the Eldership or Presbytery of Church-Officers bearing the name of Church they were persecuted and scattered all abroad but the Apostles and the reason why the Apostles were not scattered as yet was because they were more known at Ierusalem by doing of many Miracles then other Teachers and more convinced their Adversaries then others by their speaking all Languages and wisdom that was given to them yet it is clear by what hath been said That it was not all the people but Church-Officers that was persecuted who are frequently called the Church as hath been shewed Then here is not any footing for any Independent Congregations therefore their Eldership is not Jure Divino nor according to the will and appointment of Jesus Christ Then let us take another instance it may be they will say That Church was an Independent Church Acts 2.47 where it is said The Lord added unto the Church daily such as shall be saved For say they This was at the first planting of it and then they were but few for they were with one accord all in Solomons Porch Acts 5.12 But I say The Disciples were numberlesse as I have proved already and that Church that was in Solomons Porch was only the Church-Officers in a Presbytery consulting for the good of the whole multitude of Believers for mark the next words The Officers being in Solomons Porch the rest durst not joyn with them they being a Presbytery advising for the good of the whole Church only the people magnified them see Acts 5.13 Then here we may see That Church-Officers being together in a Presbytery are honored by the people but do Independents thus when they must all sit and vote with them and in stead of honoring their Church-Officers in Presbyteries and Synods they reproach them and vilifie them and call them Antichristian Governors much like Korah and his company and it is a wonder if such men should dye the common death of men But then it may be they will say That Church unto which all Christians must be added was the invisible Church I Answer That is a truth but not the true meaning of this Text and it is plain this was the Universal visible Church for when any was converted from false Religions to the true Religion they were added to the Christian visible Church as members of it and thus the Lord added daily to the visible Church in the sight of all the people then this Church could not be Independent unto which all Christians were added daily neither did any Minister gather to himself a Church but all Ministers labored to gather Christians to the multitude but not as our Independents do to their company from among other baptized Christians and exclude all the rest saying That they are all Antichristian Idolators and without the Kingly Office of Christ but his flock Then this was not an Independent Church but a Presbyterial Church consisting of many Officers and much people Again this was not an Independent Church for there were many Universal Officers in it and if yet they affirm it to be an Independent Church then I would know who had the peculiar charge of it and who bare the name of it whose work alone was it to gather it as they say into a Church-way Again if this Church did belong to one man as to Peter James or John then why must all Christians be added to Peters Church or Iames's Church or Iohns Church or else be damned Must Mr. Goodwins Members be added to Mr. Burtons Church or Mr. Lockers Members be added to Mr. Holms his Church or be damned Then in my judgement it were good to joyn Churches together betimes by Presbyteries and Synods before it be too late I say let us joyn all the visible Congregations in the Kingdom together and all to the Universal visible Church and as our duty seek the welfare of each other and this will soon split all Independent Churches who are descended from that reprobate who said Am I my Brothers keeper These men are like the Inhabitants of Laish a people that dwelt carelesse secure having no Magistrate in the Land to rule them or to put them to shame and They had no businesse with any man Iudges 18.7 But let all faithful Christians say with Paul The care of all the Churches lies upon me and rejoyce to hear the welfare of the Church in all places of the world and grieve to hear that the walls of Ierusalem are broken down and if need require with the Church of Macedonia send relief to them in Iudea and abhor to say We are Independents we have no relation to them nor they to us let them sink or swim we owe them no duty well we may counsel them and yet we may chuse and they also may chuse whether they will take it Now let all judicious Christians but judge and speak their conscience Whether Presbyterial or Independent Church Government is most agreeing to the Primitive Church and be not carelesse but helpful one to another for all those that are united to Christ are also united one to another and so have relation one to another and stand