zeale ) they breede iarres in GODS Church , and thereby greeue the Spirite of God , by whome the Children of God are sealed , vnto the day of redemption .

Feede , I. Metaphorically teach , out of the which word of the Apostle , there be foure thinges to be considered . First , the care that God hath ouer his Church Second , who they must be , that muste feede . Third , with what they must féed . Foure , what they must féede .

Where the holy Ghost by his Apostle sayth , féede : I gather that he pretendeth a care ouer his Church , which appeareth heerein , that he doth not onelie prepare food , but also giueth commandement , that it may be destributed in due and equall manner , & procureth meanes from time to time , as I may say by succession ; which will faithfully doe and accomplish theyr Masters message .

This is moste apparant , for when God had chosen his Church , the seede of Abraham , the chosen Israell : he did not onely giue them a Lawe , as a Rule to leade them by , and a direction whereby they might walke , the bounds whereof they shoulde not passe : but also , hee sent foorth his seruants the Prophets , whom he did endue with the spirite of Prophecie and trewe vnderstanding , which shoulde rise vp early and late to teach Israell the sayde Lawe : which shoulde threaten the people with the iudgments of God for theyr transgressions , which shoulde call them to repentaunce , and comfort them in their afflictions : and at the last he sent the trew Prophet , euen his Sonne Iesus Christ , to teach hys Church , and to gather together the dispearsed . This proueth the Apostle S. Paul in these wordes . Diuersly and many waies in times past , Heb. 1.1 . spake God vnto the Fathers , by Prophets : but last of all in these dayes , hath hee spo kn to vs by his Sonne , whom he hath made heire of all thinges : By whom also he made the worlde .

This Iesus in lyke manner shewed his care ouer the Church : Luk. 13.22 . for as Luke sayth . Hee went about through euerie Cittie and euerie Towne , teaching , and making his iourney towards Ierusalem . He trauailed from place to place , and by the way as he went , he fedde the people , he taught and declared his Fathers will vnto them : more then that , that his foode might more amply bee destributed , and this doctrine more liberally be taught , he chose certaine whome hee called Disciples , Math. 10.18 and sent them abroade into all the worlde , and commaunded them to teach all nations .

After his resurrection he said to Peter . Iohn . 21.15 . Louest thou me ? More then these : feed my flocke . This he spake vnto him that time , thereby to signifie vnto Peter , the great and tender care that hee had ouer his purchased possession , which is hys Church .

After his ascention , hee called Paul , that he might cary his name before the Gentiles , before kings , and before the Children of Israell : thereby shewing to vs , that as GOD had gathered his Church , of all estates and degrées of people : so , he would haue al estates and degrées of people to know his will , and also haue matter to feede vppon , to the comfort of their soules : and therefore in deede Paul was very carefull ouer all congregations , and not onely taught diligently himselfe , but also elected and chose others for the same worke : as Timothie , vnto whom he gaue authority to rule the Church of God at Ephesus , and to feede them with wholesome doctrine . As I besought thee to tarry at Ephesus , when I departed into Macedonia : 1. Tim. 1.3 . so doe , that thou maiest commaund some that they teach no other doctrine , neither that they giue heede , to fables and genealogies which are endlesse , which breede questions , rather then any godly edifying , which is by faith .

To the same effect , hee speaketh vnto his Scholler Titus , that he might see to the Church . For this cause left I thee in Creta , Titus . 1.5 . that thou shouldest continue to redresse the thinges that remaine , and shouldest ordaine elders in euery congregation , as I appointed thee .

This care of God the Father , of hys son Christ , and of his Apostles or precessors , doo teach vs which haue cure of soules , to be diligent , paynfull and carefull . You looke now peraduenture , that I shoulde make some bitter inuectiue speeches against Byshops , which of some , are thought not to be so careful as their office requireth : but truely I am not so determined , for indéede they be reuerend fathers : Fathers of the Church , and they be bretheren . I came not hether to accuse any , I loue it not , I leaue it to the deuill , qui est accusator fratrum , which is the accuser of his bretheren , and I will set it ouer to his adherents , which take pleasure , and exercise themselues therein day and night . I came hether to doo the office of a Preacher , to to teach the vnlearned , and to put the learned in minde , of those things which they already knowe : and so will doe so long as I liue , if God permit .

