The true form of church government first instituted by Christ, novv used and practised in all the reformed churches of Germanie, France, and Scotland: humbly presented to the high and honourable court of Parliament, at this time most happily assembled. Plainly proved by Scripture, rectifide reason, and the testimonie of the Church, some hundreds of yeares after the Apostles time, and the generall consent of the Churches rightly reformed in these latter times, contrary to the Romish, and our archiepiscopall government.

CHAP. II. (Book 2)

EVery Officer in the Church, must be placed in some Calling warranted by the word of God, and some Congregation must have need of such a one, before hee be called to any Function. Wherein are these Propositions.

1 No Calling is lawfull in the Church, but that which is di∣rectly warranted out of the Word, unto him that executeth it.* 1.1

The Bishops and their adherents think otherwise, as their pra∣ctise in ordaining Archbishops, Lord Bishops, Deanes, Archdea∣cons, Chancellors, Officialls, &c. doth plainly declare.

2 The name and office of an Archbishop is contrary to the Word of God.* 1.2

3 No man may be ordained unto any Office in the Church, un∣till there be such a place void as he is fit for: T.C. 1 book, page 61.

They think otherwise, as their making of so many Ministers at once proveth, and as is holden, Whitgift page 222.

1 The first is proved thus: If Iohn was constrained to prove his Minister•••• out of the Scriptures when the Priests accused him;* 1.3 then is no Calling lawfull, that hath not his warrant in the Word, for if any be priviledged, the extraordinary Ministers (whereof he was one) are specially excepted▪ But hee proved his Ministery by the Word, as appeareth by his answer unto them▪ in the 23 verse. Ther∣fore no Calling is lawfull in th•• Church, that hath not his wa••rant in the Word.

2 The Callings under the Gospell must have as good warrant as they had under the Law, because the light of the Gospell is (at the least) as cleare as that of the Law: But there was never any lawfull Calling under the Law (excepting those that were by mi∣raculous manner confirmed from heaven) which had not his direct warrant out of the Word. Therefore no Calling is lawfull in the Church, which is not directly warranted in the Word.

3 If Corah, Dathan,* 1.4 and Abiram (though they were Levites) were punished for that they had no warrant for that which they presumed to take in hand, then is every lawfull Calling, both in generall warranted out of the Word, and particularly layd upon the parties from the Lord: But the former is true, as the Historie teacheth us: Therefore must the latter needs be true also.

4 That which giveth comfort unto a man in the time of his troubles, must have a warrant out of Gods word: But every law∣full Calling giveth comfort unto a man to the time of his troubles: Therfore every lawfull Calling hath a warrant out of Gods word.

5 That which helpeth Gods people forward in god••ines, must have a warrant out of Gods word: for God hath promised a bles∣sing to his owne ordinance onely: But every lawfull calling in the Church, helpeth Gods people forward in godlinesse: Therefore every lawfull Calling hath a warrant out of Gods word.

Therefore if John did prove his calling out of the Scriptures; if every calling under the Law,* 1.5 was warranted out of the Scrip∣tures; if Corath, &c. were punished for enterprising that which they had no warrant for, out of the Scriptures, if comfort in trou∣bles commeth onely from the Scriptures; and lastly, if every h••lp to godlinesse is warranted in the Scriptures; then, &c.

They confesse all these reasons to be true; but doe denie that the Archbishops, L. Bishops, &c. be distinct Ministers from others. Whitgift page 303. which we hold, T. C. 2. book page 438. and prove it thus.

1 Those things that have divers efficient causes, are divers: Our Bishops and the Ministers of the Word have divers efficient cau∣ses, for the one is the Ordinance of God, the other the Constitution of humane Policie, as themselves doe confesse: Therefore they are distinct Ministers from others.

2 A divers Forme maketh divers things: the Ministers of the Word, and the L. Bishops have divers formes: for their Ordination (even in the Church of England) is divers, seeing one L. Bishop may ordaine a Minister: But there must be three to ordaine one of them: Therefore they are distinct Ministers.

3 Members of one division are distinct one from another: the L. Bishops and ordinary Ministers be members of one division: for usually the Minist••rs be divided into the Rulers, and them that are to be ruled: Therefore they are distinct Ministers.

4 The things that have divers effects, are divers in themselves one from another: the L. Bishops and other Ministers have divers effects; for the one effecteth Rule and Government, the other Sub∣jection and obedience: Therefore they are divers and distinct Mi∣nisters.

