And secondly, the contrary seems clear, namely, that those Letters and Decrees were written and sent only from the Elders of Jerusalem, and not from all those Churches: For first, the Decrees are every where attributed to the Elders in Jerusalem, So Chap. 16. 4. The Decrees of the Apostles and Elders in Jerusalem. [Greek or Hebrew]. Now the usual stile of the New Testament, is by way of distinction of Churches to say the Church in such a place, the Elders in such a place, as the Church of Antioch, Act. 13. 1. and the Church at Corinth, 1 Cor. 1. 1. and by the like reason the Elders in such a place do signify the proper Elders of the Church in that place or City, whilst but one, and therefore, if by the Elders in Jerusalem, had been meant in this place only the Elders met from all Quarters at Jerusalem, as the place of that Assembly, there had been a great ambiguity, seeing the more usual and proper import of that expression is to note out the fixed standing Elders of a place, and the Church in a place. Again, secondly, in the fourth verse Paul and Barnabas are said to be received of the Church and Apostles and Elders, namely of Jerusalem, as in particular relation to it. Yea, thirdly, the standing Elders of that place assumed to themselves to have written the Decrees, Chap. 21. 25. As touching the Gentiles we have written and concluded. Fourthly, and accordingly the conclusion of their Letter is made the special Act of that Church, and the Elders thereof, ver. 22. It pleased the Apostles and Elders with the whole Church (that is) of Jerusalem, as verse 4. to send chosen men, and the Letters run thus, The Apostles, Elders and Brethren. Fifthly, the matter of the Letter argues it, ver. 24. Forasmuch as certain that went out from us have troubled you with words, to whom we gave no such Commandment. How could this be said by a Synod of the Elders of those Churches, which were themselves troubled by them? It is manifest therefore they came out from this Church of Jerusalem, who wrote this, and they pretended the Apostles Doctrine; which is called a Commandment, because the Apostles taught no other, then what Christ commanded, as Matth. 28. ult. And to say the Denomination was from the more eminent part, namely, the Elders of that Church ⟨p. 33⟩had been derogatory to the Synod, if it had been such a meeting.
And secondly, the contrary seemes cleere, namely, that those Letters and Decrees were written and sent onely from the Elders of Jerusalem, and not from all those Churches: For first, the Decrees are every where attributed to the Elders in Jerusalem, So Chap. 16. 4. The Decrees of the Apostles and Elders in Jerusalem. 〈non-Latin alphabet〉. Now the usuall stile of the New Testament, is by way of distinction of Churches to say the Church in such a place, the Elders in such a place, as the Church of Antioch, Act. 13. 1. and the Church at Corinth, 1 Cor. 1. 1. and by the like reason the Elders in such a place doe signifie the proper Elders of the Church in that place or City, whilest but one, and therefore, if by the Elders in Jerusalem, had been meant in this place onely the Elders met from all Quarters at Jerusalem, as the place of that Assembly, there had been a great ambiguity, seeing the more usuall and proper import of that expression is to note out the fixed standing Elders of a place, and the Church in a place. Again, secondly, in the fourth verse Paul and Barnabas are said to bee received of the Church and Apostles and Elders, namely of Jerusalem, as in particular relation to it. Yea, thirdly, the standing Elders of that place assumed to themselves to have written the Decrees, Chap. 21. 25. As touching the Gentiles wee have written and concluded. Fourthly, and accordingly the conclusion of their Letter is made the speciall Act of that Church, and the Elders thereof, ver. 22. It pleased the Apostles and Elders with the whole Church (that is) of Jerusalem, as verse 4. to send chosen men, and the Letters run thus, The Apostles, Elders and Brethren. Fifthly, the matter of the Letter argues it, ver. 24. Forasmuch as certain that went out from us have troubled you with words, to whom wee gave no such Commandement. How could this bee said by a Synod of the Elders of those Churches, which were themselves troubled by them? It is manifest therefore they came out from this Church of Jerusalem, who wrote this, and they pretended the Apostles Doctrine; which is called a Commandement, because the Apostles taught no other, then what Christ commanded, as Matth. 28. ult. And to say the Denomination was from the more eminent part, namely, the Elders of that Church ⟨p. 33⟩had been derogatory to the Synod, if it had been such a meeting.
