Concerning •oose which had the office of public teaching in the Church, we find in the scripture but five degrees. Which are Apostles, ⟨image 121⟩Evangelists, Prophets, Pastors, and Doctorsa, which are all sometimes generally called Bishops, that is to say, watchmen, or overseersb, sometime Deacons, that is to say ministersc, sometime Presbyter, that is to say Senator or Elderd. Now concerning the three first of these degrees, we are certainly persuaded that they served only at the beginning, when the Lord established the kingdom of the new alliance or covenant throughout the world. For the Apostles were ordained immediately from Jesus Christ, with equal charge among theme, but yet as principal conductors of the whole building, not being restrained to any certain Church or place, as they have dreamed of Saint Peter, who by this means they have made bishop in stead of Apostle. But being sent to preach through out y• worldf, according as the spirit of the Lord conducted & lead them as gthe history of the Acts of the Apostles declared. And not as these fall legends, ⟨p. 194⟩full not only of follies and lies, but also of blasphemies, wherewith Satan hath stuffed and filled the church, the Evangelists were as coadjutors of the Apostles, whom they followed, as we see of Silas, of Timothy, and of S. Luke, and others which ordinarily accompanied Saint Paul, and were sent forth and appointed by him, as the necessity of the churches did require. The Prophets were restrained more to certain places who had singular gifts for to expound the secrets of the scriptures, and sometimes they had the gift to understand and reveal things to come, for to approve and confirm by those miracles, the doctrine of the Apostles in these first beginnings of the Church. Then remaineth now to declare of the pastors and doctors, whose office is necessary and perpetual in the Church of God in such measure as it pleaseth God. We shall speak of those here particularly.
COncernyng •oose whiche had the offyce of publyke teachyng in the Church, we fynde in the scripture but fyue degrees. Which are Apostles, ⟨image 121⟩Euangelistes, Prophetes, Pastors, and Doctorsa, which are all sometimes generally called Byshops, that is to saye, watchmē, or ouerseersb, somtime Deacons, that is to say ministersc, somtime Presbiter, that is to say Senator or Elderd. Nowe concerning the three fyrst of these degrées, we are certainely perswaded that they serued onelye at the begynning, when the Lorde establyshed the kyngdome of the newe allyaunce or couenaunt throughout the worlde. For the Apostles were ordayned immediatelye from Iesus Christe, with equall charge among theme, but yet as principall conductors of the whole buylding, not beyng restrayned to any certayne Church or place, as they haue dreamed of Saint Peter, who by this meanes they haue made bishop in stéede of Apostle. But being sent to preach thorowe out y• worldef, according as the spirit of the Lord conducted & lead them as gthe historie of the Actes of the Apostles declared. And not as these falle legendes, ⟨p. 194⟩full not onely of folyes and lyes, but also of blasphemies, wherwith Sathan hath stuffed and fylled the church, the Euangelystes were as coadiutors of the Apostles, whome they followed, as we sée of Sylas, of Timothe, and of S. Luke, and others which ordinarelye accompanyed Saint Paule, and were sent foorth and appointed by him, as the necessity of the churches dyd requyre. The Prophetes were restrained more to certaine places who had syngular giftes for to expound the secreetes of the scriptures, and sometymes they had the gyfte to vnderstande and reueale thinges to come, for to approue and confyrme by those myracles, the doctrine of the Apostles in these first beginnings of the Church. Then remaineth nowe to declare of the pastors and doctours, whose office is necessarie and perpetuall in the Church of God in such measure as it pleaseth God. We shall speake of those here particularly.
- a1. Cor. 12. Ephe. 4.
- bActs. 20. Philip. 1.Actes. 20. Philip. 1.
- c1. Cor. 3. Colos. 1.
- dActs. 20. 1. Peter. 5.
- eMath. 18. Luke. 22. Acts. 20. Cyprian in the book de simpl. prelatorū. Augustine homi•y. 50. S. John. Gasath. 1.Math. 18. Luke. 22. Acts. 20. Ciprian in the booke de simpl. prelatorū. Augustine homi•y. 50. S. Iohn. Gasath. 1.
- fActs. 1.
- gActs. 16.Actes. 16.
