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A10399	Tvventy nine lectures of the Church very necessary for the consolation and support of Gods Church, especially in these times: wherein is handled, first, in generall concerning first, the name; secondly, the titles; thirdly, the nature, fourthly, the diuision of the true Church: secondly, of the visible Church ... and lastly, the application of it to all Churches in the world so farre as they are knowne to vs. By that learned and faithfull preacher, Master Iohn Randall, Batchelor of Diuinity, pastor of Saint Andrewes Hubbart in little Eastcheape, London, and sometimes fellow of Lincolne Colledge in Oxford. Published by the coppie perfected and giuen by the author in his life time; carefully preserued and adorned with notes in the margent, by the late faithfull minister of Christ, Master William Holbrooke.	Randall, John, 1570-1622.; Holbrooke, William.	1631 (1631)	STC 20683; ESTC S115641	423,199	550

Ephes 1.22 23. compared with 1. Cor. 12.27 Saints holy Catholike the Pillar of Truth c. these are principally affirmed of the Church inuisible but proportionally applyed to the Church visible the whole receiuing denomination of the better part Doctr. These things premised we come now to the Obseruation and that is this That the true Church of God is sometime brought into such straits that the outward face of it doth either not appeare at all or at least it doth very hardly appeare to the sight of the world I say the outward face of it doth hardly appeare for the inward graces of it are neuer seene as faith and election for the heart wherein these are cannot be discouered As these are alwayes inuisible so likewise the outward face of the Church is sometime hidden Againe I say it is so but sometime for sometime it is very plaine and apparant and glorious in the eye of the world We doe not here take vpon vs to prooue peremptorily that there is a time when there shall bee no visible and apparant Church in the World the World is large and many things are done in some places of the World that we neither doe nor can know and therefore in regard of vs we may say there is no such matter For the Point must stand thus That euen in those places and in such times where the Church is most likely to be as where the true Church hath lately been and where it hath flourished or where the best meanes are the Word and the Sacraments and the Ministry or where they professe to bee the true Church yet euen then and there the true Church may lie hidden and not bee outwardly discerned And so consequently if it may be in such a state in such places and at such times much more is it so at other places and times where there is no such probabilitie of a Church And this strikes home at the Papists that will haue the outward face of the true Church so notoriously apparant and visible to the world But as I haue shewed in such places and at such times where it hath been most like to haue been euen then and there the true Church may be hidden and not apparant to the World This I will prooue in the case of the Church of Israel in Elias time 1. King 19.10 where the Prophet complaines of such a scarcitie of the faithfull in his dayes as that hee saith be himselfe was left alone If there had been a Church any where in those times surely it should haue been in Israel where the best meanes were but there was no outward appearance of a Church and shall we thinke then it was any where else So likewise in the 2. Chron. 15.3 Israel had been for a long time without a true God without a Priest to teach without Law then they had no true visible Church of God amongst them And if it were not to bee found in Israel where should it be found The Papists will reply in Iudah if not with Israel Iudah preuailed against Israel because they stayed vpon the Lord God of their Fathers as wee may see in the 2. Chron. 13.18 Well yet they were bad enough too as wee may see in the 2. Chron. 14.3 5. they had their strange Gods and their Images and high places and Groues in all their Cities which Asa tooke away But yet if it were thus with Israel that they had no outward face of a true Church might it not be so with Iudah too and so in other Churches yea we will proue that it was so with Iudah afterward as we may see in the 2. Chron. 28.23 24.25 where it is said of Ahaz that he sacrificed to the gods of Damascus and to the gods of the King of Aram hee brake the vessels of the House of God shut vp the dores of the House of the Lord and made him Altars in euery corner of Ierusalem and in euery Citie of Iudah hee made high places to burne Incense to other Gods c. So Iudah was worse then Israel nay then the very Heathen that were before them as wee may see 2. Chron. 