iust cause now to complaine that our church wanteth so worthy an office do not the slaunders off our aduersaries who are ready to take all occasions to speak euill off the Gospell require suche watchemen to watche and see that offences rise not in the churche doth not the shamefull wickednes off men require suche Censors And can this noble lawe off doinge all thinges orderly and comely in the churche off God want those any longer who shold haue a care to see it kept That all thinges come not to confusion and be turned vpside downe Therfore let Elders be restored to our churche againe which are both necessary helpes for the safetye and preseruation off yt and worthy ornamentes for the estimation off the same Let vs obeye the Lordes Commaundement touchinge the ordeyninge off Elders yff either the safety or estymacion off the church be deare vnto vs or yff we haue any care off doinge our duty vnto god As for election and Ordynacion off them seing yt may be taken out off those Generall rules which I haue giuen before and doth not requyre any thinge to be speciallie spoken in this behalffe Let vs conclude this matter and together with all euen the whole treaty which hath bene handled concerninge the symple charges and offices off the churche besech ing God our most mercifull father that yt may please him to haue mercy off our churche and that as he hath raised yt in a maÌ„ner from the deade and oute of the graue againe So he would also vouchsafe to adorne and beautyfy yt being raised vpp That yt may please hym to take awaye the deformyties off yt cutting off that which is superfluous and supplyinge that which wantethe To encrease hir beauâ—y and ornamentes and to Poolishe and perfect her with his most freshe and lyuely colors To restore trewe Discypline againe To abolishe the Canon lawe that only they which are called may bare office in the churche That Ambition may be repulsed and put back That the the lawes off lawfull Election and ordynation may be kept Fynally that a lawfull Mynistery may be established thoroughout the Realme which may continewe for euer That Deacons may be made for the poore and Elders to admonishe such as goe astray And last off all that as he hath most mercifully allready begonn in our church all thinges which he hath most wisely appoynted to the glorifyinge off his name and preseruinge off his churche So yt may please hym of like grace and fauour to perfect and finishe his worck emonges vs And thus much off those offices and charges off the churche whiche we call symple It followeth now to speake off the Consystory or Councell off the churche Whereoff allthoughe ther be no newe or speciall Eelection and ordynacion because yt consisteth off suche as are allredy called to the former offices yet I thought Good euen for this cause to distinguishe them from the former for that here no one man hath any office or authothoritye to do any thing as in the former But ther is one office off all which they all do execute in common together For the Consistory or Councell off the churche is the company and Assemblye off the Elders off the churche who by common Counsell and authoritye do rule and gouerne the same Vnder the name off Elders I do meane only Pastors Doctors and those who are by proper named called Elders For I see not what ground yt hath that some would also haue Deacons to be off this company For seing that Sainct Paule calleth this assembly the company off Elders It followeth that they must be Elders who be off this assembly But the name off Elders is no wher in the Scriptures that I can remember attributed vnto Deacons But only vnto Pastors Doctors and suche as are properly so called To proue that Pastors and Doctors be Elders I neede not cite many places which are infinite where they are so named As for them who are specially called by this name That one place in the xij off the Romanes may sufficiently proue Where the Apostle distinguishinge the office off a Deacon into two partes geueth to those only the name off Elders and gouerners calling the other by an other name This Consistory therfore consisteth of these three ordres Pastors Doctors and Elders which is called by S. Paule the Assembly off Elders as also by the same Apostle they are all called by the name off Elders in an other place In the xviij off Mathew our Sauior calleth them by the name of the churche because they rule aÌ„d gouerne church matters vnder the name and authority off the churchr So likewise the name off all the assembly by Moses is geuen to the Elders off the Iewes that is to say vnto certein chosen and picked out men who were assigned by all the congregation to the gouernment off the affaires Thus plainly it is taken in the viij of nombres wher the Lord appointeth that the Congregation shall lay handes vppoÌ„ the Leuites But I think no man will say that this is to be vnderstoode off all the congregatioÌ„ that so many thousandes should laie there handes vpon them as are rehersed to haue bene then in the host off Israell but the Elders and princes only as Aben Ezra doth