in need of the help of each other Then I conclude That Congregational Presbyterial Eldership is not according to the Word nor the Primitive Church and therefore not Iure Divino I might here speak of the Churches of Corinth Galatia Philippia and Ephesus which were all governed by Presbyteries and were none of them Independent belonging to one man bearing his name and gathered by him and he alone charged with it But this may suffice The next thing in the first Question to be proved is Whether any particular Church Government be Jure Divino and what is that Government I shall answer this by dividing the Officers in the Church from the Officers in the State and bounding them in their place and station where Christ hath set them and to prove That the one hath a Divine Right of Government from Christ in the State and not in the Church and the other hath a Divine Right of Government in the Church but not in the State I prove it thus Christ hath two Kingdoms the one Temporal and the other Spiritual In the first he rules over the Kingdoms of men as Daniel saith He is King of Kings and Lord of Lords Rev. 19.16 He saith By me Kings Raign Prov. 8.15 Kings are his Deputies on Earth in this Temporal Kingdom to Rule over the State and outward affairs of men and also in relation to the Church they may be as a gard about it to defend it by the power of their Positive Laws and also they may be for much good unto it for saith the Lord Cyrus is my shepheard Isa 44. both to provide and care for the Church and defend it as a Shepheard doth his flock Kings shall minister unto it Isa 60.10 But Cyrus was not placed in the Church he was no member of it for he was a Heathen King yet he
said to all the Ministery Mat. 16. Ioh. 20.23 Then I conclude that all the Members in the Presbytery so called by Paul 1 Tim. 4.14 The state of Elders Acts 22.5 And it is called The Assembly of the Elders Psa 107.32 Therefore they are all Iure Divino by the will and appointment of Iesus Christ But it may be some Independent will ask Why their Congregation belonging to one man is not of Divine Institution as well as a Presbyterial Congregation belonging to one man I answer There is this difference The Presbyterial Congregation is a part of the Universal visible Church as a branch of it which is descended from the first Christian Church although it passed under Antichrist and so was defiled yet still God had his Church amongst Papists and at the length brought it out of Babylon by Luther and others and our Ministers are descended from the Apostles whom Christ Ordained to Preach Mark 3.14 And they were sent into all Nations to convert men to the Christian Faith and they also Ordained Elders in every Church in every City or Town Acts 14.23 And after them they left others in their place to do it Tit. 1.5 And thus Church-Officers were Ordained by them of their own calling successively ever since although they passed under Antichrist till Luther renounced them and by him and others was brought out what they had from Christ and left what was of their own Invention and he caused them to protest against Babylon and so they were first called Protestants And then in Calvins time they made a Covenant to set up the true Discipline of Iesus Christ and we in this Kingdom have done the like both by a Protestation against Popery and a Covenant to set up the Discipline of Iesus Christ therefore our Congregations are of Divine Institution but Independent Congregations original descent is but from themselves and that within this few yeers to our knowledge Tradesmen have gathered many Churches but who sent those Tradesmen to Preach and how can they Preach unlesse they be sent Rom. 10.14 15. By what Authority do they Preach and who gave them that Authority Christ taught as one having Authority Mat. 21.23 24. 7.29 Then Independent Congregations are not of Divine Institution But they will say That our Parishes remain still as they did under Antichrist I answer Parishes were divided for better convenience of Publike Worship before Antichrist was in being when the Apostles gave order to set up Elders in every city Tit. 1.5 and they were bounded within a Sabboth dayes Iourney for Publike Worship Acts 1.12 And now Prelats cast out our Parishes remain in that first Institution for those Elders were bounded to that town or city where they were set up but Independent Congregations are boundlesse their Members thirty or fourty miles asunder that they cannot congregate together therefore they are not of Divine Institution The Parliaments third question is Whether the Supreme Assemblies or Elderships viz. The Classical Provincial and National Whether all or any of them and which of them are Iure Divino and by the appointment of Jesus Christ Their fourth question is Whether Appeals from Congregational Elderships to the Classical Provincial and National Assemblies or to any of them