The due right of presbyteries, or, A peaceable plea for the government of the…

The Question is near to the former, yet needful in this matter to be discussed. The Question is not, if the name Church be given to a company of Christians, without relation to their Officers, for the word [Greek or Hebrew] is given to a civill meeting. The Hebrews call, sometimes, any meeting of people a Church: as [Greek or Hebrew] doth sometime signify, Gen. 49. 6. my soul come not thou [Greek or Hebrew] to their assembly. So the Rabbins use [Greek or Hebrew] for a place, where the Congregation meeteth. So the Chaldaic and Arabic use [Greek or Hebrew], for the place where the worshippers met, from [Greek or Hebrew] Caldaice & Syriace, Adoravit, because it is a place of meeting for adoration; and [Greek or Hebrew] the Congregation from the Arabic [Greek or Hebrew] congregavit. Yet speaking of a governing and orderly constituted Church, you shall never ⟨p. 179⟩find, such a Church having the name of a Church, but such a company as hath officers, and is spoken of as a house and family, where there are stewards, keys, doors, bread and other things noting a City-incorporation.

The Question is neere to the former, yet needfull in this matter to be discussed. The Question is not, if the name Church be given to a company of Christians, without relation to their Officers, for the word 〈non-Latin alphabet〉 is given to a civill meeting. The Hebrews call, sometimes, any meeting of people a Church: as 〈non-Latin alphabet〉 doth sometime signifie, Gen. 49. 6. my soule come not thou 〈non-Latin alphabet〉 to their assembly. So the Rabbines use 〈non-Latin alphabet〉 for a place, where the Congregation meeteth. So the Chaldaick and Arabick use 〈non-Latin alphabet〉, for the place where the worshippers met, from 〈non-Latin alphabet〉 Caldaice & Syriace, Adoravit, because it is a place of meeting for adoration; and thè Congregation from the Arabick congregavit. Yet speaking of a governing and orderly constituted Church, you shall never