The way of the churches of Christ in New-England, or, The way of churches…The vvay of the churches of Christ in New-England, or, The vvay of churches…

Answ. 3. Besides, there be that conceive, and that not improbably, that in ancient time, the children baptized in the Church were not received to the Lords Supper, nor into the full fruition of all Church liberties, until that they being grown up to years, did publicly before the Church profess their faith, and ratify the covenant made for them in Baptism, and so were confirmed (as they […] ⟨p. 30⟩(which is but a small remnant in comparison) 300. years were spent in the Primitive persecutions, whereof we have few monuments of Antiquity extant, written in that time; those we have speak so of Elders, as do indifferently comprise as well Ruling Elder, as Teaching Elders; Ignatius his Presbyters, whom he stileth the Court of God, the Combination of the Apostles of Christ, the holy Assembly, and Counsellors and Assessors of the Bishops; with all these Epithets may as well agree to Ruling Elders, as to Preachers: The Scripture doth not disdain to admit Civill Magistrates into the fellowship of Gods Tabernacle, Psal. 82.1. And why not then the Rulers of his Church? For Tertullian his Elders, who were Presidents over the Censures of the Church, and attained that honour, not by Bribes, but by approved Testimony, Apologetic. Chap. 29. what is there in his whole description of them, but is compatible to Ruling Elders, as well as to Preaching? Yea Cyprian (who lived in those ancient bloody, but zealous times) doth expressly acknowledge Elders that were not Preachers: For it evidently appeareth in the fifth Epistle of his fourth Book, that he ordained Calinus and Ancellus to be Presbyters of his Church, who were no Preachers but readers only; and yet were to be maintained Sportulis communibus, (that is, at the common charge of the Church) with the Presbyters, and to sit with himself in their grown years. It appeareth also in the tenth Epistle of his fourth Book, That he ordained Numiditus a Confessor, to be a Presbyter of his Church, who was not at first called to be a Preacher. Ambrose, though he out-lived those times of purer government, yet beareth full witness to the honourable use of Ruling Elders in the Church before his time; For in his Comment on 1 Tim. 15.1. giving a reason why the Apostle would have Elders in years honoured, even in the healing of their faults, he urgeth the honour of old age in all Nation.

Answ. 3. Besides, there be that conceive, and that not improbably, that in ancient time, the children baptized in the Church were not received to the Lords Supper, nor into the full fruition of all Church liberties, untill that they being grown up to yeers, did publikely before the Church professe their faith, and ratifie the covenant made for them in Baptisme, and so were confirmed (as they