33.9 where it is said that Manasseh made Israel to erre and to doe worse then the Heathen whom the Lord had cast out before them So you see here was no outward face of a Church neither in Iudah nor in Israel if not in them where could there bee any Who could now point with his finger and say I know which is the true Church of God whereunto I may and must ioyne my selfe If it were so with them that were the naturall branches then there is no priuiledge for any other Church but that it may be so with them too But the Papists will obiect that this was so vnder the Law onely but it shall not bee so vnder the Gospell or if it bee so sometimes yet it shall not be so often to the end of the world I say I will proue that the state of the Church was so also vnder the Gospell and shall bee so not sometimes onely but often to the end of the world that there shall be no outward face of a true Church Reuel 12.6 14. the woman is said there to be fled into the wildernesse which is meant of the Church that at seuerall times to the worlds end shall bee driuen to liue in Desert and forlorne places how then shall men see it and take notice of it and ioyne with it when it is in such a secret place So in the Reuel 13.7 8. The Beast made warre with the Saints and ouercame them and power was giuen vnto him ouer euery Kindred and Nation and Tongue Therefore all that dwell vpon the earth worship him whose names are not written in the booke of life of the Lambe Where was the outward face of a Church in these times And in the 2. Thes 2.3 4 5. the Apostle sheweth that Antichrist shall come and sit in Gods Temple as God c. The Diuell shall bee so cunning that he shall set vp Antichrist in Gods Temple that is in Gods Church where there hath been an outward face of a Church continued for many yeeres and yet hee shall not be knowne but to be God but onely to those that are spiritually-minded for he shall sit as God so that then there shall be no outward face of a true Church there So likewise that in Luk. 18.8 proues this Point where our Sauiour saith When the Sonne of man commeth shall he find faith on the Earth If faith be so scarce to be found which is the life of the Church where then shall the Church be found But where shall hee not find faith In India or in Rome onely No not onely in one or two places but not in the earth And who shall not find it The Sonne of Man When the Sonne of Man commeth shall hee find faith on the earth Then the Church is not so palpable as that it may be

refuse to come No let vs be thankefull for it it is a pretious Iewell and let vs take heed we doe not relinquish our Calling let vs not looke backe for no man that putteth his hand to the Plough and looketh backe is fit for the Kingdome of God Vse 4 Fourthly by this we may know whether wee are of the Church of God or no. Euery one that liues in the Church pretends to be of the Church but here is the tryall Art thou called Yes Why then thou art of the Church in some sense so farre as thou art called so farre thou art of the Church If thou hast onely an outward calling thou art but an outward member but if thou haue an inward and effectuall calling then thou art a true and liuing member of it But you will say how shall I know whether I haue this effectuall calling or not I answer It is easie to know it doest thou finde Gods Spirit worke effectually in thee to cause thee to leaue thy sins to stirre thee vp to repentance and to faith and to doe good workes As thou hast a new name so hast thou by this calling a new heart and a new life and new motions and affections new courses If thou hast then thy calling is effectual else it is but a dreame The surest marke of all is thy Conscience Doth that check thee for euery knowne sinne and infirmitie And doest thou labour in truth to obey it and renounce and ouercome that sinne thy Conscience checks thee for This is the surest mark of an effectuall Calling For when the Spirit hath thus quickned and purged thee and doth instruct thee and deale effectually with thy Conscience and frames thee to obedience to it here is a sure marke of an effectuall calling If we flee the Corruptions that are in the world through lust and if we giue our selues diligently to a course of grace and sanctification if we ioyne with our vertue faith c. this makes our calling sure and our Election too 2. Pet. 1.5 9 10. And if we doe these things we shall neuer fall Vse 5 The last vse is matter of reproofe or confutation of such as deny vs and the Church wherein wee liue to be a true Church We haue a true calling and that from God to sanctification by the Word and Sacraments and by the Spirit therefore we are a true Church This they cannot deny Ainsworth and others amongst themselues confesse that they had their Calling here yea their effectuall Calling and they will not say