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

They say by [Greek or Hebrew] here, we may understand either an assembly of Bishops, or the Office of a Presbyter, which was given to Timothy. ¹To these absurdities let one of their own side answer. Whereas saith D. Forbesse, some have expounded the Presbytery in this place to be a company of Bishops, unless by Bishops thou would understand simple Presbyters, it is a violent interpretation, and an insolent meaning. And whereas others have understood the degree it self of Eldership, this can not stand, ²for the degree hath not hands, but hands are mens. J find in Sutlivius, a ⟨p. 132⟩third gloss. He saith, that the word Presbytery in this place signifieth the Ministers of the word, non juris vinculo sed ut cunque collectos, inter quos etiam Apostoli erant. Ans. 1. If so, then the occasional meeting of Ministers, be it in a journey, or at a wedding, or a burial, &c. shall all be Presbyteries, for then they are ut cunque collecti. 2. The Apostles did put the Churches […] better order, then to leave imposition of hands, or any thing of that kind to the uncertainty of an occasional meeting. 3, The Apostles were freely present in any Presbytery, where they were for the time, because the oversight and care of all the Churches was laid upon them: Pastors and Elders were necessarily present therein, and did by virtue of their particular vocation meet together Presbyterially, whether an Apostle were with them, or not.

They say by 〈non-Latin alphabet〉 here, we may understand either an assembly of Bishops, or the Office of a Presbyter, which was given to Timothy. ¹To these absurdities let one of their owne side answer. Whereas saith D. Forbesse, some have expounded the Presbytery in this place to be a company of Bishops, unlesse by Bishops thou would understand simple Presbyters, it is a violent interpretation, and an insolent meaning. And whereas others have vnderstood the degree it selfe of Eldership, this can not stand, ²