Phillip Stubbes's Anatomy of the abuses in England in Shakspere's youth, A.D. 1583 / edited by Frederick J. Furnivall.

  • Stubbs, Philip, active 1581-1593.
Date:
1877-1882
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: Phillip Stubbes's Anatomy of the abuses in England in Shakspere's youth, A.D. 1583 / edited by Frederick J. Furnivall. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    606/682 (page 68)
    [■ Sig. K. I.] All our churches and congrega- tions are divided into parishes, 17 Sig. K. I. hack] so that every flock knows its pastor. In early days,, assemblies were always separate. 68 II. 2. All Churches are markt off' into Parishes. For it is a point of good phyficke, you knowe, to fee how the former ^meate receiued into the ftomacke, will be digefted, and concofted, before we receiue anye more into the fame. Theod. You fay very well. Giue me leaue tlien (by your patience] to afke you fuch queftions as I thinke conuenignt for my further inftruftion, that by your good meanes, I knowing the truth, may praife God in you, and alfo haue iuft occafion to giue you thanks for the fame. Amphil. Alke what you thinke good, in Gods name, and I will doe the belt I can, to refolue you m anything that you fhall demand. Theod. Then this fliall be my firft demand. Be the churches, congregations, & alfemblies there, diftiudted into particulars, as into pariflies and precindts, one exempt from another, or are they difperfed here and there abroad, without any order, exemption, or limitation of place at all ? Amphil. Euerie particular church, congregation, aflemblie, or con- uenticle, is diuided one from another, and diftindted into pariflies and precin6ts, which feuerall precindts and pariflies are fo circumgired and limited about with bounds and marks, as euerie one is knowne of what parifli he is, and vnder whofe charge he liueth. So that euerie fliepheard kiioweth ^his flocke, euerie paftor his flieepe. And againe, euerie flocke knoweth his fliepheard, and euerie flieepe his paftor, verie orderlie and well, in my Ample iudgenient. Theod. Doe you allow then of this partition of churches, and of one particular congregation from another ? Amphil. Yea trulie. It is not amilTe, but a verie good order, for thereby euerie paftor doth knowe his owiie flock, euery fliepheard his owne flieepe, which without this diuiAon could not be. Befldes that, we read that euen in the apoftles daies (who writ to particular churches tliemfelues, as to the Rom. Corint. Thes. Phil, &c.) in the daies of Clirift, & in the times of the prophets before Chrift, churches, aflcmblie.s, and congregations were euer diftiiidted one from another, & diuided into feueral flocks, companies, and charges. So that although they had not the name of this word ‘ parifli ’ amongft them, yet had the thing ment thereby, in efte£t. Theod. Then it followetli by your reafon, that there are inflnite