Discipline Which Christ Hath Prescribed for the Government of His Church, Chapter 6 – Chapter 9
CHAP. 6.
BEfore consent be giuen to any man vntounto any calling in the Churche, it must appeare (by sufficient tryall, and due examination) that he is quallified with those giftes, that the worde of God requireth in one of that place, Discipl. Ecclesiast fol. 44. T. C. 2. booke: 1. part page 368. and in many other places.
They gainsay this in two points: first in mainteining their reading ministery: secondly, in gouerning the Church, by their commissaries and officialls: which both shalbe ouerthrown, if we prooue these two propositions following, to be true by the worde of God.
No man ought to bee receiued vntounto the ministery,The 1. Proposition. but such as be able to teache the trueth and conuince the gainsayers.
The Churche ought not to be gouerned by commissaries officialls and chauncellors.The 2. proposition.
1 He that may be receiued into the ministery,The 1. proposition is thus prooued. must be able to teach the people, whatsoeuer Christe hath commaunded. Matth. 28. 20. OnelyOnly he that is able to teache the trueth, and conuince the gainsayers, can teach the people whatsoeuer Christ hath commanded: Therefore none must be receiued into the ministery, but such as be able to teach, &c.
2 That which is to be done conditionally, may not be done, if that condition be not kept: Men are to be receiued into the ministery conditionally, that is, if they bee vnrepro…eable, Tit. 1. 5. 6. Therefore if they be not such as bee there discribed, they may not be receiued: and consequently, none may be receiued, but such as be able to teach. &c.
3 That which cannot be done without the manifest brech of Gods commandement, may not be done at all: To receiue any that be not able to teach, is a manifest breach of Gods cō maundement. 1. Tim. 3. 1. Tit. 1. 9. Therefore no man ought to be receiued into the ministerye, that is not able to teach, &c.
4 They whome the Lorde refuseth to be his ministers, may not be receiued into the ministery: for the ministery being the Lords haruest, we may admit none to labour therein, but onelyonly such, as he hath giuen liking of, by the rules of his worde: The Lorde refuseth to be his ministers, all those that cannot teach: Hosea 4. 6. Therefore such as are not able to teache, may not be receiued, and consequently none may be receiued, but those that be able to teach, &c.
5 He that may be admitted into the ministery, must be able to deuide the word of God aright, 2. Tim. 2. 15. OnelyOnly he that is able to teach and conuince the gainesayers, can deuide the worde of God aright: Therefore none may be admitted into the ministery, but he that is able to teach, &c.
6 He that may bee admitted into the ministery, must hauehave a treasury, furnished with olde thinges and newe, and must be able to bring it forth as occasion shal serue: Matth. 13. 52. OnelyOnly hee that is able to teache, &c. is such a one: Therefore onelyonly he may be admitted, &c.
7 He that can espy the enemy, and giuegive warning aforehand how to resist him, may be receiued into the ministery, Ezek. 33. 7. None can espy the enemie, and giuegive warning aforehande howe to resist him, but he that is able to teach: &c. Therefore none may be admitted into the ministery, but he that is able to teach, &c.
8 He that leadeth himselfe, and his people into hel, may not be admitted into the ministery: He that is not able to teache and conuince the gainsayer, leadeth himselfe and his people into hell. Matth. 15. 14. Therefore he that is not able to teache, &c. may not be admitted into the ministery.
9 Hee that preacheth not, but holdeth his peace,August. lib depa…. murdereth.
10 Hee that preacheth not,Gregor. 1. epist. 33 is not sent, and so he begetteth no fayth in man.
11 In that S. Paule requireth that a byshop should be wise,Ierome ad Oecumenium. he barreth those, that vnderunder the name of simplicitye, excuse the follye of ministers.
12 We condemne all vnmeet ministers,Confes. Helues. not endued with gifts necessary for a shepherd that should seed his flocke.
Therfore, if a minister must teache vntounto his people all that Christe hath commaunded; if none may be made ministers, but conditionally, if they be quallified with gifts meete for the same; if vnpreaching ministers cannot be made without the manifest breach of the commaundement of God; if they may not bee made ministers, whom the Lord refuseth to hauehave; if eueryevery minister must hauehave a treasurie well furnished, and be able to bring forth of it when need requireth; if eueryevery minister must hauehave skill to see the enemie, and to giuegive warning aforehand how to resist him; if vnlearned ministers draw their people to hell after them; if he that preacheth not, be a murtherer; if he be not sent, & so doe no good: if he be barred from the ministery: lastly, if he be condemned, as not to be in such a place: then must it needes followe, that none may be receiued into the ministery, but such as be able to teach the trueth, and to conuince the gainsayer.
Many are the arguments that be alleaged to this purpose, and many moe may be alleadged, (for the whole course of the scriptures tende therevnto) the testimony of all sorts of writers, is very plentifull for this purpose: yea of the very Canon law, (as the authour of the Abstracte hath learnedly prooued) and yet doe not our prelates rest in the same, but hauehave sett themselues (though in a silly maner) against it, in this sort that followeth.
