A treatise of miscellany questions wherein many useful questions and cases of conscience are…A treatise of miscellany questions wherein many usefull questions and cases of conscience are…

1, In the stating of the question about popular government, declareth that the question is not, whether in matters of greater importance, and more public concernment, (as admissions, excommunications, and absolutions of members, elections, and depositions of officers) the case ought to be made known unto, and determined with the free consent of the people (for all this he willingly granteth.) But whether every cause to be determined, ought to be brought to the multitude, or body of the Congregation, and they to give their voices therein together with the officers of the Church.

1, In the stating of the question about popular government, declareth that the question is not, whether in maters of greater importance, and more publick concernment, (as admissions, excommunications, and absolutions of members, elections, and depositions of officers) the case ought to bee made known unto, and determined with the free consent of the people (for all this he willingly granteth.) But whether every cause to be determined, ought to be brought to the multitude, or body of the Congregation, and they to give their voices therein together with the officers of the Church.

Mr. Herle the reverend and learned prolocutor of the Assembly of divines at Westminster in his treatise, entitled, The independency on Scriptures, of the independency of the Churches, pag: 3. While he stateth the question, saith, We acknowledge that the Pastors and other officers were anciently, and it is to be wished they still were chosen (at least) consented to by the members of each respective Congregation: But that they are to be ordained, deposed, or excommunicated by the Presbytery, &c. Moreover they of the Separation, and if not all, yet (sure) some Independents place the whole essentiality of a calling in Election, accounting ordination to be no more but the solemnization of the calling. We say, [Greek or Hebrew] or the missio potestativa, or the power and commission given to a man, by which he is made of no Minister to be a Minister, is not from the Churches electing ⟨p. 26⟩him, but from the lawful ordaining him: And that Election doth but design such a person to the Ministry of such a Church. For as Gamachaeus sayeth in tertiam partem Thomae do Sacr: ordin: cap: 7. the people cannot give spiritual authority which themselves have not: Et quamvis fateamur, saith he, Laicos saepissime vocatos ad electionem Ministrorum Ecclesiae, tamen longe est aliud loqui de ordinatione, quam de electione, &c.