and to which of them are Iure Divino and by the will and appointment of Jesus Christ And are their Powers upon such Appeals Iure Divino and by the will and appointment of Jesus Christ Their fifth question is Whether Oecumenical Assemblies are Iure Divino And whether there be Appeals from any of the former Assemblies to the said Occumenical Iure Divino and by the will and appointment of Jesus Christ Now the substance contained in these three questions is this First Whether Classical Provincial National or Oecumenical Elderships or Assemblies be Jure Divino Secondly Whether Appeals from Congregational Elderships to Classical Provincial and National Assemblies are Iure Divino or which of them or any of them to Oecumenical be Iure Divino and are their Powers upon such Appeals Iure Divino by the will and appointment of Iesus Christ To the first of these I have sufficiently proved That the Assembly of Elders and Presbytery are Scripture Names Psal 107.32 1 Tim. 4.14 And these I have shewed that they are frequently called the Church because they do represent it And now I shall prove That Appeals from the lesser Elderships to the greater is according to the Word of God and that their power is of Divine Right to suppresse Error and prophanenesse in case the Magistrate will not by his Positive Laws or to cast them out of the Church rather then the Ordinances of Christ should be polluted I prove it thus If there was Assemblies of Church Officers in the Christian Church who met together for this end then they ought to do so still and if there was Appeals from the lesser of those Assemblies to the greater in the Primitive Church it ought to be so still and if those Assemblies had power to make Decrees and passe Sentence and to binde several Churches to obey them it ought to be so still for we and all Christians pretend to be under the same Discipline of Christ as they were but some in the Christian Church at Antioch would still observe Iewish Cermeonies and they had no small Disputation about it and yet could not suppresse it being parties therefore they determined to send Paul and Barnabas to Ierusalem not to a single Congregation for advice and councel but to the Assembly of Apostles and Elders who came together to consider of that matter Acts 15.1 2 6. And I think there was but two Apostles there and so there was at Antioch only they were parties and so they were not at Ierusalem But some will say What if they will not come to the Assembly or Eldership how then can they suppresse Error or Prophanenesse I answer The Magistrate must by his Positive Laws command obedience to the Church and in case they will not obey the Magistrate he must punish them by his Positive Laws but in case the Magistrate will not do it then the Church-Officers have power to cast them out to keep the Ordinances of Christ from pollution So then if the Magistrate do his part and Assemblies of Church-Officers also do theirs this will sweetly settle peace among the Churches and this is according to the Word of Christ and therefore of Divine Institution And for the Names of those Assemblies let them be called by any names of distinction and it sufficeth I hope we shall not contend about Names but rather labor for peace and a sweet enjoyment of all the mercies of God both in Church and State The sixth Question is this Whether by the Word of God the power of Judging and declaring what are such Notorious and Scandalous Offences for which persons guilty thereof are to be kept from the Sacrament of the Lords Supper and of Conventing before them trying and actual
suspending from the Sacrament of the Lords Supper such Offenders accordingly is either in the Congregational Eldership in Presbytery or in any other Eldership Congregation or Persons And whether such powers are in them only or any of them and in which of them Iure Divino and by the will and appointment of Jesus Christ I answer to the first part of this question That Church Officers by the perfect rule of Gods Word have power to judge and declare what sins are scandalous for which those that are guilty are to be punished by the Magistrate but in case he will not do his duty then for the same Church-Officers have power to cast them out of the Church to keep the Ordinances of Christ from pollution some of them Paul mentions before his Institution of the Lords Supper 1 Cor. 11. such as these as Drunkennesse Heresie Divisions and Contentions and men wearing long hair and women with the hair out or uncovered all these must be Reformed for these are Scandalous and then there are inward sins as Ignorance not discerning the Lords body but the communicants must examine themselves of this and so let them Eat they are not to be cast out for Ignorance all did eat the Passeover and all them in the Primitive Church did receive the Supper Acts 2.46 20.7 Neither do I finde any such thing in Scripture as suspension from one Ordinance when they freely enjoy all the rest Neither do I finde such trying and conventing as in civil Courts they are not to cast out for private sins when a private trespasse was brought to the Church Officers Matth. 