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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    God, may eafilie be withdrawne from his former wicked life, and dieng in the faith of lefus Chrift, with true repentance for his finnes to-fore committed, liue for euer in ioye both of body & foule, whereas, if exhortations had not bin, he might (happily) haue died irrepentant or vtterly defperate to his euerlafting dellruaion for euer. Yea, it is cowimonly feene, that thofe who could neuer be wonne to Chrift lefus, all the dales of their life before, yet at the laft howre they are foone recouered. Therefore ought not the paftors to neglede their duties therein, but ^warely and carefully to watche ouer their flocks night and day without ceafing, that whe« the great fliephard of the flieepe commeth, he may rewarde them with the immercelTible crowne of eternall glory. And thus much be it fpoken hereof. Theod. In whome doth the eledfion of the minifter or paftor con- lift ? in the church onely, or in the bilhops ? Amphil. I tolde you before (as I remember) that the church might examine the life, the conuerfation, and difpofition of him, or them, whome they would haue to be their paftor, and finding the fame good, to prefeut him, or them, to the bilhops or elders to whome it apperteineth, to examine for his fufficiencie in knowledge, and dexteritie in teaching and handling the word of God j and finding him a man furniflied with gifts and graces necelTary for fuch a high vocation, to call him lawfullie according to the word of God, and fo to lende him foorth into the Lords harueft, as a faithfull laborer therein. Theod. But fome are of opinion that the churches themfelues of their owne abfolute and plenarie power ought to choofe their paftor, and not bilhops. Amphil. The churches haue no further 2 power in the eledtion of their paftor, than as I haue told you, that is, to iudge of his conuer- fation & integritie of life, referring the whole aftion befides to the bilhops and elders. For if the churches Ihould eleft their minifter or paftor of themfelues abfolutely, befides that it would breed con- fufion (for fome would choofe one, lome another, fome this, and fome that, neuer contenting themfelues with any) the church Ihould doe that alfo, which were diredly contrarie to the word of God. For certeine it is, the church hath no abfolute power by the word of God H 2 may easily be drawn to repent on their dying beds. [1 IcafN?] The Election 0/ Pastors. Their lives should be lookt into by the Church; then the men should be presented to the Bishop. [* leaf N 7, back] Churches should not elect their Ministers with- out the Bishop^s approval.