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in_o holy_a order_n assemble_v together_o to_o bind_v and_o loose_v upon_o earth_n 1_o cor._n 5.4_o as_o i_o have_v already_o show_v you_o it_o do_v not_o follow_v that_o every_o presbyter_n in_o his_o parish_n with_o his_o class_n of_o elder_n have_v this_o power_n it_o be_v absurd_a to_o allege_v it_o i_o have_v show_v you_o that_o this_o power_n be_v give_v to_o the_o apostle_n in_o general_a and_o their_o successor_n and_o the_o spiritual_a consistory_n must_v consist_v of_o such_o 1_o cor._n 5.4_o now_o lay-elders_a can_v no_o way_n be_v say_v successor_n to_o the_o apostle_n they_o neither_o be_v instate_v in_o holy_a order_n nor_o within_o the_o rule_v prescribe_v by_o st._n paul_n to_o be_v admit_v thereunto_o unless_o we_o must_v in_o this_o topsiturvy_o time_n of_o we_o send_v our_o grave_n wise_a doctor_n to_o the_o school_n again_o to_o be_v teach_v by_o silly_a lay-elders_a which_o scarce_o know_v their_o a._n b._n c._n not_o fit_a to_o exhort_v much_o less_o to_o 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together_o some_o collection_n and_o short_a meditation_n of_o my_o own_o which_o to_o the_o indifferent_a and_o not_o forestall_v judgement_n will_v give_v some_o satisfaction_n in_o the_o business_n i_o have_v treat_v of_o that_o these_o fine_a feather_a buzzard_n lay-elders_a deck_v with_o ecclesiastical_a plume_n be_v mere_a counterfeit_n semiramis_n elephant_n which_o be_v but_o stuff_v ox_n hide_v which_o have_v a_o gallant_a undaunted_a army_n in_o suspense_n counterfeit_a diamond_n not_o such_o as_o christ_n spouse_n look_v comely_a with_o cant._n 1_o 9_o bolton_n half_a crown_n not_o lawful_o stamp_v with_o caesar_n image_n scotch_a twenty-pence_n the_o base_a coin_n of_o a_o copper_n nation_n not_o currant_n english_a but_o such_o as_o every_o one_o may_v lawful_o deny_v and_o i_o be_o confident_a the_o wise_a and_o judicious_a reader_n serious_o consider_v this_o will_v not_o with_o the_o young_a dotterel_n bird_n be_v entice_v with_o chaff_n to_o be_v catch_v in_o this_o net_n though_o never_o so_o privy_o lay_v but_o will_v bear_v off_o and_o keep_v himself_o free_a till_o he_o see_v they_o fall_v in_o their_o own_o mischief_n and_o themselves_o catch_v in_o the_o share_n which_o they_o have_v privy_o lay_v for_o other_o and_o if_o unadvised_o through_o ignorance_n he_o have_v suffer_v himself_o to_o be_v draw_v in_o to_o consent_v unto_o this_o government_n yet_o he_o will_v in_o time_n unintangle_v himself_o from_o the_o bondage_n thereof_o as_o for_o the_o perverse_a and_o obstinate_a presbyter_n which_o have_v wed_v the_o government_n together_o with_o some_o fat_a benefice_n and_o can_v divorce_v himself_o from_o the_o one_o without_o leave_v the_o other_o have_v vow_v perpetual_a incumbency_n to_o himself_o i_o know_v his_o heart_n be_v harden_v through_o the_o deceitfulness_n of_o sin_n and_o i_o can_v dissuade_v he_o from_o his_o classical_a beneficial_a cure_n let_v he_o that_o be_v unclean_a be_v unclean_a still_o speak_v to_o obstinate_a and_o wilful_a sinner_n for_o my_o part_n i_o do_v not_o seek_v to_o wash_v blackmoore_n i_o will_v give_v he_o leave_v at_o his_o sunday_n dinner_n and_o spiritual_a pig-feast_n when_o none_o be_v by_o but_o his_o lay-elders_a to_o rail_v against_o i_o and_o will_v extreme_o thank_v the_o pontifical_a parson_n will_v he_o but_o write_v any_o thing_n subscribe_v with_o his_o