Ratio disciplinae fratrum Nov-Anglorum. A faithful account of the discipline professed and practised; in…

We may not altogether give that Report about the New English, which Deacon Hilary, a Writer of the Ivth Century gives about the Primitive Churches. Ecclesia, ut Synagoga, Seniores habuit, quorum sine Consilio, nihil agebatur in Ecclesia, quod, qua Negligentia obsoleverit, nescio; nisi forte Doctorum Desidia, aut magu Superbia, dumb solely volunt aliquid videri. But this may be reported, That because the Office has not been well understood, (and these Elders have not been considered as given to the Pastors merely for Helps, as the Levites were to the Priests of old) nor have those few Churches that have maintained it, conformed unto what is practised (of a Biennial, or Triennial Choice, and this in a good Number too,) in the other Churches of the Reformation; it is now generally laid aside. There are few Churches, but what are, as many of the Primitive, at their first planting were, in the Condition mentioned by Tertullian; Ubi Ecclesiastici Ordinis non est Consessus, Sacerdos est ibi solus.

We may not altogether give that Report about the New English, which Deacon Hilary, a Writer of the IVth Century gives about the Primitive Churches. Ecclesia, ut Synagoga, Seniores habuit, quorum sine Consilio, nihil agebatur in Ecclesia, quod, qua Negligentia obsoleverit, nescio; nisi forte Doctorum Desidia, aut magu Superbia, dum soli volunt aliquid videri. But this may be reported, That because the Office has not been well understood, (and these Elders have not been considered as given to the Pastors meerly for Helps, as the Levites were to the Priests of old) nor have those few Churches that have maintained it, conformed unto what is practised (of a Biennial, or Triennial Choice, and this in a good Number too,) in the other Churches of the Reformation; it is now generally laid aside. There are few Churches, but what are, as many of the Primitive, at their first planting were, in the Condition mentioned by Tertullian; Ubi Ecclesiastici Ordinis non est Consessus, Sacerdos est ibi solus.

Our Platform asserts, an Office of Ruling Elders, distinct from the Office of Pastor and Teacher; however, not so called, for to exclude the Pastor and Teacher from Ruling. But then it assigns a Work unto these, which it has happened sometimes, the Men whom the Churches have chosen, (and rarely have above One or Two at a Time, and these for Life, been chosen in a Church) have been uncapable of managing, any otherwise than