5 They that be imployed about divers things are divers one from another: The L. Bishops and the ordinary Ministers, be im∣ployed

about divers things; for the one is exercised in generall view of many Congregations, and the other in the particular direction of one: Therefore they be distinct Ministers.

6 That which is perpetuall, and that which may be taken away by men, are distinct one from another: The office of the Minister is perpetuall, Ephes. 4.13. and the Bishops may be taken away as themselves confesse: Therefore they are divers, & distinct Ministers.

Therefore if the Ministers of the Word,* 1.6 and L. Bishops proceed from divers causes; if they have their Being by divers formes; if they be members of one division, which (in nature) cannot be one; if they produce divers effects; if they be exercised about divers sub∣jects: lastly, if the one be perpetuall, and the other but for a time, then must it needs follow, that they are divers and distinct Mini∣sters one from another.

The name of an Archbishop, and also the office that he executeth,* 1.7 is contrary to the word of God.

First, the reasons that prove it unlawfull to give the name unto any man in the Church, are these.

1 No man may have the name given him, which is prope•• to our Saviour Iesus Christ: But the name of Archbishop is proper unto our Saviour Iesus Christ, as appeareth in the places quoted: Therefore no man may have the name of Archb. given unto him.

2 If the name Pope be therefore odiou••, because of that Anti∣christ, who is intituled therwith, then must also the name of Archb. when it is ascribed unto any mortall man; forsomuch as it is the ti∣tle of a speciall member of that Kingdome of Antichrist: But the former is true even by their owne confession. Whitgift page 300. Therefore must the latter be true also.

But they object divers things against this,* 1.8 for the proving of the name Archb. to be lawfully given unto some men, which to∣gether with their answers doe brief••y follow.

1 Objection. Clemens alloweth of those names, as Polydor re∣porteth, lib. 4. cap. 12.

Answer. Polydor is but the reporter, and M▪ ••ewell hath proved evidently against Harding that Clemens is counterfeit, and worthy of no credit.

2 Objection. Erasmus saith, that Titus was an Archbishop.

Answer. He spake as the times were wherein hee lived: but that proveth not that he held him one indeed, no more then our naming of the Archbishop of Canterbury when wee speake of him,

proveth that we like and allow his Authority.

3 Objection. Anacletus saith, that James was the first Arch∣bishop of Ierusalem.

Answer. Hee is forged (as our Answers to the Papists have shewed) but a witnesse of better credit calleth him onely a Bishop, Euseb. lib. 2. cap. 23. and Simon Bishop after him, lib. 3. cap. 22. And Iraeneus saith, lib. 4 cap 63. That the Apostles ordained Bishops every where, making no mention of Archb.

4 Objection. The Councell of Nice, Canon 6. mentioneth a Me∣tropolitan Bishop.

Answer. That proveth nothing, for it was onely as much as to say, the Bishop of the chiefe Citie.

Secondly, the reasons that prove the Office of the Archb. unlaw∣full be these.* 1.9

1 Every Ministery that is lawfull, must be of God: The office of the Archb. is not of God, for that ••ee is not 〈◊〉〈◊〉 i•• he Word, and themselves confesse that hee is of humane policie: Therefore the Office of the Archb. is unlawfull.

2 That Ministery whose originall is unknowne, hath no war∣rant from Gods word, and consequently is unlawfull. The origi∣nall of the Archb. is unknown as they confesse; Whitgift page 351. Therefore it is unlawfull.

3 That Office which is needlesse in the Church, is also unlaw∣full to be exercised in the same: The Office of the Archb. is need∣lesse, for the Ministery is perfect without it, as the Apostle proveth, Ephes. 4.13. Therefore the Office of an Archb. is unlawfull.

4 If all the gifts needfull for the perfecting of the Church, be appropriated unto other M••nisteries, then is his Ministery unlaw∣full: But all the needfull gifts, are appropriated unto P••stors, Do∣ctors, Elders and Deacons, whereof he is none: Therefore his Of∣fice is unlawfull.

5 That Office is unlawfull, which none may lawfully give: But none may lawfully bestow the Office of an Archbishop, because none can give any new gifts to adorne him withall: Therefore his Office is unlawfull.

This reason being used of all sound Divines against the Pope, is of the same value against the Archb.

6 If the Office of an Archb. be lawfull, then it is either in re∣spect of his excellencie above other men, or the place whereof hee is above other places: But neither of these have ever beene, neither

hereafter can be: Therefore that Office is unlawfull.

