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Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
authority_n	apostle_n	church_n	prove_v	3,145	5	6.1841	4	false

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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A68024	A parte of a register contayninge sundrie memorable matters, written by diuers godly and learned in our time, which stande for, and desire the reformation of our Church, in discipline and ceremonies, accordinge to the pure worde of God, and the lawe of our lande.	Udall, John, 1560?-1592. Demonstration of the trueth of that discipline which Christe hath prescribed in his worde for the government of his Church, in all times and places, untill the ende of the worlde.	1593 (1593)	STC 10400; ESTC S101665	62,546	88

23. which can not be vnderstoode of preachinge Elders onelie considering that the scarcitie of them was such as Paule was constrayned to sende Timothie and Titus to great cities whiche he could hardlie spare as hee often testifieth Therefore there ought to be such Elders as are onely to assiste in gouuernement in euery congregation 2 Those which God hath ordayned to helpe forwarde the building of the Church ought to bee in euery congregation vnles it may appeare that some cōgregation needeth not so much helpe as Christ hath appointed But Christ hath ordained Elders in the Church for the helping forwarde of the building of the Church 1. Cor. 12. 28. Therefore such Elders ought to be in euery congregation 3 That whiche being wanting the bodie can not be entiere that same must be in euery congregation But the Elders can not be wanting and the church be an entiere body Rom. 12. 8. which euery congregation should be Rom. 12. 4. Therefore there ought to bee such Elders in euerie congregation 5 If the worde of God doe describe such Elders in the church then ought they to bee in euerie congregation whiche is cleare by this that euery Congregation hath neede of them as well as any and that euery congregation must haue all the other officers of the church and that euery congregation is of equall dignitie in the bodie of Christ But the word of God describeth vnto vs such Elders 1. Ti. 5. 17. Therfore they ought to be in euery congregation 5 There is no Church that can stande without hir Eldership or Councell 6 It belongeth onely to the Bishop to baptize and the Elder Deacon may not doe it but vpon the bishops licence 7 Neither Elder nor Deacon haue right but vppon the Bishops commaundement so much as to baptize 8 Elders fell awaye thorough the ambition of the teachers 9 Valerius the bishop did contrarie to the custome of the Apostolicall churches in appointing Augustin to preach being but an Elder 10 After that Arrius was conuicted of heresie it was decreed that Elders should no more preache 11 The number of the Elders of euery Church ought to be encreased according to the multitude of the people 12 Speaking of the Elders that were to assist the minister he lamenteth that it is so fallen out of the church that the name doeth scarse remaine 13 Certaine of the people were ioyned with the pastour in the gouernement of the Church because the pastour was not able to doe all him selfe 14 There were Elders that did assist the Minister in the gouernement of the church c. 15 Whitgift confesseth that in the primitiue Churche they had in euery Church certaine Seniors pag. 638. Lett it then appeare out of the worde to satisfie the conscience how it may be left out 16 If the platforme set downe to Timothie and Titus bee for all Churches then must Elders be in all for these Elders are there described But it is a platforme for all Churches that to the ende of the worlde 1. Tim. 6. 14. Therefore they ought to be in euery congregation 17 That which is contayned in euery Ministers commission to teache and practise must be in euerie congregation but the ordination and practize of that office is in euery ministers commission Matth. 28. 