Of the many Elders, who in common thus ruled the Church of Ephesus, there was one President, whom our Saviour in his Epistle unto this Church in a peculiar manner stileth dthe Angel of the Church of Ephesus: and Ignatius in another Epistle written about twelve years after unto the same Church, calleth the Bishop thereof. Betwixt the Bishop and the Presbytery of that Church, what an harmonious consent there was in the ordering of the Church-Government, the same ⟨p. 153⟩Ignatius doth fully there declare, by the Presbytery, with eSaint Paul, understanding the Community of the rest of the Presbyters, or Elders, who then had a hand not only in the delivery of the Doctrine and Sacraments, but also in the Administration of the Discipline of Christ: for further proof of which, we have that known testimony of Tertullian in his general Apology for Christians. fIn the Church are used exhortations, chastisements, and divine censure; for judgement is given with great advice as among those, who are certain they are in the sight of God, and in it is the chiefest foreshowing of the judgement which is to come, if any man have so offended, that he be banished from the Communion of prayer, and of the Assembly, and of all holy fellowship. The Presidents that bear rule therein are certain approved Elders, who have obtained this honour not by reward, but ⟨p. 154⟩by good report, who were no other (as he himself intimates) elsewhere but gthose from whose hands they used to receive the Sacrament of the Eucharist.
Of the many Elders, who in common thus ruled the Church of Ephesus, there was one President, whom our Saviour in his Epistle unto this Church in a peculiar manner stileth dthe Angell of the Church of Ephesus: and Ignatius in another Epistle written about twelve yeares after unto the same Church, calleth the Bishop thereof. Betwixt the Bishop and the Presbytery of that Church, what an harmonius consent there was in the ordering of the Church-Government, the same ⟨p. 153⟩Ignatius doth fully there declare, by the Presbytery, with eSaint Paul, understanding the Community of the rest of the Presbyters, or Elders, who then had a hand not onely in the delivery of the Doctrine and Sacraments, but also in the Administration of the Discipline of Christ: for further proof of which, we have that known testimony of Tertullian in his general Apology for Christians. fIn the Church are used exhortations, chastisements, and divine censure; for judgement is given with great advice as among those, who are certain they are in the sight of God, and in it is the chiefest foreshewing of the judgement which is to come, if any man have so offended, that he be banished from the Communion of prayer, and of the Assembly, and of all holy fellowship. The Presidents that bear rule therein are certain approved Elders, who have obtained this honour not by reward, but ⟨p. 154⟩by good report, who were no other (as he himself intimates) elsewhere but gthose from whose hands they used to receive the Sacrament of the Eucharist.
- dRev. 2. 1.
- e1 Tim. 4. 14.
- fIbidem etiam exhortationes, castigationes & censura divina; nam & judicatur magno cum pondere ut apud cert•s de Dei conspectu, summúnque futuri judicii praejudicium est, si qui• ita deliquerit, ut à communicatione orationis. & conventuss, & omnis sancti commecii relegetur▪ praesident probati quique seniors, honorem istum non pretio, sed Testimonio adepti. Tertul. Apologet. cap. 39.Ibidem etiam exhortationes, castigationes & censura divina; nam & judicatur magno cum pondere ut apud cert•s de Dei conspectu, summúnque futuri judicii praejudicium est, si qui• ita deliquerit, ut à communicatione orationis. & conventuss, & omnis sancti commecii relegetur▪ praesident probati quique seniores, honorem istum non pretio, sed Testimonio adepti. Tertul. Apologet. cap. 39.
- g[…] de a•io •um manibus quam praesidentium ••mimus, Id de corona •ilitis, cap. 3.〈…〉 de a•io •um manibus quam praesidentium ••mimus, Id de corona •ilitis, cap. 3.