Now it followeth to declare vnto you , who they be that must feede . The Apostle himselfe in the first verse of this Chapter declareth . The Elders sayth he , 1. Pet. 5.1 . I beseech , which am also an Elder . Feede the flock of Christ . When he plainely speaketh to those , which haue the office of teaching , and administring of Sacraments , committed vnto them : and to such , as are thereunto ordinarily and lawfully called .

Ierom describeth vnto vs , foure sorts of calings . Some saith he , were called of God and not by men , as the Prophets and Apostles . Others were called of God , and by men : as Elizeus , by Elias . Others are called by men and not by God , which ( séeing they haue an ordinary calling ) they may not be reiected . Others there be , which are neyther sent by GOD nor man : these be the worst , these be Annabaptists , these runne of a blind zeale & take vppon them to preach without any warrant .

Of these callings one is necessary , that is , lawfully to be called by God and man , especially in this our time , wherin we liue vnder a Christian Magistrate , without whose authority ( in my iudgement ) it is not lawfull for any man to execute any office in Church or common wealth . Calling therefore is not to bee despised , but to bee sought for : for it is not ynough to haue knowledge in the worde of God , and be able to teach , but also to haue calling by the Church , beeyond which it is not lawfull to go . Who so dooth whatsoeuer hee thinketh of himselfe , Paul telleth him plainly what hee is : Euen such a one , Phil. 5. of whome we must take heede . For they be dogges , euill labourers , and concision . They giue fayre wordes : but secretly they bite . They take greate paynes in trotting from house to house , in making long prayers , in visiting widdowes houses , in ouercomming the weake : but al is to bréede factions , and to get gaynes vnto themselues .

They call themselues circumcision , but the Apostle by a pleasant prosonemasia , caleth them concision , such as break and deuide the Church , & such as cut in peeces , the vnity and peace of the same . Ier. 23.21 . Of these sayth Ieremie : They did run , but I did not send them . How then can they teach truely ? they cannot : for the Apostle Paul asketh this question . Howe can they preach except they be sent ? Rom. 10.15 . as though he should say they cannot . And therefore he sayth to Titus . Tit. 1.5 . For this cause haue I left thee in Creta , that thou shouldest ordaine Elders in euery congregation , as I haue appointed thee . As though he shoulde say , least any shoulde take vnto himselfe honour , Heb. 5 5. but he that is called : I haue left thee there for that purpose .

They which haue this calling , God prospereth their labours : they which haue it not , ( thoughe they haue the words of fayth in their mouth ) yet they bring foorth no fruite , for they see not that which is good , but euen as it were to leade men by the eares , to their peruersse opinions .

Feede ye , heere is secondly noted vnto vs , who they bee that must feede the flocke of God : The elders saith S. Peter . The Greeke worde is Πρεςβυτερος , which the Apostle vseth : which word of two sortes of people is falslie interpreted . Of the Papists , which would haue it to signifie a sacrifising , or a massing Priest . Of an other sort , which woulde haue it onely to signifie Lay-men : but the Apostle heere confuteth them both , for he speaketh not of sacrifising preists , neither yet of lay men : but of such as shoulde guide and teach his Church , therefore the worde ( Elders ) signifyeth heere , Bishops & Ministers . Of whome the office of the first is , not only to teach , but also to rule the Church of God , to keepe it in with a Bishop-like authority : this Paul prooueth . Take heede vnto your selues , and to the whole flocke , Act. 20. ouer the which the holy Ghost hath made you ouerseeers , to rule the Church of God , which he hath purchased with his owne bloode . Out of which wordes I gather thus much , that of the one side , as a Bishop is not exempted from the office of teaching because hee is a Bishop : so , on the other side , hee is not called a Bishop , because he is apt to teach , neither for the office of teaching , but for the preheminence of ruling and ouerséeing of the Church of God : that false doctrine come not in , that offenders , which corrupt the manners and peace of the Church , may bee punished , and such like . The office of the other is this , to teach and to administer the Sacraments : according to the saying of Christ generally to all ministers . Goe into all the worlde , Math. 28. teach all nations , and baptize them , in the name of the father , and of the sonne , and of the holie Ghost .