20. or els they ordayned Elders without warrant from Christ which none dare affirme Therefore there must be Elders in euery congregation 18 Wheresoeuer a Bishop must be there must also the Elders be which appeareth by this that where the one is described there is the other also But a Bishoppe must be in euery congregation as I haue prooued sufficiently in the 10. chap. Therefore there ought to be Elders in euery congregation 19 If the Apostles laboured for vniformitie in the least things and established in all Churches one order then must there bee Elders in euery Congregation for they were in some as all men doe confesse But the former is true as not onely the viewe of their practize declareth but also the Apostles expresse wordes Thus I teache in all Churches Therefore the latter is true also that in euery Congregation there must be such Elders Therefore if the Apostles established Elders in euery congregation if Christ hath esteemed their helpe needefull to further the building of his Church if without them a congregation can not be entiere if the worde of God saye that they ought to be in the Church if it was continued so long after the Apostles time and bee approoued by the testimonie of manie verie learned both old newe writers confessed by the greatest aduersarie vnto them if they bee within the compasse of euerie ministers commission if they are to bee wheresoeuer a Bishop must be if the Apostles established vniformitie euen in the meanest things then must it needes followe that there ought to be such Elders in euery congregation as are to assiste the Minister in the gouuernement of the same They confesse it was so in the Apostles time but seeme to saye somewhat that it can not be vnder a christian Magistrate thus 1 Obiection God hath giuen the soueraigne authoritie ouer his Church to the christian Magistrate which these Elders would abridge Answere No more then the Eldership abridged the souueraingrie of Dauid oner Israell for his gouernement is temporall and theirs spirituall 2 Obiection Gualter vpon the 1. Cor. 5. denieth it to bee needfull vnder a christian Magistrate Answere Gualter denieth excommunication vnder a christian Magistrate hee is as partiall in this argument as Whitgift 3 Obiection The Prince hath the authoritie that the Elders had Answere That is no truer then to saye the Prince hath authoritie to preache the worde c. for these be thinges that his high authoritie must see done but he may doe none of them him selfe But there be many reasons which may bee alleadged to prooue that they are at the least as necessarie vnder a christian Magistrate in these dayes as they were in the time of the Apostles as namely these 1 The lesse able that Ministers are to direct their people in the wayes of godlines the more neede they haue of the assistaunce that God hath allowed them in his worde But Ministers are nowe lesse able especially vnder Christian Magistrates when men are ouertaken with ease and peace whiche quench good things then they were in the time of the Apostles Therefore there is as great if not greater neede of Elders nowe then was in the time of the Apostles 2 If christian Magistrates be to maintayne the order that Christ hath set downe for the gouernement of his Churche then must there be Elders in it vnder a christian Magistrate for Elders are appoynted of Christ 1. Cor. 12. 8. But christian Magistrates are to maintaine the order that Christ hath sette downe for the ruling of his Church Isai 49. 23. Therefore there must be Elders in the church vnder a

gouuernement of the Church by an Eldership is perpetuall 4 That whose seuerall partes is perpetuall and whiche hath perpetuall giftes giuen for the furnishing thereof for euer that same must needes be perpetuall But the seuerall partes of the Eldership as Pastour Doctor and Elders be perpetuall as is prooued in the 10. and 12. chap. Therefore the Eldership is perpetuall 5 Whatsoeuer is grounded vpon the generall commandementes and rules of the Scriptures that same is perpetuall But the gouerning of the church by the Eldershippe is such as hath partlie bin prooued in election and ordination and execution of the seuerall Church-offices whiche is the greatest part of gouernement and shall further appeare in the censures of the church hereafter Therefore the gouernment of the Church by the Eldership is perpetuall 6 What soeuer manner of gouernement hath sufficient power and that from God to begin continue strengthen both the gouernours of the church in their callings and the people in the course of obedience vnto Christ that same gouernement is to be perpetuall But such is the gouernement by the Eldership as appeareth by this that the Apostles vsed no other Therefore the Eldershippe is to be perpetuall 7 That gouernement which the 12. Apostles and Paule before they consulted togither did vniformly agree in that same must needes bee of God and consequently perpetuall vnlesse the repealing of it doe appeare but such is the gouuernement by the Eldership for all the aduersaries therevnto confesse that it was in the Apostles time Therefore it is perpetuall 8 Whatsoeuer hath the same groundes that the preaching of the Worde and ministration of the