that he should go as far as Antioch, &c. When
the Dearth was prophesied of, the Disciples, every
man according to his ••oility, determined to send
relief unto the brethren who dwelt in Judea.
Which also they did, and sent it to the elders by
the hands of Barnabas and Saul, Acts 11. 20, 21,
22, 28, 29, 30.
Paul and Barnabas coming to Antioch, gathered
the Church together, and rehearsed all that
God had done for them, and how, &c. Acts 14.
26, 27.
When the matter of circumcision was in dispute
in the Church at Antioch; they determined that
Paul and Barnabas, and certain other of them,
should go up to Jerusalem unto the Apostles and
Elders, about this question. And being brought on
their way by the church, &c. when they were come
to Jerusalem, they were received by the church, and
of the Apostles, &c. All the multitude kept silence,
and gave audience to Barnabas and Paul, &c. Then
James spake, &c. Then pleased it the Apostles and
elders, with the whole Church, to send chosen men
of their own company to Antioch, &c. and wrote
letters, by them after this manner: The Apostles,
elders, and brethren, send greeting unto the bre∣thren
which are, &c. It seems good to us, being
assembled with one accord, to send chosen men un∣to
you, &c. it seems good to the holy Ghost, and
to us, &c. They came to Antioch, and when they
had gathered the multitude together, they deli∣vered
the Epistle, Acts 15. 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 12, 13, 22,
23, 25, 27, 28, 30.
If then ye have judgment of things pertaining
to this life, set them to judge who are least esteemed
in the Church, 1 Cor. 6. 4.
When I come, whomsoever you shall approve by
letters, them will I send to bring your liberality
unto Jerusalem, 1 Cor. 16. 3.
We have sent with him the brother, &c. who
was also chosen of the churches to travel with us,
with this grace (or, gift), &c. Whether any do
enquire, &c. of our brethren, they are the messen∣gers
of the Churches, 2 Cor. 8. 18, 19, 23.
I suppose it necessary to send unto you Epaphro∣ditus,
&c. your messenger, and he who ministred
to my wants, Phil. 2. 25.
When this epistle is read among you, cause
that it be read also in the Church of the Laodi∣ceans:
and that ye likewise read the epistle from
Laodicea. And say to Archippus, take heed to
the ministry which thou hast received of the
Lord, that thou fulfil it, Col. 4. 16, 17.
I charge you by the Lord, that this epistle be
read to all the holy brethren, 1 Thes. 5. 27.
Salute all them who have the rule over you, and
all the Saints, Heb. 13. 24.
Peter having written at large to the Saints,
speaks distanctly to the elders, thus: To the elders
which are among you: I exhort, &c. to feed the
slock of God, &c. 1 Pet. 5. 1, 2, 3.
I wrote to the Church, but Diotrephes who lo∣ved
to have the pre-eminence among them, re∣ceived
us not: wherefore if I come, I will remem∣ber
his deeds, &c. Not content herewith, neither
doth he himself receive the brethren, and forbid∣deth
them that would, and casteth them out of
the Church. Beloved, follow not that which is
evil, 3 John, v. 9, 10, 11.
John wrote to the seven Churches in Asia di∣stinctly,
though they were in one country, and
charges each Church with its own guilt, and com∣mends
each Church by it self: takes no notice of
any power any had over other. He directs his
epistles to the Angel of the Church: but the mat∣ter
he speaks to the whole Church: and con∣cludes,
Hear what the spirit saith unto the Church∣es,
Rev. 1. 4. ch. 2. ch. 3.
See mere of Church-Acts, in Discipline.