own_o hand_n in_o contradiction_n to_o what_o i_o have_v here_o write_v that_o i_o may_v have_v further_a occasion_n to_o anatomize_v the_o tyranny_n of_o he_o and_o his_o elder_n in_o the_o mean_a time_n what_o i_o have_v here_o write_v shall_v suffice_v hope_v short_o to_o hear_v that_o this_o government_n will_v be_v abolish_v so_o that_o we_o shall_v neither_o need_v to_o wrestle_v any_o long_o against_o it_o in_o word_n nor_o with_o peter_n to_o draw_v the_o sword_n to_o cut_v off_o the_o high_a priest_n servant_n care_n malcus_n who_o have_v he_o live_v till_o now_o will_v have_v be_v crop_v the_o leader_n in_o this_o team_n of_o lay-elders_a but_o i_o say_v i_o hope_v to_o see_v these_o hobby-horse_n unyoked_v again_o before_o they_o run_v to_o wood_n with_o the_o church_n for_o they_o must_v needs_o go_v who_o the_o devil_n drive_v and_o have_v loose_v they_o out_o of_o their_o ecclesiastical_a tress_n we_o will_v turn_v the_o jade_n to_o their_o old_a rustich_n drudgery_n again_o which_o will_v be_v the_o better_a for_o they_o the_o soon_o it_o be_v because_o they_o will_v the_o more_o easy_o come_v to_o themselves_o again_o and_o it_o can_v be_v worse_o for_o we_o to_o see_v they_o reclaim_v from_o their_o wince_a condition_n and_o ourselves_o free_v from_o the_o evil_a thereof_o so_o that_o i_o conclude_v this_o work_n with_o a_o earnest_a desire_n that_o this_o may_v speedy_o come_v to_o pass_v and_o quo_fw-la citius_fw-la to_o melius_fw-la finis_fw-la
exposition_n i_o take_v to_o be_v most_o agreeable_a to_o the_o word_n of_o god_n paul_n tell_v we_o in_o the_o second_o to_o the_o corinthian_n 5.20_o that_o the_o minister_n of_o the_o gospel_n be_v christ_n ambassador_n pray_v we_o by_o the_o gospel_n to_o be_v reconcile_v to_o god_n and_o 6._o ephes_n 20._o paul_n though_o in_o prison_n be_v christ_n ambassador_n to_o speak_v the_o word_n bold_o so_o that_o according_a to_o the_o sense_n of_o the_o word_n presbyter_n lay-elders_a be_v not_o to_o be_v understand_v thereby_o only_o the_o minister_n of_o the_o gospel_n the_o ambassador_n of_o christ_n sometime_o the_o word_n elder_a be_v render_v 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d that_o be_v inspectores_fw-la overseer_n of_o their_o flock_n act_v the_o 20.28_o and_o in_o that_o chapter_n it_o be_v both_o render_v presbyter_n in_o the_o 17._o ver_fw-la and_o episcopus_fw-la or_o overseer_n in_o the_o 28._o sunt_fw-la enim_fw-la episcopi_fw-la sacri_fw-la gregis_fw-la in_o spectores_fw-la qui_fw-la verbo_fw-la &_o gubernationi_fw-la preerunt_fw-la quique_fw-la quasi_fw-la speculatores_fw-la in_o doctrinam_fw-la &_o mores_fw-la commissi_fw-la gregis_fw-la inquirebant_fw-la nor_o be_v out_o lay-elders_a within_o the_o comprise_v or_o reach_v of_o this_o word_n for_o they_o have_v no_o flock_n to_o feed_v their_o high_a priest_n take_v that_o office_n to_o himself_o and_o i_o think_v they_o will_v thank_v i_o for_o tell_v they_o so_o for_o they_o will_v hate_v to_o be_v call_v bishop_n and_o here_o by_o the_o way_n i_o think_v it_o be_v not_o amiss_o shall_v i_o a_o little_a explain_v the_o meaning_n of_o that_o much_o wrest_a and_o abuse_a text_n of_o scripture_n which_o our_o novalist_n so_o much_o insist_v upon_o to_o ensnare_v the_o people_n to_o a_o subjection_n to_o their_o new_a eldership_n 1_o tim._n 5.17_o the_o elder_n which_o rule_v well_o account_v worthy_a of_o double_a honour_n especial_o those_o which_o labour_n in_o word_n