A second admonition to the parliament

This order of the ⟨p. 53⟩church government / is grounded upon that saying of our saviour. ^*Tell the church / wherein it is certain he alludeth to that consistory of the Jews / and the scriptures that direct their government. And it is so certain / that such a consistory they had / and such elders / as it shall not² need further to examine those scriptures / but to come to the practise of the Apostles / & the churches planted by them. The apostle noteth y• there §10are in the church bearing office / & ruling / which should be had in estimation for their office / two sorts of elders and rulers / whereof the one sort also ruleth / but they labour in the word and doctrine to / and their office is the principal. He distinguisheth them to the Corinthians / the teachers³ and the governors / because all governors are not teachers / but because all teachers are governors / as to Timothy before is said / so to the Romans / dividing the offices of the⁴ church into two sorts / government / and ministering §20to the pore. To the first office he assigneth doctors / pastors / and governors / calling them by these names / teachers / exhorters / and rulers / and to the second office / he assigneth deacons & widows / calling the first those that minister / and the widows those that show mercy. Of the widows I will say no further / but upon like decasyon it is God his order. But for the other orders / they must be in all well ordered churches of Christians. The Apostle Paul and Barnabas⁵ §30set such order in the churches which they planted. It was so in the churches of Rome / of Corinth / of Ephesus. An order is set down