"The Pastor's Office is to feed the Sheep of Christ in green and wholesome pastures of his Word, and lead them to the still waters, even to the pure fountain and river of life. He must guide and keep those sheep by that Heavenly Sheephook and pastoral staff of the Word; thereby, drawing them to Him; thereby, looking into their souls, even unto their most secret thoughts; thereby, discerning their diseases; and thereby, curing them: applying to every disease a fit and convenient medicine; and, according to the quality and danger of the disease, give warning to the Church that they may orderly proceed to Excommunication: further, he must by this his Sheephook, watch over and defend his Flock from ravenous beasts, and the Wolf,' and take the little Foxes,' &c.a

"The Doctor's Office is already set down, in his description: his special care must be to build upon the only true ground-work, gold, silver, and precious stones, that his work may endure the trial of the fire; and, by the light of the same fire, reveal the timber, hay, and stubble of false Teachers. He must take diligent heed to keep the Church from errors; and further, he must deliver his doctrine so plainly, simply, and purely, that the Church may increase with the increase of God, and grow up unto Him which is the HEAD, Jesus Christ.b

"The Office of the Ancients is expressed in their description: their especial care must be to see the ordinances of God truly taught and practised, as well by the Officers in doing their duty uprightly, as to see that the People obey willingly and readily. It is their duty to see the Congregation holily and quietly ordered, and no way disturbed by the contentious and disobedient, froward, and obstinate; not taking away the liberty of the least, but upholding the right of all, wisely judging of times and [other] circumstances. They must be ready Assistants to the Pastor and Teachers; helping to bear their burden, but not intruding into their Office.c

"The Deacon's Office is faithfully to gather and collect, by the ordinance of the Church, the goods and benevolence of the Faithful; and, by the same direction, diligently and trustily to distribute them, according to the necessity of the Saints. Further, they must inquire and consider of the proportion of the wants, both of the Officers and the Poor, and accordingly relate unto the Church, that provision may be made.d

"The Reliever's and Widow's Office is to minister to the sick, lame, weary, and diseased, such helpful comforts as they need, by watching, tending, and helping them. Further, they must show good example to the younger women, in sober, modest, and godly conversation; avoiding idleness, vain talk, and light behaviour.e

a Psal. xxiii.; Lev. x. 10, 11; Num. xviii. 1; Ezek. xliv. 23; xxxiii.; xxxiv.; John xxi. 15; Acts xx. 28; 1 Pet. v. 1-4; Zech. xi. 7; Rev. xxii. 2; Luke xii. 42; 2 Cor. x. 4, 5; Heb. iv. 12; John x. 11. 12; Sol. Song ii. 15.

b 1 Cor. iii. 11, 12; Lev. x. 10; Ezek. xxxiii. 1, 2, &c.; xliv. 24; Mal. ii. 6; 1 Cor. iii. 11; 1 Cor. i. 17; 1 Tim. iv. 16; vi. 20; Eph. ii. 20; Heb. vi. 1; 1 Pet. ii. 2.

© Num. xi. 16; Deut. i. 13; xvi. 18; 2 Chron. xix. 8; Exod. xxxix. 42; Tim. iii. 15; 2 Tim. i. 13; 1 Cor. xi. 16; xiv. 33; Gal. ii. 4, 5, 14; Col. iv.

16, 17; Acts xx; 1 Pet. v. 1; Rom. xii. 8. Acts vi.; Rom. xii. 8.

e Rom. xii. 8; 1 Tim. v. 9, &c.

"These Officers, though they be divers and several, yet are they not severed, lest there should be a division in the Body; but they are as members of the Body, having the same care one of another; jointly doing their several duties to the service of the Saints, and to the edification of the Body of Christ, till all meet together in the perfect measure of the fulness of Christ; by whom, all the Body being, in the meanwhile, thus coupled and knit together by every joint for the furniture thereof, according to the effectual power which is in the measure of every part, receiveth increase of the Body unto the edifying of itself in love: neither can any of these Offices be wanting, without grievous lameness, and apparent deformity of the Body, yea, violent injury to the HEAD, Christ Jesus.a

b

"Thus this holy army of Saints is marshalled here in earth, by these Officers, under the conduct of their Glorious Emperor, Christ; that victorious Michael: thus, it marcheth, in this most heavenly order and gracious array, against all Enemies, both bodily and ghostly; peaceable, in itself, as Jerusalem; terrible to the Enemy as an army with banners, triumphing over their tyranny with patience, their cruelty with meekness, and over Death itself with dying. Thus, through the blood of that spotless Lamb, and that Word of their testimony, they are more than conquerors; bruising the head of the Serpent: yea, through the power of His Word, they have power to cast down Satan like lightning; to tread upon serpents and scorpions; to cast down strongholds, and every thing that exalteth itself against God: the gates of Hell, and all the Principalities and Powers of the World, shall not prevail against it.

