THE Churche of God is the house of God,Tim. 3. 15. and therefore ought to bee directed in all thinges,The definition of the Church. according to the order prescribed by the Housholder himselfe: Which order is not to bee learned else-where, but in his Holy worde. The first of these principles or propositions, is the very worde of the holy Ghost vttered by Paul: The seconde followeth necessarily of the first. The thirde is a manifest trueth beleeued of all them, that acknowledge the scripture of God, to bee a perfect rule of all our life, and able to make the man of God perfect,2. Tim. 3. 17. prepared to all good workes.

This foundation being surely layde,VVhat ministers are appointed in the church. against which the gates of hell cannot preuayle: wee ought diligently and reuerently to searche the holie scriptures, that wee may finde what order our sauiour Christe our onely housholder hath set foorth in them, by which he woulde haue his house or church to be directed in al things, appertaining to the eternall saluation of vs men, his vnprofitable seruants. Nowe we finde in the scriptures, that our sauiour Christe ascending into Heauen, was not vnmindfull of his Church on earth,Ephes. 4. 11. but ordayned an holy ministerye of men,1. Cor. 12. 28. to the building vp of the body of Christ in vnity of faith and knowledge. We finde also, that as the offices are diuerse of this ministery: so they are not generall vnto all the Church, but as order and necessitye require, for executing of their office, distributed and limitted vnto certaine places or particuler Churches, according to the diuision of Regions, Cities, and Townes. For we reade that Paule and Barnabas ordeyned at Derbe, Lystra, Iconium, Antiochia, &c: Elders by election in euery Churche,Act. 14. 23. with Prayer and fasting, and so commended them to the Lorde, in whome they beleeued.Titus. 1. 5. Also Paule left Titus in the Ile of Creta, that he shoulde ordaine Elders in euery City, as hee had appointed. Concerning the diuers offices of the Ministery, wee are taught by Saynte Paule. Rom. 12. 6. Also 1. Cor. 12. 28. and Ephes. 4. 11.Rom. 12. 6. 1. Cor. 12. 28 Ephes. 4. 11. Where we reade, that God hath ordained in the ministery of his Church, these seuerall offices: Namely, Apostles, Euangelistes, Prophetes, Pastors, Doctours, Gouernoures and Deacons: Also men indewed with the giftes of healing, of powers or myracles, and of diuerse tongues.

Of these offices, some were temporall, seruing onelye for the firste planting & foundation of the church amonge the Heathen: some are perpetuall, pertaining to the nourishing and building vp the Church for euer. Of the former sort were Apostles, Prophets, Euangelists, men endued with the graces of powers, of healings, and of diuerse tongues. Of the latter kinde are doctors, Pastors, Gouernours and Deacons. The Apostles were ordained by God, and sent foorth immediatly by Christ, hauing a generall Commission to spread the Gospell ouer all the worlde: Which worke when they had accomplished, that office ceased.Math. 28. 19. Such were the 12. Apostles,Mark. 16. 25. Paule and Barnabas, &c.

And for this cause the Apostles appointed Mathias in the place of Iudas, Act. 1. 15. according to the Scriptures, permitting neuerthelesse, the election vnto God, by casting of Lots, that the number might bee full, for the first planting of the Churche. But when Herod had slaine Iames the brother of Iohn with the sworde,Act. 12. 2. they chose no man to succeede in his place, because they had no warrant of Gods worde, but the holy ghost, as he sawe it was expedient for the Church, afterward separated Paul and Barnabas which liued at Antioche, Act. 13. 2. as Prophetes and Teachers, to the worke whereto hee had called them.

The Prophets were suche as were indued with a singular gifte of Reuelation in the interpretation of the Scriptures,1. Cor. 12. and applying them to the present vse of the Church:Ephes. 4. 11. of whome some also did foreshewe of thinges to come,Acts. 11. 28▪ & 21. 10. as Agabus. Also there were in euery City that Prophecied to S. Paul, as he passed by them, that bonds and afflictions were prepared for him at Hierusalem. Acts. 20. 23 This office being in the number of them that were ordeyned for beautifying the Gospell, in the first publishing thereof, it ceassed with that singuler and extraordinary gift, to bee an ordinarye function of the Church.

The Euangelists were such as were stirred vp of God, to assist the Apostles in their ministerye of generall charge: in planting the Gospell, and confirming the same by their preaching, but inferiour in dignity to the Apostles.Acts. 8. 5. Such was Philip that firste preached the gospel in Samaria: Whither Peter and Iohn were sent by the Apostles,Act. 8. 14. to conferre vnto them by prayer and imposition of hands, the visible Graces of the holye Ghoste, which Philip did not. The same Philip in Act. 21.Acts. 21. 8. verse 8. is called an Euangelist. So is Timothy, 2. Timoth. 4. 5.2. Tim. 2. 5. 5 Such was Titus, Silus, and many other. This office also with the order of the Apostles is expired, and hath no place. Likewise, as wee doe plainly see, that the gifts of healing, of povvers or myracles, and of diuerse tonges, haue long since ceassed to be in the Church: So the offices of them which were groūded vpon these gifts, must also cease and bee determined. Therfore the Papists do vainly retain the name & office of Exorcists, when they cānot cast out diuels: & extream vnction, when they cannot cure disseases: and to speak with straunge tonges, which they haue not by inspiration, & that without any interpretation, which Saint Paule expresly forbiddeth.1. Corin. 14. There remayneth therefore of these before rehearsed, onely in the Church, these Ecclesiasticall offices instituted of God:VVhat offices remaine in the Church. namely, Pastors, Doctors, Gouernours, and Deacons: By which the church of God may, according to his worde, be directed in all matters, which are commonly called Ecclesiasticall. And therefore as it is vnlawful, so it is vnneedeful for men, following the deuises of their owne brayne, without the warrant of Gods worde, to institute and ordayne anye other offices or kindes of ministerye beside these, appointed & approued by God himself, exercised in the Primitiue & pure church, vntil the mistery of iniquity working a way for Antichristes pride & presumption, changed Gods ordinance, and brought in al kind of false doctrine & confusion: and now againe, restored in al rightly reformed Churches, with such daylie increase, and glory of the kingdom of Christ, and suppression of the tyrannie of Sathan, that the onelye experience hereof, might bee a sufficient perswasion to vs to leaue this disordered state of ours, wherein we haue so long laboured with so little profit: and to imbrace that most beautifull order of Ecclesiastical regimēt, which God so manifestlye doth blesse and prosper in our neighboures handes. But while we speake of Ecclesiasticall gouernment, it maye bee thought of some, that we shoulde intreat first of the supreame authority of Christian Princes: Whereuppon it seemeth that al the regiment of the church dependeth, which is such a myst to dazle the eyes of ignoraunt persons, that they thinke all thinges in the Ecclesiastical state, ought to be disposed by that onelye high authoritye and absolute power of the Ciuil magistrate. Others there be, with more colour of reason, that referre onely indifferent matters to the disposition of Princes: but in determining indifferēt matters, they shewe themselues not to bee indifferent Iudges. For, whatsoeuer it shall please the Ciuill Magistrate, or themselues, to call or count indifferent, it must be so holden of all men, without anye further enquiry. But of the supreame authority of christian princes in Ecclesiasticall causes, howe farre it extēdeth by the word of God: we shal haue better occasiō to intreat hereafter, when we haue described the Ecclesiastical state. And that it is neither needefull nor agreeable to good order of teaching, to begin first therewith, it may be plaine to euerye man by this reason. The Church of God was perfect in all her regiment, before there was any Christian Prince: yea, the Churche of God may stande, and doth stande at this day in moste blessed estate, where the Ciuill Magistrates, are not the greatest fauorers. By which, it is manifest, that the regiment and gouernement thereof, dependeth not vppon the authority of Princes, but vpon the ordinaunce of God, who hath most mercifully and wisely so established the same, that as with the comfortable ayde of Christian Magistrates, it may singulerlie flourish & prosper, so without it, it may continue, and against the aduersaries therof preuail. For the church craueth help & defence of christian Princes, to continue & go forward more peaceably & profitably, to the setting vp of the kingdō of Christ: but al hir authority she receiueth immediatly of God. Let vs therfore return to those offices of Ecclesiasticall regiment, which now remain to be exercised in the Church of God, being instituted & ordained by Christe himselfe, which before we haue proued out of the scriptures to be only these, Doctors, Pastors, Gouernors & Deacons, wherof some appertain to doctrin,Doctors. some to gouernment and discipline. The duty of doctors & Pastors, is chiefly to teach and instruct the people of god, in al things that God hath appointed thē to learne. The office of Elders & Deacons, is to prouide that good order and discipline bee obserued in the church. These offices being rightly established & exercised in the Church, are able to make vs meet together in the vnity of faith, and knowledge of the sonne of God, vnto a perfect man acording to doctrine.Ephes. 4. 13. And both for doctrine and order of gouernement, to make vs one body of Christe,1. Cor. 12. 27. and members one of another. Nowe what shoulde be desired more then this in the church of God? or what wisdom of man can espy better then the spirite of God, by what means this shold be brought to effect which we do desire? what mans wit cā deuise better, then the wisdom of god hath expressed? Or whē God hath established an order, for the administratiō of his own house: what presūptiō of man dare change it? But what dare not dust & ashes presūe to do against his maker, & that with greatest incō uenience, when with best pretences of correcting and reforming that, which they do thinke to be vnperfect in his doings? Exāple thereof we haue most euident. That which is alleaged as the chief defence of this disordered state, which now remaineth in our church: namely, that our fathers of old time were not content with the simple order instituted by Christe, and established by his Apostles: but for better gouerning of the Church, thought good some offices to ad therto, some to take away: some to alter & change: and in effect to peruerte and ouerthrow all Christian and Ecclesiastical pollicie, which was builded vpon the foundation of the Prophetes and Apostles,Ephes. 2. 20. Iesus Christ being the cheeft corner stone. But how vnhappy a successe this good intent, (as they call it) of theirs deserued to haue of God, who alwayes abhorreth all good intentes of men, that are contrarye to the good pleasure of his will, expressed in his holy worde, the age before vs (alasse) hath felt, the present time doth plainly see, and wee praye God the posterity, warned by examples of their auncesters, maye take heede of it. For where there are specially two thinges propounded in the Churche of God: Doctrine and Discipline, as if a man woulde say, knowledge and practise, by which the glory of God is sought and shineth therin: In steed of true Doctrine, followed all manner of corruptions of the same, both in the whole and in euery part thereof, as ignorance, heresies, idolatry, superstition, &c. The Discipline degenerated vnto intollerable tyrannye and external domination, clean contrarye to the commaundemente of Christ, whereof insued all vnbrideled license of vngodly liuing. To be short, the exchaunge of the ordinaunce of God and Christ,2. Thes. 2. 1 • brought in nothing else, but the Diuell and Antichriste. Wherefore if we minde such a reformation, as shall bee acceptable to God, & profitable vnto his church: We must thoroughly bee resolued to set vp no new kinde of ministerye, of our owne inuention, neyther for teaching, nor for discipline in the Ecclesiastical state, but bring all thinges to that most perfect and absolute order, which God himselfe hath established by his worde. And because all offices of the Churche are so lincked togeather, as the members of one bodye, whereof Christe is the heade: we will so describe one part, as the descriptiō of thē al may be sufficiently cōprehended therin. As if a man wold set forth the manifold office & vses of the hād, he shold declare what it doth alone, & what it doth with the helpe of the other hand, or with the arme, with the brest, with the knee, or with the foot, &c: what it cā do with diuers kinds of tooles, & what without al maner of instrumēts. This order we thought good to obserue, in describing the ministery of the Church, as by which, both the distinction & cōmunicatiō of al offices & seruices in the Church, might most plainli appear. Otherwise we force not by what method, so the same truth be plainly set forth by any mā. And as we controle not other mens methods by ours, so we wold not, that other mens maner of teaching shold be preiudicial to ours. This we say because of thē, which either for lack of wit, or thorow too much wilfulnes, if they see any difference in the form & order of teaching of diuers men, though in matter & substaunce they all agree, they exclaim there is no vnitie, & therfore no truth among thē. Let vs then proceed in our purpose. The office of teaching is the chiefe & principall office that is in the church. By that we be taught to know God, & how to serue him, & what benefits to look for at his hand, without which knowlege, ther cā be no felicity but only destruction loked for, according to the saying of the wise man: Wher propheciyng fayleth, Prou. 29. 18. ther the people perish. The ministery is diuided into two functiōs: they that exercise the first are called Pastors: The office of a Doctor. the other are called Doctors or Teachers. The office of a Doctor is to teach, as the very name doth declare, but yet euery teacher is not mēt thereby, for it appertaineth to Pastors also to teach: yet this latter is distinct frō the former. Almighty God, being carefull that true doctrin should continue in his church, from time to time most wisely prouided, that certain mē shold be appointed in euery cōgregation, (whō he hath endued with gifts meete for the same purpose) which shoulde employe themselues, either wholly or principally to the studie of holy scriptures, therebye to learne to auouche the principles of true religion, and to represse and beate downe al false and strange opinions, of which sathan neuer ceaseth to sow the seeds, but cheefly where this office is not set vp & mayntained according to Gods ordinance. These men must not content themselues with contemplatiue knowledge: but, as by the grace of God they excell other men in vnderstanding: so they must diligentlye instruct other mē in the same learning, and openly confute al false Doctrine and herisie: and especially they ought to take payne in the instruction of such men, as maye bee made meete to serue in the Churche: as Pastoures, and to succeede in their place as Doctours. Their institution is set foorth, 1. Corin. 12. 28. Also Ephes. 4. 11. In the former place the Apostle teacheth, that they are the ordinaunce of God: Sayth he, God hath ordayned in the Church: First Apostles, Secondly Prophets, Thirdly Doctors, or Teachers. In the latter place hee testifieth,Ephes. 4. 11. that our Sauior Christ ascended on high, ledde cap • iuitie captiue, and hath giuen giftes vnto • en, amongst which gifts, he accoun • eth the function of Teachers. Who •• oulde then refuse to imbrace the • rdinaunce of God? Who should de • riue vs of the free gyft of Christ? The office of Doctours, is briefly ex • ressed in Rom. 12. 7.Rom. 12. 7. Let him that is Teacher, attend vppon teaching, where • lso it is distinguished from other of • ces, and namely from the office of • astors. For it followeth immediat • e,Rom. 12. 8. Let him that exhorteth, (which is a • rincipall part of a Pastors office, not • ecessarily requyred in a Teacher) Be • ligent in his exhortation. For the office of Doctours, is onely to teach true doctrine, and to confute all heresies. and false opinions by the worde of God, concerning all Articles & prin •• ples of Christian religion, without applying their teaching to anye particular state of time, of persons or places. The example or practize of this office, is set foorth Acts. 13. 1. Where it is recorded by S. Luke, that Paule and Barnabas, (before the holy Ghost commanded them to be separated for the worke wherevnto he called them) were in the number of prophetes and Doctors, with Symeon Niger, Lucius of Syrene, and Manahen • in the Church of Antiochia, where they continued in that office a whol • yeare, in which Citie the Disciples were first called by the name of christians. Act. 11. 26.Acts. 11. 26. Likewise, Apollo • which was an eloquent man & mightie in the scriptures, firste at Ephesus but afterward beeing more perfectly instructed in the waye of God, by Aquila and Priscilla in the church of Acha • a, exercised the office of a Teacher, with great profite of thē which had beleeued, and to the great confusion of the stiffnecked Iewes, while hee proued plainly by the scriptures, that Iesus was the Christ. Act. 18. 28.Acts. 18. 28. Therefore if we purpose to haue the church to flourish in true knowlege, we must prouide that this office be restored, both in the vniuersities, and in as manie other places as maye be, as well for the better instruction of al men, which are desirous to learne, as especiallye for the information of those, which shoulde occupye the • oomes of Pastours, of which sort • here ought to be a great number alwayes in good towardnesse to take charge of so many seuerall flockes, as must of necessitie be, in so great a Church as this is.