And Paul sayth : Preach thou the worde : bee feruent in season and out of season : reproue , rebuke & exhort with al loue patience & doctrine . The which places beeing with disretion considered of , are sufficient to prooue , that as on the one side , calling is necessary : so , they which be called , must bee such as the Apostle heere speaketh of , ( Elders ) that is to say , Bishops to rule and to teach : Ministers , to teach , to administer , to rebuke and to exhort , where they be therevnto lawfully called .

( Feede ye ) heere is thirdly to be noted with what they must feede ? verily with the word , with it haue all the Prophets fed : that same is the nourishment of the Church . S. Peter sayth : We are borne agayne , not of corruptible seede , 1. Pet. 1 . 2● but of incorruptible , by the word of God , who liuech and endureth for euer . For all flesh is grasse , and the glory of man is as the flower of gras : the grasse withereth , and the flower falleth away , but the word of the Lord indureth for euer and this is the worde which is preached among you . By which saying it is manifest that the onely woord of God ought to be taught in the church , and that they are not to be heard which would bring in mens deuises into the Church : God hath not permitted so much to any mortall man : neither may the Church bee gouerned or fed by any other word then by the worde of God , by the which it is begotten and borne .

This confuteth the Papists , which would haue the Church to be of greater authoritie then the woord , which can not possibly be , for the Church is grounded vppon the doctrine of the Prophets and Apostles , Christ himselfe the head corner stone : so that it is against the woord , that the house , that is to say , the church , should rule the maister , that is to say , the woord : and it is against nature that the daughter namely the church should rule hir Mother , which is the woord .

Hereuppon it followeth that the ministers must onely feede with the word of God , Eze , 3.17 . and with no other . God sayth , thou shalt heare words from my mouth , and thou shalt warne others from mee . Ier. 1.7 . Math. 28. I haue put my words in thy mouth , and what so euer I haue commaunded thee , that shalt thou speake , and did binde his Disciples to a certain kinde of doctrine , namely to teach those things which hee had commaunded them : whereby wee learn that onely the woord of God must be taught in the Church , and no other . When I say that the only word of God must be taught , I do not therby as some do , condemne the reading or alledging of the Fathers , for that were altogether curiositie , I am not of that minde , I thinke them very necessarie to bee read and alledged , not as doctrine of saluation , but as confirmation of iudgement : for when our iudgements , & the iudgements of the fathers are one , vpon some place of Scripture , then we say it is idem spiritus , one and the selfe same spirit : so that alledging of the Fathers is not to be blamed , but bringing in mans doctrine as necessarie to saluation , in stead of the woord of God , which onely serueth to that ende is woorthily to bee condemned : where it is said , feede , and that with the woord . There is rendred a reason , because the written woord of God containeth in it all things necessarie to saluation , and also to life and maners , and therefore that we neede not seek any further for the assurance of the same , this prooueth Iohn the Apostle : Iohn . 21 Many things did Iesus in the sight of his disciples which are not written in this booke , but these things are written , that Iesus Christ is the Sonne of God , & that in beleeuing yee might haue eternall life . The other prooueth Paul : 2. Tim. 3. Euery Scripture giuen by inspiration is profitable to teach , to reprooue , and to exhort , that the man of God may be made perfect vnto euerie good woorke .

Rom. 15. Therefore search the Scriptures , for in them yee hoope to haue eternall life .

Lastly it is to bee declared what they must feed , n. the Church . There be many sorts of Churches , there is a visible Church and an inuisible Church : there is a militant Church , and a triumphant Church : there is a true Church , & there is a false Church . Now where the Apostle saith , feede the flocke of God , hee putteth a difference betwixt the true & false Church : now a Church is nothing els but a company of people gathered together , so that euery company is a Church , but euery company is not a church of God . Moreouer this is to bee obserued , that whereas the Apostle saith feed the flock of God , and that the flock of God is partly visible , partly inuisible , as is aforesaid , that hee meaneth , that the ministers of the word should diligently feed all the flocke of God vppon the earth : which is flatly against those that would single out the church of God from the rest , not knowing that there bee some which though they do not appeare outwardly , yet are they most dear and precious in the sight of the Lord : I must bee plaine with you , it is a great fault in this our time , wee will haue none to be of the Church but such as we like , such as follow our fantasies : & such as will not , we vtterly condemne them , whereas there bee many hundreds , yea many thousands besides vs : this was Elias fault . O Lord saith he , they haue broken down thy Altars , and slaine thy Prophets , and I onely am left , and they seeke my life to take it away : he thought there had not bin left vpon the earth one man that feared God but himselfe : but marke responsum Domini , harken what the Lord saith : Reg. 19.18 . I haue reserued to my selfe seuen thousand men that neuer bowed their knees to Baal : mark this wel , there be more of the church then we bee aware of : therefore let vs feed in hope and labor in hope , incoraging all , discoraging none : but let vs feede the flocke of God visible and inuisible , true & false .

