A General View of Papistry, Book 1 · Controversy 5 · Question 3
THE THIRD QVESTION CONCERNING THE degrees and orders of ecclesiasticall ministers.
THis question hath 3. parts: first of the 7. degrees of popish priesthood. Secondly, of the difference and distinction of Bishops & other Ministers. Thirdly, of the institution of Cardinals, a new degree of the popish Clergie.
THE FIRST PART OF THE SEVEN degrees or orders Ecclesiasticall.
The Papists.
THough they hauehave diuers degrees of dignitie in the Church, as Popes, Cardinals, Patriarkes, Primates, and such like: yet they make but seuen error 69 Ecclesiasticall orders, which are conferred solemnlie by certayne rites and ceremonies by their Bishops: And they are these, Ostiarij, doore-keepers, Exorcistae, Exorcists, Lectores, Readers, Acolythi, Attenders, Subdiaconi, Subdeacons, Diaconi, Deacons, and the highest degree, Sacerdotes, Priests; vntounto the which all the other are but rises and steppes. All these they maintaine to be Ecclesiasticall orders, and to be retayned in the Church, Bellarm. cap. 11. Rhemist. 1. Tim. 3. sect. 7.
They hauehave no proofe nor warrant out of scripture, for these friuolous orders, but onelyonly a shew of antiquitie, as they alleadge certaine Canons out of the 4. Councel of Carthage, where such offices are reckoned vp, Rhemist. ibid.
Answere: First, to let passe this, that the Councel may be suspected for the credite thereof, seeming wholly to be patched out of the Popes decrees. Secondly, we denie not but they had such offices, as Readers, to reade the text of the scriptures, exorcists to cast out diuels, which was an extraordinary gift for that time, Acoluthists, young men appoynted to attend vponupon the Bishop for their better instruction: Doore-keepers, that kept the entrie of the Church that no heathen person or excommunicate should enter. But these were both diuers offices, then are now appoynted for them in the popish Church: for they make them now, all or the most ministers and seruitors for the idolatrous seruice of the Masse, which in those dayes was not heard of: neither though there were such offices and seruices in the Church, were they made orders and degrees of the ministerie.
3 They had other offices beside, which now are not in vse, no not amongst the papists: for they had also singers, labourers, confessors, diggers or Sextons: so that if you will make all those offices vsed in time past in the Church, so many orders of the ministery, you must make ten or eleuen: more, then you doe acknowledge, or vse in your Church, Fulk. annot. 1. Tim. 3. sect. 7.
The Protestantes.
THe question is not betweene vsus and our aduersaries in this place, concerning the titles and dignities annexed to the ministerie, as of Bishops, Archdeacons, Deanes, Prouosts, but of the seuerall orders of the Ministery: For Bishops and other ministers doe not differ in order, but in office of gouernment: They holde that there are seuen seuerall such orders, which hauehave their seuerall rites of consecration, and peculiar offices in the Church allotted them. But we content ourselues with those orders onelyonly and degrees as necessary, which the holy scripture hath commended, Fulk. ibid.
1 As for the names and offices of Subdeacons, Readers, Exorcists, Acolythi, doore-keepers, we hauehave no such warrant out of the scripture, to make them orders of the Church: and therefore we condemne them. All necessary orders for the edifying & building of the Church, the scripture hath prescribed vsus, Eph. 4.11. there are al offices set down needful for the doctrine, instruction, & edifying of the Church: Fulk. Ephes. 4. sect. 4. Wherefore away with these popish orders, inuented by men. But as for vnable offices and seruices, which shall be thought meete for the affayres and busines of the Church, they may bee retayned and kept, but not as new orders of the ministerie.
2 These offices are first Idolatrous, as they are nowe vsed among the papists, for the Deacons, Subdeacons, Acolythi, were to attend vponupon the Priest at Masse. Secondly, some of their offices were ridiculous, as to sweepe the Church, to driue out dogs, and to holde a fly-flap of Peacoks feathers, to keep the flies from falling into the cōmunion cup.Clemens constitut. lib. 8. cap. 15 Thirdly, they were distinguished, by ridiculous ornaments & attire, which were proper to eueryevery one of them: as it shall appeare now in their description.
From the Priest when he was disgraded, they tooke the Chalice, patine, and host, that he should hauehave no power any more to offer sacrifice: they scraped his nayles with a peece of glasse, and so tooke away his annoynting: and lastly, they tooke away his priestly ornamēts, the Che…ile, which signified charitie, the Stole, that represented the signe of our Lord. Frō the Deacons in their disgradation, they tooke first the booke of the Gospels, and so all power to read the Gospels: Then they tooke away his Dalmatike a signe of his Leuiticall office, and the white Stole behinde his backe that signified innocencie.
