A brief plat-form of that government which is called Presbyterial.: By William Ley minister of the Word at Charlwood in Surrey.

IV.

In the last place I com to set down the variety of Officers which

• are thus disposed. 1. Pastors.
• are thus disposed. 2. Elders.
• are thus disposed. 3. Deacons.

1. Pastors are Officers instituted by Christ, Rom. 10.15. Heb. 5.4. Tit. 1.5. 1 Tim. 3.2. to ver. 8. Naynot onely by Christ, but by all the persons of the Trinity.

• 1. God the Father, 1 Cor. 12.28.
• 2. God the Son, Ephes. 4. ver. 11.8.
• 3. God the holy Ghost, Acts 20.28.

Consider, good Reader, the desperate malignity that such bear to the Trinity, to the Church, to the Scripture that denie the office of the Ministerie to bee instituted by Christ; what doth the great Wolf Satan desire more then the delivery up of the Shepherds, that so hee may tear in pieces the Flock of Christ while there is none to deliver, see Matth. 28.19.20. Go, saith Christ, and teach all Nations, baptizing them in the Name of the Father, the Son, and the holy-Ghost, teaching them to observ all things that I have commanded you, and Io I am with you to the end of the World. [with you] Hee mean's not their Persons, for they died; but their Office which is perpetual.

This place will not admit of so frivolous a Descant as som have made of it; * That Christ promiseth his Saints to bee with them to the World's end; which though true, yet it hath no ground, nor is deducible from this proof; for there are two different and distinct Particles in the last vers, [them and you:] By them, is understood the Flock; by you, the Pastors. To conclude; that which God hath promised in all ages, that calling which hath its Seal from heaven in illumination, conviction, conversi∣on of sinners, that supply which the Church shall have need of in all ages cannot bee taken away from any particular place, or Church, but in Judgment, Isa. 30.20, 21. Amos 8.9, 11, 12.

• The Offices are, 1. Special; as, Praying publickly, Preaching, dispensing Seals.
• The Offices are, 2, More general, as, the power of Censures.

Christ call's these Powers by the name of Keyes; for Keyes de∣note power in Scripture: compare Isa. 22.22. with Isa. 9.6, 7. So Revel. 1.18. A fit Metaphor in this sens, because they lock and unlock those things which hee would not make common to all.

• The Keyes of the Church are two-fold; 1. Knowledg.
• The Keyes of the Church are two-fold; 2. Jurisdiction.

1. The Key of knowledg is grounded on Mat. 28. ver. 18, 19, 20. Rom. 10.15. 2 Cor. 2.16. Luke 11.52.

2. The Key of Discipline, or Jurisdiction; for both Keyes are joined together, Matth. 18.18. Joh. 20.21. 1 Cor. 5. from ver. 2, to ver. 13. 1 Cor. 12.28. 2 Cor. 2. from ver. 6, to ver. 12. and 2 Cor. 7.15. and 2 Cor. 8.1. Rom. 12.8. Gal. 5.10, 12. 1 Tim. 1.20. and 3. ver. 4. and 5. ver. 17. Phil. 3.2. Tit. 3.10.11. 2 Thes. 3.6. Hebr. 13.7, 17. 2 Joh. ver. 10. Revel. 2.14, 15, 20.

There is another Key which som new lock-Smiths have made, a Pick-lock of the Power of Church-Officers, (saith the Vindicator) and it is called the Key of Liberty, whereby the people have power to join with the sounder part of Presbyterie in excommunicating. The text quoted for it is Gal. 5.13. Brethren, you have been called unto LIBERTY. A strange Gloss, which never any ingenuous or learned Divine dreamed off till now; which the Authors know∣ing, (saith hee) had rather appeal to the Context, then to the Commentators.

But the Apostle in the first ver. of this chap. useth the same word, [Stand fast in the LIBERTY.] where the word is without all controversie understood of the Liberty and Freedom from the Ce∣rimoniall Law, called there the Yoak of Bondage; which matter hee also treat's off, ver. 11.15. If any desire to see more of this use∣less Key in its crooked bent, and rusty wards, let them see the Author of the Vindication of the Keyes, chap. 2. pag. 18, 19. or that learned and compleat work of the Reverend Ministers of London JƲS DIVINƲM chap. 10. pag. 116. of the which Book I may say as much to my Readers (considering the gravity, dexterity and use∣fulness of it for the present controversie of the Times) as Mon∣tanillus did to Zanchius, of Bullinger's Book de'origine Erroris; Buy it with the loss of the Right eye, and afterwards read it with the Left.

2. Elders are Officers of Christ, Act. 21.18. Their number is In∣definite, more or less, according to the necessity of the Place where they are chosen. They are to bee nominated or chosen by the Church: They are to bee qualified rightly, men of under∣standing, sound in the Faith; grave, godly, and unblameable in Life and Conversation, Tit. 1.

Their Office is in general,

1. To watch over the Flock, together with the Ministers, Exod. 18.22. The Jewes had such an Eldership in their Synagogues, who met, not onely for Praier, but Censures, Acts 26.11.

Grotius in his Com. on Matth. 18 tell's us, Seniores apud He∣braeos tanquam Praesides moderabantur: the Elders did convene and exercise Authority as Presidents of the Assembly.

This Jethro directed Moses unto; even by the light of Nature; and GOD and Moses ratifie it: God, by permission: Moses, by practice, Ezod. 18.22.

