The faith, doctrine, and religion, professed, & protected in the realme of England, and dominions of the same expressed in 39 articles, concordablie agreed vpon by the reuerend bishops, and clergie of this kingdome, at two seuerall meetings, or conuocations of theirs, in the yeares of our Lord, 1562, and 1604: the said articles analised into propositions, and the propositions prooued to be agreeable both to the written word of God, and to the extant confessions of all the neighbour churches, Christianlie reformed: the aduersaries also of note, and name, which from the apostles daies, and primitiue Church hetherto, haue crossed, or contradicted the said articles in generall, or any particle, or proposition arising from anie of them in particular, heereby are discouered, laid open, and so confuted. Perused, and by the lawfull authoritie of the Church of England, allowed to be publique.

4. Proposition. There is a lawfull ministerie in the Church.

The proofe from Gods word.

God, for the gathering, or erecting to himselfe a Church out of mankinde; and for the well gouerning of the same, from time to time hath vsed, yea, and also doth and to the end of the world will vse the ministery of men lawfully called thereunto by men. A truth most euident in the holy Scripture.

Iesus said vnto his Apostles, Goe, and teach all Nations, bap∣tizing them, &c. and loe, I am with you alway, vnto the ende of the world a 1.1.

Christ gaue some to be Apostles, and some Prophets, and some Euangelists, and some Pastors, and Teachers, for the ga∣thering together of the saints, for the worke of the ministerie, and for the edification of the body of Christ, till we all meet together (in the vnitie of faith, and knowledge of the Sonne of God) vnto a perfect man b 1.2.

A truth also approued by the Churches c 1.3.

Adversaries vnto this truth.

Oppugners of this truth, are

First the Anabaptisticall Swermers, who both tearme all Ec∣clesiasticall men, The Diuells ministers; and also, as very wicked doe vtterly condemne the outward ministerie of the word, & Sacraments a 1.4.

And next the Brownists, who divulge that in these daies: No ministers haue the calling, sending or authoritie pertaining to a minister; and that, It will hardly be founde in all the world, that any minister, is, or shall be lawfully called b 1.5, such also be the Barrowists which say, there is no ministerie of the Gospell in all Europe c 1.6.

Notes

• a 1.1

  Matth. 28.20.
• b 1.2

  Eph. 4.11, 12, 13.
• c 1.3

  Confess. Helv. 1. ar. 15. & 2. c. 18. Bohem. c. 8.9.14. Gal. ar. 25.29.30.31. Belg. ar. 30.31. August. ar. 7. Sax. ar. 11. VVittemb. ar. 20. Sue. ar. 13.15
• a 1.4

  Althemar. conciliat. Loc. pugnan. lo. 191.
• b 1.5

  R.H. on Psal. 122.
• c 1.6

  Bar. disco. p. 104.