Page 701
The. 5. Diuision.
T. C. Pag. 154.. Sect. vlt.
And by whome can the matters and orders of the Churche be better ordeyned than by the ministers of the Churche? And if that be a good reason of M. Doctor in the fortie and seuenth Page, that the Bishops ought therefore to ordeyne ministers, bycause they are best able to iudge* 1.1 of the learning and abilitie, of those which are the fittest, it is also as good reason that therefore the ministers and gouernours of the Churche should appoynt and decree of suche ceremonies and or∣ders as perteyne to the churche, for bycause it is to be supposed that they can beste iudge of those matters, bestowing their studies that wayes, and further best vnderstanding the state of the church aboute the which they are wholly occupied.
This also is a reason of M. Hardinges in the same cause, but it onely preueth that it is moste conuenient and necessarie, that Bishops and ministers of the Church* 1.2 whyle they he learned and godly, may haue the debating and deciding of matters in religion, neyther dothe this derogate any thing from the authoritie of the Prince in the same causes: we sée that matters in lawe are determined by iudges & lawyers: so be other ciuill matters by wise and prudent officers in like manner, and yet is not the authoritie of the Prince thereby abridged: but what if all the ministers of the Churche or moste of them be corrupt and vngodly, as it was in the beginning of the reygnes of Ezechias and Iosias, and as▪ it hath oftentimes bene: must all be com∣mitted to them then also?
No godly Princes hauing godly Bishops and ministers of the Churche, will alter or chaunge, determine or appoynt any thing in matters of religion, without their aduise and counsayle. But how if there be dissention among them, shall not the Prince determine the controuersies, as Constantinus, Theodosius, and other godly Emperours did? wherefore the méetnesse of the Priests and Bishops doth not take away any authoritie, from godly Princes in matters of the Church.