Of these two Churches it is necessary to speake a litle , beginning with the false church , that the other may be the better discerned : the false church I cal those which either openly set their selues against the children of God , or those which perswade themselues that they be of the church & are not : of both these sorts ther be many .

The one sort , are they of whom Dauid speaketh of . Psalm. 26. I haue hath hated the congregation of the wicked , and I wil not sit with the vngodlie . Numb. 15 , Such were Corah , Dathan and Abiram , and the two hundred and fifty men that were with them , men of renowne and famous in the congregation . Gene. 11. Such were they that builded Babel : euery of these were a congregation , a church , but a false church , a church that openly fighteth and setteth it selfe against the Church of God . The other sort , are they , which bragge that they be the seed of Abraham , the children of promise , but they deceiue themselues , for they do not the works of Abraham , they speak much , but they do litle : they look like Lambes but they bee rauenning Wolues : outwardly they appeare bewtifull , but inwardly they be full of dead mens bones . He is not a Iew which is a Iew outward , Rom. 2. but hee is a Iew which is hid within . Of these face-makers , and outward Religious persons speaketh Leo : Ecclesiae nomine armamini , sed contra ecclesiam demicatis : Leo. yee arme your selues with the name of the church , but yee fight agaynst the Church .

These say they are Iewes , but they are not , but are the congregation of Satan . These be the false church , Reg. 2.9 . these must be taught , if at any time God will giue them grace to repent , that they may be brought to the true church , and so be saued in the day of the Lord . Now let vs proceed vnto the true church , which is in God , hereby it is knowen , it is not in man , but in GOD , this is the true church , this is the society of all the true faithfull sainctes and elect of God . This church consisteth of Faith , Hope , Loue , and of the Spirit of Christ . This we cal the catholicke church which is spread ouer the face of the whole world . Then the catholicke church is not at Rome : no , no , they are much deceiued that say so , or beleeue so , it is not tyed to one place or to one people : but it is the company of all the faithfull , that haue bene from the beginning of the world , that are now , & shal be vnto the end of the world : Ierom sayth Ecclesia Christi in toto orbe ecclesias possidens , spiritus vnitate coniuncta est , & habet vrbes legis & prophetarum , euangelij & apostolorum : non est egressa de finibus suis , i. de scripturis : The church of Christ which possesseth all the churches in the world , is ioyned together in the vnity of the spirit , and it hath the cities of the law and of the Prophets , of the Gospell , and of the Apostles , it doth not goe beyonde her boundes , that is the Scriptures .

This Church hath in it pure and sounde doctrine , euen the same which came from Christe , and sent abroade throughout all the worlde by the Apostles , which excludeth all other doctrines and precepts of man , it hath also the true and liuely vse of the Sacraments , it hath vnity and catholicke consent touching the chéef points of christian religion . This church ( because it often erreth , sometime by ignorance as Paul before his conuersion , 1. Tim. 1.13 . sometime by temptations as Abraham when for feare of his life he fel to dissembling , or by infirmitie , 2. Sam. 10.4 as Dauid when hee committed adulterie , ) ought to bee fed with doctrine , and be kept in with wholsome correction . And therefore ouer this church hath God placed Bishops , and hath commaunded them to ouersee it , and to feed it faithfully and dilligently . let those therefore watch that they may giue their fellow seruants meat in due season . Blessed is that Seruant whome hys Maister shall find so doing . Math. 24. Verily I say vnto you , he will make him ruler ouer all his goods . Therefore feed the flock , this appertaineth to vs ministers : God hath made vs pastors , and wee haue a flocke , euen a church in God the father , begotten of the word , born of the word , and now must be nourished , brought vp and instructed by the word .

