A68595:372
A Brief and Pithy Sum of the Christian Faith
A brief and pithy sum of the Christian faith made in form of a confession, with a confutation of all such superstitious errors, as are contrary thereunto. Made by Theodore de Beza. Translated out of French by R.F.A briefe and piththie summe of the Christian faith made in forme of a confession, vvith a confutation of all such superstitious errours, as are contrary therevnto. Made by Theodore de Beza. Translated out of Frenche by R.F.
London: printed by Richard Serll, 1565
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
34 What is the office of the Elders in the Church.
34 VVhat is the office of the Elders in the Church.
IT is the office of the Elders principally to watch, that the Church which is committed to them, be governed by good order, according to the rule of the Gospel, and that the ecclesiastical laws and ordinances, either universal or particular, be maintained and executed diligently, according to ⟨image 132⟩their charge. And if there shall happen any new inconvenience, their duty is to provide therefore by new ordinances & injunctions conformable to the Christian religion & charity: Without burdening of mens conscience, neither to charge the Church with a multitude of laws, nor bringing in superstition according to that which hath been said herebefore, where it speaketh of counsels, either to be done by themselves, or to take the advise and counsel of other churches, and the said laws and ordinances to be incontinent allowed & authorised by the magistrate, if so be that he be a Christian. And for this cause in all the primitive Church they have been accustomed to hold provincial synods twice a year. It is their office likewise when any peril or danger doth happen among them, to appoint prayers & fasting extraordinarily, & to practise & use them in their churches, when any such chances do happen with the consent of the Christian magistrate if there be any: so that the godly ⟨p. 115⟩orders of the church may be maintained with discipline. And above all things let the word of god be diligently & sincerely preached, with the sacraments truly ministered, the ecclesiastical goods well governed, & allthings well ordered. Their duty is also to elect men meet for the same: I say elect, for it cannot be found that ever there was any other lawful, ecclesiastical vocation in the Christian Church, since it was brought into any good order of government, but by the way of election, except God called any extraordinarily, without ordinary means. Now concerning the election that it may be lawful, behold the points which we consider therein. First who ought to be electors, what persons ought to be elected, and how they ought to elect, and how to confirm the election.