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

Secondly, each of these Apostles, as he had by virtue of his Apostolical Commission the power of them all, so he had relation of Ministry unto all these supposed Congregations unto every person thereof for the performance of all sorts of duties, of preaching to them, admonishing them, &c. But thus in the Presbyterial government over many Congregations fixed, and their Pastors and Elders fixed to them, the several Elders are denied to have the relation of Elders to each Congregation, but make up only an Eldership in common as united over all these. But the Apostles here have the relation to both, and therefore if this Apostolical frame be made a Pattern, then it follows that all the Elders of these Congregations were directly and immediately Elders to each Congregation and every member of them, and not only of a common Presbytery, for so the Apostles were.

Secondly, each of these Apostles, as hee had by vertue of his Apostolicall Commission the power of them all, so hee had relation of Ministerie unto all these supposed Congregations unto every person thereof for the performance of all sorts of duties, of preaching to them, admonishing them, &c. But thus in the Presbyteriall government over many Congregations fixed, and their Pastors and Elders fixed to them, the severall Elders are denied to have the relation of Elders to each Congregation, but make up onely an Eldership in common as united over all these. But the Apostles here have the relation to both, and therefore if this Apostolicall frame bee made a Patterne, then it followes that all the Elders of these Congregations were directly and immediatly Elders to each Congregation and every member of them, and not onely of a common Presbytery, for so the Apostles were.

If it be alleged that those acts of government, performed by them in that Church, were for the substance of them ordinary Acts, such as Presbyters perform, and that therefore answerably their persons themselves are in them to be considered as Elders, because that the Apostles were not only Apostles, but Elders also, as John Epistle 2. Verse 1. And Peter Epist. 1. Chap. 5. Vers. 1. and therefore might and did act as Elders in ordinary Acts of Church government, and are therefore therein to be looked at, as a just pattern to us, and to have ruled these Congregations of Jerusalem as a College or body of Elders united, condescending so to act as common Presbyters taking the consent of the Church, as