For further proof, see 1 Cor. 12.28. where the Apostle Paul mention's two sorts of Officers in general, and then descend's to particulars:

• 1. Extraordinarie;
  • 1. Apostles.
  • 2. Prophets, who expounded and interpreted Scripture according to the proportion or Analogie of Faith, Rom. 12.6.
  • 3. Powers, or Miracles.
  • 4. Gifts of Healing.
  • 5. Kindes of Tongues.
• 2. Ordinarie, and of continual use; as,
  • 1. Teachers; they are the Preaching Elders above specified.
  • 2. Governments; there are the Ru∣ling Elders.
  • 3. Helps; there are the Deacons.

See also Rom. 12.6, 7, 8. Here Officers are reduced to two ge∣neral heads;

• 1. Prophecie.
• 2. Ministrie.

• 1. Under Prophecy is contained
  • 1. Hee that teacheth.
  • 2. Hee that exhorteth.

• Also 2. Under Ministerie,
  • 1. Hee that give's, that is, the Deacon.
  • 2. Hee that rule's, that is, the Elder.

Becaus there are great animosities against ruleing Elders, I shall bee a little more full in the point.

See 1 Tim. 5.17. Let the Elders that rule well bee counted wor∣thy of double Honor; especially they that labor in the Word and Doctrine.

Against this cleer Place, two sorts of Objections are com∣monly framed.

1. That the word 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 is not a discretive particle, but exege∣tical, or explicatory of the former; as if hee should say, All MINISTERS are to be honored, Especially they that are diligent in exercising the Gift of Preaching.

But this cannot stand, for it seem's to intimate that Ministers deserve double Honor for Ruleing Well, though they desert the principal part of their Duty in Preaching the Gospel. But can wee expect from the same Apostle's mouth Sweet, and Bitter? can Hee blow Hot, and Cold? can Hee bless a Forbearance, and curs it too? as hee doth, 1 Cor. 9.16.

2. Som conceive hee may mean som Super-annuated Ministers that have better Heads to Rule, then Lungs to Preach unto their Flocks. But I wish such Interpreters to consider;

1. It is not fair to start our own Conceits and Notions, and then to father them on the Apostle.

2. Advise whether there bee much probability in it that there were any such men in Paul's time that could Govern but not Preach, which is very rare in our dayes, though now Preaching bee a more studious work, and wee have more store of Officers (God bee thanked) then they could have in the Primitive times and first Age of the Gospel.

3. Consider whether the Apostle bee so deeply affected with this extraordinarie Case, as to lay down a special and particu∣lar Rule for Such.

4. Whether the Apostle can bee excused in reverencing Younger men above their Elder's, such as are old Standards to the Gospel, and that (caeteris paribus yet) in Senioritie, Gravitie, and Judgment must needs excell.

See the same word how it is took in other places of Scripture;

for wheresoever 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 is used in all places in the New Testament, it is taken to distinguish Things from things, Persons from per∣sons, as Gal. 6.10. Let us do good to all, But (〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉) Especially to those of the Houshold of Faith. It follow's hence that som are, and som are not of the Houshold of Faith; therefore wee must put a difference in doing them good.

So Phil. 4.12. All the Saints salute you, Especially those of Cae∣sar's houshold. Som Saints were not of Caesar's hous; yet all Saints salute: so also, 1 Tim. 5.8.

Their particular Office is,

1. To give notice of scandals, 1 Tim. 5.20. It may becom the part of a godly Joseph to bring to his Father the evill report of his Brethren: so 1 Thes. 5.14.

2. To judg of them, 1 Cor. 12.28. Acts 20.17, 28. as hath been shewed alreadie.

3. To admonish, Rom. 15.14. 2 Thes. 3.15.

4. To visit the Sick: see M^r Perkins right way of dying, Tom. 1. pag. 502. col. 1. where hee expound's the place James 5.14. By Elders (saith hee) is mean't, not only Ministers, but ruleing El∣ders; men grave, ancient, endued with the spirit of Understand∣ing and Prayer.

But is it not better for the People to bee subject to the Govern∣ment of one, then many?

1. Surely No; Trying by Elders is a trying per pares, [sol. i.] men of your own coat, wherein is both equity and equality:

2. Elders; though placed in Authority above the Governed, [unspec ii.] yet not above the Laws of Christ; not above the Government.

3. If you respect not in your choice of Parochial-Elders, [unspec iii.] the qua∣lifications laid forth in Scripture, 'tis a Thorn you make for your own sides: an Injurie you bring upon your own heads: Blame not the Government, but thank your selvs. Bee therefore carefull, by Praying, Fasting and Obeying the Ministers season∣able and pious directions, first to choos whom you may like, and then Like whom you have Chosen.

4. [unspec iv.] Becaus in respect of the great want of Men endued with gifts and graces, Admonitions may bee ill given, and worstaken: I shall lay down Twelve rules of Direction in this great Case of Admoniti∣on and Rebuke, which may bee of som use to the Elders, as

Aarons twelve Stones which hee wore in his Brest-plate, which were designed unto him to direct him in Judgment, Exod. 28.21.

Notes

• 1. Pastors.
• Mr. M. of H.
• Vindiciae Cla∣vium. cap. 2. pag. 18.19.
• Eme librum; si non habes nummos, erue ti∣bi oculum De∣••••trum, illòque persolvas & le∣ge Sinistro. Zanch. Epist. ad Bulling.
• Ob.