Therefore if the Office of the Archb. be not of God;* 1.10 if the ori∣ginall of it be unknowne; if in the Church it be needlesse; if all the gifts that God hath bestowed upon his Ministery be appropria∣ted unto those Church Officers, whereof he is none; if none may lawfully bestow such an Office upon any; if it can neither be inci∣dent unto any one man for his excellencie, nor his place for prehe∣minence, then must it needs follow, that his Office is unlawfull.

Calvin in his Instit. book 4 cap 11. sect▪ 7. alleadgeth divers rea∣sons to this purpose, and Beza in his book of Divorcements, stret∣cheth the same to all the inferiour Officers under him, saying: Of∣ficials, Proctors, Promotours, and all that swinish filth, now of long time ••ath wasted the Church. So doth Peter Martyr upon the Rom. 13. speaking against civill Iurisdiction in Bishops, doth by the same reasons condemne it in their subst••tutes.

But this being the corner stone of their building, they labour to support it with many prop••, the most speciall whereof are these.

1 Ob••ection. Cyprian saith▪ lib. 1. Epist. 3. ad Cornelium, Neither have ••aresies and Schismes risen of any other occasion, then of that,* 1.11 that the Pri••st of God is not obeyed neither one Priest for the time, and one Judge for the time in the stead of Ch••ist thought upon, to whom if the whole Brotherhood would be obedient according to Gods teaching, no man would move any thing against the Colledge of Priests.

Answer. This place is alleaged for the Pope, and the answer that M. Jewell and others make to it, serveth our turne: onely let this be noted, that Cyprian speaketh of the people at Rome, that had re∣ceived another Bishop (besides Cornelius) who was an haeretick; for all the course of his writing••, condemneth this Superiority. It is expounded by M. Jewel, booke 1. sect 4. division 5. of every Bishop: and so it is by M. Nowell against Dorman, booke 1. page 25. and also by M. Fox. tom 1. fol 93. See T. C. in his 1. reply, page 98. &c.

2 Ob••ection The Authority of the Archb. preserveth unity.

Answer Cyprian lib. 4. Epist 9. saith▪ that un••ty is reserved by the agreement of Bishops, that is of Ministers, one with another.

3 Objection. It compoundeth Controversies, that else would grow to many ••eads without any speciall remedy.

Answer. Cyprian lib. 1. Epist 13. saith, that the plentifull body and company of Elders▪ are (as it were) the glew of mutuall con∣cord, that if any of our company be Author of Haeresie, the rest should help.

4. Objection. Ierome upon Tit. 1. saith that in the beginning a Bishop and Priest (meaning a teaching Elder) were all one: but when men began to say, I am of Paul, I am of Apollo, &c. It was de∣creed that one should be chosen to beare rule over the rest.

Answer. From the beginning it was not so: the saying of Tertul. Contra Prax. is fit for this: That is true whatsoever is first, and that is false whatsoever is latter: and Ierome saith in the place alled∣ged, that this Authority is by custome, and not by any Institution of God; if it had beene the best way to take away divisions, the A∣postles (in whose times the controversies did arise) would have taken the same order.

5. Objection. Calvin saith that the Apostles had one among them to governe the rest.

Answ. That was not in Superioritie, but for Order, to propound the matters, gather the voyces, and such like; which ••s meete to be in every well ordered meeting: but his Authority is no more over the rest, then the Speaker in the Parliament hath over the other Knights and Burgesses.

6. Ob••ect. Paul was Superiour to Tim••thy and Titus.

Answ. Paul and they had divers Offices, whereof the Apostles Office was the chiefe, the like is to be said of Timothy and Titus, having Superiority over the other Ministers, for that they were Evangelists, a degree above ordinarie Ministers.

* 1.12Ther••fore if the place alledged out of Cyprian, make nothing for Archb. if unity be not preserved by him, but by the Bishops a∣mong themselves; if his Authority make nothing to the taking away of Controversies; if it be meerely invented by man, and not from the beginning; if it bee by Custome, and not by any Ordi∣nance of God; if neither one Apostle over the rest, nor any of them over the Evangelists, nor of the Evangelists over the Pastours and Teachers, will serve to prove their Authority: then must it needs follow, that it is utterly unlawfull.

* 1.13No man may be Ordained unto any Office in the Church, untill there be such a place voyd as he is fit for, T.C. booke 1, page 61. Whitgift, page 222.

1. As was the 12. place for Matthias, so is a certaine Church, to every Church officer: But Matthias was not ordained unto the place of an Apostle,* 1.14 untill Judas by hanging himselfe, had made it void, Act. 1.20. Therefore may none be ordained unto any Office in the Church▪ before the place where he may be imployed, be de∣stitute of such a one.

