Chap. 3. the. 7. Diuision.
T. C. Page. 46. Sect. 5.
Agayne, if there be in euery Church a Pastor, as S. Paule cōmaundeth, what should the E∣uangelists do? for either that pastor doth his dutie, and then the Euangelist is superfluous, or if he do it not, then he is no lawfull pastor, and so ought he to be put out, and an other to be put in his steade. And where the pastor doing his dutie can not suffice, there the Scripture hath giuen him an ayde of the Doctour, which for bicause his office consisteth in teaching doctrine, to this end that the Pastor myght not be driuen to spende so much tyme in propounding the doctrine, but myghte haue the more tyme to employ in exhorting and dehorting, and applying of the doctrine to the ty∣mes and places, and persons, it is manyfest that he also is tyed to a certaine Church. For how coulde he be an ayde vnto the pastor to whose helpe he is giuen, vnlesse he were in the same church where the pastor is? And that the Euangelistes office hath bene to taken as a function that en∣dured but for a tyme, it may appeare first by that which Eusebius writeth speaking of Pante∣nus: for sayth he, there were vntill that tyme Euangelistes. &c. which was aboute the yeare of our Lord. 162. Wherby he giueth to vnderstand, that aboute that tyme they ceased, and that in his tyme there was none, when notwithstanding there were Bishops or Pastors, and Elders and Deacons. And Ambrose sayth, that there be no Apostles, but those whiche Christe himselfe did appoynt: wherby it appeareth, that of all the Ecclesiasticall functions that preach the woorde there are but the Pastor and Doctor only lefte vnto vs, and the same also restrayned to particu∣lar charges.
Io. Whitgifte.
But what if there be not in euery Church suche a Pastor, neyther can be, is the Euangelist then necessarie? you must of necessitie confesse that, for the people muste not be depriued of the worde, when by suche meanes they may haue it. Howebeit, though euery Churche had his Pastour, and euerye pastour dyd his duetie, yet might preaching by other doe good, as well for the confirmation of the Doctrine, and the more frequent preaching, as also for that it pleaseth God sometymes to woorke that by one, that he dothe not by an other. But what Scripture haue you to proue that the Doctor is added to the Pastour, as an ayde, or that the Doctor is tyed to a cer∣taine place? you haue no licence to coyne newe Scriptures, and in the olde I am sure you can not fynde it. As for youre bare woorde, it is but a verye bare proofe.
I tolde you before, that Hierome, Augustine, Chrysostome, Musculus, and dyuerse other vppon good reason confounde Pastour, and Doctor, and thynke them to bée but diuerse names of one office. And whereas you saye, that the Doctours office con∣sisteth in teaching doctrine, to this ende, that the Pastour myghte not be dryuen to spende so muche tyme in propoundyng the doctrine. &c. I woulde gladly knowe whence you learne that. Ambrose sayeth, they be suche as see good rule kepte in the Churche, or suche as teache children.
Eusebius woordes speaking of Pantenus be these: There were as yet at that tyme manie Euangelistes, whyche were prest and readie to this, that they myght wyth a god∣lie zeale accordyng to the Apostles example, promote and plante the woorde of God. Whyche proue, that there were then Euangelistes good store, whyche were zea∣lous. &c. But there is no mention made of any ceassing of their office: it rather pro∣ueth a continuance of the same, béeing so long after the Apostles tyme. There is nowe no suche Euangelistes as goe from kyngdome to kyngdome, or thoroughe the worlde, bycause the miraculous gifte of tongues is nowe ceased. Neyther is anye nowe lawfully called to any suche Ecclesiasticall function, but by man, and therfore they must goe no further than his authoritie extendeth that hath called them.
Ambrose sayeth truly, if he should say that there are no Apostles but such as Christ himselfe appointed, if we speake proprely and vsually (as I haue before declared) but that is no hinderance to any thing yt I haue affirmed. And yet surely ye words of Am∣brose sound nothing that way, for Ambrose abasing and disabling himselfe saith thus: