Of such I demand, whether it be a good, useful, and needful thing, for the Church to have Governors of its own; and secondly, whether the Church of the Jews had such Governors, or no. Surely, me thinks neither of these should be denied. Have not families, schools of learning, Colleges, Universities, Cities, Towns, all manner of Corporations, Companies and Societies, Governors proper and peculiar to themselves: besides the public Magistrates, who are also over them? Is it not by experience found, that such proper and peculiar Governors are needful and useful, and so good in their several spheres? And shall the best Society on earth, the militant Church, be without Ecclesiastical Governors, proper and peculiar to it? I suppose none will deny, but that the Church of Israel had such Governors: instance their Priests and Levites. In Jehoshaphats time there is an express ⟨p. 25⟩distinction made betwixt Ecclesiastical and Civill Governors under these two phrases,1 matter of the Lord, and matters of the King. If Church-Governors were an evidence of Gods good Providence under the Law, surely his Providence in this kind, would not be more scanty to the Church under the Gospel: for he hath promised to do better then at her beginnings. A change of Governors there may be, and that for the better; but an utter abolishing of all Governors, proper and peculiar to the Church, cannot be to the better. We expressly read that God hath set in his Church, 2among other good functions, Governments. If it be said, that under that word, Governments, 3civill Magistrates are understood: I answer, that first this phrase, God hath set in the Church, and then the other particulars, among which Governments are reckoned, being all proper and peculiar to the Church, admit not such an interpretation thereof. To them which ask where any mention is made of a ruling Elder, I allege these words of an Apostle, (1 Tim. 5. 17.) The Elders that rule well, &c. Apply them as you please, to Ministers or others: there are ruling Elders. The word [Greek or Hebrew] twice used by an Apostle, (Heb. 13. 7, 17.) and translated by our last and best Translators of the Bible, them that have rule, showeth, that Ministers of the Gospel are Church-Governors: for Christians are required to obey them.
Of such I demand, whether it be a good, usefull, and needfull thing, for the Church to have Governours of its own; and secondly, whether the Church of the Iews had such Governours, or no. Surely, me thinks neither of these should be denied. Have not families, schools of learning, Colledges, Universities, Cities, Towns, all manner of Corporations, Companies and Societies, Governours proper and peculiar to themselves: besides the publike Magistrates, who are also over them? Is it not by experience found, that such proper and peculiar Governours are needfull and usefull, and so good in their severall sphears? And shall the best Society on earth, the militant Church, be without Ecclesiasticall Governours, proper and peculiar to it? I suppose none will deny, but that the Church of Israel had such Governours: instance their Priests and Levites. In Iehoshaphats time there is an expresse ⟨p. 25⟩distinction made betwixt Ecclesiasticall and Civill Governours under these two phrases,1 matter of the Lord, and matters of the King. If Church-Governours were an evidence of Gods good Providence under the Law, surely his Providence in this kinde, would not be more scantie to the Church under the Gospel: for he hath promised to doe better then at her beginnings. A change of Governours there may be, and that for the better; but an utter abolishing of all Governours, proper and peculiar to the Church, cannot be to the better. We expressely reade that God hath set in his Church, 2among other good functions, Governments. If it be said, that under that word, Governments, 3civill Magistrates are understood: I answer, that first this phrase, God hath set in the Church, and then the other particulars, among which Governments are reckoned, being all proper and peculiar to the Church, admit not such an interpretation thereof. To them which aske where any mention is made of a ruling Elder, I alleadge these words of an Apostle, (1 Tim. 5. 17.) The Elders that rule well, &c. Apply them as you please, to Ministers or others: there are ruling Elders. The word 〈non-Latin alphabet〉 twice used by an Apostle, (Heb. 13. 7, 17.) and translated by our last and best Translators of the Bible, them that have rule, sheweth, that Ministers of the Gospel are Church-Governours: for Christians are required to obey them.
- 12 Chron. 19. 11.
- 21 Cor. 12. 28.
- 3[Greek or Hebrew] both in sacred Scriptures and other authors signifieth a Governor. [Greek or Hebrew] (Mica 5. 2.) [Greek or Hebrew], Dominator, is stile [Greek or Hebrew], Mat. 1. 6. [Greek or Hebrew], is also opposed to [Greek or Hebrew], him that serveth, Luk. 22. 26 [Greek or Hebrew]. Qui imperat voluptatibus. Islo a [Greek or Hebrew]. Plutaron. Difference betwixt Magistrates and Church-Governors.〈non-Latin alphabet〉 both in sacred Scriptures and other authours signifieth a Governour. 〈non-Latin alphabet〉 (Mica 5. 2.) 〈non-Latin alphabet〉, Dominator, is stile 〈non-Latin alphabet〉, Mat. 1. 6. 〈non-Latin alphabet〉, is also opposed to 〈non-Latin alphabet〉, him that serveth, Luk. 22. 26 〈non-Latin alphabet〉. Qui imperat voluptatibus. Islo a 〈non-Latin alphabet〉. Plutaron. Difference betwixt Magistrates and Church-Governours.