but theirs is a true Calling therefore so is ours and so our Church a true Church Yea but say they this calling is extraordinary I answer What is extraordinary in it The meanes are ordinary as the Word preached read and conferred on the Sacraments administred and Prayers offered vp to God It is extraordinary when wee are called without meanes or by rare and strange meanes but the meanes here are ordinary therefore the calling is so too Besides many thousands in our Church haue a true and effectuall Calling The meanes is dailie powerfull through Gods mercy either to winne or to confirme not a few but many thousands therefore the commonnesse of it proues it to be ordinary Yea but say they It is so in the Church of Rome too many are called there and yet that is no true Church It is strange that they will blind themselues so wilfully and not discerne betwixt things that so notoriously differ For first in the Church of Rome few or none are conuerted here in our Church are many Secondly they haue onely a generall call to a confused notice of God wee to the particular and precise knowledge of every Article and Point of Religion needfull to saluation Thirdly they haue not the meanes the Word truly preached nor read in a knowne Tongue wee haue Therefore it is strange that they should once open their mouthes to make such an absurd comparison The second Lecture of the Church NOw in the second place wee are to speake of the titles giuen to the Church there is no great difference betwixt the name and the title of a thing for sometime the name is called the title and the title the name yet as it is with persons of great place and qualitie they haue their names and their titles too as Paul an Apostle of Iesus Christ c. Paul there is his name an Apostle c. there is his title and so it is generally with all things of any great note they haue their names whereby they are ordinarily called and their titles whereby some extraordinary or speciall matter is attributed to them and affirmed of them So in the matter in hand concerning the Saints or company of the faithfull the name Church doth propound them barely or simply to our vnderstanding The titles raise vs vp to the consideration of some further matter in the nature and state of the Church then the name doth import and therefore hauing spoken of the name now we are to speake of the titles of the Church There are many worthy and goodly titles ascribed to the Church as it is said Psalm 87.3 Goodly and glorious things are spoken of thee Oh Citie of God Many as being much variety of matter to be considered in the estate of the Church and glorious as euery title commending the grace beauty and glory of the Church after a speciall manner And the Lord doth adorne her with these many glorious titles for many causes As first to giue vs a more full and perfit view of the whole Doctrine concerning the Church no one title is able to expresse all the particulars that concerne the Church therefore the Lord vseth many that what is wanting in some may be supplied by the rest Secondly that he might expresse and set forth the greatnesse of his loue to his Church which being infinite and extended in many excellent kinds requires many and glorious titles to expresse it by It is true that none indeed though neuer so many and glorious can expresse it according to the measure of his loue but these that wee haue doe fully expresse it according to the measure of our capacity so farre as we are able and as it is fit for vs to vnderstand Thirdly because by these many glorious titles giuen to the Church the Lord would inamour vs with her loue and allure vs to her communion that wee may the more willingly and chearefully be associated and gathered vnto her and the more sweetly and comfortably repose our selues in her bosome when wee heare so many and so glorious things spoken of her I cannot relate much lesse handle all the titles affirmed of the Church only I will reduce them to certaine heads and cull forth the choise of them out of each Testament They are of two sorts First some are absolute that concerne the Church simply in it selfe Secondly some are not so absolute but respectiue which concerne the Church as i●

