The cure of church-divisions, or, Directions for weak Christians to keep them from being…

First, the Scripture telleth us of no Church-Elders but what were ordained; and of none but such as were of the same Office with the preaching Pastors or Elders: of none that had not authority to baptize and administer the Lords supper: Nor doth Church-history tell us of any other as a Divine office. But when one Assembly had many Elders or Pastors, those that were best gifted for public Sermons did preach; and the rest did help to rule the Church, and to catechize, and instruct and visit particular families and persons, and other parts of the office, as there was cause. But now we have concluded that there is a distinct office of Ruling-Elders, who need not be ordained, and who have no power to baptize or to administer the Lords Supper. This I think is a superstition: For we feign God to have made a Church-office which he never made. And though we must honour and hold Communion with the Churches which have this blemish; yet still it cannot be freed from superstition.

First, the Scripture telleth us of no Church-Elders but what were ordained; and of none but such as were of the same Office with the preaching Pastors or Elders: of none that had not authority to baptize and administer the Lords supper: Nor doth Church-history tell us of any other as a Divine office. But when one Assembly had many Elders or Pastors, those that were best gifted for publike Sermons did preach; and the rest did help to rule the Church, and to catechize, and instruct and visit particular families and persons, and other parts of the office, as there was cause. But now we have concluded that there is a distinct office of Ruling-Elders, who need not be ordained, and who have no power to baptize or to administer the Lords Supper. This I think is a superstition: For we feign God to have made a Church-office which he never made. And though we must honour and hold Communion with the Churches which have this blemish; yet still it cannot be freed from superstition.

Secondly, God hath required nothing but profession ⟨p. 289⟩of the Baptismal Covenant, to prove a mans title to his entrance and privileges in the universal Church: And a consent to our Relation to the particular Churches, to our membership in them. But mistaking-zeal hath accounted this too loose a way, and hath devised stricter terms: Many must have other proofs of Godliness, besides the understanding, voluntary assent and consent to the Baptismal Covenant: Yea of those that are in the universal Church already; before they can be admitted to its privileges, or to a particular Church. And which is worse, they here give the Church no certain rule, instead of Christs rule, which they cast by: But one man requireth one account, and another requireth another; and the rule and test doth vary as the charity or prudence of men do vary. This is a superstition, which hath already torn the Churches in pieces, and is going on still to do worse: And its raised by mistaking-zeal.