A Second Reply to an Answer Made by Doctor Whitgift Part 1

That functions off Apostles / Evangelists / and Prophets are not ordinary.

Chap 3. pag 229.

TO the end it may be better understanded / that the D. hath here in maintenance of his Anabaptistical dream / so confusedly turned upon heaps: I will first maintain the arguments which I have set down: after answer unto his reasons taken out of the scripture: thirdly show howe impudently he hath abused the authority / both of elder / and later writers / to cover this phrenesie. Which shall be doon so much the shorter / as he is unworthy any answer at all. First to nip at the distinction off ordinary / and extraordinary functions / received off all which have but a sparkle off judgment / he saith / that the gift off foretelling things to come, was for the time wherein yt was, ordinary. Which beside that yt is senseless / yt being ordinary in this part / which is doon by a settled order / and rule appointed off God unto his church: yt ys also from the purpose / considering / that the question is not off an ordinary function / in the beginning off the Gospel: but off the gospel simply / which reacheth to the whole estate off the church / under the Gospel. Therefore forasmuch as he cannot deny / but such Prophets (if any were) should now be extraordinary: the distinction standeth.

After to that I set down off the word Apostle, extended in the proper signification to all Ministers that are sent, which the knowledge of the Greek word might have led him to / he opposeth Calvin / which saith / in the proper signification it only comprehendeth the number off 12. Wherein he declareth himself but a trifler. For unless he be at defiance with his grammar: he shall be constrained will he nill be / to confess it to be true which I have set down. That which Master Calvin saith / is not contrary: considering that where I spake off the general use off the word / he spake of the use off it in the new Testament / where it is most usually taken in that sense. As for that he saith / it is the proper signification: he meaneth not the natural as I meant / and expressed: but the particular / in which sense proper is also taken / which appeareth in that he calleth the other general.

Where I assigned a proper note off an Apostle, to be called immediately off God: he setteth him self to confute it / when a little before he had statly confessed / that yt is a thing proper unto the Apostles, to be called off God immediately. His first exception is of Matthias, which he saith was not so chosen: which is utterly untrue: where he saith also that I confess the same: that is an open untruth. For I shown that the election out off those two / was permitted unto lot that thereby the Lord might from heaven / declare whom he would have to be an Apostle. So that the church chose no Apostle / but only chose two off the which one was taken by the Lord / to be an Apostle. His other exception is off Barnabas, which being an Apostle (as he saith) appeareth by the 11. off the Acts, not to have been called immediately: where there is not a word which confirmeth that / and therefore he durst not note the place / whereof he gathered yt. Where he saith it cannot be proved by the scripture, that he was so called: he beggeth the thing in controversy / not able to answer the reasons alleged. For where he saith / that S. Paul doth not say that he saw Christ to prove that he was an Apostle, but to prove that he was not inferior to other Apostles: he is manifestly confuted both by the words going before / and following after. For having propounded this for his question / am I not an Apostle, and not as he saith / am I inferior to any Apostle: he addeth for a reasō / have I not seen Christ. And in the next words that follow / if I be not an Apostle unto others, yet I am to yow, he declareth that the estate off the question is there / whether he were an Apostle / or no. To that I alleged off the protestants / proving that the Pope cannot be Peters successor, because there is no succession into the office off an Apostle: he aswereth not.

To that I alleged off Epaphroditus called an Apostle, not in respect of the ministry of the word, but as sent with relief unto Saint Paul: he patcheth out an answer almost of as many coulors / as he alledgeth authorities. out off the Centuries / that he was an Apostle in that sense that Paul, and the rest off the Apostles were. Which beside that yt is false (they only affirming that he was an Apostle) is clean contrary to that he alledgeth out off Calvin / that it is taken there generally, for any sent to preach: and therefore it cannot be taken in that signification off Apostles / in which the 12 and Paul. yt is contrary also to that owt off Ambrose / which saying that he was therefore called an Apostle, because he was sent off Paul: confirmeth in part that which I have set down / that he was called an Apostle / not in respect off any dignity off ministry / above others Ministers off the word: but only in that he was sent. Finally contrary to that alleged owt of Theodoret / which so calleth him an Apostle: that forthwith also he maketh him to be a Bishop. When as if he be a Bishop / he cannot be such an Apostle as the 12. considering that they be two several members off the ministers off the Gospel / differing by the D. own confession / at the least in the place of exercise off their mystery: the bishop having an especial bond to his Bishopric / and the Apostle preaching Where he thinketh need

Where he saithe also that it confirmeth his side, that he is called the Apostle off the Philippians, and other the Apostles off the churches, for that thereby it may appear, that one may be Apostle off a kingdom, or off a province: he dalieth with his reader. For in that place I alleged out off the 2. Corinthes 8. the Apostles off the churches are not so called / in respect off any ministry off the word / but off the alms which they were sent with. And beside that the church off the Philip. was nether province nor kingdom / but a particular church: Epaphroditus is not called their Apostle / in that he was sent off Saint Paul unto them: but in that the Philip. sent him to Saint Paul: as the words which follow immediately after / observed off Master Beza do declare. So that if that place prove an Apostle: yt proveth one sent / not to a province / or kingdom / but unto one singular person only. But who would vouchsafe an answer / to such scrapinges?

Against that I alleged to prove / that Iunias / and Adronicus were no Apostles / for that a man may be famous amongst the Apostles / and yet no Apostle: he opposeth Martyr, that seemeth to doubt whether the words will bear that sense: which I leave to the readers judgment. The other reason that S. Paul calleth them kinsfolk / and fellow prisoners / and not fellow laborers / which his use is when he speaketh of those / which have any ministry of the gospel: he toucheth not. He hath raked up to no no purpose a number off bare opinions / which I will not wrestell with: considering that nothing thereby falleth frō our cause. For if both Epaphroditus / and these be Apostles / such as Paul / and Barnab. I refer myself to that where I have shown / that that function is ceased. If in the general signification / for that they are sent to preach: yt maketh nothing to the question / seeing the D. must show that there is an ordinary particular function off Apostleship / severed from the office off a Pastor / Evangelist / and Prophet. Where he saith / he alleged them to prove that some now may preach, which have no certain clear: I could not think himso forsaken off all judgment / that he would make such a conclusion: howbeit I trust now he hath his answer.

That I alleged the Apostles declaring that they would not have this order continued in the church, in that they renewed not that order of Apostles, as they were taken away by death: he answereth / first that the scripture doth not express it. As if S. Luke which so diligently described the election off Matthias / would have quit ouerleaped this / if there had been any. And considering that they had not such cause to draw them to a new consultation of a new Apostle / as in the 1. Act. which was an express word / off taking another into the room off Judas: it is manifest that they attempted no such thing after. So that alththough yt be not expressed: yet it is contained in scripture / that there was no consultation off another Apostle. If not / howe is he (as he saith) persuaded / that there was none chosen into their places? or how knoweth he / that it was not necessary? will he still have his persuasions in divinity / without the word? without which they are no persuasions / but idle fancies. After he asketh whoever said, that there must be twelve Apostles, nether more nor less? as though my reason tended to that. But if the Apostles did not uphold that small number off twelve / which the Lord instituted: yt proveth that their mind was / not to choose about that number. And if they would not continue 12. to gather the • 2. tribes off Israel / scattered thorough the whole world: they meant not that there should be a greater number / to gather those which were scattered in one Island,

To that I alleged off Ambrose / which saith / that he would not take upon him the estate of an Apostle: he answereth / that he said so, to abase him self, because in another place, he challengeth not the circumspection off a pastor. will he never wake out off this sleep? for to let pass that not to acknowledge the grace of God bestowed on him / is a fault / as to challenge that which he hath not received: and not to enter here into his ability / of doing the office of a Pastor: doth he not see that the cause off not taking vpō him the estate off an Apostle / is assigned not in his disablenes / but in that which the greatest wit / learning / and godliness off those times / could not come unto / that is to say / that none could challenge the office off an Apostle, but he whom the son off God him self had chosen? He might as well say / that it is a point off great modesty for a man to profess / that he cannot clyme up into heaven / without a ladder. Nether is this Ambrose judgment only / but Ignatius: which in those epistles that the D. will have rightly borne / saith that he will not command them any thing, as an Apostle. In deed Novatus a runnegate / Manes a Phranticke / Martial a coleprophet / Romish Augustine / the Anabaptists off our time / and such brambels have intitled them selves by the name off Apostles / and taken upon them to ordain others: but all that have had together with piety / any spark off judgment / have beside their heresies condemned also this frenzy. Cyprian reproacheth Novatus / that he sent forth new Apostles. August. presseth the Manicheans once / or twice: which said / they were Apostles / and demandeth what scripture they could show / to show themselves Apostles. Whereby he declareth that he esteemed no other Apostles / then which had particular testimony off the scripture: which thing he never laid to the charge off other orders off the Manichean Ministers. Zwingli also chargeth the Anabaptists / as well for that they took vpō them the office: as also for that they challenged the name / off Apostle.

But the D. seeing his folie laid open to the derision off young children / hath in favor off his Apostles / and Prophets / invented a new distinction. For where I alleged certain proper marks off the Prophets / as foretelling things to come / and Apostles / as immediate calling from God / seeing off Christ / embassadge into the whole world / which not falling into any function now in use / prove that they are ceased: he aswereth / that Prophets, and Apostles in such respects are ceased, but continue still as touching preaching the gospel. Then which what can be more bluntly spoken? For yt as much as if one should say / that a beast is a man / although not in respect that it hath a natural capacity off reason / and speech: yet in that it liveth / and hath sense as a man. For as a man / and a beast being both living things / are severed one from another by their properties / and special differences (as they be called off the Logicians): even so Apost. Prophets / Evangelists / Pastors / Doctors / being all preachers off the Gospel / are severed by that wherein they differ / one from another. And as he can be no man which hath none off those differences / whereby a man is severed from other living things: so he cannot be Prophet / or Apostle / which hath nothing whereby he may differ / from a Pastor / Doctor / or Evangelist. Yt is also too childish / that he understandeth not how the difference off a thing (which is the substantial form) being taken away / the thing it self cannot remain.

Therefore if the D. will have Apostles / Prophets / and Evangelists remain: he must show howe both everyone off those / now differ from them selves / and from the functions off Pastor / and Doctor. In which behalf he hath been hacking / but his tools will not enter. For this new Apostles office, is placed in preaching the word where need requireth: the Prophets in an especial gift off interpreting the scriptures: the Evangelists office being set between three opinions / as it were three stools / ether off preaching more fervently then other, or off preaching the gospel, or off preaching simply, falleth flat to the ground. For howe dare he take upon him to set up Evangelists / whē as appeareth here / and especially pa. 407. he knoweth not what their office is, and wherein it consisteth? Which might have served him for a piece off instruction / that that functiō is ceased. For evē as the Jews if they were not altogether blinded / might understand that the Lord hath takē away the difference off clean / and unclean beasts / in that (by their own confession) they cannot come to the knowledge off meats forbidden: even so if (as he saith) the Lord hath not left any exact knowledge in the scriptures of this office / beside other reasons / he declared by this also / that his meaning was / that it should have no continuance. Considering that there is no office off continuance / whereof all the partes / have not a full sight / and manifest show in the scriptures.

But let the Answ. reap that he never sue / and not able to prove any / let him enjoy ether all / or that signification off Evangelists / which serveth his turn best. First it cannot be denied / but all these three agree in preaching off the gospel. Likewise that which the D. assigneth in the description off Apostles / that they preach where need requireth, agreeth unto his Evangelists / and Prophets / both by the practice of their offices in the scripture: and by the D. own confession / especially in Evangelists / whose ministry he appointeth in going from place to place. This difference thē remaineth / that Evangelists do preach with greater zeal then other, the Prophets with greater dexterity off interpreting. Wherein first he is a small friend off the Apostles. Whom contrary to their institution / he hath thrust down under the degree off Prophets / and Evangelists / which having certain gifts off Zeal / and dexterity off interpreting above them: must needs have the upper hand. Secondly he hath given a check to the Prophets / whom the scripture preferring before / he placeth behind the Evangelist. For the gift off Zeal in preaching the word simply / being more excellent then to have a special dexterity / and red • nes in interpreting (thone proceeding off greater knowledge / the other off greter love): the office whereunto yt is knit / must needs be higher. Thirdly let him show / how thes Evangelists / Prophets / and Apostles / may be changed into Pastors. For if their gifts off interpretatiō / and Zeal / be greater thē fall into a Pastor: then yt is nether lawful for the Bishop to admit / nor for them to accept the office off a pastor / after they have once exercised thes offices: which is directly contrary to the practice off our churches. Fourthly if there be such offices / why are they not ordained everyone to their several function: Apostles to their Apostleship / Prophets to their Prophetship / Evangelists to their Evangelist ship? that they may know to what kind of Ministry to apply themselves / and poursue after that gift / which is moste agreeable with their office. Fifthly / considering that yt is common to them all to preach whereneed requireth / how cometh yt to pass / that some being restrained unto a Diocese / other have for their circuit / a whole province / other a whole realm / other two realms off England / and Ireland? or if this diversity off limitation / make diversity off function: let him tell us / which off thes we shall take for Apostles / which for Prophets / which for Evangelists. But there would be no end / if I should poursue all the absurdities / which hang upon this assertion. I come therefore unto that spoken a part off the Evangelists.

He saith that he hath shown by scripture, reason, and authority, that though the name off an Evangelist be changed, yet the office remaineth: which is moste untrue. For nether hath yt any authority at all / and yt is both against reason / and scripture / that the office by his saying remaining fully / and in all pointes: the name should be changed. I say by his saying fully / and in all pointes / forasmuch as that touching writing off the gospel (wherein only he maketh our Evangelists / to differ from those in the Apostles time) shall be shown not to appertain unto the office off an Evangelist / such as Saint Paul speaketh off. Where I said it is against reason / that the name should be taken away: both I said it for that there is a profitable admonition in it / to keep them in remembrance off their duty: and for that it containeth a mark off Honor / above certain other ministers. Which being a part off reward / ought not to be cut of from them / which do faithfully bestow themselves in that office. yt is against scripture manifestly: which by this means is set to school / whilst the name which yt gave being caste aside / another as more fit / is received. Whereunto ad / that it is against common experience. For it cometh often to pass / that the duties commanded falling away / the names anexed unto them remain: but that they remaining / the names (especially which carry a note off honor / that men so willingly lay hold of) wear out / is very seldom / or never heard off. So that here I have to thank the D. which putteth me in remembrance off a very probable reason / against all his new found as well Prophets / and Apostles / as Evangelists. Which is / that for so much as the names were worn out many ages ago / the offices them selves had also an end: and forasmuch as no ordinary minister now / owght to be called by thes titles / or being called to receive thē: there fore the offices whereof these be the names / are ceased. Otherwise these titles both ought to be givē / and may be received / as well as those of bishop / or Pastor / and Doct.

Where I allege that Timothy, and Philip Evangelists, had their vocation confirmed by miracle: touching Philip he maketh an outcry / for that he was entered into his ministry off Euangelistship, before the miracle 8. Act. 29. As if the same came not to pass in Aaron / which had his calling confirmed by miracle / long after he had don the office of the high priest. Likewise he answereth / that it was rather doon for the Eunuchs sake, then for Philip's. Albeit yt were so / yet by that (rather) is not shut forth / that yt was dō for Philip's. If he had learned that David / and other servants off God / come oftentimes ether through small success in their ministry / or manifold contradictions off the wicked / or sense off their own weakness / into doubt off their calling: he would not have found it so strange / that the servants off God in their own respect / have had these confirmacions. Where he saith / these particular examples make no general rule: I shown the likelihood / whereupon I thought the rest to have the same / forsomuch as these two which the scripture only calleth Evangelists / had that confirmation. Which I leave to the judgment of the reader.

Where he saith / the place 1. Tim. 1. 18. proveth not that Timo. had his calling confirmed by miracle, first because Prophecy is no miracle, then because he being ordained by putting on off hands, needed no confirmaton by miracle: the first is nothing but daliance in the word / my meaning being apparent / which is / that he was by an extraordinary calling / and in our Ministers unwonted. Albeit if to have things hid / and which no knowledge off man is able to come unto foretold / be miraculous: yt cannot be denied / but that a Prophecy may in a general sense / be called a miracle. The other exception is frivolous: considering that both Paul / and Barnabas which were miraculously called of the holy ghost / by the voice off the Prophets / unto acerten ministry / had notwithstanding for a further confirmation / the laying on off hands off the Mynisterie off Antioch. And yt ys also vngoddly / as that which directly contrarieth Saint Paul which drawing arguments for the confirmation off Timothy / as well off that Propheceie / as off the imposition off hands: esteemed them both needful. That which he addeth / that there is no mention off any Euangelistship in that place off Timothy: is unworthy any answer.

An other answer is / that Timoth. was Bishop. in proof whereof like an evil shoomaker as one said / which putteth a great shoo on a little foot / he hath spent a whole sheet off papir. When if he had gained this point / yt would serve him to small advantage: which notwithstanding how far he is from / shall plainly be seen. Therefore to give the onset off this great heap / his first reason that Timothy was bishop, because the Epistels written unto him contain the office off a bishop: proveth as well that he was a Deacon / a widow / a man / a woman / old / young / and consequently a monstre: seeing he wrote off all their duties. Yea rather that he was a Deacon. Considering that there is nothing in the description off a Deacon / which agreeth not unto him: but in the description off a bishop / that which he requireth off not being given to wine, and not being a young Christian, could have no place in Timothies instruction: nourished in the truth from his cradel / and so sparing in the use off wine / that S. Paul was fain to call him to a more liberal vso off it. let him show therefore but one only precept directed unto Timothy in both those Epistels which is proper unto a bishop: nay let him show one procept (that only excepted which I alleged / off doing the work of an Evangelist) which owght not as well to have been observed off the Apostle himself / if he had taught where Timothy did. If he be able to show no one such point / which maketh him to differ from other ministers of the word: then all may see how vain a reason this is / which he hath made the growndsell off this cause.

His second reason drawn (as he calleth yt) off the subscription of the second Epistle / is as vain. For who is there unless be which hath his nose stuffed / with self willed prejudice against the truth / that cannot easily smell that subscription / not to be in the canon off the holy scripture? for considering that he had in the beginning off the Epistle / made the direction unto Timothet what needed he in the subscription / repeat the same again? Likewise that he was first, and that he was ordained, or chosen by voice: sauoreth not S. Paul. Considering that if there were any such thing / both Timot. and the Ephesi. knew it well: and there was more cause to write that in the former Epistel / then in this whereby he calleth him from thence: also in the superscription / then in the subscriptiō. seeing it is contrary to all use of letters / to set ether the name / or titles off him to whom we write / in the subscription / or vnderwriting of our letters. This riot / and disorder hardly happen unto a man off mean Judgment / and shall we think that they were committed off Saint Paul / or rather of God by him? last off all / that the subscription hath was written, and not written, and when Paul appeared, not when I / or when I Paul appeared: doth manifestly argue / that yt was none off his / considering that there ys no such subscription in all his Epistles / where he speaketh off himself / in the third person. And seeing in those things wherein he used the hand off another / which copied out his letters / he never useth that manner of speech: that he would use yt in the subscription / which cannot be otherwise esteemed then off his own hand / yt is altogether incredible▪

Where for confirmation off this he saith / that it is so in the most, best, and auncientest Greek copies: himself setdowne his answer / which he is not able once to remove. For if those subscriptions be untrue / as appeareth / especially in that of the first epistle to the Cor. which have testimony off the moste / best / and auncientest writers / as well as this: how cometh yt to pass / that there being the self same authority in both / yt should be off such strength in in this subscription / which is off no value in the other? nay when that subscription to the Cor. hath the testimony off all Greek copies / and this off his is forsaken not only off the Syriac paraphrase / but off diverse the auncientest Greek copies: howe is he not ashamed to lay such weight off this cause / in that testimony? yt is true therefore that M. Beza saith / that these subscriptions were not S. Paul's / but some others / for the most part ether unlearned / or not so well advised.

His third reason is drawn off authority off writere. wherein not to examine howe truly he hath alleged these places / as a thing unworthy the tourning off a leaf / nor to speak off his fond allegation off diverse authorities / especially Chrysostom / and Theodoreis / which make no manner mention off any bishopely state off Timothy / off Zwingli twice cited which making the office off a bishop / and Evangelist one / serveth not to prove / ether that he was more a bishop then an Evangelist / or that the same may have diverse functions at once: I say not to examine these / they are all (if I would use his own weapon) overthrown in a word / that histories are not curious, in calling men by their several titles. If that be true in histories / which off all other seek after even from the cradell to the grave / things of les importance / then the office which a man hath borne / ether in church / or common wealth: much more is it in other writers. But that writers especially when they speak by the way / and not off set purpose / speak thus / and call mē by vnpropertitles: shall be once answered against all the rakinges / both here / and pag. 230. when I come to the D. arguments whereby he proveth Prophets / Evangelists / Apostles / &c. In the mean season I will not stick to confess / that diverse off these writers / histories especially (peradventure deceived by that subscription) esteemed him a bishop / and no Euangeliste. But what then? if they were for one a 100. they cannot countervail / much less bear down / the testimony of the Apostle.

