An exposition of the prophecy of Hosea begun in divers lectures upon the first…An exposition of the prophesie of Hosea begun in divers lectures vpon the first…

First, All Offices and Officers in the Church hold upon Christ and are from him as from the head.¹ As (you know) it is in a civill body, the Offices of a civill State holds of the King; holds upon him in a legal way, the power of the King being regular, it regulateth all power in all other Officers; that which is done, is done (you know) in the name of the King. So all the Officers & Offices in the Church, are in the name of Christ, they all hold on him.

First, All Offices and Officers in the Church hold upon Christ and are from him as from the head.¹ As (you know) it is in a civill body, the Offices of a civill State holds of the King; holds upon him in a legall way, the power of the King being regular, it regulateth all power in all other Officers; that which is done, is done (you know) in the name of the King. So all the Officers & Offices in the Church, are in the name of Christ, they all hold on him.

1. 11. All offices hold on christ the Head

First,¹ That there can be no officer nor offices in the Church, but such as Christ himself hath appointed, for they must hold of him, they must be by institution. I beseech you observe the difference between Officers in a Civill State, and Officers in a Church. A Civill State because it directly reacheth but to the outward man, hath liberty to appoint what officers it please according to the rules of prudence and justice; to appoint more or less according to the necessity of the Country & place.² But it is not so in the Church, there we have no liberty to go according to the rules of prudence merely, to erect any office, because we think it may make for the good and peace of the Church; I say, therefore to erect any new office that is not erected before in the Word, we have not that liberty, we cannot do it, we are too bold if we shall do it, for such an office will not hold of the Head. In the State none can erect new Offices; new Courts, but the supreme power, the supreme Legislative power; So in the Church, none can erect new Offices, but only from the Head. In the Civill State God leaveth a great deal of liberty; there may be change of Officers, those that are good now, perhaps they may seem not to be so fit afterwards, and those that are in one Country may not be so fit for another. But the Officers of the Church they must be all the same in all places, where they can be had, and no more but those that are appointed by Christ.