18.17 they could not cast him out but said to the Plaintiff Let him be to thee as a Heathen or a Publican that is Do thou keep no company with him Church-Officers must say as the Lord did I have not found it by secret search Ier 2.34 But when they declare their sin as Sodom and hide it not Isa 3.9 As Elies Sons did to make the offerings of the Lord to be abhor'd 1 Sam. 22.17 And when Phineas the Priest slew Zimry and Cozby Numb 25. And when Uzza was cast out of the House of the Lord 2 Chron. 26.21 And Christ whipt them out of the Temple all these need no witnesse but were cast out all but Elies Sons and because Ely the Priest did not do it to his Sons the Lord utterly cut off Elies house The next thing in this question is In whose hand is this Power To this I have answered In the hand of the Presbytery or Church Officers If the person be Scandalous to many Congregations the greater Presbytery is to cast him out but if in some Country town there be but one Church and the parties haunt be no further I suppose they may cast him out of their Church and not to suffer him to abuse the Ordinances of Christ but no other hath this power neither Independent Congregations nor Prelats for Presbyterial Church-Officers are only Jure Divino and by the will and appointment of Iesus Christ The seventh question is Whether there be any certain and particular Rules expressed in the Word of God to direct the Elderships or Presbyteries Congregations or Persons or any of them in the Exercise and Execution of the Powers aforesaid and what are those Rules I answer Paul saith in the Name of all Church-Officers We will not least of things without our measure but according to the measure of the rule which God hath distributed to us 2 Cor. 10.13 Then here all may see that they have a Rule and he saith Let us walk by the same rule Phil. 3.16 And as many as walk according to this Rule Peace be unto them Gal. 6.16 Now by this Rule Paul judged though absent that the Incestuous person should be cast out and by the same Rule the Church-Officers of Corinth cast him out 1 Cor. 5.3.12 13. And if any shall say he spake to all in the Church I answer It was to give their consent but that punishment was to be inflicted by many but not by all see the same man cast out 2 Cor. 2.6 And he cast out Hymeueus and Philetus for blasphemy yet I suppose there was others with him though he passed the sentence 1 Tim. 1.20 And saith Paul He that troubleth you with the leven of Heresie shall hear his judgement whoever he be and I have confidence in you through the Lord Jesus that you will be none otherwise minded but give your consent I would they were cut off that trouble you Gal. 5.9 10 11 12. The eighth question is this Is there any thing contained in the Word of God that the Supreme Magistracy in a Christian State may not judge and determine what are the aforesaid Notorious and Scandalous Offences and the manner of Suspension for the same and in what particulare concerning the Prenises is the said Supreme Magistracy by the Word of God excluded I answer The Supreme Magistracy is to judge and determine of the same sins by the Positive Laws of the Land and punish the Offenders according to those Laws in the Temporal Kingdom of Christ but he may not judge and determine of them in the Church about casting out by Excommunication that is the Spiritual Kingdom of Christ and his Church-Officers are Spiritual Officers and therein State Officers are excluded as I shewed before The ninth question is Whether the provision of Commissioners to judge of Scandals not enumerated as they are Authorized by the Ordinance of Parliament be contrary to that way of Government which Christ hath appointed in his Church and wherein they are so contrary I answer That Christ alone is to give both Offices and Officers and also their names but Christ never gave any such for his Church as Commissioners neither must Parliaments create any Names or Offices or Officers as their creatures to be set up and appointed their work in the Church it is a great affront to Christ the King of the Church to do it It is observable David saith Christ received gifts for men Psal 68.18 And then Paul saith He gave gifts to men Eph. 4.11 So then Christ as Mediator received those gifts of his Father and then gave them to his Church but there is but one Mediator between God and man the man Christ Iesus 1 Tim. 2.5 Then there was none but he that received those gifts for the Church and therefore no other can give them Again the Authority of the Parliament will not bear them out when Christ will disclaim them as Vsurpers whom he never palced in the Church And what profit or blessing