Howbeit not all the ancient writers / are (as he untruly saith) of that judgment. For not to speak of Ambrose / which calleth Timot. a Deacon / where he opposeth a Deacon to a bishop: Ignatius an ancient writer saith / that he was a Deacon / and that where he deviding the ministries off the church into Bishops / and Deacons / &c. doth openly oppose a Deacon to a bishop. Where all his testimonies are not able to afford one sentence / wherein Timothy is so called a Bishop / that he is opposed / unto an Evangelist. Therefore although thes places prove him nor an Evangelist: yet they have more to prove that he was no bishop / that all those to prove him a bishop / which are raked here together. Albeit Ignatius missing the proper name / assigneth him the true office off an Evangelist: which was to be assistant to Saint Paul in his Apostleship. Where he saith / that all the new writers are off that mind that he was a bishop, Master Beza only excepted: I trust the Doctors faith in alleging authorities / ys too well known / to abuse the simplest anymore / with these visardes. I only had Calu. and Muscul. at hand / the reader may look others if he think good: both which plainly say he was an Evangelist / where they handle properly the several ministries off the church / and make a manifest difference between a bishop / and an Evangelist. And such is his dealing / that he feareth not to bring even from thence a piece of proof / where Calu. moving the question / whether the word Evangelist verified off Timoth. be taken in a general sense / for any that preacheth the word / or for that proper office which S. Paul expresseth to the Ephes. upon two reasons concludeth / that he speaketh off that office off an Evangelist. Yet upon that he saith / Timothy was excellenter then common Pastors: this trim interpreter concludeth directly against Calvin / that he had the proper office off a Bishop, and that Calvin meant that he had a notable gift above the rest off the Pastors. As though Calvin reasoned not off the degree off offices / one above another: but off the degree of gifts in one / and the same. Yt is too great shame to strive with such light of words. Considering that he doth there make Timothes office, a middle degree between Pastors, and Apostles: higher then Pastors / lower then Apostles.

This man also which reproacheth me as one setting the fathers together by the ears, without cause where the disagreemēt is manifest / and which saith simply / that yt is great injury to learned men, to accuse them off contrariety with themselves: goeth about to prove Beza directly contrary unto him self. For where Beza showeth that Saint Paul did not leave Tim. at Ephesus, as their bishop, which the D. in affirming that Beza is against him confesseth, he busieth himself / to prove him to have contrary sentences. For proof hereoff he alledgeth / that all were bishops which S. Paul sent for from Ephesus to Miletum: and therefore Timothy being one off those which by Beza's judgment was sent for, must needs be a Bishop. Albeit it he granted which Beza saith / that Tim. was sent for: yet that they were all bishops wanted proof. For all know that it is not unwonted / to call a whole company gathered off diverse degrees / by the title off that whereof there are must in the company / without speaking to everyone by their particular titles: especially seeing he speaketh indefinitely / that the holy ghost, had appointed them, and not all them Bishops. Where Saint Luke saith that both the princes off the people / Elders / and Scribes / and those of the race off the high priests were assembled: Peter in speaking unto them maketh mention only off the Princes / and Elders / without naming the scribes / and priests / which notwithstanding he spake unto with the rest.

But I can hardly grant that Timothy was then sent for / to come with the rest off the Ministers unto Miletum. considering that there was as appeareth so small a space / at the least between the time which Beza supposeth Timoth. to have been sent to Ephesus from S. Paul / and this sending for the bishops unto Miletum: that Timo. taking the straight course unto Ephesus / was little more then only arrived / when Saint Paul sent from Miletum. Secondly for that S. Paul writeth unto Timothy / that he left Trophimus / one off his companions in that journey / sick at Miletum: which had been nedeles if Timothy had been with Paul / as the bishops off Ephesus were / until he parted from Miletum. Thirdly / for that S. Paul in that oration unto the bishops / saith that he knew that none off them should see his face anymore: which he would never have said off Tim. His other reason that he calleth him president, a general word agreing to any in preeminence / is nothing worth. That which he joineth to back yt with / as added by Beza out off Cypri. that the Bishop ruled the college off Seniors: the place is in his confessions / and not where he assigneth. howbeit yt maketh nothing to the purpose. For although the Bishops were presidentes in the Eldership in Cyprians time / when that office was the highest in the church: yet yt followeth not therefore / that the bishops were always the first in the Apostles times / when there were higher functions. Unless the D. will say that the bishops toke the upper hand off the Apostles / and Prophets / when they came unto their churches / and joined them selves unto their consultations.

And albeit yt hath appeared / and shall appear that the Answ. hath not wun so much as a poor cottage: yet as though he had taken great Babylon / or Nineveh / he maketh his Triumphes: which if he had had any hold off himself / at least he might have deferred / until he had answered the reasons to the contrary. For if (as he moste untruly saith) he had all the writers calling Timothy bishop: yet if the scripture stand for us / yt ys reason that he with all his writers / should veil their bonnet. Now therefore although he say / I forget my promise, of proving Timothy an Evangelist: yet the reason I alleged / that the scripture so calleth him, will prove better memory in this point / then he can well afford. To this reason he answereth / first that the scripture doth not call him so, but only biddeth him do the work of an Euang. which in deed is more against him. For they are sometimes called by a title / which not doing the work belonging thereunto / cannot be properly so called: but they which do the work which the title pretendeth / may always properly be called by yt. And the vsuallest arguments in scripture / to prove or improve a man to be such / as he beareth countenance off / are fetched from this place off effects.

His second answer standeth off the interpetation off these words / the work off an Evangelist. Which being alleged out off Bulling. Muscul. Heming. to be preaching the gospel purely, and constantly is nothing to the purpose. For we grant yt is true / but that there is further understanded / which may severe him from other ministers off the word. Whereoff Calvin assigneth thes reasons: one that by ascribing unto him this degree above that off Pastors / he might procure him more authority: the other that he might thereby give the spur to stir up / and enforce himself to all careful travail / off answering so high a calling. Off both which reasons he assigneth a manifest cause / which is that the Apostle throughout his whole epistle / driveth unto those two ends: This is yet clearer / for that where other titles off Apost. Prophe. &c. be carried off the scripture from their particular / unto a general signification: this word off Evangelist (set a part this place in controversy) is not used but to note that proper office / opposed unto other ministries off the word. And therefore the Apostle having occasion to speak off this word preacher / shunneth (as seemeth) the word Evangelist / and useth another: when as notwithstanding the word Evangelist was proper to holy writ / and the other common to profane: off which reason also I left a step / in the place before recited. Again Eusebius (howsoever otherwise he forgetteth himself) where he speaketh off that proper office / noteth it out by the same manner of speech which the Apostle: saying / they did the work off Evangelists. Last off all it appeareth by that the scripture setteth forth off him / both before he was at Ephesus / and after / touchching his ministry in many places where the Apostles had taught before: that the work off Evangelist / is taken in that particular signification / whereby it is severed from other Ministers: considering that the Evangelists office was / to water where the Apostles had planted / and to be assistant unto them.

His third answer is a mash / and bruing of all together / drink fitter for horse / then men. For to be sure to make Timothy a bishop / he thinketh that one at one time / may be Apostle / Evangelist / Doctor / bishop / and I cannot tell what: which is directly against the word off God. As when yt saith that God gave some Apostles, some Prophets: again he set first Apostles, secondly Prophets, &c. Again are all Apostles, are all Prophets, &c. Whereby appeareth / that the holy ghost placeth thes diverse gifts in several persons / and that they are one under another: so that unless one / and the same mā may at one time / be second and third / inferior and superior / before and after him self: yt cannot be that one at one time / can be Apostle / Evangelist / &c. hitherto pertaineth (which is touched in the former book) that the Apostle bringeth off the likeness off constitution off our bodies / with the church, that as the natural body / so the spiritual of the church / is best preserved / and maintained in most comeliness / when every member doth his proper office: and of the contrary side / •• thone so the other is hurt / and disfygured / when one breaketh upon another. Whereuppon yt is evident / how untrue yt ys which the D. doth in so great assurance set down: that one may be Evangelist / and Bishop at one time.

Besides that / he is confuted by his own words. For if the office off an Evangelist / be to preach more fervently then others: (which significatiō those three which he hath set down only (as that which putteth a difference betwē yt and others) cā stand) thē he cā be no bishop: considering that every office hath his proper gift / according to the measure whereof it is exequuted. And yt is as absurd / that a bishop should preach more feruētly / and beyond the measure of a bishop: as yt is that a mā may leap beyond himself / ouerrun himself. yt is said that one in his full age / differeth from him self in his childhood: and a man at one time / may after a sort pass him self at another: but that he should differ from himself / at one and the same time / as the D. judgment implieth / this is the first tidings I have heard off yt. Again yt is holden off all that I have red (Zwingli only excepted / which maketh a bishop / and an Evangelist all one) that both an Evangelist is not / and a bishop is / bound to a certain place. And this difference is thus far confessed off the D. that the Pastor is more bound to one special church / then the Evangelist. which if yt be true / a man being (as he saith) at one time both bishop / and Evangelist / may be also at one time bound / and not bound unto one place / have a special charge off one / and indifferent off all: which will be hard for him to bring to pass / without he work miracles.

For his reasons whereupon this opinion standeth / that Saint Paul is called a Doctor, S. Matthew, and John being Apostles, are off writers called Evangelists: they are far from proving this. Touching the first / Saint Paul ys not called a Doctor simply / but with addition Doctor off the Gentiles: declaring that his Mynistry pertained not to one kingdom / but unto all / which is all one with an Apostle. Towching the other / he should understand that our question ys not off an Evangelist as writers / but as Saint Paul taketh Evangelist: which can be by no means understanded off him / which writeth the story off the gospel. considering that Philip which is confessed to have been an Evangelist / in that sense was none. If he say that the Apostle meant / to set forth two kinds of Evangelists / one preaching only / another preaching / and writing too: I answer / that Saint Paul pourposing there to set forth the liberality off the Lord / in giving preaching ministries unto the church / was nether so negligent a commender off the grace off God / nor so dry / and poor off speech: but if there had been another several ministry (as this answer supposeth) he both would / and could have used another word / as a several dishe to have presented this gift with. And seeing the D. bringeth in S. Paul / offering one only gift of the bishoprik / unto the church / in two words as it were two dishes: what likelihood ys there / that he would thrust up so narrowly thes two gifts / whereof ech off them being more excellent then the bishopric / asketh greater room?

Moreover by the same reason that men may call Saint Matthew / and Saint John Evangelists / because they wrote the stories of the gospel: they may call S. Paul / and Peter / &c. For as they wrote the story / so thes wrote the sum off the whole doctrine off the gospel. They being therefore both writers off the gospel / in this rule of esteeming Evangelists by writing / must needs be a like Evangelists. For the Greek word favoreth the one as well as the other: yt being as joyful news / which S. Peter / and Paul wrote / as that which S. Matthew / and John. For the difference off story and sum, bring not a grain weight to pull the name of Evangelists more to these / then to those. Now therefore forsomuch as yt ys manifest by the subscription of S. Paul's epistels / that he writing did the office of an Apostle: it is also clear / that both S. Matthew / and John being Apostles / in writing the story off the Gospel did the same: and that the committing off the Gospel to writing / was not the proper difference off any special office / but according to thoccasions offered / and moving of the holy spirit off God / common to other functions off that time. And as the Pastors off our time which both preach / and write / differ not in ministry from those which preach only / and are oftentimes more excellent pastors / then they, so the w • sting off Saint John / and Matthew being Apostles / off Saint Lucke / and Marck Evangelists / might peradventure make them more excellent Apostles / or Evangelists / then those which wrote not: but to change their ministry / it could not. Last off all / off this answer followeth thabsurditie before noted / that one man at the same time / should be first / and second / before and behind himself.

That an Evangelist at one time / may be a bishop at another, maketh little for the D. considering that we show / that Timothy was even then at Ephesus an Evangelist / when he supposeth him to have been bishop. Howbeit it is unlike that they which were ordained Evangelists / and set in higher degree above the Pastor / were without their fault / thrust down unto the order of Bishops. Men now a days peradventure may choose to an office off charge / one whom upon better trial as not altogether sufficient / they may cause to rise out off his chair / and sit in a lower place: but in the Apostles ordinatiō / especially of Timo. in whom they were directed by the voice off God / it could by no means comme to pass. This being untrue / in the Evangelists cast down to the office off bishops: ys yet more intolerable in the Apostles. For they are by this means not let / but cast headlong down / from the highest staier in the ministry / unto the lowest almost: yea by the D. saying (which maketh the Pastor / and the Doctor all one) even unto the lowest. But it cannot be / that they which were appointed by the voice off Christ immediately to the Apostleship / can ether off their own / or any other authority in yearth / be put from that ministry. And therefore our men do substantially dispute against the Papists / which would have Peter bishop of Rome: for that being ordained an Apostle / he could not betake him unto the office off a bishop. which the Answ. with diverse other grounds / would to maintain his phantasies gladly shake.

The reason pretended out off Zwingli. for that they abode in one place: if it be his / is insufficient. For to omit that it is easy to show / that James immediately after he was ordained to the Apostleship at thascension off our Savior / exercised his charge in one place / namely Jerusalem / during his whole life / whereby should follow that he was never any Apostle: and to let pass that Eusebius citeth out off Clement / that all the Apostles remained by the space off xii. years in Jerusalem / after our Savior Christ's ascension / whereby they all should be bishops during that time: to say nothing also off Saint Paul / which teaching at Rome / and there looking to end his life / evē from thence writeth himself an Apostle / and not a bishop: I say to let all this pass / which notwithstanding casteth down this opiniō / the Ans. must know that thabiding long in one place / doth not make a bishop differ frō an Apostle: but the necessity / and bond to abide in one place / by reason of his particular function. Which when it nether can be shown off any Apostle / and is as hath been shown / directly contrary to his function: yt cannot be / that the abode in one place / should prove a change off the Apostleship / into the function off a bishop.

Whereby is also answered the last reason off the D. that Tim. was bishop, because he retourning to Ephesus died there. For if that were granted / what reason is there / that whereas by the biscours off the scriptures before alleged / it appeareth Timothy taught in diverse churches: he should be said bishop off Ephesus / because that was the last church he instructed? why not off the first / or second as well as off the last? it is all one as if a man being a stranger in diverse places / should be said to be Cytisen of that / were he layeth his bones. Wherein the D. again approacheth unto the absurdity off the Papists: which against that the Protestants allege / that Peter is said off writers / as well bishop off Alexandria / and Antioch / as off Rome / answer that the difference is great / because he died at Rome. Nether helpeth it him anything which he alledgeth in another place out of Cal. that Tychicus was sent to supply Timothies absence. For beside that the Apostle doth not go so far / and whatsoever can be said in that point is conjectural: Calu. words do not necessarily enforce a deputy / considering that absence may after a sort be supplied / by a successor.

And if beside the first ordination off Timoth. unto the function off an Evangelist / which is unlimited / we will consider the manner off his embassage towards the Ephes. there can nothing les be gathered then this / that Timothy was off Saint Paul instituted bishop off Ephesus / whereby he should need a deputy. For in that he sent him / desyring him to tarry for him there: he declareth that he was not sent to remain always / but for a time. But if the Answ. take exception that I have found out this new translation / to make the place serve for my turn: first I trust that those which have still in the greek / will easily grant that the word will bear this sense: then it hath some confirmation of that / which Saint Paul writeth off diligence to be used in his calling there / until his coming. Which word until although not always: yet for the most part / maketh an end of that / whereunto it is applied. Last off all / it appeareth by Augustine which useth this translation / that yt was off ancient time received: which testimony off antiquity cast in / when the skoles are even on both sides / may carry it away. Thus I leave it to the Judgment off the indifferent reader / what truth it hath that the Answ. affirmeth / of Timothes being bishop at Ephesus. I return back to the general treatise off the Evangelist.

Where I show that if there were Evangelists, yet the bishops could not ordain thē; being their inferiors: he answereth that yt cannot be proved, that an Evangelist is of higher degree, thē a bishop. If O. Paul's authority be not sufficient / which setting the ministries off the word so precisely in order / preferreth the Evangelist / and Prophet unto the Pastor / or bishop: nor the Judgment off writers (whereof although some make an Evangelist next in honor unto an Apostle / some the Prophet: yet both sortes prefer the Evangelist / and Prophet unto the Pastor / or bishop) if I say none of these be sufficient: yet the D. him self will help us / which in appointing the gifts off Prophets / and Evangelists greater then those of the bishop proveth that he here denieth. And although he take this liberty off denying things / which none durst ever call into doubt: yet he escapeth not so / considering that although he make the bishop to take the wall off the Evangelist: yet he cannot do yt in the Apostles / and Prophets. Therefore the absurdity remaineth still / that the bishop being an inferior minister / taketh upon him to make ministers / which are above him. He saith that the 7. of the Heb. maketh not for me, because blessing is not there taken for consecration to the ministry. yet the reason is all one. For as the Apostle proveth that Melchizedek was greater then Abraham / because he was the minister of God / to pronounce the bessing upon him in the name / and authority of the Lord: so he that ordeineth being a public Minister off God / to pronounce his assistance to wards him that is to be admitted / owght by the same reason / to be greater then he.

Where I alleged out of Euseb. that the Evangelists did ordain bishops, having nothing to answer he was content to take the benefit off the printers / or writers fault: which as casely might come to pass / for the figure off 3. had set the figure off 2. where I show that thes Evangelists are superfluous, if the pastors, and Doctors do their duty: he asketh what iff there be not for every church, a sufficient Pastor. Which being answered in another place / I answer also here / that his Evangelists should help to make up the number. Where he saith if every church were provided off an able Pastor, yet for confirmation off the doctrine, oftener preaching, diverse worcking of God by one rather then another, the Evangelists might do good: beside that he easily forgetteth the churches charge / which being hardly able to maintain their proper ministry / should be overcharged with those that ride about: and beside that the Pastor being provided unto every church / the overplus owght to serve to fournish them off Doctors / another ordinary ministry off the word: he must know that able teachers / can teach as often as the church can conveniently meet. And it cannot be denied / but they have the blessing off God promised to their labors / before any other. If there be any such great / and urgent need off confirmation off any point off doctrine / the churches hard by may by duty off godly neighbourhood / help one another in that behalff.

The place to prove the ceasing off this Mynisterie out off Eus. is manifest to all that will understand. For in that speaking of the time about the year 162. he saith there were yet Evangelists, he declareth that there were none in his time: and that he saith with repetition / there were there were, all see that he wrote that with declaration off sorrow / that they having been before / were not then. That which he answereth / that they cannot now go from kingdom to kingdom, because the miraculous gift off tongues is ceased: maketh utterly against him. For Euseb. putting that amongst other an̄exed to the office off an Evangelist: left the reason off the want off that ministry / which he had before bewailed. Which being the same now / that was then: yt followeth that as there was not then / so there is not now / any such function. Thus much for the maintenance off the reasons / which were set down by me against the D. Apostles / Prophets / &c. it followeth to examine his.

First the reader may see the hardness off the D. countenance / which having diverse reasons alleged out of the scripture / asketh notwithstanding for one word out off it / which doth but insinuate thes offices to be temporal. After he alledgeth Ephes. 4. where upon that it is said / that those with other Ministries off the word / were given off God for the gathering together off the saints / until we all come unto a perfect man: he concludeth but unjustly / that they are perpetual ministries. For the offices off Apostleship / &c. may well have their work in the perfection off the church / without such continuance. Which he might have easily known / if he had considered that which our Savior Christ saith / that the fruit off their preaching should remain. Therefore although their ministry were but for a time: yet for as much as the fruit thereof hath / and shall have her work unto the worlds end / in the perfection off the church off God: it might be well said / that they were given for the gathering off the saints / until they cam to a be perfect man. Nether do the words off the Apostle / import continuance off all these offices. For if all thes amongst them / and everyone in his turn / finish this work: yt is enough / nothing falleth from the liberality off the Lord / nothing from the truth off this word. no more then he breaketh promise / which undertaking to furnish another off all manner of worckmen until his house be finished / after foundations laid / and patron left unto carpenters / and masons / how to proceed in the rest off the building: with draweth the master builder. for as the lord abated the number of sortes of builders: so hath he deminished the variety off works / requisite to the building. And as the offices off Pastor / and Doctor which were not in the beginning off this building / are said to be given to perfecting off it / even so thes functions off Apost. &c. although they be not in the end / may likewise be said. But I merueil that the Answ. doth not understand / that both this place of the Ephes. and that off the Corinthes • . 12. speak of such Apostles / Prophets / and Evangelists / as were noted with such marks off immediate calling / extraordinary gifts / &c. as fall not into the Apostles / Prophets / &c. which he dreameth off. If therefore he think that the Lord hath bound him self by those words / to continue thes degrees: yt followeth that he is bound to furnish them / with gifts proper to them. For if promising such as S. Paul here meaneth he give other kinds / much inferior unto them: he thereby (which all godly ears detest) is argued off untruth.

His other reason is / that Prophets in the 1. Corint. 14. and Prophecy 12. Rom. are put as ordinary. Whereunto I answer / that the word Prophecy / is taken sometimes not for that particular function Saint Paul speaketh off / but generally for any public instruction off the people / in the will off God. As when it is said extinguish not the spirit, despise not prophecy. That it ys so taken to the Rom. yt ys manifest / for that yt ys divided / and altogether consumed into the ministries off the word. So that there being no ordinary minister off the word in the church / which it embraceth not: yt must follow that it is taken there / for no particular function. Which thing may better appear / for that in other places where S. Paul divideth the whole ministry of the church / the ministry off the word / which he uttered here by the word off Prophecy / he there attributeth not unto Prophets / but unto Bishops. And when as the prophecy which the D. phansieth / is a simple Ministry off the church: that Prophecy mentioned there being compounded / must needs be diverse. Likewise that a Prophet to the Corin. is taken generally / for any which instructeth with any word off exhortation / yt is apparent both by that S. Paul attributeth prophesying / to all which have any gift off teaching: and in that he doth so often oppose it / to the fruteles speaking in a strange tongue / amongst the assembly of the faithful.

His testimonies out off writers remain / wherein amongst the ancient / he hath only a counterfeit sentence off Ambrose / as I have before declared: which as yt ys full of confusion / and disorder: so yt maketh nothing for the D. for if Apostles be bishops / and Evangelists / and Evangelists be Deacons / &c. what maketh that to prove / that there are beside the bishops / and Deacons / several functions of Apostles / and Evangelists / which is the question. But how this fable is beaten down by all ancient antiquity / that may be a sufficient argument / that the ancient writers in great consent / speak off the whole ministry off the church / as divided into thes three orders / Bishops / Elders / and Deacons. After that other ministries entered / as doorkepers / subdeacons / &c. yet there were none but such lightheaded spirits as I have before spoken off / that durst peint out any their mynysteries / with the names off Apostles / Evangelists / and Prophets.

