The su[m] of diuinitie drawn out of the holy scripture very necessary, not only for curates [et] yong studentes in diuinitie: but also for al christen men and women what soeuer age they be of. Drawn out of Latine into Englyshe by Robert Hutten.

¶What is a pastoure of the church?

HE is a personne whych is called Lawfullye, by the authoritye and commaū∣demente of God, vnto the Cure of soules of the congrega∣tion, whyche is commytted vn∣to hym: to teache the doctryne of the gospell, vnto it, and minister the sacramentes.

☞ What is the office of a pastoure?

¶ It is to rule and gouerne fayethfullye the churche whyche is commytted vnto hys charge, wyth the ministringe of the word and sacramentes, and to holde oute and expell false doctrine and offēsions. Of this office com∣maundeth. Paulus. Act. xx.

Take hede to youre selfe and the whole stocke, wher in the holi gost hath set you, to fede the churche of God.

☞ What is required in a pastoure that he be apt?

☞Fyrste of all that he haue vo∣cacion and commaundement.

Secondarily that he be ryghtly instituted in the doctrine of the Gospell, and knowe a certayne forme of christen doctryne out of the holye scripture, that he maye teache and set forth it purelye sin¦cerlye, and euidentlye. Lyke as Paule commaundeth a byshoppe to be Didactum, that is to saye apte to teache, and he commaundeth Timotheus to holde a certayne forme of holsume doctryne.

Thirdly, that in teachynge he gyue credence and wysdome, and knowledge, accordynge vnto the doctryne of Paule to deuide per∣fectly the doctrine of godlynes.

And that in settynge forth the doctryne he wysely shewe the di∣fferences and endes betwene the Gospell and other doctrynes, and learnedly knowe to confirme the articles and sum of y^e doctryne,

and to cōfute false opinions and doctrines, whyche be vncleane in comparison to the worde of God. Also▪ that in gouerning and rul∣lynge of consciences he gyue all cure and dylygence, that they whyche be ignoraunte be insty∣tute, that he teache, and delyuer them whyche be doubtfull from errours, that he confirme them whyche be weake and correct and cal backe thē whyche do erre, that he rebuke and chastice thē whiche be synners and that he comforth them which be affrayde and in ad¦uersity.

Fourthelye that he rule the people in his liuynge w^t example of hys fayeth and good worckes Lyke as Paulle commaundeth Timothe. Be thou an example to the fayethfull &c. And Peter, Be ye examples vnto the con∣gregation.

❧What is lawfull vocacion?

¶It is when one is admytted vnto the office of a pastour by the authoritie and commaundement of God,

☞Howe is vocation?

¶Ther be to kindes of vocation One is immediatly of God. This is properly the maner of chosinge prophetes and Apostles whereof Paule speaketh that he was not called of men nor yet by mē. The other is of God as by gods com∣maundemente, but yet by men lyke as they were whiche the scrip¦ture calleth the sons and disciples of prophetes whyche were insti∣tuted and learned of the prophe∣tes to the intente they shoulde be apte to teache. So were By∣shoppes & Pastoures of churches ordeyned by y^e apostles and after∣wardes by ministers chosen and ordeyned bi the church. Therfore thys is also a lawefull vocation and very godly, when the seruice

of the word is cōmitted, to one by the authoritye of the churche or of them to whome the church cō∣mitteth iudgment,

☞Is it not lawfull to desire the office of a pastour?

☞I answere: Ther is difference betwene peticion or axynge, and ambition. For ambition is plain∣ly forbydden.

☞What is peticion?

¶It is when one proferreth hys diligence and laboure vnto the churche, but so that fre iud∣gement be left vnto them which haue knowledge, whether he be apte or no. Therefore he whyche desireth it so, doth not ambiciou¦sly couet but signifyeth only hys wyll, that if he be called of the churche, and iudged to be able, he wyll not refuse to take vpon hym the labours and ieoperdyes which be in the office.

Contraye wyse, ambition is whē one thrusteth in hym selfe ei¦ther

by arrogancy, or some other couetousnes or forhys belly only not lokyng for iudgemente, nor wyllynge to be proued. But con∣tēdeth with money and other sub¦tyl craftes.

But the true peticion, whiche is wythout ambicion, is to be praysed. And vertuouse men are to be prouoked vnto it for it hath much goodnes.

Fyrst of al it is expediēt y^t ther be many instituted vnto the my∣nistery, that the vse of it may be in the church.

Secondarily it is expedient that ther be many desirers of the office that the church may know y^e maners of thē whiche are to be chosē and may haue choise.

Thirdly therin consisteth the vertue of modestye, that they whyche dooe axe the offyce, sub∣mytte themselfe vnto the iudge¦mente of the churche, and be in

doubt of theyr owne existimatiō

Fourthly, that same thynge styrreth vp and sharpeneth dily∣gence and studye in them whyche wyll be axers of the offyce, that they prepare them selfe with more diligence vnto theyr duity.

☞By what testimony can they proue that it is lawfull so to axe the office?

Paule. 1. Timothe. iii. sayeth If any man require the office of a bishop he desireth a good worke Also i. Corinth. xiiii. desire spiri∣tuall thynges, but rather that ye prophecy.

☞What is to be propounded vnto hym whych wyl take vpon hand the office of a pastoure?

Fyrst, the dignitie and great¦nes of the minystery. For it is so greate an office so to axe the mi∣nistery, that no greater an offyce cā be found and also very godly, Therefore Paule doeth greately auaunce and prayse it, and cal∣leth them which teache the Gos∣pel

the ministers of god, also godo worckmē, and helpers.

Therefore greate reuerence is dew vnto thys office, and it is cō¦uenyente to take it vpon hande wyth greate deuoutnesse and di¦ligence.

Secondarily, the wyl and com∣maundement of God is to be con¦sydered, for God wyll require a rekenynge for the soules, and threateneth horrible payne vnto them whiche dooe not fayethful∣ly theyr dewty, lyke as the scrip∣ture doth oft teach Ezech. xxxiii and Christ in the parables of the euell seruaunt &c.

Thirdly, y^e promises of reward for god graunteth greate rewar∣des, vnto them whyche faythfull¦ly execute their office susteyne la¦boures, hatred, and peryses for the worde sake as Christe sayeth blessed is that seruaunte, for hys mayster wyll make hym ruler

ouer all. And Peter, ye shall re∣ceyue the incorruptyble crowne of glorye.

☞What is the summe of christen Doctryne to be taughte in the Churche?

☞Christe hath mooste aptlye shewed that, in the laste Chapy∣ter of Lucas, where he sayeth. Gooe preachynge in my name re∣pentaunce & remission of synnes. Therefore the summe of thys o∣ffyce in the churche consysteth in thys, that penitence and remissi∣on of synnes be taught.

☞Whiche is the mooste briefe partition of the whole scripture?

¶There be two partes. For it is eithere a doctryne commaun∣dynge what shall be donne, and rebukeyng synne. Or eles it is a doctrine of remissi∣on of synnes. And these two partes be called the lawe and the Gospell.