H. Zanchius his confession of Christian religion Which novve at length being 70. yeares of age, he caused to bee published in the name of himselfe & his family. Englished in sense agreeable, and in words as answerable to his ovvne latine copie, as in so graue a mans worke is requisite: for the profite of all the vnlearneder sort, of English christians, that desire to know his iudgement in matters of faith.

Vppon the 25. chapter. Aphor. 10. and 11.12.

When I write this cōfession of saith, I write euerie thing vppon a good conscience: and as I beleeued, so I spake freelie: as the holie scriptures doe teach that wee ought to doe. My faith is grounded simplie, and principal∣lie, on the word of God: and next, some∣what vpon the common cōsent of the whole auncient catholicke church if it doe not gain∣saye the holie Scriptures. For I beleeue, that the thinges which were decreed and receiued of the fathers, by common consent of them all gathered together in the name of the Lord, without anie contradiction of holie Scrip∣tures: that they also (though they bee not of equall authoritie with the Scriptures) come from the holie ghost. Hereupon it is, that the thinges which are of this sorte, I neither will nor dare disprooue, with a good consci∣ence. And what is more certaine, out of the histories, the councells, and writings of all

the fathers: then that those orders of mini∣sters of which wee spake, were ordained and receiued in the church, by common consent of all the whole christian common wealth? And who om I, that I should disprooue that which the whole church hath approoued? Nei∣ther haue all the learned men of this age, da∣red to disprooue the same: as knowing, both that the church might lawfullie doe so, and that all those thinges were ordained and done vppon a godlie purpose, and to excel∣lent good endes, for edification of Gods chil∣dren.

For confirmation sake hereof: I haue thought good here to insert, that which Martin Bucer of godlie memorie, a man both for life and learning most famous, hath left written con∣cerning those matters vpon the Epistle to the Ephesians.

The ministerie of the worde, being perfor∣med by reading and rehearsing the diuine Scriptures, by interpretation and exposition of the same, and with exhortations takē there out, and also by rehearsall and catechisme, which is done by mutuall questions and aun∣swers of the yong beginner and the catechi∣zer: and also by holie conferences, and deci∣ding of the hard questions about religion: according to this manifold dispensation of wholesome doctrine, there are also manie dueties in this function. For whatsoeuer belō∣geth

to the perfectest manner of teaching, is with an especiall care to bee vsed in the mini∣sterie of the doctrine of saluation: because in∣deed it ought to be deliuered as a knowledge both of all other most diuine, and of all, most difficult: namelie, that he which is man, should liue according to God. Now they which do teach di∣ligently the artes, as they are contained in cer∣ten knowne books: as, if they meane to teach mathematicall principles out of Euclide: first of all they will reade and rehearse the same booke: by and by, they will expound the seue∣rall words, such as euerie one knowes not, as euerie art hath it owne proper wordes and names. Then if there be any collection or ar∣gumētation darke or intricate, they explaine the same by Analysis or resolution, and set it forth by examples: and by generall precepts they teach particular things, and declare how largelie the same are ment and taken. And this is properlie to teach. Now though this bee in faithfull and sound deliuerie of instruction, yet a true & faithfull teacher, not contenting himselfe thus, doth also rehearse and often ta∣keth accompt of that which he teacheth: and is still at hand among his schollers, that of such things as they doubt, they may euer require and aske the plainer exposition of himselfe. Moreouer the thinges which he hath taught them, he also propoundeth to be decided and handled in publike disputations, that no whit

of doubt may remaine. To these thinges also, he adioyneth oftentimes exhortations, to en∣courage them forward in the same instructiō: and exhortations from such matters as may hinder the same, and also generall admoniti∣ons, reprehensions, and childings. Lastlie, such a maister marketh diligentlie, what profite e∣uerie one of his schollers taketh: & if he finde anie one to loyter in his learning, he both pri∣uatelie corrects him, and admonisheth him of his duetie: if he perceiue anie to goe through his learning lustilie, him he encourageth, com∣mendeth, and whetteth on to follow the stu∣die of it more & more. All these seuen points of teaching, did our Lord Christ also obserue. In the Synagoge at Nazareth he read the 61. chapter of Esay and expounded it, Luc. 4. He expounded the commaundements of God v∣pon the mount, Math. 5. And he taught in all places: and exhorted: he reprehended, out of the word of God. And he made aunswer to al that asked him, aswell good as badd: and also asked them, as Matt. 22. He also catechized his disciples: and he himselfe was present at a ca∣techizing, Luc. 2.