Besides Doctors,Pastors and their Titles. there must be Pa • tours ordained in euery congregation, which haue diuers appellations • n the scripture, as Eph. 4. They are • alled by the name of Pastours, be • ause they ought to feede the seueral • ocks of Gods sheepe committed to • heir charge. As it appeareth Act. 20 • 8. 1. Peter. 5. 2.Acts. 20. 28. 1. Pet. 5. 2. They are called also Elders, not alwaies in respect of their • ge, but of their office and grauitie. • or Timothie was but a young man, and yet had the office of an Elder. This name was receiued of an an • ient custome of the people of Is • aell, who vsed so to call those that were Rulers and Officers amonge them, as it appeareth by many places both of the old and new Testament,Num. 11. 16. but chiefly in Numb. 11. 16. Where God ordayned seuenty ancientes, to assist Moses in his gouernment, who were also endued at the same time, with the spirite of prophecie, from which time it became an ordinarie office, and name of Gouernours in Israell. Wherein we haue to note against the papistes, that the ministers of the Church, are neuer called in the new Testament, by the name of sacrificing Priestes, which were vnder the lawe, but often are called Elders, of the similitude of those ancientes • that gouerned the people of God Whereas, if they had beene appoynted of God to be sacrificers, the similitude & name of sacrificing priestes, would a great deale better haue agreed vnto them. But, whereas both these names were vsuall amongst the Iewes, Iereus and Presbyteroi, the one signifiyng sacrificers, and the other Elders: The spirit of God doth often call the ministers Elders, but euermore preciselye auoydeth to name them sacrificers or priestes (as we vse the terme): yea, though they succeed them in one principall part of their office, that is to saye in teaching, as it • s written.Mala. 2. 7. The lippes of the priest shoulde preserue knowledge, and men shal seeke the law at his mouth. The cause whereof is euident to bee this, that the sacrificing priesthoode of Aaron,Heb. 7. 12. 24 is wholly translated vnto Christ, in whom onely it resteth, and passeth from him to none other. But by the name of Elders, the Pastors are called Act. 14. 23Act. 14 23. Where Paule and Barnabas ordained Elders by election in euerye congregation. And Act. 20. 17.Act. 20. 17. Paule sent for the Elders of Ephesus to Miletū. Also • he affirmeth those Elders especially,1. Tim. 5. 17. which labour in preaching and doctrine, to be worthy of double honor. Which place also testifieth of an other kind of Elders, of whom we shal • haue occasion to speake more hereafter,Tit. 1. 5. whose office consisteth only in gouernement, and not in publique teaching. Moreouer, he sheweth that he appoynted Titus to ordaine Eldersin euery Citie, and afterwarde describeth what maner of men hee woulde haue to bee chosen into the office.Iam. 5. 14. Also Saint Iames in Cap. 5. 14. willeth that if anye bee sicke, they shoulde call for the Elders of the Churche, who being indewed with the gifte of healinge at that time, should pray for the diseased, and annoint him with oyl, and he should be restored to his health. Finally, Saint Peter, Pet. 5. 2. as a fellowe Elder exhorteth the Elders to employe all their diligence to the feeding of the flocke of God.

An other name they haue in the scripture, which is Superintendents, or Ouerseers, because they ought to be vigilant and watchfull, to ouersee the flocke, and euery member thereof. Which name is neuer vsed in the scripture for such Bishops, as clayme and exercise dominion, and authoritie ouer whole regions, & all the Pastours of the same, but only for those that bee Pastours of euery seuerall congregation, hauing no superiority • uer their fellow Pastors, but be al of equall dignity and authoritie. So are • hey named Act. 20.Act. 20. 17. where S. Luke in • he 17. vers. calleth them Elders of the Church of Ephesus. S. Paule in the 28. • erse, calleth the same ouerseers: say • ng, Take heede to your selues and to the • hole flocke, ouer which the holy Ghoste • ath made you ouerseers, to feede or go • erne the Church of God, which he hath •• rchased with his owne bloud. In this • lace all the three appellations con • urre: namely, of ouerseers plaine • e, and Pastoures inclusiuely in the • orde flocke, and in the worde Pot • ainan, which signifieth to feede or gouern, as a Pastor doeth his sheepe. Where is to bee noted, that Byshoppes or ouerseers of one Citye were manye, which plainelye argu • th that they were none such as now a days are commonly called bishops, which can be but one in one whole Diocesse, much lesse many in one citie. The same thing is to be obserued, in the name of Bishoppes, vsed by S. Paule. Phillip. 1. 1, where he & Timothie sende salutations vnto the Bishops and Deacons of the church,Phillip. 1. 1. which was in the Citie of Philippi: which bishops, were the Elders or pastors, else would he not haue saluted in special words, the Deacons which were in inferiour office, and omitted the Elders, which were of more excellent calling. In the same maner of speaking,1. Tim. 3. 2. 8. he describeth the qualities of those, which were to be chosen into the office of the bishops and Deacons. Likewise vnto Titus. 1. 5. He calleth them Elders, and immediatly after, discribing the qualities of such, as were meet to be ordained Elders, he calleth them bishops: saying, For this cause did I leaue thee in Creta, Tit. 1. 5. 6. 7. that thou shouldest continue, to redresse the thinges that remaine: and that thou shouldest ordayne Elders in euery Citie, if anie be vnreproueable: the husband of one wife, hauing faithfull Children which are not accused of riot, nor are disobedient. For a Bishop or ouer seer must be vnreprooueable, as the Steward of God, not froward, &c. Finally, S. Peter, chapter. 5. 1. the place before alleadged, comprehendeth al the three names of Elders, Pastours, & Bishops.1. Pet. 5. 1. The Elders (saith he) which are among you, I beseech. The name of Pastor, is vnderstanded by relation of the names of feeding, and the flocke which he vseth, also by the name of Archipoymē, which signifieth the chief of Pastours, which is our Sauiour Christ. The name of bishops or ouerseers is included in the worde Episcopountes, which signifieth them which do carefully exercise the office of bishops or ouerseers. His exhortation is this. The Elders which are amongst you I beseech, 1. Pet. 5. 1. 2. 3 4. which am also a fellow Elder and a witnesse of the sufferinges of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shalbe reuealed: Feede the flocke of God which is committed vnto you, so much as in you lieth, carefully ouerseeing, not by constraint but willingly, not for filthy lucre, but of a readie minde, not as exercising Lordshippe ouer the heritage, but that you may be examples to the flocke, and when the chiefe Pastor shall appeare, you shal receiue an incorruptible Crowne of glory. S. Peter in this place reprooueth three notable vices, which doe great hurt among the ministers of the Church, if they bee not taken heede of: slouthfulnes in teaching: couetousnes of lucre, & ambitious desire of exercising Lordship: exhorting them to painfull diligence, because they were Byshops or Ouerseers: to a ready care, because they were Pastoures, and therefore should labour for loue of the flock, and not for lucre like hirelinges: to modest humility, because their cheef dignity in that they were Elders, was to excell in Godlinesse, that they might be an ensample to the flock, which cannot bee, except they submit themselues and their liues, to the common rule of other men: which most excellente vertues if they imbrace, they shoulde bee sure to bee plentifullye rewarded by him, who onelye deserueth to bee called the cheefe of all Elders, Pastors, and Byshops: to whome onely these honorable names of Archipresbyter, Archiepiscopus, Archiepoimen, and suche like, do properly agree. For as the Apostle calleth our Sauiour Christe in this place, the chiefe Pastor: So in the second Chapiter the 25. vers. he calleth him both the Pastor and Byshop of our soules. Wherefore as he onelye is oure chiefe Pastour or Archiepoimen, Pet. 2. 25. so is hee also our onelye Archbyshoppe: And that the name of Archipresbyter or chiefe of Elders, pertayneth tono mortall man, may bee seene by this place, where Saint Peter that excellent and high Apostle, who if anye man coulde, might as well as anye, haue challenged that name, durste not call him selfe other then Sunpresbyteros, a fellowe Elder, no not when hee sought authoritie to him selfe, by that name to be bold, to exhort the Elders of the Church. But least any man shoulde thinke wee staye onely in names and tearmes, which are not so greatlye materiall: let him consider, that Sainte Peter expresly forbiddeth the Elders, to exercise Lordship ouer their seuerall congregations, how much more ouer their fellowe Elders. Which thing also our Sauiour Christ precisely forbiddeth, when there was a contention among his Apostles, about the prymacie.Luk. 22. 25. The kings of the nations haue dominion ouer them, and they that beare rule ouer them are called gratious Lordes or beneficiall, but you shall not be so. Also Math. 20. 25.Mat. 20: 25. and Mark. 10. 41. vpon the ambitious request of the sonnes of Zebedy,Mark. 10. 41. and the disdaine of the other against them. The Princes of the Gentiles, exercise Lordship ouer them, and they that be great, exercise authoritie ouer them, but it shall not be so amongst you, but who so will be great amongst you, let him be your Minister, and he that will be first among you, let him be your seruaunt. The same thing he taught by his example, when hee washed his Apostles feet,Iohn. 13. 13. and commanded them to shew the like humilitie one towarde an other, which were all brethren, which he their Lord and maister shewed towards them. Also Math. 23. 8.Mat. 23. 8. &c. he forbiddeth all ambitious Titles of Rabbi, Maister, Father, &c. the reason hee addeth, for you are all Brethren. For these names agree properly to God & Christ. For the greatest dignitie of an Ecclesiasticall person is a ministery, and not a lordship. S. Ioh.3. Iohn. 9. also in his third epistle sharply reprooueth Diotrephes, because he was Philoproteuon, one that desired the primacie in the Church. Howbeit in this case we must take heede, that we spoyle not the ministers of the church, of al their lawfull authoritie. For, although these testimonies of scripture, directly condemne the authoritie of one Pastour aboue an other: yet neither do they set euery pastour at libertie by him selfe, to do what they list without controlment: nor yet doe take away the lawful authoritie he hath ouer his flocke: but that imperious and pompeous dominion, which is meet for ciuill magistrates, and great Potentates to exercise in worldly affayres: otherwise in respect of their lawfull authoritie, they are called by the Apostle in his Epistle to the Hebrewes,Heb. 13. 7. Guides, such as are appoynted to ouersee the flocke with authority, and vnto them submission and obedience is commaunded in the same Chapiter, verse 17. Other names are applied to them in the Scripture, but they bee for the moste parte more generall, pertaining to all kinde of Teachers in the Church of GOD, both in the time of the Lawe and of the Gospell, as Seers, Prophets, VVatchmen, Angelles, Labourers, Builders, Stewardes, and such like: all which with many other, serue to expresse some parte of their office, as their knowledge, their diligence, their authority, their faithfullnesse, their discretion: also the necessity of them, the commoditie that commeth by them &c. But concerning the names of Pastours, as they are a speciall office in the Church, this maye suffise. But for as muche as we haue vndertaken, so to describe a Pastour and and his office, as all other offices of the Church, may be described therewith: wee must not staye onelye in the name, but set foorth also the whole substaunce of the person. For which intent, it shall bee necessarye for vs to consider a Pastour or Bishop, these two wayes: in the proper function of his Ministerye, and in gouernement with his Elders: By which we shall vnderstande how this Ministerye ought to bee refourmed and restored amongest vs. As touching his office, something hath beene sayde before generallye, vnder the description of his seuerall names. But now more particularlye, wee must examine, what belongeth to his charge. The Pastor must be limitted to one onelye congregation of such competent number, as he, (if hee be but one,) or if they be two, may be sufficient, to the instruction of all and euerye member of the same Church. And first, he may no more lawfully haue charge of two or three churches, then he can be possibly in diuerse places. No more then a sheephearde of whome he taketh his name, may haue the leading of sundrie flockes in diuers places: neither maye he be absent from his charge, with better reason, then a shepheard from his flocke. As for substitutes or • hyrelinges, will not bee allowed in this case: for Pastors are substitutes of God, and haue an office of credite committed vnto them, therefore by no good reason may they make any substitutes in their place, or commit their charge vnto an other. The law of a man grounded vppon good reason, alloweth not substitutes of substitutes: nor committing ouer of an office of credite in temporall matters. How shall God almighty then take it in good part, when the flocke of Christe, which he hath purchased with his own bloud, shal be so greatly neglected, to the endaungering of their euerlasting saluation? Therfore the ordinaunce of God is, that the Pastor should attend vnto his peculiar flocke.1. Pet. 5. That Elders should be ordayned in euery Citie,Tit. 1. 5. Towne and other places. Tit. 1. 5.Tit. 1. 5. and Act: 14. 23. The Apostles ordeined Elders in • uery Church of Derbe, Actes. 14. 23 Lystra, Iconi • m and Tichia, and all the Congrega •• ons about.

Secondly, the office of Pastors is, • ot onely to teach the same truth in • heir seuerall flockes, but also to ap • ye it to the time and persons, of • home they haue charge, with ex • ortation and reprehension: with • onsolation of the afflicted, & threat • ing of the obstinate &c. This in • we wordes is set foorth by S. Paule •• eaking of the diuerse Gifts of God 〈◊〉 his Church,Rom. 12. 7. 8. hee saith: Whether it •• e hee that teacheth, in his Doctrine, 〈◊〉 hee that exhorteth, in his exhortati •• . The Doctour therefore teacheth • ithout exhortation. The Pastor tea • heth and exhorteth withall. More 〈◊〉 larg he setteth forth the same offi •• in his exhortation vnto the Past • rs of Ephesus, willing them to folow •• s example,Acts. 20. whoe supplied that of •• ce, vntill they were able to succeed 〈◊〉 his Place. Also very breifly and yet fully, hee describeth the same vnto Timothy, 2. Tim. 3. 16. 17. shewing first that al his foundation must be out of the scriptures, which were sufficient for all parts o • his charge, and then moste earnestly commaundeth him to practise the same with all diligence: his wordes are these,2. Tim. 4. 1. 2▪ All Scripture is inspired of GOD, and profitable for Doctrine, for exhortation, for reformation and for instruction, which is in righteousnesse, tha • the man of God maye bee prepared to a • good workes: Therefore I charge thee before God, & before the Lord Iesus Christ, which shall iudge the quicke and the deade at his appearing, and in his kingdome, preache the worde, bee instan • in season and out of season: improoue, rebuke, exhort, with all long suffering and doctrine.

The firste part therefore, and the cheefest of a Pastours office or duety is, to feede with wholsome doctrine, the flocke that is committed to his charge, and therefore Sainte Paul • describing what manner of men are meete for that charge vnto Timothy, requireth that a Byshop or Pastour bee apt or able to teache:1. Tim. 3. 2. for if a man haue neuer so much knoweledge, and bee not apt or able to teach, he ought by no meanes to be admitted vnto this vocation. And vnto Titus writing Chap. 1. verse 9. he requireth that he be such a one as holdeth fast the faythfull worde, Tit. 2. 9. according to Doctrine, that he also may be able to exhort with wholesome Doctrine, and improoue them that say against it. Wherevppon it followeth necessarily, that whosoeuer is himselfe ignoraunt in the knowledge of Gods worde, and therefore vnable eyther to exhorte with wholsome doctrine, or to confute them that gainsay it, is altogether vnmeete for the office of a Pastor or bishop. Wherefore if euer we minde suche a reformation, as God shall thereby bee glorifyed, and his Churche edifyed, wee must vtterlye remooue al the vnlearned pastors, as men by no means to be tollerated to haue any charge ouer the lords flok: & also prouide that herafter none be receiued into that office, but such as are sufficient for their knowledge & abilitie, in teaching to take so waightie a charge in hand. What man hauing but one hundreth sheep, would make such a man shepheard or ouerseer ouer them, as were a naturall Idiott, or otherwise altogeather vnskilfull or vnable to performe those thinges that belong to a shepheard? If no man haue so little care of brute beastes: What brutishe negligence is it to commit the people of God, redeemed with the precious bloud of Iesus Christ, to such vnskilfull and vnsufficient Pastours, as neither them selues know the waye of saluation, neither are able to lead other vnto it, whereof they are ignoraunt them selues? If there bee no waye of saluation but by faith,Rom. 10. 14. and none can beleeue but such as heare the worde of God preached: O Lorde how miserable is the state of many flockes in this lande, who either seldome or neuer heare the worde of God truely preached, and • herefore know not how to beleeue that they might be saued.