Sacramentes haue the same is perpetuall But such is the gouernement of the Eldership for it is grounded vppon the commaundementes of Christ and practize of the Apostles Therefore it is perpetuall 9 That which hath the like groundes to bee perpetuall that the Apostles Prophetes and Euangelistes had to bee for a time the same is perpetuall But such is the gouernement of the Church by an Eldership which appeareth by this that they are therefore ceased because their giftes of immediate calling c. be gone and the giftes of these iointly and seuerally doe remaine Therefore it is perpetuall 10 Whatsoeuer is the perpetuall and ordinarie remedie to cure diseases of the Church and strengthen the health of the same that same is perpetuall But such is the gouernement by the Eldership as appeareth by the necessitie and profite of the seuerall offices thereof and of this that we are still to obserue in causes of extremities Tell the Church Matth. 18. 17. Therefore it is perpetuall 11 That gouernement which was in the Church appointed of God vnder the Lawe and continued in respect of the substance by Christ and his Apostles and bettered in respect of the accedents by them that same is perpetuall But such is the gouernement by the Eldershippe as appeareth in the 12. reason of the 1. chap. Therefore it is perpetuall 12 If there be any reason why this gouernement should be alterable being once set in the church by Christ it is eyther in respect of the extraordinarie offices ceased or the addition of the Magistrate But not of the former because the Church hath neuer had any neede of extraordinary giftes but God hath giuen them so will he euer nor of the latter for that the Magistrates office is to defende the buylding of the church by that order which Christ hath set downe and not to alter any thing therein Therefore it is perpetuall 13 Eyther this gouernement is the best and perpetuall or els there is none and so Christ should bee thought to haue left his Church without a gouernement which is disproued in the 7. and 8. reasons in the firste chap. for this was once established by Christ and so was no other But some gouernment must needes be the best and perpetuall Therefore this is perpetuall 14 No man may iustlie forbid speaking of the Church gouuernement to returne to the olde constitution of the Church of God and to receyue it before the custome of men 15 Experience teacheth this order speaking of the church gouernement was not for one age but necessarie to all ages 16 Though the cōmon wealth change hir gouernment yet the Church must keepe hirs still 17 Lamenteth that some were founde among them that are esteemed forwardest which would not haue the same discipline vsed now a dayes that was in the Apostles times obiecting the difference of times and men 18 The Apostles haue written these lawes speakinge of Discipline not for a day or for the first age but to endure for all times to come and therefore haue ratified them with a most earnest obtestation 1. Tim. 6. 14. that these commandements should be kept vntill the day of the Lord. Therefore if the causes of once ordayning an Eldership be perpetuall if Christ be the authour of it and left it in the Church by the Apostles if it be Gods commaundement not yet repealed if the partes of it and giftes for it be perpetuall if it be grounded vpon the generall commaundements and rules of the scriptures if it haue sufficient power from God to begin continue and confirme a Church if it was agreed vpon by the 12. Apostles and Paule before they met togither if it haue the same groundes with the preaching of the word if it haue as good grounds to bee perpetuall as the Apostles c. to be for a time if it be the perpetuall remedie against all the diseases of the Church if it was vnder the lawe and inriched by Christ and his Apostles vnder the Gospell if it bee neyther alterable in respect of the extraordinarie offices ceased nor the Magistrate added to the Church if it be the onlie gouernement that challengeth authoritie from God if no man may iustlie forbid it if it be necessarie for all times if the common wealth may chaunge hir gouernement but not the Church if the difference of times and men bee nothing against it lastlie if the rules that the Apostles gaue for it be confirmed with a charge to be kept vntill the comming of Christ then must it needes followe that the gouernement of the Church by an Eldership ought to be perpetuall They obiecte that many inconueniences would followe vppon this gouernement which are seuerallie to bee answered 1 Obiection By this euery parishe shall followe their Seniors and then there wilbe so many Elderships so many diuers fashions seeing one may not medle with another Answere The gouernement desired is vniforme for euerie Church and admitteth no change no not in outwarde ceremonies without a Synode of the choyce men of seuerall Elderships 2 Obiection If they being all meane men chuse an Earle he may not refuse but be at their becke and commaundement Answere No man that is chosen is compelled to an office against his will but he that despiseth to consult with others in Gods matters because they