Sith then the ministerie of teaching doth require such manifold labour: there haue bin also many sorts or orders of ministers appoin∣ted to this ministerie. And first of all readers, whose office was in some pulpit or high place, to rehearse the diuine scriptures. Now this re∣hearsall of the scriptures was instituted to this

ende, that the language and manner of phrase, in the scripture, and the scripture it selfe also might so bee made better knowne and more familiar to the people. For within one yeare they reade ouer all the bible to the people: where as they which shall expound the scrip∣tures, are not able to performe more thē some one parte, and that not greatnether, in one yeares space. And meane while by the onely reading of the holie Bible to the people, the knowledge of all the principles of our salua∣tion, was wōderfullie confirmed: for the same are still againe and againe repeated in each of the holie books, and are declared by other & other words, so that the people might often, by the following readings, learne that which by the former they could not so wel conceiue: And by this verie meanes the peoples iudge∣ment was strengthened, aswell in religion, as also in the expositions of scriptures, and in all doctrine, which was brought vnto them either by the lawfull curats & teachers of the church, or by others. For this cause this office of onely reading the Scriptures to the people, was greatly esteemed in the auncient churches: neither were any chosen for this ministerie, vn∣lesse they were commēded for singular piety. Which we may knowe aswell by other monu∣ments of the auncient fathers, as especially by two epistles of Saint Cyprian, as the fiue Epist. of Aurelius the reader ordained, & the 5 & 3. Epist. booke 2. of Saturus, and in the 4. booke

of Celerinus, Celestinus. To these readers were afterwardes also added queristers or singing men, which ordered and directed the singing of the psalmes and hymnes. For the reading of the holie Scriptures, it is, by Gods grace, verie well appointed in the churches of En∣gland: if so bee that there were meete men ordained, which might add a grauitie and a religion worthy the diuine ministerie in the holie readings. Let them therefore diligent∣lie weigh & consider whose mouth they make themselues, which read the holie books vnto the people in their sacred assemblies: euen the mouth of the Lord Almightie: as also of what force, and of what dignitie the words at which are read, which be the words and precepts of eternall life: Lastlie, vnto what manner of men: and for what purpose the readers of the diuine Scriptures ought to serue. For they serue to administer the worde euen to the children of God; for whose saluation the first begotten sonne of God powred out his pre∣cious blood: and to whome, by them, the same saluation is more and more declared & made perfect. All which things, whosoeuer weigheth with himselfe in true faith, what grauitie, de∣cencie, religiousnes, can be vsed in any action, which such a reader may ouerslipp? And this they, whosoeuer be appointed for that office, ought euermore to haue in the sight of their minde: that the things which are read, must ef¦fectually serue for the edificatiō of faith in the

hearers: which is then done, when the same things are well vnderstood and receiued as the very words of god. To both which is requisite, a pronunciation, verie plaine, discreet, graue, and religious. Hereby it is knowne, that they are not Christs ministers, who do so read the holie Scriptures, as if onely this were to bee re∣quired, that as little tarrying as may be, might be made in rehearsing the same.

Now another duetie is, the interpretation of the doctrine which is to be disposed, namly, a more plaine declaration of the wordes, and sentences. This office was performed by bi∣shops and Elders: and sometime by them of the order of Deacons and subdeacons: some∣time also they employed vnto this function some of the laitie, whom they found by the ho∣lie ghost to be made fitt for the profitable exe∣cuting of the same. So Origen also a lay man, was called vnto this office in the church at Cęsarea in Palestine, by Alexander bishop of Hierusalem, & by Theoctist bishop of the same church at Caesarea. So Euelpis was called by Neonus bishop of Larandi: and Paulinus, by Celsus bishop of Iconium, and Theodorus of Atticus, bishop of Sinadi. This we read in Eu∣sebius his sixt booke of his ecclesiasticall storie chap. 20: and out of the epistle of those two bishops, Alexander of Hierusalem, and The∣octist of Caesarea in Palestine, vnto Demetrius bishop of Alexandria, who had reprehended the deed of these two bishops concerning O∣rigen,