and_o doctrine_n by_o which_o text_n they_o will_v persuade_v the_o people_n that_o there_o ought_v to_o be_v rule_v lay-elders_a as_o well_o as_o teach_n elder_n in_o the_o church_n the_o elder_n in_o that_o place_n be_v by_o all_o translator_n render_v presbyteri_fw-la not_o seniores_fw-la lay-elders_a or_o ruler_n of_o the_o people_n but_o i_o say_v presbyteri_fw-la that_o be_v minister_n of_o the_o gospel_n ambassador_n of_o christ_n so_o that_o it_o can_v be_v understand_v of_o roll_a laity_n but_o rule_v or_o govern_v clergy_n nor_o be_v this_o interpretation_n either_o contrary_a to_o god_n word_n as_o may_v be_v prove_v by_o other_o text_n of_o scripture_n nor_o do_v it_o any_o wise_a gainsay_v the_o practice_n of_o the_o primitive_a church_n for_o you_o may_v find_v it_o record_v in_o posen_n in_o vita_fw-la augusti_fw-la cap._n 5._o that_o there_o may_v be_v as_o well_o rule_v minister_n as_o preach_v minister_n for_o some_o for_o administration_n of_o the_o sacrament_n for_o their_o wisdom_n and_o judgement_n be_v not_o unmeete_a to_o be_v bishop_n and_o pastor_n and_o yet_o be_v not_o well_o verse_v in_o the_o language_n of_o the_o people_n over_o which_o they_o have_v the_o charge_n they_o want_v elocution_n to_o preach_v and_o yet_o govern_v their_o church_n well_o as_o valerius_n be_v a_o bishop_n among_o the_o roman_n at_o that_o time_n paul_n write_v to_o tymothy_n and_o be_v a_o grecian_a bear_v and_o not_o skill_v to_o pronounce_v the_o latin_a do_v not_o preach_v and_o yet_o be_v honour_v as_o a_o reverend_a father_n of_o the_o church_n and_o minister_n of_o jesus_n christ_n so_o i_o believe_v we_o have_v some_o great_a presbyter_n rule_v in_o welsh_a benefice_n and_o know_v not_o how_o to_o teach_v in_o that_o language_n and_o yet_o will_v think_v to_o have_v double_a honour_n from_o their_o parishioner_n and_o it_o be_v due_a unto_o they_o but_o if_o they_o can_v teach_v too_o then_o be_v they_o more_o to_o be_v esteem_v we_o may_v read_v in_o the_o first_o of_o the_o cor._n 12._o chap._n all_o man_n have_v not_o the_o same_o gift_n to_o one_o be_v give_v the_o spirit_n of_o wisdom_n to_o another_o the_o spirit_n of_o faith_n to_o another_o the_o spirit_n of_o heal_a to_o another_o the_o spirit_n of_o miracle_n to_o another_o divers_a kind_n of_o tongue_n and_o ver_fw-la 28_o it_o be_v say_v in_o the_o church_n god_n have_v set_v some_o first_o apostle_n second_o prophet_n and_o three_o teacher_n so_o that_o if_o we_o must_v go_v the_o old_a way_n of_o expound_v scripture_n to_o examine_v one_o place_n by_o another_o we_o may_v hence_o clear_o perceive_v that_o that_o text_n of_o tymothy_n be_v to_o be_v understand_v rule_v presbyter_n and_o not_o rule_v lay-elders_a rule_v presbyter_n ordain_v by_o god_n and_o his_o church_n and_o all_o translator_n that_o ever_o i_o do_v see_v render_v it_o preebyter_n understand_v that_o the_o elder_n which_o rule_v well_o and_o be_v to_o be_v account_v worthy_a of_o double_a honour_n mention_v in_o that_o text_n be_v spiritual_a man_n 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d minister_n of_o the_o gospel_n christ_n ambassador_n but_o admit_v the_o new_a classical_a wrest_v of_o that_o text_n that_o it_o be_v to_o be_v understand_v of_o roll_a laiety_n yet_o there_o can_v be_v nothing_o gather_v from_o that_o pace_n to_o prove_v that_o such_o man_n be_v to_o meddle_v in_o ecclesiastical_a affair_n but_o of_o that_o in_o his_o proper_a