m vU. sw *i3b i 'hj^f. ^3^A*^ SCS &l$$l AN ASSERTION OF The Government of the Church SCOTLAND. IN The points of Ruling-Elders , and of the Authority of Presbyteries and Synods. With a Poftfcript in anfwer to a Treatife lately publifhed againft Presbyteriall Government. GeftaPnrgat. Carcil. & felic. tsfdbibete Conclerkos & Sen'oresplebi* Ecclefiaflicos virof 9 & mquirant diligent er qu£ firtt iji* dijjcnfionef, Auguft.epift.il 8. Quorum (conciliorum)ejl inEccieJia faluberw* jutUritat. Edinburgh > y Printed for limes Bryfon, i 6 4 1 TO THE "READER IT is high time for thofe who have been long praying ior the peace of HicrufjJem y and with bleeding hearts have beheld the fori owes of Sicw, now to be- ftirre tbemfelves with an extraordinary diligence, and to contribute their moil ferious and unceflanc endeavours, for the fetling of thefe prefent commotions about Church affairs, in fucb a manner, that the (acred twins, Truth and Pejct) may both cohabit under own roofe 5 and that this great and good work of Reformation may not be blaited in the birc^ nor fade in the flourifh, but may be brought forward to that full maturity, whkh (hall afford a bar- vtft of ;oy to us 3 and to all the Churches of God. One controvcriie there Is about the government of tfw Church, and it is of fochconftqucnce, that were it wdi refolved upon, and rightly agreed * it fhould facilitate a right resolution in other matters which areinquefticn. Now becaufe hngurn iter per fr^cfta^ brew per exempt^ the n\iy is bug by precepts , fbort Ij plafirms ; therefore I have carefully observed the policie and government of o- ther reformed Churches. And becaufc thencarmfieof relation ftvayetb my affeSion at leaiJ half a thought more unto that whkh is ScothnAs (e*urii pjr&ws ) then unto that which is more remote fkkmn$,:bcribrc I waswolt fe- licitous to lee a delineation of the government of that £• moufly reformed neighbor Church jw Si when I had read. & read over again,I did concl ude^vith ray iei^that tf&eU two points at which moft exception is taken, I aaean lIm office of ruling Elders , and the author kie of Presbyters 4tyid Sy nodes? whkh aiib are things ca if any living man can (hew thate- ver there was a ruling Elder in the Chriftian world , till F ir ellwand Viret firft created them. I (hall not defire to take him at his word for his life , but if he be not able to give a fatisfatflory anfwer unto that which is here layd" both from Scripture, and from antiquity for ruling El- dei s^ then hath he given (cntence againft his own reputa- tion for ever. Andfb much the more, that havingin ^.208.209. that aflertion of Epifcopacie boldly averred, that the in* nan:e of the Elders of the Church,in all antiquity com pre- hendeth none but Preachers and Divines ; and that ther- fore none but they may be called Senior cs Ecclefitjhdugh £>me others happily may have the title of Seniorcspapuli, becaufe TO 1 n b Kt^Lf hK. becaufe of their civ ill authority; notwithstanding the reading of the obfervations of Jufiellut , and of both the C*jJjit : J9Mi hath now lo farre dun ged his tone, rhit in pag. 14& his late anfwer to ^me&ymnuw, he acknowledge! hihac beHde Paftors and Do&ors , and befide the Magiilrates or Eiders of the Cities, there are to.be found in antiquity, Seniores EccUJiaftici, Eccl efiait kali Elders alio $ only he alleadgeth they were but as our Church- wardens , or ra- ther as our Vdtry-menrwher^as indeed .hey were Judges in EccleUaiticail controverfics, and (in /brae fore) inftrn- ftors of the people, as (hall be made.to appeore. Meane while we do obierve what ti uft is to be given to this bold Speaker, who bath beene fore .d to yeeld, what he had be- fore with high fwelLing words denied. Another Inftance of the fame kinds is to be noted in his Remonftrance , when h: fpeaketh cf the preicript forms uf prayer, which the Jewifh Church had ever from the dayes oiM>fes y w here whh alfo Peter, and Joim when they went up into the Temple at the ninth hour of Pray- er did joyn $ to make good his allegiance, he addeth, the Pag. u. forms whereof are jet extant and ready to be produced. Yet this hehandfomely eateth up in his defence; where he PaCT l8 gives us to understand, that thofefet forms of prayer are indeed ipeciried by CapeBttf, a writer ofcur owne Age ; but that the book it feite which contained thefe prayers* is perHhwd a thuufand years ago. Well, he is now con- tent to fay that once thofe forms were extant 5 and this (lorfooih) he will prove from a certain Samaritan Chro- nicle in the cultodie of his faithful! friend the Primate of Aitnacb ; wherein he bach iound a ftory. which tran fpor- tethhim as much as the invention of the demonit ration did Arbimedes 9 when lie cried w%»&* st/ja^ 1 bavefcuvd it, I have futfid it. Yet credat Judxm apeUa, No» ep — But this lye th net now in my way. OnlyCtill a "mil anfwer be ready, I thought it not amine to give fome ta&e of the. nuns Yaine arrogant humour 3 whole belt ^[ 2- weapons TO THE KEADEK. weapons are great words. As for his laft record which he tetcheth from Abraham m Scultttw, againlt ruling El- ders ; all that and much more hath been, and here (hall be abundantly confuted. Others there be who call in queftion the power and authority oi Ecddiafticaii Presbyteries, and of Synods, againft which alio iome tew Pens have been put to paper and have palled a con (are no lefie hard then un fcafbnable , which (me thinks^ might well ha vebeen (pared, onlefle: there had been ftronger and more convincing reafSns for it. Thefe I mall befeecb, thac with minds voyd of preju- dice , they take into consideration the iecond part of this Treadle, written with no heat nor (ha rpnefle of words, but with plainnefle, and ftrength ofreafon : And withall I (hall cxpeft that they will not think the wode of the Author, for being ready to anrwer him that asketh a rea- fon ot him , or for writing a juftification of the govern- ment oi the Church of Scotland , to well as diddefireto be more throughly relblved concerning the lame; but that rather they will make ufe hereof, as a key by divine Providence put into their hands, to openaclooreunto farther light. Secondly, there is fa much the more rcalbn for aflerting thole two points , by how much they have beene mainly oppofed by Sathan ; for he it was whole cunning convey- ance of old, made theefficeot" ruling Elders to come into defluetude, through the (loth, or rather the pride of the T Teachers, as Jmbnfe complaineth ; and yet time hath n l inu j. not ^ b]i terate tnat ancient order, bu t tfm the footfteps of the fame are yet tobefcenin our Officially, Chancel- lors, CoramuTaries, Church- wardens, and High-Com- midion men, yea at Rome it felfe, in theCardinalls. The fame old Serpent it was who£ inftiga^ion made L : cm;W whiles he did intend the totall ruineof the Church , to fill upon this as the moft effectual 1 means for his purpose, that fie (hould ftraightly inhibit all councils, meetings, and JL U 1 17 EL i\- JC Jl U Z. A. and coherencies concerning the affairs of the Church, By which meanes theChriftiansof his time were dravcnc into one of two (hares. Ant enim legem ,&c. for faith Euftbiufy either it behoved W to be obnoxious to pnniflmtent jx ^ A ConllA byvioliitingibeLW) * to overthrow the Rites and Ordi-lib^.c-ip 44. nances of the Churchy by giving obedience in that nrbicb the hat» did command : for great and i&aigbty deliberations undertaken about thi ttgs contnwrtedy cannot proceed in any otber manner or way y but by the right managing of Connects. The A -minions in the Netherlands, found out another of Sathans wiles 5 they were not able to hinder theafFernb. ling of a free and lawrull Synod, bur for their nextbeft, they required of the Synod of Of* twelve condition? ? ^ A5>% and the nmth was ; that there (noma not be in that Synod x>ord. s tfl\ 1 j. any determination or decree concerning the matters in coatroverfie, but only an accommodation or conference, and that ftill k fhonld be free to the particular Churches, to acceptor to rcjett the judgement or the Synod : this wasa wayofendlefleconrroverfje^ and juftly cried down m the Synod. Moreover., Satan ever vt)Ce in his own principks^fincU ingthe Church of Scot land. like an invincible Samp [on. by reafbn of fuch a confutation and gove ntnenr, as being preserved in integricie, could neither admit hea lie, nor lehifme, did make ufeof the Prelacie as his traiterous Da* Mab} to betray that Simpf**, into the hands of the now *dverfe PMfiines die Papiils,by ftealing away both their ruling Elders, and the authority of their Presbyteries, and Synods: f>rh?had well obferved, thatintheie two things did their great ftrength lye, and that without th.fc two, tl)e Mi rafters of the Word being I'ke fo many fief* dijfriat^ batMpar fed, and by themfelves alone might eaiiiy be brought under th: yoke. When thus the Ro- niiOr-afTefred ViUlab had taken away their ftrength from tb'm,fhe was bo^d to utt:r her in ml ting voice in the Ser- vice-book, andkawkof Can and Elders, from many clafficall P Presbyteries into a National 1 Aflembly . this doth indeed make a Church bewtifuU as Tirzd, comely as Jerujalem y terrible as an At- mie with Banners, It is not to be expected, but this forme of Church go- vernment, mall frill be difliked by (bme (whofe diflike fhall notwithstanding the more commend it to all pious minds J I mean by prophanemen, who efcape not with- out cenftre under Presbyteries, and Synods, as they did tinder the Prelacie5 by hereticks, who cannot findefa- 1 vour Cant. ^4 J is i ncj rv. t, si u z £<.. vour with a National I Synod of many learned and godly men, as they did with a tew Popifh Prelats ; by Matcha- vellians alfb,who do forefeethat Presbyteriall Synoaicull government, being conformed not to the Lesbian rule of humane authority 3 but to the inflexible rule ofDivjne Inftitution, will not admit of any Innovations in fieli- gion,»be they never fo conduceable to political! in- P:ai *^ * tentions. Some there be who whet their tongue lik^ a [word , and bend their bowes to jhoot their arrows^ even bitter word*. They would wound both the office ot ruling Elders, and the authority of Presbyteries and Synods, with this hate- Mjc!i, n, n. fu! imputation,that they are in confident with the honor and Prerogative of Princes. Sure I am, when our Savi- our faith, Render unto C* fir the things which areCtfirs^ and unto God the things which are Gods ; he doth plainly iniinuate, that the things which are Gods , need not to hinder the things which are Caefars. And why fhall ic b * forgotten, that the Prelates did aflume to themfeives all that power of determining controverfies 5 making Ca- nons, ordaining, fufpending, depofing, and excommu- nicating, which now Presbyteries a id Synods do claime as theirs by right. To me it appeareth a grand miflery, and worthy of deliberation in the wife Confiftory of Rome ; That the power of Presbyteries andjynods be- ing meerly Ecclefiafticall, being righdy uflft, and no- thing incroaching upon thecivill powers niSwithltand- ing an intollerable prejudice ro Kings and Prittce^. But the very fame power in Prelates* though both abufed^and mixed wich civill power, is nor ( for all .hat prejudicial! to Sovereignty. Yet if the feir of God cannot moiifiethe tonguesof thefc men, one would think that they fliould b? brideled wich renj:& to the Kings moft excellent MajefHe, who harh been gradoufly pleated to approve and ratifie thf preient government of the Church of Scotland^ perceiving (I f whether the power of Jurifdift i- on belonged} to the Eldorflupof every Congrega* tion , or to a common Presbytery made up out of many Congregation t answered by an eightfold diftinftion. A threefold conformity of thole Parifhionall Eldcrfcips to cbe primitive pattern. Crap. IIL Ofgresi Trubflerits mbkbfime csUCUjJe/. THreefaHe gloflct on i TiiK.4.i4.cc*fated.That the Apoftlcmeaneth by the Presbytery an Aflembly of Presbyters . whereof al(b Fathers and Councels do (peak. The warrant and authority of our ClalHcall Presbyter fct declared both by goodrea(bns t and by tbe Apotolicall pater nrfbr aflcr tion of the latter it is provcd,T ,That in ma- ny of thoic Cities wherein the Apoftles planted Chrift ian religion, there wasa greater number of chriiiians then did or could ordinarilyaflcmble into one place.z.That in theie Cities there was a plurality of Paftors. ?. That yet the whole within the City was one Church.^.Tbat tbe whole vras governed by one common Presbytery.From all which a Corollary is drawne for thefc our Clafficall Pre*, bytcdes. Chap. Chap. IV. Cftltt mthritjtfSjmdxfrtvmcisll, sndNstimsB. THat the power of jurifdicYion in the Synod, diffe- red) from the power of jurifli&ion ia the f resby tc- rie. The power of JiirUclicYion ia Synods is three-fold, Ajgmatick, duuktick, and critkk ; Whether the decrees ofa Synod may be prefled opoa fuch as profefle fcruplc of conscience tbereanem . Chap. V. ThfirJksrgmmentf*tlKd*tl*rhytf3pt*df, a*d the fmirtr* dmatwtffYrtshyttrititytTtofskmfrtM the light *fnamrt. THat the Churchis a certain kind« of Rcpublike, and in tbingi which are common to her with other locie- «e% is guided by the fame light of nature which guidcih tbcsn, Ofthtfkindearehera(TembH«. Chap. Vt Tbeftconddrgmmm takfmfr$m Cbrlftf Inftitutitn. THe will of Chrift tor tht authority of Synods is (hew- ed two waiet. i. Becaufccifchc hath not fiifficiemly provided for all the neceffitiei of hit Church, *. He hath committed fpiritnatt power and author ky to the Aflcm- blies aid Courtsof the Church in generall, yethatbnot determined in Scripture all the particular kinds, degrees, and bounds thereof, and that for three reafons. The parti- cular kinds of Synod* appointed by the Church accord- ing to the light of nature, and generall warrant and rules of the word,are mixed,tbogh not meer divine ordinances. Chap. VII. Tbt third argument ukgtfromtlBC JmifiCbttrch. THat there were amang the Jews ac leaft two Ecclefi- afticall Courts, the Synagogue, and the Sancdrim, That the power of the Synagogicai confiftory was not o* vill^but fpiriraall, proved againft Sntlifft. That the Jews had a fupreanr Ecclefiaft icall Sanedrim, dHtinS from the civill Sanedrim, proved agamft the fame Sntlifft both fcoro thcinftitution therof, VerM 7. snd from the restitu- tion, Tbe Contents. tion, iCbran** 9* and from the pra&ice, Jtr.i6. The con* fequenceof our argument, proved againft fuch as deny it. That we ought to follow the Jewifti Church imhofe things which ic had, not as it was Jewifh, but under.the common refpeil and account of a politicall Church. Chap. VIII. Tbe fourth argument t ak^n from Aft s I J . THatwefinde^#M5.aSynodeof the Apoftles and Eiders, with authority impofing their decrees upon many particular Congregations. Foure anfwers made to this argument found not to be fatisfa&ory« Chap. IX. Tbefixt argument token from the Geometric all -proportion. THis argument from proportion doth hold; whether we compare the collectives of Churches among them- felves, or the reprefentatives among themfelves, or the representatives and collectives together. Chap. X. Tbefixt argument taken from necejfitie, "V'Hat without the authority of Synods, it is impoflible to preferve unity, or to make an end of controverfie. Other remedies declared to be inefFectuall. Chap. XI. Objections, made againft the authority of Synods anfrvcred. 'THe place Matb.1%.17. difcufled. That one vifible politicall Church may comprehend many Congrega- tions, proved. That the authority of Presbyteries and Sy« nods doth not rob the Congregations of their liberties, as the Prelacie did. A vifible Church may be confidered either metaphyfically,or politically : This did in&ion ex- plainedj ierveth to obviat (undry arguments alledgeJ for. the independent power of Congregations. Other two ohje&ions anfwered, which have been lately made. Of The Errata. GOodP.eader if thou wouldeft notbeftumUed in thy reading, be pleafed co correcl: thcfefaults following, efpecially fuch as may moil bleed a miftake, which are here marked a*ter with this mark Smaller erroursthcu wilt pai don-. PA°.iAin.i7.i.i6.read $,\6 p.n. 1. 8. *?/??■.« read w/fo. 76.I.1S. voujiStmbvf, onely read rofU&rac&oriely, p 15 1. 9, commu- nication read excommunication, p 16. 1 5 3.1 5 ««g. 13, pag 44. 1 22 He >Wrhirdl) he, p 45 l.iS, Sarbonrc&dSo.bo*. p 51. 1. 20. iM7noi£ire!L5ti£fa«ror. p. 54.I. 24. Elders that, read Elders in the New Teftamew that — p. 74 l&;SuctMMrcid Snecanuirf 81. 1 28. zTim read 1 T^.p 85. 1.2$. the court rw^/thaf court, p.85, ] 4 i. peace, andw.irre by, teid peace and warre, by. p. 86. 1. 25. accufation rtt^accufacions, p. $? m 1 17. fcrapeth '/-Mri fcapsth,p 90. !.q. proceed rud prefide lb. 1 17, Schollers r^ Schools, p 93. 1 6. function ?'f^ futicT.ons, p. 95. 1, penult. Gagvem icadGagnems^.^. 1 1 i.-y#.$. read w.4. /M. 17. Brethient, hat rari Brethren that, p,o8.1.i. nobility rarf nullity p. 99. 1. penult. Chuch read Church representatively— — - p.ioo, 1. ult. fpoilrwi puzle p ioi.l. 22. right power read right or power- p. 114 1. penult, eidcrihifh read cldcrfh'p, p 116. 1 1* ftsiovw read ^.aV^jp.iio.I.f.andrarf bur pag. xu.I io.is thisread in this, p. 122. 1. 10. not to read not firrcr p. 1 25. 1.7. and not read no not. p. 127, 1. 2, ont ma/ up cor. j£. l.zi. alihe mi alike, p. 13$. l.ij. the the rw^ their, p. 134. 1. 15. right read rite — — P**3?< 1>X2 ' '*'•*?** read cumqu^ p. 138. 1 13, great re.zrf greater, p.140. l.ult- demn'imr^ddomatim^ 143. 1 2$. Bifhop i*.«/Bifhops p. 144.I.22. iyj„KsClcLV read i/jMCtcw, pag. 149.I.3. ludtxxzzdlndex p.i5i.l 5, autocratorkrfc^autocra- rorik,pi6j. l.i. andto>W l0 ,p 176 Li2.fatr&&f'fit, p. 184. I.ij. of n,readc£ 27 p. i^eT.J. ij, pei mitred prem'c.p. 199.I 6. from the officers to, »wa/ to the officers from. p 205. 1. ult' proyeth that no,?f«^proveth not that Imthtpf/ybipt. Pa^.S.l.i^. arerwias, p n. 1.6*. matters Smarter, lb. I.ij, of verb- md"i theve-b. p 12.l16.dde, p.i 7 .l.ii.icrM read ^. p. 37.I. 29. their rc^thep, 40.I ^, daufc'^tUflc,/*. I.23. things r*W thing. MarginaH fault s* Pag.6 4» 88. F/W4.88. p.33. 2ddeBilC.de gub.ee clef. cap. 4. pag ft. p. 3 1 7 b z read lib. i.ib.d. o£ read defp 9 i. afl. de read art. de ) pag. 104. lib. 2 read (?/)>, the French Seigneur, the Italian Signore, all comming from the Latine Senior, fignifie a man of refped, or one ve- nerable for dignity, gifts: prudence,or piety. Contrariwife, men of no worth, norwife- dbme, men deff^itable foiiacke of gifts and underftanding, lie called Children, Ifa. 3 . 4. iz. Ephef.4.i4» But it is the fourth fignifi- cation which we, have .now to ck^withall, aiidfoanEl3ef is'afpirituall officer,appom- ted by God, and called to the government of the Church, hQs 14. 23. Whenthey had h (i) by vojces made them Elder s in every Church. They have the name of Elders,becaufe of rhc maturity of knowledge, wiiedome 3 gifts and gravity, which ought to be in themfor which reafon alfo the name of Sen aw s was borrow- ed from Sena. Before we come to fpeake particularly of thofe Elders of which our purpofe is to treat, it is fit we fhould know them by their right name,left.wee nick-name and mif-call them. Some reproachfully and others ignorantly call them Lay Elders. But the diftin&ion of the Clergie & Laky 5 is Popifh and Antichri- ftian -,and they who have nairowly confide- red the records of ancient times,have noted this diftindion as one of the grounds whence cataJ. teft. themyftery of iniquity had the beginning vcrit.i1K2.coI. of it. The name or Clergie appropriate to £*- t ^ fian ^ Minifters, is full of pride and vaine-glory, and hath made the holy people of God to be dcfpifed,as if they were prophane and un- cleane in comparifon of their Minifters. Gt- Loc.theoi, t .t. r^ri/likeneth thofe who take to themfelves n> * 7 * the name of the Clergie , to the Pharifees, who called themfelves by that name: for that their holincffe did feparatc them from the reft of the Jewes : for this Eryitiologie of the name 'Pfarifie, hee ckerh TertuSta» % Origen y Epphmw> Awbrofe^ and cortfiimeth it from A *2 Luke (4) Luke 1 8. io* Hence was it that fomeCoun- Synod.Turon/ cclsclifchar g edtheLait y from prefuming to 2, Can.j.SyrJ enter within the Quire 3 or to ftand among Conflanc 6. t h c Clergie neere the Altar. Two reafons are alleadged why the Minifters of the Church fhould bee called «a w ^. Firft, be- caufe the Lord is their Inheritance : fecondly, bccaufe they are the Lords inheritance. Now both theferealons doe agree to all the faith- full people of God : For there is none of the faithfull, who may not fay with Pav/d^Pf*/. itf . 5 . The Lordu the portion of my inheritance*, and of whom alfo it may not bee faid , that they are . the Lords inheritance, or lot : ; * for Fetlr giveth this name to the whole OfEpifcop.b y Church. fPet.5.3. Where (if it were need- divine right, full)we might chaitnge Bifhop HaU^ who pag. 212. borrowetli a glofle from Belhrtnine and Gre- goriusdeVdentU^ telling us, that /Vttr char- geth his fellow Bifhops not to dominier over rheir Clergie ^ fo {hutting out of the Text, both the duty of Paftors,becaufe the Bifhops onely are mea nt by Elders •, and :he benefit of the people, becaufethe inferiour Paftors are the Bifhops flocke, according to this glofle: for Peter oppofeth the Lording over the x Ar /f ©-, tb being enfamples to >tbe Fhcke. Surely, if this Popiih Glofle bee trwe, Prote- fta'nts in their Commentaries and Sentions^ have (5) have gone wide from that Text. But Mat- tbias the Apoftle was chofen by lor. Ait . 6 What then t Bywhatreafon doth the Ca- non law draw from hence a name common d «*i.ci.clerof ro all the Minifters of the Gofpell f Let hs then banifh from us fiich Popifh names , and fend them home to Rome. BclUrmin thought d> c j cr . c !lb . we had done fo long ere now : for he maketh "p. i. ' this one of his controverted heads : Whether wee may rightly call fome Chriflians the Clergie^and others the Laity,or not,afcribing the negative to Proteftants, the affirmative -to the Church of Rome. Yet befide the Clergy and the Laity, Pa- Bdl. pr * f ar . pifts hold that there is a third fort in the ante lib. & Church diftin&from both,whom they call clcrc * 'ReguUrcs, Thefe are fuch of their religious orders, as are not taken up with contem- plation alone (like the Monkcs) but with a- BeIUi6. 2 . dc dion 5 fuch as the Dominicans, Tiancifcans, rno "- ca p« w &c. Who hclpe and affift the Clc- their Ecclefiaflicall iir^oyme-i^ though they themfelves bee not adnfitt&l i~ .. any par charge r '" t] t Cbwclfc 1 \ ■ } who w: M needs fi de with the Pap; Is ne diftiraStion of Clergy and Laity ly i v> with them admit a third member or tit c di- ftin&ion, and make ruling ElcTeki o. that fort ?, efpecially fince the reafon w hy tfic re- A 3 gular (C) gular Chanoins arc affumcd as helpers to in 1. 1. y 88. -"riA Priefts, is, propter : muliitudtntmfidtlis att.4. />*/>«//, ^ difficult atem invenkndi curates fuf- fictcntes & tdoneos , faith Cardinal! C*jetan> adding further , rn*le cmfultum populo Chri- fliwo tnvenitnr fine hujufmodi fuppkmentt* Which rcafons agree well to ruling Elders. Tor i.Pariflies containe fo many, that the Minifter cannot overfee all , and every one without helpe. 2. Sufficient and fit Minifters (hallhardly bee every where found. 3. It is found by experience, that finne and fcandall are never well taken heede to, and redreffed, where ruKng Elders are not. To let all this pafle, if any man will needs retainethe name Dc gub.ecd. of Lay Elders, yet faith Gerfomm Bucerus, P a s- * 8 - What afperfion is that to our Churches i is it any other thing then that which Papifts objeft to us for admitting Lay men into Councels ? They who have place in the higheft and moft fupreame affemblies of the Church, wherein the weight ieft matters are determined, ought much more to be admit- ted into inferiour meetings, fuch as Presby- teries are. But if we will fpeake with Scripture, wee fliall call them Rulin^Elders, R$m. 12.8. he that ruleth, 1 Tim. 5.17. Elders that rule n*//.They are called ruling Elders, mn quia fiti foli fed quia folum prtfunt. Paftors rule the Church even as they doe 5 but Paftors doe fomeching more, from which they may bee defigned. Whereas the Elders of which wee are to fpeake D have no other imploy- ment, which can give them a defig nation, , except the ruling orthc Church onely . That wicked railer Lifwrchw Nicancr, who affu- med the name/ but forgot to pur on the vi- zorne of a Jefuit , in his congratulatory (I fhould fay. calumniatory). Epiftle pag.6i. alkdgeth 'that they ure .called ruling Elders, becaufe the Minifters are their ruled Elders. If he were a Jefuit 5 he may remem ber that in their own fociety, befides their P riefts, Do- dors, Preachers 3 Confdfionaries, &c. They have alfo Rclrores , or Regentes • whofe of- ^ ll ]\ Ha ' free it is to fee the rules ottheir order kept 5 to wSloJ^jtC. obferve the behaviour of every one, & when pag. 6s. they perceive any feeds of Herefie,to lignifie the fame to the Provinciall , and hee to the Generall. Yet are thefe RcBorcs among the lowefl rankes of their officers, fo that Jefa- ites need not {tumble when wee call our El- der sruling Elders. chap; (8) Lib.4.dift. 4« CHAP. II. Of the function of Ruling Elders > and Vbatfort of Officers they be. NOtwithftanding, of all the multiplicity of Popifh orders , yet Peter Lombard treading the veftiges of the primitive Simpli- city, did obferve that the Apoftles left only two facred orders to bee perpetuall in the Church, the order of Deacons ,- & the order of Elders. The adminifl ration of Deacons is exercifed about things bodily. The ad- miniftijation of Elders about things fpirituall. The former about the goods : thelattera- bout the government of the Church. Now Elders are of three forts, i .Preaching Elders, orPaftors. 2. Teaching Elders or Dolors. 3 . Ruling Elders. All thefe are EMers,. be- caufe they have voice in Presbyteries 5 and all affemblies of the Church , and the govern- ment of the Church is incumbent to them all : not onely to the Paftor and Elder, but to the Doctor alfo.Thc Bifhop otDune in his exAtnen conjuraticnis Scotic^ p. 3 5 .alledgeth, rhat our Church of Scotland did never yet determine whether Do&ors and Deacons t have right of voycing in the Confiftories & Affembles (9) Aflfettibiies of the Church. But had lie read our booke of Policie, hee might have found, that it excludeth Deacons from being mem- bers of Presbyteries and Affetfiblies, Cap. 8. but admitteth Dolors into the farae,Cap.?. The Doffor being an Elder , atfaidis>fhouldaf- fifi the Paftor in the government of the Kirke % and concur rt with the Elders ^his brethren jn all Affemblies^by reafonthe Interpretation of the Word % which is onely ludge in Eccleftafticall matters >u committed to his charge. But they differ, in that the Paftor laboureth in the word of exhortation, that is, by the gift of wifedomeapplieththewordto the manners of his flocke, and that in feafon and out of feafon,as he knoweth their particular cafes to require. The Do&or laboureth in the word of Do&rine, that is, without fuch applicati- ons as the Paftor ufeth, by fimple teaching he preferveth the truth and found interpreta- tion of the Scriptures, againft all herefie and error. The ruling Elder doth neither of thefe, but laboureth in the government and policie of the Church onely. The Apoftle hathdiftinguiflicd thefe three forts of El- ders,i Tim. 5 1 7. Lei Elders that rtde well be counted worthy of double honour, ejpecially they who labour in the Word and Do£hine t Wncre, as £f£4 noteth, heediftinguifhethr^ Word, B which (10) which is the Paftors parr , from Doltrine, which is the Do&ors pjrt. Even as Rom.t 2. 7.8. hee diftinguifheth teaching from exhor- tation :and 1 Cor. 12,8. putteth the word of n>ifedome,at\d the word of knowledge for two different things. Now befide thofe Elders which labour in the Word, and thofe which labour in Do&rine, /Wfpeaketh to Timothy of a third fort of Elders , which labour nei- ther in the Word nor Do&rine, but in ruling well. Hence it appeareth, how truely the Bookeof PoIicie,Cap,2.faith, That thefe arc fourc ordinary, perpetually and neceffary Offices in the Church, the office of the Pa- ftor,theDo&or, the Elder,and the Deacon: and that no other office, which is not one of thefe i oure,ought to bee received, or fuffered in the Church. But when we fpeake of Elders, Nonp'rfo- natos^ &c. we mil hot have difguifed and hi- JlrionicaS men puffed up with titles^ or idols deadinfimesytobe meant , but hdy men^ who being indued with faith in Cod , and walking in his obedience^ God author iftng them, and the Church his Sfoufe chufing and calling them^ undertake the government thereof y that they may labour to the confer vation and edifica.. ifcdef.U.c.3. tionofthefame inChrifi 9 faith Iunius. A ru- ling Elder fhould pray for the Spirit and gifts (II) . . of his calling 3 thathee may^doe the duties "of his calling, and not bee like him thar played the Souldan , tut a Souter 5 hee muft doe his office neither j^ar^** and preforms, hee himfelfe being Parens Deorum cnltor & infrt- quens 5 nor *} <£&#, doing all through conten- tion and ftrife about particulars. Si duo de Meumfc nQftrditilldiprctUHninx rck*s y prtlta (I may tuurr.^ hyInrgU)ce(Jarent^ pax /lm lite for ct: Nor cT«(TT e 7/K«v,Empiring and Lording among his brethren and tellow Elders-. Wbofoever will _. , ^ ^raf amorgyou, let mm bee your mtm- 1J% fter \ and wbofoever mill keecbitfe among you, let him be jour fervm 5 faith the onely Lord and Head of the Church : Nor yet dy^wlix^i fetting himfelfe only to do a pleafure, or to get preferment to fuch as he favoureth-, Nay, Tm f op*\ilm*h onc ty by cftablifhing good orders,and wholefome lawes in the Church, but he muft carry himielfe frVgrfarfr, fervice- ably and minifterially ? for as his Function is Offtcium and lurijdittio i fo it is Munut , a burdenfome fervicc and charge laid upon him. That a ruling Elder may bee fuch a one as hee ought to bee , two forts of duties are re- quifite,v/*. duties of his Converfation, and duties of his Calling. The duties of his converfation are the fame which the Apoftle B 2 Paul (n) x.Tim.$.i, j. p Wrequireth in the converfacion of the Mi- 4.^. 7 .&c. nifter of thc Word) Thac he bcc biameleffe, Tit. i. 6.7.8. having a good report, not aceufed of riot, or unruly, vigilant, fober, of good behaviour, given to hofpitality , a lover of good men, juft, holy, temperate, not given to wine, no ftriker, not greedy of filthy lucre, not fdfe- willed, not foone angry, but patient, not a brawler , not covetous, one that ruleth well his ownc houfe, having his children in fub- je&ion, with all gravity, one that folLoweth after righteoufnefle , godlineffe, faith, love, patience , meekneffe,. &c. Thefe and fuch like parts of a Christian and exemplary con- vet fation^ing required of Paftors, as they are Elmers, belong unto ruling Elders alfo. This being plaine, let us proceed to the du- ties of their calling. For the better underftanding whereof,we will diftinguifli with the Schoole-men, a two- fold power, the power of Order, and the power of Jurifdj&ion ^ which are diffe- rent in fundry refpe&s. 1 . The power of Or- der comprehendeth fuch things as a Mini- fter by vertue of his ordination , may doe without a commiffion from any Presbyterie, or AfTcmbly of the Church, as to preach the Word, to minifter the Sacraments , to celebrate marriage, tovifite thc ficke, to caCechifc, (1$) catechife, to admonifli, &c. The power of Jurifdi&ion comprehendeth fuch things as aMinifter cannot doe byhimfelfe , nor by vefluc of his ordination •, but they are done by a Seffion, Presbytery, or Synod 5 findfometimes by a Minifter, or Mini- fters, having Commifiion, and authority from the fame, fuch as ordination andad- miffion 5 fufpenfion, deprivation and com- munication , and receiving againe into the Church, and making of Lawes and Confti- tutions Ecclefiafticall and fuch like 5 where- of we boldly maintain that there is no, part of Ecclefiafticall J.urifdi 3ion, in the power of one man, but of many met together in the name of Chrift. 2. The power of Q*dcr is the radicall and fundamental! power, and maketh a Minifter fufceptive , and capable of the power of Jurifdi&ion. 3. The power of Order goeth no further then the Court ofConfcience -, thepowerofjurifdidionis exercifed in Externall and Ecclefiafticall Courts. Fourthly, the power of Order is fometime unlawfull in the ufe 3 yet not voide in it felfe. The power of Jurifdi&ion when it is unlawfull in the ufc , it is alfo voide in it felfe. If aMinifter doe any aft of Jarifdi- &ion, as to excommi:nicate,or abfolve with- out his owne parifh, wanting alfo the confent B3 of (H) of thcMiniftery and Elders of the bounds where he doth the fame, fuch ads are voide in themfelves, and of no effeft. But if with- out his owne charge , and without the con- tent aforefaid, heebaptife an infant, or doe any fuch thing belonging to the power of Order, though his a<$ be unlawfull, yet is the thing it felfe of force, and the Sacrament remaineth a true Sacrament. Now to our purpofe. We averre that this twofold power of Orc'er and of Jurifdi&ion belongeh to ruling Flders as well as toPa- ftors. The power of Jwjdfdidion is the fame in both • for the power and authority of all Jurifdi&ion belongeth to the Affemhlies,, and reprefentative meetings of the Church, whevcof the ruling Elders are neceffary con- stituent members and have the power of decifive voycing no leffethen Paftors.How- bcit the execution of fome decrees enadled by the power of Jurifdi&ion belongeth to Minifters alon£ , for Paftors alone exercife fome s&s of Jurifdiftion , as impofition of hand?,the pronouncing of the fentence of ex- communication, the receiving of a penitent, &c. Are not thefe things done in the name and authority of fome Affembly of the Church, higher or lower i Or are they any other then the executions of the decrees and fentences d5) fentences of fuch an Aflembly wherein ru- ling Elders voyced. The power of Order alone (hall make the difference betwixt the Paftor and the ruling Elder 5 for by the power of Order, the Paftor doth preach the Word , minifter the Sacraments , pray in publikc, bleflethc Congregation, celebrate matfiage, which the ruling Elder cannot. Therefore it is falfly (aid by that railing RfibjhAktb (whom before I fpoke of ) Ep. pag. 7. That the ruling Eiders want nothing of the power of the Minifter , but that they preach not,. nor baptife in publike congrega- tions : yet other things which the Paftor doth by his power of Order r the ruling El- der ought alfotodoe by his owne power of Order. And ihve would know how much of this power of Order is common to both, let us note that Paftors doe fome things by their power of Order, which all Christians ought to doe by the law of Charity. Things of this fort a ruling Elder may and ought to doe by his power of Order , and by vertue of his eleftion and or4Jnarjon to fuch an of- fice.Por example,every Chriftian is bound in Charity to admooifti and reprove his brother thatoffendeth-, .firft, privately, then before wknefifes 3 aad if he heare not, to tell it to the Church, Levit. 