But here it will be aunswered, that, as it is a thing greatly to be desired: To it is altogether vnpossible to prouide the Church of so many learned Pastours, as shoulde take charge of euery seueral congregation. But hereto we replie, that it is a thing necessarily required at our hands by God almighty, and therefore we must obiect no impossibilitie, especially whē our owne negligence, is the cause of all the difficultie, or if you will so call it, impossibilitie. We confesse it will be harde at the first, but we must doe our endeuour, and commit the successe vnto God, and there is no doubt but in time it will grow to an happy ende. But when we shall be altogether carelesse, as we haue been of long time, and that is worse, not acknowledging anye default in this behalfe, (as there be that doe not): and that is most of all, mayntaining suche lets and hinderaunces as bee continuall nurseies of ignoraunce and ignorant pastors: We may bee ashamed to alledge that difficulty, for which none are to be blamed but we our selues. We may be ashamed, now that our church hath had rest and peace, with free preaching of the gospel this 25. or 26. years, vnder the protection of our most gratious Queen, to bee so vnfurnished of learned Pastors as we are: whereas, if that diligence had bene vsed of all partes, as might and shoulde haue beene emploied of all them, that vnfaignedly seeke the kingdome of God and his righteousnesse, almoste in halfe the time, this necessitie might haue bene well supplied. If we seeke experience, what diligent & carefull prouision is able to do with the blessing of God: looke to our neighbours & brethren in Christ, of Fraunce, whoe although they neuer enioyed one day of such peace, as we haue don so many years: Yet how plentifullie they are furnished withall kinds of Ecclesiasticall ministers, and namely with Godly and learned pastors, it would reioyce any Christian heart to beholde in them, • nd lament to see the lack in vs. But • s for those that acknowledge no de • ect in our Church, thorow the great multitude of ignoraunt Pastors, We had rather at this time praie to God • o lighten their blindenes, then by • ny long discourse, to discouer their palpable darkenes. Would to God there were not more difficultie in reforming them that maintaine suche inconueniences, as except they bee taken away, we shall neuer be disburdened of the cankers of the church, those vnlearned ministers. For while Nonresidents and Pluralities be reteined, we shal neuer want vnlearned Curates, that for small stipendes will supplie the absence of Pluralities and Nonresidentes: Which grosse corruptions of pastorall office, as they maye haue some honest pretence, so canne they haue no better pretence, neyther are they reteyned with a better conscience, then the Priestes in our Sauiour Christs time, suffered the exchaungers of mony, Grasyers and Pulterers to make a Burse or shambles, and a Pultrie, yea, a denne of theeues of the Temple of God, which was appoynted to be a house of prayer to all nations.Math. 21. 22. Math. 21. 12. Mark. 11. 15. Iohn. 2. 14. But especially,Mark. 11. 15. while the whole office of a Pastour,John. 2. 14. shall be thought to consist in reading onely a prescript number of Psalmes and chapters of the scriptures, with other appointed formes of prayer: and that he maye bee allowed as a sufficient Pastour which doth the thinges, which a Childe of ten yeares olde maye doe as well as he, so long shall we neuer lacke vnlearned Pastours, ignoraunt and vngodly people: Symonicall and sacrilegious patrones: So long the building of Gods Church, shall goe but slowly forwarde, beside other superstitious fantasies, mayntained in the peoples heartes, which for shortnesse wee omitte to speake off. What though some saye formall reading might be borne withall for a time, vntill the Church might bee prouided of sufficient Pastours, which yet is not graunted: shall it therefore continue alwayes to the perpetuall decay of knowledge, and hurt of the Church of God? What greater discouragement is there vnto Students then to see the rewardes of learning, bestowed as commonly vppon the ignorant as vpon the learned? What encouragement is it to idlenesse and slouthfulnesse, in them that bee alreadye in that vocation, to beholde them that take no paine, to liue in wealth and ease, without punishement of their negligence?

But here againe it will be obiected, because there are not liuinges able to maintaine all learned Pastors, we must be inforced to admitte manie ignoraunt ministers. But againe we aunswere, it is our part, not onely to prouide learned Pastours: but also liuinges sufficient to maintayne them, vppon the necessitie of Gods commaundement.Gal. 6. 6. Let him that is instructed in the worde (sayth Saint Paul) minister to him, 1. Cor. 9. 7. that doth instruct him in all good thinges. Be not deceaued for God is not mocked. Gal. 6. 6. 7. By which saying the Apostle confuteth all vaine excuses, which manie are wonte to alleadge, why they would contribute nothing to the maintenance of their Pastors: al which he affirmeth to be vain, because they haue to do with God, and not with men onely: For here is not regarded the liuing of a man, but howe much they esteeme Christ and the Gospell of God. Therefore except we will mocke God to his face, Let vs obiect nothing to testifie such shamefull ingratitude, that we would doubt, how they should be prouided of bodely foode, of whom we receiue the foode of our souls, as though we coulde not afford them an earthely recompence, of whome wee receiue heaunely benefits. If nothing had bene before time allotted, towards the liuing of the Pastors; Yet were vvee bounde in payne of damnation, to prouide sufficient for them; and nowe there is somewhat towardes a liuing where there is least, and in all places sufficient, if it were well disposed: Why should we obiect necessity through lacke of • iuinges to reteine idols in steede of true Pastors? Looke once againe into Fraunce (for examples moue muche) and beholde the Churches there impouerished, and spoiled with long warres, persecution & vnquietnes. They haue neither Byshoppricks, Deaneries, Prebends nor benefices to bestow on their Pastors, and yet minister vnto them all things necessarie for an honest sober life: And shall wee that haue all this while liued in peace, and prosperitie, vnder a godly and religious Princesse, hauing all these helpes, thincke it is impossible, by disposition of godly and wise gouernours, to appoint a sufficient portion for so manie learned Pastors as are necessarie for our Churches? There is none excuse therefore to be admitted, but that wee must endeuour to the vttermost of our power that euery seuerall congregation, Church or parrishe be prouided of a learned Pastour. For vnskilful sheepheardes haue beene to long thrust vppon vs, to the great dishonour of God and defacing of the Gospell of Christe. We haue hitherto taken vpon vs without warraunt of Gods worde, to allow such for Pastours of mens soules, whom no carefull owner of Cattell, woulde make ouerseer of his sheepes bodyes. Which thing almightye God hath alwayes detested, and signified his mislyking by diuers testimonies, both of the olde and newe Testament. Therefore he sayeth by the Prophet Esaye, complayning of the vnlearned Pastours of Israell, which was the onelye cause of their affliction and miseries. Their watchmen are all blinde, they haue no knowledge, Esai. 56. 10. 11. 12. they cannot barke, they lye and sleepe and delight in sleeping, and these greedie dogges can neuer haue ynough, and these sheepheardes cannot vnderstande, for they all looke to their owne way, euery one for his aduantage and for his owne purpose. Come I will bring wine, and we wil fill our selues with strong drink, and to morrowe shall bee as, this day, and much more aboundant. If the Prophet had liued in these our days, might he not haue spoken the same more truely of many Shiers in Englande? We see therefore that blinde watchmen, and ignoraunt dumbe Dogges, and idle greedie Curres and vnlearned sheepheardes that serue for nothing, but to fill their owne purses, or their paunches, by the testimonie of God his spirite, are denied to be meet Pastours of the people of God. The prophet Ezechiell also inueigheth at large, against the vnfeeding sheepheardes of Israell:Eze. 34. 2. 3. 4 saying (Woe) be vnto the sheepheardes of Israell which feede them selues: shoulde not the sheepeheardes feede the flockes? Yee eate the fat and you cloth you with the wooll: yee kill them that are fedde, but yee feede not the sheepe. The weake haue yee not strengthened, the sicke haue yee not healed, neither haue yee bound vp the broken, nor brought againe that which was driuen awaye, neither haue yee sought that which was lost, &c. throughout the whole Chapter. When feeding of Gods sheepe is a matter of so great importaunce, and consisteth of so many partes, which the Prophet hath heere described, how shoulde we admit them whome God reiecteth? which being ignoraunt and vnlearned, knowe nothing at all, and therefore nothing can do that appertaineth to this charge, or any part thereof. Vndoubtedly the retaining of such, is a manifest token of the vengeance of God against vs, for so he threatneth by the Prophet Zachary: Zac. 15. 16. 16 his wordes are these. And the Lorde sayde vnto me: Take to thee yet the Instrumentes of a foolish Sheepheard, for loe, I will rayse vp a Sheapheard in the Lande, which shall not looke for the thinge that is lost, nor seeke the tender Lambes, nor heale that is hurt: nor feed that which standeth vp, but he shall eat the flesh of the fat, & tear their hooues in peeces. O Idole sheaphearde that leaueth the flocke, the Sworde shall bee vppon his arme, and vpon his right eye: his arme shall be cleane dried vp, and his right eye shall bee vtterly darkened.

Now, seeing we are taught by these wordes of the Lord God, that it is a greate and horrible plague, to haue the church of God encumbred with such foolish and Idole Sheapheards: Let vs study to remoue such plagues from the flocke of Christe, vvhose armes are cleane dried vp that they haue no force, and their eyes vtterly darkned, that they haue no skill, so that they are not able to perfourme those duties, which pertaine to a vvise and faythfull Sheaphearde, excepte wee will betraye the Sheepe of Christe, into the mouthes of rauenous Wolues, and speciallye into the teethe of that greate ramping Lyon the deuill,1. Pet. 1. 8. who neuer ceaseth going aboute to seeke whome hee may deuoure for his pray. For what doe these readinge Ministers differ from those Idole Sheapheards, which God in his vengeance threatneth to sende for the ingratitude of the people?

It wil be answered (no doubt) that to supplie their ignorance, there are added to their appointed seruice, manie Godly & learned homilies, which if they read with their seruice, there is not so great neede of Preaching, & interpretation of the scriptures. We will derogate nothing here from the dignitie of those homilies: we will not accuse here the vnsensible reading of vnlearned ministers, neither yet the vnreuerent contempt of the ignoraunt hearers; but, which all godly and wise men must needs confesse, those exhortations that are not applied, to the proper circumstances of times, places, persons and occasions, are of small power to perswade any man, and least of all the ignoraunt people, Let long experience the Mystresse of fooles teach vs, if knowledge the instructer of wise men cannot mooue vs. Howe many papists conuerted? How many ignoraunt instructed? How many wicked reformed, are ye able to shew by this ignoraunt and vnlearned ministery, with all the helpes of reading of for • all prayers and homilies, without • eaching and applying the Scrip •• res to the proper circumstaunces • efore rehearsed? Againe, who seeth • ot but he that is so blinde, that he • ill see nothing, that these partes of • true Pastors duetie, which both the • rophetes, Ezechiel and Zachary re • earse, namely, to strengthen the • eake, to heale the sicke, to bind the • roken, to seeke the lost, to bring • ome that is carried away, to cherish • e yong Lambs, to feede the strong • eepe. &c. cannot be performed of • y man by such means as these, but • nely by such one, as is a Godly and • arned shepheard. Wherefore, these • oore helpes of prescript forme of • ading of praiers, of Homilies, and • ch like, when they are alleadged to maintaine the ignorance of vnskilful • astors, are called no better, by the • dgement of God, but the instru • entes of foolish and idole sheap • eardes, which haue a certaine pre •• nce of pastorall office, but in effect are altogether vnmeet for the same. Euen as Idiots and Idolles are good for nothing, but able to doe much hurt, concerning whom our sauiour Christ pronounceth this feareful sentence.Math. 15. 14. If the blind lead the blind, they shal both fall into the pit. How long therefore shal wee suffer the blinde to lead the blind, to the destruction of both? Let vs therfore now at the lēgth, remoue these blind guides, and place in their steeds faithfull ouerseers, that may lead the flock of Christ into the way of saluation. The ministers of the church are the salt of the earth.Math. 5. 13. If the salt be vnsauory, wherwith shall it be seasoned, It is good for nothing but to bee cast out, and troden downe of mens feete. Let vs not therfore seek politike shifts to maintain the vnsauory salt, which our Sauiour Christe pronounceth to bee good for nothing but to be cast out.

By these and many other testimonies of the scripture, it is as cleere as the Sunne at Noone dayes, that it is the office and duetie of a Pastor, both to be able and willing to teach his flocke, and that no ignorant and vnlearned person is to bee admitted to that charge, or reteined, if hee bee • rept in, no more then a blind mā is to be suffred in an office, which must be executed only with the sight: or a Humbe Dog to giue warning which cannot barke: or an Idol to haue the place of a man, or a fool of a wise mā or a Wolfe of a Sheapheard, or darknesse in steede of light, or Salt that is vnsauory, to season withal. But while we intreat of teaching, to be the duty of a pastor, we do not only meane publike preaching, when the cōgregation is assembled, but also priuate exhortation, reprehēsion, consolatiō, of euery particular person within his charge, so often as need shall require. And that this also is the duetye of a faithful Bishop, S. Paule testifieth, setting before the elders of the church, of Ephesus the example of his diligēce which he wold haue thē to folow.Acts. 20. 18. 19. 20. You know (saith hee) from the first day that I came into Asia, after what manner I haue bin with you at al seasons, seruing the Lord withall modesty, &c. And how I kept back nothing that was profitable, but haue shewed you, and taught you, both openly, and throughout euery house. By vvhich it is manifest, that the Pastor must not onely teache al his flocke openly: but also he must instruct euery familie priuatelie, vvhersoeuer hee shal see it to be needfull or expedient, which duty cannot bee accomplished by a reading Minister. Also in the 26. vers. of the same Chapiter, hee commendeth vnto the Elders, a general care of the vvhole flocke.Acts. 20. 26. Take heede to your selues (sayth hee) and to the whole flocke. Which care can not be wel, or at al vndertaken, except they be diligent to teach, both al and euerie one of their flocke, as neede shal require. Which thing also hee willeth them once againe to obserue in his example, verse. 31. saying: Therefore watch yee, Acts. 20. 31. remembring that by the space of three yeeres, I ceassed not night and day, exhorting euery one of you. By these testimonies it is euident to see, what diligence the holy Ghoste requireth of Pastors in teaching, both publikely and priuately: as well generallye all their flocke, as particularlye euerye one of them. Hee therefore that is vnapt to execute this parte of a Pastors duety, is altogether vnmeete, to whome gouernance of the flocke of God, shoule be committed. In temporal affayres, no man vvil commit the least charge that can bee, to such persons as he knoweth to be altogether vnmeete, or vnable to aunswere vnto the charge: And shall we continue as we haue done hitherto, to put thē in trust with the greatest charge that can be, the saluation of so many thousande soules redeemed with the bloud of Christe, whome wee knowe certainely to be able to doe, no parte of a Pastours duety sufficiently? God forbid that we should still continue, so lightly to esteeme so waightye a matter, as though we accounted the bloud of Christ, by which we are sanctified, to be prophane, and woulde contumeliously withstande the spirit of God.

