An assertion of the government of the Church of Scotland in the points of…

Wherefore ⟨p. 31⟩by the Church whereof our master speaketh, we must needs understand such a representative meeting of the Church, wherein a scandalous and obstinate person may, and ought to be judged.¹ And what is that? Collegium Presbyterorum, saith Camero. The Presbytery whereof mention is made, 1 Tim. 4.14. Tell the Church, that is, [Greek or Hebrew] saith Chrysostom, expounding the place: he meaneth the Presbytery made up of Pastors and ruling Elders.² And so Zanchius and Junius expound him. The Pastors were [Greek or Hebrew], because of their presiding in the Consistories of the Church. The ruling Elders were [Greek or Hebrew], because of their ruling the flock.³ Whitgift saith, Truth it is, that the place of Matthew may be understood of Seniors, but it may be aswell understood of any other, that by the order of the Church, have authority in the Church. His confession in behalf of Seniors we accept, but that he maketh this Scripture like a nose of wax, and the government of the Church like the French fashion, that we utterly abhor. But how is the Presbytery called the Church, and why? First, even as the body is said to see when as the eyes alone do see;⁴ so saith Camero. The Church is said to hear that which they alone do hear, who are as the eyes of ⟨p. 32⟩the Church. Secondly, it is a common form of speech to give the name of that which is represented to that which representeth it. So we commonly say that this or that is done by the States of Holland, which is done by the Senate at Hague. Now though Bishops or Pastors alone cannot represent the Church, because hearers also belong to the definition of the Church; yet the Presbytery can well represent the Church, because it containeth, beside those who labour in the word, ruling Elders put in authority by the Church for the government thereof, as Gerard rightly resolveth.