19.17. Matth,i8. 15. 16.17. This This a ruling Elder ought to doe byvettue of bis calling, and with authority, i The(T. 5.12. Private Chriftians ought in Charity to inftruft the ignorant Joh.4.2^. A&. 18.26, to exhort the negligent, Heb.3.1 5. & 10.24 25. to comfort the affli&ed , 1 Theff. 5 . 1 1 . to fupport theweake, 1 ThefT. 5. 14. Tore- ftore him that falleth, Galat.6. 1 . to vifite the ficke, Matth. 15.36. 40. to reconcile thbfe who are at variance, Matth. 5.5?. to contend for the truth, and to anfwer for it, ludtv.^. 1 Pet.3.15. All which are incumbent to the ruling Elder by the authority of his calling. To conclude then , the calling of ruling El- ders confifteth in thefe two things. 1. To af- fift and voyce in all Affemblies of the Church, which is their power of jurifdi&ibn. 2 . To watch diligently over the whole flock all thefe wayes which have been mentioned, and to doe by authority that which other Chriftians ought to doe in charity, which is their power of order. And the Elder which negleð any one of thefe two whereunto his calling leadeth him, fhall make anfwer to God for it. For the Word of God, the Di- fciplineofthis Kirke,the bonds of his owne calling and covenant, doe all binde finne up- on his foule, if either hee give not diligence in private, by admonifhing all men of their dutie, (i7) duty as the cafe requircth 5 or if he negleft to keepe either the Ecclefiafticall Court and Co nfiftory within the Congregation where his charge is, or the Claflicall Presbyterie, and other AfTemblies of the Church, which he is no lefle bound to keepe then his Paftoi, when he is called and designed thereunto. CHAP. III. The firjl Argument for ruling Elders, taken from the levijb Qburcb. LJAving fhewed what ruling Elders are, *■* it followcth to fliew Scripture and Di- vine right for them. Our firft Argument is taken from the governement andpollicyof the Jewifli Church thus : Whatfoever kinde of office-bearers the Jewifli Church had-,not as it was Jewifli , but as it was a Church, fuch ought the Chriftian Church to have alfo. But the Jewifli Church, not as it was Jewifli, but as it was a Church, had Elders of the people, who aflifted in their Ecclefia- fticall government , and were members of their Ecclefiafticall Confiftories. Therefore C fuch r is; fuch ought the Chriftian Church to have alfo. The Propofition will no man call in queftion * for, quodcompetit dtcut qua tail cempetit omni f 4//.That which agreeth to any Church as it is a Church , agrccth to every Church. Ifpeake of the Church ask is a politicall body, andfeded Ecclefiafticall Republike. Let us fee then to the Affumpti- on. The Jewifh Church , not as it was a Church, but as it wasjewifti, had an high Prieft, typifying our great high Prieft Jelus Chnft. As it was Jewifh, it had Mufitians to play upon Harpes, Pfalteries, Cymbals, and other Muficall Inftruments in the Temple, i Chron. 25. 1. concerning which, hear Bellarmines confeflion , debon.oper. lib.i. up. 17. Juftinm filthy that the ufe of inftru- ments was granted to the Iewes for their im- perfeffion : and that therefore fuch inftruments hAve noplace in the Church. Wee confefje in- deed that the ufe of muficall injlruments agre- eth not alike with the perfect , andjviththe im- perfects and that therefore they beganne but of late to be admitted in the Church. But as it was a Church, and not as Jewifh, ithadfoure forts of ordinary office-bearers, Priefts, Le- vites, Dodors,andE]ders, andweconfor- triablie have Pajtqrs, Deacons, Doftors,and Lib. i. Ep.j. Elders. To their Priefts and Levits, Cjprian I doth (19) doth rightly liken our Paftors and Deacons, forhowfoever fundry tilings were dofufby the Priefts and Levites , which were typical! and Jewift onely-, yet may we well parallell our Pallors with their Priefts, in refpeft of a pcrpetuall Ecdefiafticall office common to both,v/*s. the Teaching and governing of thepeopleof God, Mai. 2.7. 2 Chron.19.8. and our Deacons with their Levits,in refpeft of the cure of Ecclefiafticall goods , and of the work of the fervice ofthehoufeofGod in the materialls and appurtenances thereof, a function likewife common to both,iChro. 26. 20. & 23. 24. 28. The Jcwifh Church ru-.Ecclef.tib. had alfo Do&ors and Schooles , or Colled- »• "?■ *• M ° r - r , r-r- — 1 r J t^. . . and Aaron, ii. ges for the preiervation or true Divinity 2 . OZt Aiftcd. among them, and of tongues, arts, and fcien- Thefau.chro. ces, neceffary thereto , 1 Chron. 15.22.27. naus^The^f 2 King. 22.14. 1 Sam. 19.20. 2 Kings 2.5.5. I1b-7.pag.1n! A&. 19.9. Thefe office-bearers they had for {JfiJJ*!J2 notypicallufe, but wee have them for the ^IpTp.^j* fame ufeandend for which they had them. And all thefe forts of office-bearers among us wee doe as rightly warrant from the like forts among them as other whiles wee war- rant our baptizing of Infants from their cir- cumcifing of them , our Churches by their Synagogues, &c. Now that the Jewifli Church had alfo C 2 fuch (20) fuch Elders as wee plead for, it is manifeft : for befides the Elders of the Priefts, there were alfo Elders of the people joyned with them in the hearing and handling of Ecclefi- afticall matters Jer.19.1. Take of the ancients efthefeofle.andofthe wcients of the Priefts* The Lord fendiag'a meflage by the Pro- phet, would have a reprefentative body of all Judah to be gathered together for receiving it , as Tremelltus noteth. So 2 Kings 6. 32. Ebjhdfdte in his houfe^ndthe Elders [Ate with him. We read, 2 Chron. 19. 8. That with the Priefts were joyned fome of thechiefe of the Fathers of Iirael,to judge Ecclefia- fticall caufes and- controverfies. And how- foe ver many things among thejewes in the latter times, after the captivity, did weare to confufion and miforder, yet we finde even in thedayes ofChrift, and the Apoftles , that the Elders of the people ftill fate and voyced in Councell with the Priefts, according to the ancient forme, as is cleare from fundry places of the new Teftamenr, Matth. 16. 21 . and 21.23. and 26.57.5p. and 27* 1.1,2. .Mark Anno 5 8.n.io. I4 ^ Luke 22.66. Afts 4.5. This isalfo ac- knowledged by the Roman Annalift Saro- /*/*r,who confeffeth further, That as this was the forme among the Jcwes , fo by the Apoftles was the fame forme obferved in in their times , and Seniors then admitted into Councels. Sarav/a himfelfe, whodif- puteth fo much againft ruling Elders,, ac- knowledged what hath been faid of the El- ders of the Jewes, Senior es qmdem invenio in Confefu S acer dot urn veteru Synagog*, qui Sa~ De dive ^ cer dotes noner Ant. I finde indted (faith hee) 1"^™ , Elder sin the Affemblj of the Pr 'tells of the old p. 108.' Synagoguejvhich were not Priefls. Etquimvis paria eorum ejfent fuffragta & mtborita* in ibid^n^ omnibus ]u die lis cum f»ff r *gtis S Acer dot urn t &c. And Although ( faith hee ) their fuffrt- ges and Authority ina/l judgements were equAll with the fttffr Ages oft he Prtefls, &c> But what then, thinke yee, hee hath to fay againft us * Hee faith, that the Elders of the Jewes were ibid.p. id j. their Magiftrates, which in things pertaining *i*. to the externall government of the Church, ought not to have been debarred from the Councell of the Priefts, more then the Chri- ftianMagiftrate ought now to bee debarred from the Synods of the Church. Now to prove that their Elders were their civiUMa- giftrates, hee hath no better argument Hieh this, That the Hebrew word Zaken, which is turned Elder, importeth a chiefe man, or a Ruler. We anfwer, Firft, this is a bold cotv jc&ure which hee hath neither warran- ted by divine nor by humane teftimo- C 3 nics,. (22) nies. Secondly, Z;ken doth not ever fignifia a Ruler, or a man in authority, as we have {hewed before. Thirdly, let us grant Zaken to bee a name of dignity, and to .import a chiefeman •, yet a chiefe man is not ever a Magistrate, noraRuIer.lt would oncly fol- low that they were of the chiefe of the fa- thers of- Ifrael that were joyned with the Priefts in the Sanedrim , and fo it was, 2 Chron. 19.8. Non bercle de plebe hominum be repub. letfifednobilipmi 8mm s , faith P. Cunaus. jucUib.t.c.1*. Theywcre ^ fakh L9Cm rtcol.t*. 6. §.28. Procnes tribuum qui dllegabwtur una cum facer dotibus & [cnbis in facrum fynedrium. Fourthly ,they who werefo joyned in Coun- cell with the Priefts,- 2 Chron. 19. 8. are plainely diftinguifhed from the Judges and Magiftrates, verf. 1 1. And fo are the Princes & Rulers diftinguifhed from the Elders, Aft. 4.5.Judg.8.i4.Deut.5.23.Jof.8.33 .Fifthly, we would know whether he thought that all the Magiftrates of the Jews fate in Councel with the Priefts, or fome of them onely : if fome only, we defire either proofe or proba- bility who they were,and how many • if all, then fhould wee by the like reafon admit not theflipreame Magiftrate alone (which hee feemeth to fay) into the Synods of the Church, but all Magiftrates whatfoever, and what whataconfufion ftould that bee ? Sixthly thofe Elders that fare in the civil Sanedrim, were Rulers by their fitting there 5 but the Elders which fate in the Ecclefiafticall Sane- drim,either were not civill Magiftrates, or at leaft fate not there as Magiftrates. So. do ouv Magiftrates fometimes fit with us, as mem- bers of our Affemblies , not as Magiftrates, * but as Elders. Of the diftin&ion of thofe two Courts, which every one obferveth not, we fhall fpeake more afterward . We have faid enough againft Saravti^but Bilfttdoth better deferve an anfwer, who alledgeth more fpecious reafons to prove, that the Elders of the Jewes were their civill Magiftraces. Hee faith , There was no Se- nate nor Seniors among the Jewes, but fuch as had power of life and death, of imprifon- ment,confifcation,bani(hment, &c. which hee maketh to appeare thus : In the dayes of Ezra the punifhment of contemners was for- feiture of their fubftance , and feparation from the congregation 5 Ezra 10. 8. The triall of fecret murther was committed to the Elders of every City ,Deut.2i. 3.4. They delivered the wilfull murtherer unto the Avenger of bloud, to be put to death, Deut. 19.11. They condemned a ftubborne fonne to death, Deut.«2i.i?. They chafteneda man (24) man who had fpckcnfalfly of his wife, that hce found her nor a virgin, Deut.22. 15. 16. 18. Anf. Firft, if it fhould bee granted, that the Elders fpoken of in thefe places}, were ci- vill'Magiftrates, this proveth not that there Bertram dc were no Ecclefiafticall Elders among the Poijud.cap. Jewes. laflettus in his Annotations upon x 6. faith, that t h c Booke of the Canons of the African tuomtac Church, diftinguifticth betwixt the civill El- among the ten ders mentioned, Can. 91 . who were called T f l ^h ' dYfc- & en * ms kwwtofK Vrbium : and the Ecclefia- ttionof Jero" fticall Elders mentioncd,Can.ioo.who were boam. Scmo- called, Seniores Ecclefi^ and Sctmrts Plcbisi 'amorrt & l l ^ c f° rmcr "name diftinguifhing them fiora 'vlwm piorum the civill Elders , the latter diftinguifhing virotum,&c. zhem from Preaching Elders. So there might Shenfion, be the fame two forts of Elders among the bus cenfur-fq; Jewes. And what then i It is enough ior us E nimad\ ft crtc- that wee finde in the Jtwifh Church , fome ban™.* Horum Elders joyncd with the Priefts, & employed Scniotum* ' m things Ecclefiafticall. The Elders and fiicaws & e " P«cfts are joyned together both in the new agones mo- Teftament 5 as Matth.26.59. tbechiefe Pricfit derAbmtur ^ a9f j Eiders z, fo in other places before cited : ut'ad 2?ophc- And likewife in the old Teftament, Exod. taedomum a- 24. i. Come ufuntaibt L9rd,thou And Aayoh^ Iquandose- ^Awd sjtbihu * *ni fwtnVi if'tht El- mores conve- *r ' / ' / • nirenr, 2 Re£. ditS of iftAtl^ Deilt.27. I. MoftS With W *•**•. £/<6r^compared with verf.9. Mefcs And the Pnefis y art Prie/ls.Ezech.j.26. 1 he Law fall pet 1$ ft cm thePriefi.. and counfeU from the ancients t Jer, 19 I- Take cf iheancientsof the people^ find of ihe ancients of the Prkjls. Wee finde alfo theCommandemcntsofGodfirft delivered ro the Elders, and by them to the people, Exod. 12.21.28, and 19.7. 8. It is faid,Dcut. 274 . Mops w: th ike Elders oflfrael comman- ded the people. Upon .which \Azcc Hugo Car - d; nails faith : ArgumeMum^&c. Here is art argument that a Prelat ought not to com- mand any thing without the counfell of the Elders. Secondly, but it cannot bee proved, thk thefe Elders in the places objefted , were Judges 01 Magiftrates : nay, the contrary ap- peareth from other places, jvvhich wee have before ailed ged for the diftindion of Elders from Magiftrates or Judges: whereunto wee may adde,2 Kings 10. 1. Vnto the Rulers of lezreel^tothe Eldirs.andtothem that brought up dhabs children. And verie 5. Hee that jvos ever the houfe, and hee that was ever the Cit/e, the Elders alfo. And the bringers up of the chd- (trenail 10.14. The Elders of every Citie, and the Judges thereof. Fourthly, w r e read of threefcore and feven- teen Elders in Succoth, Judg. 8. 14. whereas the greatcft number of Judges in one Citie D amons: (26) among the Jcwes was three for fmaller mat- ters 3 and three and twenty for greater mat- ters. Thisobje&ion 3/#i#himfelfemoveth, butanfwerethitnot. Fiftly , as for the places which hee obje- fteth againft us , the firft two of them make againft himfelfe. In Ezra io.8. wee finde not onely the civill punifliment of forfeiture,but alfoas f elite aim on that place, and Zepperus depoLEccl. Lb. 3. cap, 7. doeobferve the Ecclefiafticall punifliment of excommuni- cation , or feparation from the Congregati- on : the former anfwering to the councell of the Princes , the latter to the councell of the Elders. The place Deuter. 21. 3, 4. maketh againft him in three refpe&s. Firft,the Elders of the City did but vvafli their hands over the beheaded Heifer, and purge themfelves before the Lord from the bloodflied, which was a matter rather Ecclefiafticall then ci- \\\\^neque enim^ &c. For there tvas no neede of a Iudge here rvhojhould be prefect formally as Judge, faith Bonfrerius 5 thejefuite, upon that place. Secondly, the controverfie was decided by the word of the Priefts , verf.5 . Thirdly, Toftatus thinketh that the Elders & the Judges are plainely diftinguiflied, verf.2. Thy Elders andthj Judges Jh all come forth, guar as hic^c. Thou may eft here aske t faith VelargW) d7) Felargm^ why the El Jets if the people and the Judges were both together called out * I an fiver y hecaufe God mil have both the MagijirAte and the fubjetis to be innocent, &c> As for the ei- ther places , that which feemeth to prove inoft for the civill power of the Jew ill} El- ders, isDeuter.22. yet heare what that fa- mous Commentator,7*/? atus Abulenftsfmh on that place, .guwdo talis , &c. Whenfuch a. cstifc was to bee judged^ becaufe it wis very weighty , the Elders of the City did meet toge- ther with theludges thereof, forinfuchfaSs there is fome place for conjecture i and the El- ders who are the wiferfort, can herein bee more attentive then others. So hee noteth upon Ruth 4. 2- that the Elders fate in the gate about the controverfie betwixt Beaz and the other Kinfmah, not as Judges, butaswit- netfes and beholders , that the matter might bee done with the more gravity and refpeft. Which doth further appeare from verf.p. 1 i . In like manner weeanfwer toDeut.21.1p. the Judges decided that caufe with advice and counfell of the Elders : and lo rhe name of Elders in thofe places may bee a name not of office, but of dignity, fignifyingmenof chiefenote, forwifedome, gravity, and ex- perience. In which fenfe the word Elder sis taken. Gen. 50.7. as Jofatus and kiveitu ex- D 2 pound (1*5 pound that place. In the fame manner we fay of Deuter. 157.12. and in that cafe it is fur- ther to bee remembrcd that the Cities of re- fuge had a kindc of a l.xred dcfignation and ufe, for the Altar itfelfe wasfometimes a place of refuge, lEsod . 2 1 I 14. and when the fixe Cities of refuge wre appointed, they were of the Cities of the Levits Numb.35.i6. than, by the judgement and counfell of the Levits who ihouMJbeft underftendthe Law of God, fuch cdrttroVcrfies might be deter- mined, as V elite anut on that place faith well-, for this caufe fome read Jofh.20.7. Theyfan- ffifitdKedejh^ frc\ Befi tfesijif iVbee true that thefe caufes were jtodgod ^vot in the City where the murder- w^.s committed, 'hut in the In Jof. 10 City of refuge , as Serr/irius holdeth with qujeft.3. * -Mafias and&tonum* ^ andalledgeth for it feme very confidevabb-reafons , then doth ■Bilfcns Argument fromDcut/ 19. 12. faile ■alfo in this refpect, for the Elders there men- tioned are the Elders of the City where'the murder was committed. CHAP" (29) CHAP. IV. Tbefecond Argument taken from Matth. 18.17. OU R fecond argument we take from Matth. 1 8.1 7. Tell the Church. Let an obftinate offender, whom no ad- monition doth amend , bee brought and jud- ged by the Church. Where firft of all, it is to. .bee condefcended upon. That though hee fpeaketh byallufion to the Jewish Church,as is evident by thefe words, Let him be untt thee as an heathen man and a Vublican' y Yetheemeanetliof the Chriftian Church, when he faith, Tell the Churchy may appeare bythewerds following, Whatfwverye bind p» earth, &c. which is meant of the Apoftles and Minifters 0? .heGofpell,Joh. 20. 23. fo that hee did not fend them to the Synedrium of the Jewes, when hee bade them tell the Church; nor, 2. doth hee meane of the Church 'univcrfall 5 for then vvefhould have none of ou! wrongs redreffed, becaufe wee cannot affemble the Church univerfall •, nay, nor the representative of it,which is an Oecu- menicke Councell:Nor 3. can wee iinder- dcrftand it of the colle&ivebody, of a parti- D 3 cular (jo) cular Church or Congregation 5 for hee who is the God of order, not of confufion, hath committed the exerciie of no Ecclefiafticall jurifdi&ion to a promifcuous multitude. Nor 4. can it be taken of a Prelate, who being but one,can no more be called the Churchy one can be called many, or a member be called a body >Non erim unaferfenapteft did Ecciefu, faith Bell, de Ecclef.l.j.c. 17. Cum Ecdefia fit fopulus ®numDei. Itisplaine, that the Church there fpoken of, is a certaine number met together, Where two $r three dre gathered togethor^c. Nor 5. can wee with Eraftiu dSSp^p.* and Bilfon expound it of the Chriftian Magi- 70.7 1. ftrate-, which expofition,befide that in a new- fangled language , it calleth the Magiftrate the Church, and goeth about to overthrow all Ecclefiafticall jurifdi&ion. It isalfo utterly contrary to the purpofe of Chrift, and to the aime of that discipline which he recommen- deth to bee ufcd , which is the good of our brother,and the gaining of him from his of- fence,whereas the exercife of civill jurifdidii- on of the Magiftrate is not intended for t e good of the offender , and for the winning of him to repentance 5 but for the publikc good of the Common- wealth , and for the prefervation of peace , order , and juftice, therein according totfic lawes. Wherefore by tii) by the Church 1 whereof our mafter fpeaketh, we muft needs underftand fuch a reprefenta- tive meeting of the Church, wherein a fcan- dalous and obftinate perfon may, and ought to be judged. And what is that i Collegium Przka. torn Presbytcrorum, faith Camero. ThePresby- ^P- 1 ?- tcry whereof mention is made> i Tim. 4.14. Tell the Church, that is, n^i^o* **i t^ew faith Chryfofiome , expounding the place : he meaneth the Presbyterie made up of Pa- ftors and ruling Elders. And fo Zanchius in 4 . precept. and Iunius expound him. The Paftors were glw. wf*/tfi, becaufe of their prefiding in the c .6. mr ' J ' U * Confiftories of the Church. The ruling Elders were *■? «fW7e* 3 becaufe of their ruling theflocke. Whitgift hith,Truthit u,th*t the D.ofTraa. place of Matthew may be underfloodof Seniors, *7.c**. Div. 4. but it may bee a/well under flood of any other y that by the order of the Church, have authority in the Church. His confeffion iabehalfe of Seniors we accept , but that he maketh this Scripture like anofe ofwaxe, and the go- vernment of the Church like the French fafliion , that we utterly abhorre. But how is the Presbytery called the Church, and why i Firft, even as the body is faid to fee when as the eyes alone doefee 5 fo faith Ca- ubi f mero.Thc Church is faid to heare that which 26, they alone doc heare, who are as the eies of the ( **) die Church. r Secondly,it is a common forme of fpeech to give' the name of that which is reprcfented to that which reprefenteth it. So wee commonly fay that this or that is done by the Stares of Holland , which is done by the Senate at Hague. Now though Bifhops or Paftors alone cannot reprefent the Church, becaufe.hearersalfo belong to the definition of the Qhurch • yet the Pref- bytery can well reprefent the Church , be- caufe it containeth, befide thofe who labour in the word , ruling Elders put in authority by the Church for the government thereof, as Gerard rightly refolveth. Our Divines Loc ' J het f' prove againft Papifts that fome of thefe 7 ' whom they call Laickes ought to have place in the AfTemblies oTthe Church by this Ar- gument among the reft ^ becaufe otherwife thevyhole Church could not be thereby re- Nun, s^.io.prcfented. Thirdly, the Lord commanded that the children of Ifrael fhould lay their hands upon the Levits at their confecration, and that the whole congregation fhould bee brought together for that effect This, as T f ik *f P3 ^ ome ^ aVC ^ crvec ^ out °^ Ahm^Ezra^xsr 87.' lc,p ' p3S 'not beefo underftood asifthemanythou- fands which Were then in the Hofte of Ifrael had all laid their hands upoathem, but the Elders of Ifrael onely veprefenting them. So So the Lord faiih, fpeake to all the Congrtga £■<«> '. » ;.$. tienofl[r*d, &c. But the execution of this VCI command is expreflfed thus, 7 hen Mefts cd- ltd for all the Elders of ;frael, avdfaid unto them, &c. So Jofh. 20. 6. Fourthly, Paftors 1 Cor, 4 .*. and Eiders, as they are the Minifters of Jefus Chrift, To are they the Minifters and (ervahts of his Spoufc the Church. From that which hath beene (aid we may draw our Argument in this forme. Whatfoever .Courts, doe reprefent the Church, thefe are made up of ruling afwell as teaching Elders. But Presbyteries and all Aflfemblies of the Church are Courts which reprefent the Church. Ergo. The proportion is proved thus: Whatfoever Courts reprefent hearers afwell as teachers , and the people afwell as the Miniftery, thefe are made up of ruling 35 well as teaching Elders. But whatfoever Courts doe reprefent the Church 1 ■ thefe reprefent hearers afwell as tqachers, &c. It is plaine enough that the Cliurch cannot bee reprefented except the hearers. ot the word, which are the farre greateft part of the Church be reprefented, B^ the Minifters of the word they cannot be reprefented more then the Burghes can bee it predated in Parliament by the Noblemen <1 E or r?4* or by the Commiffioners of Shires t, there- fore by fome of their ovvne kinde muft they be represented, that is by fuch as are hearers and not preachers.Now fome hearers cannot reprcfcnt all the reft,except they have a cal- ling and comtoiffion thereto , and who can thofe be but ruling Elders? CHAR V. Our third Argumm taken from Ro~ mans U.S. Oil R third Argument is grounded upon Rom. 1 2.8. The Apoftle hath declared before that , as there are many members in one body, and all the members have not the fame office, for the office of the eye is to fee, of the earetoheare, &c. So are their gifts given to the fcverall office-bearers of the Church , wherewith every one in his owne office may glorifie God and edifie the Church, verf. 4. with verf. 5.6. Thefe gifts he faith are differing, according to the grace given to us ?, that is, according to the holy charge and office given unto us by the grace and favour of God : fo vdf.3 . Thrtugh the grace grace g$vt*'**t$ w,faith PW.chat k {h*ough the authority of my ApoftlcfKp , which by grace I have obtained. Now whiles he ex- horteth every one to the faithfull and hum- ble ufe of his gift which he hath received for thedifcharge of his office, he illuftrateth his exhortation by the enumeration of the or- dinary Ecclefiafticall offices verf. 6. 7. 3. And as Beza, VifcaUr, znd Iuniuj doe well In ilium lo- refolve the text. Firfl, he maketh a generall j^'* cdef- divifion of fun&ions in the Church, making two forts of the fame Vrofhefic , whereby is meant the faculty of expounding Scrip- ture : and Hinifitric comprehending all o- ther imployments in the Church. Prophe- cy ing the Apoftle fudivideth into Teaching, which is the Do&ors part, and Exhortation which is the Paftors. Minifteryhe fubdivi- deth in Giving, which is the Deacons part. Ruling which is the ruling Elders part, and Shewing mercy , which pertained to them who had care of the ficke. Againft this com- mentary which we have made upon the A- poftles words. Sntclfe objeð a double P'*'«ty.p» injury which we doe to Paftors.Firft 5 if thefe our Elders be the Rulers here fpoken of,then Paftors ought notro rule: as if (forfooth) Elders could not rule except they rule alone. Next hee faith wee make theie Elders as E 2 iv (3«) neccffary to the Church as Paftors •, fo thata Church cannot be where there are not ruling Elders , even as there is not a Church where there are not Word and Sacraments, Surely,a Church may happen to want Paftors, andfo to want both the preaching of the Word, and the ufe of the Sacraments for that time : And fo my k want Elders, and ftill remaine a Church, but defective and maimed. How- beit the Paftors are more neceflfary then the Elders, becaufe they doe not oncly rule, but preach befide. Buttopsffethis, there are other things which better defeive an anfwer: for one might obje<5i, i , That the Apoftle feemeth to fpeake of feverall gifts onely, not of fever- rail offices. 2. If hee fpeakc of Offices , by what reafon make we Prophefie and Mimfiery generall kindes, and 3ll the reft particular of- fices. 3. Why would the Apoftle put the Beacon before the Elder. 4. Bifliop An- drewes in his Sermon of the worshipping of Imaginations, maketh a fourth obiei26. 187. that the Apoftle fpeaks no: of the gifts of office-bearers, but of gifts di- ftributed unto all the members of Chrifts myfticali body, even unto women. Hee had fhewed us a great fecret, if hee could have made it appeare, that all who are in the Church, women and all, may both propjiefie and rule. In this hee fhall have the praffe of out-ftripping the Separatifts. We know that private Chriftians may teach and exhort one another •, but they doe not fo devote them- felves thereto, as altogether to wait upon tea- ching and exhorting, which is the cafe the A- poftle fpeaketh of* To tfte fecend wee fay, th:t Prophefte and Minificry are put m abJir«fto^v\i\ joyned with apluralle;to^} but teachings txhorung % gi- vwg. ruling, zxykjbtmtfg mercie , are put in coacreto^nd to each of them the finale article prefixed^ which is a fufficient warrant ro expound Profbcfa aad Mintftery^ as Gentry E3' and IJ1J and the reft as Species. Chryfoftcme confide- ring the word Utmfterj^ faith , Kern hie gene- ralmfomt. To the third we anhver, He which is firft named, hath not alwayes fome prerogative or dignity above him which is laft named-, elfedoethcPapifts rightly argue, that Peter was the chiefe of all the Apoftles , becaufe they finde him named before all the reft. Match, ic-2. Aci.1.13. The Apoftle inten- ded to reckon out all ordinary offices m the Church 5 but he intended not the precife or- der. Chryfofome upon this fame place faith : Vide quemodo ifta indtfferevter ftnat qmd minutumtftfrmo i quid magnum eftfoflerwe loco. Ephef. 4. 1 1 . hce putteth V afters before Ttachers : here to the Romans heputteth Tei~ chets before Vafiyrs. To the fourth wee anfwer, That though it be ordinarily moft convenient, that the oifice of attending the ficke bee committed to wo- men, yet it is not eflentially necefifarytothe offificc: And as Aretm noteth upon theplace, wee may under !a««» comprehend not onely widowes appointed to attend the ficke , but Lor.com, old men appointed to receive and entertaine SSC* U ftwngcrs: Which is alfo judicioufly obferved by Martyr. Befides, when the Apoftle, 1 Tim. 5. teacbeth v/hat is required in wi- de wes (59 ) dovvcs, who (boiild bee made Diaconefles $ this hee requireth among other things , th it they be not fuch as iive in pl.eafures and idle- neflfe, and take not care to provide for their owne houfes, verfe 6.8. «/ #w$-,which though Erdfmm and Be&i turne in the feminine, q W fiqtt*, yet our Englifh Tranflators, and many good Interpreters, turne it in the mafculins. Andfurely it fhtll b we more weight if it agree U men at weB & women y {i\x\\ Calvin upon that place. Now they who read in the mafculine, that which the Apoftle faith there of wi- dowes 5 will not, wee fippofe, blame us for reading, Rom. 12.8. in the mafculine alfo, Hethtifhervetb mtrcic. Wee conclude our third Argument thus : Whatsoever office-bearer in the Church is different from Paftors and Teachers, and yet ruleth the Church,he muft needs bee a ruling Elder. But Tfcirau€>©- mentioned, Rom. 12. 8. is diffcrcntfrom Paftors and Teachers, and yet ruleth the Church. Ergo. CHAP. CHAP. VI. Argument 4. from 1 Cor. ti. 28 o U R fourth Argument is drawn from 1 Cor. 1 2.28. where we findeagaine ^enumeration of fundry offices in the Cliurch (though not fo.pertedfc as that Rom. 12.) andamongft others, Mips, that is, Deacons, and Government .r,that is, Ruling Elders* Where wee cannot enough admire how the Authors of the new Engliih tranf- lation were bold to turne it thus , Helps in Governments^ fo to make one of two, an^to elude out Argument.The originall hath them cleerely diftinguiflied, y r /A^7;, fctopfyiU. And I hndc fome late editions of the Etag- lifli tranflation to have it as it is in the Greek, Helps^Governmcnts. How this change hath b:en made in the Englifh BiblesJ know not. Cbryfojiome expounding, this place doth not takeHelps and Govemements to be all one, 1 as Bilfon hath boldly, but falfly averred. «p S i U o.'p. C 204. Nay chrjfofiome maketh the meaning of aMriH^if'i to be ut pauperes fnfeipUmus : and the meaning of K v fyfoit , he expounded to bepr*effi ac cur am gerere & *cs ajminijlrare fpiritmles. The former belongs to Deacons^ the the later to ruling 'Elders. TvvoanfVersare made to this place^ OuheCW* Firft, D. Jwrfaniwereth, that both here lib j. cap. 16. and Rom. 12.8. we reafon a genere adjpeciem affirmative % becaufe the Apoftle mentioneth Govcrnours whom he requireth to rule with diligence -, therefore they were fuch Elders as we plead for. Whttgift faith ,the word Co- Anfwcr to vir*curs,i.C9r.\z 2 8.andit»/w,Rom. 12. < hcAdmon - 8. is generall,and may either fignihe Chrifti- an Magistrates, or Ecclefiafticall, as Archbi- fhops,Biihops,or whatfoever other by lawfull authority are appointed in the Church. We reply, firft,if the Apoftle had mentio- ? e »P OT » j 1 - ned Rulers or Governours alone, then might n '™ d '™ ££ we have indeed guefled, that hee meant a ge- libec pr*fc nerallkinde onely, and no particular Species : , ftis Pau i um J . But fince he hath enumerate io many Species, qtt , a tuncnalli as Apoftles, Prophets, Teachers, giftsof mi- rra* p> Wa- racles^iftsofton^ues.&c.Surelv they did ei- S lft " lu . s • fed o & 3 J m J dc Senionbus ther molt jgnorantly,or molt mahciouily crre qui morum c - who tell us, that the Apoftle putteth a Qenus «« Cenfores in themidftof fo many Species. Secondly, u a ^ n Ro a m vmc the Apoftle fpeaketh onely of Ecclefiafticall n.s. Officers, God hath fet feme in the Church , &c* What meant Whitgtft to extend his words to the civill Magiftrate. T. C. anfwered him, that hee could not diftinguifti betwixt the Church and Common- wealh,and fb betwixc F the (v) the Church Officers, and the Officers of the Common- wealth. He replied, that he could not put any fuch difference betwixt them, that the one may not be comprehended under the Apoftles word,as well as the other. For I utterly renounce ,faith hejhat d flinttion invert- ted by Papifty and maintained by pu^ which is, thatCbrijlisn Magi fir Mes governe not in the refpeff thty be ChrtJlUns, but in the re [peel they b? went and that they governe Chrifiians^ not in that they beeChriftians \ but in that they bee men: which U to give m more authority to the Chrifltan Magistrate in the Church ef chrift, then io the great Turke. Let our oppofites here goe by the ea^es rmorig themfclves : for k- R ^ g ii: M. To. Wemys holdeth, that all Kings have a- pW ' P * " like jurifdidtion in the Church,Infldels as wcl as Chriftian Kings. We hold that Chriftian Magiftrates governe their fubje&s, neither as Chriftians, nor as men, but as Magiftrates •, and they governe Chriftian fubje&s as Chri- ftian Magiftrates. In like manner, Chrifthns are governed by Magiftrates, neither as they are Chriftians,nor as they are men,but as they arefiibje<5ts,and they are governed by Chri- ftian Magiftrates, as they are Chriftian fub- je&s. And we all maintaine,that a Chriftian Magiftrate hath great authority over Chrift i- ;*n fubje&s ; in things pertaining \o the confer- vation vation and .purgation of religion, which the great Turke, nor no Infidell Magiftrate hath, or can have, except hee become Chriftian, But what doe 'IdigteUfog after the imperti- nences of a roving difputer? for what of all this { Let Chriftian Magiftrates governe as you will , will any man fay that his office is Ecclefiafticall, or to be reckoned among A- poftles,Prophets Teachers^ "&c. Wherefore Let us proceed to the other anfwer, which is made by Saravia : Hee faith, that though De dj'm.gMd, the Apoftie, i Cor. 12.28. reckon out diffe- "^J*^ - rent gifts , wee need not for that underftand different perfons , nor make different orders and offices in the Church, of the gifts of mi- licles, healing, tongues, and prophecies, which might bee , and were in one man. Whereupon he refolveth the Text thus ; that firft, Patk fetteth downe three diftinft or* ders , Apoftles , Prophets, and Teachers , then he reckoneth forth thefe common gifts of the holy Ghoft (and the gift of governing amongft the reft) which were common to all the three. The Apoftle faith not Govermttrs^ Dc Presb but Governments 7 faith Sutcltffe^ to fliew that 87 . he meaneth of faculties not of perfons. So ^ P er P cc » &- faith Bilfin in like manner. £!JS£w For confutation of all this , it is to be re- membred : Fir ft, that the .gifts fpoken ot by F 1 the (44) the Apo flic, are given of God for the com* mon good and edification of the Church, AndGodhdthCctfomcinthe Chmch&c. Se- condly , theie gifts the Apoftle confidereth not, ahjlrafave affibje&is •, but as they are in men indued with them, as is plaine •, for hee had before reckoned forth the gifts them- felves , verf. 8.9.10. and if here he did no more but reckon them over againe, this were attwn Agere. He is now upon the ufe and ex- ercife ofthefe gifts by the office-bearers of the Church, verf. 27. 