to the Church can be expected from those that Christ never sent nor placed in the Church Again the Parliament that sent them are themselves placed by Christ in his Temporal Kingdom the State or Common-wealth to govern that and place Officers in it but they may not Ordain Church-Officers that must be done by Church-Officers and that successively from Christ who first Ordained the Twelve and then the Seventy and then the Twelve being sent to all Nations after his death they did Ordain Elders in every Church Acts 14.23 And then they left others to Ordain Elders successively Saith Paul I left thee to Ordain Elders in every Church Tit. 1.5 And so it hath been by them successively to this day Then I conclude That for State-Officers either to Ordain Elders which ought to be in the Church or to create new Officers in the Church is contrary to that way of Government which Christ hath appointed in his Church and I have shewed wherein it is so contrary The tenth and last is onely a perswasion that those of the Assembly would set down their Names together with their Votes whether Affirmative or Negative to those former particulars and the clear Texts of Scripture on which their Opinions are grounded Now none but the last concerns me which I have done and if the Lord be pleased to set it home to the soul it may be conviction and satisfaction to it FINIS
AN ANSWER To those QVESTIONS Propounded by the PARLIAMENT TO THE Assembly of Divines Touching JVS DIVINVM In matter of Church-Government Wherein is clearly proved from Scripture That the Presbyterial Government is Jure Divino of Divine Institution and according to the will and appointment of JESUS CHRIST Act. 14.23 When they had Ordained them Elders in every Church and prayed with fasting they commended them to the Lord on whom they believed Acts 5.38 39 43. And now I say unto you refrain from those men and let them alone for if this counsel or this work be of men it will come to naught but if it be of God ye cannot overthrow it lest haply ye be found to fight against God And to him they all agreed c. Licensed and Published according to Order London Printed for WILLIAM LEY and are are to be sold at his shop at Pauls Chain neer Doctors Commons 1646. An Answer to those questions propounded by the Parliament to the Assembly of Divines LEst it should be thought presumption in any to undertake this work that are not of the Assembly who alone were appointed for it therefore I thought it needful to shew the Reader the Grounds and Reasons that moved me to it First it hath been long expected that the Assembly should give in their Answer and because it is not many of the Presbyterians are disheartned Secondly It hath caused others to contemn them saying The Assembly have now a Bone to pick Thirdly It hath caused many to turn to the Error of Erastus witnesse the late Petition to the Parliament Fourthly I am confident Gods people will rejoyce by whomsoever this work is done For these causes I undertook it not doubting but it will give satisfastion to many and be convincing to others FIrst I shall speak a few words to the Preamble wherein it is said to be resolved by both Houses That persons guilty of Scandalous offences should be suspended from the Lords Supper when as Christ alone is the King and Master of the Feast and hath Church-Officers as his Deputies in the Church whom he hath appointed to see and judge who are worthy and who are not and to keep the Ordinances of Christ from pollution for if any shall presume to come not having a Wedding garment the King will say to his Servants the Ministers Binde him hand and foot and take him away and cast him into utter darknesse there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth Mat. 22.3 12 13. Luke 14.16 17. Whatsoever ye shall binde on earth shall be bound in heaven and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven Mat. 18.18 Iohn 20.23 But Magistrates are placed by Christ in his temporal Kingdom and are called the Ordinance of man 1 Pet. 2.13 and appointed to govern the State and also by their positive Laws they are to be as a guide to the Church and may be instruments of much good to it so far as their positive Laws may reach about it but not as ruling Officers in it as shal more fully be shewn The first Question is Whether the Parochial and Congregational Elderships appointed by Ordinance of Parliament or any other Congregational or Presbyterial Elderships are Iure Divine and by the will and appointment of Iesus Christ and whether any particular Church Government be Iure Divino and what that Government is I Answer If the first of these the Parochial Congregational Eldership be understood the Vicar or Curate together with the Churchwardens and Sidemen in the Parish being all under the Prelâ—tical Government being neither Scripture Names nor Officers but rather Antichristian Inventions these cannot properly be