The true nature of a Gospel church and its government

1. THIS Testimony relates directly unto the Rules and Principles before laid down, directing unto the practice of them. According to the Analogy of these Principles, these Words are to be interpreted. And unless they are overthrown, it is to no purpose to put in exceptions against the sense of this or that Word; the Interpretation of them is to be suited unto the Analogy of the things which they relate unto. If we consider not what is spoken here in consent with other Scriptures treating of the same matter, we depart from all sober Rules of Interpretation.

1. THIS Testimony relates directly unto the Rules and Principles before laid down, directing unto the practice of them. According to the Analogy of these Principles, these Words are to be interpreted. And unless they are overthrown, it is to no purpose to put in exceptions against the sence of this or that Word; the Interpretation of them is to be suited unto the Analogy of the things which they relate unto. If we consider not what is spoken here in consent with other Scriptures treating of the same matter, we depart from all sober Rules of Interpretation.

2. ON this supposition, the Words of the Text have a plain and obvious signification, which at first view presents it self unto the common sense and understanding of all Men. And where there is nothing contrary unto any other Divine Testimony, or Evident Reason, such a sense is constantly to be embraced. There is nothing here of any Spiritual Mystery; but only a direction concerning outward Order in the Church. In such, cases the literal sense of the Words rationally apprehended, is all that we are concerned in. But on the first Proposal of this Text, That the Elders that Rule well, are worthy of double honour, especially those who labour in the Word and Doctrine; a rational ⟨p. 143⟩Man who is unprejudiced, who never heard of the Controversy about Ruling Elders, can hardly avoid an Apprehension that there are two sort of Elders, some that labour in the Word and Doctrine, and some who do not so do. The Truth is, it was Interest and Prejudice that first caused some learned Men to strain their wits to find out evasions from the evidence of this Testimony: Being so found out, some others of meaner Abilities have been entangled by them. For there is not one new Argument advanced in this cause, not one exception given in unto the sense of the place which we plead for, but what was long since coined by Papists and Prelatists, and managed with better Colours than some now are able to lay on them, who pretend unto the same judgment.