A golden chaine of divine aphorismes written by John Gerhard Doctor of Divinitie and superintendent of Heldburg. Translated by Ralph Winterton fellow of Kings Colledge in Cambridge

CHAP. XX. Wherein are contained Theo∣logicall Aphorismes concerning the ECCLESIASTICALL MINISTERIE. (Book 20)

1 THere are in the Church three states or orders, instituted all by God: The Ecclesiasticall, Po∣liticall, and Oeconomicall: The First, of the Church; the Second, of the Common-wealth; the Third, of the Private familie.

2 They are commonly called three Hierarchies.

3 The Ecclesiasticall order is called in Scripture (〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉) The Ministerie, and Ser∣vice.

4 Therefore it is not any De∣spoticall or Lordly dominion.

5 In this Ecclesiasticall Mini∣sterie,

we are to consider the law∣full Vocation thereunto, and the faithfull Discharge thereof.

6 Vocation is certainly necessa∣rie for Ministers of the Church, and that such as is lawfull.

7 For, How shall they preach, ex∣cept they be sent? Rom. 10.15.

8 The power and right of cal∣ling Ministers is Gods own: It is he, who as the Lord of the harvest sendeth forth labourers into his har∣vest. Matth. 9.38.

9 Now God calls the Ministers of his Church both Immediately, and Mediately.

10 Immediately he called the Prophets in the Old Testament, and the Apostles in the New.

11 Which manner of calling the Apostle, Gal. 1.1. describeth thus, That it was neither of man, nor by man, but by Jesus Christ, and God the Father who raised him from the dead.

12 With which description this is nothing repugnant, That some∣times by some Prophet or Apo∣stle, or else by Lot, this immediate vocation or calling of God is out∣wardly declared.

13 The Immediate vocation or calling is alwayes accompanied with some extraordinarie Testi∣monies and Gifts of God.

14 But yet by Testimonies and Gifts we would not have miracles to be understood.

15 For John the Baptist did no miracle. Joh. 10.41. And yet it is certain that he was Immediately called.

16 But by these Testimonies of Immediate Vocation, we understand the peculiar declaration and mani∣festation of the Spirit, and the sin∣gular power and efficacie of their ministerie.

17 The doctrines of those which are Immediately called by God,

forasmuchas they speak as they are moved by the Holy Ghost, are simply and absolutely to be belee∣ved. 2. Pet. 1.21.

18 Whereupon we are said to be built upon the foundation of the Prophets and Apostles. Ephes. 2.20.

19 They which are called after this manner, have this priviledge, That they are not tied and bound to any certain and particular Church, but they are furnished with power & authority to preach every where.

20 From whence it appeares that this Immediate vocation hath especially place, either in the con∣stituting of a Church, or in the purging of it from errours.

21 The Mediate Vocation is also the calling of God: but it is by fit men, according to the Canon and rule expressed in the word of God.

22 Where we must very accu∣rately

observe, that the Mediate Vocation also as well as the Imme∣diate belongeth unto God.

23 For it is God that hath set in the Church, not onely Prophets, A∣postles, and Evangelists, but also Pastors and Teachers. 1. Cor. 12.28. Ephes. 4.11.

24 The Ministers of the Church of Ephesus are said to be made by the Holy Ghost, although Paul by the imposition, or laying on of hands commended the ministerie unto them. Acts 20.28.

25 The Holy Ghost even at this day reproveth the world of sin, by those which are called by a Me∣diate Vocation. John 16.8.

26 God, when he calleth by a Mediate Vocation, useth the mini∣sterie of the Church.

27 For unto the Church hath he committed the pledge of his word. Rom. 3.2. He hath delivered unto her the Sacraments, and un∣to

her as to his spouse he hath gi∣ven the keyes of the kingdome of heaven. Matth. 18.18.

28 So then the Church hath power and right to call Ministers: but it is from God, and it must be in such manner and order as is ex∣pressed in the Scriptures.