called Elderships seeing the Officers bear not the name of Elders these have been proved by many to be rather Antichristian then Iure Divino and seeing the main pillars of Antichrist are tumbled down these bearing his name shall tumble down together with him and I hope they need no further Answer The next thing considerable is Whether any other Congregational or Presbyterial Elderships are Iure Divino and by the will and appointment of Iesus Christ To the first of these I Answer Negatively that there is no such Church in Scripture as they call Independent or Congregational Churches and the proving of this will satisfie that there Congregational Elderships are not Jure Divine of Divine Institution nor their Churches but to be demolished as the Prelatical for who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean not one Iob 14.4 I prove the point by this Argument If there be no Church in Scripture belonging peculiarly to one man as to Peter James or John and to bear his name to be called his Church as being peculiarly by him gathered as they say into a Church-way as the Independent Churches are both named and gathered then Independent Churches are not of Divine Institution and if not their Churches much lesse their Elderships But there is no shch Church in Scripture so gathered and so named Ergo The Independent Church-way is of no Divine Institution much lesse are their Elderships Jure Divino or according to the will and appointment of Iesus Christ The major part of the Proposition I suppose all men will grant and for the minor I shall prove by taking a view of those Scripture Churches which they chiefly would have to be Independent being of the first planting first that hundred and twenty names Acts 1.15 some of them have affirmed to be an Independent Church or Congregation because say they that 120. names was made up both of men and women Acts 1.14 Therefore say they it was an Indedependent Church To this I answer Those women there mentioned were not of this company for that were before this and those men and women there spoken of was at prayer together and it is very likely the cause of it was to seek the Lord for a Blessing upon this weighty businesse which was the choyce of another Apostle in stead of Judas for in those dayes it was said That Peter stood up in the midst of the Disciples and said The number of names together were about an hundred and twenty and he that is Judas was numbred with us but since he by transgression fell let another take his Office wherefore of those men numbred to be an hundred and twenty together which have accompanied us all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us from the Baptism of John unto the same day that he was taken up from us must one be Ordained to be a witnesse with us of his Resurrection Ver. 21 22. Hence I gather That if the hundred and twenty names was all men as Peter here affirms then it was not that company that was at Prayer before for a Blessing upon this weighty businesse in the chusing of another Apostle in stead of Judas then this was not a single Congregation but it was the Officers were then assembled in a Presbytery upon the choyce of another
order things that were wanting and to Ordain Elders in every city as he had appointed Tit. 1.5 And these were not Magistrates for such were before in every city but these were then wanting which Paul from Christ appointed Titus to Ordain in every city neither were the Ministers to Ordain and set up Magistrates and yet by their own practise they did Ordain Elders in every Church Acts 14.23 then they are not of Humane but of Divine Institution Thirdly If both the key of Doctrine and of Diselpline were given to Church Officers by Iesus Christ then they alone have a Divine Right to use them but the keys were not given to the whole Church but to the Officers for saith Christ to Peter To this will I give the Keys Mat. 16.19 And whatsoever the Church-Officers shall binde on Earth shall be bound in Heaven and what they loose on Earth shall be loosed in Heaven Chap. 18. v. 17 18. And what sins ye remit shall be remitted and what sins ye retain shall be retained Iohn 20.23 Then they alone have a Divine Right to use them Fourthly If Christ commanded the Church to obey those that have the rule over them in the Church and not in the State then such only are to rule in the Church But saith Paul Obey them who also have spoken unto you the Word of God they that watch for your souls as they that must give an account neither must all the Saints rule in the Church for saith Paul Salute them that have the rule over you and all the Saints Heb. 13.17 24. then they are of Divine Institution and must rule in the Church and take care for it as for their own house 1 Tim. 3.4 5. 