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

CHAP. III. The first Argument for ruling Elders, taken from the Jewish Church.

CHAP. III. The first Argument for ruling Elders, taken from the Iewish Church.

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.