Jesus Christ governeth his Church so by his holy spirit, that notwithstanding he useth men as instruments, for to plant and to water, as S. Paul speaketha: moreover, be distributeth his gifts and graces diversely, how, when, and to whom seemeth good unto him for the entertainment & government of all the body of the churchb, in the which he willeth all things to be done by good order and policyc. It is not Gods pleasure nor will that we should accept all the members of y• church equal, in their charges and offices, and by this means bring a confusion into the house of God. But contrariwise one of the principal differences that we have with our adversaries, is we require that the ecclesiastical policy be established and set up again according to the word of God with the advise and counsel of the ancient fathers, which have left us their Canons for testimonies of the conduction and government which they held ⟨image 103⟩in their time: yet notwithstanding all things to be ruled by the word of God▪ and consider diligently what things are expedient to be retained or to be altered for the edification of the Church: For in matter of policy, every man knoweth well that all things be not convenient in all times nor in all places, mark I say, this is it that we have always required, and we yet earnestly require it: But seeing the negligence of many, and the small hope that we have to be provided for in a general or common consent: force hath constrained certain princes & Lords, having known and seen the common disorders, to provide and set orders in their own countries as we do see. Now they do not well that fill the ears of Princes, that we be seditious persons and Heretics, and that we allow no counsels nor ordinances of the Church, which be manifest slanders and false rumours, as ye may perceive it ye will give us hearing as appertaineth, ⟨p. 82⟩and not to make our enterparties and enemies Judges of our own causes.
IEsus Christe gouerneth his Churche so by his holye spirite, that notwithstandyng he vseth men as instrumentes, for to plant and to water, as S. Paule speaketha: moreouer, be distributeth his giftes and graces diuerlly, howe, when, and to whome seemeth good vnto him for the entertainment & gouernment of all the bodye of the churchb, in the whiche he wylleth all thynges to be done by good order and pollicyc. It is not Gods pleasure nor wyll that we should accept all the members of y• church equal, in their charges and offices, and by this meanes brynge a confusion into the house of God. But contrariwyse one of the principall differences that we haue with oure aduersaries, is we require that the ecclesiasticall pollicie be established and set vp agayne according to the woorde of God with the aduyse and counsell of the auncient fathers, whiche haue left vs theyr Canons for testimonies of the conduction and gouernement which they held ⟨image 103⟩in theyr tyme: yet notwithstanding all thinges to be ruled by the worde of God▪ and consider dilligentlye what thinges are expedient to be reteyned or to be altered for the edifycation of the Church: For in matter of policye, euerye man knoweth well that all thynges bee not conuenient in all tymes nor in al places, marke I saye, this is it that wee haue alwayes required, and we yet earnestly require it: But seing the negligence of manye, and the small hope that we haue to bee prouided for in a generall or common consent: force hath constrained certrine princes & Lordes, hauing knowen and seene the common disorders, to prouide and sette orders in theyr owne countreyes as we doe sée. Now they doe not well that fyll the eares of Prynces, that we be sedicious persones and Heretickes, and that wee allowe no counselles nor ordinaūces of the Church, which bee manifest slaunders and false rumours, as yee maye perceiue it ye will geue vs hearynge as appertayneth, ⟨p. 82⟩and not to make our enterparties and enemyes Iudges of our owne causes.
- aColo. 3 1. Cor. 5.
- b1. Cor. 1• whole ch•. bphes. 4
- c1. Cor. 14
