The True Form of Church Government, Chapter 6
CHAP. VI.
BEfore consent bee given to any man unto any calling in the Church, it must appeare (by sufficient triall, and due examination) that he is qualified with those gifts, that the word of God requireth in one of that place, Discipl. Ecclesiast. fol 44. T.C. 2. book, 1. part, page 368. and in many other places.
They gain-say this in two points: first, in maintaining their reading Ministery: secondly, in governing the Church, by their Commissaries and Offic…als: which both shall be overthrowne. …f wee prove these two propositions following, to b… true by the word of God.
The 1. proposition.No man ought to be received unto the Ministery, but such as be able to teach the truth, and convince the gain-say…rs.
The Church ought not to be governed by Commissaries Officials and Chancellours.The 2. proposition.
The 1 proposition is …hus proved.1 Hee that may be received into the Ministery, must be able to teach the people, whatsoever Christ hath comm…nded, Math 28.28. OnelyOnly he that is able to teach the truth and convince the gain-sayers, can teach the people whatsoever Chr…st hath commanded: Therefore none must be received into the Ministery, but such as be able to t…ch▪ &c.
2 That which is to be done conditionally, may not be done, if that condition be not kept: Men are to be received into the Ministery conditional…y, that is, if they be unreproveable, Tit. 1.5 6. Therefore if they be not such as be there described, they may not bee received: and consequently, none may be received, but such as be able to teach▪ &c.
3 That which cannot be done without the manifest breach of Gods commandement, may not be done at all: To receive any that be not able to teach, is a manifest breach of Gods commandement. 1 Tim. 3.1. Tit. 1.9. Therefore no man ought to be received into the Ministery, that is not able to teach, &c.
4 They whom the Lord refuseth to be his Ministers, may not be received into the Ministery: for the Ministery being the Lords harvest, we may admit none to labour therein, but only such, as he hath given liking of, by the rules of his word: The Lord refuseth to be his Ministers, all these that cannot teach, Hosea 4▪ 6. Therefore such as are not able to teach, may not be received, and consequently none may be received, but those that be able to teach, &c.
5 He that may be admitted into the Ministery, must be able to divide the word of God aright, 2 Tim. 2.15. Only he that is able to te…ch and convince the gain-sayers, can divide the word of God aright: Therefore none may be admitted into the Ministery, but hee that is able to teach, &c.
6 He that may be admitted into the Ministery, must have a treasury, furnished wi…h old things and new, and must be abl… to …ri…g it forth as occasion shall serve, Matth. 13.52. OnelyOnly hee that is able to teach, &c. is such a one: Therefore onelyonly he may be admitted▪ &c.
7 He that can espy the enem…, & give warning afore hand now to resist him, may be receiv…d into the Minis…ry▪ …z…k 33 7. None can espy the enemie, and give warning afore-han… how to … him, but both t…is able to … &c. Th…ref…r… one ma… be ad…itted …nto the Minist…ry▪ but he … to t…ach, &c.
8 … his people into hell, may not be adm…te… …nto the Mini…tery: He th…t …s not a…le to te…ch and convince the gai…-…ayer lea…eth him…e…f and his p…ple in…o … ▪ Ma…h 15.14. Th…refore … no… able to teach &c. may not be admitted into the Mi…ste…y.
9 He that …reachet… …ot▪ but …oldeth his peace, murdereth.August lib. de …
10 He t…at preacheth not, i… not …, and so hee beg…tteth no …aith in man.G…egor 1. epist. 33. … ad Oc…men…um.
11. In that S. Paul requireth that a Bishop should be wise, he barreth thos…, that under the name of simplicity, excuse the folly of Ministers
12 We condemne all … Ministers,Cons… ▪ …elvet. not endued with gifts necessary for a … that should feed his flock.
Therefore▪ if a Minister mu… tea…h unto his people all t…at Christ hath commanded; if none may be made Ministers, but conditionally, if they be qualified w…th gi…t… meet for the same▪ if unpreaching Ministers cannot be made without the manifest breach of the commandement of God; if th…y may not be made Ministers, whom the Lord refuseth to have; if every Min…ster must have a treasury well furnished▪ and be able to bring forth of it when need requireth; if every M…nister mus… have …kill to see the enemie, and to give warning aforehand how to resist h…m; if unlearned Ministers draw their people to hell a…ter them; if he that preacheth not, be a murtherer; if he be not sent, and so doe no good: if hee be barred from the Ministery: lastly, if hee be condemned, as not to be in such a place: then must it needs follow, that none may be received into the Ministery, but such as be able to teach the truth, and to convince the gain-sayer.
