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

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 or give any consent to what the Church-officers do; But whether they understand or no whether they consent or dissent, it makes no matter, the determinations of those in place must stand, their censures must be submitted to.

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 doe all in their owne Consistory Classis, or (whatsoever you may call their convening) that the Church should have nothing to doe with their acts of rule but to obey, this is assuming to themselves power beyond what is given them; This hath brought tyrannie into the Church,¹ it hath made the Church-officers to looke 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,