The True Form of Church Government, Chapter 3
CHAP. III.
Our assertion.EVery Church-officer ought to execute the office committed unto him▪ with all faith…ull diligence, and consequently be continually resident upon his charge, T.C. book 1. page 65.
They deny not the proposition, but the consequent that is inferred upon it,Their assertion▪ as appeareth by their writings, Whitgift page 246. and by their daily practice in giving dispensations for many Benefices. The reasons we alledge to prove the necessitie of perpetuall residence, and the unlawfulnesse of nonresidence be these that follow.
1. A Shepheard hath a flocke to the end to feed it continually: The Minister is a shepheard, and his charge a flocke: Therefore he ought to feed it continually, and consequently to bee perpetually resident, for how can he feed them from whom he is absent?
2. Where God doth place any man, there his continuall travaile is needfull, for God is most wise in disposing every thing: But God placeth every right Minister over that people, which is his charge: Therefore his continuall travaile is needfull there, and consequently he may not discontinue.
3. Flockes that are in danger, are (by carefull Shepheards) watched night and day, Luke 2.8. Every Congregation is a flock in danger, for the enemy goeth about like a roaring Lyon, … Pet. 5.8. and soweth tares whilest men sleepe, Matth. 13.25. Therefore every congregation is to be watched night and day by the Minister thereof, and consequently he may not be non-resident.
4 If his duty to them requireth so much travaile, as may continu…lly set him on work, then may he not be non-resident: But it is evident (that it doth so) to all them that either know by the word of God, what study, prayer, doctrine, exhortation, &c, be required of him, or maketh any conscience of giving account for the souls committed to their charge: Therefore may not they be non-resident.
5 If the Minister cannot apply himselfe fruitfully, to the capacity of his people, unlesse he have particular knowledge of their disposition, and capacity, th… is it not lawfull for him to be non-resident: for by continuall residence among them, hee may know them and not else: But the former is true, as the small knowledge that the people get by generall teaching, doth evidently declare: Therefore it is not lawfull for him to be non-resident.
6 If the Ministers of the Gospell, be as narrowly tyed to their charges, as the Priests under the law, then may they not be non-resident: For they were alwayes ready in the Temple, to answer the doubts, 1 Sam. 1.9: But it is cleare that they are, because men are now as hardly trayned unto godlines, and the enemie is as wrathfull as he was then: Therefore they may not be non-resident.
7 If the Minister must be an example to his people; then must he be daily present with them, that they may behold him: But the former is true, 1 Tim. 4 12. Therefore is the latter true also.
8 He whom the sheep are to follow in and out, …nd must know by the voyce, ought to be continually among them: A good Minister of the word is such a one, John 10.4. Therefore he must be resident among them.
9 None can be alwayes …eady to feed his flock, that is absent from it: Every Minister must be alwayes ready to feed his flock, because it dependeth upon him. 1 Pet. 5.2. Therefore every Minister is to be resident with his flock.
10 He that must take heed to his flock, watch over it, and feed it, must be resident continually with it: Every Mini…ter must doe so▪ Act. 20 28. Therefore &c.
11 If Satan be the cause of non-residence, then is it utterly unlawfull: But Satan is the cause of it, 1 Thes. 2.17.18. Therefore it is utterly u…lawfull.
12 That which abridgeth the love of God to his people, and comfort to the Minister, that same is unlawfull: But not to be resident doth both: Therefore it is unlawfull.
13 That which hindreth the loving familiarity that should be betwixt the Minister and his people, that same is unlawfull: But non-residence doth so, for it maketh them strange one to another, and argueth small love in him towards them: Therefore it is unlawfull.
14 To be absent from them that have interest in us, and continuall need of us, is unlawfull, which wee can see to be true in our servants, &c: But the congregation hath an interest in the Minister, and continuall need of him: Therefore it is unlawfull for him to be absent from them.
15 If the Priests might not dwell farre from the Temple, then may not Ministers be non-resident: But the former is true, as appeareth by th…s; that they had houses builded close to the Temple. 1 Chron. 28.13. Therefore the latter is true also, seeing the residence of the one is as needfull as the other, as appeareth in the sixt reason.
16 Let no Clerk be placed in two charges, for it is filthy merchandise,Concil. Nice canon 15. and no man can serve two Masters, and every one must tarry in that place whereunto he is called.
17 Damasus compareth them that set over their charges to others,Concil. …. 2. to harlots that put out their children, that they may give themselves to lust the sooner.
Theodoret lib. 1. cap 19.18 It was ordained that none, either Bishop or Elder, should goe from Citie to Citie.
Therefore, if a Mini…er have the charge of a flock committed unto him,The conclusion. to the end to feed it; if God place men, to the end to have them there imployed; if flocks in danger have need of continuall watch; if the Ministers duty to his flock requireth all that travaile that hee can performe; if hee cannot be fruitfully profitable unto them, without continuall residence; if his residence be as strictly required as theirs under the Law; if hee cannot be a patterne unto them without he be resident; if they cannot follow him, nor know him if he be absent; if he cannot be alwayes ready to feed his flock, unlesse he be there; if he cannot take heed to them, feed them, and watch over them, without his presence; if Satan be the Author of non-residencie; if his absence abridge Gods love to them, and comfort from himselfe; if absence be an hinderance to the loving familiarity that should be betwi…t him and them; if they have interest in him, and continuall need of him; if hee may no more be absent, then th… Priests dwell from the Temple; if the Councel of Nice did upon good grounds forbid it; if absence be like to the practise of an harlot; if it be not lawfull to goe from place to place; then is non-residence unlawfull, and the practise thereof contrary to the word of God.
The belly (for which non-residencie is defended and practised) hath no cares, therefore it is that they heare not these evident sounds; yet have they very little to say for it, so grosse is the error thereof; so much as hath any shew of reason, is here set down and answered.
1 Objection. Two Parishes may be united, why then may not one have charge of them both before, when they be two.
Answer. Because one shepheard may keepe one flock though it be great, but he cannot keepe two, being very little, and going in divers pastures; againe, one man may have so many flocks as hee can lead in and out every Sabbath, to the exercises of Religion, which is very plaine that hee cannot doe, to more then one congregation.
2 Ob…ection. Parishes were divided by men, as especially by Denis the Monk, Pope of Rome.
Answer. That is untrue, for the Apostles divided the Church into congregations, and placed Elders over every one of them, as the whole course o… the Acts and Epistles of the Apostles proveth: and Whitgift confesseth page 250. Therefore these mists, notwithstanding non-residencie, must needs be unlawfull: and certainly those that have any sparkle of conscience, feare of God, or love to their flocks, will never defend it, much lesse enter into the practise of it.