29 What manner and order of calling we here understand, it is declared by the precepts and pra∣ctise of the Apostles.

30 Whomsoever you shall approve by your letters (saith the Apostle, 1. Cor. 16.3.) them will I send. A Bishop must have a good report. 1. Tim. 3.7. Lay hands suddenly on no man. 1. Tim. 5.22. suddenly, that is, before thou hast the te∣stimony & consent of the Church.

31 Adde hither also the Practise of the Apostles. At the ordination and election of Deacons, the Apo∣stles speak after this manner, Bre∣thren look ye out among you seven

men of honest report, full of the Ho∣ly Ghost and wisdome, whom we may appoint over this businesse. Acts 6.3. and again, Elders were ordained in every Church by suffrages, or voices Acts 14.23.

32 Whereupon were made those old Canons. No reason it is that any should be suffered to be re∣ckoned and accounted amongst Bi∣shops unlesse they be elected by the Clergie, desired by the People, and consecrated by the Bishops of the same Province with the judge∣ment of the Metropolitane. (c. null. dist. 62. ex Leon. Episc. Rom.)

33 Item, Let them be desired by the People, elected by the Clergie, and ordained by the judgement of the Bishops.

34 Item, Whosoever are to be made Priests, for such let a postula∣tion be made unto the Bishops, let them have the hands of Clergie∣men of good credit, and let them

also have the testimonie and con∣sent of the People.

35 That place of Cyprian (Lib. 1. Epist. 4.) is e••pecially to be noted, where it is said, The people especially have power of electing such as are worthy, and refusing such as are unworthy to be Priests, and we see apparantly that it de∣scends by authority from above, That the Priest be elected in the ••ight and presence of the people, and be approved and thought wor∣thy by publike judgement and te∣stimonie.

36 Wherefore seeing that the power and right of calling Mini∣sters belongs unto the whole Church: Neither let the Presby∣terie alone, nor the Magistracie alone, nor the rest of the multitude alone, usurp & challenge to them∣selves this power.

37 For what concerns all, That must all have a care of.

38 But let all things be done de∣cently and in order. 1. Cor. 14.40.

39 The publike and solemne testification of this Mediate Voca∣tion, is the rite of Ordination, by which in the sight of God and in the presence of the whole Church, the person lawfully called is sepa∣rated from the rest of the multi∣tude to this charge and office, and is commended unto God by pray∣ers, and hath a publike testimonie of his foregoing Vocation.

40 We deny that Ordination is a Sacrament, if the word be pro∣perly and strictly taken.

41 For it wants the outward Element expressely instituted by Christ himself in the New Testa∣ment: It wants also the promise of application and obsignation of grace proper to the Gospell.

42 Before Ordination there goes diligent Examination of the party to be ordained, by which enqui∣rie

is made concerning his confessi∣on, learning, aptnesse to teach, and order of life.

43 The Rule of this Examina∣tion is set down unto us 1. Tim. 3.2▪ &c. Tit. 1.6, 7, 8, &c.

44 In which places such ver∣tues are required of him, that hath committed unto him the office of teaching in the Church, as are ei∣ther Common to him with other true godly, or else are Proper and peculiar unto him.

45 The Common are these, That he must be blamelesse, the husband of one wife, vigilant, s••ber, of good behaviour, given to hospitalitie, Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre, but patient, not a b••aw∣ler, not covetous, &c. 1. Tim. 3.2, 3, 4, &c. Tit. 1.6, 7, 8, &c.

46 Now the reason, why the Apostle maketh mention of these common vertues, is: Because in∣tegritie of life is required of Mi∣nisters

not onely for the same causes for which they are required of other private Christians; but also in a peculiar name: That their ministerie be not calumniated, re∣proached, and ill spoken of, and so the fructification of the word be hindred.

47 The Apostle requires that a Bishop be the husband of one wife, to stop the mouthes of Heretikes, which speak against their marry∣ing: shewing thereby that marri∣age is no impure thing, but so ho∣nourable, that it is no hindrance to a man from ascending up unto the Bishops chair. Chrysost. in cap. 1. Tit.