excellēcie aboue other men or the place whereof he is aboue other places But neither of these haue euer been neither hereafter can bee Therefore that office is vnlawfull Therefore if the office of the Archbishop be not of God if the originall of it bee vnknowne if in the Churche it be needlesse if all the giftes that God hath bestowed vppon his Ministerie bee appropriated vnto those Church officers whereof he is none if none may lawfully bestowe such an office vpon any if it can neither bee incident vnto any one man for his excellencie nor his place for preheminence then must it needes follow that his office is vnlawfull Caluin in his Institut booke 4. cap. 11. sect 7. alleadgeth diuers reasons to this purpose and Beza in his booke of Diuorcements stretcheth the same to all the inferiour officers vnder him saying Officials Proctours Promotours and all that swinish filth now of long time hath wasted the church So doth Peter Martyr vppon the Rom. 13. speaking against ciuill Iurisdiction in Bishops doth by the same reasons condemne it in their substitutes But this being the corner stone of their building they labour to support it with many props the most speciall wherof are these 1 Obiection Cypran saith lib 1. Epist. ad Cornelium Neither haue heresies and schismes risen of any other occasion then of that that the Priest of God is not obeyed neither one Priest for the time and one Iudge for the time in steede of Christ thought vppon to whome if the whole brotherhood woulde bee obedient according to Gods teaching no man woulde mooue any thing against the Colledge of Priests Answere This place is alleadged for the Pope and the answere that M. Iewel and others make to it serueth our turne onely let this be noted that Cyprian speaketh of the people at Rome that had receiued another Bishop besides Cornelius who was an heretike for all the course of his writings condemneth this superioritie It is expoounded by M. Iewel booke 1. sect 4. diuision 5. of euery Bishop and so is it by M. Nowel against Dorman booke 1. pag. 25. and also by M. Foxe tom 1. fol. 93. See T. C. in his 1. replie page 98. c. 2 Obiection The authoritie of the Archbishop preserueth vnitie Answere Cyprian lib. 4. Epist. 9. saith that vnitie is reserued by the agreement of Bishoppes that is of Ministers one with another 3 Obiection It compoundeth cōtrouersies that els would grow to many heades without any speciall remedie Answere Cyprian lib. 1. Epist. 13. saith that the plentifull bodie and companie of Elders are as it were the glewe of mutuall concord that if any of our company be authour of heresie the rest should helpe 4 Obiection Ierome vppon Tit. 1. saith that in the beginning a Bishop and Priest meaning a teaching Elder were all one but when men began to say I am of Paul I am of Apollo c. It was decreed that one shoulde bee chosen to beare rule ouer the rest Answere From the beginning it was not so the saying of Tertul. contra Prax. is fit for this that is true whatsoeuer is first and that is false whatsoeuer is latter and Ierome saith in the place alleaged that this authoritie is by custome and not by any institution of God if it had been the best waye to take away diuisions the Apostles in whose times the controuersies did arise would haue taken the same order 5 Obiectiō Caluin saith that the Apostles had one among them to gouerne the rest Answere That was not in superioritie but for order to propound the matters gather the voyces such like which is meete to be in euery well ordered meeting but his authoritie is no more ouer the rest then the speaker in the Parliament hath ouer the other knights and Burgesses 6 Obiection Paul was superior to Timothie and Titus Answere Paul and they had diuers offices whereof the Apostles office was the chiefe the like is to bee saide of Timothie and Titus hauing superioritie ouer the other Ministers for that they were Euangelists a degree aboue ordinarie Ministers Therefore if the place alleaged out of Cyprian make nothing for the Archb. if vnitie be not preserued by him but by the Bishops among themselues if his authoritie make nothing to the taking away of controuersies if it bee meerely inuented by man and not from the beginning if it bee by custome and not by any ordinaunce of God if neither one Apostle ouer the rest nor any of them ouer the Euangelistes nor of the Euangelists ouer the Pastours and Teachers will serue to proue their authoritie then must it needes followe that it is vtterly vnlawfull No man may be ordained vnto any office in the Church vntill there be such a place voide as hee is fit for T. C. booke 1. pag. 61. Whitgift pag. 222. 