Irenicum, to the lovers of truth and peace heart-divisions opened in the causes and…

And for Church-Governors, if they would keep within their Limits, we might enjoy much peace, if first they would assume to themselves no more power then Christ hath given them; Secondly, if they would not extend it over more congregations then Christ hath committed to them; Thirdly, if they would not exercise it in more things then Christ would have them. Let us look a little into these three, for the want of a right understanding in them hath caused, and may yet further cause much disturbance.

And for Church-Governours, if they would keep within their Limits, we might enjoy much peace, if first they would assume to themselves no more power then Christ hath given them; Secondly, if they would not extend it over more congregations then Christ hath committed to them; Thirdly, if they would not exercise it in more things then Christ would have them. Let us looke a little into these three, for the want of a right understanding in them hath caused, and may yet further cause much disturbance.

For the first. That Christ hath appointed some to rule in his Church, and that all the members of the Church are not in the office of ruling, is apparent in Scripture, 1 Cor. 12. 28. Rom. 12. 8, but that these Officers, preaching Elders, or others, should so have the sole power of ruling as to do all in their own Consistory Classis, or (whatsoever you may call their convening) that the Church should have nothing to do with their acts of rule but to obey, this is assuming to themselves power beyond what is given them; This hath brought tyranny into the Church,¹ it hath made the Church-officers to look upon the rest of the Church in a contemptible way, as the common vulgar sort, men ignorant and weak, not at all fit to meddle with matters of government, not so much as to take cognisance,²