Mediatour whom we haue There were the Cherubins And haue not wee Angels in the Church that are ministring Spirits for our good There was God speaking out of the Mercy-seate And haue not we the Word of God directing and instructing vs There was a Table And haue not we a solemne Inuitation to the feast of peace of Conscience and ioy in the holy Ghost which God hath prepared for the faithfull Pro. 9.1.2 There was the Shew-bread A● what figured that but Gods people because they alwayes and before God Lastly there was the golden Candlesticke with seuen branches which signified the manifold gifts and graces of Gods Spirit which hee bestowes vpon his Church And if the Church was thus glorious being shadowed vnder the Law how much more glorious is it now in the time of the Gospell The Apostle making the comparison in Hebr. 12. shewes plainely that the Church now in the time of the Gospell is farre more glorious then in the time of the Law In the 22 23 and 24 verses he saith But yee are come to Mount Sinai the Citie of the liuing God the celestiall Hierusalem And to the Company of innumerable Angels And to the Congregation of the first borne which are written in heauen And to God the iudge of all And to the Spirits of iust and perfect men And to Iesus the mediator of the new Testament And to the blood of sprinckling that speaketh better things then that of Abel See how glorious the Church is here for here is whatsoeuer may make vp a perfect glorie And thus glorious and beautifull is Gods Church looke vpon her which way soeuer ye will either within or without If ye looke vpon her within why then it is said Ps 45.13 the Kings Daughter is all glorious within If without it is said in the same Psalme Her garments are all of broidered gold You shall see her glory further in these foure things First in her profession secondly in her practise thirdly in her order fourthly in her vnitie First in her profession it is a glorious profession for they renounce and disclaime all other Religions and professe the onely pure and glorious Gospell of Iesus Christ So secondly in regard of their practise it is glorious and beautifull for they are religious to God wise to themselues charitable to their brethren mercifull to all depending on God beleeuing in Christ obeying his Spirit praying blessing exhorting instructing comforting both themselues and others making conscience of all their waies hauing and keeping themselues vnspotted of filthinesse and vncleannesse and of the corruptions of the times wherein they liue and offering their soules and bodies a cleane pure and glorious sacrifice to God in Christ so their practise is glorious Thirdly for their order they are glorious and gracious Psalm 68.24 25. They haue seene O God thy goings the goings of my God and my King which are in the Sanctuary The Singers going before the Players of Instruments after In the midst were the maides playing with the timbrels This was but in a shadow much more is it so in the true Church Cant 4.2 the Church is compared to a flocke of Sheepe which goe vp in good order from the washing Now wee must vnderstand this spiritually for it is not the orderly standing in the Church but when euery one keepes his owne ranke not being rebellious nor meddling in other mens businesse not loose nor negligent in their owne place but euery one is carefull to doe his duty imposed on him the superiours they rule with modestie the vnderlings they obey reuerently and Christ himselfe as their King keepes them all within their compasse The Apostle 1. Cor. 12. in the whole Chapter speaking of this order shewes what an excellent thing it is euen as it is in the body of a man there is the eyes and the hands and the feete c. Now shall the foote say to the head I am aboue thee or the eye to the hand I haue no need of thee no but euery member keepes his ranke and is carefull to do the office imposed vpon it and so it is in the Church and therefore in this respect it is a glorious Church Rom. 12.3 4. c. Fourthly in respect of their vnitie Psal 122.2 3. The Prophet saith that Ierusalem is built as a Citie that is compact or at vnitie together in it selfe meaning that Gods Church the heauenly Ierusalem whose members are all knit together by a neere vnion being one body hauing one Lord one Faith one Baptisme Ephes 4 5 6. hauing a sweet and louing communion all of them with Christ their Head and each of them with another Behold saith the Prophet what a goodly thing it is for brethren to dwell together in vnitie Psal 133.1 2 3. So the Church yee see is blessed and beautifull for the vnitie that is amongst the members for they pray and giue thankes to God one for another they reioyce for the good one of another and are sorrowfull and mourne for the hurt one of another And so much for the proofe of the Point The Reasons of the Point why they are so beautifull and Reas 1 glorious are many The first and the summe of all is this because they haue the Lord to be their God Psal 144.15 Blessed is the people whose God is the Lord. They haue God to be their Lord First in respect of God he promising and performing to them that hee will be their God and giuing them many tokens of his loue Secondly in respect of themselues they being his by couenant and obedience and therfore they are blessed and glorious because God is their Lord. Secondly Christ is theirs