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

Before we come to speak particularly of those Elders of which our purpose is to treat, it is fit we should know them by their right name, lest we nick-name and mis-call them. Some reproachfully and others ignorantly call them Lay Elders. But the distinction of the Clergy & Laity, is Popish and Antichristian; and they who have narrowly considered the records of ancient times, have noted this distinction as one of the grounds whence the mystery of iniquity had the beginning of it.¹ The name of Clergy appropriate to Ministers, is full of pride and vain-glory, and hath made the holy people of God to be despised, as if they were profane and unclean in comparison of their Ministers.² Gerard likeneth those who take to themselves the name of the Clergy, to the Pharisees, who called themselves by that name: for that their holiness did separate them from the rest of the Jews: for this Etymology of the name Pharisee, he citeth Tertullian, Origen, Epiphanius, Ambrose, and confirmeth it from ⟨p. 4⟩Luke 18.10. Hence was it that some Councils discharged the Laity from presuming to enter within the Quire,³ or to stand among the Clergy near the Altar. Two reasons are alleged why the Ministers of the Church should be called [Greek or Hebrew]. First, because the Lord is their Inheritance: secondly, because they are the Lords inheritance. Now both these reasons do agree to all the faithful people of God: For there is none of the faithful, who may not say with David, Psal. 16.5. The Lord is the portion of my inheritance; and of whom also it may not be said, that they are the Lords inheritance, or lot: for Peter giveth this name to the whole Church,⁴ 1 Pet. 5.3. Where (if it were needful) we might challenge Bishop Hall, who borroweth a gloss from Bellarmine and Gregorius de Valentia, telling us, that Peter chargeth his fellow Bishops not to domineer over their Clergy; so shutting out of the Text, both the duty of Pastors, because the Bishops only are meant by Elders; and the benefit of the people, because the inferior Pastors are the Bishops flock, according to this gloss: for Peter opposeth the Lording over the [Greek or Hebrew], to being ensamples to the Flock. Surely, if this Popish Gloss be true, Protestants in their Commentaries and Sermons,