Works of Hooker, Book 6
OF THE LAWS OF Ecclesiastical Polity.
BOOK VI.
Containing their Fifth Assertion, That our Laws are Corrupt and Repugnant to the Laws of God, in matter belonging to the Power of Ecclesiastical Iurisdiction, in that we have not throughout all Churches certain Lay-Elders established for the Exercise of that Power.
THE same Men which in heat of Contention,The question between u… whether all Congregation, or Varishes ought to have Lay-Elders invested with power of Jurisdiction in spiritual causes. do hardly either speak or give ear to reason, being after sharp and bitter conflicts, retired to a calm remembrance of all their former proceedings; the causes that brought them into quarrel, the course which their striving affections have followed, and the issue whereunto they are come, may peradventure as troubled wa…e…s, in small time of their own accord, by certain easie degrees settle themselves again; and so recover that clearness of well advised judgment, whereby they shall stand at the length indifferent, both to yeild and admit any reasonable satisfaction, where before they could not endure with patience to be gain-said. Neither will I despair of the like success in these unpleasant Controversies touching Ecclesiastical Polity; the time of silence, which both parts have willingly taken to breathe, seeming now as it were a pledge of all Mens quiet Contentment, to hear with more indifferency, the weightiest and last remains of that Cause,Lib. 6. Lib. 7. Lib. …. Jurisdiction, Dignity, Dominion Ecclesiastical. For, let any Man imagin, that the bare and naked difference of a few Ceremonies, could either have kindled so much fire, or have caused it to flame so long; but that the parties which herein laboured mightily for change and (as they say) for Reformation, had somewhat more then this mark whereat to aim.
Having therefore drawn out a compleat Form, as they suppose, of publick service to be done to God, and set down their Plot for the Office of the Ministry in that behalf; they very well knew, how little their labours so far forth bestowed, would avail them in the end, without a claim of Jurisdiction to uphold the Fabrick which they had erected; and this neither, likely to be obtained, but by the strong hand of the people, not the people unlikely to favour it; the more, if overture were made of their own Interest, right, and title thereunto. Whereupon there are many which have conjectured this to be the cause, why in all the projects of their Discipline, (it being manifest that their drift is, to wrest the Key of Spiritual Authority out of the hands of former Governours, and equally to possess therewith the Pastors of all several Congregations) the people first for surer accomplishment, and then for better defence thereof, are pretended necessary Actors in those things, whereunto their ability for the most part is as slender, as their title and challenge unjust.
Notwithstanding (whether they saw it necessary for them to perswade the people, without whose help they could do nothing, or else (which I rather think) the affection which they bear towards this new Form of Government, made them to imagin it Gods own Ordinance,) Their Doctrine is, that, by the Law of God, there must be for ever in all Congregations certain Lay-Elders, Ministers of Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction, in as much as our Lord and Saviour by Testament (for so they presume) hath left all Ministers or Pastors in the Church Executors equally to the whole power of Spiritual Jurisdiction, and with them hath joyned the people as Colleagues. By maintenance of which Assertion, there is unto that part apparently gained a twofold advantage, both because the people in this respect are much more easily drawn to favour it, as a matter of their own interest; and for that, if they chance to be crossed by such as oppose against them, the colour of Divine Authority, assumed for the Grace and Countenance of that Power in the vulgar sort, furnisheth their Leaders with great abundance of matter behoveful of their encouragement, to proceed alwaies with hope of fortunate success in the end, considering their cause to be as, David's was, a just defence of power given them from above, and consequently their Adversaries quarrel the same with Saul's, by whom the Ordinance of God was withstood.
Now, on the contrary side, if this their surmise prove false; if such, as in Justification whereof no evidence sufficient, either hath been or can be alledged (as I hope it shall clearly appear after due examination and trial) let them then consider whether those words of Corah, Dathan, and Abiram, against Moses, and against Aaron, Numb. 1….It is too much that ye take upon you, seeing all the Congregation is holy, be not the very true Abstract and abridgment of all their published Admonitions, Demonstrations, Supplications, and Treatises whatsoever, whereby they have laboured to void the rooms of their Spiritual Superiours before Authorized, and to advance the new fancied Scepter of Lay Presbyterial Power.