Having showed what ruling Elders are, it followeth to show Scripture and Divine right for them. Our first Argument is taken from the government and policy of the Jewish Church thus: Whatsoever kind of office-bearers the Jewish Church had; not as it was Jewish, but as it was a Church, such ought the Christian Church to have also. But the Jewish Church, not as it was Jewish, but as it was a Church, had Elders of the people, who assisted in their Ecclesiastical government, and were members of their Ecclesiastical Consistories. Therefore ⟨p. 18⟩such ought the Christian Church to have also. The Proposition will no man call in question; for, quod competit alicui qua tali competit omni tali. That which agreeth to any Church as it is a Church, agreeth to every Church. I speak of the Church as it is a political body, and settled Ecclesiastical Republic. Let us see then to the Assumption. The Jewish Church, not as it was a Church, but as it was Jewish, had an high Priest, typifying our great high Priest Jesus Christ. As it was Jewish, it had Musicians to play upon Harps, Psalteries, Cymbals, and other Musical Instruments in the Temple, 1 Chron. 25.1. concerning which, hear Bellarmines confession, de bon. oper. lib. 1. cap. 17. Justinus saith, that the use of instruments was granted to the Jews for their imperfection: and that therefore such instruments have no place in the Church. We confess indeed that the use of musical instruments agreeth not alike with the perfect, and with the imperfect, and that therefore they began but of late to be admitted in the Church. But as it was a Church, and not as Jewish, it had four sorts of ordinary office-bearers, Priests, Levites, Doctors, and Elders, and we conformably have Pastors, Deacons, Doctors, and Elders.1 To their Priests and Levites, Cyprian ⟨p. 19⟩doth rightly liken our Pastors and Deacons, for howsoever sundry things were done by the Priests and Levites, which were typical and Jewish only; yet may we well parallel our Pastors with their Priests, in respect of a perpetual Ecclesiastical office common to both, viz. the Teaching and governing of the people of God, Mal. 2.7. 2 Chron. 19.8. and our Deacons with their Levites, in respect of the cure of Ecclesiastical goods, and of the work of the service of the house of God in the materials and appurtenances thereof, a function likewise common to both, 1 Chro.
HAving shewed what ruling Elders are, it followeth to shew Scripture and Divine right for them. Our first Argument is taken from the governement and pollicy of the Jewish Church thus: Whatsoever kinde of office-bearers the Jewish Church had; not as it was Jewish, but as it was a Church, such ought the Christian Church to have also. But the Jewish Church, not as it was Jewish, but as it was a Church, had Elders of the people, who assisted in their Ecclesiasticall government, and were members of their Ecclesiasticall Consistories. Therefore ⟨p. 18⟩such ought the Christian Church to have also. The Proposition will no man call in question; for, quod competit alicui qua tali competit omni tali. That which agreeth to any Church as it is a Church, agreeth to every Church. I speake of the Church as it is a politicall body, and setled Ecclesiasticall Republike. Let us see then to the Assumption. The Jewish Church, not as it was a Church, but as it was Jewish, had an high Priest, typisying our great high Priest Jesus Christ. As it was Jewish, it had Musitians to play upon Harpes, Psalteries, Cymbals, and other Musicall Instruments in the Temple, 1 Chron. 25.1. concerning which, hear Bellarmines confession, de bon. oper. lib. 1. cap. 17. Iustinus saith, that the use of instruments was granted to the Iewes for their imperfection: and that therefore such instruments have no place in the Church. Wee confesse indeed that the use of musicall instruments agreeth not alike with the perfect, and with the imperfect, and that therefore they beganne but of late to be admitted in the Church. But as it was a Church, and not as Jewish, it had foure sorts of ordinary office-bearers, Priests, Levites, Doctors, and Elders, and we conformablie have Pastors, Deacons, Doctors, and Elders.1 To their Priests and Levits, Cyprian ⟨p. 19⟩doth rightly liken our Pastors and Deacons, for howsoever sundry things were done by the Priests and Levites, which were typicall and Jewish onely; yet may we well parallell our Pastors with their Priests, in respect of a perpetuall Ecclesiasticall office common to both, viz. the Teaching and governing of the people of God, Mal. 2.7. 2 Chron. 19.8. and our Deacons with their Levits, in respect of the cure of Ecclesiasticall goods, and of the work of the service of the house of God in the materialls and appurtenances thereof, a function likewise common to both, 1 Chro.
- 1Lib. 1. Ep. 9.