place_n only_a that_o the_o civil_a elder_n which_o govern_v the_o state_n well_o be_v to_o be_v account_v worthy_a of_o double_a honour_n but_o especial_o the_o spiritual_a elder_n which_o govern_v the_o church_n and_o increase_v the_o flock_n of_o christ_n by_o their_o word_n and_o doctrine_n i_o have_v brief_o do_v with_o the_o first_o part_n of_o this_o work_n to_o wit_n the_o definition_n of_o the_o word_n elder_a and_o now_o i_o will_v proceed_v to_o the_o second_o branch_n touch_v civil_a or_o lay-elders_a in_o general_n in_o the_o number_n of_o who_o our_o lay-elders_a be_v not_o to_o be_v reckon_v we_o read_v that_o jewish_a state_n be_v govern_v by_o elder_n almost_o in_o every_o author_n which_o write_v any_o thing_n either_o of_o they_o their_o state_n or_o government_n and_o more_o particular_o and_o full_o mr._n purchase_v in_o his_o pilgrimage_n folio_n 110._o testify_v of_o they_o thus_o that_o their_o government_n be_v under_o 70._o elder_n according_a to_o the_o number_n of_o the_o person_n which_o descend_v with_o jacob_n into_o egypt_n and_o that_o the_o 70_o assign_v after_o to_o moses_n in_o the_o 11._o chapter_n of_o number_n be_v but_o continue_v in_o their_o former_a office_n with_o confirmation_n from_o on_o high_a but_o not_o new_o institute_v and_o rule_v in_o egypt_n notwithstanding_o pharaoh_n cruelty_n and_o be_v by_o moses_n and_o aron_n assemble_v together_o exod_a 4.29_o and_o thus_o it_o continue_v in_o josuahs_n time_n till_o they_o have_v conquer_v and_o inhabit_v several_a city_n than_o each_o city_n have_v its_o sanhedrim_n or_o council_n of_o elder_n proportionable_a to_o the_o greatness_n thereof_o as_o in_o bethlem_n boaz_n assemble_v 10_o elder_n about_o the_o matter_n of_o ruth_n ruth_n 4.2_o 1_o chron._n 23.4_o 2_o chron._n 19.8_o and_o usual_o every_o senate_n of_o elder_n have_v a_o levite_n or_o two_o to_o sit_v with_o they_o in_o judgement_n because_o the_o elder_n be_v ignorant_a of_o the_o talmud_n or_o law_n which_o be_v much_o alter_v and_o enlarge_v by_o several_a governor_n of_o the_o university_n of_o jerusalem_n and_o be_v last_o complete_v by_o rabbi_n jochanan_n anno_fw-la christi_fw-la 500_o and_o call_v the_o talmud_n a_o rule_n in_o all_o cause_n ecclesiastical_a and_o civil_a to_o this_o very_a day_n among_o the_o jew_n god_n command_v moses_n in_o the_o 11_o of_o number_n say_v gather_v unto_o i_o 70._o man_n of_o the_o elder_n of_o israel_n which_o thou_o know_v to_o be_v elder_n of_o the_o people_n and_o they_o shall_v be_v be_v the_o burden_n of_o the_o people_n with_o thou_o etc._n etc._n this_o be_v a_o place_n much_o insist_v upon_o to_o warrant_v our_o newtake_n of_o elder_n into_o the_o church_n to_o bear_v part_n of_o the_o government_n but_o i_o will_v make_v it_o manifest_a that_o this_o part_n of_o scripture_n be_v no_o warrant_n for_o we_o to_o do_v so_o here_o in_o england_n the_o government_n thus_o settle_v say_v josephus_n in_o his_o book_n of_o antiquity_n libro_fw-la quarto_fw-la cap._n 8._o be_v mix_v the_o monarchy_n be_v in_o moses_n but_o qualify_v with_o a_o aristocracy_n in_o the_o 70_o and_o democracy_n as_o it_o be_v appear_v in_o the_o often_o assembly_n of_o the_o people_n &_o this_o but_o continue_v say_v he_o till_o they_o desire_v a_o king_n and_o then_o it_o cease_v and_o whilst_o it_o continue_v it_o be_v only_o for_o temporal_a affair_n the_o elder_n not_o be_v to_o meddle_v in_o any_o ecclesiastical_a matter_n for_o