For the new writers (that the D. if his forehead be not of iron / may learn to blush) I will touch their Judgment only / which he hath alleged for himself. Master Calvin dividing the ministry off the word into Apostles / Prophets / Evangelists / Pastors / and Doctors: affirmeth that the two last only, that is to say Pastors / and Doctors are ordinary. Bucer likewise deviding them into perpetual, and for a time, affyrmeth that these pertain unto thestate off the former church / and correcteth the D. Ambrose for appliyng them to his times / by the true Ambroses sentence to the contrary / in the first of his Offic. Peter Martyr using the same division / showeth that the function off Apost. and Prophets / are not in use: and that the ministrye of Prophets / is not only expyred in respect of telling things to come / but also for the manner off interpreting the scripture. That he speaketh not the same off the Evangelist / was for that the Apostle maketh no mention off him in that place. Musculus divideth the ministries off the word, into those which served for the beginning off the gospel, as Apost. Euang. Proph.: and those which continue forever, as Pastors, Doctors, Elders, Bishops. Bullinger saith the office off Apostleship / Prophetship / and Euangelistship / were instituted off the Lord for a time: and that thes many ages / even since the foundation off the kingdom off Christ, both Apostles, Evangelists, and Prophets are ceased, into whose place are come bishops, Pastors, Doctors, and Elders. Last off all the confession off the churches / having spoken off all ministries off the word / mentioned off the Apostle: concludeth / that off all those now it is lawful to esteem mynistries off the church / Bishops / Elders / Pastors / and Doctors. Thes authors affirming that thes mynistries be extraordinary / that they were for a time / that other are come into their places: the reader may see how the D. dealeth with him.

Let yt now be noted / how he hath hailed thes sentences taken from them. Out off Master Calvin he alledgeth / that God hath stirred up Apostles, or Evangelists since the time of the primitive church, and hath done so at this time. Within a line after he addeth / yet I call that extraordinary, because in churchs well dressed, it hath no place. Of the like sort yt ys that he alledgeth owt off my book: whereas upon Master Calvin / so of my words / which affirm that God hath raised up sometimes Evangelists immediately by his spirit, without any calling off men: he would conclude / that the office is ordinary / and perpetual: then which boldness what can be greater? Out of Bucer he alledgeth / that there be now Evangelists. Where if his manner of speech / that there are found Evangelists, could not / yet that which he addeth / that God doth it by marvelous means: ought to have kept him from that allegacion / except he think that a miraculous calling / be perpetual / and ordinary. Out of the Confess. is brought / that thes offices off Apostles, &c. are mynistries off the New Testament: else should they have great injury / seeing they were both in time / and dignity first. but who (the D. set a part) would ever conclude thereof / that they are perpetual ministries? especially considering it addeth immediately in plain words / that the Apostles are ceased, and Pastors come into their places: which could not be / if it had any such meaning as the D. phansieth. Where it saith / that there are yet Prophets: if that were not which I alleged out of it / towhing the shutting owt of those three ministries / from them which are now in use: yet the manner off speaking there are yet found, the same with that of Bucer before alleged / declareth that they meant thereby an extraordinary calling. For so we use to speak of things rare / and not in common use.

Last off all / where yt is alleged owt off Bullinger / that the words mentioned to the Ephe. are confounded: yt doth not make for him / but is answer both against the most places brought to prove Timothy a bishop / and against those which he hath cited / in the 3. and 4. Division off this chap. for if those ministries being separate one from another / their names notwithstanding be confounded: yt must follow / that not everyone which is called an Apostle / or bishop / &c. hath that function which is by some propriety severed from other / and which the Apostle ment to the Eph. for where one man being an Apostle / is sometimes called a Prophet / Bishop / Doctor / Elder / and Deacon: if he will say that because he is called by thes titles / he did therefore all those functions proper unto those mynistries: beside thabsurdities before shown / the untruth doth manifestly appear / in the office off disposing off the churches money / Whereoff the Apostles discharging them selves / ceased not therefore sometime to be called by the same name off Deacons. And to use those authorities which he hath brought / Jerome calleth I say the Prophet / both Evangelist / and Apostle. Yet I think the D. doth not esteem Jerome to have had so little judgment / as to think that he was ether off them / in that signification they are taken of Saint Paul. likewise where he hath cited out off Calvin / that Timothy was a Pastor: when Calvin calleth him also an excellent Doctor, and maketh that a several function from the Pastor / yt is clear that he spake not off the special function off a Pastor. The same may be said off Beza / which calleth S. Paul a Bishop. with diverse other / wherein writers speaking off one in passing / and not off purpose: content them selves with those general titles / which notwithstanding when they inquired into the natures off them (as we do here) spake otherwise / which use is also noted off Cicero.

And to shut up this matter / it is to be understanded / that there be diverse significations off thes words Apostles / Propheres / Doctors / &c. for in general signification they agree unto all ministers off the word. Considering that all are sent / all feed / teach / and by a trope are said to prophecy. Their other signification which S. Paul setteth forth / is particular / and agreeth only to only to one several ministry. Observe then how the D. hath trifled / when as a part off our question being / whether there be now Apostles / Prophets / and Evangelists in particular significatiō / and as they differ as well one from another / as from Pastors / and Doctors: he hath brought certain places / where thes names be taken generally / and as every off them may be verified off all mynistries off the word. as if upon that the Major off the city / is called sometimes the officer / sometimes the Magistrate / he should conclude that he hath three several offices. And where (another part off our question being / whether these functions are now ordinary / or extraordinary / perpetual or for some ruinous time) he hath taken upon him to prove them ordinary / and perpetual: he hath alleged testimonies / which confessing that some off thes ministries have been found in our days / ad partly in express words / partly in words / and circumstances of like value / that they were extraordinary / that they are but for a time: then which what can be greater mockery off his reader? And so I trust yt appeareth / as well upon the arguments I have used / as upon the shame off the D. answers: that off all the ministries of the word / reckoned of S Paul / there remain only Doctor / and Pastor: and that the function off Apostles / Prophets / and Evangelists / have no place in the church / unless the lord immediately styr them up / without the ordinary calling by men.

Off the necessary residence of the Pastor 4. Tractat. 5. according to the D.

Cap. 1. Diuis. 1. pag. 235.

THe D. to deliver the Non residents / from the crime he ys charged with / flieth from the judgment off the word off God / unto his own conscience: so that if he / and his conscience although astonished / or blindled / can agree off some easier way thē is debated / all mouths are shut up to speak against him. And pa. 238. he saith that preaching, and private exhortations, must be according to the conscience, and discretion off the Pastor: which is too shameful a saying. Instead whereof if he had put a good conscience (which will admit no persuasion but out off the word off God): he had openly begged that in question. The lord knew too well the unreformed corners / and false doors of the best cōscicēces / to commit his church which he loved so dearly unto their courteousie. When Saint Paul confesseth that he was not as touching his ministry justified / albeit his conscience cast him not in the teeth / of anything he had doon: he declareth that the conscience is no sufficient rule / to direct the minister in his charge▪ Yet his was more Christ allike / then is to be hoped after off any now. and when he saith / that all the works off a good minister / are taught out off the scripture inspired off God: he incloseth the Pastor within straiter bounds / then the Answ. which leaveth him in the large field / or wilderness rather sometime off his conscience / sometime of the people's pleasure. That which he bringeth off the examples off the Apostles / and Evangelists / is absurd: considering that both the callings are diverse: and even in the very point whereof the question is touching the place / yt is confessed of him / that the Pastor hath one certain appointed him to exercise his charge / which the other have not. Off this sort is that he alledgeth after off sonas the Prophet: whose ministry was altogether extraordinary towards the Ninevites. Which if yt prove any thing: yt proveth that the pastor / after he hath once laid open the sins off his flock / and denounced the judgment against them / may go his ways without ether deputy / or return. Likewise that off S. Paul Act 20. free from the Ephes. blood, because he had declared them the whole counsel off God. Which is first impertinent: considering that the pastors teaching at his charge / is not to be compared with the Apostles teaching at one church / but at all the churches of his Apostleship. Then yt ys apparently against him: considering that the Apostle which cleareth him self off their blood / doth nowithstanding all the knowledge they had / charge the pastors with watch / and ward over them / as those which should answer for them. So that unless S. Paul's diligence had been poursued in feeding them / which were already so well fed / not the people only / but the pastors also / should have perished.

And even the extraordinary callings / are so far from strenghthening thes startinges a side from appointed charges: that they help to bind them more streitly to them▪ for they had not only a general calling to execute their function: but withal special direction unto the persons / and places unto which the Lord would have their ministry to appertain. for when those off Nazareth thought much / that our Sau. Christ healed in other cities off Galilee / and not in theirs / where he was brought up: he alledgeth the calling off God / which sent him to do miracles in other places / rather then there: and showeth the cause why Elias rather relieved the extreme famine / and Elisha cured the leprosy of strangers / then of their own country: for that they were sent unto them. Also desired to tarry in a place / he said it was not at his liberty to tarry / but that he must preach to other cities. alleging this reason / that he was sent off his father so to do. Considering therefore that they had not only general callings to do their duties / but also where / and to whom: much more in the callings which are ordinary / and certain it owght to be observed / that men have not only callings to preach / but direction unto the place / and parties to whom they should preach. Which because yt is not now / without calling of the church: yt followeth there can be none such. That he addeth / if he have care off them, is altogether from the cause: considering that the pastors care / is but one part of his duty: and may be taken off one never present. Likewise that of his sufficient deputy (beside that yt cometh after to be spoken of) if the absence he phansieth be unlawful: the deputy for yt ys idly mentioned.

I alleged that the Evangelists, and Apostles tarried more in one place then in another. Which may be easily understanded / not only in that S Paul / preached somewhere years / other where months / in some places weeks / in other not all but in that by certain vocation S. Peter / &c. were more bound to the places where the Jews / then where the Gentiles were: and Saint Paul / and Barnabas had in their general charge / a more straight bond to preach unto the Gentiles / then to the Jews. And albeit the Evangelists he imagineth / are let so lose that they may preach through the realm: yet even in that scope he leueth them / they have a nearer knot / and further duty off preaching in places of their nativity / abode of friends / and kinsfolk. Therefore if the residence off a Pastor / be no more then the D. plainly setteth down / that he ought to do it especially in that place, and more in that then in others: the difference between a Pastor / and them / touching the bond to a place / granted also off the Answ. is clean taken away. Burhe will not answer the former reason / because it cometh owt off place. Where forsomuch as preaching in other places / is alleged to be one off the chief causes off non residence: all men see that this arrow was shot at the heart off his cause. And if yt had no place here: why did not he carry yt to the proper place? how cometh it to pass / that he answereth yt not else where? But how vain this excuse is / it appeareth: seeing evē in this division / to prove that the Pastors may preach in other places / then in their charges / which is that he refuseth to speak off / as impertinent: he alledgeth the example of the Apostles / and Evangelists / and so continueth almost a whole side off repetitions.

Likewise to that alleged / that Timothy, and Tite, cam not from Ephesus and Crete off their own heads, but called off the Apostle a cheiff governor off the church, which can be no warrant to those which leave their charges without any such calling: he answereth not. That which is said off the D. that S: Paul sent for Timothy for his own private business: is untrue / nether hath any ground off the word. And if he think that those words help him / that Timothy should bring Marck as one profitable to serve him: they rather confute him. for yt is absurd to imagine / that S. Paul would take two such notable lights from the service off the church / to serve his private business / and to do that which m • ght be doon by others / which had no public charge in the church: especially considering that he had Luke with him before. Therefore that service must be expounded / of the service off the gospel / whereunto he would employ them.

Whereas I alleged for residence / against those which leaving their proper charges wander in other places / that they should not attempt anything in the ministry, without calling: the Ans. saith / a man is not so called to one place, that he is restrained from doing good in other: which is not the question. For it is not denied but he may do good by prayer / counseill / and writing After be saith / that he constantly believeth that in the moe places he laboreth, the more his service is accepted unto God: and p. 241. that he is a menber, and minister off the whole church generally: and pag. 224. wheresoever the preacher may do most good, thither he is called of God. Wherein beside the miracle off making Apostles / he bringeth in other wonders which the Lord him self never wrought: which is / to change a Pastor into an Apostle. And beside that it is directly against the order off the scripture / which calleth them bishops off such / and such a particular church / and not off the whole church: against the Canons off the old Councils / which forbad the bishops to go beyond their own bounds / and assigneth that cause off appointing Patriarchs: yt is against that himself hath set down / where putting difference between pastors / bishops / and other preachers / he saith / that Pastors, and bishops have their cures limited Whereuppon followeth that if they go to other places / they both pass their limits / and destroy the difference assigned off the Answ. between them / and other licenced preachers.

Yea if he be minister off the whole church / he hath a necessary calling to preach in as many places / as he can possibly: as he which otherwise shall be gilty off their blood / over whom having a mynistry / he hath done no duty. But forasmuch as the Pastor hath his calling unto one certain place only / yt must needs be that he going to other churches off his own head / goeth without calling. Unless he will here / fly unto secret persuasions off the spirit off God / without the voice off the church: which is mere Anabaptistical. And where he saith / that God calleth him to that place where he may do moste good: first he doth presumpteously / that taketh upon him to determine where he may do moste good / and that which controlment off the churches judgment / which placing him in a certain church / thereby giveth her sentence / that he might do moste good there.

Then I answer / that although he could know where he might do most good: yet that is no sufficient calling off God. For the lord calleth sometime his ministers unto places / where they gain least / and sendeth none to those where after preaching would follow repentance / as appeareth by that our Savior Christ speaketh off Corazim / and Bethsaida / compared with Tyre / and Sidon / off Capernaum compared with Sodom: and by that the Lord saith to Ezekiel / off the Jews compared with the Gentiles. And our Sau. Christ which knew where he might do moste good / and best fill his hand off the Lord's corn / following the calling off God his father / even in the land off Jury where his charge was / preached more in certain stoncharted towns / then in those which were better affectioned to his doctrine. Which may appear both by Jerusalem / and the examples before recited / and especially in Capernaum. In which for that he preached so often / and wrought so many miracles / yt is in another place called his own cyty. Now if our Sau. Christ preached nowhere but by the calling off God his father / and yet few in places more abundantly / where he knew he should have a thinner harvest: yt followeth that yt ys both untrue which the Answ. saith / that God calleth a man to preach / where he may do most good: and true / that the lawful voice of the church (being the same to the Mynisters now / which the holy spirit off God was in those extraordinary callings) owght to go before everyone in his mynistry / not only for direction off him to preach / but also for the place where. Whereuppon followeth / that he which being placed in one church / leapeth into another / without another calling off the church / runneth or ever he be sent. So that although the Pastor had never so hearty a desire to profit, in his wandering from place to place: yet having no calling / there is no obedience: and therefore if in casting his net into another man's fishing / he should enclose never so great a multitude: yet with owt pardō / he shall one day hear / that to obey is better thē sacrifice▪ and to hearken better then the fat of rāmes▪ Where he addeth that God inclineth not so to one church, that he would have the other neglected: I grant / and further that everyone ought to take care off all the churches / but according to the bounds off that calling / wherein he is set off God. And beside that I have shown / that the love off God towards men is no certain rule / to direct the minister in his function / but his calling: the Answ. by this reason / must take shipping over to Rome / and Constantinople / and to whatsoever place he shall understand to have need off his help.

Yow do as yow say dally, not with mine / but with the holy Gostes metaphors off pastor / and watcheman. And first where yow would so assign the resemblance between these / and a Pastor off the church in other things / that yow would not have yt come to the diligence / and continuance in feeding: yow are manifestly confuted by the words off the scripture. for in the person of Peter / yt requiring off all ministers off the word / that they should feed, feed, feed, according to the charge committed unto them: showeth that the similitude reacheth to the diligent continuance. Which may better appear / in that as the government of the Pastor towards his church / is set owt in the picture off a shepherd: so is the spiritual government of our Savior Christ / shadowed forth in the same similitude. and life as our spiritual feeding is off Christ: so the principal means which he useth to feed us by / is the Pastor. Whereuppon yt followeth / that if it be needful for us at all times / to have our spiritual feeding of Christ: yt is needful also to have always / that hand which the Lord especially hath appointed to give it by. Likewise noting a good minister by watch day and night / without cease / yt is clear that the resemblance reacheth unto the continuance upon their charge. Whereunto pertaineth / that the scripture compareth the spiritual watch over the churches / with the watch which shepherds kept in those countries / which for the multitude off wolves / and other hurtful beasts / watched day and night. For thereby is implied a greater attendance / then if the comparison had been drawn off the fashion off our countries. Which although it be expressly set down in my 49. pag. yet the Ans. will not understand • t: but saith he knoweth not wherefore the 2. of S. Luke should be quoted.

To conclude it is to be observed / that albeit he grateth the cares off his reader / by so often repetition off thes syly differences: yet he will not once acknowledge the strength off the argument: which is not as he imagineth off like, but off the less to the more. For if there owght to be such diligence / and continuance off watch for things off so small value: how much greater owght yt to be for those / which are bowght with the precious blood off the son of God. If for those which have sometimes truce with their enemy: much more for those which have wrestles war. If against the hazard off this life only: much more against the danger off everlasting death. Therefore to let the untruth off some differences which he raketh up / unworthy off confutation / rest in the judgment off the reader: if they were all true / the argument remaineth still unanswered. For albeit the absence / and substitution which the D. imagineth / be allowed in the worldly watch: yet it followeth not that the same is to be allowed off / in the spiritual.

Nether helpeth yt which he alledgeth / and that in another place / owt off Chrysostom: that the sheep are here reasonable, which are there unreasonable. Wherein first cometh to be observed / how all is fish with the Answ. that cometh to net. To briue the church from the election off her minister / he alleged owt off Chrysostom / that the people is nothing but a tumultuous stir, compacted of folie. Here where he would make more elbowroume for the Pastor / they are reasonable sheep / such as can feed themselves / such as can provide for them selves. Thus he is content for advantage / both himself to play on both hands: and to draw his Doctor to the same. But if this reason be oftentimes in the reasonable sheep more enemy then friend unto the spiritual feeding; if the setld: sheep have naturally more appetite to desire / taste to discern / and means to enjoy their convenient feeding / then thes reasonable have for theirs: then this sentence off Chrysostom helpeth not. And yt may peradventure seem to smell off the smoke of free will / and off the natural power of man: whereof he is often too loud a preacher.

Likewise that which he bringeth / off the difference off the temporal meat soon digested, and off the spiritual which continueth forever, so oft repeated: and of that no man can take the sheep off God owt of his hand, is ashamefull abuse off the holy scripture. For to let pa • how many ways this feeding is through the malice off the devil / and corruption off men's natures / ether clean taken away / or turned to the hurt off the hearers: likewise not to stand in that the Pastor knoweth not what time the Lord calleth effectually / and giveth that meat that never consumeth / to those which are under his charge / which ought to keep him in a continual exercise off his function / and waiting for that hour when the Lord will touch their hearts: I say not to stand upon thes / the D. should have known / that as the Lord declareth / that none can take them owt off his hand: so he hath disposed off the means / whereby he will hold them / which is the ministry off his word. And as he showeth the virtue of the word / in the hearts of those which are effectually called / to be perpetual: so he ordeineth y • should have that perpetuite / by that means off preaching / whereby it first took root: In watering that which is planted / feeding first with milk / then with whole meat / them which are once conceived by the immortal seed of the word preached / until such time as they come to their perfect growght / and stature off the full age off Christ. Ad hereunto / that thes places applied unto the use the D. putteth them / serve to prove that preaching off the word / is needles amongst those which have believed / and as well that the pastor may be away without any deputy / as with one. For if the residence off the Pastor may be less / because the sheep off God cannot fall from their calling / and because the spiritual food which they have once tasted of / endureth to life: the same coming to pass without any further instruction / yt followeth by the D. reason / that they may be without all ministry off the word. And iff this may diminish the continual residence off the Pastor / yt may as well abate the diligence off the hearers: so that after they feel them selves to have believed / they need not seek so carefully / the food off the word off God. But as sentence given by God that S. Paul should appear at Rome / and not perish with his company in the sea / it being impossible that he should perish / or any off his company / he truly said / that they could not be saved / unless the mariners did abide in the the ship: even so it impossible to take God's sheep owt of his hand / is truly said notwithstanding / that yt is impossible for them to be saved / without continuance off feeding by the word off God. For as that was the ordinary means / to deliver from ship wrack: so this from spiritual destruction.

In the next division that which he answereth of a Pastor acepted of God, though he be not so wise as Salomō, &c. is from the purpose. if he would have answered / he should have said / that a man having both his hands full / and more then he can overcome / off the charge committed unto him: may voluntarily / and off his own head / reach owt his hand for more. The mildness off Christ hindereth not his justice / not only against the unfaithful servant / which hideth his talent in a napkin: but against the foolish / which having enough to do at home / maketh himself work abroad. The cavil of baptism is utterly unworthy of answer: considering that I expound myself in the next words. The example off celebrating baptism but once or twice in the year, is fondly / and without judgment alleged: seeing that it was very inconvenient / and not to be followed. Preaching at the discretion off the Pastor, is confuted: that other may minister sacraments, then ministers off the word, is a begging off that in controversy / and after disputed.