1 As was the 12. place for Matthias so is a certain church to euery Church officer But Matthias was not ordained vnto the place of an Apostle vntill Iudas by hanging himselfe had made it voide Act. 1. 20. Therefore may none be ordained vnto any office in the Church before the place where he may be imployed be destitute of such a one 2 As the Apostles did in planting of the churches so must it be done in the building thereof for euer But they ordeined neither Pastour Teacher Elder or Deacon butto some certaine church that had need thereof Therfore may none be ordained vnto any office vntill a place be voide that hath need of him 3 Those thinges that be of one beginning continuance and ending cannot bee one before or after another But a Minister and the execution of his Ministerie in a lawful standing be so for they be relatiues and haue reference one vnto the other Therfore a Minister ought not to be ordained before there be a Ministerie whereunto he is to be allotted 4 If none ought to be called to be a shepheard that hath no flocke of sheepe to keepe neither any watchman that is not allotted to some place to watch then may none bee ordained to any office before there be a place void for him for Ministers are in this sense tearmed shepheards and watchmen But the former is true as euery simple man can easilie perceiue Therefore the latter is true also 5 To doe contrary to the precepts and practise of the Apostles is vnlawfull But to ordaine any officer without a certaine place wherein he may bee imployed is contrarie to the precepts and practise of the Apostles as it appeareth Tit. 1. 5. Act. 14. 23. Therfore to ordaine any officer of the church without a certaine place whereunto he is to be allotted is vnlawfull 6 It was ordained that no Elder Deacon or any other Ecclesiasticall officer should be ordained a Apolelymenos that is loosely or let at randone but as afterwarde is expounded specially in a Church citie or towne 7 The ordination that is made without a title let

togither 1. Cor. 5. 5. Therefore it may not be done by one man 3 That which hath neede of greatest aduice and greatest authoritie may not be done by one man but such is the matter of excommunication being the denouncinge of that against a man which he will most hardlie beleeue and beinge the waightiest point of discipline Therefore it may not bee done by one man 4 Those must excommunicate that are to deale in the other partes of Discipline as shall appeare in the reasons following and as I thinke no man will denie But the other partes of Discipline are exercised not by one but by the Churh as hath bene prooued Therefore not one but the Church is to excommunicate 5 As it was ministred among the Iewes so must it be in the Church for euer which appeareth by this that it is translated vnto vs from them as the Greeke word Synedrion being by a corrupt imitation called Sanedrim by the Rabbins doeth import and had nothing ceremoniall in it But it was executed among them by the Church and not any one Ioh. 9. 22. Therefore the Church is to excommunicate and not one man 6 Cyprian sayeth he would neuer doe any thing in his charge without the counsell of his Elders and cōsent of the people 7 The Elders and other Church-officers haue as well power to absolue as the Bishop 8 For so much as absolution belongeth vnto all I alone dare not doe it 9 If there be any that haue committed such a fault that he is to be put away from the partaking of the prayers of the Church c. There doe beare rule certayne of the most approoued auncients or Elders of the Church which haue obtayned this honor not by money but by good report 10 It helpeth much to make the party more ashamed that he be excommunicated by the whole church also in his bookes of Baptisme against the Donatists often 11 The Elders haue interest in other censures of the Church and the Church it selfe in excommunication 12 S. Paule accuseth the Corinthians for that the whole Church had not excommunicated the incestuous person 13 The Elders had the gouuernement in excommunication 14 It is very daungerous to permit so waightie a matter to one man and therefore that tyrannie may be auoyded this censure executed with greater fruite and grauitie the order that the Apostle there vseth is still to be obserued 15 Hee sheweth that it partayneth not to one man that it is a wicked fact that one should take the authoritie to him selfe that is common to others that it openeth a way to tyrannie taketh from the Church their right and abrogateth the Ecclesiasticall senate ordayned by Iesus Christ. 