rightly interprete yt Which is to be noted the rather because some will haue the wordes off our Sauior to be expounded off all the churche wher as accordinge to the manner off speakinge which the Hebries vse the Consistory or counsell off the churche is called the church where also it is to be obserued that togither with the name the thing it selfe is translated from the Iewes vnto vs That looke what a Counsell the Iewes vsed for the gouernment off the churche we ought to vnderstand by this name that suche a one is apointed by our Sauior to be in our churche Therfore in the same place he attributeth to this Counsell the chiefe gouernment off all churche matters that all such thinges as cannot otherwise be agreed and ended be at the last brought vnto them and ended by ther auâ—horitie and iudgement And iff there shold be any off so desperate boldnes that should dispise the authoritie off this Assembly off Elders Our Sauiour Christ pronounceth hym to he as an ethnik or a publycan assuringe suche a one that his stubburnnes and rebellion shall not escape vnpunished Wherfore he graunteth vnto them chiefe authoritie accordinge to his word to forgeue or retaine synnes which the Doctors off the church are wont to call the keies off heauen because that heauen is in a manner set open for them to enter into whome they haue thus accordinge to god his word forgyuen there synnes as contrarywise it is shutte and barred against them whose sinnes they doe retaine And seing that God hath giueÌ„ to our Sauiour Christ all power in heauen and in earth and that the keye off the house off Dauid which is the church off god is geuen to him
he hath testified yt with a most certeine and vndoubted testemony that is to saie by the sendyng off his onlie begotten sonne to take awaie our sinnes and as the Prophete off God to declare all the Lordes will and couÌ„sell towardes vs and to rule the churche by his owne authoritie For this is that Prophet like vnto Moses who shold plainelie and perfectlie declare vnto vs of God all thinges which doe belonge vnto our dewtie whome we ought to heare and to obeye as the holie ghoste by the mowthe off Peter hath expounded that promise and by that heauenlie voice which testefied off him from heauen that he was the deare and onlie begotten sonne off god in whome the father was well pleased and commanded vs to heare him But how shoulde we thincke him to be like vnto Moses yff he either hath wholy omitted or not so clearlie and perfectelie as farr as was needfull for vs shewed and declared this doctrine off the manner off gouerning the churche being so necessarie and which Moses hath so diligentlie and faithfullie declared Thefore we must conclude iff we acknowledge Christe to be that Prophette that he hath fullie and perfectlie declared vnto vs whatsoeuer was nedefull for the gouernmeÌ„t off the churche excepte we will robbe hiÌ„ of some parte off his Propheticall office or preferre a seruate be he neuer so faithfull before the only begotten sonne and as yt were Eliezer before Isaac in his fathers howse which surelie they doe who thincke the seruante to haur omitted nothing in this behalffe that the heire hath omitted all and that Moses lefte all thinges perfecte but Christe eyther beganne them not or did not fynishe that which he beganne Now whereas I affirme that Christ hath lefte vs so parfecte a rule and Discipline I vnderstand yt off that discipline which is common and generall to all the churche and perpetuall for all tymes and so necessarie that without yt this whole societie and company and Christiane common wealthe cannot well be kepte vnder there Prince and king Iesus Christe And surelie we must nedes either confesse that Christe hath lefte vs suche an order to liue by or ells spoile him off his kinglie office For what doth more belong vnto the name office and dewtie off a king then to geue lawes vnto his cytezens and subiectes â–ª and to make such decrees and ordinauÌ„ces wherby all the partes off his kingdome maie be mainteined The Papistes indeede denie it and dispute against vs and coÌ„tend that it is lawfull for there highe prieste to rule and order the churche off God as he listeth but we who doe detest and abhorre this blasphemous voice and according to goddes worde aknowledge and confesse Christe to be the only king off the churche how can we saie either that he neglected so greate and so necessarie a point off his Kinglie office or that he hath left yt vs to order as we please But yff there be any whose speache is so contrarie to it selfe that they graunte Christe to be the King and lawe geuer off the churche and yet will saye that either he made no lawes touching tht gouernment off his people or fewer then were needfull Let them consider how litle they differ from the Papistes in this poincte and how vnhonorably and vnreuerently they speake off Christe our Lorde For yff he hath not set in order the whole state off his kingdome iff he hath not apointed officers and declared the dewtie and authoritie off euerie one yff he hath not apointed what shoulde