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Of the censures and ancients of the Church, and of the manner of the policy of the same.

Of the censures and ancients of the Church, and of the maner of the policie of the same.

P. I grant it. But there are chiefly two causes, why it is needful that they have helpers with them, which may be called censures or ancients of the church, ⟨p. 358⟩as they are called in the holy scriptures, to help them in that that I have said.

P. I graūt it. But there are chiefly two causes, why it is néedefull yt they haue helpers with them, whiche may be called censures or ancients of the church, ⟨p. 358⟩as they are called in the holy scriptures, to helpe them in that that I haue said.

M. Which is the first of these two causes?

P. It is that the ministers are not ordinarily so many, that they may see in every place: and on the other part all are not so careful, so diligent, and so perfect, to look to all things, as it were to be desired.

P. It is that the ministers are not ordinarily so many, that they maye sée in euery place: and on the other part all are not so carefull, so diligent, and so perfect, to loke to all things, as it were to be desired.

M. Which is the other cause?

P. It is that all be it they could do it, it is good that there be others of the Church, which may be joined unto them, to give to understand, that the Church, in respect of the policy and discipline ye Jesus Christ hath there appointed, and of the government which he hath given to men, is not as a Monarchy, or some other temporal lordship, in the which certain princes have all absolute authority: but it is an holy and free commonalty, which for that cause is called the communion of Saints, to the which Jesus Christ hath given in general and not to any one in particular, all the power and authority that there is, to use for edification, and not to destruction.

P. It is that all be it they could doe it, it is good that there be others of the Churche, which may bée ioyned vnto them, to giue to vnderstand, that the Church, in respect of the policie and discipline ye Iesus Christ hath there appointed, and of the gouernment which he hath giuen to men, is not as a Monarchy, or some other temporall lordship, in the which certaine princes haue all absolute authoritie: but it is an holy and frée communaltie, which for that cause is called the communion of Saintes, to the whych Iesus Chryst hath gyuen in generall and not to any one in particular, all the power and authoritye that there is, to vse for edification, and not to destruction.

Of the true head of the Church and of the power given to the church by Jesus Christ to chose those which have public office in the same, & how requisite it is that that order be there observed.

Of the true head of the Church and of the power giuen to the church by Iesus Christ to chose those vvhich haue publique office in the same, & hovv requisite it is that that order be there obserued.

M. But in taking it so, it seemeth to me that there is no order at all, but rather great confusion. For if there be no certain head, every man will there be a master, & the one as great as the other.

M. BVt in taking it so, it séemeth to me that there is no order at al, but rather great confusion. For if there be no certaine head, euery man wil there bée a maister, & the one as great as ye other.

P. It doth not so follow of that which I have said. For first of all, she is not without a head, for so much as it hath Jesus Christ for her head. Afterward, all be it that the power & authority be given to the whole commonalty of the faithful, as it is in the hands of the people in a popular estate, the which men have anciently called Democracy: yet for all that it hindereth not at all, but that the church by a common consent may chose out of the body of this holy commonalty such certain persons, as may have the special charge, to exercise & administer the public offices which are ordained of God in the same, as they do in a free city in the which the choice of public offices is made by the burgesses & citizens of the same ⟨p. 360⟩which are all of one very commonalty.

P. It doth not so folow of that which I haue saide. For first of all, she is not without a head, for so much as it hath Iesus Christ for hir head. Afterward, al be it yt the power & authoritie be giuen to the whole cōmunaltie of the faithfull, as it is in the hands of the people in a popular estate, ye which mē haue aunciently called Dimocracie: yet for al yt it hindreth not at all, but yt the church by a cōmon consent may chose out of the body of this holy communaltie such certaine persons, as may haue ye special charge, to exercise & administer the publique offices which are ordeined of God in ye same, as they do in a frée citie in ye which ye choise of publique offices is made by the burgeses & citizens of ye same ⟨p. 360⟩whiche are all of one very communaltie.

M. Thy meaning is then, that all the authority and power of the rule and government of the Church, is given in general to all the Church, and that therefore it belongeth to the same, to choose according to the word of God those whom she knoweth to be most meet to exercise therein the public offices, and to whom God hath distributed the most of his gifts, to execute the same faithfully.

M. Thy meaning is then, that all the authoritie and power of the rule and gouernement of the Church, is giuen in generall to all the Churche, and that therefore it belongeth to the same, to choose according to the word of God those whome she knoweth to be most méete to exercise therein the publique offices, and to whōe God hathe distributed the most of hys gifts, to execute the same faithfully.

P. In all the time that the Church was well ruled according to the word of God, and that she was not oppressed by tyranny, she ever used that order. And therefore it is more than necessary that she hold alway her right, her power, and authority, such as she hath received of god, to the end that there be none of the members of the same, be they either ministers of the same or else the magistrates, or the common people, that may take in hand any thing in this spiritual rule & government of their own authority, but that every one of the flock content himself with the charge that shall be committed unto him by lawful vocation.

P. In all the time that the Church was wel ruled according to the worde of God, and that she was not oppressed by tyrannie, she euer vsed that order. And therfore it is more than necessarie yt she holde alway hir right, hir power, and authoritie, such as she hath receiued of god, to the end that there be none of the members of ye same, be they either ministers of ye same or else the magistrates, or ye cōmō people, yt may take in hand any thinge in this spirituall rule & gouernmēt of their owne authoritie, but that euery one of the flocke content himselfe with the charge that shal be committed vnto him by lawful vocation.

Of the office as well of the ministers as of the other ancients and Censures of the Church, and of the regard that chiefly must be had unto them.

Of the office as vvell of the ministers as of the other auncientes and Censures of the Church, and of the regard that chiefly must be had vnto them.

M. Seeing it is so, show me then what is the office as well of the ministers as of other censures and ancients which may be joined unto them in this Ecclesiastic discipline.

M. SEing it is so, shew me thē what is ye office as wel of ye ministers as of other censures and ancients which may be ioyned vnto them in this Ecclesiastique discipline.