A Christian instruction, containing the law and the Gospel Also a summary of the…

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

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.

M. I Do now well understand the cause not only wherefore this gift of prophecy is necessary to the Church, but also for what cause it is necessary that it be perpetual in it.

M. I Do now well vnderstand the cause not only wherfore this gifte of prophecie is necessarie to the Churche, but also for what cause it is necessary that it be perpetual in it.

P. Seeing that the perpetual ministry of the word of God is necessary, this gift of prophecy is also necessary, forasmuch as without the same this ministry can not subsist and stand, nor be ministry of the Church of Christ.

P. Séeing that the perpetuall ministerie of the worde of God is necessarie, this gift of prophecie is also necessarie, forsomuche as without the same this ministerie can not subsiste and stande, nor be ministerie of the Churche of Christ.

M. It then followeth, that even as this ministry can not be without this gift of preaching, even so the Church can not be the Church of Christ without this ministry, no more than it may be without faith, the which she can not obtain but by the mean of the word of God, set forth by this ministry.

M. It then foloweth, that euen as this ministery can not be without this gift of preaching, euen so the Church can not be the Church of Christ without this ministerie, no more than it may be without faith, the whiche she can not obtayne but by the meane of the word of God, set foorth by this ministerie.

P. God may well inspire his faith to his chosen by other means if it please him: but seeing he hath ordained this, he doth it not ordinarily by any other, neither is it lawful for us to seek for any other, but must hold us to ⟨p. 271⟩this same whereunto God hath bounds us, notwithstanding that it standeth alway in his liberty, to communicate his gifts and graces as pleaseth him.

P. God may wel inspire his faithe to his chosen by other meanes if it please him: but seeing he hath ordeined this, he doth it not ordinarily by any other, neyther is it lawfull for vs to séeke for any other, but must holde vs to ⟨p. 271⟩this same wherevnto God hath bounds vs, notwithstanding that it standeth alwaye in his libertie, to communicate his giftes and graces as pleaseth him.

Of other gifts of God which are not so necessary for the Church as the gift of preaching.

Of other giftes of God whiche are not so necessarie for the Church as the gift of preaching.

M. I Do now well understand this point, but thou haste not yet given me example of the other gifts of the Holy Ghost, the which be not so necessary for the Church as is the gift of preaching: And therefore also they be not perpetual in her.

M. I Do now wel vnderstand this point, but thou haste not yet giuen me example of the other guiftes of the Holie Ghoste, the whiche be not so necessarie for the Churche as is the gifte of preaching: And therfore also they be not perpetual in hir.

P. Thou hast among others, the gift of tongs, and the gift of miracles and such like, the which God gave to his Church but for a certain time, and to certain persons, as he may yet give them when it shall please him. And when he hath given them, he hath yet done the same, to the end that his gifts should serve to the ministry of his word, to the end it should be the better received,¹ and that the infidels should be the more mightily vanquished, & the most weak ones the better fortified.

P. Thou hast amōg others, the gift of tongs, and the gift of miracles and suche lyke, the whiche God gaue to his Churche but for a certayne tyme, and to certayne persones, as hée maye yet gyue them when it shall please him. And when he hath giuen them, he hathe yet done the same, to the ende that hys gifts shuld serue to the ministerie of his worde, to the ende it should be the better receyued,¹ and that the infidels shoulde be the more mightily vanquished, & the most weak ones ye better fortified.

1. 11. Cor. 14. g

M. I do well ⟨p. 272⟩understand it so.¹

M. I do wel ⟨p. 272⟩vnderstand it so.¹

1. 1•. Cor. 14. g

P. And therefore Saint Paul speaking of these gifts, exhorteth the faithful to endeavour themselves, and to travail rather for the gift of prophecy, which comprehendeth the true understanding of the Scriptures, as more profitable and more necessary to the Church, than the others, whereof we have even now spoken.

P. And therfore Saint Paule speaking of these gifts, exhorteth the faithfull to endeuour themselues, and to trauayle rather for the gift of prophecie, whiche comprehendeth the true vnderstanding of the Scriptures, as more profitable and more necessarye to the Church, than the others, wherof we haue euen nowe spoken.

Howe the Lord taketh the ministers of his Church of his very people, and not of a strange people.

Howe the Lorde taketh the ministers of his Churche of his verie people, and not of a strange people.