And accordingly Blondel judges, 'tis most probable that in the Time of the Apostles, not the whole Multitude, but their Seniors, did convene for their Affairs. He believes, that the Protestant Churches of France, and Scotland, and Holland, in their setting up of Ruling Elders, did introduce into the Church, a Practice truly Apostolic. — I can't indeed, during the III first Centuries, find express mention of these Seniors, or Ruling Elders. — Yet I am persuaded, that there were Lay-Seniors, that shared in the Management of Ecclesiastical Affairs, represented the People, and preserved their Liberties. The Writers of the 4th. and 5th. Ages, either expressly affirm it, or clearly suppose it. Ambrose or Hilary particularly, and Optatus. — My Hypothesis disjoins these Elders from the Clergy, and makes them the Representatives of the People, and Guardians of their Liberties. Accordingly in the Acts of Purgation of Caecilian, which are Elder than the Council of Nice, — we diverse times read of the Clergy, and the Elders of the People. This is yielded by Bishop Whitgift, who says, I know, that in the 'Primitive Church, they had in every Church certain Seniors, to whom the Government of the Congregation was committed. And Saravia, ⟨p. 127⟩who assents to Hilary's Saying, That the Church had Elders, or Seniors, without whose Council nothing was done; and adds, Adjunguntur Pastoribus Ecclesiae tanquam Adsessores et Consiliari ut videant ne forte Potestate Ecclesiastica Pastores abutantur. The English Church Wardens, in Voetius's Mind, are the Vestiges and Rubbish of those Ruling Seniors. This most necessary Ordinance, has in all well reformed Churches been carefully observed; and on the other hand most eagerly impugned by the Papists; as Schultingius and others cited by the most learned Voetius. Nor (they are the Words of the same excellent Person) is this a Wonder, since nothing is more opposite unto the Papal Monarchy, and Antichristian Tyranny, than is the Institution of RULING ELDERS. Voetius make the Elders a kind of Ephori, that is Preservers of the Churches Liberties, and Inspectors over the Pastors. I'll shut up all (says Mr. Jameson) with the Words of the Learned and Venerable Beza; 'Tis the Churches great Concern for the keeping out of Tyranny, that some chosen out of the People, know what is done in the Consistories, and Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction.
And accordingly Blondel judges, 'tis most probable that in the Time of the Apostles, not the whole Multitude, but their Seniors, did convene for their Affairs. He believes, that the Protestant Churches of France, and Scotland, and Holland, in their setting up of Ruling Elders, did introduce into the Church, a Practice truly Apostolic. — I can't indeed, during the III first Centuries, find express mention of these Seniors, or Ruling Elders. — Yet I am perswaded, that there were Lay-Seniors, that shared in the Management of Ecclesiastical Affairs, represented the People, and preserved their Liberties. The Writers of the 4th. and 5th. Ages, either expresly affirm it, or clearly suppose it. Ambrose or Hilary particularly, and Optatus. — My Hypothesis disjoins these Elders from the Clergy, and makes them the Representatives of the People, and Guardians of their Liberties. Accordingly in the Acts of Purgation of Caecilian, which are Elder than the Council of Nice, — we diverse times read of the Clergy, and the Elders of the People. This is yielded by Bishop Whitgift, who says, I know, that in the 'Primitive Church, they had in every Church certain Seniors, to whom the Government of the Congregation was committed. And Saravia, ⟨p. 127⟩who assents to Hilary's Saying, That the Church had Elders, or Seniors, without whose Council nothing was done; and adds, Adjunguntur Pastoribus Ecclesiae tanquam Adsessores et Consiliari ut videant ne forte Potestate Ecclesiastica Pastores abutantur. The English Church Wardens, in Voetius's Mind, are the Vestiges and Rubbish of those Ruling Seniors. This most necessary Ordinance, has in all well reformed Churches been carefully observed; and on the other hand most eagerly impugned by the Papists; as Schultingius and others cited by the most learned Voetius. Nor (they are the Words of the same excellent Person) is this a Wonder, since nothing is more opposite unto the Papal Monarchy, and Antichristian Tyranny, than is the Institution of RULING ELDERS. Voetius make the Elders a kind of Ephori, that is Preservers of the Churches Liberties, and Inspectors over the Pastors. I'll shut up all (says Mr. Jameson) with the Words of the Learned and Venerable Beza; 'Tis the Churches great Concern for the keeping out of Tyranny, that some chosen out of the People, know what is done in the Consistories, and Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction.
