Five disputations of church-government and worship

§. 31. As for instance, in a particular Church, there is a Communion to be held among all the members, though none of them but the Officers are Governors of the Church. And in many cases where the Peoples Consent is needful, its common to stand to a Major vote: and so great a stress is laid on this, that by many of the Congregational way the Government of the Church is said to be in the Major vote of the people: and yet 1. This is indeed no Government that belongs to them; but Consent to Communion or Exclusion; and 2. No Scripture doth require a Minor part to stand in all cases to the decision of a Major vote, nor give a Major vote any Rule over the Consciences of the Minor part (show us this voting power in Scripture) And yet 3. All agree,¹ that upon natural Reasons and General Rules of Scripture, the Churches are allowed, yea obliged, in lawful things, for maintaining Unity and Peace, to stand to the judgement of a Major vote, (in Cases that belong to them to vote in) though there be no particular word for it in the Scripture: Even so Associate Pastors have not a proper Government of one another, neither by Presidents or Major votes, (though over the people they have,) but are all under the Government of God and the Magistrate only. And yet they may in acts of Consent about Communion or Non-communion with one another, prudentially agree, to take the Consent of the President, or of the Major vote of Pastors, or of both, where Peace, or Order, or Edification requireth it: except in cases of Necessity.

§. 31. As for instance, in a particular Church, there is a Communion to be held among all the members, though none of them but the Officers are Governors of the Church. And in many cases where the Peoples Consent is needful, its common to stand to a Major vote: and so great a stress is laid on this, that by many of the Congregational way the Government of the Church is said to be in the Major vote of the people: and yet 1. This is indeed no Government that belongs to them; but Consent to Communion or Exclusion; and 2. No Scripture doth require a Minor part to stand in all cases to the decision of a Major vote, nor give a Major vote any Rule over the Consciences of the Minor part (shew us this voting power in Scripture) And yet 3. All agree,¹ that upon natural Reasons and General Rules of Scripture, the Churches are allowed, yea obliged, in lawful things, for maintaining Vnity and Peace, to stand to the judgement of a Major vote, (in Cases that belong to them to vote in) though there be no particular word for it in the Scripture: Even so Associate Pastors have not a proper Government of one another, neither by Presidents or Major votes, (though over the people they have,) but are all under the Government of God and the Magistrate only. And yet they may in acts of Consent about Communion or Non-communion with one another, prudentially agree, to take the Consent of the President, or of the Major vote of Pastors, or of both, where Peace, or Order, or Edification requireth it: except in cases of Necessity.