16 The Bishops when they excommunicated of themselues alone did it ambitiouslie contrarie to the decrees of godly cannons See Bucer against Gropper and vpon Ephes. 4. De animicura also Zuinglius in Ecclesiast 17 It is plentifullie forbidden euen by that filthie puddle the cannon lawe and therefore it must needes bee a haynous sinne when it findeth faulte with it Therefore if excommunication be to be executed by the commaundement of Christ of the Church if S. Paule enioyned it vnto the church if it haue neede of greatest aduice and authoritie if it belong to them that may execute the other partes of Discipline if it was so executed amonge the Iewes if to absolue be as well in the Elders power as the Bishops if Cyprian durst not doe it alone if it was the action in Tertullians time of the most approoued Elders if to bee by the whole church helpeth much to make the partie more ashamed if the whole church haue interest in it if the whole Church at Corinth was reprooued for not doing it if it bee to waightie a matter for one man if the executing of it by one ouerturneth the order appointed by Christ bringeth in tyrannie maintayneth ambition and lastlie be forbidden by the cannon lawe it selfe then must it needes followe that it belongeth not vnto one man to excommunicate but vnto the Eldershippe and that with the consent of the whole Church Their obiections herevnto in defence of their owne practise be these 1 Obiection The right of excommunication was in Saint Paule and not in the rest Answere He gaue onely direction in that as in all other matters which he wrote of vnto them but if they had not throwne out the incestuous person he had remayned still vnexcommunicated for all that which S. Paul had sayde vnto them 2 Obiection Christ gaue Peter and euery Apostle power to binde and lose in earth and in heauen which interpreters expounde by Matth. 18. 15. Answere That power was of denouncing Gods iudgements or pronouncing his mercie in preaching and not of this action they are expounded one by another because of the ratifying of them both in heauen alike 3 Obiection Paule did excommunicate Hymeneus and Philetus Answere That is being moderator of the action he pronounced it not that he did it alone The same aunswere is to be made vnto the Fathers as Ambrose c. who are saide to excommunicate Therfore vpon these grounds of Scriptures Fathers Coūcels Emperours Lawes Histories newe Writers and cleare light of reason I conclude that Christ hath prescribed vnto vs an exacte and perfect platforme of gouerninge his Church at all times and in all places which is this that there ought to be no ministers of the worde but Pastours Teachers whiche are to be called by the people and ordained by the Eldership are of equal authoritie in their seuerall congregations must with all faithfull diligence imploye the●selues in the ministerie of the worde and Sacramentes that there are to bee in euery Congregation certaine Elders whose office is to ouersee the behauiour of the people and assist their pastour in the gouernement of the Church also Deacons who are to be imployed only in receyuing and bestowing the liberalitie and goods of the Church to the reliefe of the poore and other necessarie vses Lastlie that there must be in euery Congregation an Eldership of Pastour Teacher if they can haue any and Elders who are in common to see that the Church bee well gouerned not onely in maintayning the profession and practize of the worde in generall but also in admonishing reprehending or separatinge from the Lordes Supper them that walke offensiuely and lastlie in excommunicating them that by no other meanes can bee reclaimed So that all and euery gouernement contrarie or besides this whether in parte or in whole swarueth frō that order which Christ hath set downe in his worde and therefore is vnlawfull FINIS Omnia tum liceant non licet esse bonum 1. Tim. 3. 14. 15. Pro. 2. 9. 1. Cor. 10. 11. 1. Tim. 4. 5. Rom. 14. 23. Heb. 3. 2. Rom. 12. 5. 6. 7. 1. Co. 12. 28 Ephe. 4. 11. c. See