and they are his as it is in Reas 2 Cant. 6.2 I am my Welbeloueds and my Welbeloued is mine and together with Christ God hath giuen them all things Rom 8.32 Christ is theirs and whatsoeuer else may make for their blessednesse or glory is conferred with him Iesus Christ is present in his Church and he inlightens them with his glory Reuel 21.9 and therefore they are glorious He washes them with his owne blood and therefore they are gracious Hee clothes them with his righteousnesse and therefore they are beautifull He couers and imputes not their sinnes therefore they are blessed Psal 32.1 2. yea they being his owne body therefore as his naturall body was farre more excellent then any mans else so his mysticall body the assembly of the Saints is farre more glorious then all the World besides Thirdly Gods Spirit hee teacheth them a gracious carriage Reas 3 hee perswades them to obedience hee bridles them from sinne he quickens them to righteousnesse hee supplies and helpes their wants and infirmities Their hearts and consciences are sprinckled with the holy Ghost they are cleansed sanctified and made partakers of the Diuine Nature and so are most glorious and beautifull Fourthly they are most beautifull and glorious because Reas 4 all the liuing members of the

neighbour Churches Then they are no longer to be taken notice of as true visible Churches But on the other side if they be matters of smaller moment that doe not ouerthrow the foundation then the hay and stubble shall burne 1. Cor. 3.12 15. but yet they shall remaine still a true Church Secondly if they bee greater matters errors that doe ouerthrow the foundation yet if they be not publikely profest as the Doctrine of that Church yea though they be publikely profest yet if vpon admonition of other neighbour Churches they doe recant and reforme their Errors then they are stil to be accounted true visible Churches and it is a sinne for any to forsake them being in them yea it is a sinne not to ioyne as a member to them liuing in them Deu. 12.5 at least we are to ioyne with them in cons●nt and Communion of profession The case of the Churches in the second and third Chapter of the Reuelation make the former exceptions cleere as you may see in your owne reading of them Vse 3 The third Vse is this Euery man that hath any Touch of Conscience or any grace in him is desirous to be a member of the true visible Church for that is a good pledge and witnesse to their soules that they are members of Christ Iesus Here then thou mayst learne to know whether thou art a member or no and so likewise how to become a member First therefore labour to finde out to know vnderstand and beleeue the sauing Truth of God and for this end we must heare the Word preached and conferre of it and ioyne with the godly and frequent publike Christian Assemblies and also we must pray to God for his Spirit that he would be pleased to acquaint thee with his sauing Truth and to open thine eyes that thou mayst see the right way and that he would also leade thee therein Secondly thou must labour as thou knowest it so likewise to professe it and make open shew of it to the world be not ashamed of it it is a Royall Calling if we bee ashamed of it Christ will be ashamed of vs before his Father and before his Angls in heauen and as we must not be ashamed of it so we must not be afraid to professe it it is not a matter of shame or feare to be of Gods Church but a matter of glory and comfort therefore bee not afraid of reproch persecution temptation all outward misery which wee are sure to endure if wee bee knowne to professe the sauing Truth of Christ Christ Iesus did boldly oppose himselfe against the high Priest and Pilate and the Iewes the Scribes and Pharisies and the Souldiers yea he opposed himselfe to Death it selfe and to all the powers of darknesse and to the terrors of God himselfe for thee and wilt thou bee afraid to oppose thy selfe to some few outward dangers for him Nay it is for our selues in the end for wee shall haue the glory of it yet bee wise and doe not rashly thrust thy selfe into any danger but if thou haue iust occasion and a Calling from God shunne it not for feare of men Let not thy false heart betray the truth of Christ his cause but relying vpon Gods power promise and protection stand to it resolutely and with a good Christian courage and say I am a Professor of Christ crucified and so I will continew by his Assistance euen vnto the very death though I be crucified euen as he was Thirdly we must see that our profession be not in hipocrisie for this is the Canker-worme that eates out Religion in the hearts of many professors therefore professe the Truth sincerely and in singlenesse of heart as in the sight of God who seeth and searcheth the Reynes doe it