Paragraphs 26.1, 26.2

1. The effect of the word, and Sacraments, is not hindred by the badnes of ministers.

2. Euill Ministers are to be searched out, convicted, and deposed, but orderly, and by the discipline of the Church.

The proofe from Gods word.

Of the ministers ecclesiasticall the Church is to conceiue neither to sinisterly, as though their vnworthines could make the word, and Sacraments the lesse effectuall to such as worthily doe heare, and receiue them: nor on the otherside too highly, as if the dignitie of their calling were cause good enough, that what they doe, or say ex opere operato, take happy effects.

These things from the Scriptures are manifest, which teach vs, that wicked ministers, euen the Scribes and Pharisies sitting in Moses chaire,^a and preaching Christ, though through enuie, strife, and contention,^b are to be heard; and may administer the Sacraments; as did the ordinarie Priests among the Iewes, whereof very many, both afore, and after that our Sauiour came into the world, were most wicked men: and the best which be are the ministers of God,^c and Gods labourers.^d

Also the purer Churches beare witnesse hereunto.^*

Neither is hee (whosoeuer) that planteth any thing, neither hee that watereth, but God that giueth the encrease, saith S Paul.^e And a signe of a good Spirit is it, to regard not so much who speaketh, or ministreth, as what is vttered, and offered from God.

Errors & Adversaries to this truth.

The due consideration of the praemises will both settle vs the more firmely in the truth; and make vs the more carefully to abhorre all adversaries thereof, as in old time were the donatists, and the Petilians, who taught that the Sacraments are holy,^† when they be administred by holy men, but not els; also the Apostolikes, or Henricans, who had a fancie that he was no Bishop, which was a wicked man.^‡

Among the Fathers also Cyprian, and Origen were not sound in this point. For Cyprian, published, that no minister could rightly baptize, who was not himselfe endued with the holy Ghost,⁴ hee further deliuered, that whosoeuer doe communicate with a wicked minister, doe sinne.⁵

Origen held that in vaine did any minister either binde, or lose, who was himselfe bound with the chaines of sinne, and wickednes.⁶

Such adversaries in our time be, the Anabaptists, the Family of Loue, the disciplinarians (vsually tearmed Puritants); the Sabbatarians; the Brownists; and the Papists. For

The Anabaptists will not haue the people to vse the ministerie of euill ministers;⁷ and thinke the seruice of wicked Ministers vnprofitable, and not effectuall: affirming that no man▪ who is himselfe faultie, can preach the truth to others.

The Familie of Loue doe say, that no man can minister the vpright seruice, or ceremonies of Christ, but the regenerate,⁸ also that wicked men cannot teach the truth.⁹

The disciplinarian Puritans doe bring all ministers which cannot preach, and their seruices into detestation. For their doctrine is, that

Where there is no Preacher, there ought to be no minister of the Sacraments.¹⁰

None must minister the Sacraments which doe not preach.¹¹

The Sacrament is not a Sacrament if it be not ioyned to the word of God preached.¹²

It is sacriledge to seperate the ministration of the word preached from the Sacraments.¹³

Of these mens opinions be the Sabbatarians among vs. For their doctrine is to the common people, that vnlesse they leaue their vnpreaching ministers euery Sabboth day, and goe to some place where the word is preached they doe prophane the Sabboth, and subiect themselues vnto the curse of God.¹⁴

So the Brownists; No man is to communicate (say they) where there is a blinde, or dumme ministerie.¹⁵

The Papist doe crosse this truth, but after another sort. For

Pope Hildebrand decreed, and commanded, that no man should heare Masse from the mouth of a preist which hath a wife.

The Rhemists doe publish how.¹⁶

The Sermons of heretikes (and so tearme they all Protestant ministers)¹⁷ must not be heard, though they preach the truth. Their praiers, and Sacraments are not acceptable to God, but are the howling of wolues.¹⁸

The wicked, and euill ministers must not alwaies be endured in the Church of God. For they are, the euill and vnprofitable seruants,^f the Eies, which doe offend,^g the vnsauorie salt,^h which are carefully to be seene vnto; and if admonitions will not serue, deposed: yet orderly, and by the discipline of the Churh. For that God which appointed a gouernement for the ciuill state, hath also giuen authoritie vnto his Church to punish offenders, according to the qualitie of their transgressions. And so may we read in the word of God.

Tell the Church saith our Sauiourⁱ

Let such a one, by the power of our Lord Iesus Christ, be deliuered vnto Sathan, for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saued in the day of the Lord Iesus, saith S. Paul.^j

So the neighbour Churches.¹⁹

Adversaries vnto this truth.

Then deceiued, and out of the way, are the Brownists, and Barrowists, which are of minde, that

Priuate persons in themselues haue authoritie, to depose vnmeete ministers; and to punish malefactors²⁰

Euery particular member of a Church in himselfe hath power to examine the manner of administring the Sacraments, &c. to call men vnto repentance, &c.²¹ to reproue the faults of the church; and to forsake that church, which will not reforme her faults vpon any priuate admonition.²²

For want of the due execution of discipline against persons offending, and malefactors, both women may leaue their husbands (as some haue done), and husbands their wiues, and goe where it is in force.²³ See more in Art. 33. Prop. 1.