38 The parts of the cleargie discipline.

By the way, albeit all kindes of men, aswell ministers, as lay men (as they call them) be sub∣iect to this christian discipline: yet among the fathers came in a certaine peculiar discipline of the cleargie: whose parte it was to bee ru∣lers ouer others, not onely in worde, but also in example of life and diligent performance of their dueties. Of this these were the princi∣pall parts. The first, that they should abstaine from many thinges, which otherwise in some sorte might be suffred in lay-men: such as are Page  238many delights of the flesh, glorious pompes, sumptuous feasts, costly furnitures, prophane attendants, and such like matters. The second, that they should cast aside al businesses of this life, which might hinder from doing their duetie, which consisteth chiefly in lawfull ad∣ministration of the holie things, in preaching the word, and exercising the discipline of mā∣ners: such businesses are warre-fare, marchan∣dise, law causes, looking to vittlers & tipling houses, and such base affaires. The third, that they should promise a peculiar obedience to their owne bishop & metropolitane of their bishop in honest matters. The fourth, that they should more diligently then the lay-men ap∣plie the reading and studie of the holie scrip∣tures, and those artes and tongues, whereby the scriptures may the better bee vnderstood, and likewise their prayers and holy contem∣plations. The fift, that they should also apply themselues with a more diligent care, not one ly to the proper duetie commaunded vnto e∣uerie one, but also to all those thinges which may seeme to appertaine to edification of the whole church.