To that that I propounded of the necessary / and continual abode / to the end that the preaching thorough knowledge off thestate off the people / might have the better effect: he answereth / that the Apostles although they did not long continue in a place, yet prevailed much. as if the Pastors now had the discretion off spirits / which the Apostles / or were armed as they / with power off working miracles / and distribution off gifts / whereby their preaching was made so fruitful: or as if there were not more particular knowledge required in a Pastor toward his flock / then in an Apostle towards his charge. Considering that an Apostle might execute his Apostleship / towards those whom he never saw / or was present with: which I think he will not say off a Pastor. Where he saith / yt is not so hard a matter to know the people's conditions: all wise men see the contrary: yea the experience of men deceived in the natures off their friends / wives / and children / best known unto them / might have taught him otherwise. And if he were so righthanded in this matter / as he pretendeth: yet considering the estate off his people changeth / in the whole / or in the particulars: yt is meet for the knowledge of their estate / he should wait upon the alterations.

He saith also / that admonitiō being givē them in due time, and order, their blood shall be upon their own pates: and in other place / that if the the city be sufficiently admonished, leaving some behind him, the watchman hath dō his duty, and may go to another place. Wherein first (as his wont is) he taketh that for granted / which is the question. For yt is in question what is sufficient admonitiō / and what is to admonish in time / and order: whether as long as he continueth Pastor of that church / which we maintain: or until he shall esteem his church lightened with the knowledge off the truth / which the D. supposeth. Then the similitude of the watcheman / confuteth his imaginary sufficiency. For as where the war is durable / there yt ys not enough for the watcheman to have discried the enemies once / or twice / unless he do yt as oft as they come against the city: even so yt can be no discharge unto the spiritual watcheman / to have given warning / unless he do yt during the whole time off the spiritual war: which being continual / and without truce / requireth his continual watch. And this being alleged off me afterward / ys altogether unanswered.

Moreover there is herein / difference between the spiritual / and bodily watch / that there yt ys enough of one danger to have given one waarning: but in the spiritual / the alarm bell must be rung oftentimes / for one / and the same danger / yea and that in things well known. Again although in bodily watch / the watchmā after he hath givē warning may go to his rest: yet it is not so with the spiritual watchmā. For he is bound not only to admonish thē of the coming of the en̄emies / but to fortify / and comfort them: they must as the priests in the battles of the Israelites / blow continually the silver trumpet / not only that they should everyone take himself to his armor: but that in the fight through that passioned / and stirring music off trumpettes / they might blow up / and whet the courage off the soldiers. And herein he is greatly abused / that in this whole disputation / and precisely here / he imagineth the duty off the Pastor / to be only in instructing the sinner / and giving to understand what he must do: when as the Lord teacheth / that this watch consisteth as well in admonishing the righteous / and those that have lived long in all commendation off good works / as the sinner which never was lifted up / owt off the mire off his wickedness. Likewise that the Pastors agreement with the fieldshepherd / is not only in leading them to the pastures / and setting meat before them / whereby they may be kept from starving: but in healing the sick / bringing home the straies / strengthening the weak: whereunto if we ad that off S. Peter / which teacheth that he owght to strengthen the strong: I would gladly know off the Answ. what time there is / wherein one off these duties is not in season to be doon off the Pastor.

Further this answer cleaveth not together. For if the Pastor have discharged his duty after his supposed warning, that their blowd shall light upon their own pates: what need he leave a deputy behind him? He dare not answer that the deputy is but off pure grace off the Pastor / and if he leave him to instruct off necessity: how hath he discharged his duty / that in necessary substitution off another in his place / he still confesseth himself bownd unto? And those other duties off conforting the sad / binding up the broken / &c. be as well commanded unto the Pastor / as the bringing them to the knowledge of the truth: and be also more proper / considering that his government is properly off those / which have some entrance into the church. by what rule is it lawful more / to turn over unto his deputy / thes other offices off ministry: then that which him self esteemeth him bound to / in his own person? If he may set over his second / and third instructions / and admonitions / &c. why may be not the first? So it may come to pass (which he deniing in words / doth in deed confirm) that a Pastor may do all by deputy.

That he alledgeth off God directing the preacher in his words, and matter: tendeth to Anabaptism. For as well may it be alleged to prove / that the Pastor may preach without study: as without knowledge of the estate of his people / as a means to direct both his words / and matter / to the most profit of his hearers. Where he saith / a discrete preacher will so temper his matter, as he may profit all, and hurt none. If he had told us how / and off what droges tha • receipt is made / which is fit at all times / in all places: I should better have known what to have answered. In the mean season / he is clean beside the question: which is not whether a man may profit / in preaching to the people / whose estate he knoweth not: but whether he profiteth more / that knoweth yt. He that casteth blindfold / may hit the mark: but no wise man will lay anything on his head. The reasons I brought to prove / that the want off knowing the estate / may ether hinder the fruit / or give occasion off that danger / which by knowing it might be avoided: are for the moste part untouched.

Here his memory serveth him not / for any place owt of the law, which proveth continual residence off the Pastor. I will let pass the houses built rownd about / and joining to the temple / which being doon off Solomon (as was the rest off the building) according to the word of God / might declare how near their charges the lord will have the Ministers off the church. Likewise I will not press the example which is alleged / off Eli sitting at the door of the Tabernable / to espy the manners / and answer the doubts off those which entered. I will content my self with the Apostle / the best expounder off the law: who setting forth the Priests function / by that part off it which consisted in sacrifices: useth a word off great strength / to bind them to a continual residence / and signifieth in effect / a continual sitting at their charge. Now considering that the Pastors diligence is the same in his church / that theirs was in their charge: continual presence being required off them / the same / or greater rather if greater can be / is required off the pastor: as he which hath greater trust / committed unto him.

That which is spoken off diverse beside the Pastor, able to dissolve doubts which arise: not to meddle with the truth thereof / nor to stay in the great gifts required in one / that should comfort him that is cast down / whom the scripture affirmeth to be so care / that a man shall scarce find one amongst a thousand: I answer that it helpeth not / not only because they hanging of their Pastor / know not to whom to have recourse: but also considering that the dissolving off the doubt / or comfort according to the necessity off the person / dependeth not off knowledge only / but upon the blessing which the Lord giveth. that being therefore greater / and more abundant / when yt is doon by the instrument which the Lord hath sanctified for that purpose: yt followeth / that if there were such supplies as he speaketh of: yet the Pastors presence is necessary. And therefore yt helpeth him not / which he alledgeth afterward owt off the Coloss. that they should admonish one another in psalms, &c. but maketh against him / considering that if particular persons / have a duty off admonishing those that are fallen: the Pastor hath much more. And if the lord will not spare the means off the admonition off a private man / for restoring off him that is fallen: he will much less spare the ministry off the Pastor.

That which he often repeteth of help by reading off the scriptures, is not to the purpose. For if the help of the Pastor be not requisite / when the sheep are particularly stricken off the Lord: there ys no necessary use off him at all. And where the Lord hath provided resistance against temptation / not only by reading / but also and that especially / by the lively voice off the Mynister: what is else to betray the sheep unto the woulf / if this be not / to leave them destitute off the moste principal means off their defense? beside that / the place off Tymothe 2. 3. is abused / whilst he draweth those things to private men / which the Apostle speaketh off the Mynister off the word: whom he calleth the man off God, as the manner of the scripture is to call the Prophets / in which respect Saint Paul so calleth Timothy in another place. Nether doth it belong unto private persons to teach / and to confute false doctrine: which the Apostle showeth to be a part off those good works / which scripture storeth that man off God with. To the next division he answereth nothing / but yet filleth up the place / as is there to be seen.

To that out off the Apostle / and our Savior Christ / off the Pastors presence, that in going before his flock, he might serve for a patron off good woockes: he answereth that our Savior Christ / and Saint Paul serve for examples, to those which never saw them, and with whom they were not continually. Albeit the light off their example shining so clear / might be seen off those which were far of: yet the same followeth not in the pastors / whose light is a great deal dim̄er. Likewise the pastor being notas our S. Christ / and S. Paul lights off the world / but off those houses over which they are set: ought to be placed where they may give most light unto them. Cōsidering that it is unmeet / not only to put the light under a bushel / where it is altogether unprofitable: but also under the table / where notwithstanding it may give some comfortable remedy / against the darkness. Therefore forsomuch as the example that may be both seen / and heard / hath more force to conform the followers unto yt / then that which is only heard: the reason remaineth still unanswered. seeing the question is not only / how he may serve for example / but how he may do yt to their moste advantage.

To that of the restreint of Pastors to their proper flocks, he answereth / he wrote not to Pastors only, but to all in general, that have the name off Elders. his reason thereof that Peter saith he was also an elder, is senseless / and hath no manner of taste. I will not stick to confess / that S. Peter wrote in those words to other Elders then the Pastors: yet that he wrote to them only / that weretied to particular congregacions (which maintaineth the reply) yt ys manifest by the words alleged owt of S. Peter. Wherein if I have brought the right sense / he owght to have rested: else to have confuted thereasons / wherewith that translation is warranted / and the other which he setteth down / removed; and not thus cōfusedly to make a mashe of all. And it availeth him not / to seek corners in the diverse interpretation off the place: when as that off the Acts doth in plain / and confessed speech / utter the same that is here debated off.

After he addeth howsoever the place be expounded, yet it maketh not against him. No if S. Peter / and Paul cry never so high / in this language of continual residence: yet the D. is deaf / and will not hear. If both the Apostles do not only command the Pastors to feed in their proper flocks: not only that they must employ their talentes / but where: yt ys manifest that they shut owt / that roving abroad unto other churches / which is pretended for Non residence. I shown how the argument is good / taken from the place off the Thessal. that for so much as S. Paul conceived a great grief / in being absent a small space from those / to whom he was not so streitly bound / as the Pastor to his flock: the Pastor owght much more to be greiued / to be away from his flock. And consequently thereof must follow / that if their absence sat so near their hearts / as yt owght: yt would hang such plummets off their heals / as should hinder them from those lightfooted leaps / which he maintaineth. I added also / that the Pastor having the same duty unto his proper church, which the Apostles had towards all the churches of their charge: yt must follow, that as they were continually in their ministry towards some off those churches: so the Pastor should be continual upon the charge off his church. That he bringeth against this / that the Apostle did not speak this in any duty off ministry: for that a learned man noteth off that place, how the saints desire to see one another bodily, is ridiculous: as if his desire to see them / could not stand with the duty off the his ministry.

In the two next diuis. unto the reasons alleged / off the Pastors care so much more stirred up, as he seeth the blessing of God upon his labor: and of familiar acquaintance needful in a Pastor towards his flock, to embolden them to come unto him, both which are best procured by continual residence: he answereth nothing. where I alleged / the singular love by this means wrought between the Pastor, and the flock: he asketh me how I know it / seeing I had never experience in any? I know yt of the causes off love / whereof the daily conversation / and delight to be together / is one off the principal. off natural reason which I cited owt off Aristotle / that teacheth how men have greater care / over things proper unto them / then over those that are common to them with moe. And having greater care / yt followweth they have greater love / from whence the care proceedeth. Likewise I know yt by experience in the Apostle S. Paul: which uttereth greater affections off love towards the Corinth. and Philip. and other with whom heremaineed longest / and suffered moste for: then towards the other churches / where he made not that abode / nor took so great pains.

He asketh what Aristotle had to do with non residence? if yt had been but Balaam's asse / he should have been schoolmaster fit enough for some / which refuse to be taught by the word off God. But this is one off M. D. oracled / which he saith owght to be believed? considering that speaking off the natural causes off preservation of things / for which I alleged him / he spake of things pertaining to his profession. That he chargeth me with not reporting Aristot. words truly / is a wrangling cavil: for I kept the sense off the autor / considering that a thing common to many / requireth the care off many. That he saith / it cannot be true that it is neglected off all, which is cared for off all, is to childish: considering the flower off speech so often used off all writers / both profane / and holy: as they living are dead / having nothing possess all things / he that is everywhere / is nowhere. Nether is care taken in less measure then yt owght to be (which I speak off) contrary to neglect, as he supposeth: but a kind off neglect. That he addeth a man owght not so take care off hit private things, as to neglect the common wealth, is frō the purpose: seeing the pastor in his charge over his flock / serveth not himself / but the common profit / and that off the whole church. forasmuch as it pertaineth to the commodity off the whole body / that the part which he hath the nourishement off / be well preserved: beside that I have shown / how the care for other churches / may be with a continual residence at his own.

In the next diui. skowring over again the removing of Apostles / and Evēgelistes from place to place (which is answered) he addeth that the Pastors did the same, which is utterly untrue: that a man may be transferred from one place to another, which is no part of the question: that those which have given their names to the gospel, are sufficiently armed with faith, although the Pastor be not present, which is absurd / when the armor off faith / with the rest off the complete harness off o Christian / which he speaketh off in the next diuis. is not so put vpō / but that it is daily to be put on / and that by the preaching off the gospel especially, He saith further that although they be tempted, yet they cannot be overcome: which is confuted not • nely by diverse examples of moste excellent saints / Noah / David / Peter / &c. but by whole churches off Galatia / &c. which have been carried away by false teachers. For if he speak off the final victory / yt is absurd: considering that that dependeth off the election off God / unknown unto him / and may be as well said off the elect which have not yet believed. Likewise that it is a more acceptable work, to gain those which are altogether in ignorance: wherein beside that he taketh upon him to be a planter off churches / which before he assigned to be proper to the Apostles: I answer that albeit it be never so good a work in yt self / yet it is not good / much less the best / unto him which hath no calling thereunto. And in that he presumeth a calling / he doth but beg that in controversy / which is also before refuted. That he alledgeth off the lost groat▪ Prodigal son, &c. maketh against him: considering that those places are not off strangers from the church / but off them which after knowledge off the truth / fall into some corruption of life / or doctrine / as appeareth in the parable of the stray sheep / which although it be of the same kind with the other two / he hath by all likelihood left owt / because it did more plainly show his folie. In this respect also S. James saith / that a man that gaineth his brother straied from the truth / s • ueth a sowle. He saith his brother / not his neighbowr. Therefore this moste excellent work off converting sinners / and finding off those which are lost / being always in the purest churches / through the ambition / covetousness / idleness / licentiousness / &c. off one / or other: it followeth / that the pastor having exercise of the moste excellent work which can be / in his own church / owght not by the D. own reason / cast himself upon others. All in the two next diuis. is answered: nether contain they any answer / proper unto the reasons alleged off me.

He answereth that the similitude off the eye, and sowle in the body, compared with the Pastor in his church, agreing in some pointes, cannot be applied to the residence: because the Pastor may be absent from his flock without present destruction, which the eye, and sowle cannot. If this be a sufficient exception / there be few similitudes in the scripture / which are able to hold owt: and he might as well say / that as the eye waxeth worse / and worse through age / so the Pastor may w • r every day more fool then other. Howbeit this is clear / that forsomuch as the Pastor doth the office off an eye / and off the sowle unto his church: his absence from it ought to be such / as the body off the church may nether see the worse / nor be les disposed / and lively unto all good works: which is enough to break the neck / both off his monthly / much more quarterly sermons / and off his reading deputies.

Hitherto pertaineth which the D. entitleth / the moste effectual kind off preaching: where he would if he durst / expound diligent preaching / preaching once a month: to which end he stowreth up a fresh / the difference between spiritual food / and corporal / before answered. But because he dare not take upon him this defense / and the rest of the treatise hath nothing but a childish excuse / off his reproaches against the Ministers of London, an impudent denial off his Lewdenes towards the women, an intolerable brag off his benefits / and off his preaching often, owt courses against me / all beside the cause: I will leave them in the readers judgment.

In the next Tract. off the great convenience off preaching before administration off the Sacraments / falling also into this treatise (as that which pulleth at the least one of those feathers / wherewith non residentes so willingly take their flight from their own charges) there should have been almost as title to answer / as in the other: if the D. had not used such open false accusations / as he may thereby seem to have striven for the mastrie thereof / with the father off them. And first to let pas his correction off thorder off my reasoning / whereby he maketh him self more then ridiculous / to all which have a grain off knowledge that ways: to that he saith / that John as minister preached in the wilderness, and baptized in Jordan, and thereupon will conclude / that if preaaching before the Sacraments now have ground in Iohnes example, preaching in the wilderness, and baptizing in rivers have the same: I answer that the case is nothing like. For his preaching in the wilderness / was by special vocation / whereunto he was directed by an express propheceye. This instance therefore is unfitly alleged / which albeit it were incident to his ministry: yet that was by extraordinary calling. The baptizing in Jordan / was for that he sought the commodity off water / as appeareth by other places / where he likewise baptized not as the D. pretendeth / for that his ministry called him more to that place / then unto another.

Yt is also untrue / that the Apostles in that they were ministers of the word, preached in all places, and wrought miracles. For then all ministers off the word / should do the same. Considering that as whatsoever agreeth unto one man / as he is man / agreeth unto all / even so whatsoever agreeth unto one minister off the word / as he is minister thereof / must needs be verified off all. The reason whereof is more known / then that the D. without blusshing / owght thus to be ignorant off: that whatsoever is verefyed off a general, as general, is verefyed off all vnderneth yt. Therefore that the Apostles preached the word / they did it in that they were ministers off the word: but that they preached in all places / and joined therewith miracles / they did it not as ministers off the word / but as such ministers / that is to say / extraordinary / and Apostles. Where he saithe / there is another reason off preaching before John's baptism, then before ours, for that John had to do with those that believed not in Christ, whhich he calleth a little after infidels, and we have to baptize infantes only: to pass by his ignorance off calling the Jews at that time infidels (the only people off God / even before John's baptism) which notwithstanding deserveth the whip: he owght to understand / that albeit the baptism be administered unto infantes / which have no use off preaching yet forsomuch as the knowledge off that ministry / necessarily pertaineth to the whole assembly / and particularly to those which undertake the bringing up off the infantes▪ the necessity off preaching before the Sacrament / doth remain.

He saith / that it cannot be gathered off S. Math. that S. John preached immediately before he baptized and yet the first reason I alleged / that he baptized after he had preached, he clean passeth by: the other off the Acts / he understandeth not how it can be gathered. Although the interpretation I noted was not commonly known / as that which touched off some few / was not seen of diverse writers off name: yet when I pointed him to it / I supposed he would have understanded. But I presumed the •• che off his understanding / and yet not knowing what I would note / he condemneth the sense I have followed / as tending to Anabaptistry or Papistry, or I know not what. S. Paul meaning to refer the gifts off the holy ghost / which the twelve disciples at Ephesus / were to receive by putting on off hands / unto the performance off the truth off the promise figured by baptism / and so to join the sign with the thing signified: in the fourth verse showeth how John preached, that his disciples should believe in Jesus Christ which came after him. After in the 9. verse. he showeth that those disciples off John, and not (as is commonly supposed) those twelve disciples off Ephesus / having heard John's preaching, and not (as is also supposed) Paul's / were baptized into the name off the lord Jesus. Which interpretation as yt floweth / and hath plain proof off the two coniunctions / which have relation one to another / and cannot without violence be severed: so off all other yt moste stoppeth the mouth off the Anabaptists, and Papists, taking all color off Argument from them: and withal noteth the order I alleged yt for / that after they had heard John preach, they were baptized.

Where it being most boldly affirmed off the D. that it is manifest that our Savior Christ was baptized without preaching, he owght to have shown yt by manifest reasons: he not only set down no reason / but against the reasons I alleged / opposeth his naked saying. For that that S. Luke hath not, that S. John preached immediately before he baptized, is unworthy off answer: as if the order off the story could not show that / without the word immediately: or as if nothing might be said doon immediately after another / but where some such precise note off time is added. That he saith / he knoweth no purpose why our Savior Christ should be at John's sermon: yt was answered / that he vouchsafing to be baptized off John / yt was probable / that he would honor the ministry off the word with his presence: which he passeth with silence, beside that he must learn / that our Savior Christ growing in wisdom / and stature until the time off his baptism / when he received the holy ghost without measure: no more neglected the ordinary means off God / whereby he received his increase off wisdom / then the ordinary nourishement whereby he grew in stature.

That the disciples were preached unto of the use of the supper / before they received / the reason followeth in the 6. diuis. That S. Luke noted the sommes / rather then laid owt at large / the sermons of our Sa. Christ: howsoever the D. will not acknowledge yt / is more manifest then his impudent denial / owght to cause me enter into proof off. To the next reason / of continual practice of preaching immediately before the Sacraments / proved owt of S. Luke / his answer is insufficiēt. For beside that it is untrue / that the assembly infantes excepted / are sufficiently instructed off the use off baptism: his answer off preaching immediately before the sacraments, to those that are not converted, hath no place / considering that S. Paul preached to those in the administration off the supper / which were already converted.

Where I confess that nether the Adm. nor I hold for a thing simply necessary / that the word be preached immediately before the Sacraments: he saith that there is then no cause to contend, yt being agreed off the convenience. If it be very convenient that preaching be immediately before the Sacraments: then the custom off reading only / is not sufficient: which is that he found fault with in the Adm. for at the least a great convenience is wanting to that sufficiency. And seeing the scripture commendeth things convenient / as it forbiddeth the contrary: the order of preaching immediately before the Sacraments / even in this respect / owght (unless yt be rare / and upon great causes) to be observed. Where I say the life off the sacraments dependeth upon the the word preached: the D. saith yt is a fowl error. no marvel according to his black divinity. But how cometh it so fowl? because the life off the Sacraments dependeth upon the promises in the word. I grant / and nether upon preaching, nor reading. that is utterly false. for when baptism belongeth not unto infantes / but in that their ancesters in the conuenant / and those no otherwise in conuenant / then by faith which cometh are preaching: yt followeth / that the parents having no Fruict off the covenant but by preaching by / can much les have profit off the Sacrament without it I grant their infantes salvation / dependeth upon the election off God: yet that they may be partakers off baptism / dependeth on that the promise preached was received (at least in the churches judgment) off those off whom they are descended. Thus the doctrine fowl in the D. judgment / is beautiful in the scriptures.