From the Subdeacon they tooke the book of the Epistles, that he should hauehave no more power to reade them, also the emptie Chalice, and Subdeacons vesture: his office was to serue and minister to the Deacons at the Altar.
The Acolythi did light the candles in the Church, and brought wine and water to the altar in pitchers and bottels: and in his degradation there was taken from him, an emptie flaggon or bottle, and a candlestick, with a waxe candle put out.
The order of exorcisme was taken away, by depriuing him from power to reade in the booke of exorcismes.
From the Reader they tooke the booke of Church lectures or lessons. Last of all, from the doore-keeper was taken the keyes of the Church: And so was hee depriued of all power to open or shut the Church doores, and to ring the bels. Ex Fox pag. 2134.
Thus we see, how much these offices are degenerate from the ancient vse: First, they are all but Ministers and attendants for the abominable sacrifice of the masse, which in those dayes was not knowen, for the Acoluthus or waiter waiteth vponupon the Subdeacon, the Subdeacon vponupon the Deacon, and all of them vponupon the Priest at Masse. Secondly, whereas then the Exorcists had a peculiar grace of God to cast out diuels: their Exorcists do but reade certaine exorcismes in bookes, their Readers onelyonly read the text of scripture: now they reade the legends of popish saints. Then in time of persecution, when Christians assembled in the night, the wayters had the charge to light the candles, but now they doe light them at noone day.
3 These offices hauehave not been in vse these many yeares among the papists themselues: for many times the Sexton or his boy, doe execute the charge both of Acolites, Ostiaries and Readers, yea of Deacons and Subdeacons also, when the Priest with his boy can dispatch a Masse. Neither are these orders retayned amongst them, for any especiall seruice or office, but onelyonly as praeparatories, and steps and degrees to the priesthood, Fulk. annot. 1. Timoth. 3. sect. 7.
THE SECOND PART OF THE DIFFErence of Bishops and other Ministers.
The Papists.
WE differ from them in two poynts: First, they say, that Bishops are not onelyonly in a higher degree of superioritie to other Ministers, but they are as Princes of the Clergie, and other Ministers as subiects, and in all things to bee commaunded by them. Secondly, they affirme that Bishops are onelyonly properly Pastors, and that to them onelyonly it doth appertaine to preach, and that other Ministers hauehave no authoritie without their license or consent, to preach at all, and that not principally or chiefely, but solie and wholie to them appertayneth the right of consecrating and giuing orders.
For the first, for the princely authoritie of Bishops, whom they would hauehave obeyed in all things; they wrast these and such like places of scripture: as 2. Cor. 1.9. I write vntounto you, to know whether you will be obedient in all things, Ergo, they must be absolutely obeyed. Answere: the Apostle challengeth only obedience in such things, as he should commaund agreeable to Gods word, for if I my selfe (sayth he) preach another Gospell, holde me accursed, Galat. 1. Fulk. annot. 1. Cor. 2. sect. 3.
2 Against an Elder receiue no accusation vnderunder two or three witnesses, 1. Tim. 5.19. Ergo, the authority of Bishops is absolute and princelike: Videmus Episcopum iudicem esse presbyterorum, proinde verum principem, wee see the Bishop is the iudge of the Elders, Ergo, a prince ouer them, Bellarm cap. 14.
Answere: First, it followeth not, Bishops hauehave iurisdiction and authoritie ouer other Ministers, Ergo, they are princes ouer them. Can there be no preeminence and superioritie in the Church, but it must needes be princelike? Is eueryevery iudge a prince ouer those, which are brought before him to be iudged? 2. Timothie had no such princelike authority, for here it is restrained & limited, a rule is set down by the Apostle which he must obserue: Ergo, his authoritie was not absolute. Thirdly, Saint Paul was so farre off from making Timothie a prince in the Church at Ephesus, that he would rather hauehave him not to rebuke, but to exhort the Elders as fathers, the younger men as brethren, cap. 5.1. Where now is his princely authoritie become, whereas he maketh his subiects (as our aduersaries call inferior Ministers) his fathers and brethren?
For the second, the Apostles properly had the preaching of the word committed vntounto them, Act. 6. For other were chosen to attend vponupon tables: the Apostles also onelie had the right of laying on of hands, Act. 14.23. Ergo, It is proper onelyonly to Bishops to preach, and to ordayne, who are the Apostles successors, Bellarmin.
