Politique discourses, treating of the differences and inequalities of vocations, as well publique, as priuate with the scopes or endes wherevnto they are directed. Translated out of French, by Ægremont Ratcliffe Esquire.

CHAPTER. IIII. ¶Of the Politique vocation, whiche consisteth in Publique office: of the diuision thereof into spirituall, and secular: and firste of the spiritu∣all or ecclesiasticall and also of the same, whi∣che belongeth to Maisters and Rulers.

THe Publique vocation ensueth nowe, whiche we call so, because it consisteth in the conduction, administration, and gouernement of the Publique in generall: and is as the head of a mans bodie in respecte of other members of y^e same, which is ordeined partly for the interiour or secret gouern∣ment of man, and partly for y^e exterior or apparant:

The one called Spirituall, and the other Secular. The Spirituall vocation, whiche we call Ecclesias∣tical, is that, which is instituted for the gouernement and inwarde peace of conscience, and reformation of the minde, whiche is the chéefe and principall part of man: this béeing most certeine, that Plato saithe, that all good, and euill, procéedeth and commeth of the soule in the bodie. The Secular, whiche we call Politique, respecteth corporall & temporall things, which apperteine to the policie, rule, & gouernment of this present life among men. That whiche me thin∣keth the Emperour Valentinian giueth sufficiently to vnderstand, speaking of the promotion of S. Am∣brose (being before a secular Iudge) vnto the Bishop sea of Milen. We giue thankes vnto GOD, for that (saide he) that it hath pleased him to giue the gouern∣ment, and charge of soules vnto him, into whose handes it had before vouchsafed to committe the go∣uernment of bodies. We wil then speak first of y^e Ec∣clesiastical vocation, and then come to the Politique.

The Ecclesiasticall vocation, is Minister of the word of God, guide of all wisdome, enseigne of ver∣tue, purgation of vice: and without the whiche the knowledge of man is ignorance, his light darkenes, his life eternall death. To begin then to speake firste therof, the same consisteth in Doctours, and Pastours of the Church: The Doctours be appointed for the interpretation of scriptures, & the Pastors for Eccle∣siastical discipline, for y^e administration of Sacramen∣tes, and exhortatiō to the word of God. Vnder which name of Pastours, be comprised Bishops, Priestes, and other like, hauing the cure of Churches. As for Archedeacons, Deacons, Subdeacons, Lectours, Chaunters, Acolites, & other, their constitutiō is infe∣rior, destined & appointed to y^e Ecclesiastical seruice. Al which Bishops, Pastors, & other superiors haue thus ben

appointed by the degrées, not to vse the dominion, or power reserued to the Politique estate of Magistra∣tes, whereof we will speake streight, but for the con∣seruation of Ecclesiasticall discipline, and aboue all thinges it be houeth to take diligent héede, least those two vocations he confounded, or intermedled the one with the other. For Aristotle himselfe saith, expresse∣ly in his Politiques, that the order of people institu∣ted for the religion, is to be reiected, or put out of the number of Magistrates, as from them, vnto whome power and authoritie, to ordeine, iudge, & command, is reserued. And yet for all that, the Church hath her proper iurisdiction for the discipline, and policie of manners, and spirituall thinges, though altogether distinct, and other then that of Magistrates, but how∣beit verie auailable for the succour and aide of the same: whereof here is no place to speake further. And al persons called to this vocation, be admonished to instruct the people well, & to liue vertuously with∣out reprehension. As they also, that be instituted by them, be taught to beare honour vnto their Pastors, as vnto them that watch for their flocke.

The vocation of Preceptors, Maisters, and those whiche teache sciences, and manners, commeth in good time to be spokē of here, because it is ioyned with the Ecclesiasticall, and discharged by the selfe meane, either of the tending to the institution, instruction, and interiour reformation of the mind: Socrates spea∣king whereof, saide: that he that would institute, or conforme many to the Publique gouernement, was to be preferred before them whiche gouerned the Common weale them selues: Preceptors being no lesse to be honoured, and respected, then our owne fathers: because that of the one (saide Alexander the great, speaking of his Schoolemaister Aristotle,) we receiue life, and of the other, well liuing.

Notes

• The spiritual vocation.
• Plato.
• The secular vocation.
• The Empe∣rour Valenti∣nian.

  Saint Am∣brose B. of Mi¦len.
• The Ecclesia∣sticall vocati∣on.
• Doctours Pastours.
• The order of Ecclesiasticall vocation, not appointed to rule and com¦maund.

  The ecclesia∣sticall vocati∣on ought not to be intan∣gled with the politique.

  Aristotle.

  The Church hath her iuris∣diction seue∣rall from the politique ma∣gistrates.

  The ecclesia∣sticall office. The dutie of them which be taught.

  The vocation of Magi∣strates.

  Socrates.

  Preceptors ought to be reuerenced as Fathers.

  Alexander.