Let us now se whether yt be so vncourteously handled off others as off the D. Calvin showing that the Sacrament standeth of the word / and element / saith we must understand the word, notwispered, without understanding, and faith, with a noise only, as if yt had power like an enchantement, to consecrate the Element: but which being preached causeth us to understand, what the visible sign meaneth. Likewise upon these words (Preaching the baptism of repentance) the word sacrament doth not signify a vain Ceremony, which standeth of shows without doctrine, but the word off God is always annexed: which giveth life unto the outward Ceremony. I understand the word not mumbled between the teeth, but pronounced with a clear voice, fit to edify the faith▪ for yt is not said simply that John baptized to repentance, as though the grace of God were shut up in the visible sign: but that he preached the virtue of baptism, that the figne might have effect, by the word he preached. Here is not only the same judgment / but almost the same words: that the life of the sacrament dependeth upon the word / and that preached. In his dispute after / as though I had said that the sacraments are dead / unless the word be preached im̄ediatly before / he declareth that be is given to speak all untruth / be yt never so apparent. For it is directly against that I set down / in the same place / he raiseth this false accusation: where I confessing that there is no precise necessity off preaching immediately before the sacraments / affirm notwithstanding / that preaching owght to go before them.

In that he bringeth owt off Zwingli. against the Anabaptists / the first place is altogether against him. For although the disciples baptized without teaching: yet it being said there that our Savior Christ taught, yt is evident that preaching went before the sacrament. The other place is to fill up room. For we say not that young infantes must be taught before they be baptized: but that doctrine must go before the sacraments in the church of God / as the publishing off the grant before the seal. Where he would conclude that I understood the necessity off preaching before the administration, not in respect off the rest off the church present, but off the infantes, for that the life off the sacrament pertaineth not unto others then those which be pareakers: Who hath so blinded him that he understandeth not / that baptism received off the standers by in their infancy / taketh effect daily by preaching after they be off age: and that without preaching in those which be off discretion / yt remaineth unfruitful / and serving only to condemnation. Yea even the baptism off the infantes / not only pertaineth unto the parents for whose comfort yt is also ministered: but dependeth as I have shown off this / that they off whom they come / have through preaching off the word before that baptism / given their names unto Christ. Thus having obtained that yt is very convenient / that there should be preaching immediately before the administration off Sacraments: I return back with one band more / to hold the Pastor from roving beyond the tether off his church. Other things impertinent unto this place shall be answered in their places.

His triumphs upon that I confess / that the Pastor may for some business with leave off his church, with an able deputy be absent: notwithstanding he would so fain mount them on high by his questions / are beggarly / and do scarce crepe upon the ground. For where he asketh first / whether he may not as well be away for public affairs, as for private: he may if they be of that sort / which agree with his vocation. But what then? will he conclude of an ynch an ell / off a week a month / off a month half a year: and off a case off necessity / make an ordinary license? when S. Paul will have him which entereth into this warfare off ministry / to unwrap himself off all occasions which may draw him from yt: being already entered / he will much less suffer that he should ether feek new occasions off absence / or take all that are offered. Our Savior Christ not suffering those whom he called to this work / to go bury their dead / and give the farewell unto those off their house: declared sufficiently that they owght to be very urgent causes / which should draw the minister off the word / from the charge committed unto him. And when his love towards God / must be moten by feeding off his flock committed unto his charge: his long / and often voluntary absence / must needs prove a small love in him towards the Lord. Which reason being alleged / is altogether unanswered. This rare absence / and that upon urgent cause / may appear a so by the practice of the church. The Council off Men's / decreing that the Bishop upon sickness or some other urgent cause off absence not able to preach, should have some every Sunday, and other festdayes to preach in his steed: declareth that the use off the church / did nether suffer the bishop to be away but upon great cause: and that not so much as one holy day / without a preaching minister to supply his place. Augustine saith / that he was not absent frō the church of Hippo, but compelled by sickness. Zwingli putting difference between an Apostle / and Pastor / saith that he that doth the office off a Pastor, is always in the power of the church over which he is set, and never goeth from it. Vppon which both testimonies off the scripture / and practice off the church yt appeareth / how to have a deputy owght not to be (as the D. would have it) an accoustomed thing: but rare / and upon urgent causes.

Where before he alledgeth for proof off a deputy / that there is no shepherd which hath not a boy, or a man to supply his absence: he owght to understand / that our Savior Christ is that master shephherd / and therefore he being but a servant / can no more set ones his charge / then one servant discharge himself upon another. Beside / what sheepmaister is there of so small housbandry / which will be content that his stipend should be mangled / and a portion given unto an hireling / for a monthly / or quarterly oversight off his flock / suffer the shepherd to enjoy the rest? yt may well be for the poursprofit off the shepherd: but it cannot be but to the great scare off the sheep. considering that not only the hired cannot by any likelihood / have that care over the flock which the proper pastor hath: but also that all this disputation tendeth hither / that they may have a reading / or other in sufficient substitute: which as the shepherds boy / or rather eurr / content with a lock / or two / will leave Master Person the master shepherd / the rest off the fleese. For such is their fidelity / that where as in times past the priests are commanded to bear the arck upon their own shoulders / so they should feed their flocks them selves: they are not only content to shift yt from their own shoulders / but as the foolish / and idle priests in committing yt to such vnstilfull governors / they lay yt upon a cart / hale yt with oxen / not with the adventure / but with certain event of an overthrow. Although herein I speak too favorably off the greatest number off them: which do not bestow so much cost as a new cart / and a draft off oxen come to. For they have learned their howsebandry rather off him which teacheth / that always it standeth a man in least, which may be doon by a poor asse. And if this carting off the church of God / were sent home to our popish Philisthins from whence yt came: the kitchen fire being thereby well abbated / this disputation for adeputy / would be well cooled. For an able man would either for conscience / or honesties sake / keep him self from this hyrelingship. I say conscience / because amongst other corruptions / he cannot avoid the crime off Simony (as they call yt) whilst to obtain a place / he is content to part stakes with the Pastor. Honesty / whilst all not seruill minded / will rather choose to be free / then under the yoke off another man's service.

His second questiō / whether the flock be not in like danger in the Pastors absence with leave, as without: is altogether from the purpose / when it is no lawful for him nether with leave / nor without leave / to be away with danger off his flock. His third / where I find in scripture that the Pastor owght to have leave off his parish: is answered in that I shown that the Pastors are belonging to their churches / and are their servants: which he altogether passeth by. His last asketh how he cā in his absence have an able deputy, seeing he may not be admitted to the ministry, which hath not a certain flock. As though in such necessity for so small a time / the supply may not be made by the Pastors hard by: which is also answer to that he objecteth pag. 249.

Unto the next diuis. I answer not. Upon that many parishes may be joined in one, and fix towns in France (as he saith) are committed unto one Pastor, he concludeth that one Pastor may have diverse flocks: which is unworthy any answer. As if a thousand sheep in one pasture / were not easilier / and with more commodity tended / then three in three sheepgates. For as touching the preaching off the word / and administering the Sacraments / unto diverse towns assembled into one body vff a church: the labor is almost all one in ten / and ten hundred. The residue off the charge being common with him unto the rest off the elders / may be (especially in such necessities) borne owt by increasing their number / according to the compass off the churches territory. Yt is also untrue that he affirmeth I have said / that the number, or distance off place is all one. And yt is inconvenient / that ether a greater number be assembled into the body off one particular church / then can be at once taught off one mouth / or that the number should be taken owt off towns / farther removed from the places off the churches resort / then that they may have convenient access. Likewise yt is untrue which he saith off six towns to one Pastor in France. For although one church be assembled owt off diverse towns: yet it falleth owt that the least part off those towns pertaineth unto the church: and those few meet together in one place / to receive the nourriture provided for them off the Lord / by the hand off their Pastor.

To that alleged / that the Pastor if he will have many flocks, should content him self with that stipend off them all, which he hath off one, when that one is able to maintain him, and his family honestly: he answereth not. yet was it necessary to be answered / considering that thereby the peinting of that Zeal / under pretence whereof they spread their nets over so many churches / is washed away. Where he accuseth me whotly / other of deceiving, or being deceived, in that the Council off Nice, is put without the addition off Second. whereby yt might be severed from the purer Council off Nice: I cannot precisely say / whether the leaving owt off Second / were my fault / or the fault off some other. but that I meant to deceive none / there be which can witness: by that that in the second edition (howsoever yt was omitted) I gave a note whereby that should be corrected. His reasō wherewith he would prove / that I meant to abuse the reader, for that I set it before Damasus, is to frivolous: considering that that conterfeict Damasus / mentioned in the first Tome off councils / was not before this second Council: and yt is not unwonted to put the judgment off a council before that off a particular person. As for the corruption off the Council, I have shown how that maketh more against the D. then if the testimony had been fetched from the first Council. And where he saith / the Council meant that one should not have permitted unto him moe great cities then one: yt is a shameless corruption off the mind off the Council. Considering that the drift thereof is / that one should not have more to live one / then is needful to maintain himself competently: and therefore is content as it were to wink at those / which are placed in poor churches not able to maintain their Pastor: albeit it inclineth rather to this / that he should supply that which is wanting / by some honest occupation.

That he addeth that Gratian himself doth so expound it: all men understand how vnsauourly yt is spoken. As if it were any marvel that Gratian so expounded yt / which is known to be an open corrupter off the Councils / and manifestly in this point off having many benefices / not only in this council / but in that off Calcedon. For where the Council decreed that no man might be ordained in two cities: he doth impudently dally with it / saying he may be notwithstanding Archebishop of one city, and bishop of another: provided that he enjoy the one as entitled to yt, and the other by way off commendation. Which is but a toy to mock an ape. As if a man should say / that yt were not lawful to have two wives at ones / but yet he might have two women / one under the title off a wife / another of a lem̄end. This interpretation off the Council / is yet made worse by the D. for he addeth that a Pastor may not be ordained in moe great cities then one: as though the Council would permit one to be over diverse small cities. The proof brought by the Council / that everyone owght to tarry in that vocation wherein he is called, is fit. The reason against yt / that the Apostle speaketh off the kind off vocation, and not off the place, is fond: as though yt were not a man's calling / to do that he hath to do / in one certain place: or as though if the soldier / or embassadour commanded to serve in one place / serve in another / he offended not against this rule off the Apostle. Where fault is found / that I set down councils in the plural number, alleging but one: he dealeth very straitly which will not suffer me to speak as other do. but that there may be councils / let him learn that the same was decreed in the council off Toledo. Wherunto I join Master Hopers judgment / which saith that no man off what gifts soever may have two livings. and therefore he is not so much a shepherd which hath many flocks / as the D. saith / as a thief: seeing not able to do the office of a Pastor towards them / he pilleth them.

Towching Damasus / that his purpose was nothing les then to condemn idle bishops / him self idlest off all: shall be seen in another place / when yt shall appear that he had no good meaning in thes words. Notwithstanding the comparison (which likeneth the Pastors that put over their charge, unto harlots that give their children to other to nourse, that they may sooner give them selves to lust) being apt / I took as a good stone set in an evil place. In the next diu. the first part / that it is better that one should have diverse flocks / then any be untaught / is answered: in that yt is both better that one church be sufficiently fed / then all insufficiently: and it is alleged before / and after / how the want off preachers is in part because they are not sought after / in part because they are drivē owt / which were placed. The other part is also answered.

All the Answer. witnesses / brought in to prove that Denis the Monkish pope first divided parishes, and Dioceses, are suspected. Polidore whom he hath chosen to speak in the name off the rest / doth (as the D. him self hath doon) falsify the words off the Monk. Considering that he saith not that he appointed dioceses / but parishes / and church yardes only / making no mention off dioceses. Wherupon the Canonistes them selves say / that bounds off bishoprickes were divided long before. Both which opinions shall appear more at large to be false / where I shall show God willing / by what practices the bishops stretched owt their arms so far. Afterward the man in going about to show mine / proclaimeth his own ignorance. For where he saith there was no limitation off place in the Apostles time, he is greatly deceyned. For beside that there is almost in every story before the Apostles / often mention off provinces / whereinto the gouernementes were divided: Cicero maketh mention off the division off provinces into dioceses. The Romans likewise before the Apostles had their Curias / the same with the Greek word whereof our word (parish) is taken. Also touching the very word parish, by that Eusebius reciteth owt off Apolonius / a Senator off Rome / who lived about the year off our Lord 180. of Montanus which could not be received, not so much as of his own parish whence he was: yt appeareth that it was both in use / and in the same signification that we take yt / long before Denis (off whom the D. would father this division off Parishes) was bishop. So yt is manifest thes divisions were before the Monks time / yea before the Apostles time.

And where he saith / all men may know that limitation off Parishes, and dioceses could not be made but off men in authority, and theruppon concludeth / that it could not be made by the Apostles: yt is very true touching the precise limitacion. but how is he so blinded that he cannot also thereby see / that yt is an idle dream that he so greatly stryueth for / that Denis limited dioceses, parishes, &c? considering that the Denis he supposeth / living about An. 266. had no authority / but was a poor Bishop under persequnting Emperors. And if the Emperors had been Christian then / as they were heathen: yet how cometh yt to pass / he doth not understand / that in going about to make men believe / that the Bishop off Rome at that time had authority to limit dioceses / parishes / &c. in the church off God: he setteth up a Pope / and armeth him with that authority which he never came unto four hundredth years after. Finally if this Monk were off any credit / he is directly against him even in this cause. For off the words before alleged yt is clear / that he appointed unto every elder a several parish: wherein he should keep him self: which is against the plurality off benefices / that he so greatly striveth for.

He asketh where it appeareth, that the scripture divided national churches into congregations, and parishes? I answer that off that the scripture willeth elders to be chosen for every competent congregation / and particular body off church / and also that thes assemblies (as all other things in the church) should be with the greatest convenience / so that as Jerusalem had commendation in having her building knit closely together / even so the church as much as may be conveniently / should have her partes not only in a spiritual bond off charity / but in neighbourhood of dwellinges well trussed one with another: yt is apparent / that although the scriture doth not mention parishes / nor precisely define off the compass / yet yt giveth the rule / whereby they are squared owt. For when a parish well bounded / is nothing else but a number of those families / which dwelling near together may have a commodious resort: and the assemblies off the churches owght so to be ranged / as they may be nearest the place off their spiritual refection: yt followeth that the scripture hath after a sort / given the churches tarriers / and that a parish well bounded for the spiritual intercommuning / hath testimony owt off the word off God.

Where he asketh proof off this / that diocese is taken for a parish: yt appeareth first that in the primitive church / bishops in steed that they are now off such a diocese / were then of a parish. afterward when they began to hook into their possession / moe churches then they were able to feed: they were called bishops off dioceses▪ yet the name parish was not quite worn owt / but indifferently used for a diocese: as appeareth by the council of Ancyran / where one translation having diocese, the other hath parish. And yt shall better appear in the 8. Tract. that at the first there were dioceses off so narrow compass: that diverse parishes in England / may appear to be off greater circuit then they.

That the place off burial mentioned off Euseb. wat in the field, may as I said be gathered off the use off the church: which I have noted in another place. That the churches of Christ had nether thē / nor in the time that the D. imagineth / any churchyardes / ys manifest: considering that then the temples (whereunto the churchyardes were annexed) were possessed off idolaters. The answer to the incommodities off burial in churchiardes / that by that reason churches, and other things must necessarily be removed: is a begging off that in question / and otherwise insufficient. For yt is in demand wether it be convenient: and if it had been / yet being not necessary / it owght for such abuses to be taken away. And beside the incommodities assigned / it was as may appear / taken of the Papists / from the superstition off the heathen. For Lycurgus made this law / that men should burye in cities, and round about the temples. Now residence being necessary / and that principally for preaching off the word / it appeareth how disordered a power yt is off the bishop: off whose license the pastor both chosen and ordained / must depend / in a thing precisely commanded to him by the Lord / and for omitting whereof the thunderbolt of God's course / is from heavē thrown upon him. Therefore the chapter intitled Off licences to preach / shall be here in a word or two dispatched.

First the D. charged with false dealing / in that he surmiseth of the Ad. as if one might preach without their approbation to whom yt appertaineth: answereth their meaning is plain. belike he hath it by revelation / for in their words there is not a title sounding thar ways. But he saith yt was their own case, which put from preaching would have preached against the bishops will. Where leaving that to those that may have knowledge thereof / I answer that he toucheth not the matter. For both they speak / and my reply was of those / which ordained to preach the gospel / are sent to their charges not able to do their duties without further license: as if a man charged to do a thing / should be bound hand and foot of him that charged him / and laid at his mercy whether he will lose him. Wherunto he answeretth not a word. Thirdly he layeth to my charge / that I had not answered touching that the Adm. would have preached against the bishops will: a word whereof is not found but only in his latter book. then which what greater dotage can there be? as if there could be default off answer / whera there was no such thing objected.

In that I said / without their approbation to whom yt appertaineth: he excepteth that there is an equivocation, yt being not set down by whom the election should be made. Where beside that yt was apparent before by a whole treatise / what we think in that behalf / and owt of place to speak off it here: his exception is too childish. For to whomsoever thelection doth appertain / this case remaineth the same. whether it be unlawful to ordain one to preach the word / and yet to keep it still in his power / whether he shall do yt or no. Off this sort is that he saith / I suppose no man may preach which hath not certain charge, and only in yt. Wheroff although I make not here one word off mention: yet howsoever yt be taken / this case remaineth one. Where I shown that the bishop could not allege for defense / that he whom he sendeth prisoner to his church / is ether heritik, or schismatic, or suspected, for that he owght not then to have admitted him unto that ministry: he useth open falsehood. For he saith I suppose that hypocrites, schismatics &c. may be know̄ forthwith: or suspected may be by and by removed. Whereas first I have not a word off Hypocrites / and have before manifestly taught the contrary off that he here forgeth / that the church cannot proceed against Hypocrites, that is those whose sins are not discovered: and that God only hath reserved their judgment unto himself. Then where I show / that those which are to be admitted to the ministry / owgt to be free from suspicion off heresy / or schism: the D. answereth as if I had said / that those which have already been in the ministry / were upon suspicion off heresy to be desposed. Which what seely Sophistery it is / and whether this whole diuis. declare the D. spoiled off all both conscience / and judgment: I leave yt to be considered off all men.

The 5. Tract. and 6. vn the O.

Off preaching Mynisters.

HEere may be justly renewed the complaint of the prophet / that the priests did not only them selves not execute their charge / according to the laws givē in that behalf: but gave those also entrance / to whom the lord had utterly denied it. For yt is not enough for the D. to feed him self / and others with the blood off the church / in defense off the unlawful absence off the Pastor: unless by this maintenance off unpreaching ministers / as yt were by banner spread / he make a feast thereof unto all the ravening / and Cormorant fowls in the land. And so as if it were a small thing / to bear the condemnation off his own parishes: he stretcheth owt his hand / to have part in the gilt off others. And although this defense may seem to be given to thes woeful readers: yet if we give a little heed / we shall easily perceive / that both this puddle / and others which depend vpō it / return to fill if it were possible / the Ocean sea off non residents. For nō residence would bring little ether to filling off cofres / or bathing off them in the delights off the world / or to what other thing soever they in their absence propound: unless there were such hungry knights / as would for a crust of bread / supply this absence. Now for removing off thes sweepinges owt off the church ministry / we must come back to a diuis. touching this matter.

Where yt is said that the people need not pine away for lack off food, seeing they have one to read, &c: yt is but a begging off that in question. for is this the diet which God hath appointed to his children / or portion he hath commanded his faithful servants to give unto his family in due season / or that delicate table / and cup that runneth over? are thes the householders which before they set up / or take the charge off housekeping / have filled all the ir garners / furnished all their cellars / frawght all their threasuries with all store new and old / fit to enterteine the sons / and dawghters off the great king off heaven? we is unto that hows hold that hath such a steward / and woe shall be unto that steward that upon such provision / undertaketh the stewardshippe off the house off God. But woe and woe again shall be to him / that not only him self famisheth the how should which he hath / but teacheth others to do so: and not only doth evil / but justifieth the evil doer. A. great parte off the D. allowance here / cometh to be examined after: as that bare reading is not able without God's extraordinary work / to deliver one sowle / and that homilies are not serviceable in this solemn bancket.

Now to run through the rest / I answer prayers, and Sacraments forasmuch as they take effect by the preaching off the word / where that is not / those do not only not feed / but are ordinarily to further condemnation. That which the Curates can give before they have learned their Catechism (of wiche time is here spoken) is poison and no meat: so that hitherto they may pyne / for any thing that the Answ. setteth before them / in such sort especially as he settethe yt. All the hope therefore off delyueringe them from famyn / hangeth upon the well disposed preacher, which if he feed another flock withe the hindrance off his own / or having no flock go about in circuit whether so ever he thinketh good: I will not dente but the one and the other may have a good meaning therein / but whether the lord alowe off it (unless he be able to show the seal off some extraordinary calling) I leave yt to be considered / of that which hath been before disputed. I omit that I know myself / that within seven miles of Cambridge / there have been parishes where one off thes sermons was not / in four whole years. Which if y • be so near Cambridge / where the greatest number off those preachers be: what is to be thought off other places off the Realm?

Unless yow count every reproach / and raylinge word an argument / here is no word to prove, that yt is meet to enjoin ministers to learn Cathechismes: that is to say / to prove that they may be ministers off the word / before they have learned the Christian A. B. C. which children off seeen yaere old in reformed churches / can answer unto. They are necessary points wh • he are tawghte there. So ys the A. B. C. to him which will learn to read. they are the weightieste things in our Religion. Els they could not be the foundations which uphold the whole buildinge. To have said something yow should have said / they are the hardeste / and difficulteste points off religion, but that yow cannot / those being without the circuit off a Catechism. I am content therefore yow shall praise the book withe what words yow will: but when yow have doon / look that yow leave yt a Catechism / that is to say a treatise of the first elemētes / or A. B. C. off Christianity. And then yt followeth / that your enioyninge off your ministers to learn it: doth necessarily presuppose ignorance off those things / the want off knowledge whereof in that age / not only ought to remove them from the college off ministers: but leaveth them no place till they be better instructed / to sit amongst the Christians. And if yow think this no discredit at all, yow have your credit separate from the credit off the church: which is discredited / dishonored / yea utterly destroyed by such blind eyes. And I may further say / that he which thinketh this no discredit, may be feared to seek credit in the ignorance off the ministers: whilst amongst such a blind company / his sight may be somewhat / and whilst he may use their simplicity / to the establishmente off that tyranny / which a learned ministry would never bear.