be the order off courtes and off Iustice iff he hath taken no order how the controuersies off his subiectes maie be ended he hath lesse prouided for his churche then not only Moses did for the Iewes but then Lycurgus Solon Numa and other lawegeuers off the gentiles prouided for there cities and common weales Which yff we confesse what shall become off that famous kingdome which the Prophetes sette out with such pompe and glorie what shall become off that septer off Iustice and that Chariotte wherein Dauid describeth him sitting in the middest off the church Which althoughe we graunte properlie to belong to the kingdome off Christe in heauen affter thâ—s life yet are those Prophecies not so wholy to be referred therunto but that they haue also some relacion to the begynning off his kingdome in this life For seing his kingdome in this life differeth from the other by reason and certeine respecte only and is not altogether off an other kinde so that the thinges which are here begonne shall then be fully accomplished There is a certeyne proporcion to be considered here and all those prophecies are after a sorte also to be expopounded off this kingdome As where yt is prophesied that in the kingdome off Christe all thinges shal be ordred by perfecte Iustice and equitie that all his subiectes shal be obedient and full off heaueÌ„ly knowledge that there shall be no Cananyte in all the lande that the gentiles shal be shutte out off the citie off god and suche other thinges which the prophetes most worthelie and notablie haue sett out we must vnderstand that all these thinges after a certeyne manner are to be referred also to his Kingdome in this life and declareth that the gouernment of this Kingdome of his churche here owght also to be iust and equall that the faithfull who are his subiectes owght not to be brutishe and ignoraunte but as conning in heauenly matters and as full off that knowledge as maie be That men off vicious lyfe and geuen to all sinne and wickednes are to be cast out and banyshed from the churche and the temple off god to be kepte as nere as is possible free and cleane from all pollutions and prophanacions Furder also they are conuicted by the whole historye off the Gospell and by the writinges off the Apostles by which it appeareth that he hath lefte vnto vs fully all thinges which were nedefull for the administracion off gouernment off his kingdome For howe ofteÌ„ talked he with his disciples touching this kingdome How often did he declare what maner off kingdome yt was namelie that yt was no kingdome off this werlde that it handled not the busynes and affaires off this life but suche only as parteine to the mynde and conscience How often did he declare what his officers should be naÌ„ely no gracious nor honorable Lordes but ministers off the churche How exactelie did he apointe the order off his courtes and iustice that no thing more could be required to a right gouernmeÌ„t and lawfull pollicye yea eueÌ„ a litle before that he went from his disciples how earnestlye and how carefully coÌ„meÌ„ded he the charge off his kingdome vnto them how greate authoritie gaue he them to shutte or open heauen and so greate was his care for the dewe administring off his kingdome euen then when he toke his triumphant chariotte wherewith he was after caried into heauen that sitting there he
interpret the word off god vnto others althoughe also ther ought to be no common and ordinary but a singuler and chiefe respect in examyninge his manners as beinge suche whos smallest faultes for the high place wherin they are can by no meanes be hidden and couered Seing that the ministers off the word off God as Christ warneth the Apostles are like vnto cyties that are vpon the mountaynes Therfore seinge they must dwell in the eyes off men and in the fayrest light and as our Sauior Christ saith in the same place be put as it wer vpon candel stickes that they may gyue light vnto other It is meet that there holines off life godlines and moderat coÌ„uersacion should shine like lightes a monges men whervppon the Apostle Paule setting furth in Timothe a lawfull minister off the word declareth that he ought to be such as may be an example or glasse and a patterne to all the faithfull in loue â—n chastitie and in all the order off his life And sure good cause it is he should be innocent that asketh other meÌ„ accompt off ther life seinge nothing is more iust then that he that teacheth other should first instruct hym selffe and that callinge other men from shame he hould keep hym selffe free from any spott or blemishe For what a shame is it when the sick man may say to hym that wolde help him Physicion heale thy selfe or when thos thinges are cast in a mans teeth which Paule vpbraydeth the Iewes with all thow that teachest an other teachest not thy selffe and thow that preachest a man should not steale stealest thy selffe And againe the name off God is blasphemed amonge the gentils for your cause Therfore seing that they are set in so highe a plaâ—â— that the example off ther integritie not