing to saye for eueryevery action they doe,An obiection. be it neuer so shamefull: that which they alleage for this, is, that Paule and Barnabas did wander.
The Apostles office (and so the Euangelistes as assistants vntounto them) was to prech the word,The answere. and plant Churches in eueryevery part of the world: but the order that they left, is a president for vsus, which is that eueryevery Church hauehave their proper officers, and that there be no other elsewhere to be found.