25?. And though the Apoftle, verf. 28. fpeaketh concretively on- ly of thefe three, Apoftles, Prophets, and Teachers , yet the reft muft bee underftood in the fame manner,/*? meunymiam adjunfti^ as when wee ipeake of Magiftracy and Mini- ftery, for Magiftrates and Mimfters •. yea,thc Apoftle, verf. 29. 30.(0 expoundeth himfelf where hee fpeaketh concretise of the fame things whereof hee feemed before to fpeake dbjtraftwc. Hee fpeaketh of them astky* are in different fubjcSs, which is molt evident both by his preta/is wherein hee did againe preffe the fame finite of thefeverall offices, not of the fame but of Overall mem- bers of the body 5 and likewifc by the words immediately fubjoyned, Are aB Apoftles, are all Prophets', are all Teachers f He would have ftocd here and faid no more,ifhe had meant to diftinguifli thefethiec orders only as Si- ravi* (45) r*i//4expoundethhim. But now to make ic plainely appeare that hee fpakc of the other gifts alio, as they are in different pcrfons, hee addcth. are all workers of miracles i have all the gifts of healing i doe all fpeake with tongues ! Joe aU inter frete ? where wee may fupply, are all for helps f are all for govern- ments i But can it bee for nought that the Apoftle ommitteth thefe two, when he doth over againe enumerate all the reft i verf. 29. 30. It is as if he had faid,there arc fome who have none of thofe fpeciall, and (for the mod part; extraordinary gifts. All are not Apoftles, all are not Prophets, &c. for fome have but common and ordinary gifts, to bee Deacons or Elders for government. There is a great controverfie betwixt the Iefuits and the DoSors ofSarfon , about the meaning of this place which we have now c.*. Thirdly, faith Field, there were fome that remained in certaine places for governing of thofe who were already wonne by the prea- ching of the Gofpell : others travelled with great labour, from place to place , to preach G Chrift Chriftto fuch as had never heard of him. Both thefe were worthy of double honour, but efpecially the later, who did not build up- on anothers foundation , nor governe thofe whom others had gained. The Poet would here anfwere : Non minor ejl virtus qttam quartrc ptirta tueri. A Phyfitian would haply fay, that to pre- vent the recidivation, is as much worth as the cure. Butlanfwer,i. There is no fuch oppofition in the Text, butafubordination rather : for Elders who labour in the word and do&rine, are not contra-diftinguifhed from Elders that rule well , but are declared to bee one kinde of Elders that rule well. 2 . Though the Apoftles and Evangelifts tra- velled from one Countrey to another , to preach Chrift to fuch as never heard of him 5 yet where hath hee read that fome of thefe who were meere Presbyters ( for of fuch fpeaketh the Text in hand) did fo likewife? It rather appeareth from A6t.14.23. Tit. 1.5. that Elders were ordained in every Citie 5 thereto remain at their particular charges,and no Elders finde we ordained by the Apoftles ordinAtiomvdga. We have heard D. Fields three glofles up. , t on this place in queftion. Sutcliffe hath givefr c4. l x. S yt< us other d^e which are no betttf . Firfh he faith, f5i) faith, that if there bee here any diftin&ion of ruling Elders, ic is betwixt thofe that labour more aboundantly and painfully, and betwixr thofe that labour not fo much. ThisglofTeis Dc <^ vc £g«<*. alfo received by Saravid, by TUen, by Bifhop Z] Haitin his AiTertion of Epifcopacie by divine P^en. cap. i r . right. They tell us, it is one thing to preach, j"^ another thing to labour in the word and do- d« v . ns.hr. (ftrine. Anfw. i It is not the miniftery of the P^* 1 . * word, but the miniftcry of ruling which here the Apoftle maketh common to both. 2. This expofition alloweth not onely honour , but double honour- yea, a high degree of double honour to fuch is take no paines in preaching, but are fparing therein. 3. It maketh the A- poftles fpeech not to grow, but to fall : for riKo-xw when they have ftretched it to the full,noteth onely great labour,whereas to rule well importeth both great labour and great prudence, dexterity , feithfulneffe and charity befide4.lt maketh the laft part of the fpeech, In the Word and Deftrwe^ ko bee fuperfluous : for they hold that all the difference here, is in the meafure or manner of labour, and no dif- rence in re fubjefta. 5. All who have any charge in the Miniftery,* are fcalled Kom^™ 1 Theff. 5. 11. If they beatall faithfuil , and worthy *of honor,then do they labour,i Cor. 3.8. yea, in labouring, watch , as they that muft giveaccount3Hcb.13.27. 6. The Rhe- G 2 niifts mifts doe interpret the Apoftle in the fame manner. But C*r* mr/gv?/ anfwereth them-, If hee had meant any extraordinary labour, hee iThtiVg 17 ' would rathcr have ^ ayd5 i*xW*h thcn wnffm< : for other where hee ufeth ^0©-, as a degree of painful travell above *<>7r®-,which is put for common labour,Roro, 1 6.12. But it may be the next Commentary (hall be better. The words, faith Sutcliffe, arc to be rendred thus x Let Elders that rule well, bet counted worthy of double honour , labouring greatly in the Word and Dottr we \ fo that the later part of the fpeech is added exegetically, to fhew who they bee that rule well, to wit, thefe who labour greatly in the word and do- ftrine. That the words are fo to bee under- flood, he undertaketh to prove from the text it felfe : For, faith hee, one who purpofeth to fay in Greeke, ejpeciaffy they who labour , will not lay , juaAi^a U xoniffvlzf) but (AhtTct ql mot fair/. Thus changing the Participle into a Verb,and the prepofitive article •<; which is written with an afpiration alone, into the fubjunftivc 01 eumtceentugravi, forthisanfwerethtothe relative who , which the prepofitive article doth never. Moreover, faith he, if the Apo- ftle would have diftinguiflicd Elders into thefe that preach, and thefe that preach not, he would have added the adverfative particle S^aftcr/tot^r*: for/«iAir*iNlignifieth indeed effecially (53) eftecially, but ^x /rA alone without 3, fignifi- cxhgrcatty> or much, as here it doth, s^infw. i. This reading of his is very harfh, and had need to found better before it contraditt both the Englifli Tranflators , and the common current of Proteftant Interpreters. 2. Hee is not fo very well skilled in the Greeke, as hee boafteth to bee, unlcflc he make the Apoftle Paul a great Ignoramus in that language. For hee purteth a Participle with the Pre- pofitive Article for a Verbc and a Rela- tive, Philip. 4. j.Yjuii itfUtm &$* » &H£*- ov?Zr*< alone, he might have been the bolder to have given this fenfe. But fince the Apoftle fpeaketh not generally of them < 557 them that rule well, but of Elders in the Church that rule well-, this marreth his gloflc altogether. Bilfen giveth yet another fenfe, That there Dc p«pet. were two forts of Elders, fome who laboured EccI -S ub - c - 1 0< in the word and do<3rine, fome who had the care of the poore : both were worthy of dou- ble honour - 7 but efpecially they who labou- red in the word. Anftv. Deacons are diftin- guifhed from Elders, Rom. 12. 1 Cor. 12. 1 Tim. 3. and by all antiquity. If wee make Deacons to bee Elders , and the care of the poore to be an aft of ruling, then let us make what you will of the plaineft Scriptures. I findein Didoclavius three other interpre- Altar Damafc tations befide the former : ¥\xft.,Bridges faith, cn P- l *• That by Elders who labour not in the word and docftrine, are meant rulers or inferiour Magiftrates, chofen for compounding of ci- vill controverfies. Anfw. 1 . This is a ftrange language to call civill Magiftrates by the name of Elders. 2. TheApoftleis fpeaking of Ecclefiafticall not of Civill office-bearers. 3. This expofition maketh Paftors who la- bour in the word and do&rine,to bee a fort of civill Magiftrates^becaufc they are a kinde of Elders that rule well. Next, Biftx)ptf/;*f expounded* this place of old and infirme Bilhops, who cannot la- bout (5*) bour in the word and do<5irinc. Anfw.i . The Apoftle fpeaketh of Presbyters, not of Pre- lates. 2. To rule well importeth as great la- bour as preaching, and fomewhat more, as I (hewed before, fo that they who cannot la- bour in preaching , cannot labour in ruling neither. 3. They who have evifcerate and fpent themfelves in the work of the Miniftry, who have been(as long as they could ftand up- on their fcet)valiant Champions for the truth, againft the enemies thereof, who have ferved their time according to the will of God, with- out the ftaine of Herefie,Schifme, Apoftafie, or unfaithfulneffe , when they become old and infirme , they ought not to be the lefle honoured (as the impious verdidl of this Pre- late would have it) but fb much the more honour ought to be given to their hoare head found in the way of righteoufneffe. AnotherGloffeisgivenby the fame King^ namely, that the Apoftle would have Mini- fters, not onely to live well, but to feed alfo by the word and do&rine. Anftv.i. Theri- fing of the Apoftles words doth not concern duties., but perfons, as wee have faid before. 2 . To live well is not to rule well, unlefTe wee will make all who live godly, to rule well. 3 . Thirdly ,this gloffe doth ftil leave a double honor to Minifters that live well,though they do not preach. We 9 We fee now 3 our oppofices have been trying all windes to fetch upon us : but here we leave them betwixt vvinde and wave: for this our laft argument carried! us away with full faile. CHAP. VIII. The testimony of Awbtok for ruling El- ders ^vindicated* T F wee looke backe beyond the times of ■* declining unto the firft and purcft times of the Church, wee fhall ftnde ruling Elders to be no new fangled device at Geneva 5 but that the primitive government and policy of the Church hathbeene-in them reftored. There is one place of Ambrofe which clee- reth it fufficiently . He writing on i Tim .5.1. Rebuke not an Elder y faith 5 Vnde& Synagoga, ejrc Wherefore both the lewtjh Synagogue, and tfter the C hurch had Senior or Elders, without rvhcfe comfetlnothtngrvas dtnew the Church : which by whit negligence it grew out of uje 5 7 know #oi 6 except per hips by tbtjltch, or rather bytheprideeftfate\ich*ri , whites they alone rviltfeemetobe femeihing. This fentenceis alfo cited in Glofia ord. tip. And it fheweth H plainely (5») plainely that as the Jewifh , fo the Chriftian Church had fome Elders, who though they were not Teachers of the Word , yet had a part of the government of the Church upon their fhoulders.But that this came into defue- tude,partly through the floth of the teachers and Minifters of the Word 5 whiles they were not carefull to preferve the ordinances of God, and the right way of governing the Church - 7 and partly through their pride whilft they would doe.all by themfelvc$ 3 and have no conforts, Ktinam wodonoflra redirent In msrestemporaprifcos. But let us heare a triple divination which Epifcop. by the non- friends of ruling Elders give forth d,v 2 T| ht ' up onthis teftimony. Firft, Bifhop Hall tel- leth us that it is not Ambrofe 5 but a counter- feit who wrote that Commentary upon the Epiftles, and foahis he alledgeth our owne Parker againftus. The truth is, BeUdrmim and Scultingitt* taught him this anfwer : The place of Parker he citeth not in the Margine ; but I believe the place he meaneth.of is*fe foliU Ecclcf. lib. 2 . cap. 13. where he holdeth indeed, that the author of thefe Commenta- ries Vf as not Ambrofe y Bifhop of MiHaine. h but but fhevveth wfchall, that he nothing doub- tcth of the Catholike authority of the Com- mentaries themfelves ; Hoc vero^c. This faith he, msy befall the be ft Author whofievtr hebe^thatfome may afcribe his workes to ano- ther. But thathee lived before the Councellof Nice, this addeth weight to his teftimonj of the Seniors. Thefe Commentaries are common- ly cited by our Divines,as Ambrofe's. I finde them in Erafmus his edition \ both at CoSen, 1532. andati^r//, 155 1. acknowledged to bee the genuine workes oiAmbrofe , only the Prefaces before the Epiftles are called in queftion. They are alfo acknowledged in the edition of Cofteriu* at Bafile, 1555. Six- tiu Senenfis afcribeth them to Ambrofe in like manner. The edition of CoHen, 161 6. hath an obfervation prefixed, which repudiateth many of his workes , and thefe Commenta- ries among the reft. Yet the laft edition at Paris, 16 j2.hath expunged that obfervation, which they had not done if they had appro- ved the fame : Howfoever that fame obfer- vation maketh thofe Commentaries to bee as old as 372. or 373. Verkins'm his prepara- tive before his demonftration of the pro- bleme, calleth in queftion the Commentary upon theHebrewes, but no more. Rivet Gricfc/acr. fheweth that thefe who rejeft them, doe nei- '•* ci&. H 2 ther (6°) thtr give good reafons for their opinion ; neither yet doe agree among themfelves. Bellarmine afcribing them to HiUrjiuDU* comts , Maldonat to Remigim Lugdunenfis, the Cenfors of Lovdine to the Author of the qucftions of the old and new Teftameht. P. n 4. I beleeve that Cooke in his Cenfura. Scr-ptorvm ycttrum , hath touched the true caufe why thefe Commentaries arefo much called in queftion, which is the perfidioufneffe of Pa- pifts, who when they finde any thing therein which they imagine to bee for their advan- tage, then they cry, Saint Ambrofe faith thus, but when they finde any thing therein which maketh againft them , then they fay as Hall doth , It is not Ambrtfe^ but a counterfeit > 1 muft confeffe that \ Hall is wifer in disclai- ming the fame, then his fellowes ^acknow- ledging them : yet becaufe he found that/the Teftimony may bee of force , though not Ambnfes^ and befide had no proofe for this alledgeance , he durft not truft to it, but thought upon another anfwer. De gub. Eccl. . j p roCGec l then to their next conje&ure. trt^hv. ' *'&*> Sutcliffe, andDodor Field, tell us c.13. Of the that x^mbrofe meant of Bi(hops,who exclu- C ? U 2^' hb * ^ ot ^ er Clergy mcn fr° m l ^ c ' lt confultati- ons , and that by the name of Teachers hee might fitly underftand theBiftiops, feeing none (tl) none but they have power to preach in their owne right,& others but onely by pemiilTion from them. This is a mod defperate fhift for a bad caufe. For firft, there is no warrant nei- ther from Scripture nor Antiquity tq diftirv- guifh Bifliops from other Ministers of the Word by the name of Teachers. Secondly, as for that reafon alled^ed that none but Bi- (hops have power to preach in their owne right, it is contrary to that which Field mm- felfe faith in the very next Chapter , where heholdechthat Presbyters are equall with Bifhops in the power of order, and that they may preach and minifter the Sacraments by vertue of their order, as well as Bilhops. Thirdly, neither did the advifing of Bifhops with Presbyters ceafe in Amhrofe his time. For as /7>/^himfelf noteth out of the fourch ' 27 ' Councell of Carthage (which was holden fhortly after Ambrofe his writing hereof ) all fentences of Bifhops were declared to bee void . which were not confirmed by the prefence of their Clergy. Let us alfo heare Hierome^ Chryfoflome, (who lived both in the fame age with Awbrofe) what dotb a Bi- E P^.adEvag. jhopfonh Hierome^ ordination except d, rvhtch 4 Presbyter may not dot f By ordination alone, faith Chryfbftome, are the Bifhops higher, and [ n * Tim - thu ontly theyjeem to have more then Frebyttts. H 3 Which Which were not true if BHhops had then go- verned the Churches by themfelves, exclu- ding the counfcll and advice of Presbyters : Yea, though ordination was the only one inEphcf.4. thing which made the difference. Ambrofe himfelf fheweth that Presbyters in Egyptdid alfo ordain when the Bifhop was not prefent. We have heard Sutcliffe and Do&or Field^ nriniShEvangi but Saravia 5 and after him Ttlen \ and after c.ii.Par*p. them both HaH^ hath forged another gloflfe C '\lt J*' E ll P on r ^ e P' acc °^ Am ^ ro f e ' They boldly a- nght.p.zi?. verre that the Elders without whofe coun- fcll Ambrefe faith nothing was done in the Church 5 were Elders by age and not by office. We reply. Eirft, falfhood can- not keepe its feet. Before we heard Stravia maintaine that the Seniors among the Jewes, who fate in Ecclefiafticall AfTemblies with thcPriefts , and had equall fuffrages therein with the Priefts, were their Rulers and their Magiftrates 3 now he telleth us they we re old men, Elders by age only, not by office. Se- condly, in his defence of that fame twelveth Chapter againft Beza^ hee acknowledgeth that the Chriftian Church had other Flders by office^befides the Minifters of the Word. ihe Church faith hee 5 hath had Elders fome by divine inftimwn , as the Pa/lors of Churches , and Minijlersofthe WordefCod. Others Others by condition of age or off ice, or estimation, or learning and experience. How could hcc then adrift the words of Ambrofe to Elders by age onely i j . Where was it ever read or heard, that old men, who had no Ecclefia- fticall office, were taken into the aflemblics of the Church, fo that nothing was done with- out their counfelk 4. The Elders of whom Ambrofe fpeaketh , are oppfofed to the Tea- chers, therefore they are not Elders by age : for fuch are fome of the 'teachers themielves. 5. Ambrofe indeed in his preceding words had expounded the place of the Apoftle, 1 Tim.5d.of£/d?rjbyage: but thereupon hetooke.occafiontofpeakeof Eldtrs by of- feedtio. 6. That the Elders which wee read to have been in the Jewifh Church,were not Elders by age , Bafil foeweth plainly, whofe teftimony we fhall heare by and by. CHAP. IX. Other Teft monies of Jntiquity, THus having cleared the place otAm- brtfe^come we now to other teftimo- nies of the Ancients. TertuSJan in bis\^4fologetickeaga\ntt. the nations, fpeak- ing of the Meetings and AfTcmblies of Chri- ftians D Cap.3 c?. ftians,fheweth,that befides other things done therein, they had alfo corre&ions, cenfures, and excommunication, .and that in the ex- ercife of this difcipline. Prtfident probati quiq-ueSeniores, konorem iftum non pretio fed tefttmonio adepii : with m doc fit aS the appro- ved Seniors jt& presidents or rulers^ hiving oh- t nined this- honour mt byprice^ but by a good te~ l. i.ep.8. fttmonj, Cyprunm his Epiftles doth often 1. V. e P . j. prottft [ that from the beginning of his Bi- ibicUp!^. friopricke he did ail things by common con- fent and ad viceboth o\ his Clergie & people. Will any man thinke, that in ordination, ex- communication, reconciliation of penitents, and fuch like things whereof Cyprian fpeak- eth in theft places , he fought the counfell and advice of the whole Congregation, and of all and every one therein?, or rather that the people gave their counfdl and confent by the Elderjhip reprefenting theme Surely, this doing of all tilings with the advice and coun- iell o£tig whoie^bqth Clergy and People. he otherwhefe ftewethto naveBcene nothing eHft but the doing of all things by the < ounfell of the Presbytery -,\vli!ch.ha< beenf. tei Li!>. 3 • cp. x i. Omni ixFti' e, ad me pit on- irahi Ftesbyierwm , & c < 'ni'firmaio conplio quid Mr) quid obfervtri deberet confenfu omnium fta T tueretur. Epifbdnm^vntingio lohn^ frifhop of lc- rufalem, concerning the tearing of a vaile which hee had feene in the Church of a vil- lage called Anabhtha, with the image of Chrift, or fome Saint, upon it, and concer- ning another vaile which he had fent for it, intreateth him to give order to the Elders of that place to receive the vaile from the bea- rer. It is not to bee thought there were many preaching Elders in a fmall village, hee fpeaketh in the plurall, Frecor ut jubets Fref- bjteros ejufdem loci &c. B 'fUim M Agnus in his Commentary upon lfa.3.2. where the Lord threatneth to takea- way from Ifrael the Ancient, or the Elder, Ihewethfrom Numb. 11. 16. how warily fuch Elders were to be chofen, and that their gifts,not their age,made them Elders,he pro- veth from Dan. 13. 50. (which is the hiftory of Sufanna) where the Jcwifh Elders at Ba- bylon fay to young Dtnitl^ Come fit dovne 4- mongui, dndjhetv it », feeing God hatbgtven thee the honour of an Elder. Then headdeth, Ad hunc y (frc* After this manner [onetimes it happen eth \ that youths dte found in honour to be preferred to theft Elders who fothfnllj and (66) negligently lead their life. Thefe Elders then a- mwgthelemswetefaljly foe fled : for God tookeaway a* the man of war remand th: Pr#- pbet, jo the Elder from the pet fie of the lewes. 7 her ef ore let the church fray , that the Elder (worthy to hefo called) he not taken away from her felf. The whole tenor of his difcourfeim- porteth , that the Chriftian Churches had fuch Elders as wee read to have been in the Jewifh Church 5 whereof Dan?e/wa$ one. And of them hee feemed to mean a little be- fore, II abet &c. The Church alfo hath Judges , who can agree brother and brother. in i Tim. Chryfoftome compareth the Church to a hom.io. houk ^ becaufe asinahoufe there are wife, children and fervants, and the care or go- vernment of all is incumbent to the matter of the family : So is it in the Church 5 wherein ? befide the ruler of the fame 3 nothing is to bee feen, but as it were wife, children, and fer- vants D « j uoi»«?«< \% H m *?;$* ° ™s 'w^ncu *&- &as£x H w*** ° **h *&» yjjj&\Y~efButifthc Govern nottrofthe Chvrchjmh. he^hath fellows or c$n* forts in the government thereof Jo kith the man alfo the wife u ht hisconfm in the government of his houfe.lfk be faid, that by the Ruler of die Church 3 hc meaneth the BifhoD , and by his conforts preaching Presbyters, who arc f*7) are the Bffhops helpers in the govern- ment of the Church -, I anfwer, If wee un- derftand by w ? «s W the Bifhop, then wee Hon. x make chryfoflome contradict himfelfe : for in his next Homily heefheweth plainly, that Presbyters hsV^**rk*v** fon*ir**r> the ru- ling of the Church as well as Bifhops j and that the whole purpofe of his former Ho- mily agreed to Presbyters no lefTe then Bi- flips. Now then, who were the conforts which Paftorsof Churches,or preaching El- ders had in the government of the Church < Could they bee any other then Ruling El- ders { Hierome upon that place of Ifaiah, faith : Et nos babemtu tn Ecclefid Senatum noftrum , coe- turn Presbyterorum:cum erg9 mtcr cdtcraeti m fetter tudeaperdtdertt^ quomodo poterit habere concilium qnedproprie Senwrnm eft. And what fenfe {hall we give to thefe words, unleflfe we fay it is imported that both the Jewifh and the Chriftian Church had fuch an Elderfhip as we plead for. Elfe why did both hee, and B*fil make fuch a parallell betwixt the Jewifli and the Chriftian Church in the point of El- ders? Surely , if we undcrftand by the Eiders of the Chriftian Church whereof they, fpeake, thc'Miniftersof the Word atone, wee rauft alio undcrftand by the Elders of I 2 the u the Jewifli Church /whereof they fpcake, the Priefts,which no man will imagine. L.r.c.ij... Euftbius in his Hiftory citethZ>/0/iyy/Mf Akxindrinus, relating his disputes with chc Chiliafts after this manner : When 1 wav at Arjenoita where thou knowefi thit dcftrfrefirfl fprung, &c. I called together the Elders and teachers inhabiting thofe villages , there being prefent alfoatmwy of the brethren as were witling to comt % . and I exhorted them pub likely to the feat ch of this datlrine^&c. By the Tea- chers here are meant the Paftors or Minifters of the Word , who are moft frequently cal- led by the Fathers Teachers , or Do&ors-: neither can it bee fuppofed that there were any Teachers befides the Paftors in thefe ru- rall villages, which notwithftanding we fee had befide their Paftors or Teachers, Elders alfo. Augujane writeth his 137. Epiftlfc to thofe of his owne Church at Hippon^ whom he dc- figncththus : Dtletftftmis fratribtu, clero, femortbus & univerf* plebi Ecclefu Hippo- nepfiscui fervioin dileftionechriftt. To my welbc loved brethren the Clergy^ the Elders 1 and the whole people of the Church at Htppon, whom Jferve in the love of Cbrtft. Hee putteth El- ders ^ or Seniors in the middle betwixt the Clergy Clergy and the people as diftinA from both, and yet fomewhat participant of both. iftdorus Htfpalenfis fpeaking of the pru- ****•&*** denceanddikrretion, which Paftorsfhould obferve in teaching of the Word , giveth them this ad vile among others : Vritts docendi funt Senior esplebis utper eos tnfrapoftttfacilw doceantur. TbeEldtrs of the people are to bet firjltau/ht , th rj by them fucb as are placed under them may be taught the more eifilj. Ori^en fpeaking of thetryallof fuchas c °™r\ d-ic were to bee admitted members of the ,b> * 1 ' Church, faith, Nonnulliprtpofitifttnti&c. ' iherewe fome Rulers appoint ( d rvb& may en- quire concerning the converfition and manners ofthefe th t areadmitttd % that they may de- barrc from the Congregation fucb as commit flthineffe. In the a6h of the 5.Councellof Toledo ac- C. i. cording to the late editions, we read that Cinthtla (whom others call chintiUwus) came into that Councell, cum optimatibus & Sentoribm palatii /iw.But Lor^nus hath found in fome ancient copy , Cum optimatibus & In Aft -4-y. Senior ibm fopulifut , with the Nobles and the Elders of his people. I would.know who were thefc Elders of the people diftinguiflied from the Nobles, I 3 Thcfc (70) The Counccii Thefe things may fuffice from antiquity hcidAn h36 o 7 t0 g' lve f° me evidence that the office of ru- Cm.r^ ling Elders is not Calvins new fangled de- keth mention v jf e at Q tm v^ as our adverfaries are pleafed who wi« «- to call it : but for further confirmation of d* P cacd from point,rwf«w difp.iJc Scmo. and before him new Germany ^[[^ in Anm% £ mt js in C qL Can. ECcUf Couwci^and 4^/V. C^.ico.ha.hobferved fundry other unto whom pregnant teftimonies from antiquity for ru- rcmuXeL ling Elders, efpecially out of thefe notable kd.on of a records Geftafurgdtionis C&ciUmi & TtUcti^ P ir f of thc to be feen in the Anna's of Baronius,An.ioi. {houU* decide and in Albafptnau* his edition of Optatus. the ciufc of Thefe teftimonies 1 have here fet downe in ots Caeciliani & F*licis,wc reade ,Epfio 4 ) Pr(ibytert y T>hc9n(i t Simr(t. A- gainc, CUnci & ScmoniCirtbt'nfu0U Sundry letttrs were produced and read in that conference ; One directed CUro & Stnfaibta.i another CUrici* & St- nioribwi. The later of Pur farm to c ylvar,m % fp r - akcth thus, Adbibtte under}- ccs & SmwspkbU EulcCiMUmviros & inqiiirant ditigenter qu«e ftnt t(l* ftifftnft- Wtt. Auguft.iib. $. contra Crefcon.c.56. ptngnnw pi etbjter & Striate. Ec- cttfi* Mu(lic*rucre&M. Againe,Serm. 19.de verb.D:)m. Cum oberrarcm aliquem aSenioribus uguuntur& imputnur ahcuide i'.lis cur Ebrius fus- rit, &c. Epitf ola Synod tlis Concilu Carbartufficani apud eundem Auguft. enar. in Pfal. $c?.\ r tane nos fucr.it Primiari v.aufam,quem plebs fancti Carthaginenfis Ecclefia? Fpifcopun fuerat in ovile Dei fortita, Seniorum lireris t jufdem Ecclefije port ul ant 1 bus audire atgae difcarere. Optat. lib. 1. adv. Parme».erant Ecclcfiar er 2uro & argento quam planraa ornamenta, &c. quafi(others read quas)n*dclibus Senioribus commendavit. And after, ConvocantsrfupraraemoratiScnioreSj&c.Grcgor. M.lib. 11, Ep. 19. Si ?uid de quocunque Ckricoad aurestaas pervenent 3 quod te jufte poftir of- endere, facile noncred as, fed prsefentibus Keclefia? mar Semoribus diH- gcrtter eft pcrfcrutanda veritas,& tunc Gqualitas rei popofcerit, Canonica diftriftio culpamfemtdelinquentis. Epift.Synodalis Concil. Pi&avien. a- pud Gregor.Turon. l.io.c.i6.de fponfalibusguoquc ait coram Pontifice CUro vel Senioribus pro nepte fuaorphanula anas accepiffe. From (11) Fr6m which paflages it is apparant, that in the d ayes of Ambrofe thefe Seniors were neither in all places, nor altogether growne out of ufc-, but that both in the Eafterne and Wcfterne Churches, manifeft footfteps of the fame remained r neither is his tcftimony before alledged, repugnant hereunto : for we may underftand his meaning to be either that infome places, or that infome fort, they were growne out of ufe , becaufe peradven- ture the Teachers beganne to doe fome- things without their counfell and advice which in former times was not fo. Bilfon anfwereth two waies to the teftimony from Er/cKr^i"] the 137. Epifl. of kuguft. and belike hee p.nj. would have anfwered in the fame manner to thefe other teftimonies , he faith we may un- derftand by thefe Seniors either the better part of the Clergy 5 or the Senators & Rulers of the City. That they were neither Bifhops nor preaching Presbyters , nor Deacons, it is manifeft, for they are diftinguifhed from all thefe./* dtt.furgAt.CAcU. & Fdl and they are called by lfi*$re and ParpuriusSeniores plebif. Befidcs, itwereftrangc if kuguft. Biihopof Hippo writing to his Clergy, fhould diftinr- guifh either the Deacons from the Presby- ters by the name of the Clergy which was common to both 3 or fome preaching Ptef- byters (7*0 bytcrs from other preaching Presbyters, by the name of Seniors. On the other part, that they were not Magiftrates of Cities, it is no Idle plaine : for they are called Senior es Ec- clcftfi, and Bcclefiafttci viri , they inftru&ed the pcople,and had place in judging of caufes Ecclefiafticall. lKd.pig.ftfs- ^ Ut dfewherc. Bilfin taketh upon him to prove, thatthofe of the Clergie who were by their proper name called Presbyters, were alfo called S emotes ,as thofe who came neereft to the Bifhop in degree, wifedome, and age. And this he proveth by a teftimony of Am- 0&c.l.i.<*iQ* brofe.Fiduarum *c virginum domos niff vtfi* tandi gratia Itwtores adre no* ejl ofw^ejr hoc cum $tmonbtu t hoc eft cum Eyijcopo. velftgrd- vior eft caufa cum Presbyter is. Anfw. i . Here the Seniors arc the Bifhop, which is neither good fenfe, nor any thin^ to his purpofe* 2. Hee hath left out a word, without which the fentence cannot be underftood , and that is veil Ambrofe faith, Hoc eft vet cum Epifco- fo,ejrc. and fo the words may fuffer a three- fold fenfe : for either Semens is here a name of age or of office. If it bee a name of age, as may bee prefumed by the oppofition thereof to Iufiiorcsjhen the meaning of Ambrofe is , that young menfhould not goe into the hou- fes of virgins or widowes, except it bee with fomc (73) ibme men of age, and the fe to bee the Bifhop or the Presbyters. If it be a name of office, then may wee either understand, that by the Presbyters he meaneth ruli g Elders, and by the Bifhop the Paftor of any particular Church, (tor [iwb;t.kcr be hot deceired,Pa- £>■*•**■ dc ftors have the name of Biihops, not onely in j.° ncl '^* Scripture, but in the ancien: -Church alfo : ) Orthatheecomprehendeth under the order of Elders, not onely the Preaching Presby- ters,but the Bifhop alfo , who was chiefe a- mong them. By the firft fenfe BUfon doth gaine nothing ; by the other two hee hath worfe then nothing: for any of them deftroy- eth his chiefe grounds. CHAP. X. TbeconfentofProteftant Writers \andtbe confejsion of our opposes for ruling Elders. TH E office of Ruling Elders is not onely maintained by Calvin^ Beza, Ctrtwright , Amtfc , Buctrus^ and others whom our oppofites will call partial! Writers, let him who pleafeth read the com- mentaries otMdrtyr, Swtr } Gndtbtr^ Htm- K mingim^ mingim^ fijcator y ?4r44tfiiponRom.n.8< I Cora 2.28. Attim on A#« 14.23. Zepptr. dePokt.EcclcfiLi.c.i. &\% % Mutti*ger on 1 Tim.5 .i7« Arf#/.ir/i*on A&.14. 33. C*- t4.Ttfi.writ. cpI 103 • 0/&W. wit, 1 . /, 4. c . ii, Chtmmts exam part.*, fag a 1 8, ©erW. Arc 7£tf/. t*m.6.p*g. 363. 364. Mufiul. Uc % com.de EccUfx.j.Bucan.Uc. com.lec qi.SHet*- nus de Dtfcipl. Ettlef. part. 4 £. 3. folmui SyntJ.yx 11. Zanchtutwa. pracep.eoLyij. ltmtus animad.inBthr com 5 ./. i.r. 2 2>*- #4** J^ Foltt.ChrrJl. 1.6 /.451. Alfted.TkoL caf.pag.% 18,520. Sopingtus aa b§nam fidem SibrwdKpAg. 253. c£r. The Profeffours of Lcydci^SjM.pttr.TtKol.DiJp.ty. and fundry others,whofc teftimonies I omit for brevities caufe,itis enough to note the places. The Author of the AiTertion for true andChri- ftian Church policie, pag. 196. 197. cl- teth for ruling Elders, the teftimony the Commiflioners of King Edward the fixr, au- thorifed to compile a booke for the icforma- tion of Lawes Eeclefiafticall •, among whom were the Archbiftiop of Canterbury, and the Bilhop of By. They fay, Let the Mimfter going apart withfome of the Elders, take c$»n- ftl.