only edifieth the churche but also glorifieth god therby And contrarywise ther faultes and errors do geue occasion to straungers to speake euill off the Lord whom they preache and the gospell which they publishe abrode and to the faithfull that are weake to whom the lest fault that they make is as it wer a law wherby they thincke they may lickwise offend with out reproofe and seinge herein they hurt by ther example no lesse yea a great deale more then by the fault it selfe a great diligeÌ„ce and singuler care is to be had off the life and manners off him who is to be chosen a bishopp But seinge the office off a Bishop consisteth chifely in this that they publishe preach and interpret all the gospell especially thos giftes are to be respected which are proper and peculier to that office to the executinge wheroff he is to be chosen therfore he is to be examined how well he hath been exercised in the holie scriptures and whither he be able fruitfully and to edifyinge to coÌ„municate with the churche that which he doth godlilie vnderstaÌ„d No vnskillfull or vnlerned man may be called to the stearing off this helme vnlesse we would haue the shipp not only to be in daunger but willingly to runne vpon the râ—kes But what is he onlesse he wer coÌ„spired agaiÌ„st the safety of the church and of the sonÌ„es off god that would coÌ„mit the church which god redeemed with his blud that he might adopt vs to be his sonnes an this nobleship fraighted full off worthies to any but to some most conninge and expert pilote and master Therfore suche conÌ„ing Pylotes and gouernours ar to be chosen aÌ„d set to the stearinge off the shipp who ar able to discerne the diuers face and chaungeable contenaunce of the heaueÌ„s that ar able to for seestormes and teÌ„pestes that can guid ther ship by the north starr and finallie whom thos heauenly muses haue taught the vnknowne pathes aÌ„d wais of the sea and that which is in the Poet. From smoky storme fluddes that swell Kepe of the shipp guide it well But the word of god is the only starr wherby this life is Our eies must be bent vpon this heauen and fyrmament wherby stormes and tempestes are much more certenly fore sene then by the other This is the helme off our life which who so euer hath not lerned to steare and gouerne he may well be put to some other seruice but let hym not come into the sterne and iff he he do let him be put out a-againe For it is very good reason to requyre off an Artificer knowledge off that art which he professeth to require off a Captainâ— and a Generall knowledge and skill off war fare and chieualty off a physicion that he know how to mayteyne the health and to recouer them that are diseased And vnder the law the Lord apointed his priestes that they should be suche as might be able when they wer asked to answer out off the law off god Which wer adorned not only with the diademe and myter but with thos xij Iewelles and precious stones which Moses for ther lightsome clerenes and perfit beauty calleth Vrrim and Thummim by meanes wheroff they asked off the Lord in all affaires by which two names sometymes all the priesthood is signified to teach vs that he that hath not them hath nothing And that ther is no priesthood with out Vrim and Tummim To whom seinge the Bishoppes as parteininge to to this matter haue succeded although they had put on Aarons tunicle Ephod or Diademe yet iff thos stones shyne not in ther brest wherby as Ennius saithe men being doutfull of there matters what to do may be certefied that they take not waightâ— thinges rasshly in hand we acknowledge no stock nor succession off the Priesthoode nor all the rest off the garmentes off Aaron And seing we haue now in thes tymes no other meanes to be certified off the will off god besides his writteÌ„ word and the holy scriptures And seing it is sure that this word is come in place off the Arck the Sanctuary the brestplate off Iudgement and all the other ceremonies off off the old law euen as thos in old tyme wer necessary for the priestes So now is the vnderstandinge and knowledge heroff for the ministers off the word off god Therfore the Apostle Paule warneth Timothe that a bishopp ought to be able to teache Wheras declaringe that he ought to be suche he speaketh not off it as off some helpe or ornameÌ„t but as off the nature matter and substance off a Bishopâ— And that we may more fullâ— vnderstand what the force off the word is and how many thinges are conteined vnder it he declareth it more at large in his epistle to Titus sainge a Bishopp ought to besuche a one as holdeth fast the faithfull word according to doctrine that he may be able also to exhort with holesome doctrine and reproue them that speake against it But how is it possible that he should be able to exhort with sound doctrine vnlesse he hath first lerned that sound doctrine him selffe out off the holie scriptures And by what meanes
