Works of Hooker, Book 6 · Part 1
The Nature of Spiritual Iurisdiction.
BUt before there can be any setled Determination, whether Truth do rest on their part, or on ours, touching Lay-Elders; we are to prepare the way thereunto, by explication of some things requisite and very needful to be considered, as first, how besides that Spiritual Power, which is of Order, and was instituted for performance of those duties, whereof there hath been Speech already had, there is in the Church no less necessary, a second kind, which we call the Power of Jurisdiction. When the Apostle doth speak of ruling the Church of God, and of receiving accusations, his words have evident reference to the Power of Jurisdiction. Our Saviours words to the Power of Order,…cts 20.21. 1 Tim. 5. 13. Marc. 6. 15. Mat. 28. 19. 1 Cor. 11.24. when he giveth his Disciples charge, saying, Preach, Baptize: Do this in Remembrance of me. foreign. Epist ad Smyrn. A Bishop saith, (Ignatius) doth bear the Image of God and of Christ, of God in ruling, of Christ in administring holy things: By this therefore we see a manifest difference acknowledged between the Power of Ecclesiastical Order, and the power of Jurisdiction Ecclesiastical.
The Spiritual Power of the Church, being such as neither can be challenged by right of Nature, nor could by humane Authority be instituted, because the forces and effects thereof are Supernatural and Divine; we are to make no doubt or question, but that from him which is the Head, it hath descended unto us that are the Body now invested therewith. He gave it for the benefit and good of Souls, as a mean to keep them in the path which leadeth unto endless felicity, a bridle to hold them within their due and convenient bounds, and, if they do go astray, a forcible help to reclaim them: Now although there be no kind of Spiritual Power, for which our Lord Iesus Christ did not give both commission to exercise, and direction how to use the same, although his Laws in that behalf recorded by the holy Evangelists be the only ground and foundation, whereupon the practice of the Church must sustain it self: yet, as all multitudes once grown to the form of Societies are even thereby naturally warranted, to enforce upon their own subjects particularly those things, which publick wisdom shall judge expedient for the common good: so it were absurd to imagine the Church it self, the most glorious amongst them, abridged of this liberty, or to think that no Law, Constitution or Canon, can be further made, either for Limitation or Amplification, in the practice of our Saviours Ordinances whatsoever occasion be offered through variety of times, and things, during the state of this inconstant world, which bringeth forth daily such new evills, as must of necessity by new remedies be redrest, did both of old enforce our venerable Predecessor, and will alwaies constrain others, sometime to make, sometime to abrogate, sometime to augment, and again to abridge sometime; in sum, often to vary alter and change Customs, incident unto the manner of exercising that Power which doth it self continue alwaies one and the same: I therefore conclude, that Spiritual Authority is a Power which Christ hath given to be used over them which are subject unto it for the eternal good of their Souls according to his own most Sacred Laws, and the wholsome positive Constitutions of his Church.
In Doctrine referred unto Action and Practice, as this is which concerns Spiritual Jurisdiction, the first sound and perfect understanding is the knowledge of the End, because thereby both Use doth frame, and Contemplation judge all things.