Answere: First, Bellarmine denieth that Bishops doe properly succeed the Apostles, de pontifice lib. 4.25. because he would magnifie the Pope his ghostly father aboue all Bishops: but now forgetting himselfe, hee sayth, Episcopi propriè succedunt Apostolis, Bishops doe properly succeede the Apostles, cap. 14. & so by this reason eueryevery Bishop hath as ful authoritie as the Pope. Secondly,Fulk annot. Iohn 20. sect. 3. eueryevery godly & faithful Bishop is a successor to the Apostles, we denie it not, & so are all faithfull and godly pastors & Ministers: for Christ prayeth for them all indifferently, hauing first praied for his Apostles, Iohn 17.20. I pray not for these alone, sayth our Sauiour, but for al them which shal beleeue in me through their word. Thirdly, at that time when the Deacons were elected, the congregation was at Ierusalem, neither were there as yet any other Pastors ordained, & therefore the Apostles only attēded vponupon preaching of the word: but afterward when they had ordayned Pastors in other Churches, to them also fully was committed the word of reconciliation, Ephes. 4.11. Christ hath giuen some to be Apostles, some Prophets, some Pastors and teachers: So that Pastors & teachers, though ordained first by the Apostles, yet had their calling of God, and together in their calling, authoritie and commission to preach, neither being once ordayned, needed they to expect anie further license from the Apostles.
And as for the right of ordayning and imposition of handes, though it were chiefly in the Apostles, yet the Pastors and Elders together with them layde on their handes, Act. 13.4. Yea the Rhemists confesse as much, that when a Priest is to be ordered, the rest of the Priests together with the Bishop doe lay on their hands, Annotat. 1. Timoth. 4.18. What doth this else signifie, but that they hauehave some interest in ordayning together with the Bishop? The law also must be changed, Heb. 7.12. that is, the manner and forme of the priesthood. But we easily see your drift: you would gladly hauehave vsus like of this argument, that in stead of a high Priest in the law, you might bring a Pope into the Church.
The Protestantes.
FIrst, though we doe admitte, that for auoyding of schisme, the Church hath thought it meete, there should be difference in degree and a superioritie among Ministers, yet your princely dominion which you doe vrge, in no wise must be admitted.
1 It is contrary to the rule of Christ. Luk. 22.25. the Kings of the nations are Lords ouer them, and they that hauehave authoritie ouer them, are called benefactors: Here our Sauiour speaketh not of tyrannical dominion (for how could tyrants be benefactors?) but forbiddeth, that there should be any such princelike and pompous preeminence among ecclesiasticall persons, as there is among secular and ciuill gouernours: A superioritie may be graunted, but not as the Prince is ouer his subiects: it was so in time of popery, that the people were halfe subiects to the Prince and halfe subiects to their spirituall gouernours: But though we acknowledge other ecclesiasticall fathers and pastors, yet we are subiects onelyonly to our prince.
2 Saint Peter also is flat against this princely rule and dominion, Feede the flock, sayth he, not as Lords ouer Gods heritage, but that you may bee ensamples, 1. Pet. 5.3. But are not they, I pray you, Lords ouer the flock, that challenge to be princes?
Secondly, concerning the power of preaching, we affirme, that eueryevery pastor once ordayned, hath sufficient authoritie to preach in his owne flocke and charge,Fox. p. 454. as Iohn Husse notably prooued to their face out of a certayne glose in the fift booke of the decretals, that when as the Bishop ordayneth anie Priest, he giueth him also therewithall authoritie to preach. Wee denie not, but when there is iust occasion, this authoritie maybe restrayned by the Church gouernours, and so also may an euill Minister be suspended from his whole ministerie: But the power before spoken of, hee hath at his first receiuing of orders: We thus shew it.
Whatsoeuer belongeth to the office of a Minister set ouer a flocke or charge, hee receiueth the power thereof when he is ordayned: But to preach the word, belongeth to the office of such: for preaching is properly the feeding of the people.
But see the absurditie of the papists: they say it is not proper to the priesthood to preach, but onelyonly to hauehave power to sacrifice the body of Christ: But it is proper to the Bishop, say they, to preach. We answere: First, then the Bishop is properly the pastor of eueryevery flocke and congregation in his diocesse, for hee that properly feedeth, is properly the Pastor: And hee that is properly the Pastor, hath the charge of soules properly, yea more, then hath the particular Pastor: for he is improperly their Pastor, but as it were the Bishops substitute and Vicar: But what Bishop in the worlde is able to beare so great a burthen, to hauehave the especiall and proper charge of all the soules in his diocesse? It is not to be denied, but he hath a charge of their soules, as a Christian Prince also hath in some respect of his subiects: but to say hee is the proper Pastor, and hath the proper & principall charge of soules in teaching and feeding of them (for the question is now of preaching, not of gouerning) who is able to abide it? Secondly, but our Rhemists tell vsus another tale, that many that are not able to preach, are meete enough to bee Bishops, 1. Timoth. 5. sect. 13. Ergo, it is not proper to Bishops neither to preach. I pray you then, for whom is it proper? if neither for Bishops nor inferior Pastors, then for none. Thirdly, they make but seuen orders of Ecclesiasticall Ministers, and the priesthood is the chiefe: for a Bishop and a priest make but one order, as Bellarmin. confesseth cap. 11. But to none of all these orders it is proper to preach: for seeing it is not proper to the priest, none of the inferior orders can challenge it. See then what goodly orders these are, which leaue the very chiefe parte of the ministery vndone, which is the preaching of the word. I thinke their meaning is, that this preaching is not so necessary a dutie, but may be well spared in the Church.
