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.

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    Matthias wasn’t elected till Judas’s place was empty. The Apostles wouldn’t choose Deacons until [■ leaf M 6, back] places were ready for em. Common sense says, better wait and get one able man than have 200 unfit ones struggling about after places. leaf M 7] Any congrega- tion wanting a Pastor, should propose 2 or 3 tried men to the Bishop, 90 II. 2. JVo one to be ordaind till he has a Cure. Hereticus effe nolo, Erre I may, but heretike I will not be. No, fo foone as I fhall be conuinced by the manifefl: worde of God, of any of my former pofitions or alTertions, I will willingly fubfcribe to the truth. But being perfuaded as I am, giue me leaue, I befeech you (vnder corredtion) to fpeake what I thinke. But now to the purpofe. In the firft chapter of the Aftes of the apoftles recorded by the Evangelift Saint Luke, wee read that Matthias fucceeding ludas the traitour in the adniiniftration of the apoftlefhip, was not chofen nor elefted (notwithtlanding that the apoftles by the reuelation of the Spirite of GOD, knew that he ftiould fall from the fame in the end) vntill the place was voide, and emptie. In the fixt chapter of the A6tes of the apoftles wee reade alfo of feuen deacons, which were chofen for the dailie miniftring to the poore; but when, I pray you ? Not before the church (deftitute of their feruice) had need of them, nor before there ^were places readie to receiue them, wherein they might exercife their funftion, and calling. Then if the apoftles would not choofe not fo much as deacons, which is an office in the church of God farre inferiour to the office of the paftor, or preacher, before places were void and readie to receiue them, much lefle would they, or did they choofe or call any paftor into the church of God, before the church ftood in need of him, and before there be a place readie to receiue him. Befides that, we read not thorough the whole euangelicall hiftorie, that euer the apoftles called any to be paftors and preachers of the word, before fuch time as there were places void for them. Common reafon, me thinke, and daily experience, fliould teach us this truth fufficiently, if we were not wilfully blinded, that when any church or congregation is deftitute of a paftor, it were better to place there one able perfon, than to make two or three hundred or mo vnable fellowes, and they, for want of lining, to runne ftragling the countries ouer, without any lining or maintenance at all, being glad of any thing. For as the old faieng is : Hungrie dogs eate fluttifli pudcfmgs. Theod. What order would you have obferued in this ? ^Atnphil. Me thinke this were a verie good order : That euerie church or congregation being deftitute of a paftor, ftiould prefent to the bifliops, and others to whom it dooth apperteine, one or two, three or foure able perfons, or mo, or leftTe, as they conueniently can.