Secondly, For that distinction of their being Elders only in a community to all those Congregations as one Church, in sensu aggregato, but not in sensu diviso, to every person thereof, as was instanced in Burgesses, &c. First, This Church as it is totum aggregatum, is but an abstract notion, but the rule and government of the Elders in a Presbytery, falls upon persons in particular, and every member of that Church; if therefore they be Elders in the Presbytery to that Church, it must be that they are Elders to every person therein. Again it must be remembered where we are, namely upon what the Scriptures hold ⟨p. 13⟩forth, so the Proposition runneth. And if there had been those differing relations of Elders, which from those similitudes in Common-wealths, Armies, and the Universities are given, it were necessary the Scripture should have held it forth by like differing names and respects, or by differing charges whereby it might appear that this relation obligeth them to this duty, and this other relation to that, which being not done is therefore to us a fiction. That it was necessary appears from the instances themselves, As in that of the Tribes, there were general Elders of all the Tribes, and there were (and perhaps some of them the same men) that were Heads and Elders of the particular Tribes. But as this was a differing relation and respect in the same, or diverse persons, so they had names and titles of difference and distinction: For the Heads general as we may call them, were called Elders of the people. The particular Elders of particular1 Tribes, were called by way of distinction from them, Elders of such Cities, Families, &c. And there were as distinct laws given in such cases, the Elders of the several Tribes did such and such particulars in their Tribes respectively, and the general Elders had reserved cases of Blasphemy, &c. set down by the Law. So in that instance of the Heads of Colleges, and Heads of the University, there is as a differing, so a distinguishing Character: the names are changed, the particular bodies are called Colleges, the general Body the University, and their several special relations to their Colleges is expressed by the Title of Masters of such and such Colleges, and the other by the title of Heads to the University.
Secondly, For that distinction of their being Elders only in a community to all those Congregations as one Church, in sensu aggregato, but not in sensu diviso, to every person thereof, as was instanced in Burgesses, &c. First, This Church as it is totum aggregatum, is but an abstract notion, but the rule and government of the Elders in a Presbyterie, falls upon persons in particular, and every member of that Church; if therefore they be Elders in the Presbyterie to that Church, it must be that they are Elders to every person therein. Againe it must be remembred where we are, namely upon what the Scriptures hold ⟨p. 13⟩forth, so the Proposition runneth. And if there had been those differing relations of Elders, which from those similitudes in Common-wealths, Armies, and the Universities are given, it were necessary the Scripture should have held it forth by like differing names and respects, or by differing charges whereby it might appeare that this relation obligeth them to this duty, and this other relation to that, which being not done is therefore to us a fiction. That it was necessary appears from the instances themselves, As in that of the Tribes, there were generall Elders of all the Tribes, and there were (and perhaps some of them the same men) that were Heads and Elders of the particular Tribes. But as this was a differing relation and respect in the same, or diverse persons, so they had names and titles of difference and distinction: For the Heads generall as we may call them, were called Elders of the people. The particular Elders of particular1 Tribes, were called by way of distinction from them, Elders of such Cities, Families, &c. And there were as distinct lawes given in such cases, the Elders of the severall Tribes did such and such particulars in their Tribes respectively, and the generall Elders had reserved cases of Blasphemy, &c. set downe by the Law. So in that instance of the Heads of Colledges, and Heads of the University, there is as a differing, so a distinguishing Character: the names are changed, the particular bodies are called Colledges, the generall Body the University, and their severall speciall relations to their Colledges is expressed by the Title of Masters of such and such Colledges, and the other by the title of Heads to the University.
- 1Matth. 21. 33.