But necessitie (you wil answere) hath no lawe. This necesity we haue aunswered before, to consist in 2. points: in lack of liuings, and lack of learned men. The first we haue shewed ought to be no lette, no not of an howre, if the other wante, coulde so soone bee supplied. And both must of necessity bee prouided for in time, or else wee testify before God and his holy Angels, that they which neglect or with stand this prouision, shal be guilty of the bloude of all them, that peris • e through the desaulte of teaching, in the whole realm. The lack of liuings may be supplied, either by restoring the sacriledges of Abbies, as Impropriations of benefices. &c. or by deuiding the supersluities of some places that haue to muche, vnto them that haue too little, or by any other godly meanes, that may bee thought meet to these godly and wise gouernors, that by duty ought, and by authority may do it. The lacke of learned preachers, must be so farre forth supplied, as it maye presentlye, by encouraging and exhorting so many as are able, to take that charge in hand, by ouerseeing the Readers & schollers in diuinity in the Vniuersities, to doe their duties, the one in teaching purely, the other in learning diligētly: by thrusting out these vnprofitable heades of Colledges, and other drone Bees, which either are vnable or vnwilling to set forward the study of diuinity in their seuerall huoses, & placing diligent and learned gouernors & students in their places, & by other good means reforming vniuer sities, by erecting of doctors & teachers, in as many places as may be: by cōpelling the vnlearned ministers, in whome is any towardnes to become schollers in diuinity, with some allow aunce of liuing if they bee willing to study, or else to sende thē frō whence they came, to get their liuinges with sweate of their brows: and especially cōsidering the gretnes of the haruest & fewnes of the laborers, by praying earnestly the Lord of the haruest in this great necessity of ours,Math. 9. 38. to thrust foorth labourers into his Haruest. And in the meane time till God shal blesse vs with a sufficient number of learned pastors, to take some extraordinarie and temporall order for ouerseeing the Churches, that although they can not bee all sufficientlie instructed and gouerned: yet so many shall not be altogether destitute, of al knowledge and spiritual gouernment, as ther are now in this most corrupt state of the Church, in which we haue hitherto continued. If any man thinke this is ouer harde to be brought to passe, let him consider that there was neuer worke of more difficulty, then to build vp the Church of God: so that the necessity and commodity of the work, should cause vs to stay nothing at the difficultie thereof. For with our faithfull endeuor, we shall not want the mighty assistance of God, who will blesse our Godly labours, with greater successe, then we can looke for. If God therefore will graunt that these and such like meanes may take place, by the high authority of our dread soueraigne the Queenes Maiesty, and continue this comfortable peace, which we enioy, vnder her most gratious gouernment, wee dare ieopard oure liues, that in lesse then halfe the time, that is already prosperously passed, of her Maiesties moste honourable and glorious reigne, the necessity of learned pastors shall bee so well supplied, as wee shall haue no great cause to complaine for lacke of them, if we may vse like diligence to continue them: if not, we wil spēd the rest of oure life in mourning, & expectation of the heauy vengeance of God, which must needes fall vpon vs, for this manifest contempt of his expresse commaundement, aud neglect of increasing the glorious kingdome of our Sauiour Christe. In the meane time, we may boldly say with the Apostle. Act. 20.Actes. 20. 26. 27. We testify vnto you this day, that we are cleane from the bloud of you all, for we haue not failed to shew you the whole Counsell of God, concerning the regiment of his Church.

Hitherto wee haue somewhat at large set foorth, the principall parte of a Pastors office, which is to preach the word of God, and to instruct the people committed to his charge in the same. Here followeth now in the second part of his duety, which consisteth in right administration of the Sacramentes of God. For seeing it hath pleased God to adde such outwarde signes to be helpes of our infirmitie, as seales for confirmation of his promises, vttered by his worde Rom. 4. 11. He hath appoynted ministers of the same,Rom. 4. 11. to deliuer them vnto his people. Math. 28. 19.Math. 28. 19. Luke. 22. 19. For no man may take vppon him any office in the Church,Luke. 22. 19. but he that is called of God, as was Aaron. Heb. 3. 4.Heb. 3. 4. Seeing therefore that God hath giuen some to bee Pastours in his Church. Ephes. 4. 11.Ephes. 4. 11. And it is the duetie of Pastours to feede the flocke of God committed to their charge, with all maner of spirituall pasture of their soules, appoynted by God. 1. Cor. 4. 1.1. Cor. 4. 1. And that the Sacramentes are a part of this spiritual food, it is manifest that it belongeth to the dutie of Pastors, to administer the holy Sacramentes: and that the Sacramentes appertaine to the doctrine and worde of God, it is euident, that whome God hath instituted to be minister of the worde, him also hath he made to be minister of the Sacramentes: and as the Sacramentes are compared by the holye Ghost vnto seales: and the worde or promise of God vnto writinges: so it appertaineth to him to deliuer the seale, which deliuereth the writings. For, as the seale hath alwayes relation vnto the writinges: so haue the Sacramentes vnto the word of God. By this it appeareth, that as it is the duetie of euerye Pastour to administer the Sacramentes of Christe: so this office appertayneth to none, but to those which are ministers of the worde. Our Sauiour Christ authorizing his Apostles to Baptize all Nations, sayeth: Goe yee foorth and teache all Nations, Math. 28. 19. baptizing them in the name of the father, the sonne and the Ghoste, teaching them to obserue all thinges, that I haue commaunded you. Likewise to the same effect, Goe yee foorth into the whole worlde, Mark. 16. 15. and preache the Gospell to euery creature, he that shall beleeue and is baptized shall be saued. &c. Also instituting his holy supper, hee sayde:Luke. 2 • ▪ 19. Doe this in remembraunce of me. Which remembrance Saint Paul declareth, that it ought to bee celebrated, by preaching of the Lords death. So often (saith he) as you shall eate of tbis Bread, 1. Cor. 24. and drinke of this Cup, you shal shew foorth the Lords death vntill he come. By these testimonies it is euidēt, that the administratiō of the sacramēts ought to bee committed to none, but vnto such as are Preachers of the worde, that are able to teach them that they baptise, that are able to preache the mystery of Christs death to them, to whom they doe deliuer the outward signe thereof. Howe intollerable an abuse then is it, of the sacraments of the Lord, to commit the administration of them to those men, that are not able to expounde the mystery of them. And seeing the elementes of the worlde, of which the outwarde • art of the sacramentes is taken, bee leade and beggerly of themselues, except they bee animated and enti • hed with the promise and worde of God, which is the life of the Sacramentes: what can it bee better then • acriledge to seperate the ministratition of preaching of the worde from the sacramentes? And forasmuch as the spirite of God, compareth the Sacraments to seales that are added, for confirmation of writinges; wee knowe well that a worde or writing, may be auailable without a seale, but • euer a seale without a writing.

Therefore in this behalfe we haue • ad greate defaulte, so long time to • ommit the administration of the Sacramentes to those men, who not onely haue beene knowne to be vnable, but also haue beene forbidden to preach the word. And that which is more strange, to be suffered in this cleare light of the Gospel, to permit the ministration of baptisme, not only to ignorante men, but also to women which haue no voyce to speake in the congregation. 1. Cor. 14. 34.1. Cor. 14. 34. & 1. Tim. 2. 11.Tim. 2. 11. and that in priuate places, but in case (they say) of necessity, as though there were such necessity of the outward signe, when it cannot bee ministred according to the institution of Christ, which is nothing els but to affirme with the Papistes, that Sacraments confer grace of the work wrought: and that the sacrament of baptisme, is a sacrament of such necessity, that whosoeuer is not dipped in water, must be eternally condemned. Which hereticall opinion, as we haue hissed out in our profession and preaching, so is it a great shame for vs to maintain by such corrupt vsage of Christes holy sacramentes. Let vs therefore reteine this principle, that the administration of the sacraments is a part of the pastors duety: for although the office of preaching bee more excellent, then of ministration of the sacraments, as S. Paul speaketh comparatiuely. Christ sent me not to baptize but to preach. 1. Cor. 1. 17.1. Cor. 1. 17. Yet they are of such affinitie, that the accessory cannot be seperated from the principall thereof. For where is no preacher of the worde, ther ought to be no minister of the Sacramentes. Furthermore, it pertaineth to the dutie of the pastor, to make prayers: as Act. 16. 16.Act. 16. 16. not onely priuate, as all men are bound to doe, but also publike prayers in the name of the whol Church. Act. 6. 4. 1. Timot. 2. 1. being the mouth thereof.Acts. 6. 4. For whereas the spirit of God,Tim. 2. 1. commandeth al things to be done in decent and comely order,1. Cor. 14. 16. and forbiddeth all confusion and disorder. As it were great confusiō & vncomelines, for euery man to make his seuerall praiers in the publike assemblies: so is it orderly for one to pronounce the praier in the name of the rest, and the rest to pray with him in silence, & to answer Amē. It is also decēt that he which is the shepherd,1. Cor. 14 40. should go before the sheep in praier, & the sheepe to follow him in lifting vp of their harts in mutuall consent. Moreouer for asmuch as preaching and administration of the sacramēts, ought not to bee vsed without publique prayers: as it is the Pastors office to preache, and minister the Sacraments: so is it his duety also to go before his flocke in publique prayers.

But heere we haue to obserue two things: the first, that as it perteineth to the Pastor to conceiue publique praiers: so it is the duty of the whole Church, in the name of the whole Church, to ioyne in hart with the pastor in the same praiers, that they knowing and vnderstanding what he hath praied, may at the end giue ther consent by answering Amen.1. Cor. 14. 16 Wherin their is great abuse in our Churches. For, as though it weare notinough, to keepe out preaching by longe prescribed formes of praier: these praiers are so pronounced by the minister, that a great number, & some not of the worst disposed people, thinck, it perteineth not to them, to giue eare or consent of mind vnto them. We speake not here of such insensible Readers, whose voyce eyther cannot be heard, or else cannot be vnderstood, wherof there be great numbers: nor of the vnfit place prescribed for the ministers, standing at prayer in the east ende of the house, whē the simple people shal stand oftētimes 40. or 50. yards of in the west ende: or of the confusion of voyces whilest all speake at once: besides scrines of roode-lofts, Organe lofts, Idoll cages, otherwise called Chauntrie Chappelles, and high pewes betweene them: which although they do manifestly hinder edifycation, yet may they not be remooued in many places, for defacing the beauty of the materiall houses, whereas S. Paule so much estemeth the building of gods spirituall house, that he commaundeth the glorious giftes of the holye Ghost to cease in the congregation,1. Cor. 14. 28. when they do not helpe to edification. But we speake of this that a great multitude thinke they haue wel serued God: if they haue been present at common prayers, or anye part of them, as they were wont to thinke in popery, although they bee neuer so vainly occupyed in the Church, some in walking, some in talking, in gathering of money, not onely for the poore, but for other contributions, &c. And they that thinke they doe best, are occupyed in their priuate praiers, or in reading of books, while their minister pronounceth publique praiers.

Thus as preaching is neglected, vppon colour of publique prayers: So publique prayers by priuate exercises, are made altogether vnprofitable to a great number. For who knoweth the right vse of publique prayer, but they that are taught by the word of God. Let vs therfore establish publique preaching, and publique prayers will follow of necessitie. But if we continue to vpholde formal praiers, that preaching bee neglected, it will come to passe, that neither shall be regarded. For what did thrust out preaching from the Romishe Church, but long prescript formes of reading, of singing, of praying: so that their ordinarye was ynough, and to much to occupye the whole daye, though there were no sermon, wheras contrariwise there woulde be no ordinarie publique prayer without preaching. Which terrible example of the practize of Sathan in the man of sinne, shoulde make vs afrayde to giue any like occasion of such inconuenience hereafter to come. For is not this opinion already growen into a great manye mens heades, that the seruice maye not giue place to a sermon, no though the time be not sufficient for both? And are ther not many that had much rather heare a chaunted Mattens and Euensong, then a godly & learned sermon? Yea they frequent the one, and refuse the other. Let Cathedral Churches, &c. be an example, where you shall see a great number, that tarrye while the seruice is songe, but depart so soone as the Sermon beginneth.

While the Organes pipe, some are drawen with the sweetnes of musike to come vp, but while the preacher cryeth out, continue beneath and in laughter or brawling, be lowder then he oftentimes. So, that which was wont to be sayd of the Masse, Missa non mordet, the masse was a gentle beast, and did bite no man, and therfore was so well beloued of manye, may rightly be verified of our ordinary seruice. For therefore a great number can so well away with it, because it doth not sharpely reprooue them of theire sinnes, nor disclose the secreates of their heartes, but that they maye continue still in all kinde of voluptuousnes, and al other kind of wickednes. Wheras by preaching, their conscience is gauled, ther wickednes and hipocrisy discouered, their damnation threatned, they are called to repentaunce and forsaking of their pleasant sinnes, and to holynesse and innocencie of life. So that if there be any sparke of the feare of God in them, hearing preaching, so often as they vse to heare seruice, they will fall downe on their faces & worship God, acknowledging the great power of God in his ministers. 1. Cor. 14. 15.1. Cor. 14. 15 But that they cannot away with all, beeing like vnto Felix the liefetenaunt of the Romanes in Iewrie: Who when he heard Paule a poore prysoner that stoode before him bound in chaines, preaching of righteousnes, of temperaunce, and of the iudgement to come, he was wearie of him because he was a great oppressour, and an intemperate person, and therfore feared the iudgment of God for his sinne, which he purposed not to forsake. Such is the maiestie of Gods word, when it is preached, that either it boweth or breaketh the wicked in pieces. God grant therefore that in steede of ordinarie formes of praiers, we may haue preaching in all places.

The seconde thing that we haue to obserue is this, that although we make it the dutie of the Pastour, to pray in the name of the whole congregation, yet we doe not so meane, but that the whole congregatiō with one heart,1 Cor. 14. 15 & 26. and with one voyce maye praise God, with singing of Psalmes, all at once. For this custome hath continued in the church from the beginning, that the congregation haue praised God with Psalmes singing altogeather. And these three partes of a pastors dutie, to preach, to minister the sacramentes, and to praye, are so necessarilye requyred of him in the word of God, as no man may rightly execute the office of a Pastor, but he that performeth al these, each one in their due time. And to this part of prayer, maye be referred the blessing of marriages, not of necessitie, but of an auncient vse of the Church. Furthermore, in those thinges that are necessarie partes of the Pastours office, the Church hath authoritie to dispose them. as touching the circumstaunces, for order and comelynesse sake: but cheefely for edification. As the dayes and times of preaching and administring the Sacramentes, the places meet for the same, & for publique praiers: also the form and maner of vsing those thinges, so that all things be don comely and agreeably to order, but especially that in all things, principall regarde be had to edification, which S. Paule so often and so precisely vrgeth in the 14. chapiter of the 1. Cor. For therfore ought our assemblies and comminges together to serue, that therefore we maye be better, that we may be taught, that we may be edified. 1. Cor. 11. 17. 1. Cor. 14. 23. 24. 25. 26. 31.1. Cor. 11. 17. 1. Cor. 14. 23. 24. 25. 26. 31. And therefore we haue great maruell that some are so precise in vrging ceremonies, as many thinke much hindering edification, but as moste men confesse, nothing profiting to edifycation, hauing alwayes in their mouth, that sentence of Saint Paule. 1. Corinth. 14. 40.1. Cor. 14. 40 Let all thinges bee done decently, and according to an order, And doe so little remember that the Apostle in that long Chapiter, laboureth altogether to driue al things to edificatiō, or els to driue thē out of the church. As he saith of him that hath the gift of tongues, being of it selfe an excellente and comely gifte of the holye ghost, and being vsed orderly of one or two by course, with an interpreter, mighte doe muche good in the Church.

But if there be none interpreter (saith he) Let him holde his peace in the congregation. 1. Cor. 14. 28.1. Cor. 14. 28. The vncomlinesse that Saint Paule reproueth, was, that women shold preach in the Church, as ver. 30. 35. The disorder, that those giftes which serued leaste for edifying, were preferred before them that serued moste for edifying, as tongs before prophecie. By which it is euident that S. Paules words are wrested of some, clean contrary to his meaning, to make him a Patron of idle, if not hurtful ceremonies, maintained more vpon wil then reason, or graunted of Gods worde, vnder the colour of order and decency, not onely with neglect, but also with great hinderance of Gods building, by spoyling the Churche of so many learned pastoures. There are besides these thinges, certaine other matters: as confirmation, Churching of women, buriall of the deade, thoughte to belonge to the office of a Byshoppe or Pastour. Whereof the firste two are meere deuises of men, and ought to haue no place in the Churche of Christe. The other, albeit it bee to bee retayned with a certayne honestye, yet it is not to bee tied to the proper office of a Pastour. And as for Confirmation, it oughte therefore to be shut oute, and haue no place in the church of God, as wel because it displaced Catechising, and broughte in steede thereof vayne toyes, and Childishe ceremonies to the greate hurte of the Churche; as for that also it derogateth muche from the dignitye of Baptisme, the sacrament of the Lorde, and is extolled aboue it, being a deuise of man, and is pretended to bee a signe to certify the Children of the fauoure and gratious goodnesse of GOD, towardes them, falsely grounded vpon the example of the Apostles: Whereas the ministration of baptisme, is permitted to euery hedge-priest, minister and Deacon.