when the rest off the Egyptians for famyn were compelled to sell ther flockes and droues and euen ther landes and possessions for corne vntill that ar the last all the country by this means was come into the kinges handes he suffered not the priestes to sell theirs neither would he encrease his treasure by ther losse and hinderaunce But contrarywise ordeined that they should be prouided for geuinge them euen that which was his owne So likewise all other nacions and kingdomes prouide for ther priestes and Religious men and think that god would be greuously offended with them iff they should neglect them And we see how beneficiall and liberall Papistes were to the mainteininge off Idolatrie and superstition for yt ys allmost incredible what cost they made vpon there Idolatry and that shewe and shadowe off Religion which they had And how costly and swete odors they bestowed as it were vpon the deade corps off Christ But we forsake him aliue and raised vp againe So that it is to be feared that he will one day vpbraide vs with his pouerty and need and complaine that we left him naked hungry thirsty and forsaken without helpe or succor But he is not only forsaken beinge naked But euen robbed off that apparell which he hathe So that yt apperethe that some men thought to crucifie hym againe when they thus parted his garmentes amonges them and cast lottes for his coate But allthoughe ther be many waies off spoilinge yet me thinck none more greuous then impropriation the only name wheroff declarethe how litle right ther is in it which is the translatinge and the alienatinge off the goodes off some churche to an other that hathe no right vnto them But seinge this wholl matter off the most vnworthy spoilinge and robbinge our church is fully handled by that worthy and lerned man Master Bucer in that booke off his which I named in the beginninge and seing that in the same booke he handlethe not only impropriacions but also first fruites which is a certen kind theroff presentacions collacions resignations and diuers other kind off robberies I had rather thes thinges were sought for in the lerned wrightinges off that worthy man that the matter might carie more credit and authoritie with it As for me I lament with him this miserable state of our church which allmost in euery place is destitute off fit Pastors and ministers seing no man is willing to take that condicion wherby after he hathe taken neuer so great paines he shal be scarce able to mainteine his life Neither is it destitute only at this present tyme but it is to be feared that it is alwais like to be so here after and that the studie off god his word shal be neglected For no man will willingly follow that trade off life wherin he hathe only no hope to liue honestly and with some commoditie but wherin besides the infinit trauell and greefes that follow that profession he shal be afflicted also with neede and pouertie And iff we had not rather be wise by our owne domage and losse then by other mens ther ruyns off the churches round about vs might sufficiently teache vs how daungerous this spoilinge off the churches goode is and this neglect off mainteninge the holy ministery Therfore iff we prouide not otherwise let vs assure our selues that euen this fault doth threatē the vndoubted ruine off the churche and that so worthy gestes as the preachers off the gospell cannot long tary in an In̄e wher they be so ill receiued and interteined And iff we compell them to leaue vs surely they will take away wi h them that peace and blessinge which they brought and which we may truly professe came into England with them Therfore let vs not so lightly esteeme the great care that the Lord hath ouer vs in feeding ouerseinge and rulinge vs by his seruantes lest at the last he breake his shepherdes hooke in his anger ād cast awaie all care ouer vs and go his way and leste that being prouoked with this thirty pence a notable hire that we pay him he leaue vs and depart in his anger as some times he threatned the Iewes not caringe any more whither the broken be bound vp or the lost be sought againe Therfore let vs at the last amend this shamefull neglect off the ministers off the word off god and seinge as the Apostle saithe they sowe spirituall thinges to vs and suche as belonge to euerlasting life let vs not thinck muche iff they reape carnall thinges off vs againe and some commodities off this present life yea rather seinge this is a most gainfull husbandry for the churche off this so vile seede to reape thos most precious fruites off the Spirite Loue Peace Ioye Long Suffering Goodnes Faith Meeknes Temperance and at the last that golden haruest off life euerlasting let vs sowe plentifully and with good corage that we may reape a more plentifull haruest Neither let vs now be more weried with sowinge whiles it is sowinge time then we will be weary hereafter when haruest shall come in reapinge and gatheringe most precious fruit into our barnes Therfore let vs embrace the ministers off the gospell with all loue kindnes and dutie and that so muche the more liberally and plentifully for that what so euer is bestowed vpon them euen to a dishe off cold water shall not only be muche more richely requited and recōpensed