Many are the arguments that be alleadged to this purpose, and many moe may be alleadged, (for the whole course of the Scriptures tend thereunto) the testimony of all sorts of Writers, is very plentifull for this purpose: yea of the very Canon law, (as the Author of the Abstract hath learnedly proved) and yet doe not our Prelates rest in the same, but have set themselves (though in a silly manner) against it, in this sort that followeth.
1 Objection. There must be reading in the Church, therefore a reading Ministery▪ Whitgift page 252.
Answ. By that reason we must have an Officer for every particular action, for there must be breaking of bread in the Church, and powring of water; but it followeth not, that therefore there must be one, whose Office must be only to break bread, or to powre water.
2 Objection. It is better to have Readers then none, for Preachers cannot be had for every congregation.
Answer. It is not better, for if they had none, they would seeke for him that they should have; whereas now, they that have a Reader only, think themselves in case good enough: but if there be such want of Preachers, why are so many of the most diligent and able ones, turned out?
3 Objection. It is impossible to have Preachers every where, and such as can be had, must be taken.
Answer. Sometimes you say all is well: and is it now impossible that our State should obey the Lords ordinance; this is the greatest disgrace to it that can be: and yet it followeth not, for no necessity may warrant us, to violate the decrees of the highest.
4 Objection. It were uncharitablenesse to turne them out that be bare Readers, for so they, their wives and children might beg.
Answer. This is to sell mens soules for morsels of br…ad: shall wee rather feare the begging of three or foure, then the damnation of a thousand? but they may be otherwayes provided for; they need not beg, many of them may returne to their occupations againe.
So that all these objections notwithstanding, the conclusion remaineth sure, which is grounded upon so many certaine and unmoveable foundations.
The 2. proposition …s thus proved.The Church ought not to be governed by Commissaries, and Officials, and Chancellours.
1 They which are no Elders of the Church, have nothing to doe in the Government of the same, 1 Tim. 5.17. These Chancellours, Commissaries, and Officials, are no Elders in the Church; whether we expound Elder for a Minister, and him also, that is assistant unto the Minister in overseeing the Church, or for a Minister onelyonly as they do: for none of them be Ministers, and if they be, they doe not rule in this respect, that they are Ministers: Therefore the Church ought not to be governed by them.
2. They that must governe the Church of God, must have a warrant for their so doing, from Iesus Christ the head of the Church: But Chancellors, &c. have no warrant so to doe, from Iesus Christ the head of the Church: There…ore the Church ought not to bee governed by them.
3. Those whose names, offices and practize, bee derived from Antichrist, may have nothing to do in the government of the Church▪ for who will suffer his wife to be governed by the Master of a …: But the names, offices, and practise of Chancell…rs, … …nd Commissaries be such, which is plaine by this, that they have the…r ground in that filthy dunghill the C…non law: Therefore they may have nothing to doe in the government of the Church.
4. They that being inferiours, doe proudly tyrann…z… over the…r superiours, ought not to rule the Church of God, for it is meet it should be ruled by modest▪ humble and orderly men: But suc… …re they (for being inferiours to the ministers of the Word, as our adv…rsa…i…s doe confesse, and is plaine also by the Canon law they crow over th…m as …f they were their slaves:) and if they doe not so … can doe nothing: Therefore they ought not to rule the Church of God.
5. They that live by the faults of men, are not fit t… rule the Church of God: for they will rather increase off…nces (that th…ir … m…y …ncrease) then orderly lessen them, as experience (a…so) prov…th: But such are all Chancellours, Commissaries and Official…: Therefore they ought not to rule the Church of God.
Therefore, if Chancellors, Commissaries, and Officials bee no Elders of the Church; if they have no warrant from Jesus Christ▪ Conclusion▪the head of the Church; if their names, offices, and practize, be derived …rom Antichrist; if their office compell them (being inferiours) to tyrannize over their superiours: if they live onelyonly by the faults and offences of men: then it must needs follow, that the Church of God ought not to be governed by them.