But now because that neither the 1offences, wherewith the wrath of GOD is many times provoked, nor the heresies whereby the true doctrine is oppressed, can be taken away in due time, except a true and lawful order of Ecclesiastical discipline be appointed: therefore I do require this of you, by the name of the soon of GOD: I crave this thing, I say of you, that you do not reject this discipline, as any invention of man, but that you would establish it with all diligence, and earnest affection, and keep and retain it, being ones established, 2as the ordinance of GOD: without the which, the whole building must come to ruin of necessity. For what? Is not this the other half of the word of God? Surely he that denieth this, denieth the Sun to shine at the midday. And I pray you, what common wealth, what city, what house, or family, shall not straight ways, be ⟨image 41⟩dissolved, unless it be knit together with 3the bonds of Laws and Order. What? Shall we suffer the Church of Christ, that teacheth all holiness and honesty, to be transformed into a school of wickedness, and licentious life? But if we take away this discipline, that we speak of, if every one be permitted to preach publicly, if there be no examination of the doctrine and manners of the Pastors, if every man be received without difference unto the Sacraments, if it be not lawful to reprove those that sin with the offence of others, and severely to correct those that resist stubbornly, and also in the end (if need be) by the example of the Apostle, to thrust such forth of the flock, lest they infect others: and also unless there be provision for the poor, and almoses be distributed by the order appointed by the holy ghost: unless finally all things be rightly and orderly done, in the house of God, what will the Church be straight ways for the most part, but an assembly of men, given to liberty and all licentious life? But will some say, these 4are the duties of Magistrates. As though we ⟨image 42⟩we would have temporal and earthly things, such as are only for this world to come into question by any means, in the Ecclesiastical Consistory, or that we would exempt, either Pastors them selves, or any others from the authority or commandment of the Civil Magistrates, as those do, whom men call Catholics.
But nowe because that neither the 1offences, wherewith the wrathe of GOD is many tymes prouoked, nor the heresies whereby the true doctrine is oppressed, can bee taken awaie in due tyme, excepte a true and lawfull order of Ecclesiasticall discipline bee appointed: therefore I dooe require this of you, by the name of the soonne of GOD: I craue this thing, I saie of you, that you dooe not reiecte this discipline, as any inuencion of man, but that you would establishe it with al diligéce, and earnest affection, and kepe and retaine it, being ones established, 2as the ordinaunce of GOD: without the whiche, the whole buildyng muste come to ruine of necessitie. For what? Is not this the other halfe of the word of God? Surely he that denieth this, denieth the Sonne to shine at the middaie. And I praie you, what common wealthe, what citie, what house, or familie, shall not straight waies, bee ⟨image 41⟩dissolued, vnlesse it be knit together with 3the bondes of Lawes and Order. What? Shall wée suffer the Churche of Christe, that teacheth all holinesse and honestie, to bée transformed into a schoole of wickednesse, and licencious life? But if we take awaie this discipline, that wée speake of, if euery one bee permitted to preache publikely, if there be no examinacion of the doctrine and maners of the Pastours, if euery man bee receiued without difference vnto the Sacramentes, if it be not lawful to reproue those that synne with the offence of others, and seuerely to correcte those that resiste stubbernely, and also in the ende (if nede be) by the example of the Apostle, to thrust suche forthe of the flocke, leaste thei infecte others: and also vnlessé there be prouision for the poore, and almoses bée distributed by the order appoincted by the holy ghost: vnlesse finally all thynges bee rightly and orderly dooen, in the house of God, what will the Churche bee streight waies for the moste parte, but an assemblie of men, geuen to libertie and all licētious life? But will some saie, these 4are the duties of Magistrates. As though wée ⟨image 42⟩wee would haue temporall and yearthly thinges, suche as are onely for this world to come into question by any meanes, in the Ecclesiasticall Consistorie, or that we would exempt, either Pastours them selues, or any others from the aucthoritie or commaundemente of the Ciuile Magistrates, as those doe, whom men call Catholikes.
- 1Ecclesiastical Discipline necessary.
- 2The redressing of manners is the one half of the scripturesThe redressinge of maners is the one halfe of the scriptures
- 3The church the scolehouse of honesty, may not be the den of unthrifts.The churche the scolehouse of honestie, maie not bee the denne of vnthriftes.
- 4An objection. The answer.An obiection. The answer.