&t. Voettm ckcth to the iamepurpofe, MtrloratyUyptrim, FuUe.Wbittaker.Fenner^ Zmmw) vrtta, tddicl Lu*lnrt#> Trekatim (both (75) (both the one and the other) yea Socinw and the Remonftrants. Befides we have for us the pra&ife of al wel reformed Churches , aad the Confcflions of the Fr*/? f A , the Btlgickc, and the Helve- tithe Churches to be feene in the harmony of Confeflions. But what will you fay if the adverfaries of ruling Elders be forced to lay fomewhat for them? Whitgifi confefleth not onely that our Dcf - tra & l r* divifion of Elders, into preaching Elders cap;I ' and ruling Elders, hath learned patrons •, but alfothat theChriftian Church when there was no Chriftian Magiftrate had governing Seniors : and elfewhere he faith, / know thzt t ^" f ^ r m ^ . in the Primitive Church , they had in every p tl , 4# Church Seniors , to whom the government of -the Congregation was committed. Saravta lendeth them his word likewife, t Quodame y ubifupra cap. &c. Which is not diffuted by meeinthat mca- *-P' 10 4 v ning that the Belgicke Churches , or any other which doe with edification ufethe fervice of thefe Elders, fhsuldrajhly chmgeany things before that which u better bee (ubftitute. A- faine, fpeaking of the government of ruling ildets * hefairh, j&odaK&c. Which aj / ib.cMp. ca n • Sdravia faith , the Churchwardens 1 *.p. ■ ** w hich are in every Parifh of England^ have fome refemblance of ruling Elders , whofe charge appointed by law, he faith, is to col- left, keepe, and deburfe the goods and reve- nues of tile Church, to preferve the fabricke of the Church, and all things pertaining thereto (9i) thereto fiire and fafe, to keep account of bnjv tifmes, mariages,and burials,to admonifh de- linquents & other inordinate livers^o delate Co the Bifhop or his fubftitutes, fuch as are ia- corrigible,&fcandak>u$,being fworn thereto: alfo to obfervc who are abfent fro the praicrs in the Church upon the Lords daycs,& upon the holy dayes,& to exa& from them the pe- nalty appointed by law, and finally to fee to quietnes & decency in time of divine fervice. Do&or Fulds fecond reafon is for that PW,i Tim. 3. (hewing who fliould be Bi- (hops and Minifters,who Deacons, yea, who Widowes; paffeth immediatly from defcri- bing the qualitie of fuch as were ta be Bi- fhops and Minifters of the Word and Sacra- ments, to the Deacons, omitting thefe ruling Elders that are fuppofed to lye in the midft betwecne them, which he neither might nor would have omitted, if there had beene any fuch. Tothistheanfweriseafie. i.As we collefrthe adtions and fufferings of Jefus Chrift, and the inftitution of the laft fupper, not from any one of the Evangelifts , but from all of them compared together, for that one toucheth what another omitteth \ fo doe we judge of the office-bearers ofthe Church not from 2 Tim. 3. only, but from the col- lation of that and other places of Scripture of that kind. Ruling Elders are found ino- ther places, and in the fifth Chapter of that L fame fame Epiftlc, though not in the third; % Neither were there any abfurdity to hold, that the Apoftlein that third Chapter com- prehendeth all ihe ordinary office-bearers in the Church under thefetwo Bifhopsand Deacorr, , and xhat under the name oi Bi- fhops, hecompic hendeih borh Paftors, Do* <9:ors,& ruling Eiders: ior as al thefe three arc overfeets, fo to them all agree the qualities of a Biftiop here mentioned , whereof rhe;c is only one, which feemeth not to agree to the ruling Elder , viz* that he fliould be apt Dcdiv.era. to teach , verf, 2. Yet Bez* maintaineth a- minifta:ap.9. gainft SarwUfhax the ruling Elder teach- cth as wel as the Paftor,only the Paftor doth it publickly to the whole congregation ; the ruling Elder doth it privately , as he ffndeth every one to have need. And we have fhewed before that as a private Chriftianis bound in charity to teach the ignorant, fo the ruling Elder is bound to doe it ex ejf>cio . The third reafon, which Doftor Field bringeth againft us, is,for that neither Scrip- ture nor pra&ice 01 the Church , bounding the government of fuch governours, nor gi- ving any direction how farre they may goe in the fame , and where they muft ftay , left they meddle with that they have nothing to doc with j men fhould bee left to a moft u dangerous d3) dangerous uncertainly in ao office of fo great confequencc. Oar anfwer to this is: i. Wee have (hewed already thecertaine bounds of the power and vocation of ruling Elders. 2.1c was notneceflfary that the A- poftle fhould fevcrally fe'downe Canons and dire&ions: firft,touching Paftors, then Dolors •, laftly, ruling Elders, fince they arc all Eiders , and all members of the El- dcrlhip or Presbytery - 7 it was enough to de- liver canons and directions common to them all, cfpecially fince the duties of ruling El- ders arc the facie which are the duties of Paftors , only the Paftors power is cumula- tive to theirs , and over reacheth the fame in the publickc miniftcry of the Word and Sa- craments, and fo doth P**/difference them, i Tim. 5. 17. His fourth reafon is , becaufc we fetch the pateme of the government of ruling Elders, from the Sanedrim ofthejewes, the plat- forme whereof wee fuppofe Chrift meant f o bring into his Church, when he {aid, Tttttk* € f Mrcii, whereas, faith he, it is moft cleere that the court was a civill court , and had a power to banifli , to imprifon , yea and to take away life, till by the Romans the Jewes were rcftraincd. Wee anfwer that Bez,4 dc Vresfyttri$, L B. A. C. Dc fohu civtl. cr X 2 Ecd. (84) Be P p!i. Bed. ec(L Lb. 2 . Alfo Zeppcrsu, Junius, PifcMtor] injfcu^. Wtlfhm, Godwin , Bucerus, Gerard, And ibtdJn ».Reg. fundry others have rightly obferved that the Mofeund Eccldia'Hcall S.anedrim among the Jewes Ajron.Ub.j. was diftinft from the civill , yet both called Sf \ e ^y the name of Sanedrim. Wee grant with pag?di.Han». * ez * c h at fometimes civill caufes were de- de'f-(r.cap.8« bated and determined in the Ecdefiafticall Sanedrim , but this was done W y by, the Kings matters arc means (to meant matters of peace, and warrc by the Lords matters, the matters of law and judge* ment which are called the Lords matters, becaufe the Lord was the author of their civill lawes •, what a crazie device is this * Dwi *«. and did not matters of peace and warrc 2,,andM - come under the civill lawes, which God had delivered tothejewes, as well as any matter of judgement betwixt man and man i and what can bee moreplaine then that the Lords matters or things pertaining to God, Heb.j.i, wherrthey are differenced fronrother mat- ters, are ever underftood to bee matrers fpi- rituall and Ecclcfiafticalk ^f^pter^where- lnl) ^ fo*e faith lumus^ the Readers are to be warned * ' 7 ' whefoezcr they bee th t confult the hi ft ones of ancient times , that where they read the name Synednun*^ they wfely obfervtwh;tb$r the ci- v i& Affenbly or the Ecclefia/f/cal be meant of^ becaufe that name wax confufed, andindflinff ? after the times of Amiocbut* But notwithftanding that in thefc latter times all good order had much degenerate and growne to confufion , yet it feemeth to me. that even in the dayes of our Saviour Chrift, the Civill and Ecclefiafticall courts remained diftindt,let me fay my opinion with all mens leave, and under correction of the more learned, that night that our Lord was betrayed, he was led to the Hall ot c*j*pbas^ L 3 where (16) • where there was holden an Ecclefiafticall Sanedrim , which asked Jefus of his Difci- plcs,andof his do&rine, received witneflc a- gainft him , and pronounced him guilty of blafphemy 5 A/4/.27.57. Mark 14.53.55. M. 1&1 9. Nothing I finde in this Councell why we fhould think it civill : for as touching the fmiting and buffeting of Chrift, Mat. 26.67. Luk 12.6 $• fomc think it was by the fervants of the high Priefts and Elders after that they themfelves had gone home 5 & left the Coun- cell-, howfoever, it was done tumultuoufly, not judicially, and tumults may fall forth in a- ny Judicatory whether civill or Ecclefiafti- cd. As for the fentencc which they gave, Mat. 26.66.He is guilty of death ji proveth not that this was a civill Court : forjuftfo, ifanin- ceftuous perfon (hould bee convift before an AiTembly of our Church, the Moderator might ask the A0embly,what thinkey e? and they might well anfwer,He is guilty of death, away with him to theMagiftrate. Shortly then the matter debated in this nodurnall Connr C ]l,w.?s mceriy Ecckfi;-ftioill,and the accuSViono r T«:ditio , i and making himfclfe a King.v ere not fpoken of till he was brought before Pita* Ben chcre was another Sanedrim cOnvocat in the irxn ning Mat 27 i.Mark 15. 1 Imk.i* 66. rid this fecmesto have been no EoclefiaftictiH but Civill, ; 1. becaufe they meddle ($7) meddle not with the trial! of his do&rine,nor any examination of witnefTcs thereancot ; on- ly they defire to heart Our of his own mouth, that which hee had confefTed in the other Councell^viz. that he was the Chr.il rbe Son of God ; whereupon they take counfell how they might dd ver him to P'l*te. which was theend of their meeting 2. M*>k c w\ , 7ry found h.m \ end carried h m jpr y tv PtUtt, 3. TheEcclefnfticall Councell had already done that which they thought pertained to them : for what {hould they have convened again 1 Some fay, that ail the high Priefts, Scribes and Elders , were not prefent at that nofturnall councell, and that therefore they convened more fully in the morning.But that the no&urnall Councell was fully convened, it is manifeft from Mat. 26. 59. Mark 14. 53. 55 . 4, This laft Councell led Jcius away to P// u % and went themfelves with him to ac- cufehim before ViUu of fedition,and of ma- king Mmfelfc a King,jL*£. 2 3.1.2.J/4/.27.12. 5 . They complain that the power of capitall puniftiment was taken from them by the Ro- U*ans 5 importing that otherwife they might have put him to death by their law,f*A.i 8.31. Now D. Fields laft reafon is , For that all Fathers or Councels mentioning Elders,placc tbem betwixt Bilhops and Deacons,and make theo* to be Clergy men, and that in the Ads where where the Apoftles arc faid to have conftitute Elders in every Church, Paftors are meant, is ftrongly confirmed from A<3. 20. 17. 28. where the Elders of the Church of Ephefus are commanded to feed the fltcke of chnjt $- rott which they were appointed over-feers^ whence it followeth inevitably , that they Cone Sam. werc Paftors - W< r an f wcr > * • ^nibrojt fpca- ubi fup.c i»- keth of Elders which were not Paftors. 2.5*- Gom.in a&.*4 z4 & Gualther expound the place A&.14.2 3. where the Apoftlcs are faid to have ordained Elders through every Church, of ruling as well as preaching Elders. 3. As for that ubif ap9# which he alkdgeth from Aft. 20. Beza, [h- EcckLUb. 1. niut ,and the Profcffors of Leyden^ hold, that "P- 1 - the names of Bifliops and Paftors arccom- Slcap. C a« n ." w° n koth t0 ru ^ n g and preaching Elders,and fag* 17 f • that the Scripture giveth thefe names to both, howfoever in Ecclefiaftical ufc for diftin&ios aufe,they. are appropriate to teaching El- ders. Surely the ruling "Elder both overfeeth the flocke and feedetlrthc fame, both by dis- cipline, and by private admonition -, and for thefe refpefts may bee truly called both Bi- (hop and Paftor. 4. How fmall reafon hee hath to boaft of the Fathers, we have already made it to appeare. 5 . It is a begging of the queftion to reafon from the appropriation of thename of Elders to the Paftors. T JL- 3 (§7) CHAP. XII. The extravagancies $f Whitgift WSara< via inthtmaWr of ruling &Uers. IHcfctwo Difputcrs,doenot(as D. F/Vi^altogetheroppofe $ govern- ment q£ ruliogEldersJxit wifh cer- tain reftriftionsj about vJuchaotwitbftan 1 ding they difc betwixt t'hemfelvcs . &&** £/# alloyvcth of ruliog elders under a Ty- i . rantjbut cot. under a ..Chriftian Magiftrate, but fayeth tbey cannot be under an infdell Magnate Mc thinks J ice here Samffont Foxes, with their tailes knit together, and a firebrand betwixt them, yet their heads ipQ^g^fupdry>yayes,ToJbeigin vrkh«**>* hnf»*t$ rA# ^/^jciaith;ia:0ne place./ famthtt. in the **™<>«>t*l» primitive church , they bad in every dmrcb * l4 ' feuiorSyto whom the Government of the Con* gregati'on was committed^ hit that was before ikpYeyasqty Qbri$ianRri*cevrM&qi$JAte &. In another pjacc. fo*# rA */** V «#■ '* (the Church) Wfy /w£ het governed under 4 Christ an though hee bee penitent and not ohftinate. 4-How thought wh itgift ,that the thriftian Magi ftrate can doe thofe things which the Seigniory did under a Tyrant ?Can the Ma- giftrate by himfelfe determine queftions of Faith ? Can he know what order and decen- cicin ciraimftances is fine 3 for eachCon- gregation ? Can he excommunicate offen- clers^&c.y.WhcD Bifhopscxerclfe Ecclc- itafticall hinfdi&ion ( yea andthecivill too) this is'xbought no wrong td Princes : M 2 It (90) Is it a wrong in the "Pretty terj, yet not in this Prelacj ? Good Lord what \ My- fteric is this 1 <5. When Presbyters are eftablifhed in their full power, there remaincth much power to thePrince even in tilings Eccleftaliicall^as to take di- ligent heecT to the whole e (late of the Church within his dominions 5 toindi6tSy- nods>and civilly to proceed in the fame, to ratifie the conftitutions there of,and to adde unto them the ftrcngth of a civill fan&iorT, to punifh Heretickesi and all that difobey the aifemblics of the Church, to fee that no flutter Ecddiafticall be carryed fi&iouf- ly or rafhlie,bat that fuch things bee deter- mined in free aflcmblies , to provide for Schollers, Colledges, and Kirkes, that all corrupt wayes of entring into the Minifte- ry,by Simony, bribing-patrons &c. be re- prefled, ' r and finallyto compell all men to doe their duty according to the Word of God,and Laws of the Church. 7.WIwtfo€- ver be the power of the fupreame Magi- ftrate,£W^ne power in hand- ling Ecclefiafticall things , untouched and whole faith < I>an6w.YQt theEccleiiafticall pov? (9i) power doth no more hinder the civill ad- miniftration,then the Art of ringing hinde- rcth ir,faith the Angufbnconfeflioa.S.We An4c ^ auy ahfivcr by a juit recrimination , that 2#u 4 ' the Prelacy(nor the Presbytery) is prejudi- cial! tothcpo.v^r of Princes^ nd bath oiwn i ::cro iche J up i • T he 13 1 iho p s afleaibfe^.ththeeig/u; Councillof £?#/?i#- iia Q nit \ ordained that Biihops fho.ulci apt Cau l *' light from their bodies', when they chance to meet Prinzes , nor bufely bo v before them>tindthat if any .Prince fnouid caule a Biihop todiiparage himfeife by doing o- therwife,he fhould be excommunicated for two y cares. They alfo difcharged Princes can, 17, from being prefent iti anySynod 3 cxcept tie Oecumenicke.The i.Councillpf'TV^or- c * n * daineththat Jguoties Epifcoporum Hifpano- rum Synodus convener it^ totie$ universalis Concilii deer e turn propter falutemTrincipum fatlum, p'raclis omnibus in Sy.odo recitetur, ut iniquorummens territa corrigatur.YvOm which canon OJiander collefteth, that fome of rhe Biihops were not faithful! and loyall to the Kings of Sgaine. The inquifitionof Spai'ie iAnno \ 5<$8.prefented to KivgPbi- Mft-oftbtNe /^twelve Articles againft thcVJtherT^ds, f^^\ ©ne whtreof was, That the Kivg write unto^ and command the Clergie of the V^et her lands , that with the Jnquifitron they fhould accept : of M 3 *S (92) i 5 .new Bifhops, the which jhouldhe free from di fecu/ar jurifdiclian, yea in cafes of 7rea- ■b div.gr ri. |b/7,Novv as touching the contrary conceit miHpft.tvai. Q f saravia, healloweth fuch Elders as the € **' o ll * f m lewijh Church had to be joyned now with ii5.' * ' 4% Paftors under a Chriftian Magiftrate, but under an Jnfdell Magiftrate, hee faith they could have no place h for he taketh the Jtw- ifh Elders to have bin their Magiftrates, & that in like manncr,none butChriftian Ma- giftrates fhould fit with the Minifters of the Word in Ecclefiafticall Court$J>tmcts and Nobles in generall or NationallCoun- cills, and Magiftrates of cities in particu- lar confiftones. This is asfoule an error, as that oiwhitgift ; for I. His opinion of fhe Jejpifb Elders , that they were tbeir Magi- ftrates we have confuted before. 2. Though it were fo,that no Ruling Elders ought to be admitted, now except Chriftian Magi- ftrates, yet might they have place under an tafidelfVtince : as Jofeph under Pharaoh, Daniell under Vjbuchddssezar. There have beeneboth Chriftian Churches, and Chri- ftian Magiftra es under Heretical!, yea //?- fidell Princes 3.I f Chriftian Magiftrates be come in place of the Jewijh Seniors > and ought to be joyned with the Minifters of the Word in the confiftories of the church. We We demand quo nomine, quo jure ? whither doe they fit as Chriftian Magiftrares, or as men of lingular gifts chofen for thateffed? Jfas Magiitrates then (hall we make a mix- tureandconfulionofcivill & Ecclefiafticall fundion, e!fe how (hall men by vertue of civiil places fit in fpirituall Courts ? Jfas men of lingular gifts chofen to fit) then may others afwcll as they liaving the like gifts and eledlion be admitted to lit alfo<4. Saravia eontradi<5teth himfelfe, for a little jfcjp • 2 after he admitteth grave and godly men in *' 1 Q the judicatories Qf theChurch,whithcrthcy be Magiftrates or privatmen, fixe illi'ma- giftratu funganturfive in rep. vivantfri- vati\ mmmmm'm'mmfr Chap, (*4-> CHAP. XIII. Whither Haling Elder (have the poiper *f decisive xo)ce$^when the) fit infrebjteritfi and Synods. THere arc fundry queftions pro- pounded by >D. Field 2nd other ad- verfaries ©f Ruling Elders, where- into they thinke wee are notable to fatiffie them, as i . Whether %uling Elders ought to have decifive voyces,even inqueftions of Faith and Doiirine , and in the try all and approbation of Minifters? 2. Whether thefe Elders muft be in every Congregation with power of ordination, deprivation, fuf- p^ion,^comaHKHcatioiiyand absolution* or whether this" power bee onely in Mini- fters and Elders of divers Churches con- curring? 3 . Jf they be Ecclefiafticall per- fons, where is their ordination? 4. Whe- ther thefe offices be perpctuall or annuall, and but for a certaine time ? 5-Whe- ^ 5 > Whether they ought tofcrvc freely or to have a ftipend^ Touching the firft ofthefc; fincethe reformation which Luther began, it was ever maintained by theProteftat wri- ter^ that not the Miniftcrs of the word a- lone, but fonic of all forts among Christi- ans ought to hate decifive voices in Coun- cils.But Dr.F/V/a? will admit none to teach x;* . j.V,^ and define in Coundls,but the Miaifters of the word onely: others he permits oncly to eonfent unto that which is done by them. Saravi* alloweth grave and learned men to w# 7*/>* *• fit with the Miniftcrs of the word, yet not **♦ 9 ?, P4- as Iudges,but as Counfellor* and Affeffors F * r **\*\ » br onely, TiUn will not fay that the Bifhops and Paftors of the Church ought to call a- ny into their Councill > but that they may doe it when there is need. Againft whom and all who are of their mind we ob je&^ i i The example ofApoftolicke Synods. M*t- thidS the ApoAfc afterGods owne designa- tion of him,by the lot which fell upon him, was cbofen by the voices, not oiely of the Apoftles,but the other Difcip!es,who were met with them jt8 y i m 26. *»n#7Wwte* i.c.Sbnul fuffragiis eleBuS eft-psAriaSMon- ttnus turneth it. For the proper and native In . ^ (ignificationof ^w*»T^^^'( c /^/ 3 as Lorinut ^ inewcth out of Gsgvei*s % is tochoofe by wicet* ThcProfefibrsofi.Ofltohaveno- N - k ted 0>0 ced this ctnfthfus Ecclefi* per ***** m Ac eledionof (-Matthias cenf. mConfejj.cap. 21 Tn the Councillor Httrufahm Ad. 1 5. we find that befidethe Applet the At eferJ were ptefent, and voia&d definitively, for they by whom theDecree of the Synod was given forth, and who fent chofen men to Jfttfwi&jwere the Apoftlesand Elders, Gerard, Loc. Theol. com. 6. n. 2 8. and ^* ¥rofej].ofLc)##, cepf.inconf. c. 21. un- derftand that the Elders fpoken of v. 5 .<£• £ were the ruling Elders of the] Church of HierAfahm, joyaed wit& the vfpfilesjrrh* laboured in the word.ether Proteftat wri- ters underftand by the name of£W^'there, both preaching and ruling *«w.The Bre- threntjhat is the whole Church, heard the difputes, and confented to the Decrees, v. a 1. 22,23 . Ruling Elders behoved to doe • eiore theatre whole Church, that invoice flefinitively . £ trims the Jetuite faith, that fey the name of Slders there, wee may un- derftand not onely Priefts, but others be- fides them. J&i&tift>0* & mBontm prxctlhxtes iifcipulos, Dffctfks of greatest age and mte.. And this he iarth is the rca- ibnwhytherulgar Latinehath not retai- led in that place theGreeke word Vmfy twjm teade!h eWmfc. j*W* bave - • for (97) for us the example ofEcclefiafticallCsur t% among the Ja**f, wherein the /?#//& El- ilersfcad equal!, power of voicing with the Priefts, ansl for this we have heard before, Saraz/as plaiflc conic ffion. 3. The ex- ample of aacient Councils in the Chriftiaa Church.. Conflantine inhis Epiftle which he wrote to the Churches, concerning the itijeene Councill faith; Ijnyfetfe as one of your number was frefent with them {theBi- [bops) which importe th that others of the Laity voiced there with the Birtiops 2* well as he, andhee as a chiefe one or their number. Suagrius lib. 2. cap. 4. faith,that the chiefeScnators fare with theBiftiops in theConncillofc/^/^^. And after he faith, The Senators deer cell as follonetb. The fourth Councill of Carthage , r. % 7. /pea- king of the tranfportation of aBifhop or of any other Clergic man,faith, fanefi idEc- Car^iaii ~c!efiaum popofecrit, deer eto Pro fnmmA ton 40 citric or um (fylaicorumEfifcopis porreBojn clip, 357, frxsetiaSjnodt tranfferaturJXhtDtcttts of theSynod of France holden by chsrlemain* about thcyeare 743 . are faid to have beene made by theKing 3 theBifhops, the Pres- byters, and Nobles. Manyfuch examples might we fhevv, but the matter is fo cleere that it needeth n©t-4. The Revieu ofthe£& I# ^; Councill of Trent written by a Papift, j, N 2 among among other caufes of the Nobility ef that Council! makcth this one, that Lay-men were not called nor admitted into it,as was the forme of both the Apeftolicke ando- ther ancient Councils , (hewing alfo from fundry Hiftorics and examples, that both in France, $parne y Md England, Lay-men vfed to voice and to judge of all matters that were handled in Councils : alleaging further the examples of Popes themfelves. That Adrian did fummon many Lay-mea to the Later an Council!,^ members there- of, that in imitation of him Pope Leo did the like in anotherCouncill at the Later an tinder Otbo the firft,and that Pope Nt'ckoUe in Sfifi. ad ^Michael Imperat. acknowled- ged the right oiLaymen to voice inCoun- cils,wherein matters of faith arc treated ofc iki t becaufe faith is common to all. The fame writer fheweth alfofrom theHiftoric^that in the Councillof Conftanct, were 24. Dukes, 1 40 Earles, divers Delegates from Cities and Corporations, divers learned Lawyers, and Biirgeflfes of Universities, 5 « The Proteftants of Cermany^ii ever refute to acknowledge any fiichCouncill wherein none butBiftiops andMiniftcrs of the word VHteftfcictduM did judge. When the Councill of Trent rtnmexiiuih yrte firlt (poken of in the Dyet at *H?rim- *■**; hrg, Anno 1 5 a 2 . all the eftttcs vlGermanf defired (99) dcfiredof Pope Adru* the #• That ad- mittance might be gran ted as well to Lay- menzsto C"*gi*-f*c*) and that not oaely as wirocflfes and fpe&ators>but to be judget there. This they could not cbtaine, there- fore they would not come to theCouncill/ acdpublifhcdabooke which they efitittt- led, C*ufi, cur SleHores &c ftinate finners ought to be done by the fuf- frages of the whole Church they make ufe of this farmearguments Thst vhich con» N 3 cemtb (iao) ■cirnttb tllvhgb? to be treatedofaad judged ifikl&: Some of all eftatesifttheco»- tnon-wcalth,voi€€ in Parliamefit^therefare feme of att forts in the Church -ought -t* *taicein Councils and Synods* for depart: bus idtm'-judleiwm^ A National! Synod. is that fame to the Church, which. A Parlia*. mentis to the Common-wealth. ?, Thof* Elders whofe right we plead, are called fey the Apoftfe rulers, Rom. 12. 8. 1 Tim. 5. • i7.andGovernours 3 1 Or. 12. 2 8. there- fore needs rriuft they voice and judge in thofc afTemblics,withoutwhich theChurch cannot be rule^ nor governed- Jf this be de- nied them they have no other fun&ion be- hind, to make them Rulers or Governors of the Church. Rome was ruled by the Se- nate* not by the Cettfors , and Athens was governed by the lArtofagus, not by the inferiourOmce-bearers,who did only take heed, h©w the £awes were obferved . But let us now fee what is objc£ed againft this power of RulingEIders,to voice inCoun- eil!, and to ludge of all things, even matters ©f faith treated" therein .Firft it is alleadged that Jay-men have not fuch abiiities,of gifts and learning, as to judge aright of fveh mat- ten -Butldare fay there are RulingElders in Scot /ad, who in a theological di fpute,»fhould powerfully fpoyfe many of thofe who make this IJoTJ this objection. 2 . AntoniusS zdeeljobamts * JLafcoy Mornej y and iuch like fliewplainely to the world,that gifts & fingufer learning are nottyedto Bifhops and Doftors oft* Church. 3 .Neither doe men of fubrilc wits and deepeft karniflg, prove alwayes fittefl: to. difpute and determine queftions of faith. It is marked in £ hiftorie of thcCouncill of Nicest there was a Lay-man therein, of a fimple and fincere mind, who put to filence 51 fubtile Philofopher, whom all the Bi- fhops could not compefee. 4. There are many both in Parliament and fecret Coua- fell without all controver fie able to give their fufrrages, and to judge of matters in hand, who notwithftanding, are not of fuch learning and Eloquence as to enter into the lifts of a publkjue difpute. 5. And if the giffs and abiliti£s,of the mofr part of ruling Elders, were as fmali asthteir adverfaries will be pleafed to call them, yet this con- cluded* nothing againft their right power •f voicing, but ©nejy againft their aptitude and fitnefTe tmfo thar ', wfceretfv their right w©uld carry them. Aad we doubt thate- very Paftour be well gifted, for all which Cometh within the compaffe ©f his vocati- on,^ doth well every thing, which he hath pawertodoe. Another ob>e<5t ion is made from i.Cor. 14. 32. Thefpirits oftbt Fr$~ [>he}$ } drefitt>je8io tbt prepktis: whence they coUcfly that ~~" "" that prophets, and preachers of the Wotdi ought to be judged by fuch as thcmfelves are, that is by Prophets and Preachers, and Pr«i«0' !«»- by none other. To this we fay, i. There **f M * 6 >* €l * 0)lvn Q famero givcthus another commen- tarie^upon that place,nghtly obferving,that the Apoftle there fpeaketh nothing of try- ing or judging the lpirits,but ©nely of the order, which is to be kept in the Church: for whereas in the Church of Corinth, the Prophets did prophecy tumultuoufly, ma- ny oi all of them at once, and would not give place one to another, this the vfpoftle coadcmneth,and will have the Prophets fo farre fubjeft to the Prophets, as that when one rifejh «p to prophecy, the reft may hold their peace, a . That this is the fenfc it is cleare , from the order and depart* dance of the Text, for v. 30. he comnaan- deth him that prophecieth in the Church to hold his peace, when any thing is revea- led to another Prophet that fittcth by, now this he enforceth by fourefeafbns. 1. Bc- caufefo they might all prophecy one by one, and they were miftaken, who thought that all could not prophecy, except many fpake at once. a. All that were in the Church might learne and all be comfor- ted, by every Prophet,which could aot be, except they projphecied feveraily one by one Clo 3 ) one. 3 • The S pints of the Prophets are not arrogant, bur humblie fubjed one to ano- ther,' each giving place to other. 4. God is not the Author of confufion, but of peace and order. CHAP. XIV. Of the Ordination of Ruling Elders, of the continuance of their Office, and of their maintenance. Touching the firft of thefe,it cannot bedenyed, but as Ele&ion to the Office , fo ordination to the exer- cife thereof, is a thing common both to Preaching and Ruling Elders. Howbeit m Scot/and imposition of hands is not ufed ia the Ordination of Ruling E ! Jors, as it is in the Ordination of Preaching Skiers , yet this is net to bee thought a defzd m their Ordination ; for impofirion ofhands is not In i.Tim.*.: an A<5t but a figne of Ordir-rion, neither is » 4* Exam: it aneceflary figne buri:> left free ; it is not P* r *2»p'**i therefore withorc reaibn^that^/^ injCbefa- loc ;*heol. de nitim, Gerard, Bucan, Juniiv^ Buter;* m <& mini fi* €Gcl * many other of cur learned Writers,yea the £* #l * 9 * Arch.U\hopotSfaUtodpc H \[ aKkeIdi~. A £J£u ftin valid and e %r\\ ?compleat, not oaely without the un&ion ^ ! g # i p.ufei in the Vjnaa CQurch^ but even with- out the laying on of hands, ufed ia the f £j- formedCwcbts. After the Ele&ion of K&- lingElders^ith the notice &c confent of the whole Church, there followeth with us a publiquede Agnation of the per Tons fo ele- &ed,andan authoritative or poteftativeMif- fion, Ordmatiois or Deputation of them unto their Presfyteriall functions, together with publique exhortation unto them, and prayer in the Church for them, which wee conceive to bee all that belongeth either to the eflence, or integrity of Ordination. I meane not to condemne Impofition of hands,nor any other convenienc figne,in the Ordination of %$ling elders, onely J in- tend to juftifie our owne forme, asfuffici- cnt. As for the maintenance and the continu- ance of the Oificeof Ruling Elders 5 wee love not unnecefTary Multiplication of qiieftions,let every Church doe herein what they find moft convenient. The manner of our Chnrdbin thefe things, is fuch, as bed befitteth the condition of the fame, & fuch as as cannot be in rcaion condemned, Neither is a ftiper.d, nor continuance in the Fundi* on till Death,eiIer.tiallto theMiniftery of the Church, but feparable from the fame. The Levites ofold fenednot 2talltitr.es, butbycourfe , and when they were 50. yearcs old, they were wholly libcrat, from the burden and labour (though not from the attendance) ofthe Lei itua/Iferxict , and Minifters , may (kill upon the Churches permiffion, for lawfull Reafons, and urgent Neceffities,be abfent a whole yeere,and lon- ger too,from their particular charges. The tApoftitSywhen they were firft fent through Judea^tookt no ftipend/J^^^. 1 0.8,9. Nei- ther did "PWtake any at Corinth, 1 Cor. f. % 18. The Minifters among the fralde*fes y worke with theit hands for their maintai- nance-The old Patriarchs were Trtefts and Treachers^o their families, and maintained themfelves'by the worke of their hands,fee- ding of Flockes, tilling the Ground,&.v> Thefc things I do not mention as RuIes,to be followed by us,but to fhew, that the in- tcrmiflion 5 ofthecxercife of the Miniftery, the vrant of maintainance and labouring with the hands, are not altogether repug- nant, nor inconfiftent, with the Nature of the vocation, of the Minifters of the word, O 2 but but in foroe cafes hie & nuncjXkV] bee moft approveable in them^much more in Ruling Elders. 1 he Revenues of our Church are fo fmall,that they cannot fpare, ftipends to Ruling Elders, which rmketh them willing to ferve without ftipends , and left they fhould be overburdened, with this their fer- vicc 3 thou *h they be choien and called to be Ruling Elders as tongas they Hvz, at leaft till they in^rit^o bz depofed, yet our hooke ofpolicie alio aretli them, that eafe of inter - miifian andfervmgby courfe, which was alio ved to the £K>*V*!ofold in the Temple. T > The double honour which the Apoftle 1 \ '*' ''commanded} to giveunto Elders that rule vrell,n^c.deth not to be expounded of main- tainance and obedience ; for by double ho- nour vvee may either fimply underftand, much honour 3 or by way of comparifon double honour,i» refped of the Widowes, K>id t v,i . whom hee had before commanded to ho- nours Calvin expoundeth the place. Both thefe J interpretations doth Oecumenim gite upon the fame place. The other queftion propounded by D. Field concerning Ruling Elders, (hall have a refolution in that which follovreth,and fo J will proceed, conceiving that which bath beene (io 7 ) bcene faid for Ruling Elders, fhall fatiifie fuch as defire to underftand , though nothing can fatiffie the malicious, nor them who are willingly ignorant. Here endeth thefirffi Booh, &&S^&4^tete^*^S£&$+ S±» | y ww^w^^^^^w^?^ O 3 THE (io3) THE Second Part, concerning the Aflcmblies of the Church of Scotland, and Authority thereof. Chap. I. Of popular Government in the Cburei). THere bee fome that call in queftion the Warrant and Authority oi: claflTicall/'r^^^r/^ofprovinciall Synods and National! AflTemblies, as they are ufed and maintained in the Church of Scotland. I meane not the Pradaticall fa&i- on,whomwe fetafide, but even fome who areas ^ntiepifcopall as we are. The Scru- pulofity of fuch(at leaft of many fuch)hcrein doth C wc conceive) proceed not from any per* (109) perverfncffe of mind, but oncly from ccr- taine miftakings, which better information may remove. But firft ofall wee require thofe, whom we now libour to fetiffierfocondefcend up- on another point, viz. that the excrcife of Eccleiiafticall power and jurisdiction in a particular Congregation, ought" not to bee committed to the whole collective body thereof,but is peculiar to the Elder (hip re- prefenting the fame ; for in vainedoc wee debate the other point concerning Presby- teries and Aflembhes, if this latent preju- dice ft ill occupy their minds, that the Go- vernment of the Church muft needs be po- pular , exercifed by the colleftive body, which happily may in fome fort bee done within the bounds of a well limitedCongre- gation, but is manifeftly icconfiftent with clafificall Presbyteries &Synods,becaufethe collective Eodies ofall particular Congre- gations within the bounds of a fhire , of a Province , of a Nation , cannot bee ordinarily , nor at all ordinatly , af- fembled together 3 and if they could, I (lie) I belceve that the Separates thcmfelves would in that cafe allow a dependcncie or lubordination of particular Congregations unto the more gcncrall C^g re g^ion. So that the point of popular government being once cleared , it fhall facilitate the other queftion concerning the Subordination of particular Elderjhtps to claffeicall Pref- ixes ies &c Synods .Now there are good rea- fons why this popular government or exer- cife by jurifdi&ion by all can not be admit- ted into a Congregation. Firft , in every Cbriftian Congregation, there are fome Rulers/ome ruled 3 fomeGo- \ernors, fome governed , fome that com- mandjfome that obey, as is manifeft from Httr.l'i* 17. i- Thef. 5.12. i.Tim^.ij m But if the whole Congregation have the Rule and Government^ who then ft) ail be ruled and governed} It will be anfwered,that in the ex- ercife of jurisdiction, every Member is to a& according to it's ovvne rondition , the head as the head,the eye as the eye,&c. that the Rulers and Governors of a Congrega- tion are to have the principal! condu& of bufinefle, and to bee Heads, Eares,Mouths, &g.to the C on g r ^g^ion. But (Ill) &\xt this fimile maketh rather for Us then againft us, for though every member bee ufefull and Aeadableinthebody according to it's owne condition, yet every member neither can nor doth exercife thofc princi- pal! actions of feeing, hearing, tafting,&c.'