"Further: He hath given them the Keys of the Kingdom of Heaven, that whatsoever they bind in Earth, by his Word, shall be bound in Heaven; and whatsoever they loose on Earth, shall be loosed in Heaven.d

"Now this Power which Christ hath given unto his Church, and to every Member of his Church, to keep it in order, he hath not left it to their discretion and lusts to be used or neglected as they will; but in his Last Will and Testament, he hath set down both an order of proceeding and an end to which it is used.e

"If the Fault be private, holy and loving admonition and reproof are to be used, with an inward desire and earnest care to win their Brother; but if he will not hear, yet to take two or three other Brethren with

a At this place, in the edition of 1641, is added, "In this church, is the heavenly harmony of the exercise of Prophecy; where the variety and diversity of God's gifts and graces, in his saints, are manifested according to the gifts and abilities that God hath given unto them, to the mutual edification, exhortation, and comfort one of another, and the rest of the body, Num. xi. 27-29. Acts xiii. 15. 1 Cor. xiv. Which exercise of Prophecy is the first ordinance that the Lord commanded and commended in his Church under the Gospel, exhorting all his saints to the same, as the most special and excellent gift; yea, and most needful at all times, but especially when the Pastor and Teacher are either taken away by death, imprisoned, or exiled."

b Luke ix. 46, 47; John xiii. 12-17; 1 Cor. xii. 12, 25, 28; Eph. iv. 11-13, 16. c Rom. xii.; 1 Cor. xii.; Rev. xiv. 1, 2; Sol. Song vi. 3; Rev. xii. 11; Luke x. 18, 19; 2 Cor. x. 5; Matt. xvi. 18; Rom. viii. 38, 39.

d Matt. xvi. 19; John xx. 23; Matt. xviii. 18.

e Matt. xvi. 16, 19; xviii. 15-18; xxviii. 20; Deut. xii. 31, 32; Rev. xxii. 18, 19.

him, whom he knoweth most meet for that purpose, that by the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be confirmed: and if he refuse to hear them, then, to declare the matter to the Church; which ought severely and sharply to reprehend, and gravely to admonish, and lovingly to persuade the party offending; showing him the heinousness of his offence, and the danger of his obstinacy, and the fearful judgments of the Lord.a

"All this, notwithstanding, the Church is not to hold him as an enemy, but to admonish him, and pray for him as a Brother; proving if, at any time, the Lord will give him repentance: for this power is not given them to the destruction of any, but to the edification of all.b

"If this prevail not to draw him to repentance, then are they, in the Name and power of the Lord Jesus, with the whole Congregation, reverently, in prayer, to proceed to Excommunication: that is, unto the casting him out of their congregation and fellowship, covenant and protection of the Lord, for his disobedience and obstinacy; and, committing him to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus, if such be His good will and pleasure.c

"Further: they are to warn the whole Congregation and all other Faithful, to hold him as a heathen and publican, and to abstain themselves from his society, as not to eat or drink with him, &c.; unless it be such as of necessity must needs, as his wife, his children, and family; yet these, if they be Members of the Church, are not to join to him in any spiritual exercise.d

"If the Offence be Public, the party is publicly to be reproved and admonished: if he then repent not, to proceed to Excommunication, as aforesaid.

"The Repentance of the party must be proportionate to the Offence; namely, if the Offence be public, public; if private, private: humbled, submissive, sorrowful, unfeigned, giving glory to the Lord.f

"There must great care be had of Admonitions; that they be not captious, or curious, finding fault where none is, neither yet in bitterness or reproach; for that were to destroy and not to save our Brother: but they must be carefully done, with prayer going before; they must be seasoned with truth, gravity, love, and peace.

"Moreover, in this CHURCH is an especial care had, by every Member thereof, of Offences. The strong ought not to offend the weak, nor the weak to judge the strong; but all graces, here, are given to the service and edification of each other in love and longsuffering.h

Lev. xix. 17, 18; Matt. xviii. 15; Deut. xix. 15; Matt. xviii. 16.

b 2 Thess. iii. 15; 2 Cor. x. 8; xiii. 10.

e Matt. xviii. 17; 1 Cor. v. 11.

d Matt. xviii. 17; 1 Cor. v. 11.

* 1 Tim. v. 20; Gal. ii. 14; Josh. vii. 19; 2 Cor. vii. 9.

Lev. xix. 17, 18; Prov. x. 12; Rom. xii. 19; xiii. 10; xiv. 1.

Matt. xviii. 15; xxvi. 8; Gal. vi. 1, 2; 2 Tim. ii. 24; Mark ix. 50; Eph. iv.

29; Jas. v. 15, 19, 20.

Luke xvii. 1; Prov. x. 12; Rom. xiv. 13, 19; Gal. vi. 2.

"In this CHURCH is the Truth purely taught, and surely kept: here are the Covenant, the Sacraments, and Promises; the Graces, the Glory, the Presence, the Worship of God, &c."

"Into this Temple entereth no unclean thing, neither whatsoever worketh abominations or lies; but they which are written in the Lamb's Book of Life. But without' this CHURCH shall be dogs, and enchanters, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whatsoever loveth and maketh lies."-1589.