5. If the Christian Church had those Officers placed in it by Christ and his Apostles before they had any Magistrates or any humane Laws in it then they are of Divine Institution and no Magistrates ought to take that from them which Christ gave them before they had any Magistrates in the Christian Church but they chose and ordained Elders in every Church before they had any Magistrates Acts 14.23 then they are not of Humane but of Divine Institution Sixthly This Discipline was in the hand of Church-Officers if they onely were blamed if it was neglected But the Lord said to Church-Officers I have something against thee because thou sufferest that woman Iezebel to teach and to seduce my servants and others were blamed because there was some among them that held the Doctrine of Balaam Rev. 2.14 20. Then here it is plain that both the Key of Doctrine and the Key of Discipline are in the hand of Church-Officers by Divine Institution Seventhly If this Discipline was ever in the hand of Church-Officers it ought to be so still But saith Paul I have delivered Hymeneus and Alexander to Satan that they may learn not to blaspheme 1 Tim. 1.20 and concerning the Incestuous person he saith I have judged already and do not ye judge those that are within cast out therefore that wicked person 1 Cor. 5.3 12 13. And if any say that all must judge from this Text I Answer All are to refer it to the Presbytery but sufficient is that punishment that was inflicted by many not by all 2 Cor. 2.6 Christ gave his life a ransome for many not for all Mat. 20.28 Again saith Paul a Church-Officer He that troubleth you shall bear his judgement whoever he be Gal. 5.10 Then this may suffice to answer the first Question That the Presbyterial Elderships are Iure Divine yet if any be not fully satisfied I shal yet make it more clearly appear by answering a question thus Suppose there should be any disturbance in the Church assembled for the publike Worship of God by some Drunkard or mad man or any Heretick either by Sporting or by Railing or Seducing or any abominable action where lyes the power to suppresse it Is it in the Magistrates or in Church-Officers I answer It is in the hand or power of Church-Officers first because they were charged to keep the door that there may be no such occasion of disturbance in the midst of Divine Worship 2 Chron. 26.12 19. Secondly this power was in the hand of Church-Officers for when Vzziah the King would needs burn Incense the valiant Priests bade him go out of the Sanctuary and cut him off from the house of the Lord Neither was this because he was leaprous but because he offered Incense and as they were thrusting him out his leprosie appeared 2 Chro. 26.17 18 21. and when they were weeping publikely for the abominable whoredom with the daughters of Moab there was such an action committed in the assembly in the sight of Moses mark that yet Phinehas the Priest executed justice and the wrath of the Lord was pacified Num. 25. And when Elies Sons lay with the women when they assembled at the Tabernacle door and he did not restrain them the Lord slew all his whole house and that sin could never be purged with Sacrifice 1 Sam. 2.22 and 3.13 14. Then if the Lord was so well pleased with Phine as the Priest for his justice and so offended with Eli the Priest for neglecting of it when committed in the congregation then the power to suppresse such abominations committed in the assembly is in the hand of Church-Officers Again when there was buying and selling in the Church Christ drave them out because the Lord said My house shall be called the house of Prayer Thirdly when Israel committed Idolatry not onely in private but in the Assembly the Lord caused Moses to cull out those that were on his side and sheath their Swords in those Idolaters and the Levites came forth and did so and the Lord for that very action put them into the Ministry Then it is plain the Lord would have the Church Discipline in the hand of Church-Officers they must keep the Ordinances of Christ from pollution and those that do not rule well their own house are not fit to take care for the Church of God 1 Tim. 3.5 as if he should say That man that is negligent to use Family-Discipline is not fit to be made a Church-Officer lest he neglect the Church Discipline yet all this hinders not but that Magistrates may punish all manner of wickednesse in the State if their Positive Laws will reach it but not else yet I say Church-Officers are charged to keep the Ordinances of Christ from pollution and for that end they are placed by him in the Church by Divine Institution The Parliaments second Question is Whether all the Members of the said Elderships as Members thereof or which of them are Jure Divino and by the will and appointment of Iesus Christ I answer as before The Independent Elderships are not of Divine Institution because their Congregations are not but all the Members of every Presbytery or Eldership they have this Discipline committed unto them for what was said to Peter was