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

To the second, viz. that they acted here as it were in a joint body or in Collegio over these many Congregations. It is answered, that an Association of Elders in an Eldership over many is not argued from hence. For first, they had all singly the same power which they exercised jointly, and that they should exercise it jointly here to that end to give a pattern for Eldership, is not easy to prove; they exercised it together, because it fell out that they were together, and it was fit none of them should be excluded, but it depended not upon this union of all in a body, as Acts of Elders in a Presbytery do, as Parliamentary power is not the result of Parliament men, but as assembled in Parliament; yea and the authority of Jurisdiction thence ariseth, not so here; Our Apostle might have done that which all here did, yea may it not be said that because two Apostles, Paul and Barnabas, ordained Elders in ⟨p. 28⟩every Church, Acts 14. as joined in the same Act, and so acting not as Apostles, but jointly, that therefore two Elders associated may do the like? Secondly, it is hard to suppose that these Apostles, when all together, should act with an inferior power to what they put forth in a like case alone. If Peter had been himself alone in a Church new planted then and there, he must be supposed to act as an Apostle, because he alone governed; And shall these Apostles, when they are all in one and join all together in one Act, be yet supposed to fall lower in their power under the formal exercise of it? Thirdly, if they had acted as Elders in a College, they might miscarry as Elders do; and so the minor part of them have been subject to Excommunication of the greater. And what power was there on earth to have excommunicated an Apostle who held his Office immediately from Christ, and who whilst he was in that Office had power over all Churches?

To the second, viz. that they acted here as it were in a joynt body or in Collegio over these many Congregations. It is answered, that an Association of Elders in an Eldership over many is not argued from hence. For first, they had all singly the same power which they exercised joyntly, and that they should exercise it joyntly here to that end to give a patterne for Eldership, is not easy to prove; they exercised it together, because it fell out that they were together, and it was fit none of them should bee excluded, but it depended not upon this union of all in a body, as Acts of Elders in a Presbytery do, as Parliamentary power is not the result of Parliament men, but as assembled in Parliament; yea and the authoritie of Jurisdiction thence ariseth, not so here; Our Apostle might have done that which all here did, yea may it not bee said that because two Apostles, Paul and Barnabas, ordained Elders in