A42758:353
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
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.
This is no more then belongeth to the moderator or Praeses in any consistory, But they will have the matter to be determined according to the most voices of the people. And so the new form of Church government which is here laid before us, is a mere democracy with many moderators, which is the most monstrous government that ever was heard of.
This is no more then belongeth to the moderator or Praeses in any consistory, But they will have the matter to bee determined according to the most voyces of the people. And so the new forme of Church governement which is here laid before us, is a mere democracy with many moderators, which is the most monstrous governement that ever was heard of.
His second declaration is, that the Elders may and ought at times to meet apart from the body of the Church, for deliberation. This if he mean only of that which he specifieth, the preparing of things so as publicly, and before the people, they may be prosecuted with most conveniency. It is no more then what many require in moderators of Synods, to whom they think fit, that some Assessors, or Coadjutors be adjoined for deliberating in private, upon the most orderly and convenient prosecuting of purposes in public: which as it hindereth not the government of Synods to be aristocratical; so neither doth the deliberation of the Elders in private, hinder the government now in question to be democratical. But if he mean generally, that the Elders may deliberate apart upon everything whatsoever, which is to be voiced by the people, then I ask by what reason doth ⟨p. 27⟩he seclude from the deliberations those who are to voice? for to give being and force to an Ecclesiastical decree by voicing, is more than to deliberate upon it, whence it is that Papists give to Presbyters a deliberative voice in Councils, but not a decisive voice, and we also permit any understanding godly man to propound a matter to a Synod, or to reason upon it, though none have power of suffrage but the Commissioners of Churches; So that he had greater reason to seclude the people from the voices, than from the deliberations.