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. 1. It is evident he speaketh of the Elders in the Church, as in the Synagogue,; now the Elders were Rulers in the Synagogues, as appeareth by sundry places in the Gospel. 2. That nothing was done without their counsel, implieth, that nothing was done without their authority, as the same phrase of other Ancients imply, when they speak of the concurrence of the Council of Presbyters in Church-government; for in that sense speaketh Cyprian to his Presbyters, (Epistolarum lib. 3. Epist. 10.) A primordio Episcopatus mei, I determined with my self, nihil sine consilio vestro & sine consensu plebis meâ privatim sententiâ gerere, and that not out of courtesy, but as the words in the next sentence implies, Sicuti honour mutuus poscit. And in the same sense Jeromes words to the like purpose implies Authority in such Councils, whereby the Presbyters of each Church governed their own Church; though otherwise in governing other Churches, they imply rather advice then authority: his words are before factions and schisms grew in the Church; Communi Presbyterorum consilio Ecclesiae gubernabantur. Hierome in the 2. Tome of his works, and upon Titus. A third exception they give is, that by Elders are meant preaching Elders, whom the Bishops were wont to consult withal, in government, but now had left it off, either by the idleness of the learned Teachers, who for their own ease gave over meddling with matters pertaining to government, or by the pride of the learned Bishops, who took all upon themselves, that they alone might seem to be somewhat; For if you expound Pastorum for the Teachers or Pastors of Parishes only, as the Presbyterians do; or for Bishops alone, as others do; I cannot see (saith Dr. Downham) how the excluding of Seniors and taking the whole burden and employment upon themselves, could by Ambrose be imputed as a matter of sloth and idleness, either in the Pastor to exclude lay Elders, or in Bishops to exclude ⟨p. 32⟩learned Presbyters. Ans. 1. The words of Ambrose do plainly imply, not only that consulting with Elders was grown out of use, but that the Elders themselves, who were wont to be consulted with, were grown out of use also: for his words be, the Synagogue, and afterwards the Church had Elders, without whose counsel nothing was done in the Church, &c.

Answ. 1. It is evident he speaketh of the Elders in the Church, as in the Synagogue,; now the Elders were Rulers in the Synagogues, as appeareth by sundry places in the Gospel. 2. That nothing was done without their counsell, implyeth, that nothing was done without their authoritie, as the same phrase of other Ancients imply, when they speak of the concurrence of the Councel of Presbyters in Church-government; for in that sense speaketh Cyprian to his Presbyters, (Epistolarum lib. 3. Epist. 10.) A primordio Episcopatus mei, I determined with my self, nihil sine consilio vestro & sine consensu plebis meâ privatim sententiâ gerere, and that not out of courtesie, but as the words in the next sentence implies, Sicuti honor mutuus poscit. And in the same sense Jeromes words to the like purpose implies Authority in such Councels, whereby the Presbyters of each Church governed their own Church; though otherwise in governing other Churches, they imply rather advice then authority: his words are before factions and schismes grew in the Church; Communi Presbyterorum consilio Ecclesiae gubernabantur. Hierome in the 2. Tome of his works, and upon Titus. A third exception they give is, that by Elders are meant preaching Elders, whom the Bishops were wont to consult withall, in government, but now had left it off, either by the idlenesse of the learned Teachers, who for their own ease gave over meddling with matters pertaining to government, or by the pride of the learned Bishops, who took all upon themselves, that they alone might seem to be somewhat; For if you expound Pastorum for the Teachers or Pastors of Parishes only, as the Presbyterians do; or for Bishops alone, as others do; I cannot see (saith Dr. Downham) how the excluding of Seniors and taking the whole burthen and imployment upon themselves, could by Ambrose be imputed as a matter of sloth and idlenesse, either in the Pastor to exclude lay Elders, or in Bishops to exclude