And as for Churching of Women, because it sauoureth of the Iewish purification, and of Popish institution, it ought altogether to bee omitted, for it breedeth and nourisheth many superstitious opinions in the simple peoples hearts: as, that the woman which hath born a child, is vncleane or vnholy: whereas the Apostle pronounceth, that Godlye women are sanctified and saued by bearing of Children. 1. Timoth. 2. 15.1. Tim. 2. 15. that it is vnlawfull for her, for any necessity, to go out of her doores, before she bee Churched: that this churching is a necessarye part of the Pastors office, that shee must weare a white raile ouer her head, when she goeth to Churche by the Midwife, waighted Home with the Parishe Clearke, with diuers suche like Bables, vvhiche in a vvell refourmed Churche, are not to bee suffered. As for the buriall of the deade, because Sathan tooke occasion vppon Ceremonies appointed therunto, to sowe the seede of manye Herisies in the Church, as prayers for the dead, oblations for the deade, Purgatory, &c. Also many superstitions, as hallowing of Churcbyardes, distinction of Burialls, as some in the Chauncel, some in the Churche, and some in the Church-yardes: some with more pompe, as singing, ringing, &c. some with lesse, burying towards the East, lightes and holy water bestowed vpon the dead, &c. It is thought good, to the best and right reformed churches, to burye their deade reuerently, without any ceremonies of praying or preaching at them, because experience hath taught them, what inconuenience may grow therof▪ by exāple of that which hath bin before And as they are not to be excused, if any for small tri •• es only, raise vp h • t contentions: so they haue much to aunswere before God, that suffer the people of God to lacke the onelye foode of their souls for such humain constitutions. But to conclude, it is the duty of euery true Pastor, to obserue those thinges that are concluded by the lawfull authoritye of the church, concerning ceremonial matters, for order and comlinesse sake, and for edification, and not to controll publique order,Acts. 28. 29. by his priuate iudgement, but vpon great & waighty causes. Wee haue hitherto intreated of the proper dutye of a Pastour himselfe: nowe it followeth, that we likewise set foorth his authoritye in common gouernment with the Elders. But least any man shoulde mistake that, which wee purpose to say of his authority, wee haue neede to expresse what wee meane by this worde authoritye. For euen those thinges that wee haue shewed before to bee the duetye of a Pastor, may also bee called his authority, as to preach and teach, wherein is included his authoritye to forgiue and retaine sinnes: also his authoritye to minister the Sacramentes, and to doe other thinges in the Churche, which none may doe but hee. But in this place, wee vnderstande authority, for power of gouernment in the Church. Whereof the Apostle speaketh,1. Cor. 12. 28. that it is one of the graces and giftes of GOD necessarye for the building of his Church. This authority of regiment, we haue declared that it ought not to be a Lordly ruling,1. Pet. 5. 3. neither ouer their flocke:Luke. 23. 26. nor yet ouer their fellowe seruauntes and brethren: and leaste of all, that they ought to haue dominion or Lordship ouer the faith of the Church.2. Cor. 1. 14. In all these the man of sinne hath exalted him selfe, contrary to the worde of God: So that he would be head of all the Church,Hierarchia. Byshop of all Byshops, and haue authoritye to make nevve Articles of Faythe. Whose vntollerable presumption, as we haue long since banished out of this Lande: so we wish that no steppes of such pride and arrogancy, might be left behind him: namely, that no elder or minister of the Church, shoulde challendge vnto himselfe, or accept it, if it were offred vnto him, any other authority, then that is allowed by the spirit of God: but cheefly to beware that hee vsurp no authority which is forbidden by the word of God. For wherefore do wee de • est the Pope and his vsurped supremacy, but bicau•se he arrogateth the same vnto himself, not only with out the warrant of Gods worde, but also cleane contrarye to the same? Now, if the same reasons & authorities that haue banished the Pope, do serue to condemn all other vsurped authoritye, that is practised in the Church: Why shoulde not all such vsurped authority be banished as well as the Pope? We can alledge against the Pope and rightly, that which S. Ioh. Baptist did answere to his disciples. No man can take vnto himself any thing, except it be giuen him from Heauen. Ioh. 3. 27.Iohn. 3. 27. And that saying of the Apostle to the Hebrewes:Heb. 5. 4. No man may take vpō him any honor (in the church of God) but he that is called of God, as was Aaron. Insomuch that Christe himselfe, did not giue himselfe to be an high Priest, but he that saide vnto him. Thou art my Sonne, this day I haue begotten thee. Hee sayth in another place,Philip. 2. 6. Thou art a priest for euer after the order of Melchisedec. Now seeing these rules are so generall, that the Sonne of God him selfe, was not exempted from them, but shewed foorth the decree, wherein he was authorized: By what rule cā any man reteine that authority in the church of god, which is not called thereto by the worde of God? Likewise we can alledge again, against the supremacie of the Pope, to proue that Peter was not superiour to the other Apostles, that which our sauiour Christ sayeth to his Apostles,Luke. 22. 26. Luk. 22. 26. and Mat. 20. 25. Mark. 10. 42. It shall not be so among you, Math. 20. 25 but he that is greatest amongst you, Mark. 10. 42. shall be as the yongest, and he that ruleth, as he that serueth. And Mat. 23. 8.Math. 23. 8. You haue but one master, which is Christ, and all you are brethren. If these places prooue, that the Pope ought not to bee aboue other ministers of the church: Why doe they not likewise proue, that the Ministers are equal among themselues? And for the most part, all those arguments and authorities of Scripture, that are vsed to confute the vsurped authoritie of the pope, are of as great force aganst all other vsurped authorities of one pastor ouer an other. Therfore while we intreate of the authoritie of the pastors, we must take heede that we open not a window to popish tyrannie, in steede of pastorall authoritye, & that we enlarge not the bounds of authoritye, without the boundes of the Scripture. Wherefore while wee search the Scripture, the onelye rule whereby the Church of God oughte to be gouerned, we finde that in regiment & gouernāce of the church, the pastor, bishop or elder, hath none authority by himself, seperated from other. For in the Church, ther ought to be no monarchy or sole absolute gouernment, but that is referred peculiarly to our sauiour Christe only, 2. Tim. 6. 7. Iude. 4.2. Tim. 6. 15. And that regimente, which hee hath left vnto his Church, is a consent of his houshold seruaunts, to do all things according to his prescription, as he witnesseth, Math. 18. 19.Math. 18. 19. If two of you consent vpon earth vppon any matter, what soeuer ye shall aske, it shall bee graunted to you of my Father, which is in Heauen: For wheresoeuer two or three bee gathered together in my name, there am I in the middest of them. Seeing therefore that our Sauiour Christe, hath neither authorized nor promised to blesse anye other forme of regiment, then that which consisteth of the consent, and gathering together of his Seruauntes in his name: wee holde vs content with this simplicity, and therefore we are bolde to say, that the authoritye of a Pastour in publique Regiment or Discipline, seperate from others, is nothing at all.

Let vs then see, what is his authority ioined with others, and first, who are so ioyned in Commission with him, that without their consent hee can do nothing. We say therefore, that the authority of Christ, is left vnto his whole Church, and so to euery church, that none may challēge Episcopall or Metropoliticall authority, as it is with vs at this day ouer other, without greate tyrannye and manifest iniury. For, seeing our Sauiour Christe, promised his presence and authority to euery Churche indifferentlye, Math. 18. 19. 20:Math. 18. 19. 20. None may challenge any such prerogatiue a • ore other: but as the Churches are limitted out for order & conueniency, so is euery one of them of like authority in it self: but because they make al but one church, & one body of Christ, therefore there is but one authority in them, to determine of matters concerning them all. By which ther appeareth to be a double authority of the Pastor: one with the seuerall congregation, in which he is Pastour, the other with the whole Synode or assembly, whereof hee is a member, and both these authorities, wee finde sufficientlye authorized in the Scripture, as shall playn • lye appeare in the seuerall Discourses of them. First therefore, wee will speake of his authoritye in his seuerall Churche, in which hee maye doe nothing without the consente of the Churche. And first, let vs examine, whether this authority bee so diffused ouer the whole Churche, that the hearing, trying and determyning of all matters, pertayneth to the vvhole multitude, or to some speciall chosen persons amongest them, meete for that purpose.

The authoritye is the power of our Lorde Iesus Christe, graunted vnto the Church: But because the iudgement of the multitude is confuse, whereas God is not the authoure of Confusion, but of order: and that we finde in the worde of God, certayn Officers appoynted for gouernmente: vvee are bolde to affirme, that that charge belongeth vnto those that are such.

And that doth S. Paule playnely declare, where hee putteth a difference of the seuerall offices of the Church, whereof hee nameth Gouernors for one. 1. Cor. 28. 29.1. Cor. 28. 29▪ and Rom. 12. 8.Rom. • 2. 8. Let him that ruleth doe it with diligence. Therefore there ought to be in euery Church a Consistory or segnorye of Elders or gouernors, which ought to haue the hearinge, examination and determining of all matters, pertaining to Discipline and Gouernement of that Congregation: which authoritye of theirs neuerthelesse ought to be moderated, that their iudgment may be rightly accounted the iudgement of the holy Church. Which thing consisteth in these two pointes. First, that the Elders bee elected and chosen by consent of the whole Congregation, men of Godlinesse and Wisedome, in whome the whole Churche reposeth such confidence, that they commit vnto them their authoritye, in hearing & determining such matters, as without horrible confusion they cānot perform themselues. And hereto also may be referred that, which is sayde of Election of Pastours, that the Apostles Paul and Barnabas did ordain, by Election of the congregation, Elders vnto many Churches, Actes. 14. 23.Acts. 14. 23. because, the name of Elders is common to both: to Pastors and Gouernors, and is vsed in the Scripture to comprehend both at once, as it appeareth manifestly by S. Paul. 1. Tim. 5. 7.1. Tim. 5. 7. Those Elders that gouern well, are worthy of double honor, especially those that labour in the word and doctrine. Of which testimonie, we learne these three things: First, that there bee Elders in the Church, which meddle not with teaching, but are occupied altogether in gouerning. Secondly, that the Elders, which labor in teaching, otherwise called Pastors, are ioined also in gouernment with them, which teach not. And thirdlye, that the name of Elder, comprehendeth both sorts of Elders. And especially in the place before alleadged for election, ther is great reason to lead vs to think, that the elders for gouernment, are as wel vnderstood, as the other for doctrin, because it is writtē in the same place, that after they had ordeined them Elders in euery congregation by election,Acts. 14. 23. as hauing set the Churches in perfect order (which could not be, except thei had established discipline as wel as doctrine) they cōmitted thē to the Lorde, in whome they beleeued.

The second point for moderation of the elders authority, in such sorte that their sentēce may be the sentēce of the Church is this, that when the cōsistory hath traueled in examining of causes pertaining to Ecclesiasticall Discipline, and agreed what iudgement ought to passe vpon the matters, they propound it to the whole multitude, that it may be confirmed by their consent. Wherof S. Paul speaketh, touching the execution of Excōmunication (because the fact was manifest) Whē you are gathered together with my spirit, • . Cor. 5. 4. in the name of our Lord Iesus Christ, and with the power of our Lord Iesus Christ, to deliuer such a one vnto Sathan, Nowe therfore, to • prooue that there ought to be a Consistory of elders in euery Church, for gouerning of the same: It is manifest by the cōmandemēt of our Sauior Christ, touching him that despiseth pryuate admonitiō:Math. 18. 17. If he hear not them, tel the congregation, if hee hear not the congregation, let him be vnto thee as an heathē & publicane. Verily I say vnto you, whatsoeuer you shall bind vpon earth shall be bound in heauen. In which saying of our Sauiour Christ, this worde Congregation, is not so largely taken, as in other places for the whole multitude, but for the chosen assembly of elders. For our sauiour Christ, in that worde alludeth vnto the assembly of elders that was amōg the Iews, which they called but corruptlie of a greeke worde Synedrion, which signifieth a Counsell or Consistory, Sanedrin, which had the hearing and determining of all difficult and waightie matters among the Iews, the like wherof hee willed to be established in his Churche, for administration of gouernment. For, seeing it was first instituted by God for gouernement of his Church in the olde lawe, as hath beene shewed before out of Num. 11. 6.Num. 11. 6. although it was shamefully abused by the wicked Iewes, our sauiour Christ trāslateth it into his Church also in the new Testament: and the name of Elders, doth moste aptlye agree vnto them that bee gouernours in the Church now, euen as it did to the ancients of Israel: so that the Pastors seme to haue borrowed the name of Elders, speciallye in respect of their gouernment. The name of this consistory also in the new Testament, we finde to be agreable with that of the Iewes, whereof our sauiour Christe speaketh when he sayth:Mat. 18. Tell the congregation or assembly. S, Paule. 1. Tim. 4. 14.1. Tim. 4. 14. Dispise not the gift which was giuen thee, thorough prophecie, with imposition of handes of the Eldership, where the greeke word is Presbyterion the assemblie or Consistorye of the Elders. Which worde is vsed also by Saint Luke in his Gospell, speaking of the consistory of the Iewish Elders. Luke 22. 66.Luke. 22. 66. As soone as it was daye, the whole Eldership or assemblie of Elders came togeather, both chiefe Priestes and Scribes, and brought him into their counsell. In which saying, their counsel Synedrion is called Presbyterion. Also Saint Paule Act. 20. 5.Acts. 20. 5. that he had beene a persecutor of christians, taketh witnesse of the high priest and of the whol consistory of Elders, vsing the same word Presbyterion. By which it is euident, that our sauiour Christ by this word Ecclesia in that place, meaneth a consistory or assemblye of Elders, whose authoritie he doth ratifie with such power, that whatsoeuer is bounde or loosed by them on earth, in the feare of God, and with heartie prayer, the Lord will bring it to passe, yea he him selfe will be in the middest of them, as President of their counsell, to direct their consultations, to the glory of God, and the profite of his owne Church. Therefore in euery Church, there ought to be a consistory of Elders or Gouernours, which with the Pastor may take charge of Ecclesiasticall discipline, and good order to bee obserued in the church, to the punishment of vice, and the aduauncement of true vertue. These, if they gouerne well, as Saint Paule doth testifie, are worthy of double honour, both that honour which is due to Godly men, and that which is due to good gouernours.

How necessarye it is,The ende of Discipline. that Discipline shoulde be in the Church, to keepe men in awe from offending, and to bring offenders to repentaunce, to auoyde the infection of sinne, within the Church, and the reproche that groweth by neglecting the punnishment of sinne, among them that are without the Church: We thinke it needlesse to stande long in proouing, the matter of it selfe is so apparaunt, and hath such plentifull testimonies in the scripture. And especially let the reasons of Saint Paule.1. Cor. 5. 1. Cor. 5. and 2. Cor. 2.2. Cor. 2. where he purposely intreateth of ecclesiasticall Discipline, be weighed. A little leauen sowreth a whole lumpe of dowe. For infection; yee are puffed vp where yee should be sad and ashamed. For ignominie: We deliuer him to Sathan, to the destruction of his fleshe, that his spirite may be saued in the day of the Lorde: For repentance, publique reprehension of manye, which beeing Godly refuse to eat with such one, is profitable both to driue him selfe to repentaunce, and to keepe other in order for feare of like punishment. Where this Discipline is not, no maruell if all wickednesse ouerflowe, to the dishonour of God, and of his Gospel, to the destruction of many & corrupting of more, to the griefe of the Godly, offence of the weake, incouragement of the wicked, and reioycing of the aduersary.

