The reasons of the Dissenting Brethren against the third proposition, concerning presbyterial government· Humbly…

1. From the People to all these Elders, according unto what the Scripture speaks of as due to standing Elders, they owe at least honour and esteem; yea, maintenance to all their Elders, whether those that ordinarily rule them or preach to them, and they owe it for both, Tim. Epist. 1. Chap. 5. ver. 17. and 18. Let the Elders that rule well, be counted worthy of double honour, especially those that labour in the word and Doctrine. Which honour is expressed by the Analogy of that law, ver. 18. not to muzzle up the mouth of the Ox that treadeth out the corn. And this is certainly due to Elders, for all, that is the work or Elders, whether performed apart or together by way of jurisdiction in a Presbytery; And it cannot be denied, but that their constant ruling as in the Presbytery, is one great part of the work of Elders, and so must be here intended, for which an especial honour is due. And as they are to feed all and every one in the flock, as Acts 20. ver. 28. so maintenance and honour is due from all this people to all and every one of these Elders, as well to those that rule, as those that labour in the word and Doctrine. And in reason, if the ⟨p. 9⟩Elders that rule well (and perform the lesser acts of ruling) in their particular Congregations, and the Presbyteries thereof are to have this honour in their relations, then all those Elders that rule well in the common Presbytery (and perform the greatest acts of ruling) are to have the like from all that Classical Church, the emphasis being put upon ruling well, and in those acts done by them the excellency of ruling consisteth, and the precept is not to honour Presbyteries in some abstract notion, but Elders: because the particular persons of the Elders are to be the object of it, and those most who excel most in that rule, that rule well or best; but when there are many Congregations that have their proper fixed Pastors and Elders whom they maintain for performing one part of the Elders work (for they perform but one part of it) how shall they perform this due to all the rest for that other part of it? and it is due from every person as he is able, or he cannot perform his duty, how burdensome, how confused would this be?

1. From the People to all these Elders, according unto what the Scripture speakes of as due to standing Elders, they owe at least honour and esteeme; yea, maintenance to all their Elders, whether those that ordinarily rule them or preach to them, and they owe it for both, Tim. Epist. 1. Chap. 5. ver. 17. and 18. Let the Elders that rule well, be counted worthy of double honour, especially those that labour in the word and Doctrine. Which honour is expressed by the Analogie of that law, ver. 18. not to musle up the mouth of the Oxe that treadeth out the corne. And this is certainly due to Elders, for all, that is the work or Elders, whether performed apart or together by way of jurisdiction in a Presbyterie; And it cannot be denied, but that their constant ruling as in the Presbyterie, is one great part of the work of Elders, and so must be here intended, for which an especiall honour is due. And as they are to feed all and every one in the flock, as