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

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.

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.

P. It is first of all to see carefully that the doctrine of the lord be not only truly set forth in the Church, but also that it be received with all honour and reverence, and practised as it is meet.

P. It is first of all to sée carefully that the doctrine of the lord be not only truly set foorth in the Church, but also that it be receyued with all honoure and reuerence, and practised as it is méete.

M. It is then meet that they which have the oversight & public charge in the church, do watch not only over the people, but also over the ministers.

M. It is then méete that they which haue the ouersight & publique charge in ye churche, do watch not only ouer the people, but also ouer the ministers.

P. But it is over the ministers chiefly, that first heed must be taken, for if their doctrine and life be not such as their office requireth, they shall be a greater slander and a greater ruin to the whole Church than any other, & God shall be more dishonoured in them than he shall in all the rest that be under their charge.

P. But it is ouer ye ministers chiefly, that first héede must be taken, for if their doctrine and life be not such as their office requireth, they shal be a greater slaunder and a greater ruine to the whole Church than any other, & God shall be more dishonored in them than he shall in all the rest that be vnder theyr charge.

M. And who shall have the superintendence over them, considering that they be the chief governors and leaders, ⟨p. 362⟩which must lead and govern all the rest that are committed unto them.

M. And who shal haue the superintendance ouer them, considering that they be the chiefe gouernours and leaders, ⟨p. 362⟩which must leade and gouerne all the rest that are cōmitted vnto them.

P. If they must in deed watch over others, and correct them, they must chiefly look upon themselves, according to the advertisement which Saint Paul giveth them,¹ and they must correct the faults that be among them, by the discipline which they should have together.

P. If they must in déede watch ouer others, and correct them, they must chiefly looke vpon themselues, according to the aduertisement whiche Saincte Paule giueth them,¹ and they must correct the faultes that bée among them, by the discipline which they should haue togither.

1. 1Act. 20. f

M. But if they do it not, but do bear the one with the other, or if there be such faults either in their doctrine or life, which deserve greater censures, or in deed open rebuke, what remedy is there for that?

M. But if they doe it not, but doe beare the one with the other, or if there be such faultes eyther in their doctrine or lyfe, which deserue greater censures, or in déede open rebuke, what remedie is there for that?

P. Then must the Ecclesiastic consistories which are ordained by and in the name of the whole Church, provide for the same, whereunto the other ancients and Censures of the Church, do assist with the ministers to remedy all offences, which may be either in the doctrine or life of any man, be he minister or other.

P. Then muste the Ecclesiastique consistories whiche are ordeyned by and in the name of the whole Churche, prouide for the same, whervnto the other auncients and Censures of the Church, do assist with the ministers to remedie all offences, whiche may be eyther in the doctrine or lyfe of any man, be he minister or other.

M. Shall not the councils provide for that?

M. Shal not the coūcels prouide for that?

P. That is a later remedy whereunto men may have recourse when necessity requireth it, provided that they be lawful.

P. That is a later remedy whervnto men may haue recourse when necessitie requireth it, prouided that they be lawfull.

M. Then must the like be understood ⟨p. 363⟩of all the rest, which are appointed in these Consistories, as Censures and Senators, and ecclesiastical judges.

M. Then muste the lyke be vnderstode ⟨p. 363⟩of al the rest, which are appointed in these Consistories, as Censures and Senators, and ecclesiasticall iudges.