A survey of the summe of church-discipline. Wherein the vvay of the churches of New-England is warranted out of the vvord, and all exceptions of weight, which are made against it, answered : whereby also it will appear to the judicious reader, that something more must be said, then yet hath been, before their principles can be shaken, or they should be unsetled in their practice.

Hooker, Thomas, 1586-1647.

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PART II. Of the CHURCH considered as Corpus Organicum.

CHAP. I. Of the number of Officers therein, and the nature thereof.

II.

Of the Teachers Office.

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I.

They must bestow their whole man, and their whole strength and study upon this so weighty and worthy work; and therefore the Apostle when he had considered that the Lord had put life and death into the hands of the dispensers of the word, 2 Cor. 2.16. he cries out, who is sufficient for these things? and if no man be sufficient, it is then needfull every man should bestow his whole strength upon it.

Hence it is unlawfull for a Minister to be a Magistrate; not because these things are contrary; but the weight of the one is so great, that it is beyond any ordinary ability to undertake to dischage both, unlesse he would wrong both; and therefore the Apostles professed they would lay aside the attendance to tables, that they might give themselves to the word and Prayer. q. d. That channell was wide enough, wherein the full streame and strength of their indeavours might be laid out unto the ut∣most, Act. 6.2, 4.

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