A demonstration of the trueth of that discipline which Christe hath prescribed in his worde for the gouernment of his Church, in all times and places, vntill the ende of the worlde Wherein are gathered into a plaine forme of reasoning, the proofes thereof; out of the scriptures, the euidence of it by the light of reason rightly ruled, and the testimonies that haue beene giuen therevnto, by the course of the churche certaine hundredths of yeares after the Apostles time; and the generall consent of the Churches rightly reformed in these latter times: according as they are alleaged and maintained, in those seuerall bookes that haue bin written concerning the same.

CHAP. 12.

EVery congregation ought to haue El∣ders to see into the maners of the peo∣ple, and to be assistaunt vnto the mini∣sters, in the gouernment Ecclesiastical. T. C. book 1. pag. 174. Disc. fol. 120. which they denie, VVhitgift p. 627. & their practize in keeping them out of the Church: but it is proo∣ued to be true, by these reasons following.

1 That which the Apostles established in e∣uery congregation, ought still to continue, see∣ing the Churche must bee ruled by the same lawes that it was ruled by then, and needeth as great furtherance now, as it did then: But the Apostles established Elders in euery congrega∣tion, Act 14 23. which cannot be vnderstood of preaching Elders onely; considering that the scarcitie of them was suche, as Paule was con∣strayned to sende Timothie and Titus to great cities, which he could hardly spare, as he often testifieth: Therefore there ought to be suche Elders, as are onely to assiste in gouerrment in

euery congregation.

2 Those which God hath ordayned to help forward the building of the Churche, ought to be in euerye congregation, vnlesse it may ap∣peare that some congregation needeth not so much helpe as Christe hath appoynted: But Christ hath ordayned Elders in the Churche, for the helping forwarde of the building of the Churche. 1. Cor. 12. 28. Therefore suche Elders ought to be in euery congregation.

3 That which being wanting, the bodie can not be entire, that same must be in euery con∣gregation: But the Elders cannot be wanting, and the Church be an entire bodie, Rom. 12. 8. which euery congregation should be, Rom. 12. 4 Therefore there ought to be such Elders in e∣uery congregation.

4 If the word of God doe describe such El∣ders in the Church, then ought they to be in e∣uery congregation, which is cleare by this, that euery congregation hath need of them, as well as any: and that euery congregation must haue all the other officers of the Churche: and that euery congregation is of equall dignitie in the bodie of Christ: But the worde of God descri∣beth vnto vs such Elders. 1. Tim. 5. 17. Therfore they ought to be in euery congregation.

5 There is no Church that can stand with∣out hir Eldership or councell.

6 It be longeth onely to the bishopp to bap∣tize, and the Elder and Deacon may not do it, but vpon the bishops licence.

7 Neither Elder nor deacon haue right, but vpon the bishops commandement (so much as)

to baptize.

8 Elders fell away thorow the ambition of the teachers.

9 Valerius the bishopp did contrary to the custome of the Apostolicall Churches, in ap∣poynting Augustine to preache, being but an Elder.

10 After that Arrius was conuicted of hae∣resie, it was decreed that elders should no more preach.

11 The number of the Elders of euerye Churche, ought to be encreased, according to the multitude of the people.

12 Speaking of the Elders that were to as∣sist the minister, he lamenteth that it is so fal∣len out of the church, that the name doth scarse remaine.

13 Certain of the people were ioyned with the pastor, in the gouernment of the Churche, because the pastor was not able to doe all him∣selfe.

14 There were elders 〈◊〉〈◊〉 did assist the mi∣nister, in the gouernment of 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Church. &c.

15 VVhitgift confesseth, that in the primi∣tiue Church, they had in euery Church certain Seniors, pag. 638. Let it then appeare out of the word, to satisfie the conscience how it may bee left out.

16 If the platforme set downe to Timothie and Titus be for all Churches, then must El∣ders be in all; for these Elders are there de∣scribed: But it is a platforme for all Churches, and that to the ende of the world, 1. Tim. 6. 14. Therefore they ought to be in euerye congre∣gation.

17 That which is contained in euery mini∣sters commission to teache & practize, must be in euery congregation: but the ordination & practize of that office, is in euery ministers cō∣mission, Matth. 28. 20. or els they ordayned El∣ders without warrant from Christ, which none dare affirme: Therefore there must be Elders in euery congregation.

18 Wheresoeuer a bishoppe must be, there must also the Elders bee, whiche appeareth by this, that where the one is described, there is the other also: But a bishopp must be in euery congregation, as I haue prooued sufficiently in the 10. Chap. Therefore there ought to be el∣ders in euery congregation.

19 If the Apostles laboured for vniformitie in the least things, and established in all Chur∣ches one order, then must there be Elders in e∣uery congregation, for they were in some, as al men do confesse: But the former is true, as not onely the view of their practize declareth, but also the Apostles expresse words; Thus I teach in all Churches: Therefore the latter is true also, that in euery congregation there must be such Elders.