48 Therefore the Ecclesiasticall Order, or the Clergie are not by Gods law forbidden marriage.

49 For the temperance or con∣tinencie which the Apostle re∣quires in a Bishop (Tit. 1.8.) can∣not be proved to be understood of

the vow of Continencie, or living unmarried; untill it be first shew∣ed that there is no temperance or continencie in the married life of the Godly. Ecclesiasticus 26.22. Galat. 5.23.

50 Neither doth the Apostle hereby hinder those from the mi∣nisterie, who after they have bu∣ried one wife, have lawfully mar∣ried another.

51 But he forbids those to be chosen unto the Ministerie, who in any sort sinne so against the ••e∣venth commandment, that they are not the husbands of one wife.

52 As for example, If they live in adulterie: If at the same time they have more wives then one: If putting away and divorcing from them a lawfull wife (except it be in case of adulterie) they marry another, or choose unto them∣selves one that is divorced from another.

53 Neither yet doth he pre∣scribe marriage unto all Ministers of the Church as a thing abso∣lutely necessarie: but he leaves it as a thing arbitrarie, either to mar∣ry or not to marry; and makes married Ministers subject unto the laws of Matrimonie established by God.

54 The Proper and peculiar ver∣tues, which the Apostle requires of the Ministers of the Church are these, That they must be apt to teach. 1. Tim. 3.2. That they be furnished and instructed with the gift to teach, & be able by sound do∣ctrine both to exhort and to convince the gain-sayers. Tit. 1.9.

55 So much concerning the lawfull vocation or calling unto the Ministerie: Now follows the faith∣full discharge of the same.

56 By the faithfull discharge of the Ministerie, we understand all duties of Ecclesiasticall ministra∣tion,

according to the Apostle. 1. Cor. 4.1. Let a man so account of us as of the Ministers of Christ, and the Stewards of the Mysteries of God. and in the 2. verse, Moreover it is required in Stewards, that a man be found faithfull.

57 Which faithfulnesse con∣sists in this, That the things of the Church wherewith the Mini∣ster is entrusted by God, be or∣dered and administred according to the prescript will of God.

58 The things of the Church either concern Doctrine, or the Sacraments, or Discipline.

59 The Office then of a Minister, is contained in these three things▪ the lawfull administration of Do∣ctrine, the Sacraments, and Disci∣pline.

60 The administration or dis∣charge of the Ministers office as con∣cerning Doctrine consisteth in the Confirmation of the Truth, and

the Refutation of Errours.

61 The Rule both of Doctrine and Reproofe is the onely Word of God. 2. Tim. 3.16.

62 Unto Doctrine pertaineth the interpretation of the Holy Scripture, and the applying of the same unto the use and benefit of the Church.

63 In the Administration of the Sacraments we are to consider both the Object, and the Manner.

64 By the name of Object we understand that provident care of the Minister, by which he is held to have regard and foresight unto whom the Sacraments are to be administred, and who are to be kept backe from them.

65 And this is the chiefest cause why private Confession and Absolu∣tion are still held in some Churches, although there are not wanting many other reasons.

66 By the name of the Manner

is understood that all things are to be administred according to the prescript rule of Christ, and, as the Apostle saith, decently and in order. 1 Cor. 14.40.

67 The Ecclesiasticall Discipline is exercised in correcting faults, and passing Ecclesiasticall Judge∣ment and Sentence.

68 Faults are to be corrected according to the order & degrees prescribed by Christ. Matt. 18.15.

69 Let Private and Publike ad∣monition and warning go before: and if those will not serve the turne, let the severe Administra∣tion of Ecclesiasticall Judgement and Sentence succeed in the place thereof, which consisteth in Ex∣communication.

70 Excommunication (the latter part of the keyes) is either that which is called the Lesser, or else that which is called the Greater.