That wee haue such a church here in England as I haue here described , there is no question at all to be made , neither do the godly doubt of it . But for the better comfort of the church , and that they may haue in a readines at all times to stop the mouth of the Anabaptist , to ouerthrow the Papist , and tread vnder feet the Secturian . I wil prooue it most plainly by the way of an argument , where the Gospell is truly preached , where the Sacraments be according to Christ his institution reuerently administred , where there is vnitie , and catholicke consente touching the cheefe points of christian religion , wher Christ is acknowledged the head of the church , there is the true church in God the Father : but the church of England hath , vseth , holdeth and acknowledgeth al these things , ergo in England there is a true church in God the Father .

The chiefest reasons that the Anabaptistes Papistes and Scismatickes vse in defacing of our church are these : first that our ministers bee not lawfully called : 2. that we want discipline : 3. that wee haue no lawfull prayers in our church , and therefor no church .

These reasons though they be weake , and most weake , yet are they péeuish and very daungerous : and therefore I thinke it necessarie to confute them .

Touching the first wher they say we haue not a lawful ministery : I answere , we haue , yea and such a ministery as is sent of God , and lawfully called by man . I prooue it thus : wheresoeuer there is a Church in God the Father , there is also a lawful ministerie . But wee haue a Church in God the Father as before is prooued , ergo , a lawful ministerie . This argument in plainly prooued by the words of Ieremie . Ier. 3.14.15 . O yee disobedient Children turne againe sayth the Lord , for I am you Lord , and I will take you , one of a Cittie , and two of a Tribe , and will bring you to Sion , and I will giue you Pastors according to mine owne hart , which shall feede you with knowledge & vnderstanding . Marke here , he saith he will choose them one of a Cittie , and two of a Tribe , and hée will bring them into Sion , that is , into his Church : hee will giue them pastors after his owne hart , these be lawful I trow , for he chooseth none but those that bee meete , you may knowe them , for they feede with knowledge and vnderstanding . Whether wee do thus in the church of England or no , iudge yee .

Touching the second , that wee want discipline & therefore we are no church . I deny the argument , but they say wee haue not the discipline of the primatiue Church , therefore no church .

It is a non sequitur , for although we haue not the discipline of the primatiue Church , yet wee haue discipline : and therefore they slaunder vs . But alasse , these men that say so , they knowe not what they say : for discipline is no essentiall part of the church : men and women be the Church , not discipline , so that discipline is a wall about a citie , or a hedge aboute a vineyard , wherof though a peece sometime be broken downe , yet a citie , yet a vineyard . I graunt discipline to be as necessary in the church , to kéepe the people within the railes of Moses , law , as a wall about a cittie to defende the citizens from the force of their enemie : and for my part , I know none that denieth it , but onely those that make the most to doo about it : wee haue so much that they them selues complayne & crye out of it . I maruell what they would do , if we had that which they themselues séeke for . I cannot tel what they would haue : wee fynd fault with the sinnes of the people , wee excommunicate notorious offendors , if you aske by what authority , I answere euen as Paul did , 1. Tim. 1.20 . so do we . Hymeneus and Alexander haue made shipwracke of faith , quos ego tradidi Satanae vt discant , non blasphemare : whom I ( saith he ) haue deliuered to Sathan that they might learne not to blaspheme : It is the iudgement of the best learned that euer I read of , Act. 5. that Peeter did excommunicate Ananias and Saphira , after the which they yéelded vp the ghost .

I would here for my learning very gladly know who did helpe Paul or Peter to excommunicat , because these slaunderers of our Church do say , it is not lawful for any man to excommunicate . If it had not bin lawfull , surely Paul would not haue done it , neither yet Peter . Tertulian sayth , that excommunication , Tertul. in Apolog. or seperation from the Church , was in his time , which was thirteeene hundreth yeares agone in the handes of the Bishops , and of the Priestes . Origen commaundeth him that hath bene thrise admonished , Orig. hom. 7. an . Ios. and will not repent to be cut of from the body of the church , per ecclesiae presides , or by the rulers of the church , wher also he declareth what these rulers are : for sayth he , the priests sparing one that had offended , and neglecting their priestly authority , did goe about the distruction of the whole church , so that Origen thought it was a decay to the Church , that excommunication should goe out of the handes of the Priestes .

Euseb. lib. 6. cap. 34. Eusebius sheweth , that Fabian did excommunicate Philip the Emperour .