The  third  sort  are  here  upon  the  earth,  and  be  called
the  church  militant :  for  day  and  night  they  contend  against
the  crafty  assaults  of  the  devil,  the  flattering  prosperities  of
this  world,  and  the  rebellious  filthiness  of  the  flesh.
This  latter  congregation  by  the  just  ordinance  of  God  is  The  church
also  severed  into  three  diverse  estates,  that  is  to  say,  into  vided  m
priesthood,  knighthood,  and  the  commons.     Among  whom  the
will  of  God  is,  that  the  one  should  aid  the  other,  but  not  de-
stroy the  other.      The  priests  first  of  all,  secluded  from  all
worldliness,  should  conform  their  lives  utterly  to  the  examples
of  Christ  and  his  apostles.    Evermore  should  they  be  occupied  what  the

...  ,  .  «>,<*•          •    .         priests  should

in  preaching  and  teaching  the  scriptures  purely,  and  m  giving  »>e.
wholesome  counsels  of  good  living  to  the  other  two  degrees  of
men.     More  modest  also,  more  loving,  gentle,  and  lowly  in
spirit  should  they  be,  than  any  other  sorts  of  people.
In  knighthood  are  all  they  which  bear  sword  by  law  of  Knighthood,
office.      These  should  defend  God's  laws,   and  see  that  the  shotunw.