. 1 fay not that other members cannot fee, heare, tafte, as the eyes, eares, and mouth doe, but they cannot at all fee, heare, nor tafte. So if the Rulers of a Congregatioa be as the eyes, eares, mouth,&c. then other members of the Congregation cannot at all aft thofe anions of government which they ad . Hence it is that fome,vvho make the whole Congregation thefirftiubje£b of the power of fpirituall Jurifdidion,doe notwithftandiag hold that the whole Church doth exercife the faid jurifdiftion as ?rizcqium quod y the Elderfhip alone, as Princifium quo, even as the whole mai* feeth, as Principium quod, the eye alone, as Frincipium quo^xA fe of all the reft. Thus s . it doe they put a difference betwixt the pow- dpf&iUfymt cr it felfc, and the exercife of it, afcribing *« c * *• the former to the coHe&ive body of the Church, the latter to the reprefentative : knowing that otherwife they could not preferve the diftin&ion of Rulers and ruled iq the Church, P Se- (112) Secondly>it is well knowne that inCon- gregations the greater part are not fit to exercifc Jurifdiftion, for they can not ex- amine the Do&rine and abilities of Mini- fters, how fhould they ordaine them? They can not judge of queftions and controver- fies of faith, qovv fhall they determine the fame I They can not find out and difco- ver Hereticks, how fhall they excommuni- cate them ? It is anfwered that this evil proceedcth from another, viz. That the is too much flothand overfight in the a miffion of fiich as are to be members of i%4os efi Congregation, and that they would be fit tcripur&itA cnoU gh to doe their duty, if they were all i9 2ulm% Saints 5 tlle y meane appearantly, and in the rinMoj in h* • e P h - h i • But fay we againe, i . Why primiifu* may wee not hold that when the Apoftfe EfpfioUpar* writeth to the Saints at Rome, at Corinth, tibusita/Au* @> Cm fo e meanethnot, that all who were in 4 at Apofto- thofe Churches, were either truely orap- IwSAnquAm pearant j y Saints ( for fome wicked ones ttftnt cttm t ' aere were amon g them, and manifeftly vx- tJfent'laiuU-tiouSj Rom. 16, 17, 18. I Cor. 5.^. xi.) biUs qnidam But that his meaning is, to direft bis Epi- eornm, faith ftles to fo many as were Saints at Rome^fa- Anguftine r inth, &c. mentioning them alone ? be- writip to caufc tQ thcm aGc j tQ CQne ^ t j lem di( j ft*''*** ^ Qq£ (n 3 ) God fend his word forableffing, it being fent to others that they mzygoe and fall backward, and be broken, ana ] feared \ and ta- ken^ the Prophet fpeaketh. 2. If it fhould be granted that the Apoftie giveth the name of Saints to all and every one that were in the Churches of Rome y Corintb, and EpheCus yet Mr. Ainfrarth himfelfc anfwering Mr! Bernard holdeth that they are called Saints by external! calling onely,wherewith many are called who are not chofen^and who have no appearant markes ofeleftiofl. Others fay that they vrere called Saints, in refpe& of their baptifme, wherein they were all confecrated and devoted to God- Some fay that they were all Saints,in refped of their ' profeffion. 3 . Howfoever it was that they were ail called Saints, yea put the cafe they fcad beene alltruely Saints/urely their £n- &ification can not import their fitnefle to exercife jurifdi&ionin the Church. The formcrisafpeciall grace of the holy Spi- rit given to one for his owne Salvation: The other is a common gift of the Spirit^ given for the benefit of the Church. Thii#y,it were mc paffible toettrcift fe fUSiftion by« whokCongregatiw wftfeout * * great if C"4) great confufion anddiforder : therefore this way cannot be from God, who is not the author of confufion but of order. If it be anfwered, that order may be kept in a Congregationexercifing Iurifdi&ion as well as in a Nationally at leaft in a Oecu- menicall Synod, where there will be as greatamultitude> and perad venture grea- ter, then there is ia a well-bounded Con- gregation . Wee reply it is not fo much the multitude, which fhould makedifor- der in the exercile of Jurifdi&ion by a whale Congregation (though indeed in many Coagregationsthe multitude alone would hinder order) as the rudeneffe of the vulgar fort , who if they fhould all fpeakc their judgement, what a monftrous and un- avoidable confufion fhould there be ? The members of Nationall and Oecumenicall Councils,are fuppofed to be men of know- ledge anddi&retion y and fo may be kept in good order , much more eafily then a rude multitude in the Congrega- tion. They who are of another judgement ob- jcSt to us : FirfV, our Saviours precept* tM&tth. 1 8. 17. where hee biddeth t*$ not tetftht Elderfhrfb, but tell the£hurck. An£ % the Church he meaheth* the tep&fem** C«5) tivc body of t^cChurch,even as that which was fpoken to theElders of//>*?/,£W. 1 2 . 2 1 . was faid to be fpoken by all the Con- gregation of Jfrael, lb. verfe 3 . and he who su P f * P' Tt £ was judged by the Elders , was faid to bee ?!?*•* "^ judged by the Congregation, /*/. 20. <£. More of this place we lay elfewhere.Next they obje& the example of excommunica- tion by the wholeCongrcgation ofCorinthy , for the Apoftle vheweth that it was the du- ty of the whole Congregation, to caft out $hat rnceftuous man. 1 Cor. 5.13. 4.9.13. f n like manner hee writeth to them all, to receive him againe, when he had repented, 2 fir, 2. 6. S, ?. Anfwer. Whether 'the power of excommunication in aBu pri- ma feu quo ad ejje y did belong to the col- left ive body of the Church oiCorbnh or not, is a queftion controverted, and to this day fubjudlce lis eft, yet even thole who hold the affirmative part of the queftiori> doe notwith landing (ay, that i* ABb'Utum* dofeuqucauonerariy the power pe rained ondy to the reprefentaf ive body of that Church which was theirPresbytcry: vhich is alfo i ^onfirm^d by 2, Cor. 2. 6. where the AportJe fp?ikmg of the cenfureof ^ that iuceiluouS mar_,,faith not, that it was P \ w* infliftcd, tV wr +Jil*p y bm ini w *\nb<* rot by all, but by many, rfec was judged and Sentenced by thofe «$**&*, that is by the Pallors and Elders of Corinth, bowbeit the execution & finall act of that high cenfure, was to be with the confent and in the pre* tencc of the Congregation. Thirdly, it is objected, that tMattbUs was chofen by the whole number of the Difciples, *A&. I. and fo were the Dea- cons chofen, AU\ 6. and Elders in every City were made/*?' #«w><*> 5 the Congre- gation fignifying their fuffrages by the lif- ting up or ftretching forth of their hands* AB. 14.23. Therefore Jurifdi&ion ought to be exercifed by whole Congregations. Anfw. This Argument faikth two waies, 1 . Though ordination of Office-bearers in the Church be an a& of Jurifdi&ien, it doth not appeare that the ele&ion of them is an a yet the alleadged examples prove no more but that this aft of jurifdi&ion is to be exercifed by the whole body, in Ecclejia eonfiitutnda, non eoujiituta. It may bee fo indeed in Churches at their fir ft erc&ion, but being once ere&ed, and all neceflary Office-bearers therein planted,from thence- forth the ele&ion of Elders pertaineth to tkcTrestyterjito tbeVaftor and Elders, a$ ^M^«A Zepperus writeth,though ftillw it h the con- ' l ' c *t* '*• lent of the Church. Fourthly, it is obje&ed, that what con- cerned all ought to be done with the con- sent of all. Anfw. Wee hold the fame, but the confent of all is one thing, the ex- crcife of jurifdi&ion by all, another thing. isfin.swortb in one of his Epiftles to Paget, condemneth theElderfhips fitting and jud- ging matters apart fromtheCongregation. Arrorje >t*£> Taget anfwereth,that though the Elder (hip 2 3 * fit apart to judge, yet before any fentence be given for the cutting off of any offen- der, or for any other thing which con- eerneth all, matters are firft propoun- ded to the whole Church , and their prayer? and confent required. AnA ("5) And furely this forme of proceeding fhi- neth forth to, us iathat^poftolicall Synod at Jerufalern, for the A pofiles and Elders, met, fate, and voiced apart from the whole Church, as Cdvin noteth from Ail. 1 5,£. and they alone judged and decreed Ail. 1 6, 4. In the meane while were mat ters made knowne to the whole Church, and done with the confent ofaM, A8. 15:22, If it be objected from verfe r 2. that the whole multitude was prefent in the Synod. I anfwer, we may underftand with 'Pifcator the multitude there fpoke of tebe the mul- titude of the Apofites &cElders, r.s.orif we ihould underftand by the multitude tic whole Church, this proveth onelythat the whole Church heard the queftiondifpiited* not that they were all prefent at the judging and determining of it. If it be further ob- je&ed that the Synodall Epiftle came not onely from the ApoftUs and SMers Jout from the brethren,that is, the whole Church. The anfwer iseafie. The Brethren are mentioned, becaufe it was cfone with their knowledge, confent, and applanfe. To fay no mare, wee would gladly bury this controverfie about popular govern- ment, in eternall filence and oblivion , and to this end wc are content it be packt up, in dip; in the words which the Separates t hem- felves (doubtlefle perpending theReafons above-mentioned ) have fet downe in the i4«Article of theConfeffion oi'thc/r Faith publiiTied,^^o 161 6. for this they hyjvee fudge each proper Pajlorjnay ad ought to bee trufiedby the Congregation, mth the mana- ging of all points of their Scclefiafticall af- faires and Gozernment 3 fofarre y ihat he with his afiiftants doe execute and adrninifler the fame lyetfo that in matters of waight , the whole Congregation doe fir ft under fi and tier e- of before any thing befinijhed, and the final! aft bee done in th e pre fence fifth e whole Con- gregation, and alfo that they ( the [aid 'Co*- oregationj dee not rnanifefily dijjent there- from. We are heartily content,that Congre- gations doc fully enjoy all the Chriftiaa hberty 5 which here is pleaded for in their bchalfc,- yea and much more alfo ; for the afftftants fpoken of in thefe words of the Confeflion, are other Pallors and Collea- gues^ any there be, in the fame Congrega- tion, as will bee evident to any that rcadeth that Artidcv But wee are content that the Afiiftants fpoken of be under ftood to bee %filing EldenMon if the Authors of that Confefsion thought the Chriftian liberty of a Congregation fufficiently .preferved, Q when (120) when the Piftor or Pallors tliercot Joe manage the weighty Ecclcfiafticall affaires andgovernm3iir,vvit:h the kno v ledge, md (at leaft tacite) content of the Congregation it ielfe,then do * we not onely fulficiently and abundantly prcferve the liberty of the Con- grcgation,while as not the Pauor orPaftors thereof alone , but fiindry Ruling Elders ; alfo,reprefenting the Congregation , doc manage the affaires aforefaid, the fangre- ^//^vvithallunderftanding thereof, and confenting thereto, T^a^ it not Exprejji. I doe not thinke but thole of the Separation at this time, will eafily aflcnt to this refolu- tion and reconcilement of the controverfie, and fo much the rathcr,becaute ( I beleeve ) they thcmtelves doe teclude from the exer- cife of jurifdiftion in the Goaaregation]oot\\ children under age, becaufe of their defed of Judgement, and women,becaufe they are forbidden to fpeake in the Church,and whe- ther they (eclude any other, I knovv i or,but fince according to their owne Tenets,fome muft be fecluded,arrd the power given to the In M*t,\& fourth , muftintheexercifeof it be re- '• drained' to fome m the Church, it is better to fay with Aegidiut Hunnim 5 that when C^rijl remittetb us to the Church. Mat. 1 3. j 7. He meaneth the .prime and cl) left ! faction is this, alfo wee fay withZepperw, guod (i Ecclefia tfc.But if the church, faith l^e, will not approve the fentence of Excommu- nication^ nor hold it valid, and they fee many difaoreein^amona themftli'iSj andfehifmes and greater evil's in the Church to follow this fentence of Excommunication: the Elders fh til not proceed to Excommunication, but ihall pa- tient ly fufier what cannot with the good leave of the church be amended. la the meane while they (hall publikely and privately admonifh andexho>t. So faith Zanchiuf y that vrirhout 7 *j V*W>n rhe confent of the church no man ought to i*35^#£ be excommunicated. Ub 3, c^trl The B. of Spalato^nd before him,4ugu- *&•*«***. Jline hath given the reafon hereof, becaufe the end of excommunication cannot be at- Q^ 2 tained,if (12 2) if tW Church doc not content thereto ; for the end is, that the offender miy bee taken with feare and fhame,when he findeth him- felfeabliorred andaccurfed by the whole Church,fothat it fhallbe in vain to excom- municate him, from whom rhe Multitude in the Church refufc to abftra& their com- munion. I conclude, that in fuch cafes ; though the Paftors and Elders have the power of juri(di#ion > it is not to cxcrcije the fame. CHAP. II. Of the independencies of the Elderships of particular Congregations. WE E have now rolled away one ftone of offence , but there is another in our way .It were moft ftrange, if the col- lective body of a Congregation, confifting it may bee of i o,' 2 o, 3 o, or 40 perfons, according to the grounds of thefe with whom we dealc , fhould bee permitted to exercife independently all Eccleafifticall Jurifdi&ion .' bur it is almoft as great a Pa- radox,to fay,that the reprafentative of every Congregation,which is the Elderfhip ther- of,confifting it may be of a Paftor,and two or three Ruling Slders^ ought indepeadent- lytoexercifeth-e ioreiaid juriiuifhon in all points. I am debtor to D. Fit Id . tor anfrer ing one of thofe queftions before propounded, concerning ^2//'^ Sjdtrs&d here it fills in my hand. He afketh whether the power of Church-government and jurisdiction, ccth belong to the Paftor and Elders of every Congregation, or to the Pallors and Elders of many Congregations joyrei together in a Common Presbytery. I be'e eve his ex- pectation was, that while as we would fayle through betwixt the CariSdis of Epifcopall tyranny,and the Scjlla of popular Amrchy, wee fhould not know how to direct our eourfe,but fhould certainly either bee (wal- lowed up in the waves of mighty difficul- ties, or fplit our felves uponhid' Rockesof divifion.Our danger,I hope,is not ibgre«t as he did imagine , for we hold that the prrti- cular Elderfhips of ievcrail Congregations have their owne power and authority of Church-government, but with afubordina- tion unro the common or greater Presbyte- ry, whofc power is fuperior and of a larger extent- Firft,thenwe thai] t^ke into con fiderati- on, the bounds of the power of particular Eldcrfhips, and* how the fame may be faid to be independent,and how not,for this pur- £.3 P° fc pofe, I ftull give foure diftin&iofis out of k P ark errand to theft I (hall acUe other foure of Thefirftdiftin&ionis , betwixt things The Eiders which arc proper and peculiar to one Con- cur t> ..uoasof Vregation, and things which arc common to Hone writioz^ ° , r s . . to cypruu cot m ^y •' the former pertamcth to the parti- ccming fome cular Elderfhip, the latter to the common C'%fe Elderfhi P ; Whence it commeth that in yiamtnimn bL Scotland the cafes of ordination,fufpenfion, ^ ^ro^ r/, ^ c P ^ ti0n5 and Excommunication, are de- v^rV'iin^termined in the greater Pres(yteries,becmk muitos txamh\t doth not concerne one Congregation a- Imitouoml'f ^ onc >but many, w ho be taken into the com- I jum vdutur mon Presbytery^ and who be put out of the £*&&**>» 'fame; neither doth the Excommunication Itntertiim dt- r ' \ *-* cert, fn-w/^of a finner concerne oneiy one Coagregati- grande crimen n, but the Neighbouring Congregations %m lt "itffi * t0 %le commonly fuppo- exife quontjmftidjthc (inner doth often haunt & converfe. *"&**"* fi Cjp*** fpeaking of the admiffion of fome ^Mui'flw^^ had fallen,ind who had no recommen- piurhnurum vi- dation from the CMartyrs to be received a- ttTJrZ*?£z* mQ ^ referreth the marter to a common Epifi 3 \Mn mectmg,and his reafon is, becauie it was a dut«m.L common caufe , and did not concerne aferr y nor one church onel) Sec lib % i % Ef. 14. Thefeconddiftin&ion is betwixt Con- gregations areeations, ubicbknve a competent and veil - Qualified elderfbip^&fmallCongregatwns^ho have but few o^ice-bearers^id thofe (tt may £ e \ mtMicienth Me fa Church-govern- m ent intbu cafe of u^icier.cie.aCongre- 9 atio'nmay not independent ly& hfelfe, eser- afejnrifdiawh *ndnot in re propn?,/«t* Parker. He diftinguifheth betwixt rhe cafe of right adminiftration^nd the cafe of aberra- t In -whatfocver liberty, a Congregation hath in the former cafe, furcly in the latter S needs be fubjcS and fuborJinate. // t^cuUrElde^ips doe nghtly manage tberr ? om e matters of Church-government the grea- ter Tresbytery fbnB not need for a leg tme (it may b for fame year* ) to intermeddle m £ Z their matter „hich»eekno„bj esfe- rienceinourowne Churches. Hee maketh a diftinaion betwixt the flnf aopellation and the cafe, A ««& ad- 2£Sr2Si mala pr.f^a. Thodgh the " WFlderfhip hath proceeded aright, P u rtl T? t conf ft of able and fuificient men, a uVkhHelfcvvron % ed,and fo appeale,then ^Seo^oxio^oahigherconfiftons (1*6) jth Parker, as the Counci 11 of #*/■«& orthuncth audience tnuftjtiot bee denyed to him who entreatcth for it* Aifl ccch. So faith Ztffe? 1 ** fpe^king of the fame tih }.c*p.t* purpofcr,**/!' is integrum quoquefit adfuferi- ores oradusfrovocarCy fi in inferior is gradm - fente/itia, ant decreto aliquid dejideret. 5 . Adde unto thefe a diftin&ion betwixt a Congregation , lying alone in anlland> Province, or Nation, and a Congregation bordering with filler Churches- Ifeithcr there be but one Congregation in a King- dome or Province, or if there be many farre diftant one from another, (b that t heir Pa- ftors and Elders cannot ordinarily meetc together, then may a particular Congrega- tion doe many things by it felfealone 5 which it ought not to doe,where there are adjacent neighbouring Congregations,together with which, it may, and itiould have a common Presbytery. 6. Let us put a difference betwixt the fub- ordinarion of one Congregacion to ano- ther>or of one Elderftiip to another v 8nd the fubordination of any Congregation, and of the C»7) the Eiderfhip thereof to a fuperior,Pre r tery or Synod made out of many Congre- garions,as one provincial! Synod is not iiib- jeS to anorher Provincial! Synod , yet al! the Provincial! Synods in the Nation arc fubjeft to the Nationall Synod, fo it is alfo with the ordinary confiftories, one particu- lar Elder (hip is not fubjeck to another, yet all the particular Elderfliips within the bounds of the common Presbytery are fub- jett to the fame. So that there is a va ft dif- ference betwixt this fubordination which ;ve maintaine, arid the fubordination of al! the Pari fhes in a Diocefle to the Prelate and his Cathedral!. Where Dtuname doth object that all the Parifhes of geneva are Hierarchically fubjeS to the Presbytery in i:def\e iaitQ ne,t? er •acrt eture one r»ay be fu&jeS ^' , f-1 . re bimfelfe, fir the Tasifhes, each for their oitne party and that alihe^are this fame Pres- httry. And gtitcVyConfjisrium &c. for the Confifio' t Calked/all Church is ah ex. t email meeting a hers dijiinR and ftp* at t • fro?n the rural/ 0*rchei y nhich are no pari thereof, this cj&net be faid of the \Presijten $f Geneva* 7. Wee muft diftinguifh betwixt a ae~ pendance abfolute^nd, in fome refpe" Prosbyterie we find thrice in the New Teftamenr, twice of the Jemfb Presbytery at Hierufalem^-Luke 22.66. tsfti. 22. 5. and once of the Chriftian Presbytery. 1 . Tim. 4. 14. Vjglect not the gift that is in thee , which ww given thee by prophecy ^ with the lay- De f res h* '♦ ing en of the hands of the Presbytery. Sutli- l ^ 2i ^ 7 *" vius and Dounamc have borrowed, from Bel- ^ m j n ^ larmine, two falfe glomes upon this place. f oc 1.2 c. They fay by vtrfarifi* feere 5 vve may un- derftand either an amenably of Bifliops , or the Office of a Presbyter, which was given to Timothy. To thefe abfurdities Jet one o( ^^^t ?&% 2 - their owne fide anfwer. where.is faith D. r » l, '/- ld1, F$rbejJe,fome have expounded the Presbytery in this place to be a company ofBijhops, unlejje by Bifh&s thou would ugderft and ftmfle Tres- byters, it is a violent interpret At ion -, and an infolent meaning. And whereas others have vnderftood the degree it felfe of Elder jljip, this cannot ft and) for the degree hath not bands, De pmb } ^ but hands tremens. J find in Sutlivim , ai. R 3 third third glofle. He faith, that the word Prct- bytcrie in this place fignifieth the Minifters ck the word, non juris vinculo fed utcunque colleHoSy inter quos etiam ssfpoftoli erant. Anf. i . /f fo> then the occafionall meeting of Minifters, be it in a journey, or at a wed- ding, or a buriall, &o fhall all be Presby- teries,for then they are utcunque celleBi f 2 . The Apofties did put the Churches in bet- ter order,then to leave impofition of hands, or any thing oi that kind to the uncertainty of an occafionall meeting. 3, The Apofties were freely prefent in anyPresbyterie 3 wherc they were for the time, becaufe the over- fight and care of all the Churches was layd upon them : Paftors and Elders were nece- fiarily prefent therein, and did by vertue of their particular vocation meete together Presbyterially , whether an Apoftlewerc with them, or not. No other fenfe can the Text fuffer but that by Preshyterit we fhould underftand corjfejfm Preslyterorum^. meeting of Elder s y and fo doe Camero and Forkjje themfelves expound it. Sutlivius objcð to the con- trary,that the Apoftle Paul did lay on hands upon Timothy , which he provethboth from z.Tim. 1 . and, becaufe extraordinary gifts were given by that laying on of hands. Anf. There is an cxprefle difference rpade betwixt Pauls mi) *?Auk laying on of his handstand the Pretbj* teries laying on of their had*. Of the former it is faid, that Timothy received the gift, vrhich was in him, ^* by the laying n of -P**A hands, but he received the gift**"* with the laying on of the hands of the Pres- byter />, as *DiJocUvius noteth. But faith SutliviuSy Timothy being an Evangelift ( as you hold) how could hee be ordained by the Presbyter it > Anf. I. Though the Tresfy- terie did neither give him ordination to bee an Evangelift, nor yet conferre by the lay- ing on of their hands extraordinary gifts up- on him , yet did they lay on their hands,as fetting to the the Sealc and Teftimony, aid commending him to the grace of God, even asccrtaineProphetsandTeachers layd hands on Tdi/lani Barrtai.iSy and Ansnias alfo be- fore that time had laid his hands upon^W. 2 . The Presiyterie might or daine Timothy to hemEldcr. Jffo be he w.is ordxinedan El- der before he j»a$ or da '.^o. Doftor Forbejfe ailed- j rcn . i,b. u geth that the word Presbytery for fifteen hun- p.M4-M* dred yeares after Chrift , did fignifie no 0- ther thing in the Church > then a Diocefan Synod. But herein (ifheehad underftood himfelfe) he fpakc not fo much ngainft Pref- byteries, as againft Prelats • foraDioceffe of old was bounded within one City. Turn- LiS. 4 .ep. 2. que ]amp+idem per tmnes provincras ejr per nrbcsftnguUs brdwati fmt Epifccpi, &c. faith Cyprian. It was neceffary to ord:.inc B : fiups, ^TfottWtovrj faith Chryftftome y fpcaking In 1 Tim. of die primitive times 5 yea, in Country Vil- hom - x * lages alfo were Biftops , who were called '/e^i-rtr/.tTT't 5 that is, -^otfAo) l^fncow 01 3 rurali BifhopSj whofe Epifcopall office though li- mited ,yet; was allowed in the Councellof Ancyrdy can. 1 3 . and the Councell o&Anti- ocht&n%. ry 10. Socmen recordeth that Hift. tripart. l. the Village Mrjuwa, which was fometime C3M * a fuburbe of the City Gaz* , was not fubje or conveniently could meet toge- ther into ope place for the worfhip of God. 2. that in thofe Cities there was a plurality not onely of ruling Elders, but of the Mini- ftersoftheword. 3. That notwithftanding hereof, the whole number of Chriftians within the Citie, was one Church. 4. That the whole number, and feverall companies of Chriftians within one Citie, were all gover- ned by one common Presbytery. The fe- cond of thefe doth follow upon the firfiyand the fourth upon the third. The firft propofirion may bee made good byindu&ion of particulars*, and firft, it is more then evident of Icrufalem, where wee findcunto iaoDifciplcs, A&. 1. 15. added 8000. toco, by Pettrs two Sermons, Ad. 2. 41. and 4.4. Befides whom, there were yet mere multitudes added, Aft.5. 14. And after that alfo, wee read of a further multiplication of the Difciples, A61.6. 1 . by occafion whereof the feaven Deacons were chofen and ordai- ned : which maketh fome to conjefture, that there were feven congregations , a Deacon for every one. Certainly there were rather more then fewer, though wee cannot deter- mine how many. It is written of SMfurta, that the people with one accord gave heed unto Philip, Act. 8.6. even all of them both men and women, from the leaft to the grea- teft, who had before given heed to Simon : of thefe all it is faid, that they beleeved Philips and were baptifed,verf.io. 12. which made the Apoftles that were at IcrujaUm, when they heard that the great City Samarid had received the word of God,to fend unto them Peter and /<^,the harveft being fo great,that Philip was not fufficient for itf/.iq.Ofltppa it is laid , that many beleeved in the Lord. AS. 9. 4-. Of Ant och w*. read, that agreat number be- leeved, and turned to the Lord, Aft. 1 1 .2 1 . Of fconitm that a great multitude both of the Jewes, and alfo of the Greekes, beleeved 5 - Aft.14.i-Of Liddajhat all who dwelt therc- in^turned to the Lord, Aft. 9. 3 j . Of Beres^ S 3 that ei at 7>& tathc rejl inThyattra : as if he would fay, faith far eta, Ttbi Ffptcoptcum celle^fs & relujMccetut diet. Paul writeth to the Biihop at Phdippt , Phil. 1.1. and notwithftanding that there was al- ready acertaine number of Bifhops or Pa- ftors in that City, yet the Apoftle thought it necetfary to fend unto them Epaphroditus T alfo alfo, Phil. 2.25. being fhortly thereafter to fend unto them Timothcw , vcrfeip. yeato come himfelfe, verfe 24. fo that there was no fcarcity oflabourers in thatharveft. Ep.iphrds and Archtppus were Paftors to the Church at Colofle, and who befides we cannot tell, but Paul fent unto them alfo fychicus^ and Ontfi- ww, Col. 4. 7.9. "Now touching the third propofition, no man who underftandeth, will imagine that the multitude of Chriftians within one of thofe great Cities was divided into as many pariftics as there were meeting places for worfhip. It isapointofcontroverfic, who did beginne the divifion of parifhes ; but whofoever it was, whether Evartftu*, or Hi- grnm^ox. Dmyfim, certaine it is, that it was notfo from the beginning, Imeane in the daies of the Apoftles, for then it was all one to fay,w every City ^ov to fay,** eve t j church. That which is *«trfcWx^ Tit.i. 5. is x^r'!*- kkhtsmA&s 14.2 ?. This is acknowledged by all Anti-prelaticall writers fo farre as I know, and by the Prelaticall writers alfo. The laft propofition , as it hath not beene denyed by any, fo it is fufficiently proved by the former , for that which made the multi- tude of Chriftians within one City to be one Church , was their union under and their fubjeftion fubjcAion unto the fame Church governc- ment and governours. A multitude may bee one Church, though they doe not meete to- gether into one place for the worfhip of God: for example, ic may fall forth, that a congre- gation cannot meet together into one , but into divers places , and this may continue fo for feme ycares together , either by reafon of perfecution, or by meanes of the plague, or becaufethey have not fuch a large p rifh- Church as may containe them ah , fo that a part of them muft meete in fome other place:but a multitude cannot be one Church, unlefTe tney communicate in the fame Church government, and under the fame Governours, (by one Church I meane one Ecdefiafticall Republike-,) even as the like •union under civill government and gover- nours maketh one corporation I when the Apoftle fpeaketh to all the Bifliops of the Church o\Ephefu* , hee exhorteth them all Aa$ 20. »t; to take heed to all the flocke, «rrfr» wmpli, over which the holy Ghoft had made them ovcrfeers , fo that the whole was go- verned bvthe common counfell and advice of cheE'dcrs, as Htcrem* fpeaketh ; for the fame reafon we fay not the Churches, but 'the -Church o^" 4*/ltrdam, becaufe all the Paltors ^rnd Lldcrs have the charge and T 2 govern- ( i*6) governcment of the wholes From all which hath heene faid , Iinfcrre this Corollary, 7 hat in the times of the Apo* files, theVreibyterj^wbich vtms the ordinary Court oflu> ifdiftion .which didordtim^ depefe, excom* unicotc &c. dtdconfift offo many P*- Jlors and Elders , as could mth convent ency meet e ordinarily together , .which is a paternc and warrant for our CUpcaU Presbyteries. I confeffe there might he in fomeiownes no greater number of Chriftians then did meet together in one place, notwithftanding whereof the Paftor or Paftors and Elders of that congregation , might and did manage the government of the feme, and excrcife ju- rifdi&ion therein. I confeffe alfo that ituhofe Cities wherein there was a greater number of Chriftians then could meet together into one place for the worfhipof God , the Pref- bytery didconfiftofthe Paftors and Elders within fuch a City : for it cannot be proved that there were at that time any Chriftian congregations in Landward Villages (the perfecution forcing Chriftians to choofe the (belter of Cities, for which realon many are of opinion that the Infidells in thofe daies were called P'jww', becaufe they alone dwelt in Vsgk) and if there had beene any fuchadjaccnt to Cities , wc muft thinkc the fame (i47) fame fhould have beenc fubjcft to the com- mon Presbytery , their owne Paftors and Elders being apart thereof. Howfoevcr it cannot be called in queftion ? that the Presby- tery in the Apoftolicall Churthes,was made up of as many as could conveniently "^meete together, for" managing the ordinary matters of Jurifdiftion and Church- govemmpenr. The Pallors and Elders of divers CoSes could not convenienxly.havefuchordirfjry meetings, efpecially in the time of iperfecuti- on •, only the Pafto.rs and Elders within one £iey had fuch conveniericy . And fo to con- clude, wedoenotforfake, but follow the paterne, wheawejoyne together a number.- of Paflorsand Elders out of the congregati- ons in a convenient- circuit , to make up a common Presbytery 5 which hath power and* authority to governe thofe congregations ; for if the Presbytery which we find in thofc Cities wherein the Apoftles planted Chur- ches, bee a fare paterne for our GlafTicall Presbyteries (as wee have proved it to bee) then it followeth undeniably that thrautho- rity of Church-government, of excommuni^ cation, ordination, &c. which did belong to that Primitive Presbytery , dothalfobe- longto thofeour ClaflTicallor greater Prct bytcrics. T3 CHAP, (148) CHAP. IV. Of the authority of Synods Provincial! and Nationail. lOuching Synods , I (hall firft (hew what their power is, and thereafter give arguments for the fame. The power of Jurifdidtion which wee afcribe un- to Synods , is the fame in nature and k ndc with that which belongethto Presbyteries, but with this difference, that Presbyteries doe exercife it in an ordinary way, and in matters proper to the congregations wlhin their circuit. Synods doe exercife this pow- er in matters which are common to a whole province, or nation -, or if in matters proper to the bounds of one Presbytery , it is in an extraordinary way '\ that is to fay, when ei- ther Presbytery hath erred in the managing of their ord^nd. -difcpflfoOTity in a Nation prpk fing one Religion, it is fit that Nationally nods give certaine directions and rules even . concerning thefe rites and ciFCumftances, not having therein an Arbitrary or Autocratorke. power, but being -alwayes tied to follow the I rules forefaid. The Criticke power q( a Synod 5 is.not a L9rdly imperious .dpminiefkig over the fiockeofChrift, \vhichisnot to bee ruled with force and cruelty •, but ic is the power of fpirituall cenfures , as excommunication, deposition, and the like, moft neceffary for the reprefling of herefie, errour, obftinacie in wicked nefle, and fcandals, otherwife in- corrigible. Without this power, fchifmes and offences could not bee cured, but fhould the more increafc v . whileas liberty is left to heretickes, fchifmatickes, and obftinate per- fons, without any cenfure to pefterand di- ftinb a whole Nation, without any regard to the conftkutions of a Natio/iall Synod. But moy one fay,if the Decrees of a Synod concerning matters of Faith or Worfhip,. may and ought to bee examined by the fure rule of the word of God,and onely. to be re- ceived when they doe agree therewith •. and if alfo the conftkutions of a Synod in extcr- nall circumftances, doe not binde, except ex dp$ & t***, and propter ftft* m*»f**di cmfsii or, as Divines tpeak. %p cm fit funis* U & cmtmfXw , and not for the meerc will or authoriry of a Synod - 7 and if therefore all Chriftians are by the private judgement of Chriftian difcrcrion, following the light of Cods Word and Spirit, to try and examine all decrees and conftitutions of any Synod whatfocver, to know whether they may law- fully receive the fame, as our Divines main- tainc and prove againft Papifts. If thefc things be fo, it may fceme contrary to Chri- ftian liberty, and to the Doftrinc of Prote- ctant Writers , that Synods fhould excrcife the forefaid Criticke power , or inflift any fpirituall cenfures , at lcaft upon thofe who profeffe, that after examination of the de- crees or conftitutions, they cannot bceper- fwaded of the lawfulncffc of the fame. Anf. i .Our Divines Wy thofe their tenents, meanenat to open a doore to difobedience and contempt of the ordinances of a Synod, butotmly to oppughe the Popifterrpur con- ceding the binding power of Ecckfiafticall lawes,by the fote will and n?Vcd authority of the law-maker,& that Chriftian propleought not to fcek any further re*foh or motive of o- bedience. 