Fourthly, Election by the suffrage and consent of the Church is required unto the calling of a Pastor or Teacher, so that without it formally, or virtually given or obtained, the call however otherwise carried on or solemnized, is irregular and defective. There are but two places in the New Testament where ⟨p. 132⟩there is mention of the manner whereby any are called in an ordinary way unto any ministry in the Church; and in both of them there is mention of their election by the community of the Church; and in both of them the Apostles themselves presided with a fullness of Church power, and yet would not deprive the Churches of that which was their liberty and privilege. The first of these is Acts the 6. where all the Apostles together, to give a rule unto the future proceeding of all Churches in the constitution of Officers amongst them, do appoint the multitude of the Disciples or community of the Church, to look out from among themselves, or to choose the persons that were to be set apart thereon unto their office, which they did accordingly, Verses 2, 3, and 5. Then the twelve called the multitude of the Disciples unto them, and said, it is not reason that we should leave the word of God, and serve Tables; wherefore Brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy-Ghost, and wisdom; and the saying pleased the whole multitude, and they chose Stephen, ⟨p. 133⟩&c. This was done when only Deacons were to be ordained, in whom the interest and concernment of the Church is not to be compared with that which it hath in its Pastors, Teachers, and Elders. The same is mentioned again, Acts 14.23. where Paul and Barnabas are said to ordain Elders in the Churches by their election and suffrage, For the word there used, will admit of no other sense, however it be ambiguously expressed in our translation. Neither can any instance be given of the use of that word, applied unto the communication of any office or power to any person or persons in an assembly wherein it denoteth any other action but the suffrage of the multitude; and this it doth constantly in all writers in the Greek tongue. And hence it was that this right and privilege of the Church, in choosing of those who are to be set over them in the work of the Lord, was a long time preserved inviolate in the primitive Churches, as the ancients do abundantly testify.
Fourthly, Election by the suffrage and consent of the Church is required unto the calling of a Pastor or Teacher, so that without it formally, or virtually given or obtained, the call however otherwise carryed on or solemnized, is irregular and defective. There are but two places in the New Testament where ⟨p. 132⟩there is mention of the manner whereby any are called in an ordinary way unto any ministery in the Church; and in both of them there is mention of their election by the community of the Church; and in both of them the Apostles themselves presided with a fulness of Church power, and yet would not deprive the Churches of that which was their liberty and priviledge. The first of these is Acts the 6. where all the Apostles together, to give a rule unto the future proceeding of all Churches in the constitution of Officers amongst them, do appoint the multitude of the Disciples or community of the Church, to look out from among themselves, or to choose the persons that were to be set apart thereon unto their office, which they did accordingly, Verses 2, 3, and 5. Then the twelve called the multitude of the Disciples unto them, and said, it is not reason that we should leave the word of God, and serve Tables; wherefore Brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy-Ghost, and wisdom; and the saying pleased the whole multitude, and they chose Stephen, ⟨p. 133⟩&c. This was done when only Deacons were to be ordained, in whom the interest and concernment of the Church is not to be compared with that which it hath in its Pastors, Teachers, and Elders. The same is mentioned again, Acts 14.23. where Paul and Barnabas are said to ordain Elders in the Churches by their election and suffrage, For the word there used, will admit of no other sence, however it be ambiguously expressed in our translation. Neither can any instance be given of the use of that word, applyed unto the communication of any office or power to any person or persons in an assembly wherein it denoteth any other action but the suffrage of the multitude; and this it doth constantly in all writers in the Greek tongue. And hence it was that this right and priviledge of the Church, in choosing of those who are to be set over them in the work of the Lord, was a long time preserved inviolate in the primitive Churches, as the ancients do abundantly testifie.
