Fifty Godly and Learned Sermons (The Decades)

The men, which are persuaded that ¹the care and ordering of religion doth belong to bishops alone, do make an objection, and say, that these examples which I have alleged, do nothing appertain to us which are Christians: because they are examples of the Jewish people. To whom mine answer is. The men of this opinion ought to prove that the Lord Jesus & his Apostles, did translate the care of religion from the magistrate unto bishops alone: which they shall never be able to do: But we on the other side will briefly show that these ancient princes of Gods people, Joshua, David, and the rest were Christians verily & in deed, and that therefore the examples, which are derived from them & applied to Christian princes, both are and ought to be of force and effect among us at this day. I will in the end add also the prophecy of the Prophet Isaiah, whereby it may appear that even now also kings have in the Church at this day the same office, that those ancient kings had in that Congregation which they call the Jewish Church. There is no doubt but that they ought to be accounted true Christians, which being anointed with the spirit of Christ, do believe in Christ, and are in the Sacraments made partakers of Christ. For Christ (if the interpret the very word) is as much to say, as anointed. Christians therefore according to the Etymology of their name are anointed. That anointing ²according to the Apostles interpretation is the spirit of God, or the gift of the holy ghost. But S. Peter testifieth that the spirit of Christ was in the kings & Prophets. And Paul affirmeth flatly that we have the very same spirit of faith, that they of old had. And doth moreover communicate our Sacraments with them, where he saith that they were baptised under the cloud, and that they all drank of the spiritual rock that followed them, which rock was Christ. Since then the case is so, the examples truly which are derived from the words and works of those ancient kings for the confirmation of faith and charity, both are and ought to be of force with us. And yet I know that every thing doth not consequently follow upon the gathering of examples.

The men, which are persuaded that ¹the care and ordering of religion doth belong to bishopps alone, do make an obiection, and say, that these examples which I haue alledged, do nothing apperteine to vs which are Christians: because they are examples of the Iewish people. To whom mine aunsweare is. The men of this opinion ought to proue that the Lord Iesus & his Apostles, did translate the care of religion from the magistrate vnto bishops alone: which they shal neuer be able to doe: But wée on the other side will briefly shew that these auncient princes of Gods people, Iosue, Dauid, and the rest were Christians verilie & in deede, and that therefore the examples, which are deriued from them & applied to Christian princes, both are and ought to bée of force and effect among vs at this day. I wil in the end adde also the prophecie of the Prophet Esai, wherby it may appere that euen now also kings haue in the Church at this day the same office, that those ancient kings had in that Congregation which they call the Iewish Church. There is no doubt but yt they ought to be accōpted true Christians, which being annoynted with the spirite of Christ, do belieue in Christ, and are in the Sacramentes made partakers of Christ. For Christ (if ye interprete the verie word) is as much to say, as annointed. Christians therefore according to the Etymologie of their name are annoynted. That annointing