But because the Ans. can say nothing / let us hear what the Heluetian confession (fully repeated again 253. and yet again 484. mentioned also the fowrth time) saithe for them. we condemn all unmeet ministers, not endued with gifts necessary for a shepherd, that should feed his flock. What do I hear? do yow condemn all / &c? hearken Master D. here is sentence off condemnation given off those / which yow defend. Was there no easier word to use but condemninge? if they had only said they approved them not / speaking out off the word off God / as they do yt had been a shrewde blow. But in saying flatt'y that they condemn them: they have said what they could / for the utter sweepinge them out of the church / as longe as yt standeth. And take this also with yow / that in condemninge them / they condemn the making / and defense of them Thus our ignorant ministers have once passed the condemnation off the churches and in this condemnation they lie / and shall lie as longe as the word off God remaineth / if all men in the world would absolve them. But let us hear whether they be repriued by the judgment of these churches / or whether they give any pardon / which gave the condemnation.

There followeth that they allow better off the harmless symplicitie off some, then off the exquisite learning off others, joined withe pride. And worthily. For nether can pride agree withe manners off the minister off God: and harmless symplicitie may well agree / with a competent learning meet for that function. In the ende they conclude / that they reject not the good symplicitie of certain, so they be not altogether unskillful off God, and his word. Firste this can make nothing for excuse off our ministers. For when they are to learn their Catechism / and the principles off Christian Religion / what knowledge is left unto them off God / and off his word? Then yt is like / that by harmless symplicitie they mean some rare / and singular holiness / whereby they goo as far beyond the other in life / as they come behind them in learning: which all see to be otherwise in our ignorant ministers / oftentimes the masters off misrule to all the parish. Otherwise they knew what Jerome saithe / that in that S. Paul requireth that a bishop should be wise, he barreth those which under the name off symplicitie, excuse the folie off ministers.

Last off all by that skill off God / and off his word / they must needs understand such gifts / as are necessary for a shepherd to feed his flock: which is ability to teache / to exhort / to convince the adversary: and if he have those / although he have not the knowledge off tongues / and arts / in the name off God let him have the chair. And such I confess our church hath had / and hath some / but they are very rare: and off thes I doubt not but the confession meaneth. Nether can they be without manifest injury / thought to receive those which they had before condemned. for shall we say off them that with one mouthe / yea with one breathe they blue whout / and kolde? wheruppon I conclude / that the condemnation being here greater then the pardon / and the wound wider then the plaster: yow were very near driven / when yow were compelled to use the testimony off thes churches / to cover the nakedness off the ignorant ministers▪ your notable slander off the Adm. I am content shall (as yow say) rest in the readers iudgmente. That I have gathered your argument faithfully / touching the learning off Catechisms / is shown before. There followeth the 2. diuis. (the first being a blank) where beside the causes by him assigned of want off able Ministers / be to no purpose / considering that we show there can be no cause off instituting a reading ministry / and be also owt off place / considering that he should have opposed them / to those which I alleged in that behalf: that which only was material / that we be in cause off that fewnes, is only said.

Where I alleged owt off S. Paul / that yt is an express commandment that a pastor should be able to teach, and convince gaynsayers, and therefore to be broken upon no occasion: he answereth that S. Paul showeth the qualities off a pastor, but saith not that we may not have reading Pastors, if there be none, or not a sufficient number in whom all those qualities concur. Then which what can be more bluntly said? For this being a general rule / he owght to have shown where the Lord giveth leave to take vnteaching ministers / contrary unto the tenor off this commandment: which he is never able to do. For the scripture commanding the pastors should be able to teach / and convince doth forthwith shutowt all other: it being a general rule / that it both commandeth the contrary off that it forbiddeth: and forbiddeth the contrary off that yt commandeth. And there is no commandment in the scripture / which may not be eluded by the D. answer. For thus yt may be said / that we may have images in churches to teach the ignorant: for that although the lord forbid them / yet he hath not said that where there are none / or not a sufficient number off able teachers / we may not have such supplies. Those also which pressed with extreme hunger seek remedy in stealing / find him their proctor. For the lord hath not said in so many words / that one which is hungerbitten / may not steal as much as will save his life. But when all commandments be general in the scripture / albeit they have not always the universal note off All / or None: unless there be some exception declared / this off the sufficiency off the pastor / being not only universal / but universally propounded / is better armed against all thes fond cavils. For our savior declaring that everyone instructed as a scribe unto the kingdom off God / owght to be provided aforehand with store off doctrine / and judgment to apply yt according to the present occasion: doth give manifestly to understand / that no one may be received into the order off pastors / which is not able to teach his flock.

And the D. may as well say / that in default of sober / chaste / and quiet pastors / they may choose dronckards / whoremongers / swashbucklers: as that in default off a teaching pastor / they may take vnteaching. Yea rather may he say the one then the other / considering that sobriety / chastity / and quietness are common with him to all Christians: but ability to teach / and confute are his proper duties. Therefore although thes be both intolerable / yet the church receiveth les harm / by pastors which infected with 〈◊〉 do teach: then by them which free from thes / are utterly unable to teach. For the good life off the pastor without doctrine / whereby they may be both taught to put their trust in god / and see the good works they should follow / is as a fair color without light to show yt by / utterly unprofitable: where the word truly preached / shineth oftentimes clearer in the hearts / then the cloud of the pastors disordered life / cā stay the fruit of. And albeit all commandments off God / are such as may not for any cause be broken: yet this S. Paul giveth off the Pastor / hath a special fence cast about yt / whereby it might be kept in greater safety. For the spirit of God / foreseing this shameful profanation off the ministry / together with the present danger unto the church / useth a preface to this description of the pastors office / used rarely / and but in matters of greatest stablenes / saying yt is a certain doctrine. As if he should say / that which followeth is an invariable / and unchangeable rule / which can by no authority of men / for any cause not only be brokē / but not so much as bowed / or once wrinched a side.

His reason that Paul was glad those preached, which swerved frō that rule, beside that I have shown it ridiculous: is here owt of place / considering that thes readers which would have rent his heart in pieces / being ordained with breach off the rule off God could not cheare him up again by preaching: whereunto they are as fit as an ox to fly. Witnes the D. him self / which addeth that our ignorant ministers may by study so profit in knowledge, that they may be able privately to exhort Where yt is merueilons to see how he fometh owt their shame / whom he hath taken to his defense. If he had said / that in time with study they might be able to preach: yet forsomuch as while that grass groweth / the people perish / his answer had been intolerable. Now giving no further hope / then that in time they will be able privately to admonish / which every Christian owght to do: he hath given sentence off them / that they will never be able to do the work off Pastors / whereof they bear the name: that is that they will never be but idols. What they do by reading is after to be seen. The place of Osea which resecteth from the ministry / those that have not kn ••••• ge off the law / because it failed a little in the quotation / he hath let quietly go by.

Where he giveth me the lie, for that I ascribe unto him this argument / there must be reading in the church, therefore ministers that can do nothing but read: his words be thes. I see not how yow can condemn reading ministers, seeing reading is necessary in the church. let the reader judge what a hard forehead he hath. Where I concluded theruppon / that everyone which could break bread, distribute the cup, &c. should be a meet minister: all see that it followeth upon the former reason. And this which the D. counteth a jest, he is not able to answer in his greatest earnest. His answer to the place off S. James is frivolous. For his reason why the place off • . Luke commanding the 12. disciples to preach / cannot be applied unto our Ministers, is for that other things joined with yt were temporal. And this is his reason before / that the example off the Apostles elections is to be followed wholly, or not at all. Therefore the place off S. James / did fully confute his answer: considering that the anointing of the sick coupled with prayer / by the elders off the church / being temporal: the other notwithstanding is perpetual. And this shift that that place was spoken off all ministers, and the other off S Luke off the 12. only, will not cover his shame. For what will he say unto the rules given as the same time / that they should be simple in their ministry as doves, wise as serpentes, take heed off men? are they not spoken to the ministers now / because they were spoken then to the 12. only? What unto that our Savior Christ commanded to go into all the world / teaching / and baptizing in the name off the Father / Son / and Holy Ghost? which place shaketh him owt of both his rags: for that was spoken to the eleven Apostles only / and the commandment off going into all the world / was temporal. Yet I think he dare not deny / but the commandment off baptizing in the name off Father / Son / and holy Ghost / is perpetual / and belonging unto all Pastors. Whereupon followeth that the place off S. Luke standeth still / to whip owt unpreaching Pastors. In the pag. 483. this is handled again.

Where I allege that they be unchangeable laws 〈◊〉 God, that he should not be minister off the church which cannot teach, nor Minister Sacraments which cannot preach: the D. leaving the first which was the very cause / shppeth to the second / which is handled in another Tract. as that wherein his provision was better. Howbeit because I would not the D. cause should leese her advantage by his oversight: I confess that Chrysostom's testimony / may seem to pertain to the cause in hand / forasmuch as he maketh a kind off priesthood not able to teach. To whom (with this exception that I will not be pressed with his authority / further then he bringeth reason off the word off God) I answer that as the word priesthood / is often times in ecclesiastical writers taken for the pastor / and chief minister off the church / off which our present question is: so sometime yt is taken for the elders / joined as helpers in government unto the pastor / and which had not (as shall appear) to do doythe the preaching off the word / and administration off the Sacraments. As when yt is said / that the Bishop chosen by God's ordinance, and the Elders joined with him in the priestly honor. According unto which sense / Chrysostom's saying maketh nothing to this question. For we deny not / but that he may be an elder / and consequently (as they term him) a priest assistant to the pastor / which is not able to preach: but that he may be the pastor / we utterly deny. So remaineth only against us in Chrysost. testimony / that he may baptize that cannot preach: which with the rest pertaining to that head / shall (god willing) be in their proper place answered. As for the 5. 1. Tim. touching the Elders which rule well / in the treatise off the Presbytery yt shall appear, that it is not understanded off these caterpillars. where he requireth warrant off the word of God, for that I confess the church may appoint for a reader only some grave man, he confessing yt lawful as well as I: for answer to his request / I refer him to that disputation where I have proved / that it is not lawful to place anything in the church / not justified by the word.

That the cause off this fewnes off able ministers, is partly the thrusting owt off those which are fit to teach, partly that others fit are not sought after: it is manifest. Whether they owght to be sought after / and not to offer them selves: I leave to be esteemed off that which is written in this point / in the book entitled off the discipline, &c. Whether they be off right thrust owt, I leave to be judged off the discourse off these controversies: whether they which are not yet entered / have just cause to forbear / I leave to be considered off the disputation before / and off that of the Archebishop / Archdeacons / Commissaries / &c. which followeth. For if it fall owt that the calling be unlawful / whereby the entrance should be made / and the authority of the church tirantes such / that being entered / one cannot walk in the way off his ministry prescribed off the lord: then it must follow / that although those that are entered / having testimony off their conscience that they serve the lord / and keeping themselves from the pollutions / may poursue their course: yet thes cannot without shipwreck off conscience (I speak off ordinary callings) even in the very port / or ever they launche forth / commit them selves to this viage.

Where he saith there want no prouokinges to draw them to the ministry: even that is another cause off this scarcety. for the churchliuinges so unequally divided / that some few being druncken / the moste hunger: discourage from that study. For the parent which followeth the sent off honor / and gain in Archbishoprickes / bishoprickes / and other such poisons off the ministry: is oftentimes beaten back by despair / that they shall not attain to that gain / which desired as they think off many / can be obtained but off few. He that is willing his son should serve in the estate off a Minister / and looketh with a more single eye / to the continuence off true religion unto his posterity: yet when he considereth how few livings there be (those excepted wherewith he will not have his son defiled) able to maintain the pastor with his competent howsehold / honestly / he applieth him to another trade of life. Wheroff although occasion be given by horrible unthankfulness off men / which in steed off giving something into the treasury off the church / have by their pillage brought her almost to starck beggary: yet that parent should consider / that the lord will never leave / nor forsake his / and that gold and silver is the Lord's. Which seeing he fournished to those / that in symplicity sought the building off his house / owt off the cofres off heathen Princes: he will much les suffer them to want necessaries under godly / and Christian. But this place is plentifully handled in the foresaid book off disc • p •• ne. I only (because the question was here off the cause off w • nting sufficient pastors) touched yt.

Here the D. light estimation off the churches salvation / and off preaching is notably discovered. before he said / that thes reading pastors were taken for necessity: now he teacheth / that • f there were sufficient pastors to supply the roumes / yet the readers should keep their places still If ye ask why: lest forsooth they with their families should go a begging. Here a whole church is sold for 30 pieces off silver / or rather as I may say / for old shoes. For the D. weighing in his skiles / whether yt is better that the church should want a preaching pastor / whom God hath ordained the principal instrument to save his church by / or that the reader with his family should go a begging: hath found the sowlehealth off a whole church / far lighter then the bodily commodity of one reader with his family. Where he saith / yt seemeth that I would have the minister renant at will / or by courtesy: it is an untrue surmise. For I complain that thes reading Ministers / were not only placed until other might be gotten: but had a free hold / whereby the sheep are not only committed to the woulf / but the door sparred also upon them.

Where he asketh for the place, in which Augustine calleth them woulues that teach not: if he have not the word woulf, yet he speaketh to that effect / when upon the place off Ezekiel I have given the a watchman, &c. he proveth that he which holdeth his peace / murdereth. Which also even the Pope himself / as long as there was but a sparcke of true knowledge / confesseth. If the D. say / that his mē hold not their peace, because they read: it is a cavil unworthy answer. As though when the Prophet calleth the rascal ministers off his time / domme dogs, and such as could not not barcke, his meaning were to charge them that they could not spell / or read in a book off their own language laid before them. And so I trust appeareth / that this tail off reading ministers owght to be cut of: and that they are none off these princely gifts / which our Savior Christ ascended into heaven / sendeth unto his church / but the bishops (to speak no grievous liar off them) more then beggarly presents. But we are not yet at an end. For that which the D. cannot get / in comparing a preaching pastor with a keading: he thinketh to obtain in comparing reading with preaching / whereunto perremeth his 13 Tract.

First he maintaineth his untrue accusation off the Adm. to wching their condemning off reading off scriptures. Which in comparing the words alleged by the D. with those of the Ad. in old time the word was preached, now it is supposed sufficient iff it be redd: I commit unto the readers judgment. And if his dishonest realing were not evident there / because off another sentence off the Adm. subject unto reprehension: yet he layeth yt open in the same behavior to wards me. For although I have not a word against reading / and diverse commendations of yt: yet he feareth not with full throat to accuse me / as a despiser off reading off the scriptures, as companion off the Papists ungodliness in that behalff. Which although he do often / yet further then his reasons give occasion: he shall never gain off me / that I will vouchsafe him a word off answer / to all this owtcries. After upon that I say / if I may call him minister that can do nothing but read (which is as indifferent to give him the name off a minister / as to take it from him / being left between both) the D. according to his old equity / concludeth that I signify and that plainly, how I esteem them for no ministers. Which he likewise gathereth / for that I say as they call them. Wherein I will not deny but there may be occasion given / to him especially that hunteth after yt / off that surmise. But my meaning was / to note how unworthy they are / as off the office / so off the name off a Minister off the gospel: not to make void their ministry such as it is / in administration off the Sacraments. which I confess as in the Popish Preistes baptism / for that they be the public officers appointed thereunto / although vnduely ministered / to be the holy Sacraments off Christ. And that this was my meaning might easily have been gathered / in that I allowing off the administration of Sacraments by Heretics / so much worse then they / as as it is to teach falsely then not to teach at all: could by no equal interpretation / be judged to condemn the Sacraments ministered by them.

Where I say that albeit the D. cause in this point be good, that the reading off the scriptures is profitable: yet as one be pitched, he defileth yt in evil handling: he answereth as though I confessed / that I misliked the matter well handled, only for that yt was done by him: which is a shameless untruth. Bucer's sentence (reading is a kind off preaching) I think will not be found: and I doubt not but the D. would have brought yt / if there had been any. So he is destitute off his good authority, and withal remaineth the absurdity / before assigned. The sentence set down owt off Bucer is altogether idle: seeing the profit off reading the scriptures / both publicly / and privately is confessed. Where to prove that reading is not so effectual as preaching, I allege S. Paul / that one cannot believe without a preacher: he answereth that by preaching there is meant all kind off publishing the gospel by outward voice. but off reason off this exposition / ether owt off scripture / or any other / more then his own I say, he bringeth not a letter. For that he addeth / off taking away by this means from the majesty off the scriptures, and making them d ••• e, &c. (amplified in the next diuis. by asking why the scriptures were then written? with other such too too idle questions / which I am ashamed to defile my pen with) is unworthy the name of a reason. As if in that reading maketh mē fitter to hear the word preached / and to seek after yt / in that yt helpeth to nourish faith engrended / in that it confirmeth a man in the doctrine preached / when by reading he perceiveth yt to be as the preacher taught / in that it reneweth the memory off that was preached / which otherwise would decay: I say as if in thes respects / and such like / the profit off reading / and committing the word to writing / were not singular / and inestimable, beside that it is not denied / but the Lord may extraordinarily give faith by reading only: although the order which God hath put / is to save by folishenes (as it is esteemed) off preaching. beside also that yt is absurd / that the D. asketh why else the gospel should be writter? as if there were no other cause of writing off it / then that it should be simply redd: or as though the principal cause was not ▪ that yt should be preached.

But to return to the D. exposition: First it overthroweth the argument off the Apostle. For the Jews offended that he / and other preached to the Gentils: proving first that the invocation off the name of God pertaineth unto them / he concludeth thereupon / that preaching unto them was lawful: considering that they could not otherwise come to call upon the name off God, where by the D. expositiō / the Jews might have excepted / that his ministry towards them was not thereby justified: forasmuch as they might come to invocation by reading only / without his / and others ministry off preaching. Furthermore / the Apostle S. Paul affirming in plain words / that the preaching he speaketh off / cannot be made but by him which is sent: yt is first manifest / that reading privately is clean shut owt / from being contained under this preaching. For faith coming only by that preaching / and that preaching only lawful by the sending of God / and public calling: it followeth / that except he will say / that the scripture may not be redd privately / unless a man be publicly called thereunto / that both private reading of the scripture / can no be contained under the Apostles word of preaching / and that faith (unless by extraordinary work of God) cannot be engendered by private reading. Forasmuch as it is engēdred only by that preaching / under which private reading is not contained. And so goeth to the ground one piece off the D. assertion.

Now if private reading only / cannot ordinarily engender faith: I would know how public reading only / can do yt. Beside that / when public reading may be by a simple reader / which hath no other charge in the church / and off whom this solemn fending cannot be understanded: yt followeth / that faith cannot by public reading only be engendered. Forasmuch as he being none off those sent his reading cannot be that preaching / by which faith is engendered. I say that a reader only cannot be off those sent the Apostle speaketh off / not only because he hath regard unto the ministries off the word / appointed by God: but also for that the place off Isaiah / owt off which he proveth that faith cometh not but by preaching / will by no means suffer to carry the word preacher unto a simple reader. For beside that it were frivolous / to refer the lifting up off the voice off those preachers whereunto the Prophet exhorteth / unto a loud reading / which is understanded of earnestness / and diligence in preaching: that voice he speaketh off / is the voice off the churches watchmen▪ which title when yt cannot agree unto a simple reader / that hath no further charge then to read in a book / according to the prescript off others: yt is manifest / that a simple reader cannot be contained under S. Paul's preacher / seeing he cannot be contained under Esaies / which is the same with S. Paul's. For when the title off watchman, draweth a continual care / and circumspection over those he watcheth: and the reader for anything his office requireth / may occupy himself in any worldly business / saving only the time off his reading: yt is clear that he is no church watchman.

Nay the reading ministers / which have charge off souls committed unto them / can be none off this order of watcheman: seeing they cannot only not see the enemy a far of / but not hard by / much les descry him: yt pertaining to an instructed pastor / which according to the circumstance off the invasion / knoweth to apply his watch word. Now seeing simple reading / nether private / nor public can be contained under the preaching S. Paul speaketh off Rom. 10. (which is an interpretation / and laying open the scriptures by a public minister / apt / and autorised thereunto): yt followeth / that faith which the Apostle teacheth no otherwise to come / but by that preaching / cometh not ordinarily by simple reading. I omit here / that the Apostle useth to express this preaching / both by crying and telling good news: whereof when yt cannot be shown owt off scripture / or (as I am persuaded) owt of any other autor / that ether of them / much les both together / is used for simple reading: yt followeth that simple reading cannot be understanded / by the word preaching.

To prove that bare reading engendereth faith / he citeth John 5. repeated pag. 574. 2. Timo. 3.. whereto pertain Math. 7. Act. 17. 1. John 4. Gal. 1. disorderly placed pag. 717. but to no purpose. For when our Savior biddeth the Jews search the scriptures: he referreth them by that search / to judge off the doctrine he had preached before: which proveth no fruit off reading / when there is no preaching. beside that / it will be hard for him to refer the word search / to reading only: as if one could not search the scriptures / when he attendeth to them alleged in sermons. yea he is confuted / by the place him self hath alleged: Where he would prove that the scripture red / in respect off making the hearers more apt to discern off preaching / is better then preached. for when the Apostle teacheth the Galatians to hold them accursed / which preach other doctrine then they had received by his preaching: he doth flatly make his preaching / the rule to examine other preachings by. The place off Tim. being (as I have shown) off the proper duties off the minister off the word in preaching / making no manner off mention off reading / is alleged without all judgment. Hether refer Bucer's Testimony in his former division / which maketh for that set down in this. For Bucer setting himself to commend reading in the church / saith twice / bare, or only reading, confirmeth in the knowledge off the Doctrine: which necessarily presupposeth a knowledge foreplaced / or ever yt can be confirmed by reading only. Whereas if he might / it is to be thought he would have said that it engendereth knowledge off the doctrine off salvation.

