M. Is that the cause why the same Apostle said, that God hath given to his Church,¹ some Apostles, some Prophets, others Evangelists, and others pastors and Doctors, for the establishment of the Saints to the work of administration for the building up of the body of Christ, unto the time that we come all into the unity of the faith and knowledge of the Son of God, to be a perfect man, according to the measure of the full age of Christ?

M. Is that the cause why the same Apostle sayde, that God hath giuen to his Church,¹ some Apostles, some Prophets, others Euangelists, and others pastors and Doctors, for the establishment of the Saintes to the worke of administration for the buylding vp of the bodie of Chryst, vnto the tyme that wée come all into the vnitie of the faith and knowledge of the Sonne of God, to be a perfect man, according to the measure of the full age of Chryste?

1. 1Ephes. 4. b

P. Beside that which thou sayest, thou hast yet to note, that S. Paul meaneth not by these words, that Christ giveth only men to his Church, which may have these offices, but also that he giveth them gifts meet for them, whereby they may well exercise them.

P. Beside that whyche thou sayest, thou hast yet to note, that S. Paule meaneth not by these words, that Chryst giueth only men to his Churche, whiche maye haue these offices, but also that he giueth them gifts méete for them, wherby they may wel exercise them.

M. Seeing it is so, these gifts of the holy Ghost which thou hast said, that God did distribute, not only to the faithful, but also oftentimes to the unfaithful, are necessary for his Church.

M. Séeing it is so, these guiftes of the holie Ghost which thou hast sayd, that God did distribute, not only to the faithful, but also oftentymes to the vnfaithfull, are necessarie for his Churche.

Howe that the gift of preaching is at all times necessary in the Church, and of the ordinary ministry of the same.

Hovve that the gifte of preaching is at all times necessarie in the Church, and of the ordinarie ministerie of the same.

M. Declare to me more familiarly by examples thy meaning.

M. DEclare to me more familiarly by examples thy meaning.

Pe. Seeing that the Church can not be a Church but by the mean of Faith in Jesus Christ, and that the mean whereby the faithful which are the members of the same, are called to the faith,¹ is the preaching and hearing of the word of God, it followeth well, that necessarily, this word be ever there taught, and that the Church be first assembled together, and afterward augmented, entertained, & conserved by the same.

Pe. Séeing that the Church can not be a Churche but by the meane of Faithe in Iesus Chryst, and that the meane whereby the faithfull whiche are the membres of the same, are called to the faithe,¹ is the preaching and hearing of the woorde of God, it followeth well, that necessarily, this word be euer there taught, and that the Churche be first assembled togither, and afterward augmēted, entertayned, & conserued by ye same.

1. 1Rom. 10. c. d

M. I do so understand it well.

M. I do so vnderstād it wel.

P. Now this word cannot be there set forth & entertained but only that there be men which have this gift of the holy Ghost to know how to set it forth in such sort as it is meet, as true prophets & ministers of god as the Lord hath also promised unto it, when he said by Moses, and after by Isaiah, ⟨p. 268⟩that he would give to his people, a prophet, in whose mouth he would put his word, and that it should never depart from the mouth of the seed of his people, and that his spirit also should never be separate from it.

P. Now this word cānot be there set forth & entertained but only yt ther be mē which haue this gift of the holy Ghost to know how to set it forth in such sort as it is méet, as true ꝓphets & ministers of god as the Lord hathe also promised vnto it, when he said by Moyses, and after by Esay, ⟨p. 268⟩that he wold giue to his people, a prophet, in whose mouth he would putte his word, and that it should neuer depart frō the mouthe of the séede of his people, and that his spirit also shuld neuer be separate from it.

M. I think that that prophecy which thou hast now alleged of Moses ought to be properly understood of Jesus Christ.

M. I thinke that that prophecie which thou hast now alledged of Moyses ought to be proprely vnderstode of Iesus Christe.

P. Saint Peter and S. Steven do also apply it to his person,¹ as to the head and prince of all prophets and ministers, which giveth power to the ministry of all others. But that exposition which is very certain and very well applied, doth not let at all, but that this passage of Moses may be taken for the ordinary ministry which God hath established in his Church, as the circumstance of the place doth sufficiently declare it, the which ministry hath ever ben founded in Jesus Christ, which is the foundation of the prophets and Apostles.

P. Sainct Peter and S. Steuen doe also applie it to his person,¹ as to the head and prince of all prophetes and ministers, whiche giueth power to the ministerie of all others. But that exposition which is very certaine and very wel applied, doth not let at al, but that this passage of Moyses may be taken for the ordinarie ministerie which God hath established in his Church, as the circumstāce of the place dothe sufficiently declare it, the which ministerie hath euer ben founded in Iesus Christ, whiche is the foundation of the prophets and Apostles.

1. 1Act. 3. d. 7. •

M. Doest thou understand then by this gift whereof thou hast now spoken, the gift of prophecy?

M. Doest thou vnderstand then by this gifte wherof thou hast nowe spoken, the gift of prophecie?

P. We do commonly call it by that name, following the manner of speech which S. Paul hath used to that ⟨p. 269⟩purpose in the first epistle to the Corinths.¹ For albeit that all the ministers of the word of God have not all the gifts which the ancient Prophets had, which are specially called by that name, yet notwithstanding they are called Prophets in all the holy Scriptures, in as much as they be the mouth of the holy Ghost, as were the ancient prophets, by whom God spake to his Church, and doth set forth to her the same doctrine, which he hath heretofore declared unto her by his ancient prophets.

P. We doe commonly call it by that name, following the manner of speach which S. Paule hath vsed to that ⟨p. 269⟩purpose in the first epistle to ye Corinths.¹ For albeit that all the ministers of the word of God haue not all the gifts which the aunciēt Prophets had, which are specially called by that name, yet notwithstāding they are called Prophets in all ye holie Scriptures, in as much as they bée the mouth of the holie Ghost, as wer the auncient prophets, by whom God spake to his Church, and doth set foorth to hir the same doctrine, whiche he hath heretofore declared vnto hir by his aunciente prophets.

1. 11. Cor. 12. b 14. a.g

M. We may then say the same of the name of Apostle and Evangelist, and of all other such like names and offices which appertain to the ministry of the Church.

M. We may then say the same of the name of Apostle and Euangelist, and of al other such lyke names and offices whiche appertayne to the ministerie of the Churche.

P. It is true: For albeit that the name of apostle and Evangelist do import more than the name and office of a simple pastor and minister of the gospel, yet for all that none may be a pastor and minister of the Gospel, unless he be also as an Apostle and an Evangelist, in respect of the doctrine which he beareth, for the very same reason for which he may also be called prophet, as I have even now expounded.

P. It is true: For albeit that the name of apostle and Euangelist do import more thā the name and office of a simple pastor and minister of the gospell, yet for all that none may be a pastor and minister of the Gospell, vnlesse he be also as an Apostle and an Euangelist, in respecte of the doctrine whyche he beareth, for the verie same reason for whiche he may also be called prophet, as I haue euen nowe expounded.

How that the ministry of the word of God is perpetually necessary to the Church in this world.

How that the ministerie of the worde of God is perpetually necessarie to the Churche in this worlde.