The progress which the doctrines put forth by Browne were making at home, even before the year 1592-3, is evidenced by the proceedings in parliament on the introduction of a Bill to explain the statute 23rd of Eliz. an. 1580, and further reducing "disloyal subjects to their due obedience." On the 4th of April, Sir Walter Raleigh expressed himself thus,-" In my conceit the Brownists are worthy to be rooted out of the commonwealth; but what danger may grow to ourselves if this law pass, it were fit to be considered. For it is to be feared, that men not guilty will be included in it. And this law is hard that taketh life, and sendeth into banishment, where men's intentions shall be judged by a jury, and they shall be judges what another means. But that law that is against a fact is but just; and punish the fact as severely as you will. If two or three thousand Brownists meet at the sea, at whose charge shall they be transported, or whither will you send them? I am sorry for it, I am afraid there are near twenty thousand of them in England, and when they be gone, who shall maintain their wives and children?" Mr. Finch said, 66 There be great faults in the preamble and in the body of this Bill. It pretendeth a punishment only to Brownists and Sectarians; but throughout the whole Bill, not one thing that concerneth a Brownist; and if we make a law against Barrowists and Brownists, let us set down a note of them, who they are. But this Bill is, not to come to Church,' or to 'speak against the government established,' this is not the opinion of the Brownists."d We are happy at being able to oppose this testimony to an astounding assertion and confession, emanating from the Puritans, and which requires no further notice from us than the bare recital" We allow not of the Brownists, the overthrowers both of Church and Commonwealth: we abhor these, and we punish them."e

We are here supplied with a variety of matter, on which we might comment; as that Raleigh was not tinctured with Browne's doctrines, though he were suspected to be of that "philosophical sect," since called "free-thinkers:"-that the banishment contemplated by the Bill was virtually effected on the exile of a large number of those at whom it indirectly aimed, and thus, under the wise dispensation of Pro

a Gen. xvii.; Lev. xxvi. 11, 12; Isa. xliv. 3; Gal. iv. 28; vi. 16; Isai. lx. 15; Deut. iv. 12, 13; Isai. lvi. 7; 1 Tim. iii. 15; Isai. lii. 8.

b Isai. lii. 1; Ezek. xliv. 9; Isai. xxxv. 8; Zech. xiv. 21; Rev. xxi. 27. Rom. ii. 9; Rev. xxii. 15.

d D'Ewes, p. 517. an. 35 reg. ELIZ.

The Complaint presented to the Right Honourable Lords of her Majesty's Privy Council, by the Godly Ministers, [ante 1586]. In "A Parte of a Register, contayninge sundrie memorable matters, &c." 4to. p. 129.

f" Then extremely rare in England." Hume, Jas. I. an. 1603.

"a

vidence, through their much suffering was educed still greater good; they were at liberty, abroad, to carry their principles into practice, and thus to learn wisdom from experience, so that, on their return, they were far better prepared to stand firmly by their principles, and were more than ever resolved to inculcate them :-that the rapidity of their increase under the determined resistance which they encountered is, all circumstances considered, a problem not solvable by human calculation merely; something else than the imputation of factious is requisite that it was not till about the time when Finch spake as above, that the term "Separatists," came into vogue; and that his mention of the Barrowists leads us very appropriately to "set down a note of them;" after having produced what no less distinguished a person than Lord Bacon has recorded, where he says, "As for those which we call 'Brownists,' being, when they were at the most, a very small number of very silly and base people, here and there in corners dispersed; they are now, thanks be to God, by the good remedies that have been used, suppressed and worn out; so as there is scarce any news of them. Neither had they been much known at all, had not Browne, their leader, written a pamphlet, wherein, as it came into his head, he inveighed more against logic and rhetoric than against the state of the Church, which writing was much read: and had not also one Barrowe, being a gentleman of a good house, but one that lived in London at ordinaries, and there learned to argue in table-talk, and so was very much known in the city and abroad, made a leap from a vain and libertine youth, to a preciseness in the highest degree, the strangeness of which alteration made him very much spoken of,-the matter might long before have breathed out." d

CHAP. III.

ORIGIN OF BARROWISTS."-OF BARROWE AND GREENWOOD.

SIR George Paule, "Comptroller of his Grace's Household"-Archbishop Whitgift's-shall here be our prolocutor:-

"HENRY BARROWE, gentleman, and JOHN GREENWOOD, clerk, were convented before the High Commissioners for Causes Ecclesiastical, in November, 1587 [1586], for their schismatical and seditious opinions, namely, That our church is no church, or at least no true church; yielding these reasons,-That the worship of the English Church is flat idolatry: That we admit into our church persons unsanetified: That our preachers have no lawful [scriptural] calling: That our government [Discipline] is ungodly: That no bishop, or preacher, preacheth Christ sincerely and truly: That the people of every parish a Pagit mentions " a kind of Anabaptists, so called, because they pretended to be separated from the world." Heresiog. p. 36.

"A Treatise upon the Twenty-third Chapter of St. Matthew." Barrowe had proceeded B. A. in Corpus Christi College, in 1569; and “was the son of a gentleman in Norfolk, who, after he left Cambridge, became a member of the honourable society of Gray's Inn; and was sometime a frequenter of the Court." Masters, inf. p. 227.

"Certain Observations." 1592. Works, ed. 1778. 4to. vol. ii. p. 35.