Theories of the Eldership [pp. 449-472]

Theories of the Eldership.
mon cause pertaining to many particular churches. Our
divines, when they prove against papists, that the election of
ministers, and the excommunication of obstinate sinners, ought
to be done by the suffrages of the whole church, make use of
this same argument; that which concerneth all, ought to be
treated of and judged by all."
So argued one of Scotland's noblest sons, and a representative in the Westminster Assembly of Divines. And such, also,
are the general views of the early fathers of the Presbyterian
church. (See Jamieson's Cyprianus Isotimus, pp. 554-556,
540-544.)
One of the ablest and most effective works written in favour
of the Presbyterian system, in 1641, two years before the Westminster Assembly, and by some who were members of that
body, was what-by the union of the initial letters of the names
of its combined authors-was called Smectymnuus. "By all
these testimonies," they say, (at the close of their argument
for governing elders, whom they call lay presbyters and lay
elders) "'it is apparent, first, that in the ancient church there
were some called seniors. Secondly, that these seniors were
not clergymelt. Thirdly, that they had a stroke in governing
the church and managing the affairs thereof. Fourthly, that
the seniors were distinguished from the rest of the people."
P. 74.
We need not do more than refer to the biennial election of
elders in the Dutch Church, and to the character of the eldership in the French and Swiss Churches.*
It is very remarkable that the proofs given by Dr. Killen for
his theory from the Synagogue, prove also that if similar to the
Parnasim, elders must be laymen. "In every synagogue," as
he quotes from Lightfoot, "there was a civil triumvirate, that
is, three magistrates, who judged of all matters in contest, advising within that synagogue." "The same writer," adds Dr.
Killen, "declares that in every synagogue there were elders
that ruled in civil affairs and elders that laboured in word and
doctrine."t Dr. Miller admits all that we desire. 1. That
* See Lorimer on Eldership, p. 165.
t Lightfoot's Works, xi. 179, Killen, pp. 233, 234.
1860.]
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