1 Obiection There must bee reading in the Church, therefore a reading ministery, VVhitgift page 252.
Ansvvere By that reason we must hauehave an officer for eueryevery particular action, for there must be breaking of bread in the Church, and powring of water; but it followeth not, that therefore there must bee one, whose office must bee onelyonly to breake bread, or to powre water.
2 Obiection It is better to hauehave readers then none, for preachers cannot be had for euerye congregation.
Ansvvere It is not better, for if they had non, they would seek for him that they should hauehave; whereas nowe, they that hauehave a reader onelyonly, thinke themselues in case good inough: but if there be such want of prechers, why are so many of the most diligent and able ones turned out.
3 Obiection It is impossible to hauehave prechers eueryevery where, and suche as can be had, must bee taken.
Ansvvere Sometimes you say all is well: and is it now impossible that our state shoulde obey the Lordes ordinance; this is the greatest disgrace to it that can be: and yet i… followeth not, for no necessitie may warrant vsus, to violate the decrees of the highest.
4 Obiection It were vncharitablenes to turne them out that be bare readers, for so they, their wiues and children might beg.
Ansvvere This is to sell mens souls for morsels of bread: shall we rather feare the begging of 3. or 4. then the damnation of 1000. but they may bee otherwayes prouided for; they neede not beg, many of them may returne to their occupations againe.
So that al these obiections notwithstanding, the conclusion remaineth sure, which is grounded vponupon so many certaine and vnmooueable foundations.
The Churche ought not to be gouerned by Commissaries, and officialls, and Chauncellors.The …. propo… tion is thus prooued.
1 They which are no Elders of the Church, hauehave nothing to do in the gouernement of the same, 1. Tim 5. 17. These chauncellors, commissaries & officialls, are no Elders in the Church; whether we expound Elder for a minister, and him also, that is assistant vntounto the minister in ouerseeing the Churche, or for a minister onelyonly as they do: for none of them be ministers, and if they be, they doe not rule in this respect, that they are ministers: Therefore the Churche ought not to be gouerned by them.
2 They that must gouerne the Churche of God, must hauehave a warraunt for their so doing, from Iesus Christ the head of the Church: But Chauncellors, &c. hauehave no warraunt so to doe, from Iesus Christe the heade of the Churche: Therefore the Church ought not to be gouerned by them.
3 Those whose names offices and practize, be deriued from Antichrist, may hauehave nothing to do in the gouernement of the Churche: for who will suffer his wife to be gouerned by the Master of a brothelhouse: But the names, offices, and practize of Chauncellors, officialls and commissaries be such, which is playne by this, that they hauehave their grounde in that filthie dunghill the cannon law: Therefore they may hauehave nothing to do in the gouernement of the Church.
4 They that being iuferiours, doe proudly tyrannize ouer their superiours, ought not to rule the Church of God, for it is meet it should be ruled by modest, humble and orderly men: But such are they (for being inferiors to the ministers of the word, as our aduersaries doe confesse, and is plaine also by the cannon lawe they crow ouer thē as if they wer their slaues:) and if they doe not so, they can doe nothing: Therefore they ought not to rule the Churche of God.
5 They that liue by the faultes of men, are not fit to rule the Church of God: for they wi… rather increase offences (that their gayne may increase) then orderly lessen them, as experience (also) prooueth: But suche are all Chauncellors, commissaries and officials: Therefore they ought not to rule the Church of God.
Therefore, if chauncellors, commissaries & officialls be no Elders of the Churche; if they hauehave no warraunt from Iesus Christe, the head of the Church; if their names, offices and practize, be deriued from Antichrist; if their office compel them (being inferiors) to tyrannize ouer their superiours; if they liue onelyonly by the faults and offences of men: then it must needs followe, that the Churche of God ought not to be gouerned by them.
CHAP. 7.
EVery officer of the Church must be ordayned by the laying on of the handes of the Eldershipp, T. C. 2. booke, 1. part page 274. Discip. Ecclesiast. fol. 53.
They say it ought to be done by the bishopp alone, VVhitgift page 196. their dayly practize doth likewise shew it.
The former is prooued, and the latter disprooued by these reasons following.
1 As Church officers were ordayned in the Apostles time, so must they be continually, for they did lay the plot, according wherevnto the Churche must be built vntounto the ende: but they were ordayned in the Apostles time by the laying on of the hands of the Eldership, Act. 6. 6. & 13. 3. Therefore the Churche officers must be ordayned by laying on of the handes of the Eldership.
2 Churche officers must bee ordayned by them that hauehave warrant from the worde, to assure the parties ordayned, that they are called of God: OnelyOnly the Eldership hath suche a warrant, 1. Tim. 4. 14. Therefore they ought to bee ordayned by the Eldership.
3 Many of the sentences alleadged before, out of Councells, Emperors, lawes, histories, & sound writers both olde and newe, for election not to be by one, but by diuers; speake also of ordination, and so are forcible to this purpose.