Let vs therefore proceede, in setting foorth the authoritie of the Pastour with the Elders, which is; first to punishe offendours, and bring them to repentance: or else to cut them cleane frō the church, as rotten and infected members. But heere we haue to enquire, for what offences the Church may proceede to so sharpe a punishment. For God forbidde that the swoorde of excommunication, shold be drawne out to cut off the members of our bodie, for euery small disease that is in them, but onely when the disease is deadlye, and the member rotted thereby. For, we ought as hardly to be brought to excommunicate anye of our brethren: as we woulde haue a legge or an arme, cut off from our body. Therfore the popish tyrannie is detestable, which thundereth out their pretended excommunication for euery trifle: yea suche as are no sinnes; as non payment of a little mony, where it is not deteyned of fraude: non apparance, where men otherwyse haue necessary impediments, as though it were but a smal matter, to put men out of the protection of Christ, and to deliuer them vnto the tyrannie of Sathan: to depriue them of eternall saluation, and to cast them into euerlasting damnation. Least therefore we should vse such vnreasonable rigour, the spirite of God teacheth vs, what maner of sinnes deserue excommunication. 1. Cor. 5. 11.1. Cor. 5. 11. If any that is called a brother, be an whooremonger, or a couetous person, or an idolater, or a slaunderer, or a drunckard, or an extorcioner, with such a one see that yee eat not. These offences therefore and such like, are to be punnished by excommunication. Also an obstinate Heretique, that wil not repent by admonition, is worthy of this punishment. Tit. 3. 10.Tit. 3. 10. 2. Tim. 2. 16. 1. Tim. 1. 20. 2. Ioh. 10. & 11.2. Tim. 2. 16. And not onely these great and notorious sinnes,1. Tim 1. 20. deserue this correction,2. Ioh. 10. & 11. but also lesser crimes, increased with contumacie and contempt of the Churches admonition, become worthie of the same castigation. Therefore sayth our sauiour Christ of priuate offences, Math. 18. 15. 16. &c.Math. 18. 15. 16. &c. If thy brother sinne against thee, goe and reprooue him betweene him and thee alone: if he heare thee thou hast won thy brother: but if he heare thee not, take with thee one or two, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses, euerye worde may stande: if he disobey them, then tell the Church, if he disobey the Church, then let him be to thee as an heathen or Publicane. The Apostle Saint Paule likewise. 2. Thes. 3. 6. • Thes. 3. 6. &c. concerning those that were idle, and walked disorderlye, will haue all-gentle meanes vsed to bring them to labour and good order, but if they woulde not be refourmed for anye admonition, he commaundeth them to be seperated by excommunication. But it may be obiected that hitherto appeareth not so great vse of this Consistorye, why it shoulde bee thought necessarye for excommunication: Neyther doth Saint Paule make mention of it in all places, where he speaketh of excommunication. We aunswere, that although the simple institution of Christ, and approbation of the holy Ghost, shoulde suffice vs to thinke it necessarye: yet there are many necessary vses thereof to be alleadged. For wheras our Sauiour Christ commandeth in priuate offences, the matter to be brought before the congregation, except you vnderstande thereby, the congregation or assemblye of Elders: there shall follow horrible confusion and disorder thereby. For, admit a man might accuse his brother vnto the whole multitude, yet how should the whole multitude admonish him, and exhort him to repentance? Againe, of these notorious offences that are worthye of excommunication, some are openly knowen, so that they neede no tryall, as the adultery of that Corinthian. 1. Cor. 5.1. Cor. • . some are in controuersie and are to be examined, concerning which, Saint Paule warneth Timothie, that he admit not any accusation against an Elder, but vnder two or three witnesses: and chargeth him before GOD, and before the Lorde Iesus Christe, and his elect Aungelles, that he doe nothing thorow rashe, or ouer hastie iudgement: and that hee doe all thinges without partialitie or affection vnto parties. 1. Timothie 5. cap. 19.1. Tim. 5. 19 & 21. and twentie one verse. We see heere manyfestly a necessarye vse of the Eldership. For howe is it possible for the whole Churche, to examine and discusse such difficult controuersies? Therefore it behooueth the Church, to haue such ordinary Delegates, as may and ought to applye their diligence, vuto such matters. Moreouer, to ouersee the Church for matters pertaining to order and Discipline: How can the multitude ouersee thē selues, or the Pastours onelye, which haue a principall care of Doctrine, to attēd vpon? And to the secōd part of the obiection, that S. Paul doth make mention of the Eldership or Consistory of Elders in all places, where he speaketh of Excommunication: wee aunswere, that it is not necessary hee should so do. For, wheras our sauiour Christ hath prescribed a form thereof, that hee which obeyeth not the Congregation should be excommunicated: and that in other places, hee maketh sufficient mention, both of the Elders and of the assemblie, wee oughte to vnderstande, that his purpose is, to obserue that forme to the vttermost. And although he doe not always make expresse mētion therof, yet must we not imagine, that he mēt to alter or chaunge the same. In the first to the Corinthians the fift verse, It is manifest, that albeit he • desired nothing more, then that the incestuous Adulterer should bee excommunicated, and therefore determined of him for his owne part, as absent in body, but present in spirite: yet hee acknowledgeth that hee could not be excommunicated, without the consent of the Congregation, being gathered together in the name of our Lorde Iesus Christe. 1. Cor. 5. 4.1. Cor. 5. 4. Likewise when he shoulde be receiued againe, he was to be pardoned, not onelie by him, but by them also. 2. Cor. 1. 10.2. Cor. 1. 10. And therefore, if so high an Apostle, could not by his priuate authority excommunicate that Corinthian: we must not thinke, that by his priuate authority but by consent of the Churche of Ephesus, he excommunicated Himmineus & Alexander, 1. Tim. 2. 20. although he do not make expresse mentiō of the consent of the church in that place. 1. Tim. 2. 20.1. Tim. 2. 20. So likewise where he speaketh to Timothie in the singular nūber, concerning the hearing & determining of matters pertaining to Discipline, we ought to acknowlege, that he teacheth in Timothie his person, the duty of elders, & neuer ment to giue Timothy an absolute or singular authority, to be iudge in these matters, without consent of the Eldership, whereof he maketh mention but a little before. To conclude therfore, the Pastor with aduise & consent of the Elders, hath authoritie to heare & examine matters, pertaining to Ecclesiasticall Discipline, and as the cause requireth to excommunicate offenders, and vpon their repentance and amendment, to receiue them againe into the bosom of the church, approued by the word of God. Insteede of which, Antichrist hath set vp a tyrannicall iurisdiction of one Bishop to be iudge of excommunication, which is practized neyther for causes sufficient, nor by sufficient authoritie, in so much as it hath beene alreadye testified by the scripture, that the power of excommunication, is in no one man, no not in an Apostle, but is common to the whole church, & ought to be executed by lawful delegats of the church also. But so much that vsurped authoritie presumeth, that the bishop as an absolute owner therof, commiteth it ouer to his chancelor or Archdeacō, the Archdeacon to his Official, & he to his register, & he again to his substitute, and his substitute to his seruants, man or boy as it happeneth: in so much that a learned preacher, may be excommunicated by a folish boy. If this matter seeme not to requyre speedy reformatiō, god hath blinded our eies that we can not see the clere light of the sun shining in our faces. For if we loke to banish the tyrannye of the Pope out of all mens harts, we must vtterly remoue al his detestable enormities out of the Realme, as it was wont to be sayd in the common prayers of the Church in the time of K. Henry and Edward, whereas now by reteining stil, all the detestable enormities of his prerogatiue and faculties, & whole course of his Canon law, the papacie is not so much banished in name, as translated in deede from the Sea of Rome, to the Sea of Caunterbury, vnder the shadowe of the Princes supremacie, with as heynous iniurie and contumely, of the lawful authoritie & godly supremacie of the Prince, as ioyned with the great dishonour of God, and the miserable disorder of the Church. But we meane not in this place to prosecute our iust complaintes, nor to inueigh againste the abuse of these thinges, with such vehemencie of wordes as the worthines of the matters deserueth: but onelye in setting foorth the plaine trueth, to giue a glimpst by the waye of the contrarye falshoode.

We must therefore returne to the authoritie of the Pastour, which he hath ioyned with the Elders of the Church, whereof he is pastour. The Church hath alwayes had great care for prouision of the poore, by which compassion they shewed, that they were liuely members of the body of Christ, and auoyded great reproch of them that were without. For what shame is it, for them that professe to be all sonnes of one father, and therfore all brethren: yea that be members all of one body, to suffer their brethren & fellow members, to lacke necessaries to sustayne their temporal life: as though they that communicate in all spiritual graces and blessinges, were not worthye to take part of these worldlye benefites, at leastwyse so farre forth as to supply their necessities? Therefore our Sauiour Christe, alwayes commendeth brotherly loue among his Disciples, to teach vs how ready we ought to be, to distribute vnto the necessities of our brethren, which is a true testimonie of our loue declared by his owne example. For, although hee were so poore, that he liued of the almesse and liberalitie of other men: yet of that which was more then serued his owne necessitie, he vsed to bestowe vppon the poore: as Iohn. 13. 29.Ioh. 13. 29. to teache them whome hee hath blessed with Temporall riches, which hee refused, to enrich vs with heauenlye treasures, that they of their superfluitie, woulde be content to giue to the reliefe of their poore bretheren, which he did not neglect in his extreame pouerty: To teach also them that haue but mean substaunce, that they ought not to bee excused, but somewhat to contribute vnto the necessitie of their poore bretheren, when he that had nothing at all but that which was giuen, euen of that bestowed part. Therefore the Apostles in the primitiue Church, thought it to be expedient, for the better prouiding for the poore, that certaine men shoulde be appoynted of approoued Godlinesse and diligence, which shoulde take the speciall charge of the distribution vnto the poore. Act. 6.Actes 6. These men were called Deacons or ministers, because they did minister and serue the poore in their necessities, and because the occasion of the ordinaunce continueth alwayes (as our Sauiour Christ hath sayde) we should alwayes haue the poore amongest vs, Iohn. 12. 8.Ioh. 12. 8. vvhereby GOD woulde exercise our charitie. The office of Deacons also is perpetuall. Therefore the Apostle Saint Paule, prescribeth what kinde of men are meete for that office. 1. Timothie. 3. 8.1. Tim. 3. 8. And in euery well constituted Church, they were ordayned accordingly: as Phillip. 1. 1.Phil. • . 1. Also after the ordeyning of the seuen Deacons, this office was deuided into diuers partes, as necessitie shewed diuers occasions. For some were appoynted for the collection and distribution of al • esse: as Romans 12. 8. and some for attending vppon the sicke and impotent among the poore,Rom. 12. 8. as in the same place. Let him that distributeth, doe it with simplicitie, and let him that sheweth mercie, doe it with cheerefulnesse.

Which kinde of Deacons. 1. Cor. 12. 28.1. Cor. 12. 28. are called helpers: and for the seruice of this office, were appointed diuers olde poore widowes, who as they were mainteined by the church: so they serued the church, attending vppon the other poore, who beeing sicke and impotent, had neede not onely of things necessary, but also of seruice and attending. 1. Timoth. 5. 5.1. Tim. 5. 5. These offices being instituted by the spirit of God, for the necessary vse of the Church, which vse still continueth, ought also to be reteined among vs. For we see, for want of these offices, what great inconueniences are among vs, concerning the poore. For, although ther be very good politike laws made for prouision of the pore: yet smal reliefe commeth thereby to the poore indeed: at least wise manie abuse the reliefe which they receiue, which commeth of this, that there be not in euery church or congregatiō, such Deacons as the holy ghost hath appointed, which should take a speciall care, & employ a great diligence, for the prouision of the poore: not only some, to gather and distribute, but also to see it well imployed on the poore, and to imploy the poore, that liue of the almes of the church, to the releefe of their fellow poore, which are more impotēt thē they, as it was vsed in the Primatiue Church. And aboue all thinges, to beware of them that walke disorderlye, and labour not if they be able. Of which kinde of people, when there is so greate multitudes in this land, that they doe euen ouerflowe the Countryes, and haue beene knowne to bee practizers of greate matters agaynste the state: It is maruayle, that neither by politique, nor by ecclesiasticall Lawe, they are broughte into order, and sette to laboure, or else (as Saynt Paule prescribeth,) so that they shoulde not eate, vntill they bee willing to labour. 2. Thes. 3. 10.

But now, to return to the Election of Deacons. Concerning the form of chusing of Deacons, we may reade at large. Actes. 6. that they were chosen, by consente of the vvhole Churche, and hadde the approbation of the Apostles. And because wee maye not thinke, there was anye confusion in that blessed companye, wee muste needes confesse, that vvhich hath beene before declared, that there were euen in that assemblie and firste Churche at Hierusalem, certayne elders appoynted, which in the name and by the consente of the rest, had the disposition of suche matters, as appeareth by manie places of the Actes of the Apostles, where the Elders are named with the Apostles: As Actes 15. 4. 12. &c. but especiallye concerning this matter of the distribution vnto the poore, we reade, that when the Church of Antiochia, was so wel disposed as to make a collection to bee sente vnto the poore Brethren that dwelt in Iury, they sent vnto the Elders, by the handes of Barnabas and Saule. Actes. 11.Act. 11. 30. 30. By vvhich it appearethe, that the Elders had the disposition and appoynting of suche as shoulde destribute it vnto the Congregation, which were the Deacons. For it is agreeable to reason, that hee that should doe any seruice in the name of all, should be chosen and approued by the consent of all. For the Regiment of the church, as it ought to bee furthest of from all Tirannye: so ought it to be as farre from Confusion and disorder. Tyranny is auoyded when no one man, (contrarie to the ordinaunce of Christe) shall presume to doe anye thing in the Church, without the aduise and consent of others that bee Godlye and vvise, and authorized by the consent of the Church. Confusion is preuented by the graue counsayle, and orderlye assemblye of Elders, vnto vvhome the Churche hathe committed her authority.

By this it maye easily appeare, vvhat great defaulte there is in our Church, where those that are sayde to be ordeined Deacons, neuer purpose in their life to execute any part of a Deacons office, neither are chosen for that end: but only that within a short time after, they may bee made Priestes or ministers, nothing in the worlde differing from the superstition of Popery: where the office of Deacon was conferred onely, as a step vnto priesthood. As though it were necessarye, that euerye one which is ordayned an Elder, shoulde first be a Deacon, and yet when he is made a Deacon, hee is but an Idoll, yea scarse an Idoll of a Deacon, hauing no resemblaunce at all vnto a Deacon indeed, but that he is a man. This prophaning of Gods institution, God will not alwayes suffer vnpunished, especially when it is not maintained of ignoraunce or infirmity, but defended against knowledge, and vpon wilfulnesse. Therefore, the Collectors are more like to deacons a great deal, then those that the Byshops make Deacons. For, first they haue after a sort election of the Church, whereas the other haue, but the approbation of one man. And secondly, they gather and distribute the common almes vnto the poore, which the other neuer think of. But yet we may not allow them for lawfull Deacons indeede, because they are not alwayes endued with suche qualities, as the Apostle requireth. 1. Tim. 2.1. Tim. • . For they ought to bee men of good estimation in the Churche, full of the holy Ghost, and of wisedome, that should be chosen, Acts. 6. For, as it is an office of good credit, so ought the person to bee of good reputation. Therefore saith S. Paule, that Those Deacons that Minister well, doe get them selues a good degree, 1. Tim. 3. 13. and great liberty in the faith, which is in Christ Iesus. Insomuch that S. Paule him self doth salute in speciall wordes the Deacons, next to the Byshops or ouerseers in the Churche of Philipi.Phillip. 1. 1. Wee reade also, what worthye men were chosen to be the first Deacons; as Stephen the first Martyr, and Philip, which afterwarde was an Euangelist, when the Churche was dispersed thoroughe the persecution raysed aboute Stephen. So that euery ignoraunte contemptible personne, is not to bee allowed vnto this office: but as Godly, wise, and vvorshipfull, as maye conuenientlye bee founde in the Congregation, maye not thinke them selues too good to minister vnto Christe, in his members, and in the name of the Churche. The Election also of oure Collectours, is too Prophane for so holye an Office. Wee maye reade in the Historye of the Actes: Actes. 6.Act. 6. with vvhat grauitye, reuerence, and religiousnesse, the Apostles ordayned Deacons, vvith Prayer and Imposition of handes. For these and suche like causes, althoughe the ordinarye Collectors haue some resemblance, with the Deaconship of the church: yet wee cannot in all poyntes allowe them for Deacons: whose office truely consisteth onelye in ministration vnto the poore, as wee haue shewed, in that they bee Deacons. Wee haue declared before, that there is a double authority of the Pastour, the one ioyned vvith the Elders of the Churche, vvhereof hee is Pastour: the other vvith the Synode or holy assembly, whereof he is a member.