againe but accompted euen as it had bene bestowed off Christ him selffe But we ought not only to lay our clothe and spreade our Table for Christ whom we haue bidden vnto vs as Symon the Pharisie did in S Luke iff we wold haue him know that he is well come to vs and that we loue him with great affection but also embrace him and kisse him and washe his feete with water and anoint his heade with oyle and finallie to receiue with all seruice and dutie so worthie a guest as both becometh his honor and also is meet for the great loue we beare vnto him And this is the dewty off all men But kinges that are wont to receiue no man off any countenaunce or estimation but honorablie and with great magnificence and ther Equalles with more princely port and stately manner how ought they to take heed that they be not to pinching and to sparinge when they receiue Christ the Lord the kinge off heauen and earthe off whom they as Vasselles hold ther kingdomes and lordshippes as off see nor commit any thing that may offend so noble and worthie a guest and rather be carefull that all thinges heere be magnificall gorgeous and princely But I would not that any man should thinck I say thus as iff I thought vnder pretence off Christ nothing cold be to muche that were bestowed vpon Bishopes and ministers or that I would haue them made dronke with the delightes and pleasures off this world who ought to be an example to other men off
other Let this knowledg be brought to action and to the vse our life Let the Doctor haue a chaire set for him Let him haue schollers appointed him whom he many teache and instructe in the feare of god and know edge off heauenly misteries I meane a chaire wherin he may sytte to teache and to cathechize not wherin taking his ease he may be idle and fall a sleepe And suerly it is a merueile to see that when they should especially labor then they do geue thoÌ„ selues most off all vnto ease And that they theÌ„ cherishe and make most of them selues as yff they were allredy come from the Seas into the hauen when they should rather leave the hauen and take the Seas For when they are once made Doctors either for their vnderstandinge and knowledge or for their time and continuance then they obteine I know not what priuiledges from takinge off paines any more Prerogatiues off honors and estimacion priuiledges off heapinge off benefices together so that they seeme to be like old souldiours who be exempted from doinge any more seruice or to be arriued at this Doctorshipp as it were at a hauen wher they should be at an ende off all their labor and trauell This is therfore to be corrected by vs accordinge to the Ordinaunce off God Teachinge and Cathechizinge is to be required off a Doctor Touchinge ther examinacioÌ„ how to try them who are to be chosen to this office I think it not needfull to speake any more bothe because I haue spoken heroff generally and at large before and also for that there is no great fault in the lawes and statutes but rather in negligence and want off execution off the same lawes and good Statutes I omitt also to speake off thee election and the maner off chosinge off them Which being done by an vniuersitie and by the consent off so many lerned and worthy men I wold not disalowe As for so many foolishe trifles as are vsed in the creatinge and ordeininge off them they are sufficiently confuted allready by that which hathe beene spoken by the ordeininge off Bishoppes And thus muche off Doctors In which place also some are wont to speake off schooles colledges and vniuersities because they seeme to cary a certen lykenes and similitude off Doctors and Disciples teachers and Schollers Prophetes and sonnes off the Prophetes Which sure is a worthy poynt and very needfull to be handled considering the diuerse abuses off schooles colledges and vniuersities but yet it conteinethe more matter then may be well handled at this time For it had need off a seuerall treatise which I trust as allready touching schooles hathe bene worthely and lernedly handled by maister Askham in his Schole master So touching the rest some off that lerned company wheroff there arise daily many noble and most excellent wittes will performe And surely it were worthy the labor off some notable excellent man to teache the vse of vniuersities and to call them back againe to the right ende wherunto they were ordeined and appointed which is this that they should be meanes to preserue and make perfit all other noble artes and sciences and especially diuinitie which knowlege iff it be not diligently kept by the Doctors in the aulters off the Vniuersities as in tymes past the fire that came downe from heauen was by the Leuites Surely it will shortly come to passe as we haue allready seene yt and that with in these fewe yeres that the church shall vse straunge fyre to the doinge off all thinges Suche Vniuersities the holie history rehersethe those off Naioth Bethel Hiericho and Hierusalem to haue bene which when all men thought surely that this fyre off gods word and knowledge off the scriptures