But the words off master Calvin (saith he) are plain. So they are in deed / plain to show your great untruth / and plain to show that which I contend for: that is / that although some things are not to be followed: yet other some things in this election / are and ought to serve / for the direction off the election off the ministers now. And because you shall not abuse the reader / nether with the denial off things to be so / which are manifest / nor guileful escapes / wherewith you go about to defeat the authorities which I allege: although it be much against my will / to lengthen my book with translating so thick / and three fold of other mens sentences into mine: yet being driven to it / I had rather be somewhat troublesome to the reader: then that your unhonest practises should not appear / to all that will not willingly close there eyes against the truth. But before I cum to master Calvin / I will set down Cyprian's words which are there commended by master Calvin. Cyprian therefore (speaking off the election of a Minister) writeth amongest other things / thus. God commandeth that the priest should be placed before the face off the whole congregation off the Jews: that is to 1say, he doth teach, and show, that the ordeininges off the ministers, ought not to be made, but with the knowledge of the people standing by: whereby they being present, either their faults should be discovered, or their virtues commended: and so it may be a just, and a lawful ordination, which is by the voices, and judgements of all examined. The which after ward according to the divine mastership, or authority, is observed in the Acts off the Apostles: where Peter speaketh unto the people, off ordaining a bishop into Judas place. Off which place first it appeareth / that the people not only had / but ought to have to do / in the appointing off there minister: and that not by any custom / or decree off men / but by the eternal word off God / both in the old / and new Testament. Also / that their right consisteth / both in examining the life off him which is to be chosen / and in the approbation off him if they like off him / or refusal if they like him not: which Cyprian proveth both by the 20. off the numbers / by this place / and the sixth off the acts / which he also citeth.
But the wordes off maister Caluine (saithe he) are plaine. So they are in deede / plaine to shewe your great vntreuth / and plaine to shewe that which I contende for: that is / that althowghe some thinges are not to be followed: yet other some thinges in this election / are and owghte to serue / for the direction off the election off the ministers nowe. And because you shall not abuse the reader / nether with the deniall off thinges to be so / which are manifest / nor guilfull escapes / wherwithe yow goe aboughte to defeate the autorities which I alledge: although yt be muche against my will / to lenghthen my booke with translating so thicke / and three folde of other mens sentences into mine: yet being driuen to yt / I had rather be somewhat troublesome to the reader: then that yowr vnhonest practises shoulde not appeare / to all that will not willingly close there eyes against the truthe. But before I cum to maister Caluine / I will set downe Cyprians wordes which are there commended by maister Caluin. Cyprian therfore (speaking off the election of a Minister) writethe amongest other thinges / thus. God commandeth that the preyst shoulde be placed before the face off the vvhole congregation off the Ievves: that is to 1say, he dothe teache, and shevve, that the ordeininges off the ministers, ovvghte not to be made, but vvithe the knovvledge of the people standing by: vvherby they being presente, either theyr faultes shoulde be discouered, or their vertues commended: and so it may be a iuste, and a lavvfull ordination, vvhich is by the voyces, and iudgemētes of all examined. The vvhiche after vvard according to the dyuine mastershippe, or authoritie, is obserued in the Actes off the Apostels: vvhere Peter speaketh vnto the people, off ordeining a bishop into Iudas place. Off which place fyrst yt appeareth / that the people not onely had / but oughte to haue to doo / in the appointing off there minister: and that not by any custome / or decree off men / but by the eternall worde off God / bothe in the olde / and newe Testament. Also / that theyr right consisteth / bothe in examining the life off him which is to be chosen / and in the approbation off him yff they like off him / or refusall iff they like him not: which Cyprian proueth bothe by the 20. off the numbers / by this place / and the sixte off the actes / which he also citeth.
- 11. li. Epi. 4.
