Rome ruin'd by VVhite Hall, or, The papall crown demolisht

SECT. 4.

Obj. MAy not every Member present, at such a meeting, speake to the point in question if he please?

Ans. Yea he may doe so, as in like case may be done by any Member of Parliament▪ or other Couns••ll; but it ought to be done according to the Apostles rule, vi•• with d••cency, and order, and to avoyd con••usion as much as may be.

Obj. I have observed at some of your meetings, an horrible confusion.

Ans. Such disorders I hope will speedily be reformed, in our* 1.1 Brethren; to which purpose we have a notable example in that Dispute be••wixt the Apostles, ••lders, and Brethren at Jerusalem, concerning the matter of Circ••mcision, Act. 15. who at the first did as you say of our Brethren, Dispute confusedly; but whilst they did so, they had much Dispute to little purpose, as appear∣eth by the seventh verse of that Chapter, untill way was given, that they might speake by course; whereupon Peter being com∣monly the first in such matters, began to open the case apart by himselfe, the rest of the Apostles, and Elders being silent, as may appeare by the same verse; and yet we may perceive, that the

multitude termed the Brethren, ceased not to speake confusedly, untill Peter had ended his speech; and that they gave audience to Paul, and Barnabas, untill which time the text doth not ren∣der them silent; by which passage is really demonstrated un∣to us, the fruitlesse issues of confused discourse, as also the fruit∣full effects of decency and order; for we read, as soone as Paul, and Barnabas, had delivered themselves, (to whom the Brethren is said to give audience) the Apostle James being the next which spake, did in few words g••ve the multitude satisfaction.

And from hence we are taught the order and method, which* 1.2 we ought to use upon any occasion of businesse, which may con∣cerne the Church; as first, to make choyce of them whom we conceive, is the most judicious, and that by the example of the Church at Antioch, who made choy••e of Bar••••b••s, and Paul, and the other Brethren, which no doubt was the most able men a∣mongst them in that Church. As also of the Church at Jerusa∣lem, in permitting Peter, and James, to speake first, being the most grave in the Assembly; as also in that Churches making choyse of Judas, and Silas, who was men of eminence amongst them, (as may appeare by the 26. vers.) to send in their be∣halfes to Antioch.

Notes

• * 1.1

  An example of the Apostles for deci••ing controversi••s
• * 1.2

  Who ought 〈…〉〈…〉 made use of in Church 〈◊〉〈◊〉.