2. ASynodmuft ever put a dif- ference betwixt thofe who out of a reall fcruplc fcruplc of confcicnce , doc in a modcft and peaceahle way, rcfiife obedience to their or- dinances,ftill ufing themeanesof their bet- erinformation,# th >fewhocontemptuoufly orfrttioufly clifobey 'he fame, labouring with all. their might to lengthen therofelves in their crrotir^nd to per iWade others co be of their minde. 3. This objf <9;ion doth mi- litate no lefTc againft Ecclefiatf icall cenfurcs ha particular cq,^regati 9 n,^ in aNatio- nail Syn,)d. And they who doc at all, aj> prove of Church cenfurcs to be infli&ed up- on the contemptuous and obftinacc , (hall put in our mouthes an anlwcr to obic&ions ofthiskmdc. _~> CHAP. V. Tbe/irfl Argument for tbt authority of Syn»dt)**Atb«fMborditMtio*tfPr*j- bjteriet thereto , ttkeu front the light HAving now defcribed the power of particular Elderfliips (which we call Seffions) of Claflicall Presbyteries, and of Synods , Provipciall and N«iomll, V % ft ri54) it rcmruneth to cohfirmc ;bjr ArgUrhewstoic fubordination and fubje&ion of the particu- lar ElderftiipS , to the Clafliball or common Presbytery , of both to the. Provincial! Sy-^ nod, and of all thefe to the National AflTcm^ b)y ! : t So that every one may perceive what reafohthe Church of Scotland hath to give utito, the higher Ec^leiiafticall Courts autho- rity 6vet the lower, ftimbfties of ' Prbfieftatit Writers ' and in the examples of cht reformed Churches abroad, a^lfoih the 1 Examples of' all' the ancient ChUfcKes /MfyhkiHg f6r&is authority of Synods. But thefe I {hall patfe , b'ccaufc'I know Arguments from Scripturr 5 ind reafon, are required, and fuch we have to give. '"" Firft of all I argue fitfip ftheyery light &law rcf nqfure. That fame fight of nature which 'KatR "taTl^M'CdBimon. wealth, befidethe •Mdgiftmttt-*afld Councclls of particular ^u%h$^ ^/copftjuue. higher- Courts, t for wfiole Shires, Baliveries, Stuartrics, Regali- ties -,and above all thefe, the fupr&me Court of Parliament to eovexne the whole Nation, hath atfo^ught nnr Church to ^Sftit«e Synods Provincial!" -.and NotionSlH wfe ^ower-Vncl' authority above- PresE^ed&. ^V^ar^fartefrom their minde whowJtild make tmke Policy the Miftrcflfe, and Religion the Handmaid, and would have the government of the Church conformed to the government ^of the State as the fitteft puterne. But tin* we -fay, in all fuch things as are alike cottimon to the Church and to the Common-wealth, and have the fame r fe in both , whatfoevcr natures lightdireð the one , it cannotbuc -direft the other alfo j for as the Church is a company of Chriftwns fubjetf to the Law of God,, fo is it a compp'iy of men and wo- .men who arc <'<>t fa$ durbwe^ «f nature, but •-follower; of the fjme. It is well fuel by one, fJoc CM fia.nmefl &c ^ hi U mofi ccrt.unc, T.B.A.C.Je th.it t he Ctirck ifac > tame k nUe of Republ ke Efjjf " L * for l .' af> all thoft things wh:iha// kc~ fnbi hj. mufi wed* ita&B but it hrth them tn a d;jfv » i w<:j becaufe it is n -A -a Civil I, but an 'Ircteftaflrc M Kepubiike. And againe,2r# crg9^ >&c. o that thuRepublike i* much mere per f< ft then ll others, and therefore cannot but h^e th»th>ygs which they have that areindgntty farrenfirt tir to it. So faith Robinfon in his juftif; of fepar. pag. 113. Thevtftble church, lairhhc, oemqapolitie Ecclefiafitcafianathe fe*hS *n of ail polities, doth comprehend tmt p>h>tf:evcr is excellent in all other hvdies politi- cad Now fo it is^that while as fome hold the government of the Church to bee Monarchi- V 3 caV (lit) call, others Ariftocraticall, others Detioctt* ttcall, others mixed of all thefc ; they all ac- knowledge that the Church isaRcpublike, andoughtto bee governed even as a Civill Republike , in things which arc alike com- mon to both : ofthiskindc arc Courts and Judicatories, which doe alike belong to both j and have the fame ufc in both , viz. for rule and government * there f bre as na- tures light doth undeniably enforce divtrfity of Courts in the Common-wcalth/ome par- ticular, fomc generall, fomc lower r [owe higher, and the latter to have authority over the former , it doth no lefle undeniably en- force the like in the Church , for de paribus idrm judicium. It cannot bee denyed that the Church is led by natures light in fuch things as arc not proper to religious holy ufes , but alike common to civill focictic~ , at lea/Un fofarre as they are common to faced and civill ufes. The Aflemblics of the Church in fo farrc as they treat of things Spirittiall and Ecclcfiafticall, after a fpirituall manner, for a fpirituall end, and doc confift of fpirituall Office-bearers as^thc mcmbcrsjconftitucnt, in as farr& they are facred, and the Church is . therein airedled by the Word of Godalone 5 yet the having of Aflemblics andConfifto- ries, and divers forts of them , and the lower fubordi- (157) fubordinat to the higher, all this isftof ficred nor proper to the Church, but co mmon with her to the Common- wealth , nature com- mending therein to the one , what it com- mendeth to the other. CHAP. VI. 'fbefecond Argument faken from Qbrifis InUhmon. AS wee have Nature , fo have wee Chrifts Inftitution for us , and this fliall appcare two wayes. Firft, the fidelity of Chrift,both in his Prophccicall & in his Regall or NomothcticaU power, was fuch, that he hath fufficiently provided for all the neceffities and exigences wHatfoevcr of his Churches , to the end of the world. There or C the Apoftlecalleth him as faith- Hf ***« full m al! the houfc of God , as ever Mifes was,who delivered lawesfcrving for the go- vernment oi the Church of the Jcwes in all cafes. Whence we collet, that the autho- rity of Claflicall Presbyteries over the El- dcrfhips of particular congregations, and the authority of Synods over both, muft needs have a warrant from Chrifts ownc Inftitu- tion 5 - tioil, be caiifc without this authority, taerc- arc very important neceffities afr the Chur- 1 ches, that cannot be helped. For ex::iflple,irf I moil congregatkmsyefpecially in Dorps and » • Villages,when a Paftor isrto beordairted^the' particular Eldcrfbip within the congregation^ ' can neither examine and try his gifts, and his* foundneiTe in thefatzh^wtiidi examination rnuft neceffarily precede his prdinauop;) nor can 1 they difcover nim, in cafe he be a fubtile and learned heretickc $ nor yet can 1 hey pray in the congregation over him which is to be ordaincd,and give him pubficke exhortation and admonition of hi> duty • God having neither given to the Elders ot every congre- gation ; nor yet required of them Inch abili- Againft Paget ties. What (hall be done in this cafe? Amf-. Chap.*, worth would have the worke frayed, and cbe Church to vvafrt a Minifrer,til! flic be able to doe her workes, and her duties which are proper to her. Alas ! had Chnft no greater care of the Churches then fo < fhall they be deftitute of a Pallor, ever ti_ l they be able to ny his gifts and ifeuildnefle, and toexHort and pray at his ordination < and how (ball they ever attaine to fuch abilities except they^ bee taught? and how (hall they bee tatighb without a Teacher? Now the power arid authority of ClafficaliPresbyteries^to ordain Paftor (159) Paftors in particular congregations, (halt cut offall this dedu&ion of abfurdities, and (hall fupplythe Churches need. I may adde a- nother inftance concerning the Claificall Presbytery it felfe. What if the one halfe thereof uirne to be hereticall, or it may bee the major part t They fhall either have mod voyces,or at lead the halfe of the voyces for them, and there fhall bee no remedy, unlefTe the authoritative determination of a Synod beinterpofed. Secondly, the will of Chrift for Provm- ciall and Nationall AfTemblies to bee over Presbyteries , even as they are over the El- derfhips of particular congregations, appear- eth alfo in thisi He hath given us in the new Tcftement , expreffe warrant for Ecclefiafti- call Courts and AfTemblies in generall, that fuch there ought to be 3 for the right govern- ment of the Church, Match. 18. 20. Where two or thru ve gathered together w wj Kame y there dm I in the mtdfl of them. A&. 1 5 . 6. And the A 'ft flits and Elders came together for toconfider of this matter. From theft and the like places, it is plaine , that Chrift willeth jurifdi&ion to bee exercifed, and controver- fies to bee determined bycertaine Confifto- ries and AfTemblies. Of the exercife of ju- rifdi&ion is the firft place,which I have cited X to tobeeunderftood, as the cohefion thereof with the purpofc which went before, (hew- eth. Of determining queftions of faith, and ena&ing lawes concerning things in their owne nature indifferent, is the other place to be underftood, as wee fhall heare af- terward . So then, wee miely affirme of Ec- clefiafticall Aflemblies in generall , that po- wer is commited byChriftunto them, to exercifc jurifdi&ion, to determine queftions of faith, and to make conftitutions about things indifferent, in the cafe of fcandall. Novvthefeverall forts of thefe Affemblies are not particularly determined in Scripture, but left to be particularly determined by the Church, conforme to the light of Nature, and to the generall rules of the Word of God. And the particular kindes of AflTem- blies appointed by the Church, conforme to the light and rules forefaid, doe fall within the compafle of thofe precepts which are T>ivine-Ecclefiajtici : they are mixed (though not meere) divine ordinances. Even as the Scripture warranteth times of farting, and times of thankefgiving,fliewing alfo the cau- fes and occafions of the fame, and the right manner oPperformance $ but leaveth the par- ticular d ayes of fafting and thankefgivingto be determined by the Church, according to the (i6i) the rules of the Word. In like manner , the Scripture commendeth the renewing of the covenant of God in a Nation that hath bro- ken it, but leaveth the day and place for fuch an aftion to be determined by the Church, according to the rules forefaid. Now if the Church following the generall warrant and rules of the Word , command to faft fuch a day, to give thankes fuch a day, to renew the covenant of God fuch a day- thefe things are divine ordinances mixedly , though not meerely •, and he who difobtyeth,difobeyeth thecommandementof God. The like may be faidof catechifing,and of celebrating the Lords Supper, (which are not things occa- sionally the former, but ordinary in the Church: ) they are commended by the war- rants of Scripture, but the particular times jand feafons not determined. The like wee fay of the order to be kept in baptifme , and in excommunication, which is not determi- ned in the Word, though the things them- felves be. The removing of fcandals , by putting wicked perfons to publike (hame, and open confeifion of their faults in the Church , hath certaine warrant from Scrip- ture, yet the degrees of that publike (hame and punifliment , are left to be determined by the Church , according to the quality X 2 of (1*2) of the fcandall , and the rules of the Word. . Now the Church appointcth fome fcanda- lou^ pe ons toil e put t ) a greatet-fhame,fomc to aicfler*, fome to bee one Sabbath in the place of publike repentance, fome threc,fomc nine, fome twenty five, &c. And if the of- fender lefufe that degree of publiPcfhame which the Church, following the rules fore- faid appointeth for him, heemay betruely faid,torefufethe removing and taking away of the fcandall, which the Word of God in- joyneth him , and fo to difobey not the Church only, but God a!fo. Juft fb'he Scripture having commended unto us the governing of the Church ^ the making of Lawes, the exerciie o* Jurifdi&ion , the de- ciding of controversies, by Con fi (lories and AflTemblies Ecclefiafticall,havingalfo (hew- ed the necelfuy of the fame , their power, their rule of proceeding and judging, who fhould fit and voice in the fame, &c. But leaving the particular kindes, degrees, times, bounds, and places of the fame to be rcfol- ved upon by the Church , according to tl e light of naturall reafon, and gencrall rules of the Word : The Church for her part, fol- lowing the gencrall warrant and rules f ore- faid, together with the light of nature, hath determined and appointed AfTemblies, Provincial! Provi'vijl! and Nitionn!! , snd t refpeftivclv riiat pmver which the Wed giveth to AiTembJies in general . The cafe thus ftandinr^we imy loldiy mninraine thtt thofep::tia:!ar lands and degrees of fceck-- tiafticall AfTcmMies , are Gods owne ordi- nances mrsedty, though no: meercly. But what can bee the renfon , may lome man fay 5 why the Scripture hath not it Rife determined thefe kinds of AfTcmblies parti- cularly. Ian.fwer, three reafons may be gi- ven for it : i . becaufe it was not neceffary, the generall rules of the word together with natures light which direð Common- wealths in things of the fame kind 5 being fuf- ficient to dircd the Church therin. 2.Asfe - fons and times for the meeting ot AfTcm- blies , fo the juft bounds thereof in fo many different places of the world , are things of thatkindc which were not determinable in Scripture, unleffe the world hadbeene filled with volumes thereof • for, IndivtitrafuAt Infiniu. 3. Becaufe this conflitution of Sy- nods Provinciall and Nationall \ is not uni- verfall for all times and places : for example, there may be in a remote Ifland 10. or 12. Chriftian congregations, which befide their particular Eldcrfhips have a common Prcf- bytcry,but are not capable of Synods e^her X 3 Pro- Ci*4) Provinciall orNationall. Againc, let there bee an Ifland containing forty or fifty Chri- ftian congregations , there (hall be therein , befide Presbyteries, one kinde of a Synod, but not two kindes. Befides,the reformed congregations within a great Nation , may happly be either fo few , or fo difperfed and diftant,or fo perfecuted,that they can neither have Proviociall nor Nationall* AiTcmblies, CHAP. VII. The third Argument > taken from the lewifr Qburcb. IN the third place we take an Argument from the example of the Jewifh Church-, for as in their Common- wealth there vy'as a fubordination of civill Courts , every City having its proper Court , which did confift of feven Magiftrates, if wel?eleeve Ufepbus : the Thalmudicall tradition maketh two Courts to have beene in each City, the leflfer of the Triumvirate and the greater of twenty three Judges. Befide thefe, they had their fupreame Confiftojy , the civill Sanedfim, which governed the whole Nation, and had autho- g-» j. no Eccefiafticall Court at all. As for the Sy- nagogues, he faith, they treated of things civil!, and infli&ed civill punifhments, and a civill excommunication. That they inflicted civill punifliment, he proveth from Mat. 10. and 23. and Luke 21. where Cbrift foretel- lcth that his Difciples fhould bee beaten in the Synagogues. That their excomunication was civill , he proveth by this rcafon , that Chrift and his Difciples when they were caft out of the Synagogues, had notwithftanding a free entry into the Temple , and acceffe to the facrifices. Anfw. This is a groffe miftake 5 for 1 . the civill Court was in the gate of the City, not in the Synagogue. 2. He who pre- fidedin the Synagogue was called thecbiefe Ruler of the Synagogue^ Ads 1 8.8. 1 7. the reft who fate and voiced therein, were called the Rulers of the Synagogue^ A<5ts 13.15. They who fate in the civill Court had no fiich names, but were called Judges. 3. Our Saviour diftinguiibeth the Synagogicall Courts from the civill Courts of judgement in Cities, calling the one Councells , the o- ther ther Synagogues, Matth. 10,17. 4. The bea- ting and fcourging in the Synagogues wasa n errour and abufe of the later times , the cor* revive power of thofe Confiftories being properly fpirtuall, and ending in excommu- nication, Jo. 1 6. 2. Ifai. 66. 5. the liberty of which fpirituall cenfures the Romans did permit to rhe Jewes 5 together with the li- berty of their religion , after they had taken away their civill Jurifdi&ion. 5 . Civill ex- communication is an unknowne word , and his reafon fork isnolefle unknowne 5 for where he hath read that Chrift or any of his Difcipks were excommunicate out of the S vnngogues , and yet had free acceffe to the Tern Me , I cannot underftand, if it be not in the Gofpdl of Nindmtts. I read, Luke 4. 2?.23. that Chrift w:is in z great tumult caft out of the City of Nazareth • but this I hope no man will call excommunication. The blindc man. Joh. 9.34. was indeed excom- municaredout of rhe Synagogue, but wee nowhere readthatheewas thereafter found in the Temple : wereadofChrifts walking in Solomons porch, Jo. 10. 23. but that the blinde man was then with him , it can never be proved, and if it could , it (hould not im- port any permiflion or leave given to excom- municate perfons to enter into the Temple, Y but ( i6B) tut that fome were bold to take this liberty, 6. The cafting out of the Synagogue cannot be called civil excommunication,becaufe the communion and fellowfliip of the Jewes in the Synagogue was not civill, butfacred: they met for the worfliipof God, and not for civill affaires. 7. If by civill excommunica- tion he meanc banilhmcnt , or cafting out of the City(for I conceive not what other thing this ftrange word can import) then how doth hefuppofe that they had ft ill free acceffeto the Temple, who were.fo excommunicated , for thk importeth that they were ftill in the City, v Wee have now evinced' an InferiourEc- clefiafticall Court among the Jewes. Come we next to the fupreame Court. Thai there was an high Ecclefiafticall Sanedrim, di- ftind from the Civill Sanedrim, isobferved by Pcltfgus on Dcut. 17. and Scfingimad bonamfidcmStbrdndi. pdg. 261. &feq. Be- ijde many others cited btfoxejart.i.chAp. 1 1 . And that it was fo 5 wee prove from three places of the ok} Tcftament , to patfe other places, from which ceroine collcftipns may be had to the fame purpofe. Firft, wefindeDeut. 17^ adiftintfion of tyvp, fupreame Judicatories , to bee fet in the jfe«. #kfr &eXprd %>uld cboofc to put his, Xi6 9 ) iiis name there,the one of thePriefts &Lcvits, the other of the Judges: & unto thefe two fu- preame Courts \ the Lord appointed all mat- ters which were too hard for the inferiour Judges in the Cities of the Land , to bee brought and determined by their authority, and the fentence of the Prieftsor of the Judges to be obeyed both by the parties and by the inferiour Judges, under pain of death, v. 8 .9. 1 o. 1 1 . 1 2 .To this Sutlsvius anfwercth, D< Pre$*>y t ; that there is only one Sanedrim in that place, ? 2 $ l6 * which was civill , as appeareth by their jud- ging of the caufes of blood -, and their recei- ving of appellations frtim the civill Judges mentioned in the preceding Chapter. As for the Judge which is fpoken of v. 9 . and 1 2 . he faith 5 we muft underftand that it was the high Vn&.Anf. 1 .The disjunctives doth diftin- guifh the Judges from the Priefts, verfei2. as Iunim and Ainfworth doe rightly note up- on that place : The man that will doe prefump- tucuJlj t andrviUnot hearken unto the Prieft(that fiandethto mini ft er there before theLerdthy God) or unto the Judge, Here a diftin&ion be- twixt the Court of thePriefts and the Court of the Judges, which Lyranw alfo acknow- ledged. i.TheChaldee readeth Indges'm the plurall. By the Judge, faith Ain[wtrfb y is underftood the high Councell orSenat of Y 2 Judges, U7°0 Judges, even as they who are called Priefts,- verfe 9 . arc called the Prieft , verfe 12. and 1 Chron. 4.42. rpany Captaines arc in the Hebrew called n be id. a. The high Prieft cannot be underftoodtobec the J^dge there fpokenof, bothbecaufc there were many Judges, as hath beene faid, and becaufe weefindenot in Scripture that ever the high Prieft was called by the name of the Judge. 4. Whereas hee ohje&ctb that the caufes of bloody and other civill caufes were judged * in this Sanedrim. Wee anfwer,, there were- Degub.Ecd. two 'feverall things in thofe civill caufes, the. cap*. p. 4 j. Jus and the f.ftum. , The lus was judged - in the Court of the Priefts r becaufe as Bilfon teacheth 5 the civill Law of the Jevveswas Mal.2.7. Gods judiciall Law , and it was to be fought at the Priefts mouth. But the fa& being meerely civill, was judged by the qvill Court. Sutlivtus objedcth, that many incon- veniences {hall follow this, diftindion., i.Judges are hereby made ignorant ofjhe Law, , .2. That two Courts of judgement are appointed in one fentence. 3. That a Judge (the Prieft) may give out a fentence which he cannot execute. 4 v That the civill Judges doe in vaine inquire concerning the fa& which was before certaine by the Law, ■nam ax faSlo jus oritur. 5. That the civill Judges (i70 Judges are dumbc Images, which niuft pronounce according to the fentenceof o- thers. To the i . we fay that our dithn&ion doth not import that the Judges were igno- rant of the Law 5 but that it pertained not to them to judge the meaning of the Law, when the fame was controverted among the Info' feriour civill Judges : this perrained to the Court of the Priefts. 2. It is no abfurdiryto expound a disjunctive fentenceof two ftve- r A> Courts. 5. He who anfwercth meerelyy dejure, hath nothing to doe with execution of perfons more then theory hath to doe with practice, or abftraifte- with concrets* 4. The fad: can never be certaine by the fen- tence, deja*c. It is not the probation, but the fuppofition of the fad whereupon the expo- sition .of the fence oi- the Law is grounded* j. The cognition of the fact ,- not of the law,- do :h belong to an Inqueft in Scotland^ *hey wcIndccsfaBi , Mnlwis. Yet no dumbe Im :lcs I i-jppofe. 6. Hce-hath followed the Popifn Interpreters y in making the Judge t o be the HkhPricft . forfo they, expound it for the Popes.caufe - y ytuhey themfclves ac- knowledge thediflinctionof luszwd factum. See Com.aUpjde. m Dtut. 17.7. If error had not blinded this mans eyes with whom I deale y X fliould believe hee had beene Y 3 Hum- U72 ) flambring when thefc things fell from his pen. But to proceed, asthefefwo Sanedrims were inftituted in the Law of Mofts^ fo were they after decay or defiletudc reftered by Ubifupra p.io Icbofyapb^i Chw.igS.Sufliviuo anfwereth, that wee have here only one Sanedrim which judged both the Lords matters,and the Kings ■matters, and that it was not an Ecclcfiafticall Court,becaufe it judged caufes of Woodland other civill caufes wherein appellation was made from the Judges of the Cities. By the Lords matters, hce faith,arc meant criminall and civill caufes,which were to be judged ac- cording to the Law of the Lord < and by tht Kings matters are meant, his patrimony and domeft icke affaires. Anfwer i .The Text di- ftinguifheth two Courts, one which mcdlcd with the Lords matters, whofe prcfident was Amirhh^ the chicfe Prieft : another which medled with the Kings matters, whofe prc- fident was Zcbadidb. This is fo plainc , that Bonfrtriut the Jefuiton Deut. 17. though he maketh the Pricfts to have beenethe Judges, yet acknowledgcth two diftind: Courts, 2 Chron. ip. 2. The words verf.8. muft be Ah.anm.p.24. un d er ftood refpc&ively, as DldocUvius hath obferved, which we cxplaine thus. Moreover in ItrufdUm didlchfioafbAtfetofthtLcvits, snd (173) and of the Priejtsy and of the chief e of the Fd* thersoflfrdel, for the judgement of the Lord, (that is for caufes Ecclefiafticall) W(repear, pfthe Levits y ofthe Priefts, and of the chief e of the Fathers of I fr del) for controverfies (about civill matters,laith Pifcator.) So that fome of them were appointed to judge the one , and fome of them to judge the other, which pro- veth not either that the Courts were one , or that the fame men fate in both, but only that fome of the Priefts and forae of the Fathers of Ifrael were in both. 3. The Lords matters Lavater and Pifcator expound to be matters Ecclefiafticall, the Kinps matters to be things civill 3 and this expofition comprehended! all things which did fall within the power of thofc Courts. 'RutSutliviut gloffedoth not fo, for there were fundry things to be judged which were neither the Kings domeftickc affaires, nor yet caufes criminall or civill/uch as were qucftions about vowes, queftions about the meaning of the Law, and judging betwixt the holy and the prophane, betwixt that which was cleane and that which was uncleanc. Thefeand fuch like Ecclefiafticall caufes he leaveth out , and they are indeed left out of the power of the civill Sancdrim, and referved to the other, for in fuch contro- verfies the Priefts were to ftand in judge* ment. U74) mem, Ezech. 44.. 23.24. Laftly, it is not to bethought, that the high Sanedrim fhould needeto be troubled with the Kings dome- fticke affaires , farre lefle that this (hould be made the one halfe of their commiifion. Now as wee have the inftiturionofthefe two fuprearne Courts., Deuter. 17. and the reftitution of them both , 2 Chrpn. ip. fo have we an example of both, Jerem. 26. For firft,/ww/4£was condemned, as worthy of death , becaufe hee had* fpoken a^ainft the Temple and the holy place, verfe8.n. and herein {\\\t\\OecoUmpaditts on th.it place, hee was a Type ofChrift, againft whom it wis Match. 16.66. pronounced in the Councell of the chicVc Priefts and Elders, He is guilty of death. £0 did this Ecdefiafticall Goprt conclude ag Lift Jeremy, He is worthy of Both : yet the ccn rary was concluded in the civill Sane- dr.'m.vcrfe 10. i6.Thism.w^ feythey, is Hot worthy to dye y for he fur h fpoken to us in the Name of the Lord our God. As much as to fay, you Priefts have given fentencc -dejure a- gainft lertmidh, but we finde. he is not guilty of the fa<5i whereof he is accufed, for he hath ffoken nothing but the truth which the Lordfent him to lpeake. • therefore as you pronounced him worthy of death, upon fuppo(it;on of the fa& , wee now pronounce that <*75) that he is not worthy of death , becaufewee finde him blameleffe of the fa CommiiTioners alfo to Hicrufalem^ for other- wife , how could the Apoftles and Elders have fo certainc and perfeft intelligence of the cafe of thofe Churches, verfe 23. Befidc it had beene a great neglcft in thofe Chur- ches,if they had not fent fome to Bierufaltr^ as the Church of Anticch. did , for if it was expedi- expedient which Antioch did, they ought no lefle co have done it,their cafe being the fame. Moreover it may be colle&cd from verfe 3. that the other Churches through which P which did reprefent the fame. -^ CHAP. IX. The fifth Argument , taken from Geme- tricallproportfon% AS is the proportion of 3 *to 9. fb is the proportiS of 9 .to ij-ohi .to 81.&C. This rule of Giometricall proportion affoordeth us a fifth Argument for the point in hand. Ifwelhould grant the government of the Church to be popular , then by what proportion, one or two are fubjedi to a whole congregation , by the feme proportion is that congregation fubjed to a previnciali, or a nationaU congregation. I racane, if all tilt the congregations in a province or a nation were afTembled into one collective body (as all the males of? he Jc wes did aflemble thrice in the year* at Hicrufulem, and as in the rfaies ofthe) dges .the whole congregation ofthe j udtlQ i: child re -loflfrael was afTembled together in M'zp'b j, as one man , from Dan even to Bccrlhiba^ foure hundred thoufand men , to try the caufe.of the Levite, and to refolve what to doe there-anent , which meeting of the Nation, was ordered by Tribes, the Tribes by families , the families by perfons) in that cafe any one particular congregation behoved to be fubjeft to the general! congre- gation, by the fame reafon whereby one man is fubjeft to the particular congregation, whereof he is a member , becaufe the whole is greater then apart, and the body more then a member. Now 'he fame rule holdeth in the reprefentatives of Churches, whether we compare them with the collectives , of among themfelves. It wee compare the re- prefentatives with the collectives, then as one congregation is governed by the parricufctf EMerfhip reprefenting the fame, by ihe live proportion are 14. or \C. congregations governed by aClaflka! v Preihyurty iepre- tenting them all : by the fame propo; tioi arc all the congregations in a province fubje& Aa z to toaProvinciall Synod : by the fame ought all the congregations in aaation to be fub- je& to a nationall Affembly , all of them be- ing eitker mediatlyer immediatly reprefen- B< pol. led. f C g j n t ^ e jp amc . f or as p 4r ^ r fai t h well, p-33 A* many Churches are combined into one, in the very famemanncr, as many members are combined into one Church. - If we compare the reprefentatives among themfelves, then by what proportion, a parr ticular Elder/hip reprefentingonly o^econ*- gregation , is ltffe in power and authority, then a Clafficali Precbytery which rcprefen- teth many congregations * by the fame pro- portion is a Claflicall Presbytery leflfe in power and authority ,thena Provincial Sy T nod, and it kffein authority then a Nationall Synod. So that the authority of Presbyte* ries, whether Parochiall or Claflicall being once granted ,, this fhall by the rule of pro^ portion inferre ,the authority of Synods. I know that Synods are. not ordinary Courts, as Presbyteries are 5 but this and other dif- ferences betwixt them I paflfe : the argument holdcth for the point of authority , thatSy- -*■ nods when they are , have authority over all the Churches in a Province or a nation, even as Presbyteries have over the congregations within thek bounds. CHAP, CHAP. X, Tbi fxtb Argument , uhn from n* z cfiity. WEE have another reafon to adde, and it is borrowed fromlawlefiene- ceffity , for without a fubordination among Ecckfiafticall Courts, and the authority of thehigher above the inferiour, it were utterly impoflible to preferve unity, or to make an end of controverfie in a Nation. A particular congregation. might happily end queftions and cbmroverfies betwixt the . members thereof, and fo keepe unity within it felfe (and notfo neither, if the onehalfe of the congregation be againft the other) but how fhall CQntroverfies betwixt ieverall congre- gations be determined, if both of them bee independent i how (hall plurality of religi- ons be avoided t how fhall aa apoftatizing congregation be amended t • It is anfwered : i. If a partic.ilarcongrega- tion negleft their duty , or doe wrong to a- nother, the civili i word m;iy proceed againft them to make them doe their duty. 2. A par-^ ticular congregation ought in difficult cafes Aa3 #0- toconfult with her fifter Churches, forfc much rcafon di&ats ; that In "difficult cafes, counfell (hould b£taj(£ttofta;greater number. 3. Sifter Churches when they fee agarticuhf fdftgregftion doing amifle out of tftat.relati- on which they have to her 5 being all irvthe fame body, under the fame head, may and ought to admonifti her, and in cafe ofgene- rall apoftacy, they may withdraw that com- munion from her, which they hold with the true Churches of Chrift. But thefe anfwers are not fatisfa&ory.The firft of them agreeth not to all times , for in times of perfecution, the Church hath not the helpeof the civill fword : a perfecuting Magi- ftrate will bee glad to fee either divifion or apoftafie in a congregation •, but fo it is, that Chrift hath povided a remedy, both for all tteeviUsanddifeafes&fhis Church, and at all times. The Church (as was faid before) is a Republikc, and- hath hec lawes, Courts, and fpirituall cenfures within her felfe, whe- ther there;be a Chrifthn I&fgfftiate, or nor. The fecond anhver teweth the rectifying of an erring congregation to the uncertainty of theitowne difcetion, in feeling counfell ftom a greater number. And inovia&tttytt thfcrbe a ti i&ate of reofon to J ske count! I of agneacer number^ when thc-co-unfeU of a few 4 cannoc cannot refolve us, then reafon being ever like k fdfc, will di&ate fo much to a congregati- on, that they ought toifobnaitto the authority of a greater number,,, when their qwrjc-antljq- rityisnot fufficient to end a contiovcrfie a- mongthem. To the third anfwer wee fay , tha t every private Ghriftian mdy and 6iighHt6T?Kft- draw himfelfe from the fellov^ip^nd fcm- munioa , either of oneman , or of* a mfblc congregation, in the cafe of general! ap6- ItefTe. And (hall an apoftatizkig coftg-ffcgation be ftrffereci to runne to hell , rafteMWrt-any • other remedy fhould bee ' ufed } be£de that (commonly ineffeftuall) remedy which any private Chriftian may ufe < God forbid. What I have faki of congregations, I fa-V alfoof ClaflTicall 'PrcSbjtcrics. Holv (hall fentence be given betwixt two Presbyteries atvarience i How fhrfl a divided Presbyte- ry be re-united in it felfrHow (hall an Hereti- cal! Presbytery be reclaimed c^Howfli^Ha negligent Presbytery be madeto dod the?