Therfore, if the Apostles established Elders in euery congregation; if Christe hath estee∣med their helpe needfull to further the buyl∣ding of his Church; if without them a congre∣gation cannot be entire; if the worde of God say that they ought to be in the Churche; if it was continued so long after the Apostles time: and be approoued by the testimonie of manie

very learned, both olde and newe writers, and confessed by the greatest aduersary vnto them; if they be within the compasse of euerye mini∣sters commission; if they are to be, wheresoe∣uer a bishopp must be; if the Apostles establi∣shed vniformitie, euen in the meanest thinges; then must it needs followe, that there ought to be such Elders in euery congregation, as are to assiste the minister in the gouernement of the same.

They confesse it was so in the Apostles time, but seeme to say somewhat that it can∣not be vnder a christian magistrate thus: 1 Obiection God hath giuen the soueraigne au∣thoritie ouer his Church to the Christian ma∣gistrate, which these Elders would abridge.

Ansvver No more then the eldership abridged the soueraigntie of Dauid ouer Israell, for his gouernment is temporall, and theirs spirituall.

2 Obiection Gualter vpon the 1. Cor. 5. denieth it to be needfull vnder a christian magistrate.

Ansvvere Gualter denieth excommunicati∣on vnder a christian magistrate, he is as partial in this argument as VVhitgift.

3 Obiection The prince hath the authority that the Elders had.

Ansvvere That is no truer, then to saye the prince hath authoritie to preach the word, &c. for these be thinges, that his high authoritie must see done, but he may doe none of them himselfe.

But there be many reasons which may bee alleadged, to prooue that they are (at the least) as necessary vnder a Christian magistrate in

these dayes, as they were in the time of the A∣postles, as namely these:

1 The lesse able that ministers are to direct their people in the wayes of godlines, the more neede they haue of the assistaunce that God hath allowed them in his word: But ministers are now lesse able (especially vnder Christian magistrats, when men are ouertaken with ease and peace, which quench good things) thē they were in the time of the Apostles: Therefore there is as great (if not greater) need of Elders now, then was in the time of the Apostles.

2 If christian magistrates be to maintayne the order that Christ hath set down for the go∣uernement of his Churche, then must there be Elders in it vnder a Christian magistrate, for Elders are approoued of Christ, 1. Cor. 12. 8. But Christian magistrates are to mayntaine the or∣der that Christe hath set downe for the ruling of his Church, Isai. 49. 23. Therefore there must be Elders in the Church, vnder a christian ma∣gistrate.

3 If the rule of Christe cannot be perpetu∣ally obserued, tell the Church, vnlesse there be Elders; then must there be such vnder a chri∣stian magistrate: But the former is true, for by the Churche is there ment the Senate of mi∣nisters and Elders, as shall be prooued in the chapter of Excommunication: Therfore there must be Elders vnder a Christian magistrate.

4 If the whole gouernement of the Churche described in the Epistles to Timothie & Titus, be to bee obserued vntill the ende, then must there bee Elders vnder Christian magistrates,

for they are contayned in those Epistles: But the former is true. 1. Tim. 6. 14. Therefore there must be Elders vnder a christian magistrate.

5 Where sinners are more outragious, and the best most subiect to wax cold, there is grea∣test neede of all the helpes that God hath or∣dayned to punish sinne, and to cherish well do∣ing: But so it is vnder a christian magistrate, e∣specially in the peace of the Church, as VVhit∣gift confesseth, page 643. Therefore there is (at the least) as great neede of Elders (seeing they are helpers appointed of God) vnder a Chri∣stian magistrate, as at any other time.

Therfore if ministers be lesse able now, then in the Apostles time; if Christian magistrates must maintaine the order prescribed by Christ; if els the rule of Christ, (tel the church) cannot be still obserued; if the whole gouernment de∣scribed by S. Paule, must be kept for euer; last∣ly if there be, (at the least) as great neede of all the helpes that can be, as euer there was: then must it needs follow, that Elders are as necessa∣ry in the Churche vnder a christian magistrate, as in the time of persecution.

Notes

• Ignat. ad Trall.
• Tertul. de Bap∣tist.
• Ierome contra Lucif.
• Ambros. vpon 1 Tim. 5.
• Possidonins in vita Augustini
• Socrat. libr. 5. cap. 22.
• Bucer de regno Christi book 1.
• P. Martyr vpon Rom. 12.
• The same vpon 1. Cor. 12.
• Caluin Institut. lib. 4. cap. 3. sect. 8.
• The Conclusion
• Reasons proo∣uing Elders as necessary vnder a christian ma∣gistrate, as in the Apostles time.
• The Conclusion