2 That which a man is bound to doe vnderunder paine of the curse of GOD, that he may lawfully performe in due order without the leaue of men: but a woe is layd vponupon them that preach not the Gospell, where they are bound, 1. Cor. 9.16.Fox. p. 453 Ergo. Argum. Wicliffi.
3 A man is bound to giuegive corporal almes to the poore, the needie, the hungry, the thirstie, neither is he to craue leaue of any: Ergo, much more to teach the ignorant, to comfort the weake, and doe other dueties appertayning to his charge, Argum. Wicliffi.
Concerning the power of giuing orders: As Saint Paul speaketh of the laying on of his handes, 2. Timoth. 1.6. so he maketh mention of imposition of hands by the Eldership: 1. Timoth, 4.14. And the Rhemists vpō that place mislike not the practise of the Church, that their Priests doe lay on their handes together with the Bishop vponupon his head that is to be ordayned. So that by this it is manifest, that imposition of hands doth not wholly and folie belong vntounto the Bishop, seeing the rest of the Elders were wont to lay on their hands likewise, or the Bishop in the name of the rest, Fulk. annot. Tit. 1. sect. 2. So that the Elders were not excluded.
THE THIRD PART, CONCERNING THE office and title of Cardinals.
The Papists.
BEllarmine would faine hauehave the office of Cardinals, as ancient as the Apostles error 72 times: and the name to be worthilie appropriated to the See of Rome, that as the Pope himselfe by his prudence and holines, is, tanquam cardo Ecclesiae, to the Church as the hingell to the dore, vponupon the which it is turned and borne vp: so his Counsellers and assistants should be called Cardinals, hauing the care of the Vniuersall Church: but the Iesuite, beside some vaine shew of mothworne antiquitie, hath not one good argument to proue the name, and office of Cardinals, to be either ancient or commendable. Then especiall office, as they are Cardinals, is to elect and chuse the Pope, and to be assistant vntounto him in Counsell, for the gouernement of the vniuersall Church, Bellarm. cap. 16.
The Protestants.
THat neither the name of Cardinals, as proper to Rome, is ancient, nor their office, or either of them lawfull or commendable, but vsurped and Antichristian, thus briefely it is shewed.
1 In Augustines time it was a common name, vsually applied, both in the good and euill parte, to chiefe and principall men of any place, or sect: as he calleth the ringleaders of the Donatists, Cardinales Donatistas, Cardinall or captaine Donatists: de baptism. lib. 1. cap. 6. Surely, if it then had been onelyonly due to the assistants of the Romane Bishop, Augustine had been much to blame to applie the name to Heretikes.
2 Augustine thus writeth to Hierome, Quamues secundum honorum vocabula, saith hee, Episcopatus presbyterio maior sit, tamen in multis rebus Augustin. Hieronim. minor est. Though according to the custome of the Church, a Bishop be greater then a Priest, yet Augustine a Bishop in many things is inferior to Hierome a Priest. Now Hierome was a Priest of Rome, and a Cardinall, as our aduersaries say,Epistol. 19. and therefore they picture him commonly in a red gowne and habite of a Cardinall: yet you see Augustine as a Bishop was before him, though for his great learning he putteth himselfe behinde him.
3 Augustine in another place complaineth of one Falcidius a Deacon of Rome, qui duce stultitia, saith hee, diaconos presbyteris coaequare contendit: who being led or carried away with follie,Quaest. vet. & nou. Testa. 101. did goe about to make Deacons equall vntounto Priests. Is not the same follie now generally practised in Rome, or a greater? for they doe not onelyonly preferre Cardinall Deacons before Priests, but euen before Bishops and Archbishops: in Augustines time, this was counted a great follie.
4 Concerning the office of Cardinals in the electing of the Pope, we hauehave shewed before, quest. 2. part. 2. that it is of no great antiquitie: and that it is iniurious to three estates, to the Emperor, who was wont to cōfirme the election, to the Clergie of Rome, who had in times past interest in the election, and to the people, whose consent was also in time past required: But now all these are excluded, and the matter is wholly referred to the Chapter of Cardinals.