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

2. If Elders have their Ordination to that heavenly Charge from the people, as from the first principal and only subject of all ministerial power, I see not how it doth not follow, that Elders are the servants of the Church in that respect; and that though it doth not follow, that they come out in the name of the Church, but in the name of Christ, whose Ambassadors they are, yet it proveth well that they are inferior to the Church of believers. For 1. though the power of the Keys given to believers in relation to Christ be ministerial, yet in relation to the Officers whom the Church sendeth, it is more then ministerial, at lest it is very Lordlike. For as much of this ministerial power is committed to the Church of possibly twenty or forty believers, as to the Mistress, Lady, Spouse, and independent Queen, and highest dispenser of all ministerial power; and the Elders, though Ambassadors of Christ, are but mere accidents or ornaments of the Church, necessary ad benè esse onely, and liable to exauthoration at the Churches pleasure; yea, every way the Officers in jurisdiction are inferior to the Church of believers, by your grounds, and not over the people of the Lord. For if the Church of believers, as they are such, be the most supreme governing Church, then the Officers, as Officers, have no power of government at all, but only so far as they are believers; now if they be not believers (as it falleth out very often) then have they no power of the Keys at all, and what they do, they do it merely as the Churches servants, to whom the Keys are not given marriage-ways, or by right of redemption in Christs blood: yea, Officers as they are such, are neither the Spouse, not redeemed Church, yea nor any part, or members of the redeemed Church. 2. The Church of believers are the •od, the Officers means leading to the end, and ordained to gather the Saints; if therefore, as the end, they shall authoritatively send Officers, they should call and ordain Officers as the States of a Kingdom, with more then a power ministerial; Yea with a ⟨p. 193⟩Kingly power, for all authority should be both formally and eminently in them, as all Regal or Aristocratical power is in the States of a Kingdom, as in the fountain.

2. If Elders have their Ordination to that heavenly Charge from the people, as from the first principall and onely subject of all ministeriall power, I see not how it doth not follow, that Elders are the servants of the Church in that respect; and that though it doth not follow, that they come out in the name of the Church, but in the name of Christ, whose Ambassadours they are, yet it proveth well that they are inferiour to the Church of beleevers. For 1. though the power of the Keys given to beleevers in relation to Christ be ministeriall, yet in relation to the Officers whom the Church sendeth, it is more then ministeriail, at lest it is very Lordlike. For as much of this ministeriall power is committed to the Church of possibly twenty or forty beleevers, as to the Mistresse, Lady, Spouse, and independent Queen, and highest dispencer of all ministeriall power; and the Elders, though Ambassadours of Christ, are but meere accidents or ornaments of the Church, necessary ad benè esse onely, and lyable to exauthoration at the Churches pleasure; yea, every way the Officers in jurisdiction are inferiour to the Church of beleevers, by your grounds, and not over the people of the Lord. For if the Church of believers, as they are such, be the most supreame governing Church, then the Officers, as Officers, have no power of government at all, but onely so farre as they are beleevers; now if they be not believers (as it falleth out very often) then have they no power of the Keyes at all, and what they doe, they doe it meerely as the Churches servants, to whom the Keyes are not given marriage-waies, or by right of redemption in Christs blood: yea, Officers as they are such, are neither the Spouse, not redeemed Church, yea nor any part, or members of the redeemed Church. 2. The Church of believers are the od, the Officers meanes leading to the end, and ordained to gather the Saints; if therefore, as the end, they shall authoritatively send Officers, they should call and ordaine Officers as the States of a Kingdome, with more then a power ministeriall; Yea with a