Of the Laws of Ecclesiastical Polity

Hooker’s eight books on church polity - the classic defence of the Elizabethan settlement against its puritan critics, and the foundation of Anglican theological method. Books I-IV appeared in 1593, Book V in 1597; Books VI and VIII were published posthumously in 1648, Book VII in 1662, from papers of disputed completeness. Text from John Keble’s seventh edition (Clarendon Press, 1888), via the Online Library of Liberty; Keble’s scholarly footnotes are retained.

Front Matter

1. To the Reader

Preface - To Them That Seek (As They Term It) the Reformation

1. Chapter 1
2. The first establishment of new discipline by Mr. Calvin’s industry in the Church of Geneva; and the beginning of strife about it amongst ourselves.
3. Preface, Ch. iii. 2.
4. What hath caused so many of the learneder sort to approve the same discipline.
5. Their calling for trial by disputation.
6. No end of contention, without submission of both parts unto some definitive sentence.
7. The matter contained in these eight Books.
8. How just cause there is to fear the manifold dangerous events likely to ensue upon this intended reformation, if it did take place.

Book I - Laws and Their Several Kinds in General

1. The cause of writing this general Discourse concerning Laws
2. Of that law which God from before the beginning hath set for himself to do all things by.
3. The law which natural agents have given them to observe, and their necessary manner of keeping it.
4. The law which angels do work by.
5. The law whereby man is in his actions directed to the imitation of God.
6. Men’s first beginning to understand that Law
7. Of man’s Will, which is the thing that Laws of action are made to guide.
8. Of the natural way of finding out Laws by Reason to guide the Will unto that which is good.
9. Of the benefit of keeping that Law which Reason teacheth
10. How Reason 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 standeth.
11. Wherefore God hath by Scripture further made known such supernatural laws, as do serve for men’s direction.
12. The cause why so many natural or rational Laws are set down in Holy Scripture.
13. The benefit of having divine laws written.
14. The sufficiency of Scripture unto the end for which it was instituted.
15. Of laws positive contained in Scripture; the mutability of certain of them, and the general use of Scripture.
16. A conclusion shewing how all this belongeth to the cause in question.