71 The Lesser is that, by which

the Sinner is interdicted the parti∣cipation of the Lords Supper for a time.

72 The Greater, is that by which, Lawfull Knowledge going before, the obstinate and contumacious sinner is excluded from the So∣cietie of the Church, and is deli∣vered up unto Satan.

73 The first is called (〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, or) Excommunication of Separation for a time: The second is called (〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 or) Excommunication of Execration.

74 It were to be wished that in this last & worst age of the World the reignes of Ecclesiasticall Disci∣pline were held with a stiffer hand, then commonly they are.

75 The Power of Excommuni∣cating belongeth unto the whole Church, and is pronounced by the Minister in the name of the Church.

76 Therefore the expresse or

silent consent of the Church is re∣quired. When ye are gathered to∣gether (saith the Apostle 1 Cor. 5.4, 5.) and my Spirit, with the power of our Lord Iesus Christ, deliver such a one unto Satan, &c.

77 The Pope of Rome as he of∣fends against the Lawfull Vocation of Ministers: So also he offends against the Administration of Eccle∣siasticall Discipline.

78 For he derogates too much from the Magistracie, & from Chri∣stian People in taking from them the right and power of electing Mini∣sters: and arrogates too much unto himself, in taking upon him to give the Sole power unto Bishops, and reserving it more especially unto himself.

79 He boasts and glories that he is the Monarch, the Head, and Bridegroome of the Church.

80 But by this and many other marks we know him to be the very Antichrist.

81 For what markes soever the Scripture hath given to know An∣tichrist by, they all meete together in the Pope of Rome, as Histories do witnesse, and experience teach∣eth.

82 In like manner the Pope of Rome offends against the Admini∣stration of Ecclesiasticall Discipline, many wayes.

83 For he challengeth unto himself the Supreme power of Ex∣communicating, absolving, dispen∣sing with, reserving cases, conferring indulgences, benefices, and such like, of propounding Lawes, of determi∣ning, punishing, and governing the Ecclesiasticall Hierarchie, &c. Franc. Vargas. de Jurisdict. Episc.

84 He boasts and glories that this power is seated in himself as in the Head and Fountaine, and that it is derived from him unto the Bishops as unto the Armes and Streames.

85 He puts the Presbyterie in subjection under the Bishops, and grants unto them farre lesse power of Jurisdiction.

86 This also is to be disliked in the Papall Excommunication, that he thunders it out against whole Cities, whole Provincies, yea whole Kingdomes, for one, or some few mens sake.

87 Neither doth he exercise Excommunication against Atheisme and notorious offences: But, as Histories do witnesse, it proceeds for the most part from private ha∣tred, levitie, ambition, and desire of domineering.

88 For he confounds the Eccle∣siasticall Discipline with civill pu∣nishments: For after that he hath Excommunicated Kings and Empe∣rours, he thrusts them out of their Kingdomes and Empires, he absolves their Subjects from their Homages and Services, and from their Oath

of Allegiance, and exposeth their goods unto all men for a pray.

89 What the end of Papal Ex∣communication is, Let us consult with Histories, but especially let us have recourse unto Rodericus Z••morensis (in speculo vit. Human. Lib. 2. Cap. 3.) and Nicholas de Cle∣man. (Lib. de Ruin. & Reparat. Ec∣clesiae) whose testimonie is most true on this part.

90 By these and the like abuses without doubt it is so come to passe, that the most wholesome part of Ecclesiasticall Discipline is at this day fallen to decay and come to ruine. See other causes thereof in Luthers Commentaries (Supr. 3. Joel. Tom. 4. Jen. Fol. 801. &c.) Reade them and perpend them.

91 O Christ thou which thru∣stest forth Labourers into thy harvest, Thrust in thy sickle, and reape: for the time is come for thee to

reape: for the Harvest of the Earth is ripe. Revel. 14.15. and The grapes are fully ripe. 18. Whosoever lo∣veth thee, let him say, Come. Amen.