Where I alleged that the consideration off the creatures may nourish faith, not able yet to breed yt: he answereth / then let us have images that they may be lay mennes books. Which beside the common fault off being nothing worth / is a wicked / and popish answer. For if I had made the consideration of the creatures equal unto reading off the scriptures in that teinement off salvation / as I compared them only in that both nourishing faith / nether could ordinarily breed yt: had yt been lawful therefore for him to match instruction by images / with that which cometh by beholding the creatures? ys there ether the same / or like proportiō between the school of Imagery / and of the creatiō of the world? are thes books of the same print? the one coming frō the lords press / the other owt off the devils printing house: the one giving a good report off the Lord / and setting owt his glory / the other dishonoring him: the one teaching the truth / the other being Doctors of lies / and vanity: finally the one being commanded / the other forbidden? But thus must the judgment off God be fulfilled / against the enemies off his truth: in closing up their eyes / which seeing will not perceive. The like blindness yt is / that he accounteth an image a visable creature, making thereby a carpentour / a creator. In granting that preaching is the moste ordinary mean to work salvation by / his opinion shaketh: a token that yt will fall flat in the end. For if it be the moste ordinary / and the moste ordinary ordinarily moste effectual: then it is untrue he saith / that the word simply redd, is as effectual as preached.

Where upon lifting up off our Savior (as Moses lift up the serpent (following Calvin's interpretation / which expoundeth yt off the preaching off the gospel) I shown that the word preached being lifted up higher then when yt is redd / is easilier seen of the eye of faith: this trifler frameth first my reason of the •• . ver. whereof I make not a letter mention. Secondly bringeth another interpretation off the place I allege: but answereth not Calvin's reasons / who cōfuteth it. Thirdly / he saith that although the interpretation be granted / which I followed: yet the cause is not proved thereby / for that Christ is lifted up by simple readīng▪ which is no sufficient answer / unless he had added / that it is lifted up as high. For when I affirm the word set in a low place / I mean not that all reading simply / and in itself considered / is on the ground: but in comparison off that when it is expounded by preaching. And if preaching do make yt better understanded / and easilier seen then when yt is redd only (which at unawares he manifestly confesseth: then yt is true which I have set down / that preaching in respect off reading, doth as yt were set the word in a more sightly, and therefore higher place. As for Calvin's interpretation which I followed / because yt is dowbtfull / and the conference off another place seemeth rather to confirm Augustine's / who referreth yt to the cross off our Sau. Christ: to spar owt the D. from his owt courses / let him follow that he bringeth / I will not strive, especially seeing the same sense off lifting up our Savior by preaching / appeareth otherwise: where by yt he is said / to be crucified before our eyes.

Unto that I allege off the savor off the word, sweeter, and more nourishable when it is braied, and cut, then when yt is by reading given as yt were whole, and in gross: touching the first / he asketh whether the word redd is not a sweet savor, in steed that he should have said / as sweet / which he durst not. In the second / whether there be no discretion required in reading? yes / but more in preaching. Although thus he toucheth not the matter. for unto the point of breaking / and cutting off the scripture / done by preaching which applieth the general doctrine to the particular circumstance / wherein it is like unto aromatique spices / sweeter broken then whole / and unto wholesome meat / apter to nourish when yt is chewed / or cut / then when yt is not: he answereth nothing. For as things aromatiquall / and meats both broken / and whole / have the same savor / and virtue off nourishing in regard off them selves / yet in regard off us are sweeter / and more nourishable broken &c: so the word off God / off the same virtue in yt self both redd / and preached / ys unto us more profitable preached / then redd. whereunto pertaineth that Saint Luke calleth the interpretation off the scriptures / an opening of them: which in the second edition / because yt was leo figurative then the comparison off aromatique things (that being a metonimy off the preacher for preaching) I put in the place thereof. for if interpretation off the scriptures be the opening off them / as Saint Luke declareth calling yt opening in one verse / which he called interpreting in another: yt followeth that the word redd / in respect off being preached / is as it were shut / and clasped. for this cause are the ministers off the word / said to have the keys off the kingdom off heaven: for that without their ministry off preaching / the kingdom off heaven ys as yt were locked.

Where he asketh whether I think the praise of preaching, the dispraise of reading: all understand that it is easter to strike water owt off a flint / then to find honest dealing in this man. For is this to dispraise reading / to prefer preaching before yt? In commending preaching before praying / and private meditation of scripture more then private reading / and practicing more then both: do I dispraise private reading / or meditation? and yet the word off God is the same redd / meditated / and practiced. But this is a Popish practice: which upon that we prefer faith to good works / concludeth that we make no account off good works.

Where upon that preaching is called both planting / and watering yt is shown that as the howsbandman receiveth not fruit, unless both be done, so no salvation to be looked for, where is no preaching: he answereth that there is shown how the word off God is not effectual, unless God give increase: which is to no purpose. For he not only showeth that / but that God giveth his increase through their preaching: and that they be the howsbandes by whose preaching the Lord maketh his orcheyard. He answereth further / that in this place there is no comparison between reading and preaching: but considereth not how the scripture giveth this / as also those before cited / unto simple reading / thereby singulary exalting preaching above bare reading. So that although some off thes in some degree / or all extraordinarily may be done by bare reading: yet by thes commendations / as it were by a more precious apparel / is advanced the grace off God / more richly rached unto us by the hand off preaching / then reading. Last off all he answereth / that tilling, and watering may be applied also unto diligent reading: where not daring (as it seemeth) say planting, he hath changed it whereof the question was for tilling: belike because he remembered he had said before / that yt is proper unto the Apostles to plant. Where again his cause receiveth another wound. For if planting be by preaching / and not by reading: then in this respect / preaching is more effectual then bare reading. Then that he saith killing / and watering may be applied to reading: he should to maintain his cause have said / as well / or as much.

To that off the people perishing without prophecy, which is not bare reading, but expounding, and applying off scriptures: he answereth that the people must needs decay in holiness, and knowledge where there be no preachers. but why doth he say decay, and not perish as Solomon speaketh? where his cause falleth flat to the ground. For if the people perish / where be no preachers / although there be readers / and contrariwise preaching without bare reading / saveth / engendereth faith / and nourisheth yt: yt is manifest that the word redd is not so effectual as preached / and that by bare reading ordinarily / there is no salvation / and therefore also no faith / both which he before denied. And if the people perish without preaching / which have already been lightened by it. how much more (except the Lord work extraordinarily) must they perish / that never had preaching?

Where he saith / both preaching, and bare reading be necessary in the church: if he mean publicly / as yt is true in preaching / so yt is untrue in simple reading. For although yt be very convenient which is used in some churches / where before preaching time the church assembled hath the scriptures redd / in such order that the whole Canon thereof is oftentimes in one year run thorough: yet a number of churches which have no such order of simple reading / cannot be in this point charged with breach of God's commandment: which they might be / if simple reading were necessary. Considering especially that some off them beside their set sermons / expounding every day paraphrastically two chapters / with the principal pointes thereof taken / and applied unto their auditors: gain that which the D. owt of Bucer / presupposeth to come only by simple reading / that the scripture thereby is made familiar unto the people. Where he saith they be moste profitable: the wine off this error so fumeth into his head / that it hath taken away the use off his tongue. for two things to one and the same end / cannot (but very improperly) be said most profitable. For if preaching be moste profitable to work faith by / then is not reading: if reading / thē is not preaching. it is true that mē sometime speak so) when the questiō is not of comparison between those things they speak off: but otherwise / it is altogether strange.

Where he saith preaching is more apt for the ignorant, and unlearned, and that he denieth not this: the untruth thereof is apparent. For if preaching be more profitable to the unlearned then reading / and de at least as profitable to the learned: then yt is false that he hath set down with so great assurance / that reading is as effectual as preaching: seeing the effect we speak off / is the profit off the hearers. Yet as a man strawght off his wits striketh him self: he overthroweth this also in another place. for in asking why Iosia caused the law to be redd▪ except it had as great force to persuade redd as preached: he signifieth the contrary off that here affirmed. Considering that the greatest part was off the common people / and that gross: as those which newly came owt off filthy idolatry. Further if preaching were as meet for the learned / and meeter for the rude: then his reason there / which imagineth that Iosia would not otherwise have caused the law to be redd / unless there had been as great fruit in reading as preaching / falleth flat. Considering that the D. confesseth / that preaching is more effectual to the people: and I think dare not deny / but it is as effectual to the learned. Therefore the reason why Josiah cawsed the law to be redd / was not because reading was as effectual as preaching: but because being both redd and preached / yt profiteth more then when yt is simply redd.

Where he saith marry have been called by bare reading: he saith yt again and again / but without all proof. For where (altogether owt off place / his purpose being to prove that reading edifieth more then preaching) he faith God used reading at a means to call Augustine: yt is vain / seeing the question is / whether he used that only means, for yt appeareth that August. had greatly profited in godliness / before that time wherein he heard the miraculous voice / which sent him to reading. Beside that / the voice he telleth off going before his reading / will not suffer that that reading only / may challenge the whole means off conversion. Likewise that he affirmeth owt M. For / off many brought to light off the gospel by reading only: he maketh not / nor (as I am persuaded) could make yt appear. Although yt be confessed / that that may be done by the Lord's extraordinary worcking / which feedeth sometime with quarles in the wilderness. Yet yt is hard to show any time / wherein there have been professors off the gospel / and God hath not raised up some ministers / which have ether openly / or secretly as the time required / preached the word: considering that even in those desolations of the church / the Lord by his two witnesses promiseth / that the church shall not be destitute off true ministers.

Where confessing the word preached and red all one, I show notwithstanding that as the fire stirred giveth more heat, so the word as yt were blown by preaching, flameth more in the hearers, then when it is redd: he answereth that this is to ione with the Papists in condemning the scriptures of obscurity. but reason he can show none: and it is all one / as if one should be charged to have said that the Son is darck / for that he affirmeth yt lighter at noon days then at the Son rising. Then he must understand / that we place not this difference of lightsomnes in the word / which is always in it self most lightsome / red and preached: but partly in the ordinance off God before noted / making that the special means / partly in the darkness of our understanding / which without the aide off preaching cannot come to sufficient knowledge off yt. Lastely he must learn / that although all things necessary to salvation / might by reading only be understanded: yet yt followeth not / that a man may by reading only be saved. For yt is one thing to have the scripture in his head / another to have it in his heart: one thing to understand yt / another to believe yt / which belief being only able to save / ys ordinarily only engendered by preaching.

Whereby also we have a piece off remedy / against another poison spit forth in this diuis. that to those which understand the scriptures they are as hot, and lightsome red as preached. For where in his former assertion although not in words / yet in deed he utterly condemned the wisdom off God / ordaining pastors / and Doctors for continual functions in the church / of whom there is no use / if simple reading be as effectual as preaching: that being wrung owt off his hands / in that he is compelled to confess greater efficacy off preaching towards the unlearned: yet rather thē all this cobweb should be vnweaued / he maketh the ministry off preaching void towards the learned. Whereas the scripture doth not only generally / but particularly / and expressly shut up the salvation off the learned in the means off preaching / as off the unlearned. But this is a piece off the doctorall divinity of some in Camebridge / which to excuse their shameful contempt off preaching / and to make them a pillow to sleep on / or to pane them an alley to bowle in during sermons in the afternoon: shame not to allege / that they cā profit as much in reading the scriptures / or an homily owt off Chrysostom in their study / as by hearing a sermon in the church.

Unto the example off the Eumuche, which reading the scripture believed not until he heard Philip preach, he answereth that he understood yt not, and that he speaketh off an understanding reader. Which although it be untrue / the words off his former book being general / without so much as the least signification off exception: yet it is nothing worth. For the cause why he could not understand yt is there assigned / for that he had no teacher to show him the way. Whereby followeth not (which the Papists conclude off this place) that the people owght not to read the scriptures: seeing the Eunuch which both knew / and confessed that he could not understand without a guide / exercised himself diligently in reading off them. but this followeth / that a man cannot ordinarily not only come to salvation / but not so much as to a sufficient knowledge off it / without preaching. Where off infinite examples he saith one is as few as may be: yt appeareth this one was to much for him to answer.

Now for all the false accusations / off joining with papists in despising off reading the scripture, &c. once hear your one process / that yt is yow that strength then their hands. For as in popery / by committing the office off preaching especially unto the beggarly friers / and by declaring it more honorable for the bishop to read a mass / then to preach a sermon / they set reading in the head / and preaching in the tail: so yow making simple reading as profitable as preaching / hasten after them / and if yow keep the same pase yow have begun / it will not be long or ever yow overtake them.

The D. having before made simple readers equal with preaching pastors / in that he holdeth simple reading / as effectual as preaching: here in making bare reading better then preaching / preferreth the readers above the preachers. But in this later absurdity / first as before he would make Musculus his packhorse / and therefore brawleth because I laid it not upon Musc. so princely is the D. that he would have his faults whipped upon another man's skin. but at least I should have divided it between them. As if I were matched with Musculus. but the truth is / that he maketh not for him. For he compareth the profit taken of simple reading / and off a sermon made of him which endeuoreth to make a glorious show off eloquence / and learning rather then to apply himself to the capacity off the simple: which is nothing to that in hand / where good reading is compared with good preaching. And therefore it is ridiculous the D. bringeth of bitter invectives, and contentious sermons, &c. compared with orderly reading. For in this comparison / it were not hard to prove (which is blasphemy) that yt is better to read a piece off Lyuy / then the books off the kings: namely if Lyuy be simply red / and the other with interlining / and mixture off popish interpretation. If one defending this would for maintenance off his comparison bring this escape: would not all men hiss at him? this is his refuge also to salve that he said / off homilies red better then sermons preached.

His other instance off a papist carrying prejudice against all preachers, and therefore not moved once by their doctrine, in which notwithstanding after by reading he is established, is insufficient. for if the Lord by his virtue shown through preaching / do convert men vttenly perverted / and at enmity with all truth / and consequently with the ministers thereof: how much more will he thereby convert papists? which by doubting whether the gospel be truth / or their superstitions have ground / or no / carry not that enmyty the other do / which have no such entrance. Then yow must understand / that as in the Sacraments the Lord doth not always at the same time they are ministered / work by his spirit / but chooseth the time that seemeth good to his wisdom: so yt is in preaching. whereby yt cometh to pass / that the spirit of God worcking faith at the time of reading / wrought it not by that means only: but used thereunto the help off preaching / which went before. For as green wood laid vpō fire / and her with many strong blasts / as last set on fire / and flaming with one / and that a soft blast / is not to be be said chiefly set on fire with the soft blast / because it went immediately before: even so the word off God blown by preaching / and after sensibly burning in the hearres of the hearers / by the means off reading immediately gone before / is not so much to be ascribed unto reading / as preaching. Considering that so it might comme to pass (which is absurd) that contemplacion off the creatures / should profit more then reading. For whereas the Lord hath seth the print off the moste off his promises / and other doctrines in the creatures: for example / off his fatherly care off providing all things necessary for his / in the provision for birds off the air / and rich array off the lilies off the field: yt may comme to pass / that that doctrine known by means off preaching / and lying as yt were dead in the heart / may after by sight / and earnest vewe off the things them selves / be quickened. yet none off judgment will say / that the beholding off the creatures wrrowght more in this / then preaching. Howbeit if the cases he putteth in this point were true: yet he is inexcusable / thes plasters coming a ye are and a half / after the wound given by such strange speech: which owght to have gone with yt / if peradventure they might although not heal / yet somewhat hide the loathsome rawnes.

Hytherto pertaineth that which he hath disorderly put pag. 176. where he saith / that the reading off Saint Paul's epistles did the Romans more good, thē preaching: which is contrary to S. Paul's meaning / who showeth / that he could not have the like fruice off his ministry towards them / as off other nations / because he was letted to comme / and preach unto them. His proofs coming a mile after / are first that a man's meaning is commonly better expressed by writing, then by word. Which beside that it is confuted by commensense / all men knowing that there is more certain understanding by word off mouth / thē by lettres (which if any doubt arise in any word / can say nothing to the resolving off it) as yt is alleged / it cannot tend but to utter subversion off the lords order / and to prove that commonly, and for the moste part / it is better to have reading / then preaching. The other is that writing remaineth: as if the question were wether canonical writing off the scriptures / were better then preaching: and not whether there be more fruit in bare reading that which is written / then preaching upon yt.

In this chap. which supposeth reading preaching, beside strange asseverations / and begging of that in controversy: there is nothing / saving that as absurdities are fruictfull / this beggetteth other. for pressed he shameth not to say / that a child off 4. year old, is a preacher off the gospel. And why not also a popeniay / taught to pronounce some sentences off scripture? for the D. reason (because preaching 10 Rom. 14 is all publishing off the gospel by external voice) serveth for one / as for the other. And beside that it is frivolous that off that God speaketh to us by reading / he would conclude that he preacheth to us / as though all speaking were preaching: yt is absurd that he saith / the scriptures are not preached in respect off him that readeth, but in respect of the spirit of God worcking in the hearers. For if reading were preaching / yt should be preaching although it wrowght to condemnation: whereas by the D. all which hearing the word preached / profit not / are not preached unto. Which as it is a gross error: so it is a shameful derogation to the ministry off the word / worcking mightily not only to the salvation off the elect / but also through their fault / to destruction off the reprobate.

To the places proving that it is necessarily required in a minister / that he should not only be sufficiently learned / but have also the gift off utterance: he answereth not. Towching that the priests lips should keep knowledge / and not his papers: he answereth that he shall have it readier in his lips, if he have yt in his papers: which is not to purpose / seeing we spake off those which have yt only in papers. Then he hath a childish cavil / that if he read he must use his lips: as if the Prophet contented himself if the priests were able to read only / and did not note thereby the aptness to teach / as by uncircumcised lips / is noted heaviness / or vnreadines off speech. That a Preacher able for utterance, and learning to preach, may read a sermon, if he mean privately / is not in question: if publicly / yt belongeth to the question off Homilies. His case off a man pronouncing another man's sermon without book / beside the fondness is from the cause. That the reading of Jeremiah's, and Baruchs books was preaching, because the books were sermons: ys to dream / and not to dispute.

The 15. 16. verses Rom. 15. make nothing to prove reading preaching: but make rather against him / in that the Apostle showing that his writing to them was grounded off God's calling / sought a more general word / off worcking for the gospel: which agreeth to any action the minister doth by reason off his ministry / ether in ministering the Sacraments / or otherwise. The difference Saint Paul putteth between his preaching / is apparent although the D. hath lost his sight. That S. Paul meant he could not personally preach unto them, is his addition / corrupting the mind off the Apostle. For where showing that he had great desire to be personally with them (form spirit he was not absent) he addeth for a cause that he might preach: the D. by this answer / drowneth the effect in the cause / and so maketh the Apostle assign causes / which cause nothing / nor have anything to be referred unto. Where I show that S. Paul writing, is no more preaching then his hand, or pen he wrote with be his tongue, lights, or other instruments he spake with: he answereth not / for that as he saith it is a jest. Where if his cause could speak / it would complain that he maketh no more account of it / then to esteem her head stroked / when it is cracked a sonder. for the reason is of the efficient cause / seeing they cannot be the same / which cannot be made by the same instruments.

To maintain his ridiculous demand (was not reading off Deut. preaching) he should have shown / that the reading off yt is rather preaching / then reading off Exodus: which he doth not. Howbeit he concludeth / that the reading thereof was preaching / because the Lord commanded that the priests should read yt, that the people might learn to fear God: which is as ridiculous. For so peinting / and grauing off the scriptures is preaching / and peinters and grauers (which sometimes know never a letter off the book) shall be come preachers. Considering that the Lord commanded / that the law should be graven in the entrance of their land / and writ̄ vpō their city gates / and houses: to this end that the people might learn to fear God / &c. After he asketh / why Iosia should cause the law to be redd, if reading had not been off at great force to persuade as preaching: which frenzy belonging to another question / is answered before. Where he concludeth / that for that reading is as effectual as preaching, therefore it is preaching: beside the falsehood off the antecedent / the conclusion is too bad. for if the rain be as effectual to cause the fruictes grow / as the son / and meat as effectual to perserue the life / as drink: it followeth not therefore that the rain is the son / or meat drink.

Where upon Nehem. 8. he would prove reading preaching: there is not a word whereon it may be gathered / but contrariwise they are manifestly distinguished in that chap. For beside reading there mentioned / he setteth forth preaching by all these words / that the Levites cawsed the people to understand the law, gave the sense off the law, cawsed them to understand the reading. And where pag. 91. he saith / that the words translated off some they gave the sense, signify nothing les thē that there was any exposition joined with reading, bearing himself upon learners interpreters: seeing he seeth no further into this / then with other men's eyes / why should not he have followed the judgment off the Geneva translation / which he pincheth? they being learned men / and moe in number then as (I think) he can allege. Which I say not to justify that translation throughout / or to shut up the way gainst a better: but because it seemeth an unworthy thing / to refuse their judgment upon bare authority. I have none off his learned men to look their judgments / howbeit for that I find one off the Hebrews so expounding the words: I will not deny but some other deceived by him / might fall into that error. Unto whom although I could oppose another / flatly expounding these verses off reading joined with exposition / the exposition off the former not shutting owt preaching: yet I had rather my confutation stand of reason / then authority. Which is that the holy ghost showing in the 7. verse / that the Levites made the people understand the law / in the 8. showeth howe they did it. for (saith he) they redd in the book off the law distinctly, and in giving the sense, caused them to understand the reading Whereas those words which are turned (giving the sense) cannot 〈◊〉 without a gap / be carried to the people's attentive hearing: considering that it is spoken in that verse off the Levites / without resuming off the people ether expressly naming them / or obscurely by any article. Which hard translations when another sense doth well agree to the suit off the text / are by all means to be avoided. That thes words (the Levites cawsed the people understand the law) be nothing else but they made them give diligent ear unto the reading: yt is violent. For beside that it is against the general rule / not to run to a figurative speech / when the simple will (which the D. cannot deny) agree with the residue off the text: especially when both this / and the other interpretation (they gave the sense) are confirmed by the practice off the church: yt is vnconfirmed by any conference off scripture / or circumstance of place: confuted also by that this word is expounded by another / they made them know the law. Where the scripture speaking off one thing diversely / if it speak figuratively in one word / useth to speak properly in another.

