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.

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.

M. When thou diddest allege the promise which god hath made to his Church of the perpetual gift of preaching, and of the ordinary ministry which it pleased him to appoint in the same, it seemeth to me that thou saidst that he hath promised to put his word into the mouth of the very seed of the Church:¹ by the which seed, I understand the children & the members of the same, and of the people of God.

M. WHen thou diddest alledge the promise which god hath made to his Church of the perpetuall gift of preaching, and of the ordinarie mynisterie whiche it pleased him to appointe in the same, it séemeth to me that thou saydst that he hathe promised to put his worde into the mouthe of the very séede of the Churche:¹ by the which séed, I vnderstand the children & the membres of the same, and of the people of God.

1. 1Isaiah. 59. dEsay. 59. d

P. Thou takest it very well, and therefore the Lord hath plainly said by Moses,¹ that he will raise up out of the middest of his people, ⟨p. 273⟩those Prophets the which he will give unto her, to teach her, to the end that they shall not go forth of his Church to seek them. Howe agreeth this then with that which thou hast heretofore said, that the gift of prophecy and such like, were as well communicate to infidels and reprobates, as thou hast very well proved by testimonies and examples of the holy Scriptures?

P. Thou takest it verie well, and therfore the Lord hath playnely sayde by Moyses,¹ that he will rayse vp out of the middest of his people, ⟨p. 273⟩those Prophets the whiche he will gyue vnto hir, to teach hir, to the ende that they shall not go foorthe of his Churche to séeke them. Howe agréeth this then with that which thou hast heretofore sayde, that the gifte of prophecie and suche like, were as well communicate to infidells and reprobates, as thou hast very well proued by testimonies and examples of the holy Scriptures?

1. 1Deut. 18. d

P. That maketh not at all against that which I have now said. For albeit that God at times doth bestow of his gifts upon the unfaithful, the which in deed he doth not bestow upon every faithful man, yet for all that it followeth not but that he doth continually chose some in his Church, to whom he giveth this gift & this office, albeit he doth it not ever after one sort. For he sendeth either moe or few, according as it is needful, and according to the favour that he will show unto it, be it secretly or publicly accordingly as he will make himself known to his.

P. That maketh not at all against that whiche I haue now sayd. For albeit that God at times doth bestowe of his gifts vppon the vnfaithfull, the which in deede he doth not bestow vppon euery faithfull man, yet for all that it followeth not but that he doth cōtinually chose some in his Churche, to whome he giueth thys gift & this office, albeit he doth it not euer after one sorte. For he sendeth either moe or fewe, according as it is néedefull, and according to the fauoure that he wil shew vnto it, be it secretly or publiquely accordingly as he will make himselfe knowen to his.

M. But can it not well come to pass also that very those which are chosen in his Church, may be Hypocrites and rather wolves and hirelings than good pastors?

M. But can it not well come to passe also that very those whiche are chosen in his Church, may be Hypocrites and rather woolues and hierlings thā good pastors?

P. That cometh often times to pass, and the example which thou hast in Judas, doth confirm sufficiently unto us that which thou sayest, if in deed we had none other. But when the Church knoweth them to be such, she should provide for: it by the means that God hath given her in that behalf.

P. That commeth often times to passe, and the example whiche thou hast in Iudas, doth confirme sufficiently vnto vs that which thou sayest, if in déede wée had none other. But when the Churche knoweth them to be such, she should prouide for: it by the meanes that God hathe giuen hir in that behalfe.

M. And if they be only mercenaries, and not apparent wolves, may she endure them?

M. And if they be only mercenaries, and not apperante wolues, may she endure them?