as the onely cause whereby we may and must bee saued and whereby thou lookest for thy reward in mercy at Gods hand at the last day doe it as in obedience to God to glorifie his Name and to aduance his Kingdome and to the confusion of Satan and his complices Fourthly as wee must do it without hypocrisie so we must see we practise it and that openly for our publike practise of it is our greatest and best part of our profession we must not be like those Titus 1.16 that in their words professe that they know God but by their workes deny him that is their workes stand vp against them and tell them to their faces that there is no such matter that which wee professe with our lippes wee must practise with our liues Put the case that two men bee at ods one man saith one thing another man proues the contrary by plaine and euident Arguments whether of these two is the best and greatest auoucher of the thing So it is in this he that professeth in his words onely the Truth of God and another which doth practise it in his workes which is the best and greatest auoucher of Gods Truth surely he that practiseth it in his workes Fiftly as wee must labour to doe these things our selues so we must do the best we can to draw others to it according to the Commandement of our Sauiour Christ to Peter Luk. 22.32 When thou art conuerted strengthen thy Brethren Which when I thinke on it cannot but admonish mee of my Duty and so it doth vs all that wee should labour to draw others to that good which wee our selues are partakers of Thus it was with the woman of Samaria when shee was conuerted she laboured to draw all the City of Samaria to Christ Iohn 4.28 29. Especially wee should labour with our owne families that they may serue God as Ioshua did I and my house saith he will serue the Lord. So shall we haue true visible Churches within the walls of our owne houses howsoeuer it be in the Land or Countrey or Parish where we dwell Vse 4 Lastly this should teach vs thankfulnesse for our State that the Lord hath vouchsafed so gratiously to shew himselfe to the people of this Land for many yeeres that the whole sauing Truth of God should bee knowne and professed and that by publike Authority it is countenanced amongst vs we confesse there are many sinnes in our liues defects in our state and wee mourne for them and groane vnder them and pray with sighes and teares against them and we trust God in his good time will heare vs and redresse these corruptions and abuses amongst vs yet through Gods mercy we professe the whole sauing truth and therfore we are a true visible Church of God against all Schismatikes and Papists and slanderers whatsoeuer Euery one may see and say that it is a miraculous and wonderfull of God that still this profession is maintained be thankfull for it and walke in Obedience to it and honor God for it and vse it well and pray and labour for the continuance of it to vs and our posterity to all generations The blessing is so much the greater and thank-worthy

are amisse and that thou shouldest ordaine Elders in euery Citie c. There by name are two principall parts of outward Gouernment set downe redressing things that are amisse and ordaining elders And these are imposed vpon Titus being Bishop of that Church and that of necessity for he was left there for this very cause And in the second and third Chapters of the Reuelation there are directions sent from heauen to the Angels of the seuen Churches and that for many things that did concerne euen the outward as well as the inward Gouernment of the Churches If wee looke into the estate of the Church from time to time we shall see that the practice was answerable that still of necessitie there was outward Gouernment in the Church Our Sauiour while hee was vpon earth among his Disciples how orderly did hee gouerne them When any thing was amisse amongst them how quietly did hee order it How orderly did hee send them out to preach How carefully did he giue them Rules for the outward Gouernment of the Church for the time to come So the Church after Christs ascension how well was it ordered and gouerned As wee may see Act. 1.13 14. Where it is said that the Apostles continued with one accord in prayers and supplications with the women and Mary the mother of Iesus and his Brethren And Act. 2.42 they continued in the Apostles Doctrine and fellowship and breaking of bread and prayer And Act. 6.2 3 c. When that matter of difference arose concerning the poore how wisely did they order it and chose out men from amongst them fearing God for the performance of this businesse So here we see how well the Church was ordered and gouerned after our Sauiours Ascension See it further Act. 15.2 and forward when there arose dissention in the Church about Circumcision what did they