Neither is it enough to say the Elders rule, because they propone and order all things, and reprove, convince and exhort; for no man will have the Apostle James, whom many of our Divines think President and Moderator of the Council of Jerusalem, Act. 15. The Ruler and one that is over the Council in the Lord, and such an one as the Council must obey and submit unto, for his place of Moderation: For the Duke of Venetia, because he moderateth their Senate,1 and proponeth and ordereth suffrages, is not thought by Bodine, Tolosanus, Arnisaeus, Keckerman, or any Politician to be the King and Prince of the Venetians, ⟨p. 68⟩and Lord Judge over the Senate. The Lacedaemonian government was popular,2 howbeit the people did order their matters by their Ephori, 3that were a sort of Rulers to the people. The Moderator of our Assembly is not Judge, or over the Assembly in the Lord: Nay, he hath not a suffrage and decisive voice in our Assembly, because he is Moderator, but because he is a chosen Commissioner and member of the Assembly.4 So Field saith well,5 If the Pope be only a President in the Council, he is not a Prince. Turr•cremata distinguisheth betwixt a President of Honour, and a President of Authority. The Canon of the Council of Paris maketh the Pope above this or this Church or Bishop, but when he is in a general Council, he is there as a President of Honour only, 6not as a Prince, but as the first member by order of the Council and subject to the Council.7 Now the Scripture giveth to the over-seers an authority,8 a presidency of authority,9 We must obey them, and submit to them, and hear them as we would hear Christ. 2. Seeing this is ordinary to our Brethren to reason thus. All the faithful are the Spouse and Body of Christ, Kings and Priests unto God, and have a like title and interest in him, therefore the Keys are immediately communicated to them without the mediation of Rulers intervening: Hence I infer, if all have alike right to the keys for their alike title by Faith, and right of free redemption in Christ, ergo, all are alike Rulers over all in the Lord: then because believers as believers have a title and interest in Christ as their redeemer, and office-bearers;
Neither is it enough to say the Elders rule, because they propone and order all things, and reproove, convince and exhort; for no man will have the Apostle James, whom many of our Divines think President and Moderator of the Councell of Hierusalem, Act. 15. The Ruler and one that is over the Councell in the Lord, and such an one as the Councell must obey and submit unto, for his place of Moderation: For the Duke of Venetia, because he moderateth their Senate,1 and proponeth and ordereth suffrages, is not thought by Bodine, Tolosanus, Arnisaeus, Keckerman, or any Politician to be the King and Prince of the Venetians, ⟨p. 68⟩and Lord Judge over the Senate. The Lacedemonian government was popular,2 howbeit the people did order their matters by their Ephori, 3that were a sort of Rulers to the people. The Moderatour of our Assembly is not Judge, or over the Assembly in the Lord: Nay, he hath not a suff•age and decisme voice in our Assembly, because he is Moderator, but because he is a chosen Commissioner and member of the Assembly.4 So Field saith well,5 If the Pope be only a President in the Councell, he is not a Prince. Turr•cremata distinguisheth betwixt a President of Honour, and a President of Authority. The Canon of the Councell of Paris maketh the Pope above this or this Church or Bishop, but when he is in a generall Councell, he is there as a President of Honour only, 6not as a Prince, but as the first member by order of the Councell and subject to the Councell.7 Now the Scripture giveth to the over-seers an authority,8 a presidency of authority,9 We must obey them, and submit to them, and heare them as we would heare Christ. 2. Seeing this is ordinary to our Brethren to reason thus. All the faithfull are the Spouse and Body of Christ, Kings and Priests unto God, and have a like title and interest in him, therfore the Keyes are immediately communicated to them without the mediation of Rulers interveening: Hence I inferre, if all have alike right to the keys for their alike title by Faith, and right of free redemption in Christ, ergo, all are alike Rulers over all in the Lord: then because believers as believers have a title and interest in Christ as their redeemer, and office-bearers;
- 1Duke of Venice.
- 2Ephori.
- 3Moderator of our assemblies in Scotland.
- 4Field.Feild.
- 5Turrecremat. Concil▪ Pa•isitus.
- 6Heb. 13▪ 17.
- 71 Thes. 5. 12.
- 81 Tim 5. 17.
- 9Act. 20▪ 28.
