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

Answ. All here said is conjectural, he cannot give us an instance of a Church exercising Church-power, and destitute of Officers, only he saith, Can we conceive that in the Apostles absence there was no Church meetings for edification? But were there no Elders and Officers in the Apostolic Church, but only Apostles? I think there have been Pastors, and when the Apostles first left the planted Churches, can we conceive that they left new converted flocks without Pastors? and if without Officers they met for prophesying, can we conceive that they wanted the Seals of the Covenant? certainly, Sacraments without Officers are no rules for us to follow. Secondly, of conversion by private persons, I purpose to speak hereafter; if they preached, it is not ordinary, nor a rule to us. Thirdly, at Crete there have been Preachers, but of government without them I see nothing; since Elders Timothy and Titus are limited in receiving accusation: against Elders, and are forbidden to lay hands suddenly on any man; I see not how the people without Officers did this. It is good, that this Church that they give us, is all builded upon conjectures, and an unwritten Church is an unwritten tradition. If the Apostles appointed Elders in the Church for this end, to govern; we gather the contrary of your collections. Ergo, there was no government in the Churches before there were governors, for the end could not be existing in Gods wisdom without the means; that watchmen should go about the walls before the City be walled, and discipline erected, I cannot conceive: without Officers, the ordinary disciplinators, the City of God can be no governing City.

Answ. All here said is conjecturall, he cannot give us an instance of a Church exercising Church-power, and destitute of Officers, onely he saith, Can we conceive that in the Apostles absence there was no Church meetings for edification? But were there no Elders and Officers in the Apostolike Church, but onely Apostles? I thinke there have beene Pastors, and when the Apostles first left the planted Churches, can we conceive that they left new converted flockes without Pastors? and if without Officers they met for prophecying, can wee conceive that they wanted the Seales of the Covenant? certainly, Sacraments without Officers are no rules for us to follow. Secondly, of conversion by private persons, I purpose to speake hereafter; if they preached, it is not ordinary, nor a rule to us. Thirdly, at Crete there have beene Preachers, but of government without them I see nothing; since Elders Timothy and Titus are limitted in receiving accusation: against Elders, and are forbidden to lay hands suddenly on any man; I see not how the people without Officers did this. It is good, that this Church that they give us, is all builded upon conjectures, and an unwritten Church is an unwritten tradition. If the Apostles appointed Elders in the Church for this end, to governe; wee gather the contrary of your collections. Ergo, there was no government in the Churches before there were governours, for the end could not be existing in Gods wisdome without the meanes; that watchmen should goe about the walls before the City bee walled, and discipline erected, I cannot conceive: without Officers, the ordinary disciplinators, the City of God can be no governing City.