WHAT THINGS ARE HANDLED

IN THE

FOLLOWING BOOKS.

BOOK I.

Concerning Laws in general.

BOOK II.

Of the ufe of divine Law contained in Scripture; whether that be the only Law which ought to ferve for our direction in all things, without exception?

BOOK III.

Of Laws concerning Ecclefiaftical Polity: whether the form thereof be in Scripture fo fet down, that no addition or change is lawful?

BOOK IV.

Of general exceptions taken against the Laws of our Polity, as being Popish, and banished out of certain reformed Churches.

BOOK V.

Of our Laws which concern the public religious duties of the Church, and the manner of beflowing that Power

VOL. I.

of

of Order, which enableth men in fundry degrees and

callings to execute the fame.

BOOK VI.

Of the Power of Jurifdiction, which the reformed Plat-

form claimeth unto Lay-elders, with others.

BOOK VII.

Of the Power of Jurifdiction, and the honour which is

annexed thereunto in Bishops.

BOOK VIII.

Of the Power of Ecclefiaftical Dominion or fupreme

Authority, which with us the highest Governor or

Prince bath, as well in regard of domeftical Jurifdic-

tions, as of that other foreignly claimed by the Bishop

of Rome.

OF THE

L A W S

OF

ECCLESIASTICAL POLITY.

BOOK I,

Concerning Laws, and their feveral kinds in general.

The Matter contained in this First Book.

1. The caufe of writing this general Difcourfe concerning BOOK Laws.

2. Of that Law which God from the beginning bath fet for himself, to do all things by.

3. The Law which natural agents obferve, and their necessary manner of keeping it.

4. The Law which the Angels of God obey.

5.

The Law whereby Man is in his actions directed to the imitation of God.

6. Men's firft beginning to understand that Law.

7. Of Man's Will, which is the first thing that Laws of Action are made to guide.

02

8. Of

I.

BOOK 8. Of the natural finding out of Laws by the light of Reafon, to guide the will unto that which is good.

I.

9. Of the benefit of keeping that Law which Reafon teacheth.

10. How Reafon doth lead men unto the making of human Laws, whereby politic Societies are governed, and to agreement about Laws, whereby the fellowship or communion of independent Societies ftandeth.

11. Wherefore God hath by Scripture further made known fuch fupernatural Laws, as do ferve for men's direction.

12. The caufe why fo many natural or rational Laws are fet down in boly Scripture.

13. The benefit of having divine Laws written.

14. The fufficiency of Scripture unto the end for which it was infiituted.

15. Of Laws pofitive contained in Scripture; the mutability of certain of them, and the general ufe of Scripture.

16. A Conclufion, fhewing how all this belongeth to the caufe in question.

The caufe of HE that goeth about to perfuade a multitude, writing this that they are not fo well governed as they ought courfe. to be, fhall never want attentive and favourable

general Dif

And

hearers; because they know the manifold defects whereunto every kind of regiment is fubject; but the fecret lets and difficulties, which in public proceedings are innumerable and inevitable, they have not ordinarily the judgment to confider. becaufe fuch as openly reprove fuppofed diforders of State, are taken for principal friends to the common benefit of all, and for men that carry fingular freedom of mind; under this fair and plaufible colour, whatsoever they utter, paffeth for good and current. That which wanteth in the weight of their fpeech, is fupplied by the aptnefs of men's minds to accept and believe it. Whereas on the other fide, if we maintain