Publisher's Synopsis
Excerpt from The Works of Mr. Richard Hooker, in Eight Books of the Laws of Ecclesiastical Polity, Vol. 3 of 3: With Several Other Treatises, and a General Index; Also a Life of the Author
Notwithstanding (whether they saw it necessary for them to persuade the people, without whose help they could do nothing, or else, which I rather think, the affection which they bear towards this new form of government, made them to imagine it God's own ordinance) their doctrine is, that, by the law of God, there must be for ever in all congrega tions certain lay-elders, ministers of ecclesiastical jurisdic tion, inasmuch as our Lord and Saviour by testament (for so they presume) hath left all ministers or pastors in the church, executors equally to the whole power of spiritual jurisdiction, and with them hath joined the people as colleagues. By maintenance of which assertion there is unto that part appa rently gained a twofold advantage, both because the people in this respect are much more easily drawn to favour it, as a matter of their own interest; and for that, if they chance to be crossed by such as oppose against them, the colour of Di vine authority, assumed for the grace and countenance of that power in the vulgar sort, furnisheth their leaders with great abundance of matter, behoveful for their encouragement to proceed always with hope of fortunate success in the end, considering their cause to be as David's was, a just defence of power given them from above, and consequently, their ad versaries quarrel the same with Saul's, by whom the ordi nance of God was withstood.
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