Where both by the words and practice of the church in other places / I shown the place off the Acts to be understanded off reading, and preaching jointly: the D. not answering the reason / saith that the place is evidently for him, which is a begging off that in question: that he can read no interpreter which enterpreteth yt otherwise, no one being brought which followeth that sense: that the circumstance off the place maketh for him, because Saint James useth for a reason, to prove that the Jewish ceremonies could not be forthwith abolished, that Moses had by reading of the law every Sabbath so great authority: which is manifestly against him. for it maketh more for the confirmation of S. James sentence that he was both redd / and preached every sabbath / then if he had been only redd: considering that his authority was so much the deeper settled in the hearts off the Jews.

Hytherto pertaineth that in the end off his book / where he trifleth for that the Adm. expoundeth (reading is not feading) by this it is bare feading: which is unworthy answer / considering it is received in all tongues / often to deny that to be doon / which is doon insufficiently / as is before noted. That also he saith there / repeated p. 718. off dissent with myself, for that saying there that bare reading without a miracle cannot save from famishement, I say in another place that the word off God is easy, giving understanding to idiots, is frivolous. Considering that I spake off reading / not utterly separate from preaching. If it be easy and give understanding by preaching / and reading together / although not so by reading only: that standeth which I have set down. That he exclameth off that sentence / as Papistical, &c. I have shown how it is catholic / and his Papistical that maketh so easy a way to saluatiō without preaching. yt is well with us / and the scriptures keep their honor / if they bring to the elect saluatiō / used / and applied as the order which the lord hath set / requireth. unless peradventure he will say the holy Sacraments leese their honor / when it is said they are not effectual to salvation / without men be instructed by preaching before they be partakers off them.

Having shown that bare reading off scriptures / cannot make unpreaching ministers occupy any place in the church: remaineth yet the reading of Homilies / with the Apocrypha: in which cover is sought for thē against the sentence of condēnatiō / and storm of the Lord's wrathful judgment / which will follow if they reap̄t not speedily. for where thes dry nources have no milk of their own: the D. will have thē yet give suck / although of the becastes of others. But this kind off milk having taken wind / shall appear not to be so fit to nourish / as that it may come into the church for a supply of sermon. yt is enough if as for support off the nource / sometimes other then hers be taken: so to spare the pastor hardly able every day to preach / the godly Christian strenghthen himself with them at home. In which treatise first cometh the D. reason (Augustine, and Chrysostom preached sermons in their churches, therefore we may read sermons in ours.) The absurdity whereof lest it should be hidden / he hath made a great deal bigger. for charged with it he answereth / that the committing them by writing unto posterity, argueth that they thought them very profitable unto the church. so that his argument is / they are profitable / therefore they may be red publicly in the church. As if there were no profit reaped by reading thē privately: or as if all things profitable for the church / may be red openly in yt. where are brought in to public reading / whole cartlodes off disputations of the Catholics with Papists▪ Anabaptists / Arians: likewise of Ecclesiastical stories a huge heap / and other rables of heritikes / and schismatics: which being profitable / have the D. ladder to clime up into the pulpit. But one thing we may note▪ what is that? that August and Chrysostom writ their sermons, therefore it may be they red them sometimes in the church. If yow be in earnest / in earnest yow are a sleep. For so far be yow from concluding justly / that it is meet to read them in the church: that yow conclude not they were so much as red. I pray yow have any off our homilimakers / red their homilies in the churches? I think not: unless it have been since yow wrote / to make your argument seem good. So in thinking to make one note, yow make two shameful blots. yow see not why they may not as well now be red in the church, as then preached: a pitiful blindness / whereof the remedy if yow will open yow eyes / followeth. Now to come to the 3. chap. Tract. 21.

The first / and second diu. be not worth the answer / the third is answered / except that he saith / the Adm. proved not the sufficiency off the scripture by 1. Cor 1. 18. 1. Ro. 16. because there be manifest places for that purpose: as though it were thus to be charged / if it used places which prove that / although not the fittest. Where upon that the Lord admitteth no instruments be they never so vile, in the service of the temple, nor truēpets in assembling the people, but which were sanctified to that use, although others were as apt to do the work as they, I concluded that homilies, &c. not sanctified of the Lord to that purpose, owght to be kept owt: he answereth / that similitudes be no sufficient proof, and that the Lord did not command that nothing should be red in the church but canonical scripture, not remembering that it is the holy ghostes / which teacheth that the tabernacle with the vessels / were made according to the patron off the church now. The which in the holy trumpetes is more clearly seen: considering that the holy ghost commanding them to be blown by the priests alone / and comparing the public teaching with the sound off them: doth not obscurely declare / that they were shadows thereof. Therefore as the trumpet • were sancrified to the temple / by the commandment off God: so to make Homilies holy in God's principal / and public service / the like authority is required.

Where I show that nether homilies, nor Apocrypha are to be compared in goodne • in themselves, nor in fruit toward the hearer, with the scripture, and reading thereof (wherein the D. labored not, but • o •• ered / against the Adm.) he answereth that nothing can thereby be concluded against homilies, which may not be against sermons, and other interpretations, and rather against sermons then homilies: which is detestable. For thereby he affirmeth / that homilies are both better in them selves / and red more fruictfull to the hearers / then the word off God preached. Wherein he controileth also the order off our church / which will have homilies give place / • f there be any to preach. For confutation whereof I send the reader to that before disputed▪ for if the word preached / be more fruictfull then the word yt self red: then reading off homilies inferior in fruit to the reading of scriptures (by the D. confession here) must be much more inferior to the word preached. His reason is / for I make no make no other difference betwixt homilies, and sermons, but that one is pronounced within book, the other not so. Belike homilies / and sermons are equal in all other things: yet homilies excel sermons / in that they are red in the book / the other is doon by lively voice. But is there no difference at all but this? first • et h • m understand / that sermons in the church / are expressly commanded off the Lord / are such as are necessary for all churches / and which no one can want. As for homilies / if they were in this dearth off preaching granted convenient for our church: yet have they no commandment / whereby they are made necessary / and such as the church is bound unto: they also are such / as ether all / or the most flourishing churches have not. In which difference there is as great a goulf between them / as is between heaven and earth. I speak off them now / as if they were conveniently ordained. For although in such case / during the convenience / they ought to be kept as profitable orders off the church: yt thes chaungeable constitutions / compared with the eternal saw off God / are infinitely inferior. so it is utterly false which he saith afterward / all kind off publishing the doctrine in scripture, have necessary uses in the church. Whereby he maketh things necessary to saluaceō / nether expressed / nor necessarily concluded of the scripture: and condemneth in this behalf / all churches which ether have been / or are / not receiving the use off homilies. Thus ones the singular fruit off preaching the word / is manifest to be so much greater then homilies reading / as the means ordained off the lord / is more fruictful then that off men.

Secondly if they were convenient / yet they might both be made / and publicly red / without any of those ordinary ministries which the lord hath appointed in his word. for a private mā may write them / as he may do a commentary: and if a minister make them / yet he doth nor that by bond off his ministry. for then he should leave a part off it vndoon / which wrote not homilies: and having doon all other partes / should be gilty off the not fulfilling off it / for omitting this. seeing therefore there is no commanded ministry off God required / nether in making / nor reading of them / and sermons cannot be made without: there is here another singular difference / lifting up preaching with the fruit thereof / so far above homilies red▪ as the Lord's autorised Ambassador with his broad seal / and letters patentes / is above him in whom no such marks appear, without whose ministry when (as I have shown) faith cannot be engendered / nor men ordinarily saved: there being plentiful saluaciō without homilies reading / as appeareth both otherwise / and by other churches where they are not: the difference of preaching with the fruit thereof / is incomparably more / then that by homilies reading.

The third difference is / that where sermons are applied to the present circumstance / which by change off times / budding off new vices / rising of errors / &c. vary almost every day this kind off interpretation (as that which is starcke / and annūmed) cannot poursue them. for where the preacher with his sermon / is able according to the manifold windinges / and turninges of sin / to wind / and turn in with yt / to the end he may stricke it: the homilies are not able to turn / nether off the right hand / nor off the left / but to what quarter soever the enemies are retired / yt must keep the train wherein it was set off the maker. And if it were possible (which is not) to make homilies against all diseases off vices / and errors: and that were also granted / that the reading ministers could both discern the sickness / and apply the medicine laid up in the homily / which requireth the skill off a learned man: yet as no physicion (how cunning soever) can so well prescribe at ones / and in gross against a disease / as he that upon every step yt maketh giveth counseill / and applieth his medicine: so no homily maker / be he never so great a divine / can at ones / and before hand prescribe so apt / and strong remedies against sin / as he that doth yt upon the present occasion. Homilies then not able to comme to the vices / further then vices come to them: their use for this / and other causes aforesaied / is private. For a mā feeling himself assaulted in any wise / and knowing a treatise arming him against that assault / may for his use be profitably occupied in it. I leave the difference in gifts / instrumental causes off sermons / and homilies: when as beside the gifts required in homilies ether reading / or making / there are in sermons required the gift off utterance / and memory. I pass also that the D. in saying there is no difference between an homily red, and a sermon preached, but that the one is pronounced within book, the other not so: maketh no difference between him that writeth his sermon / and readeth it / and him that readeth another man̄es / not able to make one himself. this shall be sufficlent to have shown that absurdity.

Where also go to the ground other absurdities / laid upon this foundation: as that the promise off the assistance off gods spirit, is as well given to writers of homilies, and their hearers: as to studiers for sermons, and those which hear them. as if he had said / the Lord will give testimony to his word / as well by the means which mē have devised: as that himself hath ordained. Likewise that sermons should be kept owt off the church, as well as homilies, if they should be shut owt because they are men's interpretation. considering that the preacher albeit he be a man / yet in respect off his public ministry / instituted / and command of the Lord / is as the angel off God / yea as Christ himself: which cannot be said off homily readers / nor makers / especially in that respect. To that I allege off the custom off the Churches / before our Savior Christ's coming / and after / touching homilies not used in the church, and that in such time when there was greatest use off them: he answereth / that the argument is of authority negatively. where I leave to the judgment off the reader / what likelihood there is / that there were any homilies red in the church / whē both holy / and ecclesiastical writers / making mentiō of the form of service of God in the church / to the least / and smallest ceremonies: there is none diverse 100. years / that ones vouchsafeth to mention homilies reading / which the D. matcheth with preaching / the highest service off God in his church.

Where he saith / that I condemn thargument drawn off men's authority, yt is untrue: I said it constreineth not. And I spake of it where yt is question off searching the truth off a matter / wherein many easily deceived / none knoweth the full off it: and not off reporting things done in presence off him that writeth / whereof he making profession to write / cannot without gross oversight / pass by. where he saith / yt is an evil argument to conclude off a thing not doon, that it shovld not be doon: if the churches governed by the Prophets / and Apostles did it not / it being put as a piece off the service off God / and as the D. saith. necessary: ether they faulted in not using this means / which is absurd / or the D. which defendeth the use off it. He saith / I cannot but acknowledge one good sermon red, to edify more then the Chaldee paraphrastes. so destitute off means to refute the reason I set down / why a short paraphrasis was meeter then homilies, namely for that they approached nearer unto the reading off the scripture which is best: he setteth his cause at my courtesy. But if I grant that he asketh / he is nothing nearer: unless he can prove that a learned homily / is fitter then a learned paraphrase made now in this great light / which the Chaldee paraphrastes could not have when they wrote. So that although they expounding darckly / according to the time they wrote in / be not so fit now to read / as an homily: yet yt standeth still / that a pharaphrast is fitter to be red then an homily. Where he saith / I know that the Jews have thes paraphrastes yet red: I shown both by scripture and otherwise / that they had thē not openly red / when there was greatest need off them. If they had them after when diverse corruptions were entered / or now when they are the synagogue off Satan / tha • maketh rather for me. They which told him that Jonathan was 42. years before our Savior Christ / if they meant thereby to confute that I set down / should have given him something to answer the authority I alleged. Although he might be well 42. yearers before our Savior Christ / and then too: considering he was school fellow to Simeon / off whom S. Luke maketh mention.

The testimonies off Denis, and Clements Epistles red in the church, to prove it untrue which I affirmed / off the churches practice touching reading off the scriptures alone / after the Apostles tmes / are in that respect idle: considering that I only shown / that that custom continued after their times / which were the best / and purest. Nether can the breaking off this order by some churches / upon some occasion / let why it may not truly be said both the custom / and practice. If the Centuries conjecture were received / that Denis epistles were red / as Clementes: yet that proveth not that they were red generally / considering that Clements was red but in certain churches. But what if it be said / that they were red in those churches / for that they were untruly thought of the Canon of the scripture? Wherto serveth not only that Denises were called Catholic / but Clements weighty / and wonderful. Likewise that Euseb. esteeming Clement the canonical translator off the Epist. to the Hebrews: yt is not unlike / but he had that epistle in like estimation. Last off all for that as he lightly rejected the true canonical books off Saint James / Jude / and second off Saint Peter: so he lightly held those for canonical / which were not if I answer thus / my conjecture hath better reason / then yow yet show: and then the reading off these epistles helpeth yow not. yow have only Soters / which help nothing more / being red only at Corinth. Howbeit it shall be sufficient answer / that as other corruptions crept in then: so the seed of this began to be sown / and that the credit which your cause gaineth in that diverse churches red them: yt leeseth in that diverse others received them not. Likewise it maketh against him / that the council giveth no place unto homilies / but in extreme cases off sickness / &c. off the minister: where he maketh them the people's ordinary food. The council as it were in a great drowght / or snow when all is covered / will have the sheep holpen with this hard meat the D. will have it their common allowance. Beside that it is the obiectiō / which I myself im̄ediatly after prevented: my answer whereunto the D. toucheth not but only affirmeth it a good decree, and no cause off corruption: which is gross beggary. considering / that I show how upon occasion thereof / in time came in the popish Legend / and Gregory's homilies: which iustled owt the holy Bible.

Where I shown that Bucer's words secme counterfeit / whereby he is brought exhorting to increase the number off homilies, when the Lord should bless the realm with learned preachers: forasmuch as there were then learned preachers / able to make homilies / which should have exceded the volume of the Bible: he answereth / that there is no cause to suspect them, but the reason he cannot answer. After he citeth M Ridley but fondly. for if the authority off all those which established that order / be not able to make yt good: much less his alone / and being a party in this cause he owght not (albeit a singular mā) be witness. Where I alleged the council council of Laodicea / ordaining that nothing should be red in the church / but the canonical scripture: he answereth / the council meant, nothing under the name of holy scriptures: which is an open / and shameful corruption. for after the council had said / that the gospels with other scriptures / should be red on Sabbath days: yt addeth / we must not read books which are owt off the canon, but the canonical books off the old, and now testament alone. And where he would cōfirm his interpretatiō by the 47. canon off the third council off Carthage: he is again indebted unto Harding / which against Master Jewel / alleging the council off Carthage / to prove that it commanded nothing should be red in Christ's congregation / but the Canonical scriptures answereth with the same words the D. doth / charging him with falsehood. To whom as now also to the D. the bishop answereth / that the meaning off the council was, that nothing else should be red: which he proveth by the council off Hippo / an abridgement off that off Carthage: whene it is thus written. The scriptures canonical which are to be red in the church, and beside which nothing may be red: and so goeth forward alleging other testimonies / affirming partly that nothing owght / partly that nothing was wont / to be red in the church beside holy scripture.

His answer to the council off Colen / is too childish. The councils words in the sixth Canon are these / where in times past yt was ordained off the most holy fathers, that the holy scriptures alone should be red in the church: we know not by what carelessness, other not to be compared with them, are come into their place. Whereby appeareth / that it condemneth not only reading off saints lives, whereof it speaketh after: but generally the breach of the councils decree / that nothing should be red in the church / but holy scripture. Where he museth how we can say, that reading off homilies were means to instle the bible into corners, seeing we will have the reading of scriptures give place to preaching: I have shown how gross / and intolerable ignorance it is / where I proved the excellency of preaching before simple reading off scriptures / but especially before homilies. The objection which I made off prayer / is answered: the answer is not ones moved, as for that the necessity off changing the words off scripture in prayer, is as strong against sermons preaching, as homilies reading: I have shown how false it is: when as that change is autorised by precise commandment off God / which cannot be shown for reading homilies His reason that the Apocrypha may be red in the church / because the council off Carthage decreing only the reading off canonical scripture / took them in that number / adding that they be as well red in the church / as counted portions off the old / and new testament: is absurd. For seeing it is utterly unlawful for them / to take them as portions off the old / and new testament: yt followeth by his own reason / that it is utterly unlawful for them / to be openly red.

Where he saith / there is nothing in them contrary to the rest off the scripture, accounting them as a part: although the reason be nothing worth / considering that so a book gathered owt off Cato / Theognes / and Cebes tables / &c. may be red in the church: yet I answer / that there be many places partly plainly contrary to the holy scripture / partly frivolous / and unworthy to be red. For Esoras Apocrypha / I will refer the reader partly unto Calvin's censure of them (the treatise I do not precisely remember / saving that it is like to be in one of those against the Anabaptists / or Libertines / whose gospel those books be) and partly to the manifest contradiction with the holy scripture: which referring the genealogy off Ezra unto Eleazar / to whom the priesthood belonged / is by the Apocrypha referred unto Eli / and consequently unto Ithamar / to whom yt did not appertain. Off some off the other I will give a few examples. Where the holy ghost condemneth the fact off Simeon / and Levy towards the Shechemites: Judith in propounding it for example / and to strenghthen her faith in the cutting off off Holofernus head / alloweth yt. If it be said / but the book doth not allow it. The scripture never propoundeth a faulty prayer without condemning off it / especially so long.

The son off Sirach / affirming that the true Samuel prophesied after his death / leaveth the disquieting off the just / in the courteousie off conjurers: which is ungodly doctrine / and contrary to that peace the scripture saith they be in. where Daniel showeth that the fire bourned / after the three young men were thrown into it / to the commendation of the power of God / which kept them from suffering in any part off it: the counterfeit Daniel / affirming that the Angel smote the flame off the fire owt of the fournace / and cawsed as it were a moist hissing wind in the midst / &c. partly falsifieth / partly discrediteth Daniel / as one that left owt such weighty things as he there supposeth. I pass by how unworthy yt is / that he that hath ouereaten him self / is bidden to rise / and go vomit / and after get himself to rest: which are precepts fitter for the kitchen / then for the church Likewise the Jewish fable / of the fire takē to be hidden / and other such toys / and of commending him that slue himself: off demanding pardon off the reader / a language unmeet for the holy ghost. Thes few off a number which come to mind / shall suffice for a taste.

And because the D. tasteth nothing but authority off men / he hath Jerome of this mind: which writing to a woman / biddeth her take heed off all the Apocrypha, affirming that they are not theirs whose names they bear, that there are many faulty things mingled, and that it requireth wisdom, to seek for gold in dirt. The hymn also off the three children / he runneth through: where Erasmus iestingly saith / it is merueill that Jerome putteth this song vpō the spit (meaning / condemneth it) seeing it is both red, and soung in churches everywhere, as if it were some special holy thing. Whereby it is not unlike but that he speaketh in another place / off the reading off Apocrypha to edifying off the people, not to confirmation off the doctrine is spoken rather story wise / in telling what was doon in that time / thē what he allowed. for if it be dangerous for one to read them privately / howe must it needs be more to read them openly? unless it be with exposition / which is yet more absurd. Except peradventure to reconcile Jerome / one had rather interpret those words the church reads, off the private reading of everyone off the church: whereof there are examples.

Now I must put the D. also in mind / that nether in his first / nor later book / he hath answered the Adm. reason / touching private reading only of the Apocrypha: because their name which signifieth secret, or hid doth speak as much. If he will say / they are so called because the writers of thē are unknown: he cannot so escape / considering that this name doth put a difference between them / and canonical: which it could not / if that signification should be followed. for part of the writers of canonical books / as of Joshua / Judges / Sam. Chron. Kings / &c. are unknown. To that wherein the book is charged / for lifting up of diverse cha. of the Apocrypha, to be red as extra ordinary lessons upon feast days, wherein there are greatest assemblies, some chap. off canonical scripture being not red at all: he answereth not a word / but leaveth it to speak for itself. Seeing then the scripture precisely forbiddeth to ordain a pastor not fit to teach / and bare reading off homilies is convenient / off holy scriptures insufficient to save the people by / which are the cruches wherewith the D. would uphold this lame ministry: it followeth together with the shameful absurdities / off reading to be preaching / to be as good / yea better then preaching: that unpreaching pastors as the pestilence off the church / owght to be thrown owt.

Now I return back to the 7. Tract. off Ministers apparel / whereunto albeit I was determined (as may appear) to reply: yet considering after / that this cause hath been so fully debated / both by books in print / and other treatises written in the hands of as many as desire after them: considering also that the D. second answer (beside false accusations / as that men have learned off me, and my parteners to esteem the surplis, &c. corrupt in them selves &c. open facing down off things in knowledge off all men / as that none are hindered one jot from coming to the gospel by prescript apparel: bare affirmations without proof / as