2. As the Apostles did in planting of the Churches, so must it be done in the building thereof for ever: But they Ordained neither Pastour, Teacher, Elder or Deacon, but to some certaine Church that had need thereof: Therefore may none be ordained unto any Office, untill a place be void that hath need of him.

3. Those things that be of one beginning, continuance and end∣ing, cannot be one, before or after another: But a Minister, and the execution of his Ministry in a lawfull standing be so; for they bee Relatives, and have reference one unto the other: Therefore a Mi∣nister ought not be ordained before there be a Ministery whereunto he is to be allotted.

4. If none ought to be called to be a Shepheard, that hath no flock of Sheepe to keepe: neither any Watchman, that is not allotted to some place to watch: then may none be Ordained to any Office, before there be a place void for him: for Ministers are in this sence tearmed shepheards and Watchmen: But the former is true, as eve∣ry simple man can easily perceive: Therefore the latter is true also.

5. To doe contrary to the precepts and practize of the Apostles is unlawfull: But to ordaine any officer, without a certaine place wherein he may be imployed, is contrary to the precepts and pra∣ctize of the Apostles, as it appeareth, Tit. 1.5. Act. 14.23. Therefore to ordaine any officer of the Church, without a certaine place whereunto he is to be allotted, is unlawfull.

6. It was ordained that no Elder, Deacon,* 1.15 or any other Eccle∣siasticall officer, should be ordained a Apolelymen••s, that is loose∣ly, or let at randone (but a•• afterward is expounded) specially in a Church of Citie or Towne,

7. The ordination that is made without a title, let it bee void:* 1.16 and in what Church one is intituled, let him there remaine.

8. He complaineth that ministers were ordained, being chosen by no Church, and so went here and there, h••ving no certaine place.

9. That action, which never is read to be practized, but by Ido∣laters, is unlawfull: To have wandring officers, is onely ••ound to be in idolaters, as appeareth, Iudg. 17.8. Therefore it is unlawfull.

Therefore, if the Apostles ordained not Matthias▪ untill the place was void; if in planting of Churches,* 1.17 they ever alotted Officers to their proper places; If Minister and ministery be of one begin∣ning, continuance and ending; If it be with a Minister, and his mi∣nistery, as with a Shepheard and his flocke, that he cannot bee the one, but in respect of having the other; If it be unlawfull to trans∣gresse

the precepts and practice of the Apostles; If no Minister in the Church, be ordained at randone; If the ordination that is with∣out a title be voyd; If Jerome complained of it, as a great fault in his time; If no example be found of it, but in Idolaters: then must it needs follow, that to ordaine any Church officer, untill there be such a place void as he is fit for, is utterly unlawfull: and so the Bb. making of many Ministers at once, and licencing of wandring Preachers, is contrary to the word of God.

* 1.18They will have something to say for every action they doe, be it never so shamefull: That which they alledge for this, is, that Paul and Barnabas did wander.

* 1.19The Apostles office (and so the Evangelists as assistants unto them) was to preach the Word, and plant Churches in every part of the world: but the order that they left, is a president for us, which is that every Church have their proper Officers, and that there bee no other elsewhere to be found.

Notes

• * 1.1

  The first pro∣position.
• * 1.2

  The second proposition.
• * 1.3

  Reason for the first proposi∣tion. Iohn 1.23 25.
• * 1.4

  Numb. 16.
• * 1.5

  The conclu∣sion.
• * 1.6

  The conclu∣sion▪
• * 1.7

  The 2 p••opo∣sition and rea∣sons for the proofe of it.

  That the name of Archb. may be given no man.

  1 Pet 5 41 Heb 13 20. Acts 3.15.5.31. Heb. 12.2.
• * 1.8

  Obiections for the name of Archb and an∣swers there∣unto Whitgift page 318.
• * 1.9

  That the office o•• Archb. is unlawfull.
• * 1.10

  The conclu∣sion.
• * 1.11

  Obiections for the office o•• the Archb. and answers ther∣un••o.
• * 1.12

  The conclu∣sion.
• * 1.13

  The 3 propo∣sit••on and rea∣sons for it.
• * 1.14

  Acts 1.20.
• * 1.15

  Concil. Calce∣don. c••p. 6 art. 15.
• * 1.16

  Concil Vrb••∣num test. Gra∣tuu•• d••••t ••0. Ier••m ad Ne∣potia••.
• * 1.17

  The conclu∣sion.
• * 1.18

  An obiection.
• * 1.19

  The answer.