Abridgment of Institutes of the Christian Religion, Book 4 · Chapter 3
CHAP. III. Of the teachers and miniſters of the Church, of their election and office.
1 BVt though God be able to gouerne & teach the Church, either by him ſelf, or by Angels,Why the church is gouerned by men. yet there be three cauſes for which he had rather hauehave this done by men. Firſt he declareth his good will toward vsus, when he taketh from among men, ſuch as ſhould be his embaſſadours in the world, and repreſent his perſon *. Secondly, this is the beſt exerciſe vntounto humilitie,2 Cor. 5.20 1 Cor. 3.16 1 Cor. 4.7. when as he acquainteth vsus to obey his worde, howe ſo euer it be preached by men, like to vsus*. Laſt of all nothing is more fit to nouriſh mutuall louelove, then that men ſhould be knit together with this bonde, when one is made Paſtour to teach the reſt, and the ſcholers receaue from one mouth common doctrine. All this miniſterie doeth Paule deuide into fiue thinges when he ſaith *, The ſame hath made ſome Apoſtles,Eph. 4.4. The diuiſion of the miniſterie ſome Prophetes, ſome Euangeliſtes, ſome Paſtours, and teachers, vntounto the reſtoringe of the Saincts, &c.
2 In theſe wordes he teacheth two thinges: firſt that the miniſterie which God vſeth in gouerning his Church is the principall bond wherby the faithfull are knit together in one bodie. Secondlie that the Church can by none other meanes be kept in ſafetie, vnleſſe it be vpholden with theſe props and helps, wherin it hath pleaſed the Lord to place the ſafetie thereof. For neither the light and heate of the Sunne, or meate and drinke,The neceſſitie of preaching the word. A ſimilitude are ſo neceſſary for this preſent life, as is the Apoſtolike and paſtorall function, for preſeruinge the Church vppon earth.
3 Furthermore, God did ſet forth this worthines with ſuch titles as he could, ſaying, that their feete are beautifull, and their comming bleſſed which bring tidinges of peace *.Ieſ. 52.7. That they are the light of the world: the ſalt of the earth: and the miniſters of the Spirite, of ſaluation, and of eternall life*2 Cor. 3.9..Mat. 5.13.14 Therfore did he ſend Peter to Cornelius*, & Paule to Ananias*Act. 10.3..
4 The Apoſtles hauehave no certaine boundes appointed them, but the whole world is aſſigned them to be brought vnderunder the power of Chriſt*Act. 9.6. Mat. 16, 15. Apoſtles. Prophets. Euangeliſts. Paſtors. Doctors.. Not all thoſe which were interpreters of the will of the Lord were Prophetes: but ſuch as excelled in ſingular reuelation. Euangeliſtes were leſſer in dignitie then the Apoſtles, and next them in office: Paſtours are ſuch as beare rule of diſcipline and the adminiſtration of the Sacramentes: but Doctours onelyonly of interpreting the Scripture. Of theſe, onelyonly the two laſt remayne in the Church: the other three the Lorde rayſed vp in the beginning of his kingdome.
5 Therfore the ſame likelihood which our Doctors hauehave with the old prophets, the ſame hauehave our Paſtours with the Apoſtles. The office of the Prophets was more excellent, by reaſon of the ſingular gift of reuelation wherein they did excel, but the office of the doctors hath almoſt like reſpect.
6 For the office of the Apoſtles was to preach the Goſpell, and to baptize thoſe which beleeued, vntounto remiſſion of ſinnes*. Paul appointeth the ſame office to Paſtors,Mat. 28.9. Luk. 22.19. 1 Cor. 3.1. namely to preach the Goſpell, & to miniſter the Sacramentes*. As for the order of teaching it conſiſteth not onelyonly in publike ſermons, but it appertaineth alſo vntounto priuate admonitions*,Tit 1.9 Act. 20.10.31. but that which the Apoſtles did to all the whole world, that doth the Paſtour to his flocke.
7 We aſſigne to euerie Paſtor his Church.Let paſtors hauehave their Churches Yet they may helpe other Churches, if anie thing happen which requireth their preſence, but they muſt not thinke vponupon remouing, neither ought they for their owne commoditie to ſeeke to be at libertie. Againe if it be expedient for anie to be tranſlated to an other place, let him not attempt this on his owne heade, but let him wayte for the publike authoritie.
8 And they are called Biſhops, Elders, Paſtors, Miniſters, without difference, which rule Churches. Hitherto concerning the offices which conſiſt in the miniſterie of the worde. But there be other alſo*, as powers, the gift of healing,Rom. 12.7. 1 Cor. 12.28. interpretation, gouernment, caring for the poore, whereof two remaine, gouernment and care for the poore. Gouernours were Elders choſen out of the multitude, which ſhould beare rule together with the Biſhops in cenſuring manners and exerciſing diſcipline*.Rom. 12.7. Therefore euerie Church from the beginning had her Senate gathered of godly, graue, and holie mē, who had authoritie to correct vice.The conſiſtorie of the Elders Which is neceſſarie for all ages.