Of the former wee haue intreated hitherto. Nowe it followeth, that wee speake of the latter. There aryseth oftentimes in the Church, diuerse Controuersyes, which cannot bee othervvise expressed, pertayning to the state of the vvhole Churche, then by a generall assemblye of all the Pastoures of that Churche, vvhich is called a Synode or generall Counsayle. Also there bee diuerse cases, vvherein the seuerall Churches, are driuen to pray the ayde of the Synode, vvhere matters can not bee determined among them selues. For this cause, the Holye Ghoste hathe ordayned these Holy assembles, with promise, that they being gathered together in the name of Christe, he him selfe will bee among them. With the Synode, the Pastour hath authority to determine, concerning regiment of the Church. Wherefore we haue to enquire, of what persons a Synode doth consist: For which intent wee finde in the history of Act. 15. 6. that when a cont • ouersie arose concerning the Ceremonies of the Lawe, whether they were to bee vsed, by those Christians that were conuerted of the Gentiles: The Apostles & Elders came together to consider of this matter, and that the people was not excluded, appeareth by the 12. verse, the whol multitude, being perswaded by the argumentes alleaged by Peter, helde their peace, and quietly hearde Paule and Barnabas, declare what signes & wonders, God had wrought by them amongest the Gentiles. And least ye should vnderstand the multitude in that place, for the multitude of the Apostles, It followeth in the 22. verse. Then it pleased the Apostles and Elders, with the whole Church, to chuse certaine men. &c. By which scripture we learn, that the Synode consisteth principally of Pastours, Elders, Teachers, and men of wisdome, iudgement and grauitie, as it were of necessary regents. For, although the whole multitude came togeather, yet the Apostles and Elders came togeather to enquire, and consider of the matter in controuersie, the multitude heard, and for their better instruction and modestye, submitted their consent, vnto the determination of the Apostles and Elders. All mens reasons were hearde. For there was great disputation, but the authoritie of Gods worde preuailed, good order was obserued. So, after the matter was throughly discussed, by the godly arguments, alledged by Peter and Barnabas, & Paul, the controuersie was concluded by the sentence of Iames, to whom that prerogatiue was graunted, not of singular authoritie, but for orders sake. And this place doth admonishe vs, to intreate some what of the preeminence of one Elder or pastor aboue the rest We confesse that in euery assemblye or company, some one of necessitie must haue this prerogatiue, to order and dispose the same with reason, or els great confusion is like to follow. But this preeminence is onely of order and not of authoritie, as to propound matters to be decided, to gather the reasons and consent of the rest, and so to conclude, &c. As we see in this place Iames did: of whom also we reade, that he had this preeminence. Act. 21. 18,Act. 21. 18. &c. And we maye gather the same. Gal. 2. 9. 12. • al. 2. 9. 12. Not that Iames had greater authority in his Apostleship, then Peter or Paule, or Iohn, or anye other of the Apostles: But because he was chosen of the rest to haue prerogatiue of order, which some one must haue in euerye assembly, and such was the prerogatiue at the first, which was graunted sometime to the bishop of Rome, & sometime to some other bishops, to be president or prolocutor in the generall counsels, being chosen therto for the time by consent of the rest, as the prolocutor is chosen in our conuocatiōs, that are called with parliaments. Therfore, as it were an absurd thing for our prolocutor in our conuocation, to take vppon him to be a controller of the whole synode, & to challenge that office to him and to his heires for euer: so vnreasonable is the authority that the Pope claimeth ouer generall counsels. One therfore is to be chosen by consent, to be as it were the prolocutor or moderator of order, but not of authoritie in euery assembly, whose prerogatiue must so be tempered, that in al thinges tirannie be auoyded. Which we see by experience easely crepeth in vpō proud natures, to whome if you graunt an inch, they wil be ready to take an ell, according to the Prouerbe. But let vs return to the authority of the sinode which cōsisteth in deciding & determining such maters as cānot otherwise in perticular churches be cōcluded, either because they cōcerne the cōmō state of al churches, or because they lacke sufficient authoritie in some one church. First therefore the lawfull Synode hath to consider, if anie controuersie of doctrine do arise, that it be determined by the word of God: for in the controuersie of binding the Gentiles, to the obseruations of the ceremoniall lawe, was a matter of faith and doctrine.

Secondly, it hath to determine of the vse of the ceremonies, not of will without reason or grounde of scripture, but vpon necessary causes of auoiding offence and similitude of superstition, of bearing with the weak, of order and comelinesse and edification. So did the Synode of the Apostles and Elders, command for a time abstinencie from meate offered to Idols, otherwise lawfull in it selfe, for offences sake, and for auoyding of all pollution of Idolatrie. Act. 6. 20. 29.Act. 6. 20. 29 and forbearing the weaknesse of the Iewes in abstinencie, from eating of bloud & of strangled, which was forbidden by God before Moses time, to teach that Childishe age of Gods people to abstaine from cruelty, as in Gen. 9. 4.Genes. 9. 4. Such ceremoniall constitutions are but temporall, and so long are to be reteined, as the cause continueth, for which they were made. So that if weaknes cease, or be turned to obstinacie, they are no longer to be reteined. Also for order and comelinesse, and best edification, the Synode hath to determine, what shall be obserued in particular charges: as of the time, place, and forme of preaching and praying, and administring of the sacraments. For, who shoulde be able to know what order, comelines and edification requireth according to Gods worde, but they that be Teachers and preachers of the same vnto al others? For it is absurde, that they shoulde bee taught by such in these small thinges, as ought to learne the truth of them in all matters. This authoritie therefore cannot be graunted vnto any Ciuill Christian Magistrate, that without consent of the learned Pastours and Elders: yea against their consent (of whom, as in some respect hee is a feeling member) he maye lawfully make ceremoniall Constitutions, whereby the Church muste be gouerned, in meere Ecclesiasticall matters.

It is ou • e of all controuersye, that before there vvere anye Christian Magistrates (for wee will, not speake of SERGIVS PAVLVS proconsull of Cyprus, because hee was but a Lieuetenaunt of the Romane Emperour) this authoritie was proper vnto the Synode.

Which authoritye vvee knovve to bee graunted to the Church by oure Sauioure CHRISTE: practized by his Apostles: continued by their successours three hundred yeares, before there was anye Christian Emperours, (for wee receiue not Phillip for a Christian Emperour) and long time after there were Christian Emperours, euen as long as anye puritie continued in religion, vntill both Emperours and Synodes were thrust out of all lawfull authoritie, which they ought to haue in the Church, by the tyrannie of Antichrist.

But wee finde not in the Scripture, this authoritye graunted by Christe to Ciuill Magistrates, which in his, and his Apostles tyme were not, nor anye promise that when they were, the Synode shoulde resigne it vnto them. Therefore it remayneth, that it bee shewed by them, that defende that this absolute authoritie is in the Ciuill Magistrate, by what spirite or reuelation, or Scripture (if there be anye that wee know not): For, we woulde bee gladde to learne howe this authoritie was translated from the Church, (in which it was once lawfullye vested) vnto the Ciuill Christian Magistrate.

Therefore, vntill this maye bee shewed, by sufficient warraunt of GODS holye worde, vve holde that the Synode of euerye Prouince, hath authority to decree concerning ceremoniall orders of the Church: Whereof some may be generall to al congregations, some particular to certaine Churches. For, as it were to be wished that all places might bee brought to one perfection: So it is not alwayes necessarye, that they be like in all thinges. The wisedome of the Synode therefore ought to haue such regard of all churches, that they haue speciall respect to euerye one. Wherin we of long time in England haue beene caried away, with an vntrue principle, that vniformitie must be in all places, and thinges a like, as though we would feede old men and sucking infants all with one kind of meat: or as though we would cloath all ages in a robe of one assize: and that which is more absurde, compell men of ripe age to sucke the dugge, to weare their biggins, and to carrye Rattles and other Childish bables. Our lande is not yet wholly conuerted to Christe (so great hath beene our negligence hitherto) therefore there can not bee suche an vniformitye of orders in all places, as shall be profitable for all. Therefore it were meete, that the Ouerseers and Elders of the Churche, shoulde come together to consider of this matter, what orders were moste meete for diuerse places, to bring thē to the obediēce of Christ: what for the furtheraunce of them that are newly come, and what for the continuance and increase, of thē that are very well come on.

The same doctrine, although not the same parts of Doctrine, is to bee euery where: but ceremonies, euen as they be ceremonies, do admit variety: as time, persons, and occasions serue to be diuerse. Yea Christian liberty, in them somtimes, is necessary to be testified, because there are many so simple, that they know not the difference betweene those thinges, that are necessarye in the Churche, and those that are not of necessitye. There be that thinke a Crosse or Font (as they call it) is as necessary in baptisme, as water: and that kneeling at the Communion is more necessary then preaching of the Lordes death: that a Surplusse in common prayer, is more necessary, then a deuoute minde: and greate occasions offered to the ignoraunt so to thinke, vvhen they see them that preache moste diligently, pray most feruentlye, and minister the Sacramentes moste reuerently, according to Christes institution, to be displaced of all ministery, for a Crosse or a Fonte, or a Surplusse, or some such other trifle. The Synode therefore, oughte to bee carefull in ordayning of Ceremonyes, not onelye that they bee pure and agreeable to the worde of God: but also that they bee expediente for the time and personnes, for whose vse they are ordayned: And as wilfull contemners of good orders established by publique authoritye, are worthy to bee corrected, so intangling of mens consciences, or tyrannicall coaction in these indifferente matters, must alwayes bee auoyded. The Synode hathe further authoritye concerninge Discipline, to refourme and redresse by Ecclesiasticall Censure, all suche defaultes and controuersies, as cannot bee determined in the particuler Churches: as for example: If the Pastour himselfe, haue neede to bee seuerelye punished, vvhere there is but one Pastour in a Churche: or if Elders, vvhiche shoulde bee refourmers of others, haue notoriouslye misgouerned them selues: or if they haue beene ledde by affection, to condemne an Innocente, or to iustifye the vngodlye: in these and suche like cases, all Contention is to bee concluded, by the authority of the Synode. Some example vvee haue thereof. Acts. 15.Act. 15. where those contentious Schismatiques, that withstoode Paule and Barnabas at Antiochia, were constrained to yeelde by authoritye of the Councell, and Paul and Barnabas restored to their credite.

For which causes, Synodes ought oftentimes to bee assembled, though not general of the whole realme, but particular of euery prouince or shire, as it may be most conueniently, that such thinges as are to be refourmed, may bee redressed with speede.

Last of all, forasmuch as the election of Pastors, is a great & waighty matter, which ought not to bee permitted to the iudgement of anye one man, but pertaineth to the Church, whereunto they shoulde be chosen, both for better aduise in chusing of a meete man, and for authority in causing him to accept their election: it is conuenient that it bee done by iudgement of the particular Sinode. That no one man hath authority to ordaine Pastors, and to impose them ouer churches, hath bene before declared, by example of the Apostles Paule and Barnabas, who although they were Apostles, yet would they not challenge that prerogatiue vnto themselues, but by common election, they ordained Elders in euery Church. Acts. 14. 23.Actes. 14. 23. Timothy also receiued his charge, although it were through prophecy, by imposition of handes of the Eldership. 1. Timoth. 4. 14.1. Tim. 4. 14. Therefore as it hath bene euidently declared before, the assembly of Elders, consisting of graue, wise, and Godly men, ought to enquire, when the Pastors place is voyd, wher they may finde a man meete to supplie his roome, and therein to desire aide of the Synode. The man by such Godly aduise so chosen, ought to be presented to the Congregation, and of them to be allowed and receiued, if no man can shew anye reasonable cause to the contrarie. This is the right election and ordaining of Pastors, grounded vppon the worde of God, and practised by the primatiue Church, two hundred yeeres after Christ, vntil the mistery of iniquity, grew to work more openly to the setting vp of the tyrannicall kingdome of Antichrist. By this we may plainly see, that our presentation of patrons, is both prophane and preiudicial: our giuing of orders by Byshoppes is presumptuous, and full of absurdities. Firste, because they take vppon them to do that, which none of the Apostles durst doe: that is, without election of Churches, to ordayne Elders. Secondly, that they giue an Office vvithout a charge, to make a Pastour, and sende him to seeke a Flocke, where hee canne finde it: which is as vnreasonable a thing, as if one were chosen to bee a Church-warden, and had neuer a Churche to keepe: or made a Constable, that had neuer a Towne or place appoynted, whereof he should bee Constable. For the name of a Pastour, Elder, or Ouerseer, is the name of an office in Act and esse, because it is a proper Relatiue, and not a Potentiall abilitye in the Cloudes.

If Byshoppes as they bee nowe, were consecrated after the same maner to seeke theire Byshoprickes, vvhere they coulde finde them, it 〈◊〉 no greater absurdity, then it is to ordayne Pastoures, and let them proll where they can for their benefices. Thirdlye, by this wandring (we may also say vagabounde) ministery, shifting from place to place, and in all places to bee counted a Minister where he hath no charge, it wold grieue a man to thinke, what inconueniences doth follow, but principally, how filthily it stinketh of the olde Popish indelible character, frō whēce it hath his ground, and neither of any reason, or of the worde of God. And yet forsooth it is so perfect, that it may abide no reformatiō. Fourthly, if you will see how well the authority which they claime and practize, is vsed of them, that onelye haue the choyse and admission of Ministers: Looke ouer the vvhole Realme of Englande, What a multitude of vnfitte Pastours shall you finde in euery place? So that Ieroboam neuer made worse Priestes of the refuse of the people, to serue his Golden Calues, then they haue ordayned Ministers to feede the Flocke of Christe, which hee hathe purchased with his owne bloude.

