Chap. 1. the. 7. Diuision.
In steade of these Seniors in (r 1.1) euery Churche the Pope hath brought in, and yet we mayn∣teyne the Lordship of one man ouer sundry churches, yea ouer many shyres.
You alleage in the margent these words in the. 12. to the Rom. (He that exhorteth, let hym vvayte on exhortation: he that distribute〈1 line〉〈1 line〉h, let him do it vvith simplicitie: he that ruleth, vvith diligence: he that shevveth mercy, vvith cherefulnesse.) To proue that in steade of these Seniors in euery Churche, the Pope hath brought in, and we yet maynteyne the Lordship of one man ouer many Churches. &c. I know not how this geare hangeth togither, or to what purpose you should alleage that place: it neyther proueth, that in euery Churche there was El∣ders, neyther that in place of them the Pope hathe brought in the the Lordship of one man ouer many Churches.
The same answere may be made vnto that which he sayth of the place to the Romanes, where* 1.2 speaking of the offices of the Church, after that he had set foorth the office of the pastor, and of the Doctor, he addeth those other two offices of the Church, wherof one was occupied in the gouern∣ment onely, the other in prouiding for the poore, and helping the sicke. And if besides the manyfest words of the Apostle in both these places, I should adde the sentences of the writers vpon those places, as M. Caluine, M. Beza. M. Martyr, M. Bucer. &c. It should easily appeare, what iust cause M. Doctor hath to say, that it is to dally with the scriptures, & to make them a nose of waxe, in alleaging of these to proue the Elders, that al men might vnderstande, what terrible outc〈1 line〉〈1 line〉ies he maketh, as in this place, so almost in al other, when there is cause, that he should lay his hande vpon his mouth.
The like answere do I make to that place also that I made to ye former. M. Caluine* 1.3 sayth, that these words of the Apostle, Qui pr〈1 line〉〈1 line〉est in diligentia: he that ruleth with dili∣gence, may generally be extended ad praefecturas omne genus: to all kind of rule or gouern∣ment. And M. Martyr vpon the same words, sayth, that he doubteth not, multas fuisse in* 1.4 ecclesia praefecturas: that there were many gouernments in the Church. M. Beza likewyse although he sayth that the Apostle in this worde vnderstandeth presbyteros, yet he ad∣deth, qui & ipsi interdū doctrinae verbo praeerant: which also sometime dyd preach the word. M. Bucer sayth playnely, Est praeterea qui praeest, qui pascendi & regendi ecclesiā mun〈1 line〉〈1 line〉 accepit:* 1.5 Furthermore he doth rule, whiche hathe receyued the office of feeding and gouerning the Church. Wherby he must néedes vnderstand the Pastor, & not any vnpreaching Se∣nior. But what kinde of argument call you this? he that ruleth, must do it with dili∣gence, Ergo, there must be Seniors in euery parish. You should rather conclude thus, therefore those to whome God hath committed any office of gouernment, muste doe the same diligently and carefully.
So that although these learned mē do vnderstād this place of Seniors, yet do they* 1.6 think, yt it may also be vnderstāded of other magistrates & gouernours: & therfore vpō their interpretatiōs you can not conclude any certentie of your Seniors. And M. Beza séemeth by ye name of Seniors, to vnderstād the ministers of the word, that is, Bishops & pastors: and there is no doubt, but that ye Apostle in this place doth admonish al to be diligēt in their office, that haue any kind of gouernmēt cōmitted vnto thē. Wherfore you may not restraine this to any one particular kind of gouernmēt, which y• Apostle hath generally spoken of al: for that were in déede to dally with the scriptures, & to abuse them as the Papists do, yea to make thē a nose of waxe, as I haue sayd before.