- duty * How (hall a defpifed Presbytery have their wounded authority healed agaiae < In thefe at id fuch like contingent cafes, what re- medy can bee had, befide the authority of Synods 1 CHAP- IWJ CHAP. XL - . , , Obuftions mad* a^ainfl the autborityof Synods, anjwered. Hey who diflike the^fubordination of particular congregations unto higher Ecclefiafticall Courts, obje& Mart. i3.i r. a g a i n fl. us 8 our Saviours precept , 7V// /j5e Church. Wherefoever wee read in Scripture of a vifible politicall Churchy and not of the invifibk Catholike Church, it is ever meant, fay they, of a particular congregation,ufed to arferfible in one placefor the exercife of Gods publike worihip •, & when the Scripture fpea- keth of a whole Province or Nation 3 the plu- rall number is ufed,as the Churches of GaU- tUjchc Churches of Macedonians, Churches of J fi^ &c. Wherefore our Saviour in thofe words did -deliver the power of Ecclefiafti- call jurifdidion, neither to Clafficall Pref- byteries,nor to Synods,but to particular con- gregations only^ Anfw. i. This place proveth indeed that particular Churches have their owne power of Jurifdi&ion, but not that they alone have it. 2. Yea, it proveth that they alone have it notj dpi) not, for Chrift hath a refpe& to the forme of the Jewes,as is evident by thefe words, Let him be unto thee gs An Heathen or a Publian. Now we have proved that there was among thejewes an high Ecclefiafticall Sanedrim, befidethe particular Synagogicall Courts: So that by pointing out the forme of the Jewifh Church, hce recommendeth a fubor- dination, and not an independency ofparti- cular Churches, p By the Church in that place is meant the competent Confiftory of the Church, and fo it agreeth to all Ecclefia- iticall Courts refpe&ively. This .fence is *iven by Pjr&r,though he be moft render in D: poI Ecc j # the vindication of the liberty -of congregate lth.3xap.10. ons. Nfijn cum. &c. For, faith he, fince ChrJJt P-* l8 - would [have evtry ni An to be judged by Insowne Church , MAtth 18. er if the judgement of bk ewneCliurcb jhould difflctft him, yet ever k muft be by the Church , thAtis, by a Synod of many Churches 4. As for thereafon ailed - ged for proof e of the contrary expofition, I oppugne it both by reafon , and by their owne Tenents, and by Scripture. By reafon, becaufe the rule of Geonaetricall proportion (whereof we have before Jpoken) proveth a congregation to bee a part of a Nationall Church, even as one man is a part of a con- gregation 3 for as five is the hundreth part of Bb five five hundreth,fo is five hundred the hundretb part of fifty thoufand. By their own grounds,, becaufe they hold the forme of a vifible Church , to confift in the uniting of a nurtir ber of vifible Christians into one, by the bond of a holy covenant to walkein ail the vvayesofGod. Then fay I, we may fay the Church ofScitUnd) as well as the Churches of Scotland^ becaufe all the particular Chur- ches in ScotUnd^ arc united together into one, by the bond of aNationall oath and cove- nant, to walke in all the waies and ordinances of God. By Scripture alfo,becaafe Ads 8.1. wc read ofthe Church at Hieruftlm, not the Churches : Ho wbeit there were at thatin- ftant above eight thoufand Chriftians at Hk- fufdltm^ and all thefc ftill in the City (for the firft fcattering? of them followcth thereafter in that Chapter.) This great number, neither did, nor could ufually affemble into one place for the worfliip of God,but they met «t7"fc*"» houfeby houfe, Ads 2.46. And whereas obje&ion is made to the contrary from Adte 2.44. and j. n> and 6.2. Wee have before anfwered to the firft of thefc places , for it is to be expounded by Ads 4. 32. they were in one •, that is, they were of one heart , and of one foule. The iecond place may be expoun- ded of the Apoftles,, and the preceding words words favour this expofition; but though it fhould be take of the multifnde,it prove h not their meeting together into one place for the worfhip, ofGod, for it was an extraordinary confluence , upon an extraordinary occafion of that which nad befallen to Anamm and Sdpbir*. Thelaft place proveth no more, but an extraordinaiy and occafionall mee- ting, and it is alfo to be undcrftood that they met turmttim , as fourc hundred thoufend men did aflemble together, Jud.20.1. Another Scripturall inftancc we give from iPct.i.i.with 5.2. the Apoftle writing to the difperfed Jewcs in feverafl Provinces, calleth them all oncflocke. Wee read that Ltbnn had many flockes, Genef. 30. 36. 3 J. yet arc they all called one flocke, vcrfc 3132. lowerc all the flockes of Ucob called one flocke, Genef. 32. 7. and 33. 13. In like man- ner every one of the particular Churches among thofc difperfed Jeweswas a flocke, but compared with the whole , it was but a part of the flocke. It is no more abfurd to lay that a congregation is both a body, in refpe&of its owne members, and a member in refpeft of a Nationall Church, then it is to fay, that every beleever confidered by him- fcl r e, is a tree of rightcoufneffe, and a Tem- ple of God, yet compared with others,he is a Bb 2 branch (1P4) branch of the Vine, and a ftone of the Tem- ple, for all thofc vvaies is hee called in Scrip- ture. Sundry particular flockes may bee called one flocke, three waies : i . tefpeffupajloruvt, when die famefhepheards overfe.e& take care of the whole. See an example both of the one kindeof fhepheards, Luke 2. 8. and of the other, A£ts 20.28* 2.RcfpecinpduU : So D a t occ , try * ]l Paul Baynes fpeaking of the Low Countries, where fundry congregations in one City make but one Church, faith, that the fheepe feed Hgether into one common pajlnre , though they bite not $n thtfamc indtviduall graffe* 3. Rcffeffupedi, when many congregations are governed 'by the fame Paftorall ftaffeof Ecckfiafticall Lawesand Difcipline. It is further obje&ed, that Presbyteriall, government and the authority of Synods,. doe rob the congregations of their rights and liberties , no kffe then the Prelacy did ^ fo that the Churches of Chr/ft in the removall of Epifcopacy, have changed Bominum only, not Domwium. Anfwer. 1 here is a vafte dif- ference ^ for 1. Epifcopall governement is Monarchical^ and Ghrift hath left no Eccle- fiafticall Jurifdidion to bee exercifed by one man. Presbyteriall and Synodicall governe-. ment is partly democratically in refpeft of the eledion, (195) elf&ion ofMinifters-and Elders , and the dping of matters of chief eft importance,with the knowledge and confenr of congregations: partly ariftocratical in refped: of the parity of Presbytersand their corififtopial proceedings and decrees.The Monarchical! part isGhrifts peculiarly. 2 . The Prelacy permitteth not to congregations any ad oi theirowne Church government , but robbeth them of their par- ticular Ekfcrftrips, which (as Pat Orwell no- De P ol.E cc l. tcth) the Claflicall Presbyteries doe not. pag-n*. 3. /tit nothings lakh Baynes, for Churches to fubjcit thtmf elves to a Bijhop andConfiftory, ubi fupra. wherein they [hall have no p'mr of fufrage : Another thing to communicate withfuch a Pref- ijtery, wherein themf elves are members and Judges with others. 4. The congregations did not agree abrconfent 10 Epifcopall govern- ment , but were fufferers in refpeft of the fame,but they doe heanily agree to the go- vernement of Presbyteries and Synods, in witnefle whereof they fend their Commiffio- ners thither to concur,aflift,& voice. 5 .Speci- all refped is had in Presbyteries and Synods, to the confent of congregations 5 in all matters of importance, which are proper unto the fame. This the Prelacy did not regard. 6. Presbyteries and Synods doe not (which the Prelats did) imperioufly and by their fole Bb 3 aibitre- (196) arbittement domineer over congregations, for their power is dirc&ivc only, miniftcriall, and limited by the Lawes ot God and Na- ture, and the lawdable Ecclcfiafticall Lawes received and acknowledged by the congre- gations thcmfelvcs. 7. Experience hath Slewed us Prcsbytcriall and Synodicall go- vernment to bee , not only compatible with, but moft conduceablc for the fupportment and comfort of congregations : whereas E- pifcopall government drawcth ever after it milAm*4ud*m y and a gencrall grievance of the Churches. Some other objc&ions there are, for obvi- ating whereof I (hall permit and explane a diftin# ion which (hall ferve to anfwer them all. We may confider a vifiblc Church, ei- ther metaphyfically or politically. It is one thing to confider men as living creatures endued with reafon . another thing to con- fider them as Magiftratcs, mafters, fathers, children , fervants„ &c. So is it one thing to confider a vifible Church as a fociety ot men and women fcparated from the blinde world by divine vocation , and profefling together the Gofpell of Jefus Chrift. Another thing to confider it as a political body, in which the power of Spirituall government and Jurif- iiilionis exercifed,fome governing and fome governed, Thefc (i*7) Thefe arc very different considerations 5 for firft, a vifible Church being taken cntita- tively or mctaphyfieally , her members doc ordinarily communicate together in thofc holy things which fall under the power of order, which I may call fur a miJticA ; but being taken politically , her members com- municate together kifuchholy things as fall within the compatfe of the power of Jurif- didtion, whichImaycaH/Jr^r4^////V^. Se- condly , Infants under age being initiated in Baptilme, are acSually members of the Church in the former confideration, but po* tentially only in the latter, for they neither fjovernc, nor yet have the ufe of reafon to bee ubje ofSe . compleat body Ecclefiafticall, having all the par. P ag,i 1*. parts and members , and all Church officers which Chrift hath inftituted : therefore eve- ry congrgation hath the full and abfolute power of Ecclefiafticall Jurifdi&ion, Anfw. Every Chriftian congregation is a compleate Church or body of Chrift mefa- ph\ fically ; that is, hath the compleate Ef- lence of a true vifible Church-,yet every fuch congregation is nor a compleate Ecclefiafti- call Republicke , except in fome certaine cafes whereof wee havefpoken, £hap. 2. And further, we anfwer,that this obje&ion is alledgedtoprove,that2or 3 gathered toge- ther in the mane of Chrift, have immediately under Chrift the full power of Ecclefiafticall Cc Jurif- ( 200) Jurifdi ftion > but fare I am, tint tvVo or three gathered together in the nim* of Chrift, are ■ not a compleate Ecclefnfticall body, having all the members and officers which Chrift hath inftituted, for they thcmfelves hold thac in every Chriftian congregation by Chrifts inftitution there ought to beacleaft five Of- ficers, and when thofe five (hill be had, there mutt beealfo a certaine number of Chriftian people to bee governed and ferved by them. So that their Argument doth not conclude that which they propofe to prove. Ibid. objefif. They who have received Chrift, have received with him power and right to enjoy him (though all the world bee againft it) in all the meanes and ordinances by which hee doth communicate himfelfe unto the Church. But every company of faithfull peo- ple, if they be but two or three have received Chrift • therefore every fuch company,&c. Anfrv. If by the receiving of Chrift, they meane the receiving of Chrift on his throne, or the receiving of him in his ordinance of Church government, then wee deny their AfTumption, for every company of faithfull people is not a Church politically , as wee have {hewed already. Indeed every compa- ny of faithfull people who have received Ghrift in this manner , hath right agd title to enjoy (201) enjoy him in all his politicall ordinances, yet not independently, but by a ceitaine order and fubordination. But if by the receiving of Chrift, they meane receiving of him to falvation, or receiving of him by his Word and Spirit, wee grant, that not oncly every company of laithfull people, but every parti- cular Chriftian hath right and title to enjoy him in the myftical ordinances of the Word, Prayer, &c. as oftenas the fame can be had-, yea further , hath right and title to the fruit and benefit of Ecclefiafticall juvifdi&on, the exercife whereof is committed by Chrift to the officers of the Church, Intuitu Ecclcfue twquam finis. But that every company of faithfull people, who have received Chrift to falvation, hath right and title to enjoy him in his politicall ordinances, by their own ex- ercifing of all Ecclefiafticall jurifdi&ion, an3 that independently , this is more then either hath been,or can be proved. objett. The union betwixt Chrift and his Ibid - Church is as ftrait and immediate, as the u- nion betwixt the Vine and the Branches, be- twixt the Head and the Body , betwixt the Husband & the Wife.Therefore every true Church of Chrift hath dire&& immediate intereft in,and title to Chrift himfelf, &the whole new Teftamcnt^and every ordinance of it. Cc 2 Anfw. (202) An[rx>X\\t ftrait union betwixt Chrift and the Church, expreffed by thefe companions, cannot bee underftood of the Church ta- ken politically : for then the union betwixt Chrift and the Church might be diffolved as often as the Church ceafethtobee ordered and governed as an Ecclefiaftical Republick. It is therefore to be underftood either of the invifible Church, or at moft of the vifible Church taken metaphyfically orentitatively . But I adde withall, it is to be likewife under- ftood of every faithfull Chriftian.* io that not onely every true Church, but every true member thereof,by vertue of this union,hath direft and immediate title to Chrift , and to the benefit of all his ordinances for his edifi- cation and falvation. This is all which the Argument can conclude, and it maketh no- thing againft us. ibid. ohjeS. If all things be the Churches, even thcMiniftersthemfelvcs-,yea, though they be Paul^Ceph^^ and Ap$Ros, then may every Church ufe and enjoy all things immediately under Chrift. But the firft is true, i Cor. 3. 24.Therefore,&c. Anfw. Neither can this prove any thing a- gainft us : for when the Apoftle faith , AM things are yours. whether Pdul^&c. He is to bee underftood not onely colle&ively of the Church, (203) Church, but diftributivcly of every belec- ver, who hath right to the comfortable en- joyment and benefit of thefe things, fo farre as they concerne his falvation. And in like manner I may fay to the members of a- ny particular congregation, All things are yours, whether Sclfions or Presbyteris, or Provinciall or Generall Aflemblies. And what wondqr i God is our Father, Chrift our elder brother, the holy Ghoft our Comfor- ter,the Angels our keepers, heaven our inhe- ritance. It is therefore no ftrange thing to heare,thatasthe fupreame civill power, fo the fupreame Ecclefiafticall power is appoin- Rom.i j. 4 . tedofGodinorderto our good and benefit, lCor - l *'*- l » that it be not a tyranny for hurt , but a mini- ftery for help. Thefe are the objections alledged for the independent arad abfolute power of congre- gations. But this is not all: Some feeme to make ufe of our own weapons againft us,ma- king obje&fon from the forme of the Jewifh Church, which wee take for a plat- forme . They fay, that the Synagogues of the Jewes^ were not! as the particular Churches are now: * S ' H for they were not entire Churches ofthem- felves, but members of the nationall Church, neither could they haye the ufe of the mod folemne parts of Gods worship, as were then Cc 3 the (204) J jg. Uh the facrifices. That the whole nation of the Jewes was one Church, having reference to one Temple, one high Prieft,onc Altar 5 & it being impoffible that the whole body of a Nation fhould in the entire and perfonal parts meet and communicate together in the holy things of God, the Lord fo difpofed and or- dered, that that communion fhould bee had after a manner, and in a fort, and that was by way of reprefentation : for in the Temple was daily facrifice offered for the whole nationall Church . So the names of the twelve Tribes upon the fhouldersoftheEphod, and upon the Breaft-plate , and the twelve loaves of Shew bread , were for Ifrael fignes of re- pjg.162. membrance before the Lord. That now the Church confifteth not (as then) of a Nation, but of particular Affemblies, ordinarily com- municating together in all the Churches ho- ly things : whence it commeth, that there are no reprefentative Churches now, the founda- tion thereof, which is the neceflary abfence of the Church which is reprefented, being Pag.1^3.1^1. taken away inthenew Teftament. Thatbe- fides all this , if wee take the reprefentative Church at Jcrufalem for a paterne, then as there not onely hard caufes were opened, and declared according to the Law, but alfo the facrifices daily offered, and the moft fo- lemnc (20 5 ) lcmnc fervice performed without the pre- sence of the body of the Church : fo now m thcreprefcntative Churches, (fuch as Pref- byteriesand Synods) confiding of Officers alone, there muft be not onely the ufc of ju- rifdi&ion , but the Word and Sacraments, whether people bee prefcnt or not : for how can there be a power in the Church of Offi- cers for the ufe of one foleranc ordinance out of the communion of the body , and not of another? Anfw. i . To fet afide the facrifices, & other ceremonial worfhip performed at Jerufalcm, the Synagogues among the Jewes had Gods morall worfhip ordinarily therein, as Prayer, and the reading & expounding of the Scrip- tures. 2. Whatsoever the Synagogues had, or whatloever rhey wanted of the worlhip of God, they had an Ecdefiafticall Confiftory, and a certaine order of Church government : elfe how (hall we underftand the excommu- nication, or rafting out of the Synagogue , the Rulers of the Synagogue, and the chiefe Ruler of the Synagogue? (of which things we have before fpoken.) ? I will not here difpute whether every fin among the Jewes was either appointed to be punifhed capitally, or elfe to bee expiated by facrifices 5 but put the cafe it were fo, this proveth that no excommunication or Eccle- fiafticall Uo6) fiafticall ccnfutc was not then neceffary : for befide the detriment of the Common- wealth by the violation of the Law, which was pu- nifliablc by death 5 and befide the **ro^U pnd guiltineffe before God, the expiation where- of by the death of Chrift was prefigured in the facrifices, there was a third thing in pub- like finnes, which was punHhablc byfpiri- tuall cenfures ^ and that was the fcandall of the Church, which could not be taken away by the oblations of the delinquent, but rather made worfe thereby, even as now a publikc offender doth not takeaway, but rather in- creafc the fcandall of the Church by his joy- ning in the ads of Gods worfhip , fo long as there is no Ecclefiafticall cenfure impofed upon him $ neither yet (to fpeake properly) was the fcandall of publike offences punifti- able by bodily punifhments,but the Church being a politicall body had her owne Lawes, and her owne cenfures , no lcffe then the Common- wealth. 3. As the Synagogues were particular Churches politically , fo all of them colle<3ively were one Nationall Church politically, governed by one fu- preamc Ecclefiafticail Sanedrim , which is the reprefentative wee meant of in our Argu- ment. 4 But if we take the Nationall Church of the Jewes metaphyfically , there was no reprc- reprefentative thereof, unlcfle It were all the males who came thrice in the yeare to Ierufs. Urn. The daily offering of Sacrifices was not by a reprefentative Church, but by the Priefts : and though there were twelve loaves of Shewbread before the Lord , and the names of the twelve Tribes upon the breft- plate, thisprovethnota Church reprefenta- tive, but fignes reprefentative. 5 . The body of the Church is now (as then) neceffarily abfent from the Confiftorial actions of deba- ting and deciding matters of Church go- vernment, and of Jurifdi&ion • and fo that which was called the foundation of a repre- fentative Church doth ftill remaine. Now before I make an cad, I muft anfwer yet other two obje&ions which havebeene chriftonhis lately made. There is one who objeð Throncpag. thatthe AfTemblyof the Apoftles, Ads 15. * m8 " can bee no prefidentnor patternefor fuccee- dingages : Firft, becaufe the Apoftles were infpired with the holy Ghoft, which whol- ly guided them in all matters of the Church • fo as in that their determination, they fay ex- preflely, Bftemedgoodto the holy Gbofttndto Aa.if.28, ut uhj upon you no greater burthen. Now, what Synod in any age after the Apoftles could ever fay that they were infallibly infpi- red and aflifted by the holy Ghoflc' Secondly, Dd that (208) that injun&ionof the holy Ghoft and of the Apoftles was but tt^tkcu^ , for that prefent time, for the avoiding of offences bctweenc Jewesand Gentiles. But the like we read not afterward in all the writings of the Apoftles Anf\ . I fay with Whittakcr 7 Poffealia.&c. Comr. 5 . dc That ether law full councells mtyin like manner concquefu. a jf irme their Decrees to be the Decrees oft he ho- ly G hofljf they be like unto this counceH^ and if they keepe the fame rule which the Apoftles dtd keep and follow in this counceKfor if they decree and determine nothing but from the Scriptures, which was done in this CQuncell ; and fthey ex~ amine *0 In anfivertoal reatife very lately publifhcd, which is intituled. The Presl yteriall Governemmt examined* Hen the Printer had done all except two (beets of my former T reatife, there came to my hands a p?ece againft Presbyteriall Go- vernement, which promi- feth much,but pr rformeth little. Though my time be very fhort , yet I truft to make ananfwer to it, as full as it deferveth. It hath a magifteriall and high found- ing title, undertaking the examination of Presbyteriall Governement. But Presby- teriall Government fecretly fmileth, be- B caufe CO caufe while (he was ready to fay much more for her felfe , he did not put her to to it, left himfelfe mould have been put ad mctavt nonprobandi. But he pirticularizeth himfeUe, and tellcth us he hath unfolded the weaknefle of out grounds, and difpro- ved our pretended proofs* The truth is, that the beftof them & the moftoFthem he hath not touched. He addeth that hee hath proved out of the Word of God the liberty of the people in choofing Hit! ir own officers.This may be added cantc, but cafte> 1 am fure it is not. He would make the world beleeve that Presbyterians are a- gainft the peoples eleftion of their officers, which is a calumny* He faith, he hath an- nexed certaine arguments, proving Pres- byteriall Governement to be contrary to the pattern which Chrift hath left in the New Teftament. Thefe arguments (hall be anfwered with nc great difficulty. In this place I (hall only fay a word of them in generall. The man hath a notable facul- ty of proving that wherein the Presbyteri* ans do agree with him, and paffing that wherein they difagree from him. Many humane tc ftimoriies and citations of wri- ters he muftreth together, to make a Am- ple reader beleeve that many are of his judgement : But I find nons of them all except ■ except two or three toaffirmeany thkig which we deny . But why hath he taken all this paines? He will prefentit (forfooth) to the Kings rnoft excellent Majefti^ and to the right honourable Lords,and the ho- nourable houfe of Common^nowaflfem- bled in Parliament. As if it were to be ex- pefted that a popular and independant forme o f Church government in every Congregation-, which fhould mod certain- ly open adooretoathoufand reraedilefle confufions, may obtaine his Majefties roy- all aflt nt , or the acceptation of the High Court of Parliament. Nay, brother, feek fome other friends to your caufe, for, if wife men be not too too much deceived, the King and the Parliament in their great wifdomedotore-fee, that whenfoeverE- pifcopail government ftrll be removed, another form of Provincial] and nationall Church government mutt: needs fucceed unto it. Now to come to the fubfrance of his difcourfe 5 firft hee maketh a quarrcll againft the Presbyteries of particular Churche? ("which are in Scotland called Scjfions) then againft all higher Confifto- ries in the Church. As for the Presbyteries Pag. 1 of particular Churches , he j udgeth them three wayes defective. Firft he requireth B 2 that that all who are admitted into the compa- ny of Elders, even the governing orruling llT* 3 '!' Eld ■ rs fhould be apt to teach and Me te ex- hot with found cloffrin e and convince ga*ne- fayers, and that not only privately,or in the Confiftory, but in the publickatfembly al- fo^if not exadHy D yet competently. Anfw. i. Though ruling Elders ought to teach, exhort, rebuke, &c. both in the Confiftory , and privately from houfeto houfe, as the cafe of every family and per« fon doth require (which is all that can be drawne from thofe alleaged places to Th mothy^x\c\7itus^ iffo be they ought at all to be extended to ruling Elders) yet there is no place of Scripture to prove that they ought to teach publikly in the Congrega- tion* 2. That ex pre (lion ifnotexaUl^yet competently is fomewhat myfterious. 3. Pauling Elders are exprefly diftinguifhed from thofe that labour in the word and dc&rine. 1 77^.5.17. and from thefethat teach orexhort 5 K0/».i:2.7 : >8, 4. If ruling Elders (hall teach publikly in the congre- gation ex rffiao&nd with cure of foules(as they fpeak) why fhall they not alfomini- fter the Sacraments , which are pendicles and fealsofthewcrd,and therefore com- mitted to thofe 3 who are fent to the pub- lick preaching of the Gofpell 3 Mttth* 28. 19. (s) 19. 5. Though he fpeak here'onlyof ruling Elders, yet I doubt he requireth of, at leaft will permit to all men that are members of the Church the fame publick teaching and prophefying in the Congre- gation* The fecond defeft which he wifheth Pag. 2,3, fupplied 3 is, that the temporary ruling El- ders maybe made perpstuall and for Hfe, which he enforceth by foure reafons.This I affent unto providing he admit a diftin- ftion betwixt the office it felfe 3 and the ex- ercife of the fame. The office of a ruling Elder ought to be for his life no lefle then the Paftorss yet mud we notcondemne thofe Churches which difpenfe with the intermiffion of their a&u.tll attendance for a certaine (pace , and permit them to exercife their office by courfe,as the Levitt did of old, whofe example himfelfehere taketh for a patteme. The third thing he faith is of moft mo* p ae ^ ment. He doth complaine that the Elders do not adminifter their publik office pub- hkly as theyfbould, but only in their pri- vate Confiftory. He doth permit them in- deed to meet apart for deliberation (whereoP we fhall here afterward) but he will have their Church-office which in the Lord they have received, to be executed B 3 publikly CM) publickly ,in the face of the Congregation. 1. Becaufean office publick in the nature f ought alfo to be publick in the adminiftra- tion. 2. Beciufe the reformed Churches cannot know their Elders whether they be good or bad D except by heare-fay. %. Becaufe otherwife the Elders can not mi- nifteriaily take heed to the whole flock as they are warned to do 3 A&s 20.28. Anf.l. Ruling Elders do execute their office not only intheConfiftory, but fromhoufeto houfe throughout al the bounds of the G6- gregation>wc h may eafily make the known to that Church where they ferve, whether they be good or bad. 2.Their Confiftoriall ftntencesinall matters of importance 5 fuch as ordination, Church cenfures , excom- munication D &c. are made knowne to the wholeChurch. 3. He pafleth a fhort cen- fure upon the reformed Churches. There- formed Churches is a great word , but this man maketh a moat of it.4 The place A3s 20.28. cannot helpe him, for ruling El- ders do feed and overfee the whole flock, both by difcipline in the Confiftory, and by taking heed to all the fheepe feveral- ly 3 as every one hath need, and in that re- fpeft may be called both Pallors and Bifhops. Befide I doubt he can prove that place to be meant of ruling Elders. He goeth (1) He goeth on to make phine what hee hath p faid,by defcendingto fome particulars in §' >' which the Elders office feemeth-efpecially to confifr, and thefe are faith hee, The admitting of members into the Church, upon profcflion of faith made, and the reproving and cenfuring of obftinate of- fenders. Thefe are the moft frequent publike administrations of the office of Ruling Elders. And what of them ? hee faith, as they leave the execution of thefe things to the Elders alone in the fetlpd' and well ordered fcate of the Church, fo doe they deny, that tbey can be rightly and orderly done, but with the peoples privityandconfent. His reftrifrion to the fetled and well ordered eftate of the Church, I cannot underftand. Hee had done well to have explained what hee meaneth by that not fetled, nor well orde- red ftate of the Church 5 in which he thinks it belongeth not to the hlders alone, to ad- mit or cut off members. His other ambi- guous expreffion I underftand better, for by the peoples privity hee meaneth, that the people (hould heare the voyces and fuffrages of the Elder?, and by the peoples confent, hee meaneth the peoples voting with the Elders, asweefhall heare after- Ward. That the admiffion of members, Pag. 6. ought Page 6. ought to bee with the peoples privity and confent, hee will prove by two reafons. i. Becaufc weefinde intheaftsofthe A- poftlcs, that men were received into the fellowftiip of the Church 5 and baptized publikely, and in the face of the congre- gation. 2. Becaufe the whole communal- ty, being neerely to joyne with thefe that are admitted, ought to take knowledge of the profeffion of their faith. Thefe rea- fons can neither conclude the peoples right of fuffrage in this matter, nor (q much are the peoples hearing of the fuf- frages of the Elders : But only that the matter might not bee ended without the peoples knowledge and tacite confent. Befide theie is no fmall difference to bee put betwixt the admiffion of Jewes, Infi- dells, andHereticks, upon their profeffion of the true Chriftian faith, and the admif- fion of fuch af have tranfported them- felves from another Chriftian congregati- on, bringing with them afufficienttefti-< monie of their holy profeffion of faith, and good converfation. In the meane while, Let the Reader note, that this dif- puter hath here in a parenthefis interlaced groffe anabaptiftry, holding it a kinde of unorderly anticipation to baptife infants, who cannot give a confellion of their faith. \ (9) £mh. And within a fewlines,he lets ano- ther thing fall from his pen, which fmel- l thftrongly of the Anabaptifticalltenent, concerning having all things common, even bodily goods. But I proceed with him to the fecond Pag. 7. head, concerning excommunication, and Church cenfures by the Elders, wvhthe peoples privity and content. This he pro- veth by three arguments. 1. Becaufe V*ul i.Tim.j. to. h\th Tkefe wbefin, rebukg publ kcly, thtto- thersalfomi»<«,,wHich every fmatterer in Divinity knbweth. But vv hat of it ? you fay, the Elders (as fuch % are called, to wit, to their office of Elder- fliip, but called out they are not, being ; themfelves to call out the Church. It is true that the word ^^rU noteth not only, a calling, or a gathering together, by ver- tueof verb fc***^* but alfo a fepararion by vertue of the particle**. But I hope it is no paradox to fay, that the Elders are both called or gathered together unto the El- derfhip^ and called out or feparate from the reft of the Church to that office. And it is as far from a Paradox to fay that they, who are called out cannottall out others, efpecially the one calling out being to an office.and the other calling out being from nature to grace* He cannot think that the name] Ecckfy, Church, hath been ufed by any Greek Au- . thor before the ApofHes i times, or in their dayes, or in the age after them, for the af- fembly offole Governours in the aft of their government.' I fbiH fitftgive Inftan-" C2 ces €es againft him in the verb 9 becaufe. hee fai(J 5 the Elders (as fuch) cannot be faid to be called out. Tlje Septuagintreade.De*. 3 1. 28. k*^««$j Gather unt+me all the El- ders. The like you may find, 1 King. 8. 1. 1 Chron. 28.1 . 1 fhall next put him in mind that the Septuagint fometime turne Kuhal by(rwsVei^> asPr^v. 26. 26. His wickgdnefji full be flawed before the whole Congregation^ km ru# And it is plaine that the name of the Congregation, or Church, is given to the Eldersjfor that which is faid of the El- ders, Dent. 19. 12. Jqf<20.^. is faid of the Congregation, Num* 35- 24. 70/^20. tf. So Exod. 12.3. comparedwith verfe 21. This if hee will not take well from us, with verfe 21. This if hee will not take well from as, let him take it from an Anti-pref- byterian, who obfervcth from 1 Chrcn.i 3. 1,2, 4. and i.Cbron.i.%. that both KahA and ««W« are ufed for the Elders and Go- vernors. Guide unto Sionlpag.'y.The place Deut.i^. 1 ,2,3. is well worthy of obferva- tion. It is ordained that he who is woun- ded in the ftones, or hath his privy mem- ber cut off, or isaBaftard, or an Ammo- nite, or a Moabite, (hall not enter into the Congregation the of Lord to the tenth ge- nera tion.The word hKah/Jm the Hebrew, and fa*irii in the verfion of the 70. yet In- ww, Tifcator^ and Telhanvs on that place, and and Martyr on Iud. 1 1. 1, hold that by the Church or Congregation in that place is meant ConfeJjfuslndicHtn, the Court of Jud- gesand Ruler?,which is called The Congre- gation of the mighty, PfaLSo. 2. So that the true (enfe of the place, is the fecludingof thofe perfons from bearing any office or rule in the Common- wealth of Ifrad, whereby they might be members of thofe Courts which did reprefent Ifrael. Thfe fame fenfe is given by Lyranus, Cajetanfile- after, Tojiatus, and Lorinvs. And which is more to be thought o^Ainfworth himfelfe expoundeth it fo,and further (hcweth that it cannot be meant of joyning to the faith and religion of Ifrael, or entering into the Church in that refpeft \ becaufe Exad. it. 48, 49. Nnm. 1 5. 