4 Euagrius came to the office of a Bishopp vnlawfully,Theo…oret booke 5. cap. 23 because onelyonly Paulmus ordayned him, contrary to the tenure of many Cannons, which prouide, that they should not be ordayned, but by all the Bishops of the prouince, or (at the least) by three.
5 When a Bishop is to be ordayned, &c. one bishop shal pronounce the blessing,4. Concil. Carthag. cap. 23. and the rest of the bishops with the Elders present, shall all lay on their hands.
6 When a bishopp was to be ordayned,Cyprian lib. 1 …pist. 4. the bishops adioyning did ordayne him.The Conclusion.
Therefore if Church officers were ordained in the Apostles time, not by one, but by the Eldershipp, consisting of many; if they be to ordayne, that hauehave warrant out of the worde, to assure the parties ordayned, that they are called of God; if ordination by one bishop be vnlawfull and contrary to many canons of Councells; if the bishops and Elders were to laye on their hands: lastly, if the bishops adioyning were to ordayne; then must it needes followe, that Church officers are not to be ordained by one man, but by the laying on of the handes of the Eldership.
But they fight hard against this, because it striketh at a maine pillar of their kingdome, their chiefe grounds be these.
1 Obiection Paule and Barnabas ordayned Elders, where is no mention of any Eldership.
Ansvvere They are said to ordaine, because they being the chiefe procured it; so is Ioshua, 5. 3. saide to circumcise, which was the Leuites office, so say we, the Queene hath made a lawe, and yet not she alone maketh any.
2 Obiection Though it were so then, yet is it not so required nowe, no more then the communitie in the Apostles time.
Ansvvere There was no more communitie then (for they that thinke otherwise, are in that point Anabaptists) then is to be required now, so that instance maketh for vsus.
3 Obiection Examples are no general rules to be followed.
Ansvvere Examples not contrarying anye rule, or reason of the Scripture, be to be followed, as if they were commaundementes, so that notwithstanding any thing aledged to the contrary, it remaineth vponupon the former groundes most stedfast, that it belongeth to the Eldership to ordaine those Churche officers that are to be imployed in the publike seruice of God.
CHAP. 8.
THe ordaining of Churche officers must be done with humble prayer of the Eldership, and the congregation, Discipl. Ecclesiast. fol 50.
Their vnreuerent beginning & proceedding therewith in a corner, is contrary to this: which is condemned by the proofe of our assertion by these reasons.
1 We are to behaue our selues in these actions, as they by whom we hauehave direction to doe them, hauehave set vsus an example: But the Apostles and Elders, when they ordayned Church officers, did alwayes commende the action to God by prayer, together with those congregations, ouer which they placed them, Act. 6. 6. & 14. 23. Therefore the ordeyning of Churche officers must be done by humble prayer of the Eldership, and congregation.
2 The greater the action is that is in hand, the more carefull must they be that hauehave it in hand, to humble themselues by prayer, for the Lords assistance therein: But the ordeyning of Churche officers, is an action of most weightie importance: Therefore they that hauehave it in hand (which be the Eldershipp to ordayne him, & congregation to receiue him) ought to humble themselues in earnest prayer before hand.
3 They that shall hauehave part in the comfort or discomfort of the action, are to ioyne together in prayer vntounto God for the better euent, and against the worse: But the Eldershipp and people, shall both hauehave part in the euent of the action: Therefore they are to ioyne together in humble prayer before hand, &c.
CHAP. 9.
CHurche officers must be ordayned by laying on of hands; in this they agree with vsus, concerning the ceremonie it selfe, albeit neyther in the parties by whome, nor on whome it must be conferred. The profit of this ceremonie appeareth in the reasons following.
1 That which stirreth vp euerye partie, to pray with more feruencie, is profitable to be vsed: But such is this ceremonie, for it affecteth the ordeyners, when they feele him for whom they pray; and the ordeyned when he feeleth a calling and charge from God (as it were) sensiblie comming vponupon him, and the congregation, when they see him seperated from the rest, by whome they shall reape muche comfort or griefe: Therefore the vse of it is very profitable.
2 That which helpeth forward the party ordained in his care, to walke with a good conscience in his calling, is profitable to be vsed: Such is the imposition of hands, for both it declareth vntounto him, that he is separated of God for that purpose, & also giueth him hope, that his hand who allotted him therevnto, will alwayes assist him in the course of that calling: Therefore it is of a profitable vse.
3 That which worketh a more acknowledgment of Gods ordinance in the heartes of the people, is profitable to be vsed: Such is the laying on of handes, for it declareth vntounto them, that the Lorde hath placed him in that calling ouer them: Therefore it is profitable to bee vsed.
Therefore seeing the ceremonie of layinge on handes is forcible,The conclusio… to increase the feruencie of eueryevery partie, when they pray; seeing it assureth the calling to the partie ordayned, and giueth him an argument of good hope, for the blessing of God vppon him in the course of the same; and seeing it procureth a more perswasion in the people, that he is allotted vntounto them from the Lord himselfe; it is euident that it is not a vaine and idle ceremonie (as manie do imagine) but of good and profitable vse, in al ordinations.