Palæmon, or, The grand reconciler composing the great difference and disputes about church-government and discovering the primitive government of churches, built upon the Word of God, and the practice of the apostles / compiled by one who labours for the peace of the church.

SECT. V.

HAving proved that the Apostles ordained Presbyters to go∣verne the Churches planted by their care and paines, the Heads whereof after their departure were Bishops; from this proofe we may easily draw this influence, That the government of the Churches was for a long time upheld in common by Bi∣shops and Presbyters, as from the beginning the Presbyters go∣verned joyntly with the Apostles. This inference Mr. Th. con∣firmes at large by many demonstrative and undenyable argu∣ments, viz. p. 69, 70, 71. where out of Ignatius his Epistle ad Tra••••ianos, and the Commentaries under S. Ambrose his name upon 1 Tim. 5.1. he proves what has been asserted. S. Ambrose his words are these, Apud omnes utique gentes honorabilis est se∣nectus, unde & Synagoga & postea Ecclesia seniores habuit sine quorum consilio nihil agebatur in Ecclesiâ.

This likewise is confirmed by S. Hierome upon Titus 1.5. and by the Authority of S. Cyprian, Ep. 6. And by reason of this

concurrence of the Presbyters with the Bishops in the Govern∣ment of the Church, it is, that the most ancient Church Writers comprized both Bishops and Prebyters under the same titles, entitling the Bishops Presbyters, not because there were then no Bishops (as some fondly deeme) but because both concur∣red (as hath been said) in a joynt care of managing the affaires of the Church.

That their names were confounded Mr. Th. proves out of the Epistle of Clemens, vide p. 54. and out of Ignatius his Epistle to Hero his Deacon; and also out of Tertul. de praescrip. c. 3. The Apostle S. Peter stiles himself an Elder, 1 Pet. 1.5. of which no other reason can be given but this, that he so termes himself both in regard of his age, & in regard of his office, which was com∣mon in the care of the Church with the Presbyters. To evince farther that there was ever a cōmunity of names, though a distin∣ction in the order and office of Bishops and Presbyters, he cites a place out of Tertull: in his Apol. c. 39. Praesident probati quic{que} seniores, &c. where by the name of Elders or Presbyters, is to be understood the order of Bishops; With this of Tertullian ac∣cords that of S. Ambrose, in his 1. Book de Offic. vid. c. 20. and of Irenaeus, l. 4. c. 43. both which authorities you may reade at large in Mr. Th. book, p. 77, 78, 79. And that both rankes or or∣ders of Bishops and Presbyters were comprized under the name of Praepositi and Praesidentes, is cleare, as appeares by that place of Tertull. de Cor. Mil. c. 3. Eucharistiae Sacramentum nec de aliorum manu quam Praesidentium sumimus. The like we finde in S. Cyprian, Ep. 62. By all which it is manifest, that both or∣ders had common Names in regard of the community of their office and charge.

As for the forme it selfe, of this Church-consistory, the mixt Government of Bishops and Presbyters, it relates to a patterne in the Synagogue of the Jewes, for it resembles their publike Court of Justice, which they called the Sanedrin, a great part whereof were Priests and Levites, and had the hearing of all sorts of causes. We have S. Ierome for our Advocate to confirme this resemblance between the Bishops and Presbyters, and that high Court of the Jewes.

He in his Comment upon Titus, speaking of Bishops con∣joyned

with Presbyters, sayes thus, Imitantur Moysen qui cum haberet in potestate sua praeesse populo Israeletico septunginta elegit cum quibus populum judicavit. But when Moses was dead, a President was chosen over and above the seventy whom they called the Nasi, who from age to age supplyed Moses place, and such as the Nasi was over the Seventy, is a Bishop over the Pres∣byters, i. e. chiefe both in Dignity and Office; of which there are two parts, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 and 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, to rule the Church, (i. e. to keep those that be under him in obedience to good Lawes) and to performe divine service, to Pray and Preach, and to administer the Sacraments.

Notes

• Nothing was done in the Churchly the Bishop without his Presbyters advice and consent.
• Vi. Euseb. Ecc. Hist. p. 3. c. 23. where one and the same is cal∣led 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 and 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.
• Vid. R. Moses in Halacoth Sanedrin. c. 1.