14, 1 5. All ftrangers were upon their circumcifion admitted into the Congregation of Ifrael, to offer facrifices, and by confequence to enter into the court of the Tabernacle, which alfo appcareth from Levit.22.18.Nnnt 9. i4.The point be- ing now cleared from the holy Scriptures, we (halthe lefle need to trouble our felves in the fearch of prophane Authors 3 yet Ttfor findeth Demojihenes ufing the word ******** pro condone mtguitnm* As for that common expreflion of Di- P a g- IO - vines, that the Elders are the Church ie-fj"-^f- . C 3 prcfen- ^ 9 . ' prefcntativc, wee defire not to wrangle about names , fo that the thing it felfe (which is the power and authority of the Officers fitting and judgingapart from the !)eople) be condefcended upon. Yet let us eeupon what grounds the name of a re- prefentative Church is by this man fofu- pfrciliouflyreje&ed. Firft, hee faith that nogodly,nonorreafqnable man will af- firme, that this representation is to be ex- tended to any other atts of religion, than thefe which are exercifed in the gover- ning of the Church. But quo warranto? fhall a man be both ungodly and unreaso- nable , for affirming that the Elders may and ought to reprefcnt the Church where they f^rve, in preferring a petition to the* King and the Parliament, for a Reforma- tion, or in bearing witnefle of the defolate condition of the Parifh through the. want bf a miniftery, or in giving counfel to a Sir fter Church, though thefc bee not a&s of governing the Churchy Well: beit,ashc faith, what great abfurdity fhal) fellow ? then(forfooth) it appertains to the people primarily and originally (under Chrift) to rule and govern the Church, that is-jhem- felves. But who faith he will fo fay of a government notperfonall, but publique, and inftituted as the Churches is. Surely, they 0« . *hey who think the power to be originally in the people, might here eafily reply that this is no more ftrange than to fay^that the power which is primarily and originally in the body of a Kingdome, is exercifed by the Parliament, which is the representa- tive therof.But becaufe many learned men deny the power of Church government to be originally in the peop!e,though others, (and thofe very learned too) doe affirme it : therefore to paffe that, I fhall fervehim with another anfwer.For as we can defend the authority of Prefbyteries and Synods without wrangling about the name of a re- prefentative Cburch 3 fo can we defend the name of a reprefentative Church, without debating the queftton, whether the peo- ple have the power originally or not. May he therefore bee pleafed to take notice of other grounds and reafons for the name of . a reprefentative Church, as namely, Firft, wha' the Elders, with the knowledge and tacite content of the Church, doe approve or diflike^that is fuppofed to be approved ordiflikedby the whole Church, which importeth D that the Church is in fomefcrt reprefented by the Senate of Elders. Se- condly, as wee fay wee have feene a man, when haply wee have feene nothing but his head, or his face which maketh him knowne knowneuntous, (whence it is that Pain- ters reprtfent men unto us oft-times onely from their (boulders upward) fo doe wee difcern & know a vifible political Church, when we fee in the Senate, as it were, the head and face thereof, the officers being as eyes, eares, nofe, mouth, &c. to the Church, that is, being the mod noble and chiefe members whereby the body i gq- verned.Thirdly, the Senat of Elders is laid to reprefent the Church , becaufe of the affinity and likenefie betwixt it and the Se- nate, which reprefenteth a City, or fome inferior civil Corporatidn, affinity I mean, not every way,but in this,that the govern- ment is not in the hands of all, but a few, and that thofe few were chofen with the confent of the whole Corporation.Fourth- ly,andif for thefe reafonsthe Elderflrip of a particular Church may be called a re- prefentative Church, there is much more reafon for giving this name to a clafficali Prefbytery, or to a Synod provinciall, or national 1, for thefe doe refult out of many particular Churches being made up of their Commiffioners. His fecond reafon he taketh from the nature of reprelentatioas, alleging that if the Elders in their Confiftory reprefent the Church, then whatfoever they either decree 07) decree or do agreeing to the Word of Cod, that alfo the Church decreeth and doth 3 though abfent 3 though ignorant, both what the thing is , and upon what grounds it is done by the Elders : and this how confonant it is to Papifts implicit faith, he leaveth it to wife men to conff- der* This argument is as much againft the reprefentations of Kings and States by their Ambaffadours aad GommiflioneTSj it is againft the reprefentation of Churches by the Confiftory of Elders, and fo all the wifdome of Princes and States in their Embaflages (hall turne to implicit faith, becaufe according to this ground, what the reprefenting doth within the bounds of his Commiffion 3 that the reprefented doth implicite. And now I (hall leave to be con- fidered by wife men thefe vaft differen- ces betwixt the Papifts implicit faitb, and the cafe of our Churches governed by El- derfhips. I. The Church aflenteth not to that which the Confiftory of Elders de- creeth or doth , except it be agreeing to the Word of God , as the Reafoner him- felfe faith : but theTe is no fuch limitation in the Papifts implicit faith* 2. The Con • fiftory of Elders doth not prefle any thing upon the Church, imperioufly , or by na- ked wil and authority without any reafon, D as as the Church of Rome doth with thofe from whom (he requireth implicit faith. 3. The Papifts know not what thofe things be which they beleeve by implicit faith: fo G "- b ^ h#/ - that fuch a faith is rightly called meraar- •.114. ticnlorum fidei ignorantia , a meere igno- rance of the articles of faith : but the de- crees of our Elderftiips whereunto our Churches doconfent , are made kno *ne unto them. 4. Our Churches are by the judgement of Chriftian difcretion to ex- amine all things propounded unto them, even the decrees of the Elders, whereas Papifts may not examine what the Church propoundeth or commandeth. 5, Papifts by their implicit faith beleeve whatfoever the Church beleeveth,becaufe they think the Church can not erre,but our Churches conceive not only their particular Elder- fhips, but cecumenicallcouncels to be fub- jeft to error. Pag. 11. Come we now to his third generall rea- fon; whereby he laboureth to prove that the confiftorian courfe is contrary to the pra&ife of the Apoftolick Churches, be- caufe the Apoftle, 1 Cor<%. writeth to the whole Church of Corinth to excommuni- cate the inceftuous man. And that by thefe p - words (when you are enme together) the °* ' whole Church is to be underftood,he pro- veth (9) veth by three reafons : e the ftrength of them all, we (hall take together in one ar- gument thus. They among whom the forni- cator wat> who were f tiffed up when they JJjouldhaveforrowed, and out oft he midftof whom he was to bepnt,who had done that things to whom it appertained to purge out the oldleven^ and to whom the Apoftle wrote not to be commingled with fornicators or co- vetous perjons, they were to begatbe red to- gether into one,and to judge and excommu- nicate that inceftuous perfon. But they among whom the fornicator was,&c. were not the £ldeis alone, but the whole Church, Ergo&c. And now what (hall this difputer fay, if I cleave this his ftrong argument with a wedge of his own timber, thus>&c. If they among whom the fornicator was 5 who were puffed up, when they fhould have forrowed , and out of the midft of whom, 8cc. were to judge and excommunicate that inceftuous perfon, then women were to judge and excom- municate him, and not men only. But the latter is abfurd, therefore fo is the former. My proportion he muft either grant, or elfe (ay that the inceftuous man was not to be put out of the midft of women,and that the Apoftle did not forbid women to be commingled with fornicators. My aflump- D 2 tioa m tion is his own,Pag.24. where he tels us from i Cor 14.34,35. 1 Tim-i.i 2. that wo- men are debarred from liberty or right of voting in publick ecclefiafticall matters. Then let him fee to the conclufion. p j ; a Another proofe of the fame point he ad- ° # D deth from iCor. 2. where he writeth to thefe fame Corinthian* to receive pardon, and comfort the penitent : which I nvght repell in the fame manner. But there is a word in that fame Chapter which may cleare the thing, Verf. 6. Sufficient to fitch a man if this pnmfhment for cenfure) which was wfl.'&tdofm ny. Which numy, if (as he faith in the next page) the Apoftle had op- pofed to himfelfe alone , and not to all, then he faid but the halfe of that which he meant to fay. He would have the Corin- thians to think it enough that the man had beene publickly cenfured by fo many as wtre in their Presbyterie. Now if he had beene cenfured by the whole Church, it had been more fit and emphaticall tohave faid cmiirtd by all. But there is another Socum? ftnce which well fitteth the place. Htinfim ob(erveth that >*»«W is one thing, fr'wwM* another thing : the former noting thofe that exceed in number : the latter thole that are chiefe in dignity, and that there- fore the Apoftle when he faith iMt*'*** m9 7 meancth the rulers and Elders of that Church, Church, fothat the reading (hall be this , Sufficient to Cuch a man^ is thk cenfnrt in- flitted o] the cfae'e. 1 n the fame fence Pi/ c <- tortaketh the words .• which alfo he doth illuftrate from Mat. 12. 41. 42. ^ifor i*»2 a greater then lonah> ***?<» SaAo^rrtj, a greater then Solomon. To conclude this cafe, the Apoftle as in other EpiftlesJ fo in this, doth fometime point at common duties belonging to the whole Church, fometime at the du- ties of officers. That the whole Church of Cerinth fhould have forrowed for the inceftuous man, and that it was a common duty to them, not to be commingled with fornicators, and to hwt no fellowffjip with Ephef. 5.11. the nnf> nit lull worker ofdarkpeffe\ hut rather to ?eprove them : In like manner it con- cerned then all to comfort him being pe- nitent. But as for the judging, and excom- municating of him, that did belong only to the Presbytery of Corinth, and fo Calvin^ ?ifc*torjAr£ttf^ and many others expound the Apoftles words. Hisdigrcffionto prove that the Apoftle P a S ,J 3* alone, did not give forth fentence judicia- *4« ry upon the offender, is not againft us, but agiinft the prelaticall party, therefore I paileit. What he all- agreth from *df. \.&6. &?*?> x 5- 14. For the Churches right offuffragem 1^17.19 the cle&ion of Officers, we doe mod hear- D 3 tily tily affent unto it,with this diftindHon,that when the cafe is fuch, as it was in the ex- amples alleaged, that is, when vifible po- liticall Churches are to be erefted, not ha - ving beene before, then the right of fuf- frage inele&ions, doth indeed belong to the whole body : And though this way of ele&ion were ordinary, it cannot prove that the people have the power of that authority in them, to which they eleft the officers : nomorethentheEle&orsofthe Emperour have in them power of the im- periall dignity, faith Baynes. But now it is not ordinary, for when there is already a fetled Ecclefiafticall republike , or a Church with officers, the officers for the time being ought by their fuffrages to ele& the officers that are wanting, with the knowledge and confent of the Church. Pag, * 7* Somewhat he demurreth upon A&. 1 5 . 1 8 # for the vindication of which place, I refer my reader to the fecond part of the for- mer Treatife, Chap.h &%. Neither faall I (lay to examine, by what Method either this difcourfe or the other about ele&ions, f alleth into the proof e of his proportion, concerning that part of the Elders office, which ftandeth in the cenfuring of offen- ders. Pag.2 1. ! He falleth at lafl into his owne channell, concluding it to bee a thing moftequall, that the whole Church, fhould clearely and and undoubtedly take knowledge of the contumacy of .the pejfon, th=tt is to bee ex- communicated, & of the c rime for which, and this we alfo fay with him. One word I delire to have cleared be- Pag 2C 9 fore wee proceed. One of his grounds in his difcourfe about ele&iorv, ib that the Church officer*, as they are the fervants of Chrift Jelus, fo alfo her fervants for Jefus fake, i.Cor. 4.5. The profeffors of Uydm ^ftf** 4 * fay well, that they are not properlyrhe fervants of the Church, but of God,andof Chrift : They are not Lords of the Church neither, buc Rulers, Guides, Bi(hops,and Paftors of the Church : yet not fervants of the Church except, obje&ivt, that is, the fervants of God in the Church, or for the Churches good. If thi^ bee his meaning,u is well. But I doubt he hath another mea- ning, and that is, that the Church doth give the power ( which is hers) unto her officers, as her fervants to exercife it in hei name. If this bee the matter, then let us marke with Bgynes, that the Church doth f^^ M not virtually and out of power make an c officer, but fhee doth it in Stewardlike minner, miniftring to the fole Lord and matter of the houfe, fo that hee who is taken in doth not his office in her name, but in his matters name:as a Butler taken in by the Steward of the houfe,doth not ex- ecute his office in the Rewards name, but il in Cm) in his matters, who only out of power did conferre it on him. Pag« 22: g ut now i e fi atl y fhould conceive of himandthofe of his fide, that they either exercife amongft themfclves, or would thruftupon others any popular orderoo- craticall Church governement : therefore he defireth the Reader to make eftimate, both of their judgement and pra&iceia this point, according to thefe three decla- rations. Firft he faith they btleeve, that theex- temall Church governement under Chrift, is plainely ariftocraticall and to be admini- ftred by fome choyce men, although the ftate bee after a fort popular and demo- Pag* 2 3- craticall. In refpeft of the latter, he faith it appertaines to thS people freely,to vote in elections & judgements of the Church ^ in refpeft of the former, that the Elders ought to governe the people, even in their voting in juftliberty, by propounding and ordering all things, and ( after the voting of the Church) folemnly executing, either ordination or excommunication. Behold how he runneth upon the rocke of popu- lar governement, even whiles he preten- deth to have his courfe another way : God fend us better pilots. I remember I have read in fundry places of Bodin derepub.that the ftate is oft times different from the go- vernement. Butfure I am,thisanti-eonfi- ftorian fiftor Jan maketh not only the fate, but the governement of the Church to be dtmo- craticall, & that in the fuperlati ve degree, for the governement is democraticall, at Icaft a mpofcdofa mixture of ariftocracy, and democracy ( which is the mod that he dare lay ot the Church governement) where the people have the liberty of ele- cting their owne officers and rulers, and where the Senat fo farre obferveth the people, that they may not paff?thefinall aft, in any matter of importance, without the knowledge and tacite confento the people, though the people doe not vote in the Senat, nay though the Senat doe not vote in the hearing of the people. Now this feemeth not enough to thofe with whom wee have now to doe. They will have the people freely to vote in allyWge- fj$effts n jtbt Cbu-cb. And what is that, but the very exercife of jurisdiction by the depoLecckJ & people, which is the democracy of Uovd- s.cq. 7 . Im condemned by Parker him felte, who maketh the exercife ofecdefiaftical! po- wer proper to the Rulers of the Church, though he placeth the power it felfe origi- nally in the whole Church. Let it further be obferved, what difference thefe men make betwixt the Elders and the people * ' in the governement of the Church : That which thty make proper to the Elders is only the propounding and ordering of matters, and the exiting of fome fo- E lemne (*6 ) lemnea& in name of the Church. This is no more then belongeth to the moderator or Vrafes in any confiftory, But they will have the matter to bee determined accor- ding tothemoftvoycesofthe people. And fo the new forme of Church governement which is here laid before us, is a mete de- mocracy with many moderators, which is the mofi monftrous governement that ever was heard of. His fecond declaration is, that the El- mers m jy and ought at times to meet apart from the body of the Church, for delibe- ration. This if hee meane only of that which hee fptcifi th, the preparing of things fo as pubhk ly,and before the peo- ple, they may bee profecuted with moft conveniency . It is no mora then what many require in moderators ofrSynod*, to whom they think fit, that fome Affi flbrs, or Coadjutors be adjoyned for delibera- ting in private, upon the moft orderly and convenient profecutmg of purpofes in publike : which as it hindercth not the governement of Synods to be ariftocrati- call ; fo neither doth the deliberation of the Elders in private, kinder the governe- ment now in que ftion to be democraticall. Bat if he meane generally, that the Elders may deliberate apart upon everything whatfoever, which istobevoyced by the people, then I askc by what reafon doth hee (*7) he feekde from the deliberatiohs thofe who arc to voice ? for to give being and force to an Ecclefiafticall decree by voy- c'mg, is more than to deliberate upon it, whence it is that Papifts give tc Prefbyters a deliberafive voice in Councels, but not a decifive voice, ?nd we alfo permit any un- derihnding godly man to propound a matccr to a Synod, or to reafonuponir, though none have power of fuffra^e but the Commiffioners of Churches 5 So that he had greater realbn to feclu 'e the peo- ple from the voyces^than from the delibe- rations. His third declaration comes lift, and Pag^4« that is that by the people whole right in voting they thus ftand for- they underftand not women and children, but only men, and them grovyen, and of difcretion. Be- fore hee did objeft to us that neither in Scripture nor in Greeke A uthors, the name Church is ufed for the aflembly of fole Go- vernours : an J ro this I fuppofe 1 did give a fatisfa&ory anfwer.But good Sir be plea- fed mutually to refolve us where you have read in Scripture,or in Greek Authors the name Church (fitting aiide all reprefenta- tives of Churches and Affembliesoffole Governors) ufed for men alone, and them growen ind of difcretion, fecluding wo- men and children : for now I fee your re- ferved Glofle upon thofe words Tell the E 2 Church: (z2) Church : Teff all the men in the Parifh that art growne andof difcretien, you muft not take fo much upon you , as to expound that Text by a Synecdoche 3 which none that ever wrote upon it before your felves did imagine, and yet challenge us for expoun- ding it by another Synecdoche, following Chryfoflome , Euthymim^ Faber Stapulenfis^ and many late Interpreters, who under- ftand by Church in that place, the Rulers of the Church, which are the nobleft part of the Church, I fhall (hut up this point Comment, in with the words ofHjperw, who faith that i Cor-5,4- vve mud; ot underftand by the Church the whole multitude, Sed potius deletfos &c. But rather eertaine choice Elders^ noted Jor their fawning and godlinejji^ in whoje power V e Chwib will have to bee the judgement in fitch lily cmjesjvhich n proved from thatjhat Matth. 1 8 aper it was/aid, Tell the Church jt is added \ wvere two or three are gathered to- gether in my name, there am 1 in the midft of them. And 2 Cor. 2. he faith, Sufficient n thk cenjun infli3ed by mmy> Pag. 24, We have now done with the Elderfhips 1.4. °f particular Churches, but there is ano- ther blow which I perceive is intended a- gainft claflicall Prelbyteries and Synods provincial and national,for the due power by which my oppofite would have the Church to begoverned, hee hy< th before usin this Afltrtion, that every particular ?*t fibk fibk Church hath from Chrift ahfolutc an dint ire fower to exercile in and of herfelfe^ every or- dinance ofGodj andfo k an independent body, notjtanding under any other Et cleftafiicall au- thority outofitfelfe. And this he will prove by ten Arguments ; but I (hall not need to multiply anfwers, a* hee doth arguments, becaute many of them arecoincident.The firft, third,fourth,and fixth, doe all hit up- on the fame ftring. The fir ft is thus: ! f thofe Pag,26. Churches, planted by the Apoftolique in- ftitution, had power fully in themCrlves immediatly from Chrift to pra&ifeail his ordinances: Then have all Churches the like power now. But rhefiritis true.Erg*. Pag.28. The third thus \ Whatforver was com- manded by the (even Churches too be pra- ftifed by each of them, apart, inanrl for themfclves, that do Church ofGod mud: now omit. But Ecciciiafticall government was commanded to the feven Churches to bee praftifed by each of them, Sec. The fourth thus ^ If the Church of Cormth had p a £, 2 g pover and authority within her felfe to 2Qa exer:ifeEcclefiaftica l I Government 5 then ounht not particular Congregations now to ftan 1 under any other Ecclefiaftical aur tbority out ofthemfelves. But the firftis true, E/£ftolick Churches di i indeed ordinarily exercife Ecclefiafticall go- vernment and all the ordinances of Chrift, in and for themfelves^et fo that when the occafion of a Synode did occurre for determining a qaeftion which (3*; which was too hard for particular Churches, and was a] To common to many Churches^ in that cafe they did fubmit themfelves to the authority of he Sy nod. Which hath alfo before beene made plaine from A&. 1 5. To praftife all the ordinan- ces of God in a Church is one thing, and to pra- CtiG: them independantly foa^ntv r tube iubjeft to the authority of a Synod, isanuther thing. My antagoni ft doth a iter take it Rr granted 6c fairh, Pac *2» tr ' at *tt learned men have granted, that the Church- °* es of the Apoftelick eonfHtution wr re indepen- dant bodies. Eut whence are you Sir that would make your Reader beleeve there are no learned men in the Churches of Scotland^ France, the low- countries , and the other reformed Churches which have the governement of Presbyteries and Synods, conceiving it to be moft agreeable to the ApofWkall patterned Have you put out of the category of learned men all Proteftant writers w-o in the controverfies about Councels difpute againft Pa pills from A3s 15.2. Why did you not among all y our imeprtinent allegationsjrite fbme few -of thole learned men who grant the Apofto- lick Churches to have been independant bodies ? But we rnufl: heare what more you have to (ay. Pas 2 9. ! ^ OUT eight and te nne arguments are in like ^ 'manner coincident. The firft you frame thus. Surh anions tbr Church may lawfully do where- in no law of God is broken. Rut the re is no law of God broken, when particular Churches do in and among themftivtsexercife all Gods ordinan- ces. Ergo. The eignt thus. Whatfoever governe- ment ment cannot be found commanded in the written Word o; God,oupht not *o have any place in the Church of God. B G ;vernmentof Presby- te.irs and Synod- marry particular congre- gation* cannot be Foofld commanded, &c The Pag^. temhthus. It is affnae againftGodtoaddeany thing to that forme and manner of ordering Churches which Chrifr hath fet forth in the new TcfLment. But to fubje Salmeron^ and other Jefuits have in this contradiftcd all our writers, telling us (as F thefe W) thefe men doe) that our Saviour meaneth not of Councels in thefe words. Moreover that com- mandement whereby wc (land obliged to fol- low the example both ofthejewifh Church in the Old Teftamept, and of the Apoflolicall Churches in the N w Tt (lament , in fuch things as they had not for any fperiall reafon which doth not concerne us, is tranfgretfed by the withdraw- ing of Congregations from fubj?&ion untoSy* nods. Of which things I have (aid enough be- fore. It is now but a poore begging of that which isinqueflion, to obje&that the governement of Presbyteries and Synods hath no warrant fronh the Word of God. ] p „ • Come we then to examine his other Arguments* ..*' . * His fecond he compofeth thus. It Chrifl in Mat. 18.17. where he (aith, tell the Church.doth mean a particular Congregation : then hath every par- ticular Congregation anintirepowerinandofit felfetoexercifeEclefiafticall governement, and all other Gods fpirituall ordinances- But the firfc is true. Ergo^ for the propofition he citeth fome Writers who do not fpeak of fuch a connexion as he had to prove.The affumption he proveth thus. That Church which Chriftintendeth in Matth.iS. hath abfolute power in and of it felfe to perform all Gods ordinances. But Chrift intendeth in Mat. i8.a particular Congregation. Therefore every particular Congregation hath abfolute power.&c. How bravely doth he conclude the point} Speff a- turn admijfi rifum teneatis amicu We will not exa- mine our t xaminators logick : we know what he would fay: and we would have him to know a- gaine that Chrift in Mat.i 8. meaneth indeed fome fort fortof a particular Congregation, but aeuher oa~ ly nor independantly. Nay he meaneth all the Coofiftories of the Church higher and lower re* fpe&ively, as Parser conceiveth , whafewordsl have before fet downrand to this fenfe the threed ofthe text doth ieade us, for as in the preceding words there is a gradation from one to two or three more, then to the Church, fo is there a gra- dation (by the like order and reafon) in the Con- fiftories ofthe Church-Toftatta upon this place ac- knowledged! that Di£ Eeclefia reacheth as far as to an eecumenicall Councel! , when particular Churches erre in their determinations, or when the caufe is common to all the Churches, for ex- am ple,*when the Pope is to be condemned. His feventh argument followesin my order, Pag. 31. and it runneth after thismanner. Such offices and callings without which the Church of God is co- pleat and perfeft for govemment,are fuperftuous and huinane.But the Church of God may be corn- pleat 8c perfedt for government, without Presby- teriall and Synodicall offices and callings* Ergo A anfwer by a diftinftion. Such offices and callings without which the Church of God are according to the courfe of Gods ordinary providence, or at all times and in all cafes,perfe& and com pleat for government^ re indeed fuperfluous and humane. But that fuch offices and callings without which the Church by the abfolute power of God or at fome times & in fome cafes is perfeft & com pleat, are fuperfluous & humane, we utterly deny.Now for the point of Synods I (hall produce no other witnefles then thofe which this Difputer here ta- keth to be for him. fVhtttakgr acknowledged of p %9 .** 1 F 2 Councels DcPol. Eccle. Councels that Secundum ordinMam providential* •3-P a S- r 3 • necejfaria funt ad bonapnecclefiaguhernationem: ac- cording io ordinary providence they are necejfary for the well governing of the Church. Parker acknow- ledged Synods to be fometime neceffary in the Church^nd he gi veth example of the Councell of N/Ve 3 whhoat which the evils of the Church in the (jaies ofConfiantine could not have bin remedied. pjg.33. . The ninth Argument remaineth,which is thi-. That government which meerly tendeth unto the taking away from particular Congregations 3 their due power is unlawfull. But the government of Presbyteries and Synods (as they now are) doth meerly tend unto the taking away from particu- lar Congregations their due power. Ergo.l did ex- peft fome ftrong proofe for the aflumption of this argument, but we muft take it as it is. Hetels us out of Mafter Barlow^ that no man under the degree of a Prophet or an Apoftle may prefcribe Gods Church and children patternes. Our Synods a*e further from prefcribing patterns either; of worfbip or Church government than himfelfeis. The patterne and whole manner of Church government is fet down in the Scripture, thofe circumftaces excepted which are common to the Church with the Common- wealth 5 and are therefore determinable by natures light. Synods may not nrrfcribe new patterns.>nomore may par- ticular Churches : but Synods may in common caufes, and extraordinarily prefcribe unto parti- cular churches, fuch things as particular churches may in particular caufes and ordinarily prefcribe to their owne members. If he willbeleeve Parlor (whom he thinks his owne) the authority which canicular (31) particular Churches have feverally is notlofi: ? but depoI e .... augmented when they are joyned together in Sy- jjc^i^T nods. But we have before abundantly declared c how Prefbyteriall & Synodical government doth Fa ' ap- uIt * not at all prejudge the rights of congregation:. As for that which here he addeth by way of fuppofi- tion, putting the cafe thatPrefbyteries & Synods will not permit a congregation to rejeft fome c5- vi&ed hereticks, nor to chufe any, except unfit Minifters, this is juftas if one fhould objeft a- gainft Parliaments,that (as they are now) they do meerly tend to the taking away of the right and liberty of the fubjeft,and then for proofe fhould put the cafe, that Parliaments will protect and maintaine Monopolies, P:oje&orers,&c. Now inthisdroveofargumentSjthe drover hath P a g-35* fe^feme like the weake of the flock to follow up behindvThe firft two are blind, and fee not where they are going; : for it maketh nothing againft us, either that the Elderfhip of one congregation, hath not autli .^rthefilderftiip of another tXNigregatknv, or that a minifter fhould not un- dertake the care of more Churches then one. His third, that prefbyteriall power is never menti- lb. p. 1 24, oned in the Scripture, is a begging of the thing in queftion,8c is anfwered before} yet Imuft pi^t him attain in ntfnd ofp^r^ w hofpeakingofchurchfthem only that arefucbyOthers who put thcmfelves under-net above the Scriptures, my writings jliall nothing prejudge* Pag, 36. In the fourth place he objefteth,that whofoever (hall deny their afiertion , muft hold two diflinft forties of Church government to be lawfully one where particular congregations do in & of them- Supia.cap.i. felves exercife all Gods ordinances • the other where they ftand under another ecclefiafticall au- thority out of themfelves. I anfwer it is mod law- full for particular congregations in and of them- felves to exercife all Gods ordinances, according » to the diftin&ions 8c rules above mentioned :but this is not repugnant to their (landing, under the authority of presbyteries & Synods, for which Jet us againe heare a tender friend of congregations, p k • bi Hi- Major quidem poteftas eft Synodi quam unius dicujui pa. Ecclejia print* > &p*rochialis 5 But goe we along. Pag. 129. His firft argument is 5 that for this reafon, among others the learned fay the Pope is Antichrift, viz* becaufe he will have men to appeale from their owne Churches unto him, and to ftand unto his fentencc and decree : and doe not the pres- byteriall affemblies & Synods,take upon them an authority much like to it. Soft my matter, Soft. Canno lefle ferve you, then to match our Church governemet with the papall ufurpations. 2. 1 (hall befeech you to remember, 1. The Pope is one and receiveth appellations monarchinally : a Synod confifteth of many, & receiveth appellation* ari- stocratically: 2. The Pope receiveth appellations from ether nations beyond Sea : presbiteriesand Synods (19) Synods not fo.3. The Pope will have his (entece re- ceived asinfaMiWvvpresbyteries &fynods acknow- ledge themfelves fubjeft to error, 4. The Pope ac- knowledged neither the H!ders 3 nor the Eld rfbips of congregations: which Presbyteries & Synods do. 5. The Pope acknowlcdeth no power ecclefiafti- call on earth, except what is fub/eft to him D yea de- rived from him.-and who will fay fo of Presbyteries & Synods. 6. The Pope receiveth appellations in other caufes then ecdefiafticall : Presbyteries and Synods not fo. 7. Synods are made up of the Com- miflioners of Church -s: The Pope neither hath any comiffion himfelfe from theChurc' es,nor will ad- mit the Commiflioners ofChurches.to fit in judge- ment with him. 8 Synods when they receive appel- lations 2 ai;€ tyed to certaine rules of proceeding and judging,efpecially the Scripture.ThePopemaketh his power boundlefle,and exalteth himftlfe, above the very;Scripture. There (hall be no end,except I flop in time. And what need I to m?ke fomany differences betwixt light and darknede. A fixth argument we fhall now have, what more meet and reafonable faith heathen that every mans cafe b^ there h^ard & determined, where the fault was comitted.If this rule hold the the Parliametor privy Councell, ought to go to every remore coun- ty 8c corner of the kingdom?, to judcre of fuch faultsthere comitted 3 as are proper for the to judg. His 7,8. io. 11. arguments muft be gone wich filence, Pag^^S for they run upon the robbing of congregations of their right, the exercifing ofeccletiafticall govern- ment, in all the apoftoliq'ie Churche?, & our accor- ing with Papifts & the Hierarchy. All which obje- ctions have been before repelled} St it is fomewhac ft range (4o) ftrange,that the dilputer doth fo often repeate the Tame arguments, to make u p the greater number. A pretty art indeed : like that of the young logician who would needs prove, that the foureegsupon the table were five 5 becaufe two & three make five. In this fecondclaufe of arguments there is only one behindhand that is, that by the titles given to all particular cogregations, viz. a kingdome^ a family ,4 body % agucen &c. it appeareth that all ecclefiafticali au&ority, ought to be in every one of thediftindfc- ly, wholly, entirely. Where let the reader obferve, that he maketh the meaning of that place Mat. 3.2. the k**gdonte of God k at hand, to be this, a particular congregation k at hand'&lfo that he expoundeth Eph. 2.19. 8cp/^45. of a particular congregation which are meant of the holy Catholike Church, But fay thatevery particular congregation is a kingdome, a family, a body, a Queene, how proveth he that thcfe names doe agree to every congregation in re- fpeft of herexternall policy, orecclefiafticallgo- yernment Nay fay they, doe agree in this refpect, yet in a thoufand examples it is to be feen, that one and the fame thing is both totum Sipar^the whole, & the part, in different refpefts. Whereof we have alfo fpoken in the former treatife. He concludeth,thatby this time he doth fuppofe the reader perceivetb, that the Scripture b are every way for them 3 and againft the Presbyttriall goverri- ement, you (hall doe well Sir to thinke better upon it 5 you have it yet to prove .• Therefore goe to your fecond thoughts, and examine with me your not unexaminable examination. Farewell; FINIS.