This complaint we confesse is greeuous, but the indignity of the matter inforceth it. We know that vaine excuses shall not be wanting, of necessity, &c. But if necessity compelled thē to take such at the first; what necessity compelleth them, to suffer them to bee such still? For, if they woulde needes admit ignoraunt persons to that charge: yet should they haue enforced them to study, as wel as to other thinges, they haue inforced them vnto, that in time they might haue growne to be meete for their calling. Which if they had done in 10. 12. or 13. yeeres space, a great many might haue proued excellētly well learned, and able to serue in the Church with great fruit and profit: and the rest according to proportion of their time, might haue come to some mediocrity in knowledg, wheras nowe as ignoraunt and as vnfit as they were the first day, so are they still for the moste parte, and will so continue to theire liues ende, if they may be suffered in idlenesse, as they haue beene hitherto. Then it is a torment to thinke what ambitious suing, what enuious labouring, what vnseemelie flattering, what prodigall bribing, is vsed to attayne to greate dignities in the Church, to farre vnmeete for the modesty and grauitye that shoulde be in Christian preachers. And as for the inferior benefices, from the fattest Parsonadge, to the poorest Vicaradge almoste, if it bee worth 40. pounds by the year, what Symonicall bargains of leases, Annuities, Reseruations, exhibitions: yea, notwithstanding the Act of Parliament, Anno. 13. by Antedates and other subtil conueyances, what christian heart can think of them, without detestation of such horrible abuses? Shall we speak here any thing of the popish priesthood, the greatest blasphemy that euer was: how long was it allowed for a lawfull ministery, vntill by the Godlye meaning of the sayde Parliament, some brandmarke of shame, was set vppon it? But howe pitifullye that authority was abused, which was by the same statute committed to the bishops, in allowing of priests that came to doe their penance, by negligence of the bishops, & bribery of their Officers: the country crieth out of it, and the state of the church, is little amended by it. Old Sir Iohn Lacklatin, that had not seen some of his benefices, a dosē yeare before, was carried aboute on his Mare, and sometimes on a Cart: First to the bishop whom he chose, if he might for his purpose, such one as had bene a priest of his owne order, and cared leaste what ministers serue in his Diocesse, and then from Shire to Shire, one distant an hundred mile from another, mumbling vp his Articles in his morowmasse voice, in euery Church where hee had liuing, and returned as very a beaste as hee came.

But this and all other inconueniences before rehearsed, shoulde vtterlye bee auoyded, if wee mighte once establish the lawfull election of Pastours, according to the word of God. It were also greatly to bee wished, that it might bee broughte to passe, that in euery Congregation, there shoulde be two pastors at the least, both because the charge is great, and also for supplying the lack of the one, if the other were sicke or absent vppon necessity, or any such like case. Which thing were both agreeable to the example of the Apostolike Churche, and also verye profitable for the Congregation. Wee doe not meane this in euerye Parish, as they bee nowe distinguished, but in euery Congregation as they may be disposed, both for best edifying and also for sufficient liuing for the Pastors.

It will bee obiected, when we haue all thinges at our pleasure, concerning the Election of Pastors, yet will there creepe in many abuses. Wee answere, they shall not so soone, nor so easily, nor so many abuses creepe in, as nowe at wide Windowes, yea, great port-gates doe throng in.

But if as many or more abuses (if more coulde bee) were crept in, yet were the case better then it is now: for we shoulde be sure, that God approoueth our order, though he condemn the abuses, because it is grounded vpon Gods worde, whereas now he abhorreth both.

But of the authority that Pastors haue as members of the Synode, we haue spoken hitherto sufficiently. By which it is euidēt, how all things haue beene corrupted in Poperye, which had at the first any good institution, which corruptions we also retaine at this day, without desiring of any refourmation. For, to begin first with our particuler Synodes, good lord what a mockery they are of law ful synodes, beeing holden for no other ende almoste, but to gather vp fees, both ordinary & extraordinary, with dayly newe deuises to poll the poore Priestes of their mony, which they extort for seeing the Letters of orders, for Dynners and suche like matters. And yet a newe inuented pyllage, vvhereby they compell men to buy Bookes of them for 4. pence or 6. pence, which are to deare of a peny or two pence: and not onelye suche small Ware, but also greate bookes, beeing such as euerie parish is appointed to buy, must be bought of them for two or three Shyllinges in a Booke dearer, then it may bee bought in Paules Church-yarde: yea otherwhiles, though the Parish bee furnished of them alreadye, they are not authenticall, except they be boughte at Master Chauncellers and Officiall, at Master Regesters hands. As for refourmation of any thing in the Churche, there are indeede many presentments, and men sworn to presente matters, but little or none amendmente at all doth followe. So that it is a common saying in the Countrie, when the presentment is once receyued, they shal neuer heare more of it. Soone after the Visitation or Synode, the petitbribing Sumner, rideth foorth laden with Excommunications, which hee scattereth abroad in the Country, as thicke as Haileshot, against this parson, and that Vicar: this Church warden, and that Side-man, whome hee himselfe when he came to summon him to the Synode, for a Cheeze or a Gammon of Bacon, had vndertaken to excuse for none apparaunce. But when he is once Excommunicated, there is no remedy, but hee must trudge to the Chauncelour or Officiall for absolution, who after hee hath once absolued his Purse of a fewe Groates, giueth him his blessing and sendeth him away. And this is the image of our litle or particuler Synode.

Our generall Conuocations haue a more shevve of good order,Chusing of Clearkes of the Conuocatiō house. but in effect little better. For firste, they are stuffed full of Popish and prophane Chauncelloures, and other Lawyers, which beeing meere laye men, and vnlearned in Diuinitie, by their owne Lawe, ought to be no members of the Synode: And yet these will beare the greatest sway in all thinges. The Byshops, as though they were greater then the Apostles, must haue their seuerall couuenticle, wheras the Apostles and elders came together with the whole multitude, Actes 15.Actes 15. And as they are seuered in place, so will they bee higher in authoritie. So that whatsoeuer is decreed amongest them, that must bee called the determynation of the whole Synode. So that no manne muste bee suffered to speake anye thinge agaynste it, bee it neuer so reasonable, or agreeable to the vvorde of GOD: yea, vvhosoeuer vvill not subscribe to all suche thinges, as they decree, muste bee excluded out of the Conuocation, as vvas practized and threatened in the Conuocation at the foresayde Parliamente, vnto diuerse Godlye and learned Preachers, that offered to speake agaynste dyuerse grosse and palpable erroures, that had escaped the Byshoppes decrees. As for the distinction of Canonicall and Apocriphall bookes, for explication of the clause in the article of Predestination: where it is sayde, that the elect may fall from Grace, and such like matters. If this bee not to practise Lordshippe ouer our faith: to set downe decrees of Religion, which must bee accepted of all men, without eyther reason or testimony of the Scripture to prooue them, and no man permitted to shew anye reason or Scripture, that inforceth his Conscience to the contrarye, but onely to hang vppon the authority of bishops: Let some other declare what Paul meaneth, 2. Cor. 1. 4.2. Cor. 1. 14. where he denieth, that he woulde excercise any Lordship, ouer the faith of the Corinthians.

For, although their decrees were neuer so perfect, yet it were an example of tyrannicall Dominion, neither to giue reasons to satisfie the ignoraunt them selues, nor to hear or cōfute that which might be alleaged against them by others, but for a few lordbishops in comparison of all the conuocation, to sit by them selues & order all thinges at their pleasures, as though the Gospell sprang firste from them, or had come vnto them only, it sauoreth of nothing so much as of popish tyranny: Whereas otherwise it is well knowne they are not al of the best learned, nor all of longest study, nor all of soundest iudgement, nor all of greatest zeale, nor all of best example, and therfore not meetest to be the onely determiners in Ecclesiasticall matters, to the preiudice of the whole synode. Wherefore it is greatly to be desired, that our synodes also, which are so farre out of order, maye be refourmed according to the scripture, and the example of the primitiue Church, that all thinges may be done with such modesty, grauitie & iudgement, as they were by the Apostles and Elders.Actes. 15. Act. 15. And now that we haue set forth the whole Ecclesiasticall ministerye, according to the word of God, with all the duties & authoritie that pertayneth vnto it: the place requyreth, that we should also intreat of the authority of the ciuil Magistrate in matters ecclesiastical. Of the title of the princes supremacie, if it be truly vnderstood, we moue no contronersie: but that it doth properly apperteine to the ciuil magistrat, to be the highest gouernor of al persons within his dominion, so that the soueraign Empyre of God be kept whol. But herein resteth all the doubt, howe this is truely to be vnderstoode, & that shal we best vnderstand by the contrarie: namely by the vsurped tiranny of antichrist. For antichrist did challenge vnto himselfe al authority, both that which is proper to god, & that which is cōmon to men. Therefore that the pope claimed to be that only head of the church, frō which the whol body receiued direction, & was kept in vnity of faith: This was blasphemous against Christ, & therfore may not be vsurped by any Ciuill magistrate, no more thē by the pope. Likewise, wher hee challengeth authoritye to alter, change & dispence with the cōmandement of god, to make new articles of faith, to ordain new sacramēts, &c. this is also blasphemous and ought not to be vsurped of any ciuil prince, On the other side, where he challengeth authority ouer all princes, & so ouer al the clergy, that he did exempt them from the ciuil iurisdiction, this is contumelious, & iniurious against al christian kings. And therfore euery prince in his own dominiō, ought to cast off the yoke of his subiection, and to bring al ecclesiastical persons vnto his obedience and iurisdiction. Here haue we the first part of the title of supreame gouernment ouer al persons. In matter or causes ecclesiastical: likewise, the pope doth not only presume against god, as we said before: but also against the lawfull authority, giuen by God vnto men. For he forbiddeth princes to medle with reformation of Ecclesiasticall matters, or to make anye lawes pertayning to causes of religion, answering them, that those things do appertain onlye to him & the general counsel. But when he cōmeth to debate anye thing with his clergy, then al laws & knowledge, are enclosed in the closet of his brest. When any generall counsel must be holden, all that they doe receiueth authoritie from him. For except he doe allowe, it is nothing. And he is so wyse, that neyther with the councell, nor without the counsell he can erre or thinke amisse in matters Ecclesiasticall: wheras it is not onely lawful, but also necessary for Princesse, if they will doe their dutie, to looke to the reformation of religion, and to make lawes of matters Ecclesiasticall, but so that we confounde not the offices of the Prince and the Pastour. Eor, as it is not lawfull for the Prince to preach, nor administer the Sacramentes: no more is it lawfull for him to make lawes in Ecclesiastical causes, contrarie to the knowledge of his learned Pastors. For, as these three partes of a pastors dutie, are graunted to him by God, preaching, ministring of sacraments, and Ecclesiasticall gouernment: he maye no more take from a Pastor the third, then he may the two first. By this it appeareth, how farre it is lawful for Princes to intermedle with causes Ecclesiasticall: namelye that it is the chiefest poynt of their dutie, to haue especiall regarde that God may be glorified in their dominion, and therefore they ought to make ciuill lawes to binde the people vnto the confession of true faith, and the right administring and receiuing of the sacramentes, and to all ecclesiastical orders, that they beeing instructed by the worde of God, thorow the ministerie of the preaching of the same, shall vnderstande to bee profitable for edifying of the church of Christe, and the aduauncement of the glory of God. If any shall offende against the laws, whether he be preacher or hearer, beside the ecclesiasticall censure, which he shoulde not escape, he is also to be punished in bodye by the ciuill magistrate. This we see that all christian Emperours obserued, that when anye controuersie arose, either of doctrine, or of order and ceremonies, they commaunded the Cleargie to consult & determine thereof, according to the scripture, who assembling togeather incounsel obeyed their commandement. Their conclusion then by authoritie of the Emperour, was commaunded euerye where to be obserued, and those that impugned it, to be punished: the same order we reade also to bee obserued, by the christian kinges of Fraunce & Spaine, yea and of this our Brittany also, in gouerning their Ecclesiastical state, by the aduise of the Cleargie of their dominion. But it will perhaps be sayd, that for Princes to subscribe to the determination of priestes (as they call them) is no supremacie, but a subiection. We answer, it is no subiection vnto men, but to God & his worde, to doe nothing in these matters, but by the faithfull aduise of thē, that know his will, & are bounde to teach it vnto all men: No more then it is to be counted a subiection for a Prince in ciuill affayres, to follow the aduise of wise and faithfull Counsellers. Whereby we see that if Gods ordinaunce were not plaine in the scriptures, yet reason it self wold conclude, that if in Temporal matters, a wise prince wil doe nothing of weight, without the counsell of wise men: how much more in Gods busines which are of greatest importāce, shold they not decree any thing with out the aduise of them, that be learned in those matters. And if all princes by heathen wise mens iudgments are so rulers, that they are seruaunts of the laws, & of the cōmon wealth: why should it be accounted for anye dishonour vnto princes, to be obedient to the lawes of God their father, and to serue to the commoditie of the church their mother? It is a greater honor to be the son of God, and the child of the church, then to be a monarch of al the earth. Of this honourable subiection to GOD and his church. Esay prophesieth Chapiter. 49. 23. Kinges shall be thy nursing Fathers, Esay. 49. 23. and Queenes shall bee thy Nurses. They shall worship thee with their faces towardes the earth, and licke the dust of thy feete, and thou shalt know that I am the Lord. The prophet meaneth, that Kinges and Queenes shal be so careful, for the preseruatiō of the church, that they shall thinke no seruice too base for them, so they maye profite the Church of Christ withal. Vnto this honourable subiection, the holy Ghost exhorteth princes in the second psalme: after that they haue tryed that they preuayle nothing in stryuing againste the kingdome of Christ: Be now therefore wise (O yee Kinges): Psal. 2. 10. 11 be learned that iudge the earth, serue the Lord with feare, and reioyce vnto him with trembling, Declaring that it is a ioyfull seruice to bee obedient to Christ: yea to serue GOD is indeede to reigne. And especiallye it is to be noted, where Saint Paule commaundeth prayers and supplications, to bee made for the conuersion of Kinges vnto the knowledge of the truth, and their own saluation, that he alleadgeeth this reason,1. Tim. 2. 2. That we may lead a quiet and peaceable life, in all Godlinesse and honestie vnder their protection. A godly and honest life, wee may liue, vnder enemies of the Churche and persecutors: but a peaceable and quiet life in all godlinesse and honesty, only vnder a christian Prince. This thing therefore the Church most humbly desireth of the prince: for this end the Church continually prayeth to GOD for the Prince: in this respect the Churche most obediently submitteth her self vnto the Prince, as a Childe to his nurce, that both prince and people may honour God in this life, and after this life, reigne with Christe euerlastingly.

Thus haue we breefely set foorth a form of reformation, touching matters ecclesiastical (as we are throughly perswaded) agreeable to the word of God, and as we are able to proue, consenting with the example of the primitiue Church, building only vppon the most sure foundation of the canonicall scriptures: but intending more at large, if occasion shall serue, hereafter to set foorth, the practize and consent of the Godly fathers in their Actes, Counsels and writinges, following the same rule & interpretation of the scripture that we haue done. Therfore we protest before the liuing God and his holy Angels, and before the Lord Iesus Christ, that shal come to iudge the quicke and the dead, and before the Queenes maiestie our most gratious Soueraigne, & the whole assemblie of all estates of this Realme: that as the whol world may plainly see, we seeke hereby not our owne profite, ease nor aduancement, but onely the glorye of God, and the profite of his Church: so by this present writing, wee discharge our conscience, according to our dutie which is to shew vnto all men the true waye of reformation: and to mooue them that haue authoritie to put it in practize, and to seeke by all lawfull and ordinarye meanes, that it may take place, that if it may please God to giue it good successe, at this time to be imbraced, we maye fulfill the rest of our course with ioy. But if our sinnes be the let, that this or the like groūded vpon Gods worde, may not now be receiued: yet the present age may see & iudge, what is the vttermost of our desire, concerning reformation, which hitherto for lacke of such a publike testimoniall, hath been subiect to infinite slaunders, deuised by the aduersaries of Gods truth & hinderance of Godly procedings vnto reformatiō. And that the posterity may know that the truth in this time, was not generallye vnknowen nor vntestified, concerning the right regiment of the church of god: nor this disordered forme of ecclesiasticall gouernement, which we haue receiued for the most part of popery, deliuered to our Children without contradictiō, that our example shold not be preiudicial vnto them: as the exāple of our Godly fathers (which in this poynt neglected their duetie) hath beene preiudiciall vnto vs. The Lorde graunt for Christes sake, that we beeing so farre from perfection, God may open al our eyes to see the same, and bend our heartes earnestly to labour to attaine therevnto: and in the mean time, so farre as we haue attained, that we may proceede al by one rule, that we may be like affectioned to seeke the glory of God, and to build vp the ruynes of his temple, that with one hearte and with one voyce, we maye praise the Father of our Lorde Iesus Christ in his holye Temple, which is the congregation of saints in the holy ghost, to whom be al honor & Dominion for euermore. Amen.