The whole body of Christian religion, by Hieron. Zanchius. Translated out of Latine by D. Ralph Winterton.

DOCT. XI. That onely five orders of ministers of the word were constituted by Christ.

BUt we do not acknowledge that more orders of ministers of the word were instituted by Christ in the Church, then those which the A∣postle hath express'd in the Epistle to the Ephesians, Apostles, Prophets, Evangelists, Pastours and Teachers:* 1.1 of which the first three he would not have confirm'd to any certain places, to but to be now here, now there, either to gather Churches to them∣selves, as the Apostles did, or to wa∣ter, cherish, and confirme those which were already planted by the Apostles, as the Prophets and Evan∣gelists did, who for that reason ought not to have been perpetuall.a 1.2 But the two latter, he would should be con∣secrated for the governing and pre∣serving of some certain Churches, namely Pastors and Teachers, and that to the end of the world; whom therefore we use to call the ordinary and perpetuall ministers. For where∣as

as the Apostles often make mention of Bishops, Elders, and Catechists, that does not evince them to have been distinct orders of ministers of the word; because they that were Pa∣stors, were alwayes the same with those which were signifi'd by the name of Bishops, and very often with that of elders: besides, the Apostle Peter styles himself an Elder. The office of the Catechists was perfor∣med not onely by the Pastors and Teachers, but likewise by the A∣postles themselves and the Evan∣gelists.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Eph. 4.11.
• a 1.2

  Act. 20.28. Phil. 1.1 1 Tim. 3.2. Tit. 1.7. 1 Pet. 2.25. 1 Pet. 5.1. Act. 14.23. Tit. 1.15. Iam. 5 14. Heb 6.1. 1 Pet. 5.1.