9 The charge of the poore was committed to Deacons, whereof there be two ſorts.Who were Deacons. For ſome did diſtribute the almes: ſome gaue them ſelues to care for the ſicke: ſuch as were widowes*.1 Tim 5.10. Yet the Scripture doth ſpecially call thē Deacons, who are made as it were publike treaſurers for the poore: whoſe inſtitution is deſcribed by Luke*.Act. 6.3.
10 And nowe ſeeing all thinges muſt be done in order and decently in the holy aſſemblie *,1 Cor. 14.40. that muſt be obſerued principallie in appointinge gouernement. Therefore let no man raſhlie intrude him ſelfe to teach or gouerne without a publike calling.1 Cor. 14.40. Let no man teach without a callinge Therfore that a man may be coūted a miniſter of the Church, firſt let him be rightly called: & then he muſt anſwer his calling.
11 And this treatiſe conſiſteth in fower points: that we know what maner perſons are to be made miniſters,4 Thinges to bee obſerued in callinge. Outward. Inwarde. and how, and by whom, & with what rite, they are to be appointed. I ſpeake of the outwarde calling, which appertaineth vntounto the publike order of the Church. But I omit that ſecret calling wherof euerie miniſter is priuie him ſelfe before God, that he hath taken vponupon him the office offered him, neither of ambition, nor through couetouſneſſe, but in the ſincere feare of God, and with a deſire to edifie the Church.
What maner perſons.12 Paule teacheth, what manner perſons are to be choſen to be Biſhops, namely ſuch as are of ſoūd doctrine, and holy life, and not guilty of anie notorious vice, which may both take away their authoritie, and alſo defame the miniſterie. There is altogether like conſideration to be had of Deacons and Elders.Tit. 1.9.…. 2 Tim. 3.1.2. 2 How. Act. 14.23 And howe, is referred vntounto religious feare. Hereof came the faſtinges and prayers which the faythfull did vſe when they made Elders*.
13 The third thing is, by whome they muſt be choſen.3 By whom. Immediate. The rule muſt not be fet from the Apoſtles, who addreſſed them ſelues vntounto the worke at the commandement of God and Chriſt alone. Therefore is it that they dare not appoint an other in the place of Iudas, but they ſet two in the midſt among them,… ▪ ….23. … 1.12. …ediate. that the Lord may declare by the lot, whether of the two he will hauehave to ſucceed*. Alſo Paule denieth that he was made by men*.
14 But no man that is well in his wittes will denie that Biſhops are appointed of men, ſeeing there be ſo manie teſtimonies of Scripture extant for this matter.
15 Nowe the queſtion is whether the miniſter ought to be choſen by the whole Church: or onelyonly by his fellowes in office, and the Elders, or onelyonly by the authoritie of one?Lib. 1. Epiſt. 3 Let the prieſt be choſen the people beinge preſent or miniſters Cyprian* aunſwereth theſe queſtions*, when he affirmeth that it cometh from the authoritie of God, that the prieſts be choſen in the ſight of all, the multitude being preſent, & that he be allowed meete and worthie by publike iudgement and teſtimonie.
Obiect. Titus in Creta*, Timothie at Epheſus*,Tit. 1.5. 1 Tim. 5 21. did appoint Elders.
An. Not alone: but they were onelyonly as chiefe, that they might go before the people with good and wholeſome counſell. So the Paſtours ought to beare rule in the election, that no offence be cō mitted in the multitude, either through lightneſſe, or through euill affections, or through tumult.
16 The rite of ordering remayneth.4 What rite. Laying on of handes And it is manifeſt that the Apoſtles vſed none other rite or ceremonie, then laying on of handes. Which rite came from the Hebrewes: who did as it were repreſent to God by layinge on of handes, that which they would hauehave conſecrated,Gen. 48.14 as wee may ſee in the bleſſinge of Ephraim and Manaſſes*Mat. 19.15.. So the Lorde layed his handes vponupon the infants*. And though wee hauehave no commaundement touchinge layinge on of handes, yet the diligent obſeruation of the Apoſtles ought to be in ſteed of a commaundement. This ſigne is profitable to commēd vntounto the people the worthines of the miniſtery that he which is appoynted may know, that he is no longer his owne,The vſe of laying on of handes. but he is conſecrate to God & the Church: that he may beleeue that he ſhall not want the holie Ghoſt.