had bene cleaâ—e gone out as yt came to passe also in these our daies norished certeine sparkes in the ashes off which afterwardes by good blowing off them they kindled Religion againe And suche vniuersities should we also haue now a daies which might bothe kindle Religion being put out and also enflame and encrease yt being kindled yff the sonnes off the Prophetes did painfullie bestowe them selues in readinge meditatinge and expoundinge off the scriptures as we reade those off Samuells colledge did But now in steade off labor ydlenes is come into the vniuersities for peace and honest quietnes contention and discord the greatest poison to good studies that can be for godlines and the feare off the lord neglect and allmost contempt off all Religion with dissolute kinde off licence and libertie wherby they geue them selues to all ryot and wantonnes And suerly yt greeueth me to thinke how farr off they be from the Muses and lerninge who dwell euen in the very houses and pallaces off the Muses And that these places which are set furthest from any noyse off the world that we might the more frely geue our selues to good and honest studies ringe with cries noyses and alarmes raised vp by troblesome wittes and sounde againe with mutuall reproches hatred iniuries and reuenges and that euen the very temples off Religion the aulters off holines and the chappelles off godlines and off the feare off the lord do waxe prophane vnholy and voyde off all trewe Religion What do we think that those noble worthies which at ther great costes aÌ„d charges founded colledges to this end that the seruice off god and holynes off life might spring from them and from those fouÌ„taines flow to the rest of the churche what do we thiÌ„k I say would they say if they were gathered to gether aÌ„d should looke downe from heaueÌ„ vpon ther colledges dowe not think they would coÌ„plaine one to an other that ther colledges were become like vnto tentes off warre wherin nothing were exercised but hate aÌ„d enmitie aÌ„d that eueÌ„ in those places which they had made to be hyues off a heauenly kind off hony an innumerable sort off oranes are risen vp who not only gather no hony themselues but so mislike also off the labor and diligence off other that take great paines to gather that they neuer cease to vexe and molest them vntill they haue driuen them out off ther hâ—â—s from amonges them What iff I should raise out off ther graue some either off the holie Bishoppes founders off the vniuersitie off Oxeford or off the famous kinges founders off the vniuersitie off Cambridge what iff that noble kink Henry the eight the last off that worthy coÌ„pany as Hercules was the last of the worthies because he is last to deale with the vniuersities in behalffe off the rest what I say could they annswer him iff he should complaine that That which was most liberallie and bountifullie geuen for the maintenannce off good lerning is abused to riott and idlenes That the hiues for Bees are become denÌ„s for droanes that They are no more colledges off studentes but monasteries and cloisters off idle and snoring monckes That not only barren and vnfrutefull trees but al-also off hurtfull and most
and laid vppon his shoulders so that no man may shutte iff he doth open neither open iff he doe shutte yt is not to be doubted but that heauen is open and shutte also when they do open and shutt who haue receiued his authority and vnto whom he hath committed this keye Therfore as Lacedemon had an assemblie off Elders Athenes a highe court named Areopagus Rome a Senate and fynally euery kingdome and coÌ„mon welthe a Counsell whos authoritie is chiefe and soueraigne in all affaires and by whome the rest off the society are gouerned So lykewise the churche hath an Assembly off Elders by whose authoritie ecclesiasticall and church matters are gouerned and administred But these thinges are to be declared more at large and all this power and authority more especially and particulerly to be shewed that we may knowe how farre it extendeth it selffe and off how great force and waight it is to the lawfull gouernment off the churche Therfore the whole authority of the coÌ„sistory coÌ„sisteth in ij partes off which the first concernethe the officers off the churche that is to saie touchinge bothe the choosinge and deposinge off theÌ„ wherof I shall not need to speake in this place seig I haue sufficiently spoken before off Elections wherby also may be easelye vnderstoode that which apperteynethe to the other pointe off depositions The secoÌ„d part off this authoritie coÌ„sisteth allmost wholie in takinge heede to offences and correcting and remouinge them out off the churche Which offences Saint Paule semeth in the xvj off the Romans to deuide into two sortes into sectes and Offences wheroff the first semeth to apperteine vnto Doctrine and the other vnto manners All which authority off Correctinge is spirituall as proceeding not from the Magistrates but from the Elders off the churche For as this counsell is Ecclesiasticall and the court a spirituall