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

Ans. The case is not alike, the power of electing a King is natural, for Ants and Locusts have it, Prov 30 25, 16, 27. Therefore a civill Society may choose and ordain a King. The power of choosing Officers is [Greek or Hebrew], a supernatural gift. And because God giveth to people one supernatural gift, it is not consequent that he should give them another, also beside ordination is another thing, then coronation of a King. Presbyters in the Word have always performed ordination.¹

Ans. The case is not alike, the power of electing a King is naturall, for Ants and Locusts have it, Prov 30 25, 16, 27. Therefore a civill Society may choose and ordaine a King. The power of choosing Officers is 〈non-Latin alphabet〉, a supernaturall gift. And because God giveth to people one supernaturall gift, it is not consequent that he should give them another, also beside ordination is another thing, then coronation of a King. Presbyters in the Word have alwaies performed ordination.¹

1. 1Manuscript.

Neither will it hence follow (saith the Author) as some object ¹that because the Church of believers neither make the Office nor authority of Pastors, that both are immediately from Christ, and that therefore the believers may not lay hands upon the Officers; nor doth it follow, because they receive ordination from the Church, that therefore they should execute their Office in the Churches name; or that they should be more or less diligent at the Churches appointment, or that the Church of believers have a Lordly power over them, or that the Elders must receive their commission from the Church, as an Ambassador doth from the Prince who sent him, or that the Church in the defect of Officers may perform all duties proper to Officers, as to administer the Sacraments. For 1. most of the objections do strike as much against imposition of hands by Bishops and Presbyters. 2. Though Officers receive the application of their office and powerly the Church, yet not from the Church; and if from the Church, yet not from her by any Lordly power and dominion, but only ministerially as from instruments under Christ, so that they cannot choose or ordain whom they please, but only him whom they see the Lord hath fitted and prepared for them; nor can they prescribe limits to his Office, nor give him his Embassage, but only a charge to look to the Ministry that he hath received of the Lord.