Institutes of the Christian Religion Abridged by Edmond Bunnie, Book · Book 4 · Chapter 4
Cap. 4. Of the ſtate of the Church & the manner of gouerning that was in vſe before papacie.
FIrſt he ſheweth what they ſhoulde be, from the 1. to the 9. Moreouer he intreateth of the calling of Miniſters & Biſhops, from the 10. to the 15.
1 All the Miniſters yt the old Church had, are diuided into thrée orders, Prieſts, Elders, and Deacons.
2 In eueryevery Citie there was one company of Prieſtes which had charge of doctrine and Sacramentes, they choſe one of their company whom they called Biſhoppe, that diſſentions ſhoulde not grow of equalitie, as it is wōt to come to paſſe, to them ſometymes were appointed countrey Biſhoppes,Tit. 1.9. all which notwithſtanding were occupied in the worde and Sacramentes, and in teaching youth.
3 This laſt hée proſecuteth more at large by Hierome and Gregories authoritie. The Prieſt,Epiſ. 4. Han. in Eze. ſayeth Gregorie doteth, if there be no ſound heard of him becauſe he aſketh againſt him ſelfe the wrath of the ſecret Iudge,Act. 20.16. if he go without ſound of preaching, and in an other place when Paule teſtifieth that hée is cleane from the bloud of all, in this ſaying we be conuinced, we be bound, wée be ſhewed to be guiltie which are called Prieſtes, which beſides the euilles wée hauehave of our owne, adde alſo the deathes of other, becauſe we kil ſo many, as we being luke warme and ſilent, doe daily ſée to goe to death.
4 There hauehave bene Archbiſhops and Patriarches, but their vſe was rare, which were appointed to diſcuſſe matters in prouincical ſynodes, which could not be ended by a fewe.
5 The Deacons vnderunder the appoyntment of the Biſhops, did diſtribute the goods of the Church, partly to the Miniſters, partly to féede the poore: ye Subdeacons and Archdeacons had place in the Church.
6 There was ſuche diſtribution of the Churche goods, that neyther the Miniſters wanted nouriſhment, nor the poore were neglected.
7 When Fayth and vprightneſſe of the Deacons began to waxe cold in miniſtring the goods of the Church, it was decreed by Canons, that they ſhould be diuided into foure partes.
8 Albeit, one parte ſhoulde be beſtowed vppon the garniſhing of holie thinges,1. Tim. 3.…. yet the ſame remayned for the poore, when and as ofte as they ſtood in néed thereof.
9 Beſides theſe orders ſome are called Clerks, to ſhut and open the doores, ſome Oſtiarij, doorekéepers, and other ſome Acoluthi, followers, which are the offices they are appoynted vntounto. Theſe offices are not ſo much functiōs, which are kindled by true Miniſters of the Church, as certaine exerciſes, and as it were the Rudimentes of younglinges.
10 As concerning their ſolemne calling, out of thoſe foure which before hée hath put to be cōſidered of in the Cap. 3. ſect. 11. The two firſt muſt faythfully be obſerued from the olde Churche,Contrary to Paule. 1. Tit. 3.2. vnleſſe becauſe by ſucceſſe of time with vnmoderate ſeueritie they required ſingle lyfe in thoſe that were choſen, but in the third they differed much.
11 In chooſing Biſhoppes the people had their libertie long preſerued them, wherevppon came this ſaying, Let him that ſhall beare rule ouer all, bée choſen of all.
12 But afterwarde it was included in certayne Councels, leaſt the matter ſhoulde be permitted to the vnaduiſed multitude.
13 This order of chooſing continued, afterward the decrées coulde not repugne againſt it, which Gratian gathered together to an other ende.
14 As concerning the fourth, that is, by what fourme the Miniſters were admitted into their office after election, the Biſhoppes were wont to aſſemble together.
15 After by little and little a diuerſe manner grewe, that they which were choſen, ſhoulde reſort to the Metropolitane Citie, to fetch their ordering, but there was no cuſtome, but impoſition of hands, but that the Biſhops had ſome decking in a ſolemne company.