Chap. 1. the. 2. Diuision.
And that it may the better appeare, that those functions doe onely remayne, whiche are ap∣poynted to one certayne place, and that the Reader maye haue the clearer and playner vnderstan∣ding of all this matter, all the whole ecclesiasticall function maye be well deuided: first into extra∣ordinarie, or those that endured for a time, and into ordinarie, whiche are perpetuall. Of the firste sorte are the Apostles, and Euangelistes, whiche the Lorde vsed for a time, as it were, for chiefe Masons, and principall buylders of his Churche, as well to laye the foundations of Churches where none were〈1 line〉〈1 line〉 as also to aduaunce them to suche forwardnesse and height, vntill there might be gotten, for the finishing of the buylding and house of the Churche, fitte pastors, Elders, and Dea∣cons. And that beeing done, they went from those places into others, which thing may be percey∣ued by the continuall storie of the Actes of the Apostles, and by diuers sentences which are founde in the Epistles of S. Paule. And therfore also when the Churches haue bin by Antichrist euen rased from the foundations, God hath stirred vp Euangelists, euen immediatly by his spirite, with∣out any calling of men, to restore his Churches agayne: of whiche sorte was Master Wickli〈1 line〉〈1 line〉e in our Countrey, M. Hus, and Hierome of Prage in Bohemia, Luther and Zuinglius in Ger∣manie. &c. And after this sort God may at his good pleasure work, when he purposeth to set in his Gospell in any nation, where the whole face of the earth is couered with the darknesse of igno∣rance, and want of the knowledge of God.
Althoughe you can not warrant by the Scriptures this distinction of ordinarie and* 1.1 extraordinarie ecclesiasticall functions, yet I thinke the Apostolicall function was ex∣traordinarie, in respect that it had for the time certayne especiall properties, as to beare witnesse of the resurrection of Christ, and of his assention, whiche they dyd sée with their eyes: also to plant & to found Churches: Likewise to go throughout the whole worlde. These I say were temporall and extraordinarie, and so was the Apo∣stleship in this respect, but yet ordinarie in respect of their chiefe function, which was to preache the Gospell, and to gouerne the Churches whiche they had planted. Like∣wise Euangelistes haue an ordinarie function, neyther is there any cause why it should be called a temporall office, but onely in respect of writing the Gospell, for there is none that thinketh the office of preaching to be eyther extraordinarie or temporall.
But I pray you let me aske you one question, why should not the office of Seniors be aswell extraordinarie and temporall, as the office of an Apostle, or an Euangelist? for as you saye: that the Apostleship and Euangelistship remayned, vntil there might be gotten for the finishing of the buylding and house of the Churche fytte Pastors. &c. So say I, that the office of Seniors and Elders might remayne in the Churche, vntill there were chri∣stian Princes and Magistrates, by whome the people of God might be kepte in peace and quietnesse, and the Churches of Christ more perfectly gouerned. And wel assured I am, that there are as good reasons for this, as there are for the other. For as in the place of the Apostles, Euangelistes. &c. are succéeded Bishops, Pastors, Doctors: so I may say, that in the place of Elders and Seniors, are come Christian Princes and Magistrates.