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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    might exercife their authoritie and gouernement, as now they doe, and therefore, there being neither bifhops, ecclefiafticall nor ciuill magiftrates (as we haue now), it was necelfarie that the feigniories fhuld be ordeined. But now we, hauing al thefe things, Band not in fuch neceffitie of them, as the churches in the apoftles daies did. Befides, the inftitution of elders was but meere ceremoniall, and temporall, and therefore not to continue alwaies, neither ought the necellitie thereof to binde all churches. Neither doe I thinke that all churches are bound for euer to one forme of externall gouerne- ment, but that euery church may alter, and change the fime, accord- ing to the time and prefent Bate therof, as they flial fee th.e fame to make for the glorie of God, and the comon peace of the church. ^ Theod. What fay you to deacons ? Is their office neceflarle or not in the church of God at this day ? Amphil. Their office (which was to make colleftions for the poore, to gather the beneuolences, and contributions of euerie one that were dilpofed to giue, and to fee the fame bellowed vpon the poore and needie members of the church) is very necelTarie, and without doubt ought to be continued for euer. But yet is not the church tied to their names onely, but to their office. Which office is executed by honeft lubftantiall men (called Churchwardens or the like) cholen by the confent of the whole congregation to the fame end and purpofe, who daily gathering the friendlye beneuolencies of the churches, bellow, or fee the fame bellowed vpon the poore and indigent of the fame church, which was the greatell part of the deacons duties in the apotlles daies. So that albeit wee haue not the name, we yet hold their office in fubllance and effe6t. Theod. What is your iudgement, ought there to be any bilhops in the churches of chrillians ? Amphil. To doubt whether there ought to be billiops in the churches of chrillians, is to doubt of the truth it felfe. For is there not ^mention made of their names, dignities, fundlions, and callings, almoll in euery chapter of the new tellament, in all the epillles of Paule, of Peter, of lohn, of lude, and of all the reft ? Befides that, did not the apoftles themfelues conftitute and ordeine billiops and elders j and doe they not woonderfully commende the excellencie of their calling, inferring that thofe that rule well, are worthye of double is not needed now. Every Church may alter its form of external government from time to time. [‘ Sig. O. I.] The office of Deacon is still very necessary. Now it is filld by Church- wardens, who daily gather alms and give em to the poor. [“ Sig. O. I. back] The Apostles ordaind Bishops.