The true nature of a Gospel church and its government

5. THE nature of the Work whereunto they are called, requires, that in every Church consisting in any considerable number of Members, there should be more Elders than One. When God first appointed Rule in the Church under the Old Testament, he assigned unto every Ten Persons, or Families, a distinct Ruler, Deut. 1.15. For the Elders are to take care of the Walk or Conversation of all the Members of the Church, that it be according unto the Rule of the Gospel. This Rule is eminent as unto the holiness that it requires, above all other Rules of moral Conversation whatever. And there is in all the Members of the Church great Accuracy and Circumspection required in their walking after it and according unto it. The Order also and Decency which is required in all Church-Assemblies, stands in need of exact care and inspection. That all these things can be attended unto, and discharged in a due manner in any Church by One Elder, is for them only to suppose who know nothing of them. And, although there may be an appearance for a season of all these things in such Churches, yet there being not therein a due compliance with the Wisdom and Institution of Christ, they have no present Beauty, nor will be of any long continuance.

THESE considerations, as also those that follow, may seem jejune and contemptible unto such as have another frame of Church-Rule and Order drawn in their Minds and Interests. A Government vested in some few Persons, with Titles of Preeminence and Legal Power, exercised in Courts with Coercive Jurisdiction, by the Methods and Processes of Canons of their own framing, is that which they suppose doth better become the Grandeur of Church-Rulers, and the State of the Church, than these Creeping Elders with their Congregations. But, whereas our present enquiry after these things, is only in and out of the Scripture, wherein there is neither shadow nor appearance of any of these practices, I beg their pardon, if at present I consider them not.

THESE considerations, as also those that follow, may seem jejune and contemptible unto such as have another frame of Church-Rule and Order drawn in their Minds and Interests. A Government vested in some few Persons, with Titles of Preheminence and Legal Power, exercised in Courts with Coercive Jurisdiction, by the Methods and Processes of Canons of their own framing, is that which they suppose doth better become the Grandeur of Church-Rulers, and the State of the Church, than these Creeping Elders with their Congregations. But, whereas our present enquiry after these things, is only in and out of the Scripture, wherein there is neither shadow nor appearance of any of these practices, I beg their pardon, if at present I consider them not.