court as we vse to call yt as also it is manifestly distinguished by S. Paule from the cyuill courtes and places which the Apostle calleth courtes for thinges belonging to this life So also the punyshement is speciall and suche as belongeth to the sowle and Conscience and concerneth not this life nor those thinges with which the ciuill magistrate is wont to deale So that they are the more to blame who for this cause reiect and refuse all Ecclesasticall kinde off punishement as iniurious to the magistrate seing it handleth nothing that the magistrate can in suche sort deale with all but is lymited and bounded with reprehensions taken out off the word off god by takinge awaye the vse and communication off Sacramentes and publique praiers from them and suche like thinges as do apperteine to the soule and conscience But most off all they are to be blamed who doe falsly charge this lawfull discipline as I shewed whith offendinge against Princes and magistrates wheras yt neither punysheth any thiÌ„ge which beloÌ„geth to the courtes off ciuil officers nor yet punysheth with cyuill punishemeÌ„t as off goodes or off body any fault which it correcteth but only in such sort as hath bene declared wheras they whoe do obiect this may be charged with bothe faultes For this discipline off theyrs both dealeth in cyuill causes and by right apperteyninge to the courtes off the Magystrates and often tymes those whome they haue authoritye to correct they punyshe by the purse or emprisonment But to passe thes lightly ouer for hast which notwithstanding are most waighty accusations and worthy for the haynousnes off them to be deâ—ie with in the kinges benche as offending so highly against the state and authoritie off the prince and Magistrate Let vs come to the diuers kindes of Censures and reprehensions which are vsed in this lawfull discipline Now this correction is off two sortes and is done either by Speeche or wordes only as when a man is rubuked for some fault which he hath committed and is warned to take heed that he offend not so againe or ells when besides the chastisement off wordes ther is some spirituall punishement and correction adioyned therunto Example we haue off the first sort in the fourth off the Actes where Theapostells Peter and Iohn being brought to the Assembly off the Elders they were asked by what authoritie they taught the people and preached the resurrection from the dead in the name of Iesus for which after that they had bene rebuked and threatned they were forbidden to preache or speake any more to any man in the name off Christ and so let go In deed they did wickedly to rebuke them for the preachinge the of gospell the best thing that caÌ„ be and most necessary for the saluacion off man but yet by this there doinge we may perceiue what was the forme off gouernment off the churche emonges the Iewes which our Sauiour Christ hath translated to his churche For this is it that our Sauiour Christ meanethe in the xviij off Matthew and xvij verse when he commandeth the stubborne that will not be obedient to the admonytion off two or three to be brought to the churche that he may be admonished and corrected by the churche Wher vnto also belongeth that wher S. Paule admonisheth Tymothy off reprouinge the Elders openly that is to say suche as had bene lawfullie conuicted And for those admonitions and corrections which haue some punishment ioined with them for the diuersitie both of faultes and punishementes they are deuided into two sortes And resemble in a manner those two punishementes off the Romanes wherby the state condition and priuilege off suche as did offend was diminished wheroff the first is called by Ecclesiasticall writers Suspension the second Excommunication Now suspension is a charge geuen by the assembly of the Elders to absteyne a certen tyme from the communication off the supper off lord Hereoff ther is some example and shadowe in the lawe which forbiddeth such as be vncleane to be partakers off hoâ—y thinges and suffered not indifferently any to enter into the Temple and to be partakers off the Sacramentes and sacrifices which were offred Therfore there were appointed keepers off the gates off the temple by Iehoyada the priest to keepe euery filthy and vncleane person from entringe into the temple So also in the xij off Exodus It is forbidden that any man being vncircuncised shold be admitted to the cmomunicatinge off the Passouer or that any straunger who by receiuinge circuncision professed not the like Religion with them should be admitted In the ix off Nombres ther is a notable example concerninge this matter off certen who beinge driuen from communicatinge the Passouer bycause they had polluted them selues by touchinge a dead body weÌ„t to Moses and Aaron that is to say syttinge in the Counsell house as it is well noted by an Hebrew Interpretor and desyred that ther vncleanes might be forgeuen them that they might eate the passeouer with the rest off Israell alledginge that seinge off necessitie some must dailie die in so great a multitude yt seemed