The true nature of a Gospel church and its government

5. THAT which alone is objected hereunto by Bellarmine and others who follow him, and borrow their whole in this ⟨p. 71⟩case from him, namely that [Greek or Hebrew] Grammatically agreeing with and regulated by Paul and Barnabas, denotes their act, and not any act of the people, is of no force. For, (1.) Paul and Barnabas did preside in the whole action, helping, ordering and disposing of the people in the discharge of their Duty, as is meet to be done by some on all the like occasions. And therefore it is truly said of them, that they appointed Elders by the Suffrage of the people. (2.) I have showed instances before out of the Scripture, that when a thing is done by the whole people, it is usual to ascribe it unto him or them who were chief therein, as elsewhere the same thing is ascribed unto the whole people.

5. THAT which alone is objected hereunto by Bellarmine and others who follow him, and borrow their whole in this ⟨p. 71⟩case from him, namely that 〈non-Latin alphabet〉 Grammatically agreeing with and regulated by Paul and Barnabas, denotes their act, and not any act of the people, is of no force. For, (1.) Paul and Barnabas did preside in the whole action, helping, ordering and disposing of the people in the discharge of their Duty, as is meet to be done by some on all the like occasions. And therefore it is truly said of them, that they appointed Elders by the Suffrage of the people. (2.) I have shewed instances before out of the Scripture, that when a thing is done by the whole people, it is usual to ascribe it unto him or them who were chief therein, as elsewhere the same thing is ascribed unto the whole people.

THE same Authors contend that the liberty of choosing their own Officers or Elders, such as it was, was granted unto them or permitted by way of condescension for a Season; and not made use of by virtue of any right in them thereunto. But this permission is a mere imagination. It was according to the mind of Christ, that the Churches should choose their own Elders, or it was not. If it were not, the Apostles would not have permitted it; and if it were, they ought to ordain it, and practise according to it, as they did. Nor is such a constant Apostolical Practice proposed for the direction of the Church in all Ages, to be ascribed unto such an Original as Condescension and Permission. Yea it is evident, that it arose from the most fundamental principles of the constitution and nature of the Gospel Churches, and was only a regular pursuit and practice of them: For,