doe They called the Apostles and Elders together and so they ordered what should bee done in that businesse so here wee see is outward Gouernment still And so Phil. 1.1 the Apostle writes to the Bishops and Deacons of that Church that is to the Gouernours of it So that we see that of necessity there is required an outward Gouernment in the Church of God to bee administred by men And so much for the proofe of the point The Reasons are many and of diuers sorts some are drawne from the nature of God some are drawne by comparison from other Assemblies the third sort are drawne from the persons that are to be Gouerned and the last sort are drawne from the Offices that are to be exercised and the businesses that are to be done in the Church The first sort of Reasons drawne from the nature and will of God are these First God is the Author not of confusion but of peace as wee see in all the Churches of the Saints 1. Cor. 14.33 The Apostle giues all the Churches of the Saints for instance in this point that God is the Author of peace in all them as hee commanding it and they obeying Now what peace can there bee or how can it be maintained but by Gouernment therefore wheresoeuer there is a Church of Saints there must of necessity bee Gouernment Againe secondly Holinesse becomes Gods House for euer saith the Prophet Psal 93.5 but without Gouernment there can be no Holinesse at least in the outward man and therefore of necessity outward Gouernement must bee in the Church The second sort of Reasons are drawne by comparison from other Assemblies what Company is there without Gouernment In heauen there is order and Gouernment amongst the Saints and Angels themselues some amongst the Angels for order sake are aboue the rest there are Principalities and Powers and Thrones c. I do not say as the Papists doe that one Angell is aboue another in degree but in order at least Christ is the Head and gouernour of them all and that personally so there is a Gouernment in heauen And as it is in heauen so it is in earth What Company or Corporation either in the City or Kingdome is or can consist without Gouernment And is not the Church the Company of Gods Saints so they are called Ps 89.7 and can that be without Gouernment So in an house there can be no peace nor liuing together in it without Gouernment The Church is the House of God the City of God the Kingdome of his owne Sonne and therefore there must be of necessity an outward gouernment in it exercised by men yea Hell it selfe though it bee the place of all disorder and confusion yet they haue some Gouernment amongst themselues else their kingdome cannot stand The third sort of Reasons are taken from the nature of the persons of whom the Church consists and they are men and therefore to be gouerned and that by men Some are tractable and these are gently to be led others are obstinate those are to be drawne with strong hand some are Nouices and they are to be fed with milke others are of stronger growth and they are to be fed with stronger meat some are out of the Church that must be called in these are to be admitted others are within the Church misdemeaning themselues these are to be cast out Therefore there must be Order and Gouernment in the Church for the doing of all this Lastly there must be gouernment in the Church in respect of the offices and businesses that are to be done in it the Word and the Sacraments are outward things and therefore are outwardly to bee administred Officers are to be chosen Lawes to be made controuersies and contentions are to bee pacified the Sicke are to bee visited the Poore are to be releeued Offences are to be punished and sundry other things are to be done which without outward Gouernment it is not possible they should bee well done Therefore of necessity there must be this outward Gouernment in the Church Vse 1 The Vses of this point are these First this is against Anarchy and for reproofe of such as will haue no Gouernment in the Church their owne necks will endure no yoke and therfore they blush not to say that there should be no yoke at all laid vpon Christians and some of them haue gone so farre that they will not endure ciuill Magistracy neither they hold it vnfit for the estate of the Gospell to be vnder Gouernment Wee are called to liberty say they Iesus Christ hath set vs free and therefore we need no Gouernours It is true wee are called to liberty but wee must not vse our liberty as a cloake to our sinnes What liberty and freedome is it that wee haue Is it not from sin and Satan and the curse of the Law It is not a state of liberty in respect of the outward man but in respect of the inward man for the best liberty the outward man can haue is when it is made conformable to the ordinances of God and such wholesome Lawes