as a thing neuer heard of, that a lay man where bishops were present, should speake to the people in the congregation. But this the same bishops manifestly affirmed, was not true but that godlie bishopps had euer vsed, to ex∣hort such as they knewe meet men among the laitie, to profite the people by interpreting the Scriptures and by teaching, to execute this duetie, euen when themselues were present. And therefore this second and third parte of the holie m••nisterie, name lie interpretation & teaching; the Bishops and Elders did admini∣ster by themselues: yet if they knewe or found anie among the inferior orders, and of the laye sort also, that were fitt for that duetie, they ioy∣ned them as fellow-workers with themselues. In the same manner also the Bishopps and El∣ders did execute the fourth part of the deliue∣rie of the doctrine, which is, out of the scrip∣tures expounded to make exhortations to the dueties of piety, and dehortations from sinne, and from al things which might neuer so little hinder and stopp the course of a godlie and holie life: to reprehend them which sinned, & to cōfort the penitent: this function was chief∣lie performed by the bishops and elders, be∣cause irrequireth an especial authority, 1. Tim. 5. The fift part, Catechizings they committed to Elders, or Deacons, or sometimes to mini∣sters of inferior orders, euen as euery one, was thought most fitt for that kinde of teaching. So Origen was also a Catechist at Alexandria,

as wee may reade in the sixt booke of Euse∣bius his storie of the church chapter thirteene and twentie. The sixt parte also, the holie disputations, they appointed to those that seemed meetest: albeit for the most part the bishops themselues ordered the same. The seuenth parte, priuate conference, and ad∣monition, the bishops also themselues had a speciall care to looke vnto: and also euermore exhorted the elders, and the grauer sort of the inferior orders to do the same 1. Thess. 5. Ther∣fore this ministerie must be executed, by rea∣ders, in rehearsing the holie Scriptures: and by bishops in expounding and teaching, exhor∣ting, disputing, & priuate conferring: as also in reading and catechizing, if there bee not particular readers and catechists. But the ca∣techizings they committed to certaine elders and deacons, or some specially chosen for that purpose, out of the inferior orders: like as they did also imploye in these dueties of interpre∣ting, teaching, & disputing, whomsoeuer they found meete for the same, in any order of the ministerie, and also in the laitie as wee saide. And this was diligentlie marked and consi∣dered in them all: that the holie ghost did so impart these giftes of teaching among men, that to one hee giueth a gifte and a singular facultie to interpret the holie Scriptures, and explane the same, to whome notwithstanding hee giueth not the gift so readilie and profita∣blie to teach and confirme the principles and

grounds of our opinions out of the holy scrip∣tures, or to defend the same by disputation. To another also hee giueth a peculiar and no∣table skill to make exhortations out of the ho∣lie Scripture, or admonitions, or reprehensi∣ons: also to cathezice: and to instruct priuate∣lie: to whome notwithstanding, are not giuen the other partes of teaching. This varietie and diuersitie of the giftes of the holie ghost wee haue dailie experience of in those, which teach publikelie the people of Iesus Christ, which are the true churches of Christ, and doe suffer themselues to bee whollie gouerned by the holie ghost: Such doe religiouslie obserue what spirituall giftes are giuen to each one in the church: and do imploye euerie one in his owne function according to the same giftes so much as in them lieth. Wherefore to all the pointes of teaching, they appoint seuerall ministers, if among their owne they finde such as bee singularlie quallified and furnished by the Lord to euerie seuerall parte of teaching. But because it is requisite for the saluation of Gods people, that not anie church should omittanie of these seuen partes of teaching, which I haue reckened: Euerie one of the ministers, and laye-men also in what place soeuer of the church hee bee pla∣ced, ought so farre forth as hee is able, to performe all these partes of teaching: both reading, interpreting, teaching, exhorting, catechizing, disputing, and, priuate confening.

For each one must take vnto himselfe in admi∣nistring these dueties, so much of each one of them, as he findeth himselfe furnished & made fitt for by the holie ghost. Let vs weigh & con∣sider, the example of a houshold well sorted & ordered, in which the maister or husband exe∣cuteth some dueties, the houswife or matron, other dueties: the sonnes other, & the daugh∣ters other: the menseruants other, and the maideseruants other: Here while they be all at home and in health, euerie one fulfilleth his owne duetie: but if anie of the familie be from home or bee sicke, yet (if the necessitie of that seruice so vrgeth) they must all needs supplie that want, so that oftentimes the men must discharge womens duties, and women mens, the maisters their seruants, and seruants their maisters.

Notes

• From the seuen due∣ties of tea∣ching were brought into the church 7. orders of ministers.