A42758:241
An assertion of the government of the Church of Scotland in the points of…
An assertion of the government of the Church of Scotland in the points of ruling-elders and of the authority of presbyteries and synods with a postscript in answer to a treatise lately published against presbyterial government.An assertion of the government of the Church of Scotland in the points of ruling-elders and of the authority of presbyteries and synods with a postscript in answer to a treatise lately published against presbyteriall government.
Edinburgh: printed for James Bryson, 1641Edinburgh: printed for Iames Bryson, 1641
Part 2 › Chapter 3: Of greater Presbyteries which some call classes.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
My second proposition concerning the plurality of the Ministers of the Word in those great Cities, wherein the Apostles did erect Christian Churches, ariseth from these grounds, 1. The multiplicity of Christians. 2. The want of Temples, of which two I have already spoken. 3. The daily increase of the Churches to a greater number, Acts 16.5.4. There was need of preachers, not ⟨p. 143⟩only for those who were already converted in the City, but also for labouring to win the unbelievers who were therein. These reasons may make us conclude that there were as many Pastors in one City as there were sacred meetings therein, and some more also for the respects foresaid. And what will you say if we find examples of this plurality of Pastors in Scripture? Of the Bishops or Pastors of the Church of Ephesus, it i• said, that Paul kneeled down, and prayed with them all, and they all wept sore, Acts 20.36.37. compared with verse 28. Here is some good number imported. To the Angel of the Church of Smyrna, that is, to the Pastors thereof collectively taken, Christ saith, The Devil shall cast some of you into prison, Revel. 2.10. which (if not only yet) principally is spoken to the Pastors, though for the benefit of that whole Church. This is more plain of the Church of Thyatira, verse 24. [Greek or Hebrew], Unto you I say, & to the rest in Thyatira: as if he would say, saith Pareus, Tibi •spicopo cum collegis & reliquo coetui dico. Paul writeth to the Bishop at Philippi, Phil. 1.1. and notwithstanding that there was already a certain number of Bishops or Pastors in that City, yet the Apostle thought it necessary to send unto them Epaphroditus ⟨p. 144⟩also, Phil. 2.25. being shortly thereafter to send unto them Timotheus, verse 19. yea to come himself, verse 24. so that there was no scarcity of labourers in that harvest. Epaphras and Archippus were Pastors to the Church at Coloss, and who besides we cannot tell, but Paul sent unto them also Tychicus, and Onesimu,